Thai Cafe: Greenpoint, BK

Thai Cafe in Greenpoint has absolutely my favorite thai iced tea in the city. THE BEST, hands down (no, Mom, that's not an alcoholic drink...don't worry, my liver is fine).

This place is awesome. cheap. and good. Check out their menu.

Things I love: service is so friendly. Last time I ordered green curry, extra spicy. They did a serious job making me the spiciest curry I've ever eaten and half-way through my lunch, my waitress checked on me because it was "too spicy even for [her]." Points for making me what I asked for and then making sure my mouth wasn't on fire when i got it. I like.

Thai Cafe is a cute space with a small open kitchen, concrete floors, paintings on the walls and kooky light fixtures.

It's cash only, but you won't need much. They have a kick ass pad thai ($7.50-9.50) green papaya salad ($4) (on right in picture next to spicy squid salad), and the curries are really well balanced (and spicy, if you so desire) (avg. $8). If you don't live in Brooklyn, it's probably a pain to get to, involving @ least 1 transfer to the G or a long walk from Queens but this is a hidden treasure for thai food lovers.

Hudson Bar @ the Hudson New York Hotel

(SSSSSh...The Doors to the Hudson Hotel are totally unlabeled, but it looks like this, k?)

A trip to the (other) city...the hudson bar @ the hudson new york hotel @ 356 West 58th Street...

Well this bar certainly is beautiful. Luminescent glass floors light the indoor space, the (rather low hanging) ceiling was hand painted, Sistine Chapel style, by the artist Francesco Clemente. And, although, I was not willing to brave the bitter cold in a dress, tights and heels to verify this, the bar is rumored to have one of the nicest rooftop gardens in the city. Maybe in a couple of months, New York, when it's above freezing or my blood thickens a little bit after moving back to the Northeast.

Despite the obvious coolness of the space, there are some other pros. It's a great people watching spot. Though, it might be running out of it's "still cool" factor, it's still enough of a hot spot to be picky with clientele. That said, and it could have just been the particular night, they love them some cougars. Men working the door, if a good looking lady with bee-stung lips and too-tight $300 jeans wanders in with a 22 year-old up-and-coming actor type dude....just say no. But then again, i get a kick out of watching these could-be Woody Allen movies unfold in front of me on a Friday night.

CONS: The music is good but loud. If you want to talk to anyone (friends/date/aforementioned 22 year olds, try the Library -- their other, smaller, quiter space. I've also heard that, sometimes, bouncers forget that it's not got the clout it once had and can be a teensy bit rude @ the door but I didn't have any trouble getting in. Wear a nice dress or bring a girl in a nice dress and I think you're good to go...

Souper Trivia!

This is a good cause and tangentially related to food.

OK. Because I am a nerd (see this post...) I will be @ t.b.d. tonight with @ least 3 other nerds tongiht trying to win free dead stuff at Souper Trivia. $5 pp and teams up to 6. Money to benefit the Greenpoint Soup Kitchen.

The James Beard Foundation Dinner 11.30.09

Mark Porcaro, Executive Chef

Jason Banusiewicz, Executive Sous Chef

Tommy Choi, Pastry Chef

“Food matters. You are what you eat not only because food is nutrition, but also because food is an integral part of our everyday lives. Food is economics, politics, entertainment, culture, fashion, family, passion...and nourishment.” (www.jamesbeard.org)

I wish I had pictures, but pictures wouldn’t do it justice. For this meal, I have to thank a friend of a friend who was on vacation still last night…otherwise, I’d have to write about the Chinese takeout I was likely to have had for dinner last night instead of this ridiculously indulgent meal. So f.o.f., wherever you are, thanks. This one’s for you andI hope the vacay was worth it.

The James Beard Foundation’s mission is “to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence.” And they do a wonderful job of it. The James Beard House is at 167 West 12^th Street. It’s literally tucked in, part of a non-descript brick façade, across the street from the St. Vincent hospital. I walked by it the first time. Walking in, it’s old-school homey…in a little bit of a might-be-a-haunted-house way. Whisked past the maître d’ and through the kitchen full of frenzied chefs plating and photographers snapping close-ups of the feast, I waited with friends in a really pretty sunroom. It was quarter to 7 and it was a long 15 minutes of anticipation. I had done some homework and the hors d’oeuvre list had me a little keyed up.

Here’s where it gets silly. I am among the youngest in the room but definitely not aggressive enough to jockey for these little morsels as they come streaming out of the kitchen at shoulder height; the waiters are pros, completely unphased by the frenzy of hungry piranhas leaving nothing but toothpicks, skewers and spoons in seconds flat. I need to step up my game. I’m able to reach a timid arm into the crowd and snag some. Winner winner, chicken dinner.

Now onto the food… The chefs are down from Top of the Hub in Boston for the night to show off. I was promised excellence and they definitely delivered.

The menu as written…a few changes are noted below…

Cured Duck with Quince Paste and Walnut–Raisin Toasts

King Crab Cocktails with Wasabi, Lemon Spritz, and Cucumber

Mediterranean Cocktails (Greek Feta, Kalamata Olives, Tomatoes, and Red Wine Vinegar–Infused Pickled Onions)

Miniature Lobster Club Sandwiches on Brioche with Cured Bacon and Avocado-Herb Mayonnaise

Abalone, Shrimp and Pork Shumai

Smoked Salmon Summer Rolls with Trout Caviar

Top of the Hub Chardonnay 2006
Top of the Hub Merlot 2005

Salmon with trout caviar had great texture…to the point that a friend commented that it was a “perfect glutinous bite.” Not a word I’d typically associate with deliciousity but it worked. Lightly smoked and very fresh. Next, and I have to apologize to my roommate Da for not stealing at least a dozen of these for him, I had the mini-lobster club. The lobster was a great twist, the bacon was perfectly cooked and the thin slice of avocado melted it all together. I never met an upscale shumai I didn’t like (especially one filled with delicious abalone) and the surprise scallops were also tasty if not seared….my texture-sensitive palette would thank the chef for a little time on an open flame. There was a substitution…a foie gras with white raisins make an appearance. Delicious, but I would have liked only one raisin instead of two…didn’t taste the foie gras until the last second and that seems like a waste. Similarly, the king crab was my only real disappointment. Instead of a light lemon spritz, it was bathed in heavy cocktail sauce. It wasn’t bad, really, but seems like a little bit of a waste of a pricey ingredient.

They opened the wine pairings for the evening with an easy Top of the Hub vintage…both fairly standard and unimpressive though unoffensive. I was hoping for a little champagne but before I could obsess about it very long, we were headed upstairs to the first of the six courses…

Part of the beauty of the James Beard House dinners could be that you are assigned to a table with random people. Our random people didn’t take much interest in the 20-somethings across from them, however, so I had a lot more time to concentrate on my food….

I think I’ll let the menu speak for itself. The courses were as follows…

Duck Confit with Goat Cheese Cheesecake, Dried Winter Fruit Compote, and Villa Manodori Dark Cherry Balsamic Vinegar
Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir 2006

Pan-Seared Scallops with Chorizo Emulsion, Shaved White Truffle, and Fennel Salad
Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay 2007

Roasted Venison Loin with Creamed Salsify, Cipollini, and Mole
Spellbound Petite Sirah Reserve 2006

Baby Romaine with Coddled Egg, Brioche, White Anchovies, and Aïoli
Isabel Mondavi Deep Rosé 2007

Chocolate–Hazelnut Cheesecake with Amaretto Mousse, Blood Orange Coulis, and Caramel Sauce
Medusa Old Vine Zinfandel Port 2007

My favorite might have been the venison. After tossing back and forth what exactly it was seasoned with, I checked the menu…mole! What a good idea. I was lucky enough to meet the sommelier after dinner. Ironic, because after talking with the sommelier about the wine pairing for this dish, I totally disagree with his choice. He seemed to be particularly in love with this wine, even though critics panned it. Talking about how, at 13.5% they didn’t really “blow out” the alcohol in the wine. I seriously beg to differ. 13.5% is fairly average for this wine and the best part (for me, anyway), the inky color and the firm texture (the grapes are “petite” after all and have a high skin to juice ratio) were missing! Oh well, the port made up for it.

Finally, I have to give serious praise to Tommy Choi. You almost made me like dessert. I don’t know how you did it but you made a perfectly textured, light (tasting) cheesecake. The blood orange was 200% the perfect compliment and acidic zing and at a couple of bites, it was sized just right. Might be the first time in history, I’ve finished a dessert, well done.

And, in closing, I’d like to give a shout-out to the only diner audacious (read: drunk) enough to ask a question of the chefs after dinner. Her poignant, “How did you pick out your menu?” was wrought with deep-thought and amazing insight that I needed to close out my night…or not….Luckily, I contained my laughter when the chef explained that they are just things that “tasted good.” She was sorely disappointed as though she was expecting a story from his 11^th birthday or that time he got beat up on the playground in kindergarten to explain the selection. Frankly, I don’t care how they arrived at the menu, I’m just happy that, unlike my readers, I got to taste it.

For more information on the James Beard Foundation: http://www.jamesbeard.org/

Neighborhood Thanksgiving week!

Hello North Brooklyn,

Due tot he fact that it's Thanksgiving week, I haven't been eating too much. :-p Saving up.
A couple of little odds and ends while i'm starving myself in preparation for major binge-eating and laziness tomorrow. Will probably be doing the Prospect Park Track Clubs Turkey Trot tomorrow. 5 miles around Prospect Park = earning the right to guilt-free thanksgiving dinner :)

Wanted to do an update on Papacitos....As I mentioned in my last post on them, they have their liquor license finally...Greenpointers has confirmed it and as you can see from Papcito's own website they are pretty psyched also. This time around there were definitely some jalepenos in the guacamole (SCORE!) and I have to add that they have EXCELLENT bloody mary's and bloody marias (w/ tequila) for brunch. $5. mexican food + spicy bloody mary + dark black coffee = a pretty hardcore hangover cure.

Enid's is also going to be having a little Thanksgiving celebration...for all those in Brooklyn on Thursday. 560 Manhattan Ave to hit that up.

If you can't get enough Greenpoint, you should stop by T&N Wines and check out the anatomically correct turkey chillin in the window a la Miss Healther @ NY Shitty.
So on that note...Happy Thanksgiving, see you in a couple days.

housekeeping

I added a blogroll...I'm going to keep adding to it as the days go by.
And follow me on twitter if you have an account.

I'll also be changing the layout of the site so take it easy on me if it shuts down for a little bit.

La Taverna

Well, well, Manhattan Ave has an Italian place.

Tonight the Empire State Building is Green White and Red. No, it's not for Italy but it should be because there's a very underrated little spot at 946 Manhattan Ave (between Kent St & Java St) in Greenpoint Brooklyn. (The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular opening for the year takes precedence on the lighting schema, I guess...)
A couple weeks ago, while walking down Manhattan, a friendly dude came out and introduced himself to me. Geno is the manager of Taverna. I wasn't in the market to eat pasta at this point since it was still...oh, 80 degrees on average until the beginning of October but i make a little mental bookmarking of the gesture.

Tonight I finally made my way into La Taverna. After procrastinating on a somewhat empty fridge and empty stomach, i set out to find sustenance somewhere in the streets of Greenpoint. Local market closed, I have no choice but to finally stop in. Totally worth it.

The place itself is right at the corner so it's got nice window action. The furniture is a little medieval but OK. Geno is probably working that whole Medici vibe. He plays some Italian tunes, too....which might be weird if you're not Italian speaking-which pretty much rules out everyone in Greenpoint except Geno and myself. They opened in an old Polish bookstore earlier this year and they are still lacking a liquor licence which would probably help alleviate the lack of crowd.

Something this place has going for it is it's extreme value. Seriously, it's downright cheap. Delicious homemade lentil soup for $3.95, calamari (grilled or fried) for 5.95. Pasta dishes between $6 and $9 and most entrees below $13, it's a serious deal.

The food, price notwithstanding, is actually very good. Wandering in around 9:00, we had the place to ourselves. Geno brought out some very fresh bread and spiced oil, and personally thanked us for coming in. So we're off to a good start...which means I'll order calamari. I love calamari, it's my guilty pleasure, so i have to be in the right state of mind to even risk having bad calamari. Tonight's was good, if not perfect....the sauce was a bit under-salted but that's easily corrected on my end. Which reminds me.....they make all their sauces in-house. There is a sauce for each dish. This is not a "slather subpar red sauce all over everything" Italian place. me likey.

This brings me to the main courses. Had to try a pasta dish....had I known before I ordered, like I do now, that La Taverna makes their own gnocchi, i would have had that. They offer a few varieties but, if I am to believe Geno, who at this point wasn't trying to sell me anything as I'm paying the check, the gnocchi is light and delicious. I will fact check this.....trust me. We get rigatoni alla siciliana (pasta alla norma if you're in sicily...) and a stuffed porkchop which was so out of character for both of us that the delicious surprise it ended up being was even more worth it. The pasta was cooked just right, the sauce was light and the veggies were all fresh. Add some fresh basil and ricotta and you've got a winner for $8. The porkchop was the best pork I've ever had. I guess I'm not qualified to be an authority on this because I rarely eat it but it's stuffed with mozzerella and herbs, dipped in a garlic sauce and covered in sauteed mushrooms. Served with rustic roasted potatoes and veggies, it's a filling dish but we wanted to finish it...and hey, not porkchop fans.

oh, don't let me forget that, in addition to making a lot of their own pasta and all of their own sauces, they make their own tiramisu. fresh. tiramisu. stop in just to try that.

I officially love this place. Even though it's a tiny bit tacky, Greenpoint needed a traditional Italian place that has more to offer than marinara and meatballs. If they could only get a liquor license, they'd be pulling in a larger crowd I think, but they DO have an impressive espresso machine behind the bar at the moment. They also take credit cards (big plus for the neighborhood!) and deliver. Give them a try. Say hi to Geno.

Papacitos: Mexican Street Food in Brooklyn

I’ve had a little hiatus, mostly due to a laptop accident (apparently you can’t drop your laptop from 5 ft and expect it to work) and a trip to Boston for the AAMC conference. Anyway, the night I got back, I decided to venture out for a late dinner at Papacitos.

Papacitos is a lovely looking place in a neon-signed-dia-de-los-muertes sorta way, always busy and always with a crowd.

Dear Papcitos,

i have wanted to try you for a while. You have been open for about a year and a half and always seem pretty busy (which is sorta weird for Greenpoint). You inspired me to write a story. Here goes.

I came in around 8:30 on a Monday night and I was HUNGRY! I sat down, got some water. And waited. And waited. And WAITED! Just then, the one waitress on staff walks by and takes the order of a table nearby that came in after us. “WTF?” I think and the more sedate Mike says, “Calm down, no big deal that she took their order, if she goes back to the kitchen, that’d be different.” He says this as I watch her turn the corner and run back into the kitchen (of course).

Oh man. I’m talking to my timid dining partner friend about leaving. He’s like “Wanna?” and my Id was like “Hell to the yes!” My super-ego was being all rational, coming with comments like “but you’re hungry” and “but you love Mexican food” and “BUT THE BLOG!!” Luckily, at this very moment the very nice countergirl/waitress/bartender/good-multi-tasker came over and asked if we were doing ok. Very perceptive! She saved us a likely-disappointing pilgrimage to some other restaurant nearby at this hour (9:00 on a Monday, at this point).

Offering free beer as a concession, she hooked us back in. Clearly the Id is like, “Free beer is ALWAYS worth it,” so, ok, I’m a cheap date, but honestly, I was just hungry and wanted to try the place out, and it was a nice addition. So we order. Lucky for you, Papacitos, you were not out of guacamole (which I hear is a common complaint for you) and we order that to start. It is sorta mild but tasty and comes out with deliciouss and hot, freshly fried tortilla chips. It’s also a couple avocado’s worth so be hungry.

For dinner, I was feeling nostalgic for my summer in San Diego and I get fish tacos. Fish tacos are like a little slice of heaven when they’re done well. From there menu: Grilled Tilapia, House Pickled Red Cabbage, White Sauce, Cilantro and Onions. 1 for $4, 2 for $7, 3 for $9. Not only a great deal for dinner in New York but they were extremely delicious. Ask for some jalepenos and/or add some hot sauce if you like spicy because they are pretty mild but the fish is grilled perfectly and covered in a chili spice. The cabbage is marinated and tasty. They come wrapped in two tortillas each: eat one to save the calories, eat both to save your napkin/shirt. DO NOT leave any fish leftover. It’s too good.

Also tried the chimichanga burrito. It is huge (that’s not what she said). 12' flour tortilla stuffed a 1# 1/2 of mexican rice, FRIED (whoa!), black beans, monterrey jack cheese, homemade salsa, sour cream, olives with meat or vegi option. You can choose your filling from the list: anjito pork (lime and chili carnitas) [AMAZING!] grilled chicken, chorizo, carne asada, ground chili spiced mexican beef, chili verde pork, grilled tilipa ,grilled vegi, spicy tempe, seitan asada, soyrizo…your choice. My only complaint was that I think they might have been out of fresh jalepenos because the ones we had were definitely from a can. Hopefully this is not the case all the time because I love me some spice. Everything else tasted super fresh so fingers crossed because I’m definitely going back. $10. What a deal, folks.

This reminds me, Papacitos is gaining notoriety as a great veggie/vegan place to eat in Brooklyn so nobody who hasn’t already been there should have an excuse not to try it out. While the service is a little slow, the prevailing atmosphere is all good. Dark blue walls, local art and fresh food. They also deliver (see the map on their site) to most of north brooklyn (north of Dumbo…LIC and South of McCarren Park will get you a $3 surcharge otherwise it’s free).

Also, They have a serious hell of a patio and outside dining area. Something to look forward to on the less frigid days somewhere in the distant future (photos courtesy of papacitos website/blog and yelp users).

A Little About Me...

The first bio I wrote when i was hired for my new job wasn't exciting enough so I decided to spice it up a little bit. For anyone who is out to learn a little more about me in this dark time where I have no laptop and a backlog of about 15 restaurants to write about it upon said broken laptop's return, see below:

Ever since the age of 5, Jess has been a nerd. Writing memoranda on the reasons she did not deserve to be in time-out prompted her parents to believe she was destined for nerdery at a young age. Her early love of science was demonstrated while she conducted scientific experiments in the bathroom sink after being asked to leave the dinner table for arguing with her siblings. With the goal of creating a turkey dinner out of nothing more than toothpaste, soap and mouthwash, she nearly succeeded had her mother not interrupted the delicate process by turning the faucet on full-blast and screaming at Jessica to go to her room. Apparently, screaming and flushing with hot water makes budding turkey-crystals fall out of solution.

All was not lost, though, because at the age of 11, it became clear that Jessica was not only a nerd but a fast nerd: qualifying for the US Nationals in swimming. While attending THE most prestigious high school in the country (I mean, JFK went there….), she continued to train at both geekery and jockery. Her efforts were rewarded and she was able to attend the 6^th-or-so most prestigious college in the country where she earned her dual degree: a B.A. in Intellectual Misfitisms and a B.S. in Leisure Studies (it is TOO a science!). And, although she competed in the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials and despite being ranked in the Top 50 in the world in her events, she isn’t from a “slow country like Bulgaria and failed to make the U.S. Olympic team. She then decided to default to the next most prestigious thing: medical school.

After a boring and uneventful first year, it became clear that she could no longer tolerate the ennui of an incessant barrage of patients’ problems and went on a leave of absence. At that time, she began to work for Kaplan at 1440 where she works as a manager/model (have you SEEN the Park Avenue videos?) in her spare time, she is applying to PhD programs in Rocket Science and taking care of her 35 cats, all of which are former-strays that she nursed back to health from the brink of death on various Brooklyn streets.

So now you're all in the know about what's going on in my life.
The short list of restaurants I've eaten at recently and are in the line-up for a review (in no particular order)

1) Wasabi NYC
2) Cafe Duke in midtown
3) Jane (village)
4) Enid's (again)
5) Graziella's
6) Lamb and Jaffe (are you guys closed?!)

and next up for sure....PAPACITO'S (g-point)

Not strictly dining but...

The Garden food market on Manhattan has THE BEST selection of coffee. They sell by the half-pound and they will grind it to whatever degree of fineness that you like or just take it home. Last night I seriously left out the bag of Seville Orange coffee that I got while I was shopping because it was so fragrant and my kitchen smelled awesome.
They also have great bread, deli and organic produce and a large chocolate section which may or may not be of interest to you.

More expensive than the other groceries on Manhattan but worth it for some of your more specialty food needs and wants.

They also have locations in LIC and Williamsburg.

True. Sometimes You Just Want What You Want. [Vero, NYC]

Vero is a restaurant and wine bar. It’s got two locations in Manhattan (trust me, I went to both in the same night). Midtown East (53^rd and 2^nd ave) and the UES (2^nd Ave btw 77 and 78).

Well, anyway. The 53^rd St. location is a little newer and is pretty dimly lit which is perfect for a date, meeting friends for drinks…or screaming tourist who sing Bon Jovi or Journey (apparently).

So back to the actual destination here (focus! It’s only Thursday). Snazzy music in the vein of Gotan Project playing a pretty steady stream of your typical bar/loungey-type music. Candles on tables and what not. The argument that most people look better candlelit is probably valid and therefore this ambiance was appreciated.

After the slight transgression on the host’s part of trying to get me to squeeze in between two tables no more than 3” apart (I’m not that skinny), we sat down in the back corner table –enter singing tourists. Our waitress was amused and pleasant, though. Wine list is expectedly extensive—it is a wine bar, afterall—but the categories of “World red and white varietals” is a little silly (especially when you have an in-house second level sommelier). A mini-wine-dumping-ground after all of the larger categories are exhausted. The 2,200 wine cellar is pretty impressive for a small NYC bar, though. There’s a list of creative cocktails in the lineup, too. And being that it was a weeknight (Happy Tuesday, everyone!) I got the strawberry basil lemonade. Now, seriously, in Italy, this happens a lot but not as much in the US. Mixing fresh herbs and fruit in a drink is the shit. You have to try it sometime. This particular version was strawberry stoli, fresh basil, fresh strawberries and lemon peel all muddled up with a bit of lemon juice and soda. Good call, me.

So after messing around with my drink for a while, we start looking for some sustenance. My friend, Erik, has been to Vero uptown and has one thing on his mind: the Vero Pizza. After looking around, it’s not there. He asks, “Nope, not at this one. You gotta go uptown.”

“We’re going.” We are? I guess we are, so in the cab we go. Up about 20 blocks to the UES location. Same deal, a little smaller. Get a glass of rioja, sitting at the bar and order the Vero Pizza and meatballs.

OK. So, I can see why we came. It’s pretty good. Worth another cab ride? Debatable. Interesting take on pizza with a fontina cheese, prosciutto, roasted red peppers and a sundried tomato spread (instead of red sauce…a little too sweet). Came out as small triangular slices with a balsamic glaze—pretty presentation, and no worries about dropping cheese all over when you are separating a piece from a traditional pie. The meatballs were better, though, with a garlicky misto, stuffed with mozzarella. I have set the bar high since I’m 50% Italian and my Momma makes “the best” meatballs. They didn’t disappoint. The grilled ciabatta on the side could have been more grilled but I wasn’t interested in it anyway because I had a pizza to eat…

So, sometimes you just want what you want. Vero is a good concept with solid food and a really great bar. It’s not New Haven pizza so maybe not worth going out of your way for (i.e. from Brooklyn), but good little places if you’re in the neighborhood. It was a fun little chase up the east side to get a bite and a good glass of wine on a random weekday night.

Hello Punkin.

Let’s talk pumpkin. Pumpkin stuff to be exact. I realize that’s not really exact but bear with me. Da (roommate) and I have been recently consumers of mass amounts of pumpkin things.

Our day job is also sponsoring a pumpkin carving contest and pie baking contest (obviously, I’m a fan) so here’s to pumpkins:

Pumpkin beers: Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is awesome. I don’t have much else to say on the matter but it tastes like pumpkins without being sweet and still tasting like beer which is an accomplishment. Also enjoyed Punk’N which has good pumpkin taste but after one was almost sickening sweet. It's decent but get the Smuttynose if you can...There's also the Heartland Brewery's Smiling Pumpkin Ale (from NYC) if you're into the local thing.

Pumpkin Waffles are REALLY GOOD! add some puree to your batter next time.

Pumpkin Pancakes: Go to Enid's for brunch. They have a delicious version. Or make your own if you're not in North Brooklyn like I am.

Pumpkin Pie: who didn’t even believe I could cook or bake untilobviously, mine is the best. I will NEVER divulge my secret but even my dad, recently said, “This may be the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever had in my life.” Ok, but since we’re all not bff (actually, most of us are, I don’t have a huge audience, do i?), and you might not get to try my pie, I recommend the little pumpkin tarts at Whole Foods (whose blog recently did their own pumpkin entry... They are portioned to be a couple bites big so you don’t have to worry about…ahem…over-indulgence. They have a nice texture (not slimy, but moist) and a tasty soft, caramelized walnut topping.

Pumpkin ICE CREAM: This was a great idea, whoever had it. Bravo. Get some on the LES at Sundaes and Cones!

Pumpkins: yes, natural pumpkins. They grow in the ground…usually not in Brooklyn…but if you spit a few seeds, who knows what may happen. Here are a few recipes for interesting, toasty fall pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Bread from The Fresh Loaf

Real Pumpkin Pie (yes, with an actual pumpkin)

Canned Pumpkin Pie (cheating a little but still can be tasty)

Pumpkin Pie cheesecake (if you're a little suicidal)

And, although starbucks is my nemesis culturally and most likely ethically I would like to conclude with the glorious Pumpkin Spice Latte. Get the nonfat version. Hell, it’s even very (surprisingly) good iced. If you like pumpkin, try it. Personally, I like the hot version, and don’t get the whipped cream but do add the shake of spice on top. I’d love to have whipped cream all the time but hey, when you’re writing about

food, you have to cut corners every here and there to make sure you don’t look like you write about food. Dunkin Donuts has a pumpkin flavored coffee which will probably disappoint you if

you actually like a) pumpkins, or b) coffee.

(-->Pumpkin the cat approves this message.)

Interlude

Hi from me and my moms.

Dazie's (Sunnyside, NY!)

Queens is an interesting place: almost as culturally diverse as somewhere like, say, the world, it’s got a lot to offer food-wise but you have to be willing to look around a little bit past the generic Chinese places and gimmicky would-be (were they not in Queens) tourist attraction type places.

Let me set the scene. Typical Sunday night: everyone is lazy and secretly convalescing the dread that, yet again, the weekend has come to an end. Nobody is going to cook. After 90 minutes of deliberation, we rule out French—the place I want to try is cash-only. I have $11 in my wallet…

Sarah, from Massachusetts, suggests Sfoglia (Nantucket and the UES…”Sss-vole-yia” or “sa-foge-lia” as Da likes to say is a rustic, charming-enough looking place on the UES…which is not taking reservations until 9:30. Apparently it has a cult following that keeps it booked. It’s 8. We’ve already stalled for an hour, people are getting cranky, hungry and tired. La Taverna (on Manhattan Ave is suggested) and while I’m going to go there “sometime soon,” it just didn’t feel right. What did feel right? Mafia. Standard “family” style Italian place.

So, Google Maps is so handy sometimes. Google Maps plus a dire sense of laze is amazing in its capabilities. And so we stumble upon Dazies. Nestled in the shadows of the 7, Dazie’s is what you’d expect from an Italian restaurant in Queens…except better. Speaking to my grandparent’s generation with its iron sconces, candles and tuxedoed waiters, it’s well above average for traditional Italian-American dining.

Yes, there are a lot of stereotypical things here but there are some really great things too. Roasted eggplant to start is great on bread. Both the stuffed mushrooms and fried calamari are tasty but I always think they’re tasty…Not the best I had but far from the worst. Veal Saltimbocca would have been wonderful—the meat was perfectly cooked and tender—but they finished with too-salty spinach and thick slices of hardboiled egg instead of a fried egg…or no egg.

(Da was hungry.)

White clam sauce over linguine is very good. Well spiced and not creamy or too thick. Filet with a Barolo sauce and sautéed mushrooms is delicious. Really perfectly cooked medium rare (thank god). Gnocchi was also very good if you’re looking for a different pasta dish, came in a fairly light pesto sauce.

Wine list is remarkably inexpensive for New York. And waitstaff is so pleasant that they had my Chinese roommate speaking Italian (really).

So go. They even filmed a scene from 30 Rock here. Right off the 40^th street station on the 7!

It's time to do an update when...

...your mother, who can barely use a computer, lets you know that you haven't updated your blog in "a while" even though it's only been 1 day.

So here we go:

This is The Bar Review, after all, so a bar review is in order.

The Turkey's Nest at the borders of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, is a dive.



The Turkey's Nest is a bar that cards. I got carded in NYC for the first time possibly EVER. After this little boost to my self-esteem (they carded our 36 year old friend, as well). We wandered in. The bar is scattered with TVs with various sports games on, dart boards and, as a dive, is also equipped with Big Buck Hunter, decent music and the "frozen gargoyle" (i'll explain later).

But first, a story. We were out to celebrate. It was a friend of a friend's birthday. A potential new hire was out with us (all the way from Austin, TX) and, most obviously, it was the weekend. Drinks all around! So, 3 of us decide....since we're in brooklyn...that we'll order Manhattans.

me: Yep, can i get 3 manhattan's please?
bartender: Does that have vermouth in it?
me: Yeah.
bartender: Yeah, this isn't a fancy bar.

OK. I'm sorry! I was unaware that liquor that wholesales at about $5/bottle was fancy! Well, I digress. We order beer.

Except for my roommate, who orders a fretful Frozen Gargoyle. This is a frozen mixed drink. But instead of a margarita it's some concoction involving absinthe. My 5'6" roommate is a goner and after several drinks before this, ends up spending the rest of the night shooting at the shrubbery in Big Buck Hunter. He does not remember this. Or the mile walk home. But it's all good. Supposedly absinthe, in its American-acceptable form, does not contain enough wormwood to have any hallucinogenic qualities, but weighing in at 100-proof, it does pack an alcoholic punch. For whatever reason, I'm going to discard commonly accepted medical advice and report on behalf of both Da and myself, that it's still a mind eraser.

(This guy does NOT approve of frozen drink mix-->)

The Turkey's nest is a pretty fun time. Surprisingly minimal hipster presence and uncrowded, just don't order anything "fancy."

PIE!

enough said. i'll be entering. it'll be awesome. i promise.

Ocean House Pacific Haiku Series.

[Image courtesy of "Bad Sushi Decisions" search via google]


It's friday, the only thing suitable is haiku:

Ocean House Pacific
Please give your chef a knife, sharp
It seems to be lost.

huge and unspicy
jalepeno piece
my fav'rite roll spoils.

at least the udon
tastes recognizable, thanks.
seaweed salad's fine.

Sad, gray sushi roll.
oh where is my "umami"?
I must have been starved.

an ode (or oh no) to french cuisine...

First of all, I just want to say, before i write this article, that I have the utmost respect for Daniel Boulud's culinary style after having oysters at Daniel NYC.

But last saturday night, at DB Bistro Moderne, Boulud fell flat.

Not that it was a terrible experience but I need to stay the hell out of midtown on the weekends. I'm never happy with the decision to leave brooklyn for midtown on the weekends. If you are going to offer an extensive and expensive wine list, please teach your waitstaff to at least pretend to pronounce the wines on your list. In the most un-snobby way possible...how well does it bode for my confidence in your staff's advice if they act like they haven't even SEEN the wine on the list before let alone actually TASTED it.



On to the food...To start, bread on the table. What a cute presentation...before I take a bite, I say to my friend that this "looks like a little pretzel loaf." Bite. Pretzel. Didn't know I was at a Yankee's game. They didn't even give me mustard. I'll stick with the mini-baguette, thanks.

Then, I had a salad called "Rocket Arugula." Ok. I am lost. Is my salad blasting off? I mean, i love arugula as much as the next Italian but...there were no fireworks. The salad was actually bland, despite the tiny cubes of serrano ham and manchego cheese. The olives they used were actually fairly rancid, if not just a very poor choice. The dressing was unmemorable. I'm sad. I love salad.

Alright, don't cry over spilt milk mediocre salad. For dinner, i had to stay away from the db burger. I just do not like foie gras and i definitely don't like it inside a sirloin burger. call me crazy, but I shared the sea bass, which was the special for the night and duck confit.



The best thing I ate all night was definitely the tiny stuffed razor clam on top of the sea bass. It was also served with herbed, and steamed squash and tomatoes. The skin on the sea bass was great, as was the clam which was topped with a little bit of pecorino. veggies were slightly overcooked but good flavor.

The duck was kind of sad. The waitress actually recommended the spaetzel as a side dish which was puzzling to say the least. We declined. The concept was great: wild chanterelle mushrooms and broccoli rabe but the actual duck wasn't as crispy as I'd like and the breast was probably from an anorexic poultry farm.

But all is not lost! The strawberry tart for dessert is LOVELY. Not only because I love to crack the caramelized crust but because it was (actually) original! Served out of a ramekin with with strawberry sorbet on the side, it's actually seasoned in the crust and light glaze with a hint of fennel and clover.

Delicious cut to the sweetness. db Bistro Moderne also has a great after dinner drink list (left). A great supplement or substitute for dessert.

Anyway, probably not worth the hype but seeing as how it was in mid-town a couple blocks from Grand Central, they are probably not on their toes as they should be.

Next time, I'm getting the coq-au-vin....or picking up a fried chicken breast from KFC and watching a movie in my apartment in Brooklyn...

The Lazy Man's Answer to Restaurant Week

There are 6 reviews in the works right now...from dive bars to bistros. sorry for the delay.

Brooklyn Brewery Events (Williamsburg)

Event tonight: They're clearing out the tasting room and bringing in picnic tables. Beer on tap will be $4 (6 for $20!) if you're in the neighborhood. They'll have their Brewmaster's reserve as well as seasonals on tap. And pizza...

Greenpoint Brooklyn: Sakura 6

Who can resist a sign that says "Free hot sake"? Not I.

Namaste, I honor the place where frugality and debauchery meet.

Sakura 6 is a 12 table japanese joint on Manhattan Ave. Yeah, I said "japanese" and "joint" in the same phrase. it's fitting...the place literally advertises it's free alcoholic beverage of choice on a poster-board on the door next to the specials.

I've gone a couple times since it's about 5 minutes from my apartment. Hosts are usually sorta rude and just point to the tables so you can find a seat. Waitresses may be f.o.b. but they've all been sweet and never stingy with the sake refills (most importantly).

I love the inside: it's super casual with a small sushi bar and small tables around the room. There's a herring bone design piece on the ceiling of the dining room, too. I guess I'm a sucker for fish bones....
The exposed brick wall is nice, too. Lighting is dim with candles on the table of course...when combined with sake can probably facilitate silly decisions. Given the hosts' general attitudes, you'll be kicked out of the restaurant after you've reached this point but quite before you're much too drunk to walk home.

Now, onto the food: The 3 roll combo for 11.99 is a steal as far as sushi goes. Definitely recommend the yellowtail-jalepeno roll...the other regular rolls in this combo are pretty much that standard fair (salmon, tuna, cucumber,crab, avocado, multiple combinations of these, etc...) Combo comes with miso soup or salad with ginger dressing. Dressing is quite good but I'm biased since I've only been disappointed by japanese ginger dressing once.

Hibachi rice is also a good bet if you're looking for something hot, just make sure to get it spicy because the spice is what keeps it from being mediocre fried rice (sorry, I said it...but hey, free sake!).

Some special rolls to try: Bahana (tuna cucumber topped with tuna and avocado) and volcano (spicy mix of fish with tempura and topped with caviar) are particularly good. Crazy Flying Dragon is also a good choice, not only because it's a good roll but because they named it that.























Yeah, so good things? The sushi is consistent. It's good, not the best I've ever had but very good especially considering the price. A steal as 3 rolls combo w/ soup, 1 garden salad, 1 rainbow roll and (obviously) sake set us back $24 + tip...Drawbacks are the service and the small size of the rolls. But it's cheap so there's a possible workaround for that, if you're really hungry.

Not a go-out-of-your-way place but super good place to grab dinner if you're in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area and hungry. They also deliver if you order $10...that'll be a B.Y.O.B. affair, however...It's worth a look, check it out.

Starbucks VIA...test drive.

Starbucks recently released a new way for them to feed your coffee addiction while taking your duckets: Instant-coffee!

Starbucks Ready Brew VIA @ $9.95 for 10 12-oz cups of coffee, it's a discount rate for Starbucks but a ripoff for instant coffee, right? Sure, but they're giving away a free tall cup of brewed coffee, so I'm game to try it out. (Image: Starbucks)

So I wander into a Starbucks nearby my apartment in Greenpoint (Brooklyn). I tell the girl at the counter that I want to try the taste test.
She looks at me really confused.
It's 7:30am on Sunday. Trust me, I'm confused why I'm awake as well...but give me my coffee!

She goes back to the bar, turns her back to me and begins concocting two shot glasses of coffee-like-substance.

(Interesting pun, sbux...Via nearly means "way" in Italian/Latin...they've found a lovely way to separate you from your money. At least you'll never be subjected to the horrors of "office coffee" again, right? image: Sacramento Scoop)

Looking at the little cups, I remember why I'm doing this: the promise of something for free! Ok, so I sloosh the coffee around, sniff it, take a swig. The taste is actually fairly close but there's one the thing that gives the insta-brew (I'm sorry...micro-ground "ready" brew) away from the traditional coffee is it's opaqueness. Since it has coffee particles unfiltered free to flit around in the water you pour it into, the Via is a darker color. The smell is a bit off, too, but it's very subtle.

Either way, thanks for the free coffee. I wouldn't buy VIA but it probably is a decent alternative to no coffee or other types of instant. Just make sure you get the water super hot or you're going to end up with a lukewarm cup o' sludge.