Chelsea Market

I am always shocked when people who are foodies have not been to the temple of all markets, Chelsea Market. Housed in an avenue block long space that once housed a sugar factory and now houses multiple food purveyors as well as the Food Network, Oxygen and NY 1 upstairs. This is one of my favorite places in all of NYC. All senses are awakened in the industrial urban space where the sugary, sweet, goodness entices your nose to walk further along the glazed concrete walkway. Passing the now empty Chelsea Florist on the left, continue into the market and stop for a gaze at the Fat Witch brownie shop surely considered the premier brownie baker with multiple flavors and samples on the weekend. Further up the food chain is Amy's Bread which is baked at the market, and has tables for munching. Ronnybrook Farms Milk Bar which sells their products as well as cooks up some great comfort breakfasts, lunch dinners all with the Ronnybrook milk served at the old fashioned dairy counter. Their ice-creams are quite good and their chocolate chip cookies are a personal favorite. One of the larger purveyors in the market is the Buon Italia Company. This store imports the usual and unusual Italian cheeses, olive oils, breads, jarred goods and pastas. They also have a food section outside of the store with authentic Italian offerings cooked there, and using many imported products. The food is quite authentically Italian, though not cooked to order. More goodies abound with Sarabeth's further on the left which houses their kitchen. Late day half priced specials are usually available after 5PM. There is also a small space for eating inside cooked or baked goodies. Other good dining options include the Thai restaurant which was one of the original tenants and still serves up fresh, food made to order. There is a seafood purveyor in the market selling high quality seafood and some made to order seafood salads, and chowders. Another fave is the Chelsea Market Basket which stocks very cool baskets and small food items, including chocolates and other unusual sweet and savories for very reasonable prices. For fun shopping there is the Bowery kitchen supplies and Marakesh imprts. One last food mecca is the Manhattan Fruit exchange which sells the fruits and veggies and stocks some exotic stuff like passion fruit and unusual varieties of oranges at somewhat reasonable prices.
Check out the website for up to the minute events at the market like salsa on Tuesday evenings and Tango on Friday evenings, yes you read that right. http://www.chelseamarket.com/

Dice Thai Cuisine

So many Thai's so little time. It can be hard to find a truly great Thai among a sea of so many. This little jewel opened a few years ago is one that is truly flavorful and well done. Sitting at the edge of Prospect Park West in Windsor Terrace where many new food spots are popping up quite often in what was once barren of decent chow. Every dish is made fresh and to order. I enjoyed the duck salad of roasted duck with tomatoes, pineapples, cashews over lettuce doused in chili lime juice. The tom kah gai arrives in an earthenware dish with handle which the owner said is from the famous central Bangkok market. The Pad Thai's are all very good here. I especially like the cashew nut entree with cashews, your choice of meat with scallions in a cashew nut sauce, now that's cashewy good. A Monday-Friday lunch special offers a variety of opetions compared to other Thai's and include a spring roll and salad for $5.95 for chicken, veggies or tofu and $6.95 for beef, shrimp or vegetarian duck. Walk it all of a few blocks away in lovely Prospect Park.

Via Emilia

At Via Emilia the cuisine of Modena is spotlighted. Before you walk in you notice the red door to the right of the restaurant beckoning you with it's many written accolades. This modern, space with brightly colored art, red banquettes lining the wall, was an instant hit when it opened some months ago. Located on East 21st Street between Broadway and Park Ave South, I dined there for lunch. Now this spot is cash only and being pretty reasonable that works. Lovely thick, dark, salty focaccia is served right away. I opted for a grilled shrimp salad served simply over arugula with hearts of palms and pieces of parmigiano reggiano. This was a lovely light dish with the shrimp nicely charred and ready to eat. Costing $12.50, it was a nice balance of flavors and definitely plated to order. For lunch many there are many pastas from $8-$15 are available as well as comparably priced panini. Some tempting paninis included chicken and eggplant alla parmigiana served on stirato bread. A panini called Big Luciano is a pressed sandwich with fried gnocco and procuitto- very interesting. The small staff simply consisted of a waitress, busboy and the chef came out to help and brought me the check. There will definitely be a return trip here to try the pastas which are hand made daily except penne, spaghette and farfalle.

Hot Chocolate

I have been meaning to blog this up before our thoughts turn to fiending for ice-cream instead of hot chocolate. I have been sampling many a restaurant's offerings all over town and found some spots offer such a dissapointing weak brew. On the upside some Mexican spots offer a very servicable hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon, something the country is famous for. Anything made without milk is almost not worth drinking. Here are my picks for the standout hot chocolates I have tried around town. Number one, would be the Shake Shack version which is rich, dark and thick with toffee marshmellows. This hot chocolate is almost a meal in of itself, and the lines are shortest in Gramercy Park on the coldest days. My second fave this season is at a charming little bakery on Allen Street on the LES called How Sweet it is.....remember Jackie Gleason's famous line. This is a pink dot of a bakery with artisan baked goods and pastries. The hot chocolate is just the right amount of chocolately goodness and is heaven with a baked accompanyment. Of course, City Bakery deserves an honorable mention, but it is frankly just too rich for my palate.

Aja

This tranquil new space on 6th Ave. and 11th. Street with a large buddha sitting on a waterfall in the back of the beautifully constucted space has a great bangin' bargain lunch. You are welcomed into the restaurant by a large tank full of fish with a backsplash of stones. The restaurant has walls of carved stones and buddahs which are very pretty. Thai, Vietnamese and sushi are all served here with great, gracious service. Just opened a few months their food offerings are well executed. Lunch specials at $9. offer a main course with a salad, soup, rice and choice of spring roll or shrimp and chicken dumplings. Your order arrives in a quartered plate with all fresh offerings. The thai shrimp was freshly cooked, and well seasoned. Sushi lunches start a $10 and include a soup and salad. I indulged in the sushi lunch which is preceeded by a large mesclun salad and mildly flavored miso. The sushi although serviceable included a california roll with too cold rice, but still a good, quick sushi lunch fix on the cheap.

Bouchon Bakery

I have tried to get excited as some other people about Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center. Though it is always exciting to be in the Time Warner Center an urban upscale mall with sweeping views of Central Park and the posh buildings surrounding it. The mix of international tourists and locals as well as the upscale shops and restaurants within the mall make the Time Warner Center unique. At Bouchon, the tarts, pastries and assorted baked goods are first rate, they almost fail to excite me perhaps because of the inflated costs or the pretense of authentic French pastry falls below expectation and unlike bakeries abroad serve their pricey pastries on cheap plastic. My favorite baked goods here are the dense donuts which they serve only once in a while. Brioche's are sweet though the few times I have had them they are a little dry inside. The soups here are quite good albeit pricey. I have had the beet, and just last night the white bean, kale and country bacon soup. Very tasty as they should be at $8.95. The salads are tasteless and premade with decent dressings.

Tres Pommes Patisserie

This is my one of my favorite spots on Fifth Ave, near Garfield Street in the Slopey, Slope. This charming spot owned by the former pastry chef at the ever popular Union Square Cafe in Union Square churns out amazing baked goodies plus homemade ice-cream and chocolates. Everything is simply delish here, with an expert at the helm. My personal faves are the sticky pecan bun loaded with sugary pecans and molasses baked to a golden dark hue, banana bread, homemade oreo cookies, brownies and rocking homemade hazelnut chocolates with a hazelnut on top. A recent addition of jelly donuts are simply killer with a beautifully fried donut with a layer of raspberry jelly and lots of sugar on top. Her ice-creams are luscious which as you know I have a thing for ice-cream. All are creamy fresh and good with a homemade waffle cone, but the caramel ice-cream with caramel pieces is simply delisiouso. Mine yesterday was soft and tasted like caramelized dark brown sugar with crispy caramel pieces, oh so yummy. A few tables are up in front of the store with the kitchen and other baking and ice-cream paraphanalia in the back. A small purple bathroom in the back is there if you need it.

Rachel's

Along the Amsterdam Ave. of Brooklyn aka 5th Ave there are many dining/brunch options some more crowded and overhyped than others. At Rachel's on the mighty 5th. between 8th and 9th. street. this potential brunch destination is neither too crowded or expensive. This funky spot is owned by the original California Taqueria King of Brooklyn Mr. Medina and is a solid food choice. Lot's of old rock and roll posters line the top half of a wall with the bottom decorated in pretty yellow Mexican style tile. A bar and open kitchen lead to an outdoor garden just waiting for the Spring season. Brunch choices start at $5.50 and go up to $6.50 which is a real bargain for this hood. The Pepe is an egg and spicy potato stuffed burrito with salsa roja and melted cheese on top. Other options include french toast, huevos rancheros as well their regular menu being available at brunch. I ate the poblano chicken mole which includes cheese, and your choice of rice and beans for $6.50 plus guacamole for an extra peso. The tortilla chips are fried in house and are yummy. Hot chocolate was so-so, but the marachino cherry on top was so cute. The food here is solid, filling and oh so cheap.

Annie Ji's Nail Salon

Finding a $15 Manhattan mani/pani is a near impossibility especially in Midtown Manhattan. Look no further at this little clean neighborhood spot the bargain beauty hunter will be very happy. Located on a residential block on East 25th. Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave, I have been coming here for a few years and this little spot does a first rate job with a good color selection in a clean friendly environment. Their mani/pani special is available Monday-Thursday. Their regular prices are pretty reasonable as well with a regular manicure only $6 and a pedicure only $9. Other services such as waxing are also available at very reasonable prices.

Massawa

Located on Amsterdam Avenue and 121st street on the burgeoning food scene uptown on Amsterdam between 125th. and 110th., Massawa serves up Eritrean and Ethiopian food in charmingly decorated spot.

The food here is served with injera and eaten by hand. This doughy bread is made from Teff the smallest wheat grain found in East Africa. Eating here is a real cultural experience. There is a lunch special with most dishes priced under $10. A choice of beef, poultry, lamb, seafood and vegetables and vegan is available. I chose the lamb cooked two ways. The dish is plated right on the injera with extra served on the side. One lamb was cooked with onions and spices and the other was cooked with berbere a red spicy sauce. There was a small salad and a peanuty sauce on the side. The food was very tasty and enjoyable. There were pictures on the wall of Ethiopian figures and handicrafts abounding. The spot is very charming and the feasting here is truly unique.

Baccaro

We finally dined at the much hyped Baccaro on a lonely though ever trendy stretch of Division Street. This little spot is so pretty and romantic inside. There is a small upstairs with lovely wainscotting, a shiny wood bar and tables with dripping candles over old fashioned candle holders. Downstairs using the space very cleverly are tables set inside the exposed brick grottos of the building. There is even a separate speakeasy style entrance to the downstairs outside. Now the food- crusty good peasant bread arrives first with the actual bottle of extra virgin olive oil, nice touch. My friend and I shared two items. The menu is mad up of about 20 items. We ordered the gnocchi alla funghi(mushroom gnocchi) and the fritto misto(fried mix) of seafood and vegetables. The gnocchi although flavorful with a touch of greens was not cooked to order. The tasty sauce tasted reheated. The fritto misto was nicely cooked had a nice selection of fish and veggies though lacked an accompanying sauce. I requested an aoili or marinara from the kitchen and the waiter said they had none? No tomato sauce in an Italian style restaurant?
Well the bathroom here was beautiful with a large pedestal sink and a huge antique style mirror and sconces. A standout toilet in a super cool space with unremarkable grub.

Nizza

Nizza means Nice in Italian and having traveled to Nice, and sampled the cuisine some years back the restaurant reflects a marriage of French and Italian mediterranian influences. At Nizza restauarant which is down the block on Ninth Ave. and 44th Street from Marseille the French influenced Meditteranean. Unlike the posher Marseille, Nizza can do almost no wrong foodwise. Nizza is owned by the owner of the popular Upper West Side French restaurant Nice Matin. It is a weirdly configured space with comfortable chairs although some a little close together and close to the door for comfort. I have eaten here for both brunch and dinner and both meals have been flawless as well as every other meal around me looks like I can't wait to eat it the next time. For brunch there are many interesting menu options including salads like a giant Ligurian tuna salad, kind of like a tuna nicoise, eggs and rustic style pancakes as well as slammin' pizza selections. The bread here is a light focaccia and though must be requested at brunch is wonderful. You can also order a delish cranberry scone served warm with butter and orange marmelade. My meal was a skillet steak with carmelized cippolini onions with a chimichurri like sauce and was perfectly cooked. For dessert although many at brunch eat them first, I ordered housemade beignets with homemade raspberry preserves. These are light and willowy with powdered sugar, they are fried dough heaven. An accompanying hot chocolate arrived looking like a dark cappucino and was a standout hot chocolate. Pizzas and pastas here are firstrate, like a pizza san remo with tomato and anchovy sauce. My meal last night included the pizza hot coppa with cured meat, arugula, a thin layer of mozzeralla on a superb crust. Deliciouso. The desserts of a chocolate and orange crostata and semifreddo and expresso were also killer. This is a standout out New York City kitchen, with very reasonable prices. Oh and a bathroom shoutout- two bathrooms, the one on the left is slightly larger with a sink inside and the one on the right is sinkless. Nizza is on 9th. Ave. between 44th. and 45th. Street.