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

Monday May 11th

7:30pm

913 Broadway (located on the 2nd floor of Punch Restaurant)

My bookclub was meeting to discuss our Spring read The Help, and since we all live in different parts of the City the Union Square/Flatiron area seemed to be the most central spot. There was six of us so we needed someplace that could accomodate a group and provide a somewhat low-key ambiance so we could chat about the book while we sipped drinks and nibbled on food. I remembered Punch Restaurant had opened a wine bar on the second floor called Wined Up. At 7:30pm on a Monday night the place was fairly empty, except for a few people sitting at the bar. Our server was very accommodating and offered great wine and food suggestions. The menu is a paired down version of what you’ll find downstairs at the restaurant, and in addition they recently started a separate “Green Market” menu featuring a variety of small plates, crostini, charcuterie and cheese selections which are all a great size for sharing. The wine by the glass selection featured about 30 wines moderately priced (you can also purchase bottles and they offer specialty cocktails, beer and champagne as well).

Wine:

• Valpolicella Classico, Veneto Italy, 2007
• Pink Sauvignon Blanc, 3 Stones New Zealand, 2008

Dinner

• Zatar crusted tuna (raw) with green lentils and harissa
• Salmon tartar served with toasted pita (had an interesting addition of fresh apple mixed in that added brightness and crispness to the flavor)

GOOD FOR: Wine by the glass, Small plates, Low-Key, Groups, Date Spot

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

Thursday April 8th, 2010
6:45pm
637 Hudson Street

I love ‘inoteca, cucina on Rivington Street, so when brothers Jason and Joe Denton opened Corsino in the West Village I couldn’t wait to try it. The interior evokes a bit of ‘inoteca—hard wood floors, wooden walls, bottles of wine lining the shelves, casual yet elegant. Unfortunately that’s where the similarities ended. The service was spotty and over the course of our hour and a half there we had at least 3 different servers. The wine list by the glass is small (Italian Reds, Whites and a few Sparkling) and I found the food to be over-priced (each piece of crostini costs $2.50). The mushroom & tallegio and cannellini bean & artichoke were the standouts, however the olive tapenade (over salted) and shrimp and arugula (fishy and creamy with one lone piece of arugula on top) were inedible. Our server let us pick out another to try to make up for it, and the substitute ricotta and orange honey proved to be a good choice. My bill was nearly $40 (including tip) for a glass of wine, a few shared crostini and a cheese plate. I really wanted to like Corsino, but I think the concept is far better than the execution.

Wine

• 2007 Brigaldara Valpolicella - a balanced medium-bodied Italian red with notes of berry

Appetizers (shared by the table)

• olives
• mushroom and tallegio
• cannellini bean and artichoke (had a nice hint of cinnamon)
• ricotta and orange honey
• olive tapenade (inedible – flavor overpowered with salt)
• shrimp and arugula (inedible – a creamy, fishy blend topped with one sad piece of arugula)
• cheese plate – fresh cow’s milk ricotta, taleggio and capra sardo

GOOD For: A GLASS OF WINE AT THE BAR, PRE OR POST DATE DRINK

Sunday March 28th, 2010
2pm
31-86 37 Street
A friend told me about a Croatian food and wine pairing at their favorite wine bar, Winegasm. I was intrigued, and at the cost of $45 for a 6 course pairing, couldn’t think of a better way to spend (yet another) rain soaked Sunday. Taking the train from lower Manhattan to Astoria should speak to the fact that it’s a great neighborhood gem. A long high-top communal table separates the bar from a few private tables, and in warmer weather the wall opens out to sidewalk seating. The owners are very knowledgeable and friendly, and the tastings are laid back. It feels like you’ve been invited to someone’s home for the afternoon. Rather than listening to someone speak about what you’re eating and drinking, each course was introduced briefly with the focus on enjoying. The wine was from the portfolios of Oenocentric and Vinum USA and the food was prepared by the owner’s mother – and nothing is better than “mom” food on a Sunday.

First Course:

• “Bakalar” – Adriatic cheese, prosciutto, and olive platter
• Wine: Toljanić Žlahtina 2008

Second Course:

• Octopus salad with potatoes
• Wine: Zlatan Hvar Pošip/Maraština Blend 2008

Third Course:

• Black squid ink risotto
• Wine: Bibich Debit 2008

Fourth Course:

• Ćevapi” - Lamb/Pork/Beef grilled sausage served with pita and red pepper tapenade
• Wine: Bibich Riserva Babich/Lasin/Plavina Blend 2006

Fifth Course:

• “Fuži” with veal sauce – Istrian bow tie pasta
• Wine: Lirica Plavac Mali 2007

Dessert:

• “Palačinke” and “Fritule” – carmel filled crêpe, bread dough fritters with powdered sugar
• Wine: Kozlović Muškat 2006

GOOD FOR: WINE BAR, WINE TASTINGS, CLASSES, DATE NIGHT, SMALL GROUPS, OUTDOOR SEATING, SMALL PLATES

Wednesday March 24, 2010
9pm
11 West 31st Street

The name says it all – wine and chocolate – but add in my third weakness, cheese, and this is easily one of my favorite places in NYC. The only downside is Ayza is a little geographically undesirable, situated in the odd nexus just between Midtown and Gramercy. The Wine Dutchess and I were in the area for a networking event and decided to stop in. The menu features cheese and charcuterie, salads, soups, panini, small plates, and  Jacques Torres chocolates alongside the regular dessert menu. The wine list by the glass isn’t very extensive but they do offer the option of a flight of red or whites. We were able to get a table outside, and even though the heaters were still going it was nice to be al fresco again.

Wine

• Cabernet Sauvignon, USA Heller, Organic, 2006

Cheese

• Manchego, Valdeon and Bucheron served with fresh berries, caper berries and guava paste

GOOD FOR: THE TRIFECTA OF WINE/CHEESE/CHOCOLATE, DATE NIGHT, SMALL GROUPS, OUTDOOR SEATING, PRIX-FIXE LUNCH

Tuesday March 16, 2010
8pm
95 Allen Street (at Broome Street)

I don’t usually frequent many Italian restaurants since I tend to cook a lot of Italian food at home. When given the opportunity to select the restaurant for the night  it was time to delve into the  “list”. Sorella seemed promising – located in the LES and a little off the radar – the menu piqued my interested with small plates and a nice selection of wine. The restaurant isn’t on OpenTable so you’ll need to call ahead for a reservation (the dining room only seats about 20), or grab a seat at the bar or the communal table in the front. It should be noted that 95 Allen Street shares the same address as a residential apartment building, just look for the dark wooden door, dim lighting, and namesake signage (right next to the red graffiti door). The service was attentive, the food was well done in flavor and presentation, and the atmosphere was intimate with a laid back vibe.

Dinner (shared)

1^st course

• Hearst Ranch Beef Carne Cruda - cavalo nero, parmesan, lemon aioli, crispy shallots
• Gnocchi - cream sauce, brown butter pears, chives

2^nd course

• Beet Risotto - with prosiutto
• Agnolotti - beef, parmesan, sage butter

Wine Pairing:

• Garbay Rosé

Desert

• Chocolate Cheesecake – served with a hazelenut crisp and a thin chocolate coating

Good for: date night, small plates, wine, small groups

Saturday March 13, 2010
6:15pm
52 Stone Street

It was a wash-out of a weekend and my plans with the Wine Dutchess to go to a gallery opening in Brooklyn were quickly replaced with an evening closer to home. Vintry Wine & Whiskey opened last November and proved to be a nice addition to Stone Street. Maybe it was the rain falling on the empty cobble stone street, but the Vintry had a warm, sultry feel as I walked by the large window and peered into the bar. The interior is dark wood, the walls are lined with mirrors and candles flicker on each table.

Upon arrival, the waitress took our soaked umbrellas and hung our coats, which I thought was a nice touch. She was very knowledgeable of the menu, made great recommendations and was very attentive. The wine list is extensive but not overwhelming, and you can order a 2 ounce taste, a 5 ounce glass, or a full bottle of every wine. There’s also a creative cocktail list, and of course a large whiskey selection as the name would imply. Perhaps it was due to the good company, but I really enjoyed this bar. It was welcoming, unpretentious, and a nice alternative to the pubs in the area.

Wine Tasting:

Charcuterie:

• Bresaola
• Iberico ham
• Proscuitto
• Served with a relish tray of cornichons and mustard

Cheese (2 plates, 3 per plate):

• Valdeon (creamy blue, Spain)
• Cypress grove humboldt fog (goat’s milk, California)
• Sartori stravecchio (parmesan style, Wisconsin)
• Roncal (sheep’s milk, Spain)
• Fontina val d’aosta (cow’s milk, Italy)
• Tomme crayeuse (cow’s milk, France)
• Served with a relish tray of apricot compote, pickled onions and and roasted marcona almonds

Small plates:

• House marinated olives seasoned with rosemary
• Lobster stuffed mushrooms

Good for: Date Night, Small Groups, Wine, Whiskey, Cocktails, Small Plates, Wine Tasting