Category: New York

Villa Berulia – New York, NY

So if you have been reading my blog lately you will see that I have been on an Italian food kick during my travels. There is something about Italian food that is comforting and is a great go to meal.

While visiting New York again I went to a wonderful Italian restaurant called Villa Berulia. It was a quaint place that was actually much larger inside than it appeared outside.

I started off with a glass of Merlot as I looked over the menu. I also enjoyed the fresh made garlic bread. The bread was loaded with garlic and had a nice crunch.

There were many Italian favorites to choose from. It really came down to what sounded the most intriguing. There were two appetizers that I ordered for the table. I thought these would be great start to the meal. The Clams Oreganata sounded really delicious and not something that I had before.

These are clams that are sprinkled with seasoned breadcrumbs and then baked till crispy on top. These little morsels were so tasty. The clams were tender and full of oregano flavor.

The other appetizer was fresh avocado slices that were topped with fresh crab and shrimp. The avocado was soft and creamy. It went really well with the sweet lump crab meat. The shrimp were tender and sweet too. The combination of ingredients worked perfectly together.

For my main dish I ordered the chicken picatta. The chicken was thinly sliced and lightly breaded. Even with as thin as the chicken was it remained juicy and tender. The overall flavor of the dish was rich and savory thanks to the wonderful sauce that was poured over the chicken. There were a few capers in the sauce that added a slight salty taste when they were part of the bite.

There was a pasta that came of the side. It was chopped up into bite size pieces which made it a little easier to eat. It was only in garlic butter but there was enough of the sauce from the chicken that I was able to mix in the pasta. It was really good and could have been a dish on its own.

I was able to save a little room for dessert, especially when they rolled out an entire cart.

I had to go after the red velvet cake. It was a huge slice that luckily I was able to share with the table.

The cake was moist but slightly dense. It had a rich velvet texture. The cream cheese frosting was sweet and extremely creamy. It was slightly on the thick side. It went perfect with the coffee and Baileys that I ordered.

This was a great restaurant and I would definitely want to go back for another meal. Check them out at www.villaberulia.com

Enjoy!

T

Paneantico – Brooklyn, NY

I am a sucker for fresh made desserts. I got so excited when I walk into a bakery and smell all the sweet treats in the air. That is exactly what happened when I walked into Paneantico in Brooklyn.

This neighborhood Italian bakery offered up fresh pastries, assorted desserts, fresh baked breads, plus homemade sandwiches.

They have a few tables that you can sit at to enjoy your sweets there. However, I was on the go so I got my treats to go in order to eat them on my drive.

Everything in their cases looked delicious. I easily could have ordered one of everything but I limited it to what would actually fit in one box:

  • Cannoli (mini)
  • Carrot Cake
  • Napoleon
  • Black & White cookie
  • Éclair

I started with the black and white cookie. I could not wait to take a bite, making sure to get both the chocolate and vanilla icings. The cookie was definitely sweet. The cookie dough was soft but not too cake like.



The éclair was also pretty easy to eat while driving in the car. The chocolate icing on top was soft and gooey. The pastry was loaded with the vanilla pudding. The pudding was creamy and full of vanilla flavor.

The mini cannoli’s were a nice treat. The shell had a slight hint of cinnamon flavor to me. The filling was a sweet with a creamy texture. There were chocolate chips mixed through out to add a little crunch. The only downside is the filling did not go all the way through the shell. It stopped in the center.

So I took a break from eating everything in the car. I ended up saving two desserts to enjoy in the hotel. Once I got a fork I dug into the carrot cake. The cake was light and fluffy. It had a wonderful spice flavor and was loaded with fresh carrots. The cream cheese frosting was my favorite (it is always my favorite part). It was not too sweet and extremely creamy.

I saved the Napoleon for last. The layers of flakey dough were stuffed with the fresh cream filling. There was also the signature layer of icing that topped off the pastry. It was slightly hardened. When I went to take a bite the cream went everywhere. I ended up dividing it into two pieces, which made it easier to eat, plus using my hands verses a fork helped too.

I loved that I got to make a stop at Paneantico. Every dessert I had was fantastic. I would definitely make a detour back to Brooklyn the next time I am up in New York. They are worth crossing the bridge.

Check them out at www.paneantico.com

Enjoy!

T

Pizza & Calzone – Brooklyn, NY

I was enjoying my visit to Brooklyn. There were so many places to eat every where I looked. It rally came down to what tickled my fancy. When I saw people coming in and out of Pizza & Calzone constantly I figured they must be good.

As soon as I stepped through the door I was hit by that wonderful smell of pizza cooking in the oven.

They had several varieties of pizzas to choose from. Their slices were huge.

After looking over all the options I went for a Sicilian slice, Unlike regular slices of pizza that are cut in the traditional triangle shape, Sicilian pizza is cut into squares.

I also ordered one of their homemade calzones. I got a single one with just mozzarella cheese. What makes their calzones so special and stand out is that they are deep fried. This allows the dough to be extra crispy.

Since I was going to be heading back to Manhattan, I got my order to go. I figured I could eat it in the car on the way back.

The pizza had a super crispy crust. The fresh tomato sauce was amazing. It was sweet and full of the flavors of oregano and basil. Speaking of basil, they also added fresh basil on top for added flavor.

The crispy calzone was also amazing. Although it was deep fried, the outside was not greasy. The dough had a slight sweetness to it but it was masked by the saltiness of the creamy cheese.

Whether you are eating there or getting something to go Pizza & Calzone is a must visit. www.houseofpizzacalzone.com

Enjoy!

T

Ferdinando’s – Brooklyn, NY

I ventured over to Brooklyn to check out an Italian restaurant that has been serving up homemade dishes since 1904. I could not wait to check out Ferdinando’s.

It was in between shops and houses. It had that old school vibe both inside and out. From the cool original tile on the floor to the Holy Family statues displayed in the corner, Ferdinando’s was filled with a rich history.

It is a history of feeding generations of families with homemade Italian food, made with love.

I started off ordering a Manhattan Special. This is a coffee soda that is bubbly and sweet. They actually have it on tap, which I have never seen before.

The arancina special was calling my name as soon as I spotted it on the menu. I could not wait to dive into one of my favorite Italian dishes.

This rice ball was filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. Because I ordered the “special” my arancini was topped with Ricotta cheese and covered in a homemade tomato sauce. Naturally they also covered the sauce with grated Parmesan cheese.

I was in heaven as soon as I took a bite. The rice was tender and moist. The meat had the right amount of sauce to add flavor not just to the meat itself, but also to the rice. The peas added extra sweetness to the sauce that already was sweet.

All the cheese on top added a creaminess to the sauce and to the rice. This hands down had to be one of the best arancinis I have ever eaten.

I also ordered a Panelle and Potato special while I was there. I had never had this before. So Panelle is chick pea flour that is made into a patty and deep fried (almost like a potato pancake). The potato part of this special was a potato croquette.

These two elements are combined on a fresh made Italian roll, along with fresh Ricotta cheese. The cheese made the sandwich creamy. The panelle added crunch. The potato added the heartiness to the dish that made the sandwich quiet filling. Since I had already eaten an entire rice ball, I only ate half of the sandwich. Luckily I was there with a friend who I could share it with.

Ferdinando’s was an amazing place. It is full of a rich history of feeding hungry families across the generations. You have to experience this little piece of history when you visit Brooklyn.

Check them out at www.ferdinandosfocacceria.com

Enjoy!

T

Lansdowne Road – New York, NY

So I found myself  in New York for Thursday night football. I wanted to go somewhere to watch the game and get some great food. My friend, who lives up there, recommended I check out Lansdowne Road.

This Irish pub is located in the Hell’s Kitchen area. There are tons of tv’s all around the place, which was perfect for watching the game.

The place was packed when I got there. I ordered a drink and had to stand for a while waiting for a seat to open up. Luckily after about 15 minutes I was able to grab a seat at the bar. It is a pretty cool bar too. They have a strip of ice running along the bar that you can sit your glass on. It helps to keep it cool. Just be careful so you don’t spill.

I started off ordering the pretzels with beer cheese. There were two homemade, jumbo size pretzels. The dough was soft and sweet.  The salt coating the outside complemented the sweetness of the dough. The beer cheese was really creamy. I was constantly dipping my pretzel. There is something comforting about the combination of dough and cheese.

While I was there I had to try their chicken wings. Apparently they are world famous and it was called out on their menu. It was a mouthful to order the “Scruffy Duffy World Famous Hell’s Kitchen Chicken Wings”.

I ordered the traditional style wings with the combination of the medium sauce and garlic Parmesan sauce. I also made sure to order them well done. I really like it when chicken wings are crispy when they come out.

These wings were cooked to perfection. They were extra crispy and there was an awesome crunch when I took a bite. Plus the chicken itself was juicy. The flavor combination of the sauces was amazing. The garlic Parmesan added a salty taste and the medium added a slight amount of heat.

Lansdowne Road had a great atmosphere. Even if you are not into sports you can still have a fun time. Plus the food was great too! Check them out at www.lansdowneroadnyc.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Boat Basin Cafe – New York, NY

I was meeting a friend of mine in New York for dinner and she made the recommendation to try Boat Basin Cafe. It is located near Riverside Park on the Upper West Side.

     

It is not an easy place to get to if you are not familiar with the area. It is actually underneath the road on 79th Street.

     

Once I found it I was impressed by its view of the Hudson River looking into New Jersey. An interesting fact about the Marina by the restaurant, it is where they shot some scenes from the movie You Got Mail with Tom Hanks.

     

It was time to order a cocktail. They are suppose to have a great rose sangria but they had run out for the day. So I went for a red sangria instead. It was good, nothing too special about it; it had a nice spice flavor to it.

One of the specials for the day were Aranchini. These Sicilian rice balls were loaded with fresh ground meat, peas, and carrots that were tossed in a pasta sauce. Then the mixture was covered with tender rice, breaded, and deep fried.

There was a generous amount of Parmesan cheese on top. They put the pasta sauce on the side which was good. It allowed the aranchini to stay crispy. I simply dipped each bite in the sauce before I ate it. The inside meat filling was very flavorful and it was accented with the taste of the pasta sauce.

I also shared the chicken nachos with my friend. The portion size was huge so it is definitely a must share. The nachos were loaded with creamy queso, fresh pico de gallo, and cilantro. The chicken was chopped up well so that it was easy to pick up with the chips.

It was a perfect night to have dinner outside. Not only was the view of the sunset wonderful but I had awesome company. We also visited at the perfect time because Boat Basin Cafe is only open seasonally. So if you are in the city before it gets too cold check them out.

www.boatbasincafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Croton – New York, NY

Sometime restaurants in NYC can be misleading in their size. I experienced this first hand. I walked into Croton for dinner and noticed that the restaurant itself was small inside (typical for a New York place). But to my surprise, they had a basement area which is where they offered their weekly happy hour.

     

I had to go hang out at the basement bar. I ordered a red sangria since it was there on happy hour special (which is lucky for me since those are one of my favorites). There was a hint of spice to the sangria. It was just missing the accent of fruit.

They had an eclectic offering of food to choose from. I ordered the Scotch Eggs. It had been a long time since I got to enjoy this dish.

These hard boiled eggs were covered with a thin layer of seasoned sausage. They had a thin layer of breading as well. This allowed the outside to be crunchy. They were cooked perfectly because the sausage was still moist and the egg was soft. They served a chipotle aioli on the side but it tasted more like a mustard. It tasted really good with the sausage and egg.

I also got to try the Croquette. The mashed potatoes had prosciutto mixed within. Then they were lightly breaded and fried.

There was a crunch from the breading but the mashed potatoes were creamy and soft. There was also an extremely sweet taste to the potatoes. The prosciutto did not add much saltiness.

Who could pass up Truffle Fries? I couldn’t! The table next to me ordered them and they smelt so good when they came out. So I ordered them. They were actually garlic truffle fries. The garlic aroma complemented the earthy smell of the truffles.

These dishes I ordered were small so I saved room for dessert. I went for the apple tart with cinnamon ice cream.

The tart pastry was crispy on the outside and gooey inside with sweet, tender apples. The cinnamon ice cream was full on cinnamon flavor. It had a natural taste to it, not that artificial cinnamon taste. The ice cream was tremendously creamy. The taste made it the perfect fall dessert.

I am so glad I checked out the unexpected basement at Croton. They had some great munchies and of course happy hour drinks. Check them out at www.crotonnyc.com

Enjoy!

T

Dos Caminos – New York, NY

If you are in the area of Madison Park in NYC and you are looking for a quick place to get lunch, check out Dos Caminos.

They have a really fun look inside with colorful wall art; beautiful wooden chandeliers, plus a fully stocked bar for many cocktail options.

     

     

The first thing I started with was the fresh made guacamole. This  is one of the things Dos Caminos is known for. The fresh avocados are mashed in a molcajete (a mortar and pestle made of stone). Then fresh, chopped onions and fresh cilantro are added. The guacamole was extremely creamy and still had a few chunks of avocado throughout. The tomatoes added a little sweetness from the juice. The fresh cilantro added a little peppery spice. It was perfectly paired with tortilla chips.

To also go along with the chips they offered three kinds of salsa.

(1) Green Chili – this was my favorite. It had a slight tangy taste.

(2) Roasted Pepper – I could taste the smokiness from the peppers actually being roasted.

(3) Tomato – this would be considered a more traditional salsa except it was on the runny side and there were no chunks of tomato; it had the consistency of a juice.

I ordered the Sopa de Tortilla for my lunch. This soup was made with a spicy roasted tomato broth that was creamy and thick. It was loaded with grilled chicken, pasilla negro chiles, avocado, and queso menonita.

It was topped off with crunchy strips of tortillas. The soup had a great flavor with only a slight amount of heat. I wish a little more of the chicken was included. It was very tender.

I saw on the menu that one of the sides they offered was Mexican Street corn. They offered it on or off the cob. I went for it off the cob. I figured it would be easier to eat. The corn was sweet, which was complemented by the tangy mayo/sour cream sauce. The coija cheese was sprinkled on top of the corn. This too added a slight tangy flavor.

Dos Caminos was a nice place to grab lunch. I would be interested to see what their dinner menu looked like. Visit their website at www.doscaminos.com

Enjoy!

T

Trademark – New York, NY

Once again I found myself visiting New York City.  What I love most about New York is the food scene. There are so many kinds of restaurants, from the hole in the wall neighborhood bars to high end, reservations required a year in advance, restaurants. There is something for everyone.

Not far from my hotel was a cute bar/restaurant called Trademark. You are greeted by a doorway full of ivy.

When you walk through the door there is a small bar and counter which I could only assume was for take out orders or quick bites.

As I walked further into the restaurant I was memorized by all the decorations along the walls. There were different types of candles and candle holders that had the romantic lighting reflecting across all the mirrors.

They also had this beautiful white subway tiles lining the walls and ceiling. The crisp white color glowed at the reflection of the lights and candles.

     

They even had these strange little wooden statues hanging on the wall.

They were offering a few specials on the menu the night I was there. Their meat and cheese tray sounded like a great starter. They offered fresh made slices of pepperoni and salami. They toasted up some crispy and buttery crostini. They offered an assortment of different olives (be careful – they were not pitted) and sweet white raisins (these complemented the salty meat). The star of this tray was the fresh made mozzarella cheese. The cheese was soft and creamy. There was a slight saltiness to the cheese, but it was not overwhelming.  It was also delicious with the sweet white raisins.

For my dinner I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese. They offered two portion sizes. I went for the smaller portion. The tender pasta was tossed in the meaty Bolognese sauce that had a rich, hearty taste. They sprinkled fresh grana padano cheese over the paste. Grana padano is very similar to Parmigiano Reggiano.

Right in the center of this pasta was a dollop of fresh, soft Ricotta cheese. The smooth texture of the cheese mixed perfectly with the meat sauce to create an even creamier sauce for the pasta. It was rich in taste but because I got the smaller portion I was able to each the entire bowl of pasta without feeling overly full.

The food was so fresh at Trademark I enjoyed both things I ordered. They had a few other menu items that sounded wonderful, I would want to head back to try them. See what they are all about on their website www.trademarktaste.com

Enjoy!

T

Mom’s Kitchen & Bar – New York, NY

There was a fun, hipster restaurant that I ate at in New York that served classic comfort food. Mom’s Kitchen and Bar has a retro diner feel. Instead of a juke box, the music symbols and band names are all over the menu.

They offered a fun selection of cocktails with equally fun names. I did not even know you could still get Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers. If you are craving one of those 80’s treats then Mom’s is the place for you.

Since I was there with a friend, we went for the “Big Ass Cocktails” that they offered in 32oz. pitchers. They were only $16 which is an amazing deal for New York City! We ordered the Dirty Shirley. I loved Shirley Temples as a kid. So I could not wait to try the adult version.

It was a playful presentation with bendy straws and a rubber duck.  The drink had that great grenadine taste. They used a generous amount of vodka, which made it pretty strong.

The menu was full of homemade comfort foods. I went for the crispy chicken and gravy, which came with two sides.

The serving size was huge. I got two large chicken breasts that had been marinated in buttermilk. They were tossed in a breading that was loaded with their house secret seasonings. The outside coating was extremely crispy. That crust helped seal on the juiciness of the chicken.

They served a side of peppercorn gravy with the chicken. I dipped a few pieces of chicken in the gravy and it added a whole new level of flavor to the chicken. The gravy reminded me a little of the gravy that comes with chicken fried steak.

I got the homemade mac and cheese as one of my sides. The cheese on top created a nice crispy layer. Past the top layer was the creamy macaroni. It was cheesy, salty goodness.

The other side I got was the Brussels sprouts. Unfortunately these were just steamed, so they were kind of mushy. They would have been better if they were fried or sautéed in a little garlic.

Mom’s Kitchen and Bar  was a fun, unexpected find in New York City. I will be going back because I want to try one of their adult soda floats. Check out their menu at www.momsmidtown.com

Enjoy!

T