Thursday May 20th

3pm

84 Stanton Street

After sending a few places from my “must try list” to The Wandering Foodie we decided on the recently open Meatball Shop in the Lower East Side for a late lunch. I read about it when it first opened, and the idea of being able to order meatballs at 4am was intriguing (the kitchen is open until 4am Thursday – Saturday, until 2am Sunday – Wednesday). If you didn’t guess from the name, meatballs are the specialty of the house. The space itself is small—a large communal table fills most of the dining room with a few tables running along the side wall and about a dozen seats at the bar. During warm weather there’s a few tables available outside as well. Fresh flowers are neatly arranged at each table, a chalkboard announces the specials of the day (featuring a daily meatball, sauce, side, salad and ice-cream) and black and white vintage family portraits line the red wall.

When you sit down you’re handed a laminated menu and a dry erase marker to make your selections. The menu is divided into 3 sections: Ala Carte Balls, Sandwiches – hero (served on a baugette) or sliders, and a meatball smash (served on a brioche bun).

How it works:

Step 1. Select ala carte, slider, hero or smash

Step 2. Select your meatball – chicken, beef, pork, vegetarian (made with lentils and walnuts) or special

Step 3. Choose a sauce – classic tomato, spicy beef, parmasean cream, mushroom or special

Step 4. Mozzarella or provolone

I love the idea of taking one food – the meatball – and creating an endless choice of options, but I guess this is why you get the dry erase marker in case you start to second guess. If you’re at a loss the wait staff will gladly offer up their recommendations and favorite combinations. These aren’t Mom’s meatballs (my Sicilian Mother and Grandmother used a mix of pork, veal and beef and simmered them in a tomato sauce with neck bones for flavor), but they were tender and delicious. I recommend trying the basil pesto (if available as the special) with a chicken meatball or the spicy beef with a beef meatball (beef on beef seems so gluttonous but tasted so good).

Tip: Don’t forget to save room for dessert! The ice-cream is made in-house and you can create a “custom” ice-cream sandwich from a choice of four types of cookies or a brownie.

Lunch

(I had a taste of each)

• Sliders – beef with spicy beef, special jambalaya with shrimp, andouille and rice with basil pesto (the only miss, was too salty and fishy), pork with mushroom, chicken with classic tomato
• Smash – chicken with basil pesto and mozzarella (my favorite)
• Side of white beans
• Special salad – arugula with asparagus and a creamy lemon vinagarette
• Market salad – arugula with apples
• House made tangerine, caramel and mint ice-cream with a ginger snap cookie on the side (We couldn’t come to a decision on a sandwich combination so ordered ala carte)

Good for: Meatballs, Endless Choices of Meatballs, Late Night Meatballs, Customizable Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Friday May 14th

6:30pm

40 Broad Street (located on the second floor of The Setai)

I met the Wine Dutchess for an afternoon work session at the Hive at 55 to design her new logo—and since we were already on Broad Street we felt compelled to stop in SHO for a Friday evening cocktail. SHO is located on the second floor of The Setai, luxury condos that are a brand extension of the Miami namesake. A quick elevator ride after entering the small black and red lobby you step in to the bar and lounge area of SHO. The space is very sleek and minimal, evocative of Miami Beach style – except here the Stock Exchange is steps away rather than the beach. Just past the entrance is a walkway lined with wine bottles from floor to ceiling set behind glass, which leads to the main dining area. I had dinner in the dining room back in January and the 6 courses were mostly a hit (one or two dishes were misses, they felt a little dated like they belonged in the movie Wall Street circa 1987), but I digress. Tonight was about the cocktails and a cheese plate, which at $20 for the chef’s selection of 6 came complete with a lesson in fromages from our server. We learned that fine blue cheese is often cored and served with champagne in the center, that fruit paste is meant to cleanse your pallet between tasting the different types of cheese (as ginger does for sushi) and that cheese plate selections are presented left to right from fresh to sharp.

Tip: Monday – Friday SHO offers a 3-course prix fixe lunch for $30, a small price for a fine dining experience.

Cocktail

• French 75 in Padua – Aperol, Citadelle, Prosecco, Blood Orange

Chef’s Selection of Cheeses

• Lynnhaven Goat Cheese, Comté, Langres and two that were off the menu including a blue and and a Sheeps Milk

  

  The cheese plate was small for $20, but delicious.

  

  French 75 in Padua made with blood orange and Prosecco

  
  
  

Good for: Expense check dinners, Special Occasion, Foodies, cocktails, award winning Wine list, Fine Dining in FiDI, Prix Fixe Lunch

Sunday May 9th

4:45pm

377 Greenwich Street (located in the Greenwich Hotel)

Locanda Verde has it all – co-owned by Robert De Niro, an award winning chef and pastry chef, a prime TriBeCa location, a warm and welcoming atmosphere – but it does not have reservations through the website or OpenTable. You actually have to call and speak to a real person who then flips through pages of booked time slots for the next 4 weeks. Only 3/4 of the tables are reserved and the remaining 1/4 is open to walk-ins to keep with it’s casual neighborhood vibe—plus there’s always the option to dine at the bar if you’re lucky enough to land one of the coveted dozen or so stools. The Wine Dutchess and I thought we’d take advantage of the off-peak hour and stopped by for a glass of wine at the bar. Our bartender informed us that the kitchen didn’t open until 5:30pm on Sunday, so we sipped some wine and at 5:20pm put in our order early for two types of crostini – the ricotta (which I had on a previous visit) and the bartender recommended the blue crab and jalapeño for our second. The menu is rustic, classic Italian and changes nightly. The oversized menus are printed each day on brown paper and feature crostini, seven choices of “secondi” entrees and pastas with Andrew Carmellini, a protégé of Daniel Boulud, as the chef. On a previous visit the Grandma’s Ravioli were outstanding – delicate little pillows of pasta stuffed with the trinity of beef, pork and veal. In keeping with the casual theme, nothing on the menu is over $25. The wine list by the glass is small but affordable as well, averaging $12 and featuring a selection of Italian Reds and Whites along with Digestivi. If you’re not familar with Italian wines your bartender or server will gladly pour you a taste or offer a recommendation.

Note: There’s also a “cafe” area in the front where you can sit and relax with a cappucino or espresso while enjoying one of famed pastry chef Karen DeMasco’s creations.

Wine:

• Vietti Barbera D’ Asti Tre Vigne 2007

Crostini:

• Ricotta – fresh ricotta served with a drizzle of olive oil, topped with sea salt and fresh herbs. Served with lightly grilled crostini and focaccia
• Blue Crab and Jalapeño served on top of a crostini

Good for: Rustic Italian Food, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Warm Atmosphere, Casual Neighborhood Dining, Robert De Niro sightings, Notable Chef and Pastry Chef

Wednesday May 5th

12:30am
9 9th Avenue

After spending the evening across the street at the rooftop of the Gansevoort for a French Tuesdays party the group decided to grab one more drink before heading home. Pastis is not only a spot for classic French Bistro dining and brunch – it’s also got a great late night bar scene and the kitchen is open until 1am (2am on Thursday and Friday, 230 am on Saturday) featuring a paired down supper menu. The late night scene is dark and candle lit with a very laid back vibe. You can grab a seat at the bar if you’re looking to make new friends, or get a table if you’re looking to enjoy an order of Moules Frites or an omlette with fresh herbs. Owned by restaurateur Keith McNally chances are you’ve been to one of his other locations which include: Pravda, Balthazar, Schiller’s Liquor Bar (my personal favorite), Morandi and most recently Minetta Tavern. Pastis also offers outdoor seating, which in the Meatpacking District guarantees good people watching.

Cocktail

• Mojito – served in a tall glass over crushed ice with fresh mint, possibly the best one I’ve had in NYC

Good for: Late Night, Mojitos, Dine at the Bar, Outdoor Seating, Brunch, Dinner, Business Lunch, People Watching

Tuesday April 27th, 2010
6:30pm
156 9th Avenue

I’ve been wanting to attend a tasting dinner sponsored by Tasting Table—3 courses paired with wine for $50 seemed like a great deal. When I received an email that there was a “Think Pink” Rosé Dinner being held at Tipsy Parson in Chelsea I called the Wine Dutchess and we sent in our RSVPs, despite having read mixed reviews on the venue. The restaurant bills itself as southern and cozy with a seasonal menu. The space itself was inviting and the front area had window seats looking out to 9th Avenue, however the bar area was maybe a bit too cozy with one to many tables piled next to each other. The evening began with passed canapés of pickled deviled eggs and salmon gravlax and cucumber paired with Cava. It seemed promising. The Wine Dutchess and I were seated in the bar area and not the main dining room, which was fine considering it was a full house that night (the restaurant was closed for this event). The servers began to pour the first flight of wine and the only instruction was to “drink counter-clockwise”. I was expecting the representative from VOS to explain the flights in a little more detail, but there was only a flurry of servers trying to get out the course while it was hot. My serving of pork belly during the first course was practically inedible and consisted of about 90% fat and gristle. The lone bite of meat I managed to find from my serving was over-salted and over-cooked (maybe I’m spoiled from David Chang’s pork belly at Noodle Bar?) and the tiny portion of ramps and rhubarb were oddly chewy. The next course was rack of lamb and the Wine Dutchess was missing her rack (her portion was served without bones) while mine was a bit too rare and under-seasoned. The next flight of wine was poured and still no word from our sponsor. Dessert was the only highlight of the meal – a White Chocolate Raspberry Parfait (no coffee was served, I would have gladly paid extra for a espresso). I can say this was my first and last trip to Tipsy Parsons.

Canapé

• Pickled Deviled Eggs, Salmon Gravlax and Cucumber
• Wine Pairing: Dibon Brut Reserve Cava Rosado Penedes, Spain

First Course

• Fudge Farms Braised Pork Belly with Ramps and Rhubarb
• Wine Flight: 1. Chateau de Roquefort “Corail Rosé Provence, France 2009 2. Domaine Le Galantin Bandol Rosé Provence, France 2009 3. Kir-Yianni Akakies Xynomavro Rosé Amyndeon, Greece 2008

Second Course

• Roasted Rack of Lamb with Beet Dumplings and Fresh Horseradish
• Wine Flight: 1. Urano Rosé Menoza, Argentina 2009 2. Chateau Haut Rian Rosé Bordeaux, France 2009
• JM Raffault Chinon Rosé Loire, France 2009

Dessert

• White Chocolate Raspberry Parfait – almond dacquoise (a cake made with layers of nut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream) with pink peppercorn streusel

(LEAVING OUT THE “GOOD FOR” IN LEIU OF A DOWNTOWN GOURMAND FIRST – NOT RECOMMENDED)

Friday April 16th, 2010
12:45pm
15 west 56th street (Chambers Hotel)

After attending a morning session of the Behance 99% Conference at the Felissimo Design House I realized I was across the street from the Chambers Hotel, home to the newly opened Midtown outpost of Momofuku Milk Bar and David Chang’s newest venture Má Pêche. Since last Fall Má Pêche has been operating out of the mezzanine at the Chambers Hotel, only offering the Midtown Lunch – a $10 box lunch to-go featuring a choice of Banh Mi with a water or soda (add a Momofuku Milk Bar peanut butter cookie for an extra $1.85). The dining room on the main level recently opened for lunch at the beginning of April, but since I was dining solo I opted for the more laid back option of the 2nd floor mezzanine. It was set up like any other trendy hotel lobby upstairs – oversized couches, a few chairs and tables, shelves lined with books on Warhol and New York City photography- however you can sit wherever you like and order from a streamlined menu. Most of the items are around $16 (with the exception of the skirt steak at $29) and there’s no sides or accompaniments. In the true style of David Chang my pork spareribs were so tender and flavorful in a lemongrass carmel reduction that a few field greens on the side wouldn’t of added anything more to the meal.

NOTE: The Banh mi ($10) is only offered on the bar menu available on the mezzanine level and not the dining room, so if this is what you’re craving head upstairs.

Lunch

• Côtelletes de porc (Newman’s Farm, MO) – pork ribs, coated in peanuts and served in a lemongrass caramel reduction

Good for: Business Lunch, dining Solo, Pork, Milk Bar Treats, $10 Midtown Lunch (to-go), Did I mention Pork?