Change of Plans

I woke up to my alarm or maybe it was my phone? Either way, I woke up and checked my phone. I had a voicemail from one of my managers informing me that I didn't have to come in today--I was relieved and caught a few more hours of sleep. By 10am I forced myself out of bed and got out of the apartment. I skipped my normal breakfast routine and started walking uptown. The streets were alive, but thats no surprise considering the dampness of the last few days. Heading up Fulton Street, I pass tourist looking for the Seaport. Trying to avoid scaffolding and construction, I ended up on Greenwich which was loaded with families. Dodging strollers, I kept my eyes open for a breakfast spot; but nothing really stood out. I knew Locanda Verde was just a few more blocks, so I didn't want to settle for just anything. The only other place that had a crowd was Sarabeth's; but that seemed a little too child-friendly.

Arriving at Locanda Verde, I was surprised on how many families were there with their kids. I grabbed a seat at the bar and was greeted by a bartender with a menu. I read the menu and took in my surroundings. The atmosphere but bustling, but controlled. Dress shirts and ties worn by the staff gave the restaurant a serious tone while their jeans made you lean back in a more casual vibe. Casual elegant seemed to be an ongoing theme at Locanda Verde, where Andrew Carmelinni runs the kitchen. Carmelinni was mentored by Daniel Boulud, so expectations were high. Locande Verde was chef Carmelinni's first venture; but then he shortly opened The Dutch in Soho than another Dutch in Miami. 

Looking over the menu, there was plenty of mouth-watering options; but a few dishes stood out. Nothing seemed overly exciting; but sometimes the simple food is the most delicious. I started with Sheep's Milk Ricotta with burnt orange toast. The ricotta was drizzled with truffle honey and herbs--a delicious combination of fresh, aromatic, and sweet. Although my antipasti came first, they start you off with a piece of garlic focaccia bread that just got out of the oven. Its hard to resist warm bread; but I did have my ricotta with burnt toast in front of me and another course coming. My second course was hazelnut-crusted french toast with sour cherries and mint. The french toast was perfectly moist while the sour cherries only complimented the maple syrup and powdered sugar. I finished my meal with a double espresso and wandered back out to the streets where I walked off an indulgent brunch. 

I'm definitely going to go back for dinner. The food was delicious and the prices very reasonable for Carmelinni's talent. The space is tavern-like, but polished. The service is professional though not over-friendly. My favorite response from the bartender was his reasoning behind liking the french toast: "they use dark rum in it". But the pacing of the food was right on point and they weren't pushy. They charged me for the wrong bill; but an honest mistake thats not a big deal (unless I see it on my next statement). All in all, a great Saturday brunch that prepared me for the day's festivities. Head over to Locanda Verde for an early dinner and sit outside as the weather stays beautiful.

Brunch

Awesome brunch at North End Grill. Started with a Jack Rose at the bar than made our way into the dining room. Kate picked a nice bottle of white wine to get us started while we waited on our pastries. After the pastries, we each got a main and shared the Jonnycake Benedict. Dave got the steak hash and fried eggs while Kate got the coddled egg with peekytoe crab, bacon, and grits. I didn't get to try their dishes, but they seemed pretty happy with them. I got the lobster omelet which had good flavor though my chattiness with an old coworker brought me back to cold eggs! They also sent out a side of chorizo. My favorite was the Jonnycakes!










By this time, Jason (the wine director) brought out a lovely red from the Rhone just in time for dessert. For dessert, we got one scoop of birch beer ice cream, the ecckles cake (out of curiousity), and the butterscotch pot de creme of course! The kitchen sent out this delightful chocolate pecan layer cake with their compliments! Alex Ray is definitely making a name for herself with outstanding desserts!



After finishing the wine, we moved onto espresso and scotch. A five-hour affair made me forget it was miserable outside. I put on my jacket and braved the walk home in the rain, feeling good!

A Friday Off!

NoMad

After much success at Eleven Madison Park, chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara took their talents a few blocks north to recently opened NoMad. Yes, Humm and Guidara still run the show over at EMP; but the NoMad project (backed by The Sydell Group & GFI Capital Resources) is what prompted the sale of Danny Meyer's crown jewel--Eleven Madison Park. The NoMad named for its location north of Madison Square Park is Humm's and Guidara's attempt for a more accessible restaurant; thought much of its sophistication stems from EMP. Its Eleven Madison Park (three Michelin Star/NYT four star) quality brought down to earth. Sure you could have an extravagant dinner here and drop coin; but you could also have dinner for under $50.

 

The space is divided into a series a rooms--each with its own personality and vibe yet all harmonious in elegant fashion. We started in the bar room with a few cocktails and appetizers than migrated to the library for a few more. Between the three of us, we probably tried 8-9 cocktails off the impressive list. I was pleasantly surprised on the menu's depth. All cocktails were delicious and well balanced though Satan's Circus might have been a bit too spicey. I don't mind heat, but the chili infused Aperol had a slight stinging effect on the finish. I loved the flavor combination, but that slight on the back of my throat kept me from ordering another one. 

 

As for food, we got a few snacks while we sipped on our cocktails. The Fruits de Mer was a collection of seafood for one including crab, lobster, scallops, sea urchin, and an oyster. Although the platter was bite size, the flavors were worth the $24 price tag. We also got a chicken appetizer that reminded me of chicken tenders--boring yet tastey. The salmon rilette with sorrel and creme fraiche was served in a mason jar and was accompanied with bread for spreading. 

The NoMad is expensive; but definitely worth a visit. The cocktails and food are top notch. It's definitely a young money crowd; but a jacket is not required. The return of the serious hotel restaurants seems to be in full swing and The NoMad's potential will leave New York with high expectations. 

The Wren

A hip bowery gastropub serving cocktails and late night food. I stuck with beer, but the cocktail list looked interesting. This place got packed; so packed I almost didn't stay. I did manage to squeeze through the crowd to the back where I met some friends. I was surprised the crowd of people pushing to gain position to the bar didn't go downstairs or even sit at a table like we did. Either way, I'm glad they didn't because it gave us plenty of space. After a few beers, we ordered a few snacks. Prawns in a pint were solid, but the fish and chips stole the show. The fish was fresh and perfectly battered. The fries that accompanied the fish were worthy of being on the same plate. Minus the crowd, The Wren is a solid spot whether you're grabbing a beer or looking for some food. 

Yankee Stadium Eats

The new Yankee Stadium has some good eats including Brother Jimmy's pulled pork sandwiches, garlic fries, cuban sandwiches, carl's cheese steaks, and much more. Just avoid shots of jamo at the Hard Rock, they will run you $17.25 a shot. Beer and food are expensive, but its all good when at THE STADIUM!

Share Our Strength: Taste of the Nation

Cocktails of the Future

Booker and Dax:

David Chang partnered up with Dave Arnold to bring the East Village a cocktail spot that brings a scientific edge to it. The spot is located in the old Milk Bar space and is named after Arnold's children, Booker and Dax. The menu is short, but is quite different from other cocktail bars in the area. Not only do the bartenders chill their glasses with liquid nitrogen, but they get people thinking --not just drinking. Try a gin and Juice with clarified grapefruit juice or a mustachi-ode --a shaken cocktail with nardini amaro, becherovka, bourbon, egg-white, a house made pistachio syrup. For stirred cocktails, you could get a Manhattan; but for something unique get the Laurel and Hardy--a mixture of cognac, rye, maraschino, benedictine, fernet, and mole bitters. Bols Deep, Son of a Peach, and Jenny & Scott are also solid drinks that come served with one large ice cube. Arnold and the crew over at Booker and Dax aim to make cocktails better through a scientific approach. For their Lady of the Night--they clarify siracha,tomato juice, and worcestershire and distill horseradish into an essential oil; giving them a truly unique twist on a bloody mary. 

Booker and Dax is a solid cocktail spot; but I'm scared the appeal might be lost after your first or second visit. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the kitchen serves pork buns till 2am; but the cocktail list isn't too long. Maybe the menu changes frequently? I don't know. Its a comfortable atmosphere to grab a drink and chat up the bartenders about the gadgets that look like they were stolen from a laboratory. Just don't drink too fast, $15 drinks could add up. 

Il Buco Alimentaria e Vineria

The hospitality of Il Buco Alimemtari e Vineria started on the phone when I called about coming in for lunch. I wasn't making a reservation, I was only a solo diner; but I wanted to see if they served lunch. The lady on the other end explained, "yes, we have everything!" Normally, I consult a restaurants website to inquire about such questions; but their website wasn't too helpful. I think they should definitely update their website with some more information--especially a menu!

I've read multiple reviews on Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria, a spinoff of Il Buco, from critics such as Pete Wells and Ryan Sutton. Wells gave the restaurant three stars in the NY Times while Sutton thought it was overpriced and understaffed. I'm happy to say that my experience was fantastic. Yes, Sutton was right on regarding the price point--a bit high! But the food was delicious and I would definitely go back.

Walking through the door of the alimentari you're eyes go gaga as they position right to the salumi and cheeses. "Most of our salumi are made in house," says the bartender. I sat at the bar in the restaurant section of the establishment. I forget her name, but the bartender was great and exuded hospitality. She wasn't pushy--she respected my decision to drink tap water (how boring!) She made some good recommendations; but they were dishes that I was already attracted to. She was a photography student just out of New Paltz and she "loved food"; but this was apparent.

I started with charred octopus with kumquats, green almonds, olives, yogurt, and farro. The octopus had a beautiful char while remaining tender and succulent. The kumquats added a nice citrus tang while the yogurt and farro were good choices for both texture and flavor. For my main course, I got the slow roasted short rib panini. The panini's base was a baguette made in house and smeared with gorgonzola to add a rich tanginess. An onion agrodolce sat on top of the short rib adding a sweet (not so sour) flavor. The short rib was packed with flavor and reminded me why low and slow is the way to go. Pickled veggies sat in a bowl besides my panini that added a fresh and feel good component.

A cappuccino was all I could have for dessert as I felt in a bit of a food coma. I was a bit disappointed with the strength of the coffee; but the food and service made up for it. Lunch was a bit expensive ($43 + tip) so it wouldn't be a regular spot; but I definitely want to go back to try the house-cured meats and pastas as well. Definitely check it out!