Happy 4th. of July

New Amsterdam Food Market

This outdoor market is ground breaking in that not only does it feature farm fresh ingredients from NYS growers, but also New York City purveyors of fine foods are featured here under one highway sort of. Well the outdoor space is behind the parking spaces and adjacent to the South St. Seaport. Sunday's market offered food in categories like the Bread Pavillion, Milk and Honey, Pastured Meats, Producers and Purveyors. At the Bread Pavillion my personal fave, there was Daniel restaurant who normally only bakes bread for it's 4 restaurants offering their incredible darkly baked peasanty loves and samples as well. Also present and baking was the Bakehouse(NJ), Balthazar, Bouchon and Pan D'Avigon from Long Island City which is reputed to offer one of the best baguettes in town and judging by samples it is at the top along with Daniel. Other standouts included homemade ice-cream offered by Marlow and Sons from Williamsburg with their chocolate cherry ice-cream(divine). Lot's of goodies to try including a ceviche like concoction from Peasant Restaurant on a razor clam and a bean soup made from organic beans from upstate New York. This market was a complete surprise and many local foodies would be ecstatic for New Amsterdam to be permanent come the fall.

Horizons Store

Cute, colorful Horizons is accross from my favorite bakery Cheeks on Metroplitan Ave.at number 377. The hot pink, peach color drew me in to this vintagey shop. For a smallish shop the clothes seem handpicked with lots of better pieces to pick from and few to sift through. I bought a long pink cotton sleeveless top, with a Euro feel for $40. Great designer shoes like Ferragamo, Bruno Magli, Joan and David and more were available and all super cute and reasonably priced. Very nice owner and enjoyable shopping experience.
Go!

Rabbithole Cafe

Like the nearby Dressler restaurant, Rabbithole is a designed to feel like old New York. When you walk into through the original wood door and peer down at the wood plank floor and then gaze up at the tin ceiling, vintage chandellier and mirrors you are transported. The long shop boasts a garden in rear with tables near the garden or in the front with a view of Bedford Ave. so all tables have a nice vantage point. The guy behind the counter was very accomodating and I am always wary of eating in a cafe though the pastries looked enticing more on those later. There are salads, paninis and bagel combos to eat. Options like a hummus plate are $7. Bagel combos with coffee and tea are $6.80 with cutie names like the Cliff which icludes bacon, red onion and swiss or the Gooey which is tuna, tomato and melted swiss. The salads are about $6-$8 and I ordered the big Bad Wolf which contained greens, bacon avocado, swiss and homemade vinegarette which was very good and a chocolate chip cookie for $1.50. The cookie looked like I like them to look darly baked and rustic and was a perfect example of a homemade classic chocolate chip cookie. Other pastry options include raspberry chocolate chip rolled scone and apricot walnut rolled scone etc. which all looked yummy. Other goodies recently include homemade banana bread and a rustic apple cake.
Must Go!

Brooklyn Diner

I have eaten at Brooklyn Diner numerous times and always leave feeling unsatisfied, mainly because the cost of items at this upscale diner is so inflated. Some of the items I have eaten here are quite good like the Greek salad which you can add fried chicken to and is super tasty. My last meal pictured above was the cheeseburger deluxe which was rated as NY Mags best burger in '07 and a chocolate egg cream. The egg cream at $5.(ouch)was recommended by my dear friend and egg cream expert is one of the few authentically made egg creams and was perfect. The burger on the other hand looked great smothered in onion rings with cheese and applewood smoked bacon. When I tasted the burger, first thing I noticed was that it was overcooked, as was my dining companions, the bun was toasted and undistinguishable and the fries tasteless. Later, I realized that coleslaw was not included in the mix and at $16.75 for a pre-theatre lunch this mama was not happy. The space is very spiffy with an art decoish design though the use of the small space is a tad awkward. Nice john in the rear. No bang for the buck here.
Slow go!

Blue Marble Ice Cream

Farm fresh,organic ice-cream created in small batches in an upstate creamery is the Blue Marble credo. Their second location opened a few weeks ago on Underhill Ave. and Sterling in Prospect Heights. A cute picket fence lined shop is reminicent of the country. Flavors are plentiful with the usual suspects of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and coffee as well as changing flavors and sorbets. I opted for the consientious chip and chocolate chip. Both were super creamy and fresh tasting for $5.50. Their ice-cream is quite good, though seems to lack the same intensity as others that are created on premises. The store also serves freshly baked goods from the bakery, Baked in Red Hook as well as loose teas from in Pursuit of Tea. There is a toilet in the rear of the kiddie area in the back of the store and a garden with kids toys connected to the kiddie playground. Super kid friendly.
Go!

Saigon Grill

Today was my second visit to Saigon Grill and I can't manage to tear myself away from the grilled porkchops which is on the lunch special for $8.75 pictured above and served with jasmine rice and pickeled cucumbers, cabbage and carrots with a tangy sauce and hot spices if you can tolerate it. The pork chops are marinated in a mix of honey and spices and grilled. This being a grill, the pork chops are succulent, sweet and carmelized at the edges. The meat paired with the pickeled salad and jasmine rice offers a great balance of flavors and textures. The space at Saigon Grill is soaring and sumptuous and the lunch specials are almost all under $10. At lunch the restaurant is moderately busy, though I have seen a wait outside at dinnertime where the prices are about 30% higher. I would recommend lunchtime for the real value. Bathroom is multi-stalled, new and unremarkable.
GO!

Chiles & Chocolate oaxacan kitchen

Oaxacan kitchens are famous for their moles utilizing the ingredients of chilies and chocolates and this busy little north slope spot offers several. Chiles and Chocolate offeres an extensive menu as well as a $12 brunch special that is special because the food is made to order and authentic. The space at 52 7th. Ave is narrow with photos of Oaxacans on one side and Mexican mirrors on the other that create a feeling of extra space. There is a tented area out back which was full on a Sunday. I ordered the chilaquiles and spicy hot chocolate(chilies y chocolate)for $12 and side orders of guacamole and elotes del zocalo(spicy corn on the cob). The meal was a taste fest of flavor. The chilaquiles are a casserole of chips soaked in a spicy salsa, grilled chicken and mexican rice and beans. The fire roasted corn on the cob which I spied cooking up fresh on the way to the bathroom before brunch was one of the best I've ever had. Served on a plate with romaine, radish and pickled red onion with cheese, chipotle and chocolate on the corn. The guacamole was fresh with lots of cilantro and citrus flavor. The only dissappointment was the hot chocolate which was not chocolately or spicy enough to taste. The toilet is tiny in the back of the narrow open kitchen which churns up Oaxacan treats and according to their menu this is not a Mexican Restaurant.
Must Go!

Shake Shack

The line was snaking almost around the block at 12:30 on this lovely almost summer day. This institution in Gramercy park is perenially packed for yummy burgers, Chicago style franks and hmmmmmm good frozen custard my personal fave. Since Custard Beach closed a few years back this is the only spot to eat homemade custard. Today, I order my usual Shack-Cago dog for $3.75 and a homemade lemonade as well as the custard flavor of the day which was cherry chip and also a chocolate custard. My friend ordered the hamburger and fries with cheese sauce. The frank has a nice bite along with cucumbers, pickles and "scary" fresh tomatoes on a poppy seeded bun. Spicy good mustard is available at the condiment table. The cheese fries are made from yukon gold potatoes and are tasty. The lemonade was flavorless as so many restaurants offer a good homemade summertime lemonade. My custards were silky smooth and delicious. The cherry chip has pieces of chocolate chips and a nice cherry flavor. Summertime is Shake Shacks busiest season so if you don't mind the line.
Go!

Downtown bakery Mexican food

This little spot churns out homestyle Mexican food and a few baked goods and has occupied the same spot at 69 1st. Ave. and 4th. Street since 1989. The owner graduated from elementary school across the street and has planted himself in the neighborhood ever since. There are three sticky tables and a counter with 4 barstools in which to eat. Pictures of Mayan goods and Mexican figures provide the only decoration here, and this spot makes no pretense about anything other than the food which is freshly made to order, cheap and good. There is an extensive menu including many breakfast burritos, tacos and platters and I already plan a breakfast excursion shortly. There are a few specials per day and mine was chicken chipotle which is pictured for $8. A large burrito arrived slathered with homemade guacamole and crema(Mexican sour cream). Spicy chipotle chicken, and black beans in a fresh flour tortilla. Que rico!
Go!

Griff's Gelati

On my never-ending quest for homemade ice-cream a new spot opens around the corner from the great ice-cream at the Odeon cart. Do I dare risk that the newcomer could be better? Well since at noon on Saturday, the Odeon cart had no ice-cream ready, the choice was clear. Griff's was also still setting up and the ice-cream was a tad soft. The ice-cream is sold out of a little closet on Duane Street and made by the Duane Park Restaurant daily. I tried the smores and bourbon pecan flavors. The bourbon pecan was quite tasty with a definite bourbon taste. Smores are a combo of chocolate and marshmallows, this ice-cream combo lacked flavor. I finally settled on grape ape which was grapey and good. Ice-cream here is $3 for one flavor and $5 for two with no homemade cones. No special toppings as mentioned in the Timeout NY blurb were anywhere in sight.
Go!

Scarpetta's

Located in the Gin House space on West 14th. Street, a diamond in the meatpacking district has emerged. Scarpetta's is a an upscale Italian with super service and delicious food that is on the pricey side. The space has been transformed into a brown, beige and black ultra modern room with brown banguettes and cool open skylights. There are mirrors on the walls with beige belt like pieces hung vertically in a strange design decision. There is a large wine room in the rear of the restaurant and an extensive selection. The bread arrives with four different kinds of house made breads including a lovely focaccia, pancetta bread, baguette and a roll. To enjoy with the bread are eggplant caponata, marscapone butter and citrus infused olive oil- all delish. To start we shared a scallop carpacio which was citrusy and light. Also to start was a mozzarella in carozza. The carozza was prepared in a Japanese panko which was good, though there was a tad too much oregano in the accompanying red sauce for my taste. The main courses were a raviolini with squash blossoms and a calamerata pasta with mixed seafood. The raviolini had pieces of baby zucchini as well as the squash blossoms and was flawless. The calamerata has a seafoody taste and was very interesting to taste. There was also an order of frito misto with fried seafood with lemon, again perfect. This is a place for a special dinner with exceptional service and a pricetag to match.
Must Go!

Resto

Resto the Belgian spot on East 29th. Street has been opened for months and recently also open for lunch. I had high hopes for Resto as I love Belgian food, having traveled to Belgium and enjoyed local spots under the last Belgian wave in NYC about 7 years ago. The restaurant looks like it was created with a Belgian farmhouse style in mind with white stucco walls, a natural wood waincotting and new tin ceilings. A modern bar with metal stools and bar hooks on the bar are there when you need them. Lot's of Belgian brews on tap available from the land of great beer. Being in the mood for a really good burger for lunch, I thought I would eat well here. The burger/fried egg optional is a small cylinder on a plain bun with gruyere red onion, pickle, fries and a side salad for $15. I was dissapointed to find the bun on the burger was not fresh so I put it aside. The burger was charred well beyond the medium requested, and the frites tasted reheated instead of freshly fried. My friend ordered the fish and chips for $20 which contained only a few small pieces of cod and frites with tarter sauce. She appeared moderately happy with hers. My biggest joy of this lunchtime meal was seeing the charming bathroom with moulin rouge style wallpaper of ladies gams and lingere as well as piped in music with a lovely country sink and beautiful wood sliding door.
Slow Go!

New Blog Rating System

Dear people about town,

Upon reflection and recommendation, I am instituting a new rating system for spots reviewed in the blog.

Must Go! Absolutely no question about it. Tops in it's class. Worth the trip from any borough or burb.

Go! This is a good spot. Try it!

Slow Go! Think it over.

No Go! Enough said.

Any thoughts or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Franny

The New French

I was wondering about the New French, mainly it's name intrigued me. An article in the Voice stated the restaurant was not French, but named after a place with the same name in Minneapolis. The chef was also explaining this to a table of family and friends on Saturday at the spot around the corner from the West 10th. Street Housing Works. It is a small thoughtful, ultramodern space with two sides of black slab banquettes and alot of tables in a small space. An open kitchen is towards the rear and the specials are written on a chalk board. I ate two dishes one was the New French salad which was chock full of many ingredients including romaine, red, yellow beets, green beans, gruyere and radish in a very light dressing for $12. The quality of this salad reminded me of salads I have eaten in Europe which generally and I mean generally taste more interesting than many eaten in NYC. Continuing on with the meal, was one of the specials pizza bianca for $8. This was a pizza on focaccia with grilled onion, goat cheese, gruyere and roasted peppers which again had many good flavors going on. The dinner special for $25 was a striped bass with bacon, french beans and cherry tomatoes. The bathroom which looked like it was preexisting and had grey tiled walls and a black and white tiled floor and two candles burning and was very clean. Should you go? Go!

The Odeon Ice Cream Cart

Still on the hunt for killer homemade ice-cream, I heard about the famous Odeon Restaurant sporting a cart in front. The Odeon in Tribeca is a classic N.Y. restaurant, around since it's heydays in the 80's famous for late-nite celeb and model bites. The little cart serves up ice-cream and homemade waffle cones all made from organic ingredients. For $4 you can get one or two scoops. On Saturday when I was there the flavors were chocolate, dulce de leche and cookies and cream. I ordered the dulce de leche and chocolate. I will say that I was impressed. Again made in smaller batches than some of the other homemade giants the ice-cream tasted super fresh and the chocolate was rich, not too dense and had great chocolate flavor. The dulce de leche had a faint caramel taste and both went well together as well as with the homemade waffle cone which was very light and absolutely perfect. Should you go? Must go!

Cabrito's

Cabrito's at 50 Carmine is a new Mexican joint with an super specialty bar menu and some killer Mexican grub. The space is big and rectangular with tables very close together. The yellow wooden bar has painted flowers and hooks for bags and jackets(this hook thing must be a new trend). There is a reggae soundtrack going adding to the chill vibe in the restaurant. Most of the dishes here are a la carte. Salsa is ordered with three kinds available- a salsa verde, salsa roja and pico de gallo. The salsas arrive with housmade chips- que bueno and are simply bright and all top notch. I order a cerviche with avocado to start for $11. The cerviche is small for the price, but the flavor is quite big and tangy with a tamarind undercurrent. My main is enchiladas con queso with a salsa roja. The tortilla is housemade and arrives again without any sides as the $14 main is served a la carte. Again the flavor is big and bold and tasty. The bathroom here is one of the cutest around with rose painted walls with stenciled flowers and a green pearlized toilet seat with gold flower stencils. Should you go? Go!

Madeline Mae

Located at 461 Columbus and 82nd. Street, I liked Madeline Mae's from the moment I walked in the door. Immediately, I was seated a nice seat in the center of the restaurant. Country style wooden tables are well laid out for a spacious experience. Corn bread and short bread were brought over on a curved wooden cutting board. The corn bread was especially moist and went well with the food. I started with a chilled cucumber soup and this was thicker style soup with pieces of cucumber with a spicy kick. Homemade lemonade was refreshing. Next, was the mac and cheese which like Wildwood Barbecue was a crustless top sporting a breadcrumb style top instead. I was offered dessert because of a faux pas with my fried chicken. Again the staff here could not be more accomodating, the butterscotch pudding was topped with carmelized bananas- hmmmmmmmmm! Bathroom was spiffy and clean.

Lookout Hill

Lookout Hill opened in Park Slope at the corner of President Street where Biscuit BBQ never really succeeded. The space has been transformed into an unltramodern metal bar and softly colored room with a mirrored backsplash and front and back banquettes as well as an alfresco terrace. There are lots of hooks to hang jackets and bags at which is a thoughtful part of the design. Walking through the door you immediately smell a nice smokey smell and think it is an omen of good eats to come. There is a John Deer basket of sauces and condiments and the homemade sauces are quite good. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich which comes with slaw for $9. The pork was thick cut and slathered in sweet sauce and place on a toasted onion roll. The slaw was unseasoned and did not have any visible veggies like carrots, celery or onion. For my taste, the cue was too thickly cut and too slathered in sauce as well as having too crunchy a bun to hit the mark. The small side of corn pudding for $4. was really corn bread with a couple of pieces of corn. I thought of the killer corn pudding at Hill Country on 26th Street which is mainly all corn and so well seasoned. Now I do not like to be highly critical in my blogging, but the food never quite hit the mark. Additionally, I ate there for Sunday brunch and the floor was clearly unswept under my table and the lovely slate sink in the bathroom was sopping wet at 1:30 in the afternoon.