One of the best restaurants to open in 2012 was Calliope in the East Village, a "neighborhood bistro serving up European farmhouse food." I've been to Calliope twice so far, and each time I step into that corner space on East 4th Street and 2nd Ave, I am whisked away to Paris. From the festive atmosphere, to the perfectly executed, and solid fare, this place is just great. Stupendous. I love everything about Calliope, it's a welcome addition to the East Village, and all of NYC.

The complimentary anchovy toast with radishes sets the tone for the evening; simple, flavorful, and perfect.

Sea Urchin Toast ($15) is my dream come true. Sea urchin tends to give me culinary orgasms, and this dish was no exception. Hey, what can I say, I'm easy. It was truly awesome. Order it.

Taleggio, leek, and chanterelle mushroom tart ($14) was fabulous. Everything about this tart was pure perfection. I believe I had my second orgasm of the night.

Crispy roast chicken ($26), stuffed with cabbage and carrots was outstanding. Another perfectly executed, flavorful dish. I loved this bird!

For dessert, I had the popular Baba Rhum ($9) with whipped cream and Diplomatico Rum. Just a purely lovely ending to a truly fabulous meal.

On my second visit to Calliope, the fabulosity continued. Spicy marinated mackerel ($9) with avocado and black sesame was a delicious and flavorful starter.