Stopped into Abraco Espresso last week in the East Village, an amazing tiny coffee spot, which I will say serves the city's best coffee! Their olive oil cake is out of this world too! Phenomenal! The flavor is subtle and not overpowering. The texture of the cake is perfect as well. Try a piece for yourself. You won't regret it. Trust me!
Abraco Espresso
86 E. 7th Street (and 1st ave)
New York, NY 10003
www.abraconyc.com
This lover of sushi is addicted. I can eat sushi on a daily basis. There are many sushi spots in NYC, and one sushi chain I order from often is Haru. It is always reliable, and always solid. Last week I had a really nice lunch at the Haru location in Times Square, and was satisfied once again.
Lobster tempura with a jalapeno pomegranate sauce was outstanding. Tender little bites of lobster, with a sauce with the perfect kick, was a great start to a sushi lunch!
Sashimi ceviche was artistically beautiful, as well as a pleasure to consume.
My dining companion enjoyed her grilled chicken salad immensely. She couldn't stop smiling.
My Sushi lunch was just as I like it. Delicious, fresh, and raw perfection. I was one with the ocean, on Broadway.
So for solid Japanese eats and sushi bites, Haru hits the spot. This is one show on Broadway not to be missed!
Haru (multiple locations)
205 W. 43rd St. (bet. Broadway and 8th)
New York, NY 10036
212-398-9810
Starbucks. Starbu..Star..St...S...With all these independent coffee spots opening up all over NYC, Starbucks is quickly disappearing from my vocabulary. From Stumptown to Abraco, there is some great coffee in NYC. Today I bring to you some of the best iced coffee around from Birch Coffee. My first reaction after one sip was, "Wow, it's like butta". Check out this press release to see why:
"Well, you guessed it. With this 60 + degree weather and an emphatic YES fromwww.isiticedcoffeeweather.com, it is iced coffee season. And boy, do we have the treat for your. Cold brewed iced coffee.
You may be asking yourself, how can coffee possibly be brewed cold? Most shops will brew a hot pot a bit stronger and then cool the pot down before refrigerating it. You’re probably used to drinking that and not even aware of this cold brew sensation! So, why don’t you come into Birch and have what locals are calling “more addicting than crack”.
At Birch Coffee, we take pride in our coffee and stand firmly behind it. Therefore, we try to use the optimal method to brew all our coffee. Try it black first, and then, if you still think you need milk or sugar, we’ll be happy to hook you up.
Come in and check out the latest coffee phenomenon. There will likely be 12 step meetings for this stuff very soon."
Birch Coffee
5 E. 27th St. (bet. 5th and Madison)
New York, NY 10016
www.birchcoffee.com
People seem to love Artichoke Pizza on 14th street. There are usually lines out the door. My first time there, soon after they first opened, I had an underwhelming experience, for I burned the roof of my mouth, due to the pizza being too hot.
Well, last night, I tried their signature artichoke and spinach pizza ($4) for the second time, It wasn't too hot, and you know what, it was truly tasty as heck! It really is a great slice of pizza.
Artichoke Pizza
328 E. 14th Street (bet. 2nd and 1st)
New York, NY 10003
212-228-2004
www.artichokepizza.com
Ok, it's true, I might be addicted to the Ace Hotel. I go every week. Sometimes 4 times a week. It's a one stop shop for welcoming hip and cool. Great food at The Breslin, amazing sandwiches at No. 7 Sub, and some of the city's best coffee at Stumptown Coffee, where else do I need to go?! I now truly love the corner of 29th and Broadway, call me crazy.
Two Sundays ago I stopped in to grab a quick bite at the lobby bar at 1am (it's open til 2am). The food at the Ace's lobby bar comes from the kitchen at The Breslin, with slightly different offerings. I really like the lamb burger at The Breslin, so I was curious about the bacon cheese burger ($16) offered at the lobby bar. And my curiosity paid off, for it is a really good burger! Juicy and flavorful, definitely hit the spot and satisfied my 1am burger craving. The fries are excellent too!
The Ace Hotel
20 W. 29th Street (at Broadway)
New York, NY 10001
212-679-2222
www.acehotel.com
One of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC, Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles, a restaurant I have written about a lot on this site, (and one I am obsessed with,) not only has amazing noodles, but they have fabulous dumplings too. Chicken and vegetable or pork and chive; these dumplings rock!
Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles
1 Doyers St. (bet. Pell and Bowery)
New York, NY 10013
212-791-1817
I stopped by Dos Toros, a new Mexican taqueria on 4th avenue, near Union Square last week. Opened by Leo and Oliver Kremer, two brothers from San Francisco, trying to bring West Coast style Mexican to the East coast. I had a steak burrito ($7.35), as well as chips and salsa ($2.07). The steak was juicy and tender, and it was definitely a fine burrito. It reminded me of Chipotle, and that is not a bad thing. The salsa had a nice kick and tang to it too. I'm always a fan of spending less than $10 for dinner too. This is a good bang for your buck. So get your burrito (or taco, or quesadilla) on at Dos Toros!
Dos Toros
137 4th Avenue (bet. 13th and 14th)
New York, NY 10003
212-677-7300
www.dostorosnyc.com
I have tried many of the burgers from Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District. My favorite is the Fat Cat, which is definitely one of the best burgers in NYC. Saturday night I had the bacon and cheddar burger ($7.25) with thick Hickory bacon and aged cheddar. I have to tell you that this burger is perfect and amazing! It is also one of the best burgers in New York City! Add a side of disco fries ($4.50) with smothered gravy and melted cheese, and this meal will be the most delicious part of your diet.
Bill's Bar and Burger
22 9th Avenue (at 13th St.)
New York, NY 10014
212-414-3003
http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/resta ... ar-burger/
Hey foodies that like great drinks-here is a titilating press release I just received:
"Tanuki Tavern, everyone’s favorite Japanese gastropub and sushi bar located in the heart of the Meatpacking District has crafted two NEW specialty cocktails, Sakura & Hakanai, in celebration of Cherry Blossom season.
Indigenous to many Asian countries including Japan, Korea and China, the cherry tree blooms mid-to -late March. Tanuki Tavern has created the cocktails: Sakura: meaning flowering cherry and Hakanai: meaning short lasting. The specialty cocktails are priced at $10 each.
New York City will celebrate Sakura Matsuri, otherwise known as the Cherry Blossom festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden on the weekend of May 1st. Throughout the weekend, Japanese culture will be celebrated through traditional activities such as taiko drumming, tea ceremonies and ikebana flower arranging.
* The Sakura & Hakanai cocktails are a special addition to the menu and will be available at Tanuki Tavern for a limited time only."
Go get your drink on!!
Tanuki Tavern
18 Ninth Avenue (in the Gansevoort Hotel)
New York, NY 1001
212-660-6766
http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/restaurant ... uki-tavern
Last week I had lunch at Charlie Palmer's Aureole, his recently moved restaurant, which is now in the Bank Of America tower at Bryant Park. It was a fabulous lunch with perfectly executed, delicious food!
Pastrami Pork Belly Sliders ($15) with raclette cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing were addictively good.
A Smoked Duck Foie Gras Terrine ($23) with quince, port jelly, endive remoulade, and pain d'epice, was a geometric work of art, with flavors and textures perfectly complemented.
My entree of Duck Confit ($25) with sweet potato puree, black trumpet mushrooms, and blackberry duck jus, might have been the most perfectly cooked duck I have ever had! The crackling skin, the tender meat, and everything on this plate was ingenius, and teased my taste buds with every bite.
A Yellowfin Tuna Tataki ($21) with spicy Asian greens, cilantro, scallion, and miso lychee dressing was simple, refreshing, and a salad you'd desire to eat on a daily basis.
When dining at Aureole you MUST stay for dessert because they are exceptional!
A Caramel Corn Sundae ($8) with chocolate sauce, bananas, and salted peanut butter cookies was playful and truly wonderful.
The Meyer Lemon Panna Cotta ($10) with citrus salad, fennel croutons, and savory honey was ingenious, amazing, mind-blowing, and a true work of art!
Come to Aureole for lunch or dinner, dine on perfectly executed, smart food, and smile. I sure did.
Aureole
One Bryant Park
135 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
212-319-1660
