Choclateria San Gines

Some many spots to blog about, Madrid is a vibrant city with wonderful day and night life, great restaurants and tapas spots. One famous gem is this 100 year old restaurant located between near Puerta Del Sol on a quaint street near a streetside bookstore looking straight out of Harry Potter. Churros and hot chocolate are a Madrid tradition and this spot serves them made to order. In this charming old-school European cafe you can watch them drizzle the batter swish and remove and cut the churros. The hot chocolate is like molten lava and absolutely killer. Dunk your churros into the chocolate and go straight to heaven. Sitting or standing at the counter, for an afternoon snack this is as close to feeling like a true Madrileno.

Traveling to Spain

Sothy's spa is my last official N.Y. post before heading off to Spain tonight. Any great spots will be posted upon my return. In the meantime enjoy the beautiful weather and be an urban explorer!

Franny

Sothys Spa

This was my Spa Week option and I could not be more pleased. L'Institut Sothys has one branch on West 57th. and one branch in Paris. This is a classic European Spa and it shows from the moment you walk in. I booked the Eau Thermale facial for the $50 spa week special and it was a special service. The reception person was an older very stylish woman and the feeling here is European orderliness without the bells and whistles available at some downtown spas. Vera was my facialist, a beautiful Russian woman also north of 50. The room looked like a real facial room. The facial bed was heated so it was an ahhhhh from the jump. Vera looked and was an expert at skin care and facials. With expert hands and top of the line products, the facial was phenomenal, and even some extractions were done gently and quickly. I was given a spa menu and $20 off my next visit which for a fancy West 57th Spa was not unreasonable at $115 for a European facial.

Jungle Lime Mexican Grill

Located on ninth ave. between 53rd and 54th diagonally across from El Centro a great corner Mexican mainstay, Jungle Lime serves healthier Mexican fare. A narrow space with jungle vines and exposed brick, the design makes good use of the small space. A bottomless chips and salsa was the really like a limey pico de gallo and was great. The cheesey Mexican corn was slathered with a bland Mexican velveeta. My chicken fajita was served with brown tortillas and the chicken itself was tough and flavorless. Oh, the accompanying guacamole was very good and served cleverly in a wooden salad bowl. The place was crowded and so was El Centro, so this spot hasn't really affected it's business. This Jungle Lime restaurant is very cheap with most dishes, like fajitas, burritos, and tacos are under $10. They also serve organic wine here, so it is a healthier option if that is what you are seeking.

Artichoke Pizza

A couple of guys from Staten Island open a pizza place on East 14th. Street and there is a line out the door. What is their secret? Is it the thickly charred crust or tangy tomato sauce or combo of cheeses? One thing is sure, it is definitely one of the the best pizza bangs for the buck on this islan, at $2.50/slice. This was my second trip, because the first time, I passed right by after seeing no less that 4 other pizza spots in a two block radius. So, after braving a 10 minute line while grooving to Nirvana and Guns and Roses blasting from the radio, keeping the 4 pizza making men rockin' and alert while producing pies and slices for the masses waiting. A guy in front keeps the customers in order and explains the offerings here. There is a photo of Elvis in the window and a few restaurant size cans of pommodoro to look at as you salivate for your pizza. There is literally standing room only and that is a sliver of a spot near the napkins and condiments which are in one spot. Better to bring your pizza home or eat it on the way on a nice day. Artichoke offers stuffed artichokes which look very rustic(good) as well as lovely well baked large free form peasanty loaves. Now for the pizza. I ordered a square and a round which by looks only, look great. I sort of preferred the flavor of the round more, though both were very good, nicely charred, thick crusted with a little fresh basil. The square offers multiple cheeses (pecorino, parmigiana, and polly-o) and fresh basil adds a a nice touch. Maybe, the pizza is just a tad thick to enjoy the ragin. flavors. It is definitely damn good pizza for this island, though it can be hard to please the pizza palate of a born and bred Brooklyn girl. A new pizza with crab is pictured above. After a second visit, and third and fourth, I am starting to like/love the pizza here and the great guys who serve it, reminding me more of very fond Brooklyn pizza parlor memories each time, though I wish the condiments were more plentiful.

Dirty Bird to Go

At this quintessential fried chicken joint your bird is perfectly cooked with a side if so desired. Dirty Bird to go or a few seats to eat in dishes fab fried bird in a small store on West 14th. St. The two piece with one side is $7.49 and is served with delish cornbread shaped like toast. The peices are smallish, but perfectly fried with a buttermilk tasting crust. The sides today were garlicky kale and cauliflower. I have tried to kale and it has a kick. The cauliflower was roasted and tasty. A dab of hot sauce and some homemade lemonade and you are feeling like a warm southern day is on the way. Dirty Bird also serves a soup of the day, chicken usually featured and a nice salad with lettuce, egg, Maytag bue cheese, rotisserrie chicken and a homemade buttermilk dressing for $8.39.

The Sheep's Station

On the up and coming Fourth Ave., yes you read that right is a few new places sprouting up. Wait a few years with a new plan for redevelopment and all. Anyway, more Aussie have opened this corner restaurant/pub. Wide wood plank floors and a wooden bar and benches as well as worn tin ceilings give the place a very organic feel. I was here for brunch and having read about the burger opted for that. This is no ordinary burger, but a super burger. Not only was the meat cooked to perfection, but the beet, lettuce, tomato, fried onion, pineapple and added Aussie cheese made this burger rock. Yes, all that was on the burger. Fries were very good, but the burger was one of the most interesting I have ever had. There is a daily scramble with home fries and toast for $7. and most items are under $10/cash only.

Homemade Ice-Cream

Since on a ice-cream roll here, I must give honoroble mention to the little bakery I like very much on Fifth Ave. near Carroll in Brooklyn. They make a few select flavors here and are top-drawer. Today, I had the strawberry and my all time fave caramel crunch. Costing $4. for two flavors a virtual bargain for such high quality stuff, their flavors rock. The strawberry was intensly flavored and creamy and the caramel is one of my top flaves of all time. The texture is smooth and insanely caramely with crunchy pieces of caramel included. Flavors change daily and they are all delish.

Cones

Located on the ice-cream triad in Greenwich Village on Bleeker, this mainstay gelateria opened by Argentinian brothers has been serving homemade gelati and sorbets for years. My favorite flavors are banana and chocolate followed by dulce de leche and dark chocolate. The Argentines have a great history with gelato given the number of Italian immigrants there and I remember yummy gelato when I spent a month there in 2000. I have read some reviews that find the brothers unfriendly and only allow you to try two flavors. They arrange a tasting on a double sided spoon which is very smart as some folks taste endlessly before deciding. The service is always friendly here based on my experience and the price is $5 for two scoops with the first requested flavor being the larger serving in the cup, Cones is a reliable place for ice-cream in the Village. It will be interesting to see how the newly opened Groms down the street affects the business at Cones. My guess is that the folks at Cones really know their customers and have a reliable repeat customer base where Grom hires kids to work who are not as interested in getting to know customers.

Grom

Opening yesterday for the start of ice-cream season on the corner of Carmine and Bleeker, Grom was celebrating their grand opening with free gelato all day. This is significant because Grom is the most expensive ice-cream store in NYC and with some reason. They use imported high quality ingredients from Italy in much of their creamy gelato as well as the top machinery to produce their product. Pistachio, tiramisu, chocalate with Ecuadorian chocalate and cinnamon with "regina" cinnamon from sri lanka are some examples. The flavor of the month is bacio a chocalatey concoction with pieces of imported hazelnuts- perfetto! The fragola or strawberry had an authentic strawberry taste and creamy consistency. I have eaten many flavors uptown and they are all top of the line in terms of taste. The cones are not out of a box and have a nice bite and crunch. The store serves a little biscuit with their gelati- which is very European style. All this yumminess costs 4.75 for a small cone or cup and $5.75 for a medium cup or cone. Uptown swallowed these prices pretty readily, let's see if downtown follows suit.

El Paso Taqueria

Located one block north of the DMZ on 96th Street and Lex is this tiny Taqueria. It is a busy little restaurant shaped like a box with a pretty Mexican inspired mural and a small kitchen with lots of activity on a block of tenements on east 97th Street. Service is a little brusque as the turnover is quick here. Channel 47 is the featured entertainment with a large t.v. facing the dining room. The salsa was homemade and had a nice kick to it. My sopa of the day was mushroom and well flavored with some mozzeralla cheese of the top. The entree of chicken chimichanga one topped with green salsa the other with red was muy delicioso. El Paso is known for it's guacamole which you can order mild of spicy was very good. The entree is served with rice with veggies(frozen) and black beans for $11.50. Many families and locals filled this joint on Friday so it is quite popular though not a bargain. The bathroom was small and smelly with a heavy door to enter.

Joe's Famous Pizza

Still on a pizza quest, I wandered into Joe's on Carmine Street on my way to Cones on Bleeker. Joe's is an old school pizzeria churning out a good Brooklyn style pizza in the Village. My slice costing $2.50 was nicely crisped with a good balance of sweet/tangy sauce and cheese. Some of the crusts look slightly charred which works even better for me. Condiments were randomly available on tables and the pizza was good.

Ilili Restaurant

WOW- on many levels is my first impression of the soaring 30 foot ceilings in this moderern Frank Lloyd Wrightish space on 5th Ave near 27th Street. This is not a block one usually opens such an innovative and beautiful place. There is a loungy entrance with cushiony seating while waiting for your guests as you gaze skyward at the lovely blond wooden ceilings and rear bar as in this long and deep labrinyth like space created here. Once seated, I was twice told of the type of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fusion meze style food here, which I already knew. Initially, seated near the server area, the waiters were discussing the low number of guests present at lunch which was unprofessional and distracting. Any annoyance dissappeared once the food started arriving. Homemade pita with Lebanese olive oil and different salts arrived first. This spot has no lunch special and Ilili is an expensive restauarant so be forewarned. Appetizers start at $8 for lunch and sandwiches were about $14 and up. I ordered the warm eggplant with tamarind molasses and a deconstructed lamb sandwich with more warm wonderful pita. It was love at first bite with the eggplant being one of the best ever tasted, perfectly roasted baby eggplant with a lovely sweetness. The leg of lamb with house sundried tomatoes and cucumbers served with baby arugula was a flavor fest, tasting of coriander, mint, salt and other unidentifiable spices. Delish. The Lebanese chef owner of the former Neyla in Georgetown has an unorthodox approach to the food of his homeland and the Mediterranean region in general. The bathrooms are a posh affair and offer separate rooms with sinks and lovely mirrors. Desserts looked quite appealing though I was too full to indulge, but will return shortly for more.

99 cents Fresh Pizza

Under the bowels of Port Authority on Ninth Ave. is this busy pizza joint with occasional long lines that serves one of the cheapest slices in town. I have passed the spot many times, but finally got the courage to try the slice. This is super no-frills pizza with just a place to order and no place to sit for your buck. The slice was hot and fresh and tasted like a good slice of frozen pizza. I did not notice if they actually make the pizza on premises, but I was told later by a neighborhood resident that they actually do. The crust on the slice here was slightly crispy and the pizza itself was very bready with moderate sauce and (cheap) cheese. Garlic, salt, and pepper were the condiments available for this cheap, fresh slice.

Jimmy's Diner

On an unlikely spot on Union Ave. sits the newish diner owned by the now defunct Biscut/BBQ in Park Slope. I was never the biggest fan of the former place, but the new one has a whole new vibe and some very creative dishes on the menu. Green is the color dujour at Jimmy's with a ring of benches in the small space. The clientele represents the artys people who live and hang in the hood. The next table brought their own wine to spike up their o.j. and the next table discussed world travel. No baby prams visible here. The breakfast bowls are just $7 a pop and I opted for tater heaven which was deep fried tator tots topped with scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, avocado and Jack cheese. This dish was a greasy taste fest. Other options are clever named breakfast sandwiches like the champ with homemade sausages or the cowboy with eggs, Jack cheese and bbq sauce on a roll. Those start at $6, as well as some of the standard brunchy items starting at $7. The make your own shake was fun and I opted for banana, chocolate and caramel and mystery ice-cream. For $5, the shake was a fun flavor fest. The bathroom sports chalk to leave your mark on the wall in true Williamsburg fashion.

Bamiyan

Bamiyan is one of those special old-school restaurant that actually looks representative of the country's food they are preparing. Red velvet drapes on the windows of this corner spot as well as Afgan made rugs and tapestries adorn the walls of this charming eatery. A famous photograph of an Afgan girl with steely blue eyes matches the ceiling painted to look like a sky.
This charming eatery also boasts a few seats where you take your shoes off to dine really feels exotic. Afgan food is somewhat reminicent of Turkish yet different. The restaurant boast a $9.95 lunch special and a very diverse crowd comes to enjoy it. Lunch starts with a salad that looks like Afgan coleslaw, actually a mix of ice-berg, and cabbage with a tangy papkrika like dressing. The warm Afgan bread follows which is not as flavorfull as the Turkish though somewhat similar with tiny black seeds as well. My entree of boneless chicken breast with a saffron like seasoning was served over basmati rice with tiny raisins and and what appeared to be slivers of pickled carrots. I ordered a side of yogurt dressing to accompany the bread and balance the sweetness of the dish which was very tasty.

Mishima

Mishima is small Japanese restaurant on a lovely stretch of Lexington Ave in Murray Hill between 30th and 31st Street. It is now two floors and boasts some very fresh fish selections.
I have eaten here several times at lunch and was not ever dissappointed with the freshness of their sushi offerings and extra tasty miso soup. Lunch specials are pricier than others, starting at $11 for a 7 pieces but quality is better than most as well. The special starts with a small salad of iceberg lettuce with an especially tangy ginger dressing. The miso that follows is so homemade tasting and soothing. Next, was the fish which we both ordered a seafood donburi which was the chef's selection served chirashi style with rice which immediately was recognizable for it's freshness. The fish was served with ginger as well as pickled veggies and pickles and their fish was absolutely fresh and delicious. The service was also on point and friendly.

The Bagel Hole

This bagel store on a lonely south slope block on 7th. Ave is one of my favorite NYC bagel factories. I feel vindicated in saying this because the store had an honorable mention by Arthur Schwartz in his new book on Yiddish food. The store is a small narrow one with the usual spreads and add-ons, but here it is all about the bagel itself. I have eaten alot of Brooklyn bagels in my day and these bagels rank up there with the best bagels of my childhood. The owner is Italian and the bagels are hand rolled and smaller and crunchier than some other bogus bagels that are bigger, but lack flavor or bite. The egg bagel is especially flavorful and the plain bagel is just the perfect baked bite. If you get one hot with butter or cream cheese and coffee, you will go to Brooklyn bagel heaven. All the bagels here are great and run about .80 each.