NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: RED ROOSTER

The Red Rooster in Harlem has gotten a lot of hype lately. This new hot spot from Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson has gotten some great press. I'm all about positivity, and try not to write about a restaurant if I don't like it, but unfortunately, my lunch two weeks ago here was not that great. It was a let down to be honest. I'd be happy to give it another try, but I was not craving to come back after my mediocre lunch.

Fried Yard Bird ($18), dark meat, white Mace gravy, hot sauce and shake, was tasty and fine. 

Hearth baked mac and greens ($14), with Gouda, NY Cheddar, and Comté, was flavorless and not good. Both my dining companion and I were let down.

A side of truffle fries ($7), had to be sent back at first for being undercooked, which I am not mad at, but when returned, they still had no truffle flavor; it was non-existent. I wanted my 7 dollars back.

Sweet potato doughnuts ($8), with cinnamon sugar, were very good, and the highlight of the meal.

Sometimes you can't believe all the hype and everything you read. Sometimes you need to experience restaurants for yourself and form your own opinion. Be it a restaurant that everyone says is great, one that everyone says is not great, or a hidden treasure under the radar no one is talking about. Get out there and go on your own culinary adventure, and see what happens. The Red Rooster might have just been off their game when I was there, Obama was there the night before, so they must have been all drained. I'd be happy to go back, but I ain't paying 7 dollars for truffle fries without the truffle.

Red Rooster

310 Lenox Avenue (bet. 125th and 126th)

New York, NY 10027

212-792-9001

www.redroosterharlem.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: BEAUTY AND ESSEX

If you are looking to dine at a sceney hot spot, with good food, look no further than the uber-hot Beauty and Essex. Brought to us from the team behind The Stanton Social, Chef Chris Santos is serving up similar eclectic tapas, great for sharing. The space is a beautiful, sprawling three-floor spot, with swarms of good-looking diners and drinkers mingling about.

Tomato tartare ($12), served with a sunny side up quail egg on parmesan crostini is refreshing and a great way to awaken your taste buds.

Crisp hominy ($8), with charred corn, lime, cilantro, and chile pepper, is a fine snack, but not a necessity.

Braised short rib tamales ($13)are tasty.

The Beauty and Essex Burger ($16), with spicy roasted garlic aioli, beefsteak tomato, goat feta, and herb dusted frites is a really good burger, and will totally satisfy anyone's burger craving.

Chestnut & Ricotta Ravioli ($18), with butternut squash, Pecorino, and crispy serrano, is sweet, fine, and dandy.

So if you are looking to dine with a group and share some fine plates of eclectic tapas, and be IN the scene of New York City, Beauty & Essex is one hot spot that will meet your desires.

Beauty & Essex
146 Essex St. (bet. Stanton and Rivington)
New York, NY 10002
212-614-0146

www.beautyandessex.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: GEISHA

The Japanese restaurant Geisha has been around for some time now. A tasting last week showed me why, because this Upper East Side
favorite is still going strong. The dishes I tried last week from chef Richard Lee were great!

Start with any of the tartars-they are all fabulous!

I loved the hamachi jalapeño appetizer; seared rare hamachi, jalapeño, bonito, radish, soy-jalapeno sauce. The combination of the sweet and spicy was superb. The hamachi, as fresh as it gets.

If you are craving a unique and wonderful raw fish sandwich, you must try the tuna truffle sandwich. Diced fresh Akami tuna, black truffle, and spicy mayo, will tickle your taste buds like they've never been tickled before.

I really like shrimp. I love lobster. Put them both in one dish and you have my attention. At Geisha they poach a jumbo shrimp and some lobster, and serve it with kaffir lime butter,

micro cilantro, and micro Thai basil. Sold!

Their miso black cod is pitch perfect. Marinated in miso, mirin, and sake, and then broiled and served with sweet miso sauce, this dish was truly delicious.

So for fine Japanese fare on the UES, Geisha is still a hot spot.

Geisha
33 E. 61st St. (bet. Mad and Park)
New York, NY 10021
212-813-1113

www.geisharestaurant.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: PIER 9

Hell's Kitchen has a new seafood joint. What was once Agua Dulce is now Pier 9, not to be confused with Nine, the restaurant next door, with the same owner and chef. At Pier 9, chef Eric Hara is serving up some pretty good seafood fare.

Skip the deviled lobster eggs ($10), the lobster is pretty much non-existent, and the dish should be relabeled "deviled eggs". Razor clams ($11) are fine, but nothing too exciting.

Instead order some fresh oysters and the grilled Spanish Octopus ($12). The oysters are fresh and splendid, the octopus is perfect.

If you are a fan of hot dogs (I am not), then you might try the Chicago style lobster dog ($17), it didn't tickle my fancy, but it might tickle yours.

The one dish I highly recommend though at Pier 9 is the grilled lobster. My dining companions and myself went gaga for this crustacean. I bet Lady Gaga would go gaga over it too. It was wonderful

If you are a sea urchin lover like myself, then you might dabble in the sea urchin carbonara ($20), it was fine and dandy.

You can end with the S'mores donut ($7), a Holey cream donut with marshmallow filling and s'mores ice cream. It's a sweet and fine dessert, but I prefer a donut made in-house as opposed to one bought at a store (Holey cream is a donut spot on 9th ave, not too far away). I fell in love with the chocolate covered pretzel sundae ($7), with tapioca pudding and caramel sauce. It was fantastic, and we are now dating.

So get your seafood on at Pier 9 in Hell's Kitchen. Order the grilled lobster and that sundae, and you'll have a great night.

Pier 9
802 9th Ave (bet. 53rd and 54th)
New York, NY 10019
212-262-1299
www.pier9nyc.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: FISHTAG

The NYC Foodie and his family had a really good meal on his birthday, March 1st, at Fishtag, Michael Psilakis' new Mediterranean tapas joint on the Upper West Side. Ironically enough, this restaurant got a zero star, "fair" rating, from Sam Sifton of the NY Times, the next day. I disagree with his review. Everyone in my family enjoyed the food here, because the food is good! You can't always believe what you read. 

Some of the best bruschetta I had eaten is from Fishtag. Both the bruschetta with grilled prawn, feta, and spicy chiles ($11), as well as one with Jonah crab and sweet and sour eggplant ($10), we excellent. There is a lot going on with this bruschetta, but what is going on tastes great. Order them!

Sea urchin crudo in ocean water ($14) will satisfy all you sea urchin lovers out there.

Smoked octopus ($13) with chorizo, pomme puree, mushrooms and lemon, was fabulous.

Spicy paella soup ($14), came with cockles, bouchot mussels, prawns, bay scallops, chorizo, orzo. It was a joy to consume.

Grilled branzino stuffed with headcheese ($26) was definitely a unique dish. Although it didn't blow my mind, I loved how it opened up my culinary horizon.

Sheep milk dumlings ($19), with Jonah crab, aji amarillo peppers, and sea urchin fonduta, were delicate and really nice.

Trofie (Ligurian "Gnocchi) ($19), with ragu of braised sepia and short ribs, tomato, smoked mozzarella, and ricota salata, was sweet and great.

So get your Mediterranean tapas on at Fishtag. You can't believe everything you read, sometimes you need to form your own opinion. Yes, a lot of the dishes have a lot going on, which may seem unfocused. But, if in the end, it tastes good, that's all that really matters.

Fishtag
222 W. 79th St. (bet. Amsterdam and Broadway)
New York, NY 10024
212-362-7470

www.fishtagrestaurant.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: LE BERNARDIN

Dreams do come true. I had been dreaming about dining at Le Bernardin for years, and that dream came to fruition on Martin Luther King Day, when a foodie friend of mine wanted a fabulous lunch. I chose Eric Ripert's 4-star restaurant, and it lived up to expectations. 

This is 4-star dining at its best, from sleek service, to fabulous seafood fare, you won't be disappointed. The $70 3-course lunch is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. 

Every table gets a bowl of salmon salad with toasted points, and it is one excellent salmon salad.

My appetizer of layers of thinly pounded yellowfin tuna with foie gras, toasted baguette, shaved chives, and extra virgin olive oil was exquisite and great. I will say that I did not taste any foie gras in the dish, it seemed to be lacking, nonetheless, I still enjoyed this dish immensely.

Sautéed calamari filled with sweet prawns and shitake mushrooms, with a mushroom froth-pistou sauce was unique, perfectly executed, and wonderful. I had never encountered calamari prepared like this.

My hiramasa entree, seared yellowtail king fish, with truffle risotto, Spring vegetables, and a black truffle emulsion was out of this world! Definitely one of the best fish dishes I had ever consumed, quite possibly the best. The truffle emulsion was truly orgasmic, and the fish was like butter, melting away in my mouth. I almost teared after each bite. I loved this dish!

A pre-dessert of an egg shell with chocolate was fabulous. A complimentary shell of joy.

Desserts at Le Bernardin are top notch as well. Hazelnut; Gianduja cream, Oregon hazelnuts, honey, banana, and brown butter ice cream was fabulous. Chocolate-Peanut; dark chocolate, peanut and caramel tart, Meyer lemon puree, peanut powder, and praline-citrus sorbet was really good too.

So for 4-star dining at its best, Le Bernardin is a true winner. Go for lunch, or go for dinner, and let the cooking of Eric Ripert transport you to a seafood world, yet undiscovered.

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st Street (bet. 6th and 7th)
New York, NY 10019
212-554-1515

www.le-bernardin.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: THE BAILEY PUB AND BRASSERIE

I rarely go to the Financial District in NYC, let alone eat there. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a great place for food and drink all the way down there. The place is called The Bailey Pub and Brasserie, and they are serving up some well-executed brasserie fare.

House made chicken liver pate ($10) was a great appetizer served with grilled country bread, dried fruit chutney, and house pickles. Mac and cheese ($14), with aged cheddar, Gruyere, and Apple Wood smoked bacon, was creamy and delicious! 

I haven't eaten many Shepherd's Pies in my life, but the one served at the Bailey ($16) is the best I've had. Great flavor and addictive! If you are there on a Tuesday, order it, it's the plate of the day.

Oak Smoked Salmon ($14), served over Boxty Irish potato cakes, with créme fraiche and lemon is truly excellent. The extremely fresh and silky salmon paired with the crunch and tasty potato cakes is a joy to eat.

So don't be afraid to dine all the way downtown, some foodie treasures await. The Bailey Pub and Brasserie is one of them.

The Bailey Pub & Brasserie
52 William St. (bet. Pine and Wall St.)
New York, NY 10005
212-859-2200

www.thebaileynyc.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: 42

After those amazing bites at Bellota, I was lucky enough to head downstairs, and dine at 42, to eat some more fabulous fare from chef Anthony Goncalves.

A torched shrimp in a garlic broth and saffron aioli was the perfect appetizer to awaken my palate.

A dish of beets, roasted, smoked, and marinated with frisée, goat cheese, walnut-champagne vinaigrette, pecan nougatine, figs, and balsamic was beyond extraordinary. This salad blew my mind. The flavor and texture was great. The addition of frozen raspberries was inspired and ingenious. This dish brought a tear of joy to my eye. "Wow," is all I could say.

Risotto Parmigiano, with a poached egg yolk and truffle essence was splendid. I would swim in this risotto every week if I could.

Chilean Sea Bass, tomato and bonito-crusted, with smoked potatoes and a spicy seafood caldeirada was downright awesome! The flavors in this dish were soothing, yet complex. It had different levels of flavors, a great kick, and I just loved this dish. The addition of smoked potatoes took this dish to another level- a level of sheer awesomeness.

Grassfed bison, with 7-spices, yogurt, savory granola, and arancini was really good too. An earthy meat, tender and juicy, with a unique flavor combination, made me wonder where bison has been on all the menus of NYC.

You must order dessert at 42, because dessert at 42 is fun, festive, and fantastic! My creamsicle dessert, vanilla dip'n dots with burnt orange reduction was the most fun dessert I've eaten in a while. Watch as the chef freezes those dip'n dots, it's a little show with your meal, and it's just as exciting to eat. The perfect ending to a unique, ingenious, truly inspired, and wonderful meal!

So take that trip to White Plains when you have a moment, head to the 42nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton, and let Chef Goncalves whisk you away to Portuguese inspired heaven. It's a culinary adventure you'll never forget.

42
One Renaissance Square (inside the Ritz-Carlton)
White Plains, NY 10601
914-861-3226

www.42therestaurant.com 

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: BELLOTA AT 42

Ok, well Bellota is not in New York City, it's in fact in White Plains. It is one of two restaurants under the same roof on the 42nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton, White Plains. Why am I writing about this Portuguese tapas spot? Because you need to check it out. Like it's sister restaurant 42, it is amazing. Chef Anthony Goncalves is not only a cool and hip guy, he is one of the most talented chefs out there today. I'm happy for the people of White Plains and Westchester County, but I feel bad for my fellow Manhattanites, because we would love his cooking in NYC.

A Foie gras slider with quince and sea salt literally melted in my mouth. Having a bite of this dish first, was like having sex with Angelina Jolie at a book signing. You never met, you lock eyes, and she takes you to the bathroom immediately. I ate this sexy little slider at my table, but thought about hooking up with the other three in privacy. 

Grilled octopus with fingerling potatoes, garlic, herbs, and sherry was delicious. The flavors danced a waltz on my taste buds.

Iberico ham was sensational. Pairing it with crisped pineapple was beyond ingenious. A true joy to eat.

Braised pork belly with espresso-honey glaze, spicy pepper puree, and a quail egg was unique and really good. It made me smile..a lot.

House-cured salt cod fritters with garlic aioli were fabulous. Pillows of fish; light and scrumptious.

Shrimp empanadas with saffron aioli were also truly great!

Don't forget to order your veggies at Bellota. Both the fried artichokes with honey aioli and the patatas bravas with romesco were wonderful. 

So take a trip to Bellota in White Plains, then ride the elevator to the 42nd floor. You'll be in Portuguese tapas heaven, and closer to God.

Bellota At 42
One Renaissance Square (inside 42 at the Ritz-Carlton)
White Plains, NY 10601
914-861-3226

http://westchesterlounge.com/bellota-at-42

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: NAI TAPAS

Sometimes in NYC you stumble on hidden treasures that not many people know about. One little tapas gem I stumbled upon with my family back in December was Nai Tapas in the East Village. I had never heard of this place, but they are serving up some perfect Spanish tapas!

We ordered a lot. Tapas of clams, shrimp, and squid, to steak and peppers, each tapas was great. Sizzling chorizo, a lovely tortilla, a flavorful sardine, and tasty anchovies, Nai Tapas, delivered Spain to the East Village brilliantly.

So for your Spanish tapas fix, stumble upon Nai Tapas, you'll be pleasantly surprised on your find.

Nai Tapas
174 1st Avenue (bet. 10th and 11th)
New York, NY 10009
212-677-1030

www.naitapas.com