Scratchbread@Toby's Public House

Owner and baker Matthew Tilden rents out the rustic brick oven at Toby's Public House for a few hours a night. In that time he creates artisan bread and foccacia. This is amazing bread, properly darkly baked and using hand chosen ingredients. These loaves of love include olive, tomato focaccia, mushroom and just plain baguettes. Bread this great excites me and so I took home a few. Dense, flavorfull and absoulutely fantastic.

Pinch and S'mac

Comfort food reigns at this Upper West Side combo of pizza hence Pinch and Mac and Cheese. Had the four cheese mac and cheese served in a cast iron skillet and it was cheesey, yummy with a great crust on top. The corn salad side with grape tomatoes had a great fresh taste. You order at a counter, there is alfresco dining and this is a great spot to dine solo/sola. Inexpensive as well.

GO!

Buttermilk Channel

A madhouse at brunch with a deafening din though the food lives up to the hype. Very solid comfort grub with a twist. I was seated at the dreaded bar, which I hate, though looking at the crowd, I reluctantly agreed. I ordered the fried pork chop over waffles, a take off on the famous dish of chicken and waffles. Big perfectly fried pork chop with light and tasty waffles with real maple syrup for $15 bangers. The pork chop could have been slightly more seasoned though with great cooking was a clever dish. Also ate as shown the fresh fried apple cider donut which was well fried and powdered with sugar for $2 bangers. Other dishes around me looked first rate. This corner spot is meticulously renovated with a touch of the vintage look so very popular in Brooklyn joints these days. GO!

Mambo Open Book Cafe

A cafe on the steps of the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, I attended the opening ceremony with Mr. Brooklyn himself, Marty Markowitz. As Marty said,"It doesn't get better than this." The owner is local restauranteur Spencer Rothchild. This cafe is brilliant Brooklyn p.r. and a great place to hang, chew, chat and sip while overlooking Prospect Park.

The food is Latin inspired as Spencer owns the yummy Barrio and Playa in Park Slope proper. We munched on lobster sliders served on a soft roll($8.75) which were yum. Mexican inspired hummos served with flatbread was also very tasty. Sweet, chocolatey brownies finish the yummy flavors served. Beer and wine will be served as well.

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Golosi

Authentic Roman pizza by the inch. The owner uses caputo flower imported from Italy for a doughy flavorful pizza. The margherita has a light, sweet sauce, good cheese and the lovely crust. Parma procuitto, and arugula are also tasty with the counter person adding a little extra virgin olive oil on top upon request. Golosi also features homemade gelato which could not be a more perfect combo. The mini cone- literally a mini cone with gelato is clever. Flavors like nutella, chocolate or fruity flavors like lemon or grapefruit make for a tasty apres pizza treat.

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Dish Du Jour- Taste of Queens and beyond

Out in the beautiful borough of Queens is this yearly tasting event. All inclusive of food and wine representing Queens and it's international flavor. Set in a large and slightly tacky catering hall(which adds to the charm and uniqueness of the event) taste of Queens was not as innovative as last year's. The theme of the meatball and a contest for who makes the best limited the food choices as many vendors served meatballs. Some food standouts were the meatballs from Bar Stuzzichini(from Manhattan) lovely Andulusion gazpacho from 718 in Astoria and authentic Italian food from Manetta's in Long Island City like stuffed mushrooms with sausage, and stuffed artichokes with black olives. Desserts like gelato from Ciao Bella and some local bakeries could have been a little more imaginative. Magic Hat, Brooklyn beer were a lovely presence as was Maker's Mark and specialty rum drinks.

Taqueria De Los Muertos

Taqueria de los Muertos is a small spot on the edge of Prospect Heights. What distinguishes this gem apart from the others is the freshmade authentic food and cute decorations like tiny skulls surrounding the perrimeter reminding you it is the taqueria of the dead. The brunch item pictured above of breakfast enchilada for $12 includes the entree as well as coffee or tea and an orange or mango juice. This enchilada was a flavor fest of eggs, shrimp, cactus with queso fresco and mole poblano- yummy. You can also order off the regular menu which I have and it is also reasonable and tasty. The deluxe burrito with your choice of meat- I ordered turkey, choice of beans(love that) I ordered pinto, plus chease guac., rice with pico de gallo and sour cream is $7.50. You can also order your burrito desnudo style which is without the tortilla and those look yummy. Tacos, tostadas, quesadillas and burritos are all made fresh to order at this slice of Mexican heaven. Service is amatuerish here though the great food makes up for that.
GO!

Co.

Co. hit the mark with it's current location on 24th. and 8th. Ave in a spot foremerly occupied by a Twin Donut. Mostly communal seating is the only downside at this restaurant opened by the guy who started the Sullivan Street Bakery. Co. aims high culinarily and reaches it's goals. For appetizers, we ordered olives, eggplant on toast and an escarole salad and a salami from California. The escarole salad with capers, croutons and a lemony olive oil dressing was a standout. The ham and cheese pizza with gruyere, buffalo mozzeralla and procuitto with it's charred crust and out of the oven heat was simply killer as the owner is a breadmaker and the dough made all the difference. For dessert a banana split with homemade gelato. Blood orange and chocolate gelato over bananas and smothered in marshmellow sauce and hot fudge with candied walnuts. Perfetto!

MUST GO!

Rios Churrascaria

Rios Churascaria opened quietly at the old Porcao space on Park Ave. South. Soaring space, churascarias are the ultimate activity food. A huge salad bar pales compared to the old Porcao. Some options look a day old. Nicely cooked pork ribs were the star of the salad bar. The meat service was dissapointing with lots of varieties though most was overcooked and flavorless. It took several requests to get extra cheese bread and fried bananas. Given the prices I would say this is a fun space though better churascarias are found elsewhere.

SLOWGO!

James Beard House

Al Safa Restaurant

Looking for more Middle Eastern adventures, I wandered down 5th. Ave and stumbled upon Al Safa restuarant. This corner spot is Lebanese and boasts pictures of the country under the counter. The distinction at Al Safa are the tiny pies baked here(pictured above). Lahmajeen with ground meat, onion, green pepper, tomato and spices, the ubiquitous spinach pie as well as pizza looking pies. I tried the cheese pie which is small with edges darkly baked with mozzarella cheese and spices in the middle.
Dishes of tiny roasted potatoes with lemon and spices and fried eggplant were among the appetizers. I also ordered the deep fried cauliflower which were juicy deep fried vegetables and the Lebanese garlic sauce. Different from Turkish it is a billowy fully potent garlic sauce which went perfectly with the cauliflower. The mini cheese pie was delish and the cheese tasted feta like. Other stews viewed while a middle eastern woman ordered looked great as well. Bathroom in basement.
Go!
Click here for restaurant link.

Salumeria Rosi

Craving cured meats on the Upper West Side, this small market sells good quality pork. The marketplace also bakes it's own procuitto bread, properly darkly baked and absolutely the tops I have tasted. The doughy little ricotta bread on the right is original and super tasty with pasta or delightful dipped in olive oil. The attached restaurant offers small dishes and accompanying wines. Next store is the latest branch of Jacques Torres chocolate to sweeten up your taste buds after all this savory stuff.
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