Craft - A Tom Colicchio restaurant in NYC

On the suggestion of Adam, and my love of Top Chef, I decided to try out Craft, Tom Colicchio's restaurant in Manhattan. I was already going to NYC for the weekend to visit Dennis, so I decided that it would be the perfect time. We both enjoy a good dinner and splurging on a fun place every once in a while. We had 9:30 reservations (late for even me), but I was excited so I didn't really care.

We arrived at Craft exactly at 9:30. The decor was very clean, and above the bar was a small catwalk with all there wines prominently selected. The walls were decorated with what looked like large overlapping pieces of leather panelling. A very good looking and well dressed host told us our table was almost ready and we should go ahead and have a drink at the bar. We did, trying out a couple of Rieslings. Close to 10pm our table was ready, and we sat in the back along a banquet with a few other tables.

Our server was very nice, professional and friendly. Gave a laid back feeling to the experience, which I didn't initially expect given the price point of the menu. We stared with a bottle of 2005 Austrian dry Riesling. Very good. Sweet, but not too sweet, which was a good compromise between Dennis' like of dry wine, and my liking for basically apple juice.

I'm always a fan of good tasting menu, but after reviewing that it has two desserts, we decided to go a la carte. For our first course we shared an heirloom tomato salad and the cured octopus. The octopus was clean and well prepared. I'm used to calamari, so it was a treat to just have octopus, not deep fried in batter. It was, however, a very small piece. Basically two bites eats. The salad was phenomenal. Adam suggested the salad and it didn't disappoint. I was surprised because they were basically just tomatoes, but they were well seasoned. I enjoyed the white tomatoes the best although Dennis said they all tasted the same.

Our main course was where we went with our old standby. Steak. Instantly being drawn the the phrase "28 day dry aged" we decided to try the "Cote de beouf." I probably spelled that incorrectly, but it's not on the online menu, so I couldn't verify. We also wanted to have a side of mushrooms, but couldn't decide on which to try. We almost choose "Hen of the Woods" based on the fun name alone. We asked our server and she simply said, "How about I give you a sampling of the first four?" Perfect. We had an assortment of oyster, baby shitake (not from Beverly, for our Catherine Tate fans) , Hen of the Woods, and Trompette Royale. Since the steak was prepared to share, it was served sliced into six long strips, and I can probably honest say it was THE BEST STEAK I'VE EVER HAD. Seasoned to perfection with what seemed like a simple salt-pepper mix, it was so good, and so refreshing, which is an odd word to use for red meat, but that's what I thought when I ate it. Refreshing. I wanted a second steak all to myself. I really hope I haven't ruined my future steak experiences! The mushrooms were slightly crispy and their earthy palate really complimented the steak perfectly.

After the steak, Dennis' cousin Christina showed up and we decided to get a second bottle of Riesling. We went with with the 2003 vintage this time vs the previous 2005, and thought it a lot crisper and dryer, while still retaining it's sweetness. Christina and I got a sampling of gellato and sorbets. Our flavors were green apple, blackberry chocolate chip, caramel, concord grape, coconut, and olive oil. Can you guess which we chose first? Olive Oil! Delicious.

Sitting down at 10pm, we paid the bill and left at 12:45. We were one of three tables left. Our server was fun and amazing, thanking us and as we left we were given a homemande fresh zucchini muffin. I've never gone to dinner so long that they gave you a breakfast treat as you left, but I guess that's New York. I will I could tell you how the muffin was, but after our debaucherous evening that followed, I think I left it at a place called Cibar, a fun little bar Christina took us too.

I'm not sure it was touristy or not, but I very much enjoyed my meal, and would recommend Craft to anyone going to the city for an evening and wishing to have a truly good meal. Good job, Tom. You do not have to pack up your knives and go.

NYC 2009 or High Life on the High Line

This past weekend, P and I went to New York City for a wedding. It'd been a while since we were in the City, and we had an excellent time. Being busy with wedding activities, we did not go crazy and eat ourselves through the five boroughs; but, we did have a few culinary adventures.

The most exciting for me was my first visit to Zabar's, a gourmet delicatessen and food emporium in the Upper West Side (Broadway and 80th). I think P was very excited, too, since he has fond memories of going there as a child with his mother.

 

When you walk in, you are immediately struck by the wonderful scent and sight of olives and other briny things waiting to be plucked from their large buckets to become some lucky person's hors d'œuvre. 

  

But then, your attention is quickly drawn to WALLS of cheese. It made me cry a little. The prices seemed very reasonable and the selection unending. We tasted an excellent domestic smoked blue, but sadly, we did not take down its name in our hurry to see what was waiting for us around the next corner.

It was meat! And lots of it. Whether it's cold cuts, hot and cold entrees, and sides; salads; or fish, Zabar's has a lot to choose from. We decided to get some lunch from here and chose servings of chicken parm, chicken cacciatore, and pesto pasta. For me, the chicken parm was different than any I'd ever had in that the coating was quite eggy—as opposed to the crunchy breading I'm more used to. They also had a Chicken Milanese, which, I'm sure was crunchier.

Through to the next room, we found a small produce section and the bakery. Again, they had a large number of breads and baked goods to choose from (produce: not so much). They all looked very nice—the challah seemed to be going very quickly—but we were most excited to try their rye bread. Theirs is a nice seeded rye, and P & I were very happy to make a sandwich out of it. In fact, we snacked on the remainder of the loaf all weekend.

Zabar's also has a quite extensive array of fruit preserves, jellies, and jams. Some of my favorites—including ginger preserves and three citrus marmalade—were right there! (Coincidentally, we had gone to the Titanic exhibit the previous evening and seen actual Dundee preserves jars that had been on the Titanic and served to its guests during that fateful voyage. Zabar's preserves selection included today's Dundee preserves jars for contemporary New Yorkers to enjoy.)

As if that weren't enough, Zabar's also roasts their own coffee, and it smelled wonderful in the coffee section as customers' beans were freshly ground for them. Oh yeah, behind and around the coffee were spices, and we found there to be a nice selection there, too.

That's just the ground floor, folks! The 2nd floor at Zabar's is a large kitchen supply store. Their trendency to have a large selection of items (as I found myself repeating above) was certainly continued upstairs.

So, we purchased our items and headed to their café just next door to eat our lunch—opting out of a lovely lunch in Central Park due to P's extremely unfortunate abhorrance of picnics. (One can buy foods in the deli and take them next door to eat at a proper table or counter.) The café also offers panini and cold beverages—as well as tart frozen yoghurt they call ZA-Berry. I had to have some of the latter; so, of course, I did (my justification: "It's for the blog!").  It was actually fantastic. We've had this tart frozen yoghurt at other establishments (cf., Jeff's post) and have enjoyed it very much but could see why some people might disagree. ZA-Berry was just the right balance of sweetness and tartness that I believe should make it popular even with ice-cream-only folks. I got the Za-Berry Special ("It's for the blog!") and chose blueberries, pineapple, and strawberries as my toppings. Man, I want another...

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We went to a wedding later that evening at the NY Botanical Gardens. It was gorgeous, and the food was amazing. We have an unfortunate lack of photos (probably due to our overzealous enjoyment of the drinks and inspired hors d'œuvres); so, you'll have to take our word for it: the food really was very good. At cocktail hour, there were carving stations! There were also other hot and cold offerings at the stations as well as beautiful passed bites. Filet mignon for dinner was followed by a delicious dessert dubbed "Espressomisu" (pictured below). Some photos follow.

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One day, we took a stroll on the High Line, a new park in NYC which was built on an old elevated train track structure. Section one opened recently, and it is a must-see; it was beautifully conceptualized, designed, and excecuted. (Check out http://thehighline.org/ for info.) Many fun restaurants have sprung up in the vacinity—perhaps most notably in the meatpacking district in which the High Line ends (@ Gansevoort St.). You really should see this for yourself. Until then, here are some photos.

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On our way back from the High Line, I wanted pizza, so we stopped at Ray's—ahem—"Famous Original Ray's Pizza" in Chelsea. I love eggplant pizza, and I knew Ray's had it. Luckily, I got the last slice as well as a slice of Margherita. P got a slice of bacon and a slice of sausage & pepperoni. (We also splurged and got a few garlic knots: "It's for the blog!") My pizza was exactly what I wanted. They were nice and crusty, and the eggplant was tasty. It was not the best pizza I've ever had, but I was satiated and satisfied. Peter was less happy with his choices:

"I hardly thought Ray's was memorable pizza.  I felt it was too heavy on the cheese, not enough sauce, and the crust was just okay.  Maybe my expectations were too high but I've had much better at chains like Papa Gino's.  Growing up in the area, I know NY/NJ has much better to offer."

Tasty Moroccan in New York's East Village

Last weekend Christopher and I headed down to New York City to see Spring Awakening before it closes on the 18th, and naturally we had to go somewhere fun for lunch. He suggested we go to a Moroccan restaurant in the East Village, Cafe Mogador, somewhere he had dined at before and very much enjoyed.

After a little confusion with which way to turn on St. Mark's, we found the place nestled amongst a bunch of other cute and eclectic looking restaurants and shops. The place was hopping at 11:30am on a Saturday morning, more than likely thanks to it's brunch menu. The crowd was an interesting mix, mostly people in their late 20s, some hipster-types, a few middle-aged couples...a fun crowd.

We all started out with a round of Moroccan iced tea, which is simply sweetened mint tea- delicious. When I was in Morocco my host family made the hot version all the time and it was incredible. To accompany these we got a hummus platter with pita that seemed hot from the oven. We were all a fan - I like when there is oil in the middle, and in this case chickpeas scattered about the plate. The waitress also brought us extra pita free of charge.
For my main dish I chose the Bastilla, what I thought was the most interesting thing on the menu. The menu describes it as 'layers of crispy filo pastry filled with chicken, egg, almonds, an exotic blend of herbs and spices.' It was absolutely delicious - a curiously sweet but savory dish topped with powdered sugar. A side salad with beets and red onions accompanied it.

A friend ordered the Mixed platter, which normally comes with tabouli, hummus, babaganoush, and salad. She substituted the tabouli with roasted eggplant, which I think was a great decision. Everything on the platter looked fresh and delicious. Two others got the falafel plate with salad and tahini - a nice-sized portion of falafel nicely fried and not too greasy with a light and refreshing yogurt dipping sauce. The 5th person in our party got the chicken cous-cous, which was served alongside chickpeas, raisins, and vegetables. It came with a nice piece of chicken on the bone, and though I didn't try it it certainly smelled wonderful.

There are so many other items on their menu I wanted to try, including their tagines, meat grill items, and Moroccan-themed brunch items. With reasonable prices, an upbeat atmosphere, great service, and a fun location, I can't wait to eat here again next time I'm in New York and craving Moroccan!

Junior's - NYC

Junior’s Deli – Expensive and Blah.

With only an hour left before leaving NYC, we decided again to have a quick lunch around the hotel before driving back to Boston. Kristine had noticed a place called Junior’s Deli, on west 45th street, across the street from our hotel. It looked like a old fashioned deli, and seemed kind of fun. So, we stopped in.

Sunday was an exceptionally warm afternoon (65 degrees) and when we walked into the restaurant, it was SO hot, we started to sweat. Seriously, it must have been 80 in the room. The host sat us, and everyone seemed to be fanning themselves. We were miserable, and almost walked out, but saw a seat on the patio open. Yes, the patio was open in Mid December. Thanks, Global Warming. They were nice enough to reseat us.

On the way to our seat, a waiter pushed Jon out of the way carrying a tray of food, and only said sorry when he was practically out of earshot. The waitress took our orders. Jed asked for a hamburger, but asked if the bun could not be toasted. She said, “If they’re busy, they’re just going to toast it anyway.” Ok. Jon and Kristine got a salad and half sandwich combo, and I got a chicken salad sandwich. No sides came with any of the meals. A communal serving of cole slaw, pickled beets and pickles were served to the table in lieu of bread. All were good.

My sandwich was great. Big thick chucks of chicken, with not a lot of mayo. It was kind of weird not having fries or anything, but I managed. Jed’s hamburger bun was of course buttered and grilled and soggy even before the burger touched it. Exactly what he didn’t want. Poor Jon picked up the pepper half way through his meal, and the top came off, spilling the entire shaker onto his meal, ruining it. The waitress cleared our plates, looked at Jon’s plate with a mound of pepper, and didn’t say a word. Didn’t ask if everything was ok, and didn’t ask if she could get him something else. We left quickly, and Jon got a delicious chicken-on-a-stick from a street vendor.

The food at Junior’s was satisfactory, the service was minimal, and I ended up paying $14.00 for a chicken salad sandwich, with nothing on it.

Do not go to Junior’s. That’s my humble opinion. You’ll have a much better time at O’Lunney’s across the street.

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/

When you want touristy Dublin in touristy New York

O’Lunney’s Time’s Square Pub

My friends and I got to NYC around 12:30, and had a 3pm showing of Equus in Time’s Square. We had a couple of hours to walk around, and decided to have lunch in the area. I’ve had my fair share of Time's Square food (i.e. TGIFridays for $17 a hamburger), but were were crunched for time. We found this small Irish pub on West 45th street, and decided to take our chances.

The pub was decorated just how you would expect an Irish pub to look. Lots of green, brown, and beige. We were seated promptly, and drinks were served. They had all the major import beers on tap, and most of my friends got pints. I got a traditional Irish Onion Soup, which was finished with a touch of cream and topped with a garlic crouton and melted mozzarella cheese. It was intense, but tasty.

Lunches were served quickly. I got a Cobb Salad Wrap with vegetables instead of fries. Jed got the Yankee Pot Roast which was sliced tender beef with rich pan gravy, mashed potatoes and a braised red cabbage. The potatoes looked amazing, and Jed couldn’t stop raving about the cabbage, even though he said he doesn’t normally like cabbage. Jon got a buffalo chicken wrap with no complaints.

I’m telling everyone about this place because I’ve been to Time’s Square a few times, and the food is always hit or miss. Always expensive, and sometimes not worth it. Well, I would say this place is reasonably priced, and has good food, with a nice staff. If you’re stuck in Time’s Square, you can’t go wrong with O’Lunney’s.

www.olunneys.com

Tao in the City

On the recommendation of two friends, I went to Tao for dinner in New York City on Saturday night. I Must say, I was more than impressed by everything.

Tao is a converted movie theatre located in 42 E 58th St in Manhattan. One could say it's PF Changs meets 28 Degrees. It was a loungy, fun, hip restaurant with great atmosphere and superior service. We arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule, and our host just smiled and led us upstairs. We passed a large open area with a 16 foot Buddha in a coy pond. Other tables were spread around an upstairs balcony, and there was also a third level even higher has a glassed in “Sky Box” for private dining. There was traditional Tibetan decorations around the whole restaurant, and a small sushi bar was located to our left.

Our service, though late when greeting us, remained constant, professional and fast all night. Not a single napkin or toothpick remained on our table more than 2 minutes.

For drinks, we ordered an apple martini, pear martini and something called a Tao #9, which was vodka, cranberry, and energy drink. All were great.

For appetizers, we got a Satay of Chicken with Peanut Sauce, Crispy Tuna Sashami Roll with Edaname, and Bamboo Steamed Vegetable Dumplings with Crunchy Cucumber. Everyone enjoyed their appetizers. I LOVED my sashimi. It was the thickest chuck of tuna I’ve ever had in a sushi roll. Kristine loved her dumplings, but said they were too spicy for me to try.

Dinner arrived right after appetizers. Jon and I got Pad Thai, which put every restaurant in Boston to shame. Kristine got the Red Curry Coconut Chicken, but was not a huge fan of the amount of coconut milk used. Jed decided on a medley of appetizers, and got a side of steamed vegetables with and a small plate of lacquered Roast Pork.

Interesting story about the men’s room. I walked behind the Buddha downstairs to the restrooms. The stairwell was decorated like a Tibetian monastery, with chant music playing softly. I went downstairs and saw two doors. “Ying” and “Yang.” That’s it. No man or woman picture to help. Just “Ying” and “Yang.” I had to stop for a full 20 seconds weighing my option and trying to remember anything I remembered on the careful balance of the universe. I choose “Yang” and was gratefully correct, since a bathroom attendant greeted me instantaneously. The sink was cool, as it was a huge empty steel barrel with a ton of polished stones to collect the tap water. Fun. Although bathroom attendants almost always make me nervous. A quick poll of my dining companions found that one person would have in fact went in the wrong room, while the other would have waited until they saw someone else either come or go.

I didn’t take pictures, because I was told I was sitting 2 feet from a famous baseball player named AJ Something, and didn’t want him to think I was snapping photos.

All in all, GREAT restauarant. We had a fantastic time, good food, and I just loved the loungy Tibetan atmostphere. I would recommend this place to anyone. Try the Sushi, and just avoid the coconut curry chicken!

http://www.taorestaurant.com/index.default.html

And yes, this was also featured in Sex and the City.

Michael's Fine Food & Spirits

"Silly-good."

That's apparently Jen speak for "this meal is superb."

Truth be told, I was so busy inhaling the "silly goodness" on my plate that ordinary approvals just wouldn't do. So in sensory overload, a high compliment was born.

Then again, is there really a need to explain when it comes to one your new favorite restaurants?

Nestled on the main drag of Waterville, New York, Michael's Fine Food & Spirits blends well with its small-town surroundings. Its menu reaches well beyond Central New York by mixing local favorites, comfort food and seriously good deserts with multicultural cuisine including Italian, French, Creole, Moroccan, and Mediterranean.

I discovered Michael's with my mom about a year ago, almost by accident. We've been weekend lunch regulars when I come to town ever since.

We started with modest lunch choices, all very well priced. Soup/sandwich combos, seafood lasagna and chicken and biscuits previously won us over. Many Saturday features include salads, choice of warm beverage and desert of the day. (The Mother, a self-professed brownie hater, still raves about the caramel brownie sundae.)

As much as we enjoy our new Saturday road trips, we're hoping to trek down for dinner or one of Michael's many in-house events sometime soon. We've taken to ordering items for the road (Jen secret: I have a serving of chicken riggies in the back of my freezer just waiting for one wicked bad Boston day) but I'm convinced Michael's wine pairings are superb and upcoming Halloween event will be a blast. Michael's also offers a new weekday lunch buffet, catering and variety of special happenings throughout the year.

Good food would earn a thumbs up -- maybe an ok blog post. But great food and a superb dining experience justify repeated 15+ mile treks and a glowing review. We truly can't say enough about the folks at Michael's -- from the warm greetings when we walk through the door and friendly farewells upon leaving, the service is top-notch. Special kudos to Faith, our favorite server, who consistently makes our visit excellent with friendly conversation and attention to detail beyond compare. (Enjoy your vaca, Faith...you so deserve it!)

It's no secret that I love home. I love the people, the experiences, the food...and Michael's does a fine job in capturing the best of all three.

So bravo, Michael & crew -- keep the "silly goodness" coming. You've got a big fan out east who can't wait to see what's being served on any given Saturday Upstate...

A Slice of Home

Utica, New York: Home to an awesome 15K road race, renowned performing arts center, snow by the foot and incredible local food. I hit the 'Big U' for a vacation week and brought back a sampling of tomato pie for the office folk. It came to my attention during college that the hometown treat I grew up with is quite a hit beyond Upstate. Roommate visits usually included not-so-subtle requests for a pie, and the folks at Grimaldi's always knew when BC pals were in town. For the tomato pie newbies out there, Wikipedia's simplistic definition is "a rectangular thick-crust bread covered with a sweet tomato sauce, served cold." It's a regular at occasions or holidays, made at home (if you're Italian East-Utican) or bought by the box/slice at your local bakery or pizzeria. This sampling came from Ventura's Restaurant where The Mother attended a bridal shower Sunday. (No door prize, but a large order of tomato pie was a decent consolation!) She's a big fan of their spicy pies, while I prefer the saucier versions from Tony's Bakery and Rosario's. Whichever you choose, you can't miss with tomato pie...and a slice of home is always good for the soul!

Chocolaterie

If you ever find yourself in Nyack, NY make sure to swing by Chocolaterie. Chocolaterie is a European style chocolate store that has pretty darn amazing chocolates.

The shop imports numerous items from Europe including hagelslag, a type of Dutch sprinkle (named after a kind of hail in the Netherlands that they resemble). I've never had Hagelslag but sprinkles on top of a sandwhich? How bad can that be?! There are a ton of fun little edible products in the store to help out your sweet tooth.

The best deal? A box of their gourmet chocolates. 20 pieces of chocolate (from truffles to hazelnut praline-filled dolphins) will cost you just under 20 bucks. You can't get a deal like that in many places these days.

Mt. Fuji Restaurant

I write this review with a bit of hesitation. You see, Mt Fuji (in Hillburn, NY) is more than just a restaurant. It's an ESTABLISHMENT. Growing up in nearby northern Jersey, I knew of the mythical powers of Mt Fuji that draw many a man to drive up its steep hill to dine on its summit. And it was for this very reason that I suggested (or rather, DEMANDED) to eat at Mt. Fuji on a recent trip to Nyack, NY. Our friends in Nyack had never heard of it, and Mt. Fuji, for all parties involved, was a brand new experience.

Mt. Fuji is a hibachi restaurant located on top of a huge hill right off of Old Route 17. You can see the restaurant from far away due to it's perched location. At the base of the hill (or mountain) is a huge red gate that welcomes you into the magical dining experience.

As you drive up the steep road you can get glimpses of the restaurant that is designed to look like a traditional japanese...well, I don't know my architecture, but it looks Japanese....like picked-up-in-a-freak-Japanese-twister-flung-across-the-ocean-(dropping off Dorothy in Kansas)-Japanese house.

Once on top of the mountain, there is required valet parking to make your life easier. Before you walk in, take some time to get your photograph in front of the large warrior statue or perhaps the coy pond with waterfalls.

Your photo-op (trust me, bring a camera) won't stop there. Walking inside the lobby is just as... well, I don't have words to describe it so here are a few pictures:

Now don't let this decor fool you. Once you enter the actual dining room, the atmosphere is much more subdued and the views out the windows are pretty darn good for right off Route 17 (if you're from the area, you'll know what I mean). Most tables are teppan-yaki tables which will make for a wonderful dinner show.

Now, at Mt. Fuji, you can order other food besides hibachi style dishes such as sushi (our friend Bob did this). To do such a thing would be absolutely foolish. The best, most amazing, part about Mt. Fuji, what makes it so great, IS the hibachi. You have many different hibachi options to choose from (prices range from the mid 20's into the low 30's). I will describe what I got for $26.75, and trust me, it was plenty of food.

After you sit down with your party, a nice lady in a kimono comes by and gives everyone a hot towel to wash with (you're probably dirty....it's NY afterall). Then the food starts to come.

First course: a salad with ginger dressing. It's good but the best is yet to come.

Second course: Japanese Onion Soup. Delicious.

Third course: Shrimp. I don't like seafood but I heard it was good.

Fourth Course: (now this is where it gets good): As you begin to anticipate your main dish, a fine Japanese (of course) gentleman shuffles into the picture with a large wooden cart filled with food. He greets everyone hello with a smile and then begins to prep your (now very hot) tabletop with oil. He pours on vegetables and eggs (spinning them on his spatula) then noodles and spices, he laughs and jokes with you, he even sings Shakira. You are thoroughly entertained. He dishes out your fried rice, noodles, and vegetables. Then he begins to cook your meat. Another song, this time MC Hammer, and your meat is almost done.

You've had a drink or two...the drink waiter is encouraging sake bombs and the woman in the kimono is giggling at you silly Americans. It's at this point you realize that if the food stinks it would be okay because for 30 bucks you are getting a great show. But then, you bite into your banzai chicken and filet mignon and you realize...the food is good. Like, really good. Maybe it's the atmosphere, maybe it's one too many colorful drinks but the filet melts in your mouth, the chicken is perfectly marinated and delicious. Everything is perfect here at Mt. Fuji.

You've now finished up dinner, the tea (included in the price) is being served and suddenly, out of nowhere appears a huge dragon's head. It swoops down around the table and stands above our guest of honor screaming "Happy Birthday!". We're ALL screaming Happy Birthday! And that Dragon is milking the moment for all its worth. A candlestick comes out, wrapped in plastic flowers. The birthday boy makes a wish and dines on the healthier cantelope (apparently, the chocolate cake would be too rich). We pay the bill (very reasonable) and walk out of Mt. Fuji with satisfied bellies and memories that will last a lifetime.