...more recent posts
was this that cheap east village seafood joint that was previewed in timeout last fall?
trader joes
strange flavored japanese ice creams
Spring??.....lately for many weeks I am falling in love with the Korean family at the Green Market, in the cold of winter they have had these yummy tiny tomatoes, greenhouse I assume, but they get my #1 vote....yesterday they had some bok choy rabe (they have great bok choy always), thin small cucumbers, and an expanded herb selection.....ORGANIC also:>)
MB and I finally ate at Tenament on Ludlow between Stanton and Rivington. They spent a lot of money building this place. Very slick old time LES feel. Two interesting semi-private rooms in the back. Music from the live dj was nice. Very good feel to the place.
The food is trying, but so far not making it. The dishes reminded me of Alias except not as good (although Alias had some problems at the start too, so maybe there is hope.) Service was scattered at best. Probably won't return unless I hear something different.
We tried the new Clinton St. place, Salt, last night. Nice casual room. More bar than restaurant. Maybe 10 deuces, plus a long communal style table in the middle. Couple beers on tap. Fairly short wine list that didn't seem special to my relatively untrained eye.
Menu is small and very meat oriented. What we had was not very impressive, but not a disaster either. (Alex?) But it's not really about the food in any case. Very young, hip, euro-ish crowd. I don't expect it to be popular with the locals, but that's probably a good thing in terms of them making it. I'd meet someone there for a drink over, say, Verlaine, or SX137, but that's not saying too much.
L'Impero was fun, we did tasting menus and all very happy, I have to admit by all the hype I expected more, I like the space very much, will try it again one more time....2*
Went to Union Pacific for the 3rd time in 3 years, and while a couple dishes were super-dup (taylor scallop/uni/tomatoe water and mustard seed & a fava morrel shrimp thing), they rest were just good, liked the first time the best....2*
Another Dinner at Ripe, Sat March 15th.
Somber mood due to the war, but since Ripe works by rsvp guests showed up.
Chioggia beets and mache with horseradish vinaigrette
spring risotto (peas and asparagus)
Herb encrusted pan seared halibut with yellowfoot mushrooms
and caper beurre blanc
Italian almond poundcake with lemon curd and whipped cream.
$20 plus gratuity. Dessert $2
I brought a Charles Shaw Cabernet. $3 at Trader Joes
I love this place.
el Bulli has a hotel now where you can eat dishes from the many years of the restaurant....
ill just blame the rock that ive been living under all my life for not being aware of alice waters. finally caught up w/ this american masters series piece twice in the last week on pbs ch 13
aKa is in the running in two catagories
in this down (mentally and financialy) time, maybe talking about food & and spending money, is not good, but i will continue along till my DMTree contact runs out at the end of 2003.....$5 sandwich!! Sophies Cuban Cuisine 96 Chambers, I had the pork, super juicy, with swiss, mayo, potato chips inside, spicy onion, pressed bread FANTASTIC!!!....Fuleen Seafood, the Post Protest Crew dined here, we were 7 and we spent apox $35 each, I think I liked the meal the most, lots of cleanly fried food, fresh seafood out of tank (served clear with few flavors), a wonderful sauted onion on top of chive blossom!! 1*....
Counter last night had some very good dishes and some ok, they are just getting thier stuff together, will go back in April....but for veggie its 1*
had a slice of falafel pizza today. my two favorite foods. why did i not have this sooner? genius.
mr Steve, Ripe front page NYT food page today....
If you're stuck in Houston, you could do a lot worse than a plate of cabrito at Hugo's. Last time there I had a pork shoulder that had been marinated, roasted and then braised over the course of several hours. El mejor!
11 of desended on Al Di La, it was for sure the finest meal there, we ate everything!!.....3*
a friend saz...."Afterwards went to (spurious Flash alert) Chez Es-Saada on First Street. The new executive chef is Paul Liebrandt, (ex- Atlas and Papillon). In brief: tasty anchovy-and-merguez app, but overpriced quail & lamb couscous ($25) and dry duck tagine, unadventurous wine list, spotty service -- disappointing overall from the dining POV tho' the basement was pretty full of lounging drinkers. What's the minimum time someone has to spend onsite to qualify as executive chef?"
any suggestions for eating out in the fort lauderdale/palm beach area? am going to visit the parents for a long weekend...
yahoo to the Kebab Cafe 25-12 Steinway Street Astoria...Liz and Wylie took us there last night and it is a find, BYOB, major food fest, chefs a blast....car service to from brooklyn cost almost as much as dinner....2*
a good (unusual) not excellente (the usuall) meal at felidia last night, i am going to say it was an off night for me and the restaurante.....1*
In Saveur Magazine Jan/Feb issue is a 4pg spread on Tommaso's in Brooklyn doing an annual Italian (Venice) Carnival dinner(s) which I never knew they did.....went last night for a full old Nebbiolo cellar raid (1952, 1955, 1974, 1985) and the place was jumping, food best I have ever had....I will be coming every year!!
quick eating notes on australia trip:
- when you get fish and chips, the main fish is "flake" - it's shark. get it. it's fantastic.
- "butterfish" is steak-y, like swordfish, but much milder, and actually does taste like butter. get it. it's fantastic.
- get thai food anywhere. thailand ain't too far away. it's fantastic.
- so's the vietnamese although the thai's better.
- guess how the $4 red table wine is. you got it. no one seems to ever really need to spend $15+ since the cheap wine's so frickin good.
- the beef's grass-fed. it's fantastic.
- on the down note, i had some grilled kangaroo which was liver-ish and unspectacular. why bother. stick with the fish.
I am on a Xynomavro kick, its my new favorite word.....finally made it to Milos last night for a fish orgy, we had some star power so we got the #1 table in the house, a free round cured fish and a plate of fresh urchin's, everone gets this clean flavorful soup to start.....we had crab, sardines wraped in graper leaves grilled, sepia, salad, beans, and some fish, the wines were replaced with samples so no wine bill, but i still paid $133 head with a health no wine tip...desset was awesome yougert with fruit and an amaro...at these prices (and i am not saying its not worth it) the crowd looked wealthy and older than us
i am starting the Xynomavro is a cousin of Nebbiolo club and i have a few members already, the most influencial wine critic told me one day at lunch that traditional made Nebbiolo and Grenache goes well with seafood, well the sardines and a 97 Xyno ROCKED!!
take two at Otto was delish, i let go of my negativity and dove in full on, all the veggie and fish starters were fantastic, the fried fish (fry of the day) was a dream, we asked for the pizza's crispy and they said "we do them one way, Mario's way" maybe its not the first time they have heard this from customers, but they came out crisper and we liked them better (they were still cold before the 2nd bite), whom whudda thought of a sunny side up egg on pizza would be good, it was.....and for dessert its just gelato but the specials were amazing, olive oil and salt gelato with blood orange slice's:>) and ricotta gelato with stewed figs and candied walnuts!!! YUM
Bao had some very tasty dishes and some just ok also, but over all it was yummy, great french wine on the list, but its too much a load scene for an old fart like me.....
Bao 1*