Category Archives: Restaurant

Dime Piece

Posted on January 20, 2012 | 7 comments

Real estate is all about location, location, location.  This is especially true for restaurants in New York.  I mean, midtown isn’t exactly known as the hub of great restaurants for New York City.  Probably because it’s made up of mediocre steakhouses and overpriced salads.   Looking for a great restaurant in midtown is as useless as finding meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.  Well not really, but you get my drift.  The great ones are few and far between, which is why I was surprised to find myself dining at a great midtown restaurant.  Tenpenny, located in the Gotham Hotel, was a refreshing breeze on a hot summer’s day, despite the fact that it is winter and the restaurant isn’t breezy at all.  But it was indeed a pleasant surprise.

Tenpenny is totally unassuming but has this innate charm that draws you in the way a loveable nerd can grab hold of your heart.  Except, there is really nothing uncool about this place.  The bright red wall in sea of distressed brick is pretty awesome.  But, you know this Foodie is obviously more concerned with the interior of menu then the décor.  So, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty.

We started with a plate of artisanal cheeses which were served with a generous dollop of fig jam and cranberry walnut bread.  I love cheese, so much so, that I am no longer lactose intolerant.  True Story.  And a plate full of cheese is as good as gold to me.  Forget flowers on Valentine’s Day, just get me cheese.  The cheeses varied in texture and flavor, but they all played wonderfully off the sweet fig jam.

When House Cured Bacon is listed as an appetizer, you order it.  Like if Landry Fields called me and asked me to hang out, I’d say yes.  You don’t question good things; you just go with them, which is exactly what I did.   This bacon was outrageous.  The savory bacon was intensified with the addition of soy, scallions and cinnamon.  It was served with nutmeg custard and toasted bread.  Did that just blow your mind? Imagine how your taste buds would feel.   That’s alright, you can take a minute to regain your composure before you continue…

In true winter food fashion, I also ordered the crostini with sweet potato and marshmallow.  Totally reminiscent of Thanksgiving.  But sometimes the classics are classics for a reason.  Let’s just say, you won’t find this dish on my Thanksgiving menu next year.

I know I’ve told you before, and I don’t want to get all senile on you, like weird Uncle Jack.  But I could eat a cheeseburger for the rest of my life and be a happy girl.  With that said, I’m a tough burger critic; don’t let the blonde hair and big smile fool you.  Although the Double Cheeseburger wasn’t the Burger at the Dutch, it was kind of great.  Not one, but two blended patties sit comfortably on a toasted potato bun, topped with tomato, provolone and homemade mayo.  I know, I didn’t think this meal could get better after the bacon either.  But it did.  The burgers were grilled perfectly and the sweet potato bun absorbed all of the drippy burger juices.  As if that wasn’t enough, it also came with homemade bbq chips.  Now, that’s what I’m talking about midtown.  Way to step up your game.

I sampled a good amount of the menu, and it just left me wanting more.  Although, I don’t know how much more I could have eaten.  There’s ways next time.  Til then, Tenpenny.

Tenpenny
16 East 46th Street
New York, NY
212.490.8300

Know of another stellar midtown restaurant? Comment below!

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The Land of Milk and Honey Bunches of Oats

Posted on January 14, 2012 | 8 comments

Music to set the mood…

Hello! Bonjour! Hola! Shalom! I must start by saying Happy New Year! And also by apologizing for the serious delay in new content. I was away on an amazing trip to Israel. Two weeks in the land of Milk and Honey just wasn’t enough. But the good news is, I get to be with you now. So, in this new year, expect lots of new recipes and restaurant reviews, obviously starting with the first reviews of the season…restaurants in Israel. Hey, you never know when you’ll be there next and preparation is everything. Well food is everything, but without a little research, you could be eating mediocre shwarma, and that’s good for no one.

So, food in Israel. I know what you are thinking. Hummus, hummus and more hummus. Well you are not entirely wrong, because you’re exactly right. When in Rome Israel, right? Local cuisine is prevalent for a reason. It’s usually the best of the freshest ingredients combined with local spices and flavors. And one of the best native foods in Israel is the falafel. This crispy creation is born from, you guessed it, chickpeas aka hummus. I had great falafel in Tzfat, a small city located in the north. Fun fact for you, or Madonna, Tzfat is actually known as the center of Kabbalah. But, now you know one more thing about Tzfat; they serve excellent falafel at a quaint restaurant called The Bagdad Café. This tiny, and I really do mean tiny, restaurant can seat about twelve people at once. Although the waitress (singular as there was really only one) can’t handle that many people. This is probably a great time to tell you the service in Israel is less than stellar. But what The Bagdad Café lacks in service, they make up for in taste. The falafel was served warm and crispy, with a refreshing salad, creamy hummus and warm bread. It was slightly greasy but light, which made it the perfect meal after a night of drinking Israeli tequila. Well a perfect Middle Eastern meal after a night of drinking Israel tequila.

Now, I know you probably don’t associate the words Chinese food and kosher. And truthfully, neither do I. But, if you find yourself in Tiberias, craving sesame chicken, then there is only one place to go: Pagoda. According to my dinner dates, it was the best kosher chinese food they ever ate. Since it was the only kosher chinese food I’ve ever eaten, I’ll have to take their word for it.

I wasn’t expecting much from the food in Jerusalem. Quite honestly, I thought it was going to be bad, real bad. But, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best things happen when you least expect it. And the food in Jerusalem blew me away.

The first restaurant we went to was Machane Yehuda. Named for the neighborhood, this trendy restaurant was everything I needed and more, i.e. not kosher. It was also lively and fun. The open kitchen is visible to almost every table in the restaurant, and you know how I feel about an open kitchen. We shared a lot of the menu, including a creamy polenta with mushrooms and truffle oil. This melt in your mouth polenta was some of the best I’ve had. The lamb chops were cooked to a perfect medium. The tender meat was packed with flavor. We also shared the sea bass, which was a light, but flavorful addition to the dishes we ordered. The sirloin with truffle butter was a dish we couldn’t pass up, partly because a meat and milk combo in Jerusalem is not easy to come by, and also because it came highly recommended. The flavors were great, but the steak was overcooked. After a few bottles of wine, and great conversation with new friends, this mistake quickly became forgivable.

The second restaurant we went to in Jerusalem was Chakra. I know I’ve already told you about how the service in Israel is, well to be honest, terrible. But the service at Chakra was great. Our waiter took excellent care of us; at one point in the night, he gave us an entire bottle of Stoli. Key word: gave. Besides the generosity of the waiter, the restaurant was excellent. We ordered spicy tuna on toast points as an appetizer, which rivaled many of the tuna tartar appetizers I’ve had in New York. We also shared the root salad, asparagus, and sea bream to name a few. This restaurant also has an open kitchen. I could totally get used to dining in Israel. If you are in Jerusalem, this is a must!

The Jewish Shuk in Jerusalem is a site to see. Filled with shops and stands of all kinds, this market has everything to offer. Fruits, veggies, nuts, spices, and best of all, pastries. Come hungry – leave happy. Yup, I said it. Sorry IHOP.

Moving on to the next stop on my cultural and culinary tour of Israel. Tel Aviv is an amazing city with great food, which obviously means great hummus. Abu Hassan is one of the most famous hummus restaurants in Tel Aviv. It’s a local place, filled with locals, which can be intimidating in Israel. My advice? Be aggressive. B – E – aggressive. Sit down at a table, whatever table is available and order. Ask for hummus and whatever else they recommend. I wish I knew what I ate, because it was awesome. But I have no idea. The most important thing to know, is that the pita is warm, the hummus is creamy and you have all of 20 minutes to sit down, order, eat and leave. So make every second count. This place is worthy of the madness.

Another excellent dinner was had at Social Club. We ordered one of every appetizer, including eggplant, artichokes and carpaccio. But the star of the meal was an incredible papardelle pasta with duck, and oh yea, pork chops. Insert angel face emoticon here.

Breakfast in Israel is usually hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes, and if you are lucky, shakshouka, which is a hearty tomato stew with eggs. But, there’s one great place in Tel Aviv that takes breakfast to a whole new level, Benedict. I heard about breakfast at Benedict’s for months before my trip to Israel. I thought all the good things were probably exaggerated. I mean how good can pancakes in Israel really be, right? WRONG. The pancakes at Benedict’s are literally the best pancakes I have ever had in my entire life. Each pancake is one inch thick. They are soft and sweet, like cake, but light and airy the way pancakes should be. I had mine covered in white chocolate with a shot of espresso. Yes, that actually happened. I resolve to figure out how to make these pancakes before the end of 2012, even if that means returning to Tel Aviv for breakfast soon. Great resolution, right? Although the pancakes at Benedict’s are a must, you should also know they make a banging shakshouka, so order both.

Also noteworthy in Tel Aviv, is Nanutchka. This Georgian restaurant offers tasty food with an eclectic atmosphere. The live music makes this restaurant a fun and exciting place to enjoy delicious food, especially the lamb shank.

Important to note, all Shuks are not created equal. The Carmel shuk in Tel Aviv is awesome, but in a different way than the shuk in Jerusalem. Sure, you can find many of the same things, spices, fruit, and restaurants. But this shuk is also filled with more chachkies. The best day to go is Tuesday, when the artist fair is right next door. You can pick up jewelry and Judaica. But don’t forget to sample some of the amazing spices and grab a bite to eat. My recommendation: La Cafe. Located in the middle of the Shuk, this small coffee shop and restaurant offers a strong shot of espresso and a great pita.

All this great food was amazing. But my best food experience in Israel was at a soup kitchen, Ichlu Reim. This amazing charitable organization helps all Israelis in need, regardless of race or religion. I spent one morning helping prepare food for upcoming meals. The experience was humbling; I feel truly privileged to have been a part of such a great act of kindness. Of course, there are other ways to help the people in need by helping the food bank. Donations are always needed. If you would like to donate to the food bank, click here.

It pains me to end this post because it officially means the end of my trip. But, here’s to more Israel posts in the future and to next year in Jerusalem.

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Sorella So Really Good

Posted on December 7, 2011 | 2 comments

I have this weird love hate relationship with the Lower East Side.  I Hate, with a capital H, that I can never get a cab anywhere in the Lower East Side.  Seriously, I think what Paula Cole really meant was “where have all the cabbies gone”?  But I do LOVE the neighborhood, and in particular, the neighborhood gems.  And one such neighborhood gem that I cannot get enough of is Sorella, because Sorella is so really good.

Sorella is a modest Italian restaurant on Allen Street that serves small plates.  This rustic yet chic restaurant is dimly lit for a touch of romance.  It has this homey feeling that makes you feel comfortable right away.   The same can be said of the service.  With a few key recommendations from the waitress, we knew we were awaiting a great meal.

Similar to tapas, small plates are meant to share.  This is my favorite way to eat because you get to try so many things, and so many of Sorella’s things are exceptional.  Don’t get it twisted, Sorella may serve small dishes, but they pack a big punch.

We started with a few meats and cheeses, because the joys of salty meat and creamy cheese are hard to pass up.  The prosciutto was delicate and mild while to soppressata was dense and salty.  Paired with creamy cheeses, honey and hazelnuts, this was the perfect way to start our meal.

I don’t know about you, but I have a very difficult time passing up Brussels sprouts.  Sure, I maybe a parent’s dream come true, but I’m really just a humble vegetable eater.  Can you just picture the devious smile across my face?  Well, you should try cause it’s awesome.  Just like the Shaved Brussels sprout salad I had at Sorella.  This salad was the perfect balance of flavors.  The mild Brussels sprouts were the perfect base for the crunchy croutons, salty capers, spicy red pepper flakes, sweet onions and creamy cheese.  Piled high, this salad was a big mountain of excellence.

After the Brussels Sprout salad, we ordered the Beef Carne Cruda.  But this was not your average Beef Cruda because this beef was imported from the Hearst Ranch in California.  That’s right, Hearst, as in Hearst Corporation.  The Owner and Chef of Sorella, Emma Hearst, imports her beef from her family’s cattle ranch in California.  Seriously cool right?  As if that isn’t cool enough, rumors are floating around about her opening a steakhouse in New York using the beef from her family’s cattle ranch too.  While these are just rumors right now, I’m still crossing my Bite-Sized fingers that this becomes a reality one day soon.  One more thing, Emma Hearst made the list of “30 Under 30” by Zagat, and no one can argue that this 24 year old is seriously deserving of such exciting recognition!

Okay, back to the beef.  The bright red, supple meat is garnished with simple fried onions and accompanied by side salad of shaved celery and radish.  So simple, yet so good.

I had never heard of Pici pasta (pronounced peachy), but after a solid recommendation from the waitress, I knew I wanted to try it.  Plus, how do you really resist a pasta called Pici?  The thick, doughy noodles swim in a bowl of hearty pork ragu, ricotta and pepperoncini.  This is an unusual dish that I would make my usual meal.

Agnolotti are ravioli, and these ravioli were Bite-Sized. No truly, they were tiny, but seriously divine.  The agnolotti were soft and pillowy.  Stuffed with beef short ribs and drizzled with sage butter and parmesan cheese, these baby ravioli were robust bites of comfort.

A side of broccoli was a must, especially after we found out it was fried and covered in a spicy aioli.  Reminiscent of Japanese style broccoli tempera, these bites were unexpected for an Italian restaurant.  It was like a surprise party for my tastebuds.

A trip to Sorella wouldn’t be complete with dessert, because dinner isn’t really done until you have dessert.  But especially because they have a gelateria next door called Stellina.  We ordered 3 scoops of gelato, and each was better than the last.  Seriously, this was THE best gelato I have ever had in the United States.

We also ordered cheesecake.  I know, I was surprised we weren’t too full also.  But, we weren’t so cheesecake we ate.  The light and airy cheesecake was shaped like a pyramid and covered in a delicate layer of smooth chocolate.

If your mouth isn’t watering, I think you might be sick.  So, please make sure to call the doctor.

Sorella
95 Allen Street
New York, NY
212.274.9595

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F-ing Sunday

Posted on December 4, 2011 | 6 comments

Sunday is about one thing and one thing only and it starts with an F.  Foo…Foo…Food…Chinese food to be exact.   Probably not the F word you were thinking of, but I already told you, football isn’t my sport of choice.

Sunday and Chinese food are two terms that are interchangeable to me.  It is the way I say goodbye to the week, physically and mentally because without Chinese food, there is no end in sight.  If the week doesn’t end, then what you have is just one big long run-on week and that is enough to make anyone crazy.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in New York is Mr. K’s.  Located in midtown, this Chinese restaurant is anything but ordinary.  The restaurant is fit for Chinese royalty, or really New York royalty.  It is elegantly decorated, with oversized couches and glass tables.  The restaurant is also adorned with jade and silver as well as fine art.  You know the moment you walk in you are going to be treated like a King and enjoy a seriously delicious meal.

Chinese cooking is all about the Ying and Yang, which is a well-balanced meal in texture, color, flavor and temperature.  Using fresh ingredients, Mr. K’s establishes this level of Ying and Yang in all of their dishes.

I like to start with the Crispy Beef, which is shredded and then fried to perfection and covered in a soy-scallion glaze.  These little bites are just enough to get your palate going without filling you up.

I judge a Chinese restaurant by their Peking duck, and I think Mr. K’s makes one of the best Peking Ducks in all of New York City.  Bold statement, but totally true.  The pancake is warm and doughy, but light enough so it doesn’t overpower the rich duck.  The skin is crispy and the meat is juicy.  Paired with cucumbers and scallions, and complimented with sweet and tangy Hoisin sauce, this duck is one of the best dishes in all of New York; forget that we are just talking Chinese food here.

Another one of my favorite dishes at Mr. K’s is the Hunan Shrimp.  These gargantuan shellfish are sautéed with peppers and mushrooms in a tangy Szechuan sauce.   The shrimp are always perfectly tender.  The peppers maintain their crunchiness to balance this dish.

If you like shrimp, but crave something on the spicier side, the Prawns in Garlic Sauce is going to be your dish of choice.  The soy-garlic sauce that envelopes these succulent shrimp has a hint of heat, just enough to warm you up, but not too much to make you sweat.

Of course, you cannot eat Chinese food without a little fried rice and the fried rice at Mr. K’s is great.  This Bite-Sized Blonde prefers brown rice in her fried rice.  Does it make this dish any healthier? Probably not, but I feel better about eating fried rice when it’s brown rice.  The brown rice gives the dish a nutty flavor, which compliments the veggies so well.

If lo mein is more your speed than fried rice, then you are in the right place.  Mr. K’s makes a noteworthy Vegetable Lo mein.  The noodles are al dente and served warm with assorted crunchy vegetables.

It’s not all about the carbs though – the vegetables are also delectable.  My favorite veggie dish is the Bok Choy, which light but packed with flavor.

I almost forgot to mention a very important part of Mr. K’s.  They bring you lemon sorbet in between courses to cleanse your palate.  Any restaurant that pays attention to your palate, so much so they cleanse it in between courses, is a fine dining establishment.  And so, with a full belly, and a smile across my face, I proudly give Mr. K’s two Bite-Sized Thumbs up.

Mr. K’s Restaurant
570 Lexington Ave. (51st Street)
New York, NY
212.583.1668

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Not Your Average Joe

Posted on November 30, 2011 | 3 comments

I don’t know about you, but if I don’t start my morning with a cup of coffee, my morning doesn’t really start at all.   It’s like my brain protests proper thoughts when I’m without caffeine.  Some may call it an addiction; I just call it a delicious routine.

If you are a coffee drinker, then you know not every cup is the same, or even similar.  And the power of a great cup of coffee is like the power of a great kiss.  It has the ability to change an entire day for the better.  That’s the way it goes, and don’t forget it goes the other way too.  A bad cup of coffee, almost worse than no cup at all, is enough to turn me into a Bite-Sized B*tch.

Fear not because I have found the place where good moods are born and it’s called Blue Bottle.   This coffee shop is not your average Starbucks coffee shop.  Coffee at Blue Bottle is prepared meticulously.  They have several methods of preparing coffee, including siphon, drip, French press and espresso, but no matter the preparation, the end result is liquid happiness.

A siphon coffee maker, which is also called a vacuum coffee maker uses two chambers to brew coffee. Not only do they look seriously impressive, they brew a mean cup coffee.

If you are looking for something a little more low key, but still dramatic, you can order a drip.  Each cup of coffee is individually made to order, so it’s kind of like  a present.  Of course, I love presents, and I love coffee, so I had to have a drip.

The coffee was strong and complex with earthy notes.  With a little raw sugar and whole milk, it was a rich and creamy delight.

At a place with so many options, it’s hard to just pick one thing.  So naturally, I didn’t.  I also had a latte, which was smooth as silk.

The only downside to Blue Bottle? The line is out the door.  I went at 5:00 pm on a Friday and I waited about 15 minutes for my coffee.  Totally worth the wait, but totally annoying.   Also, you’ll have to go to San Francisco or Brooklyn to get this tasty treat, so I chose Brooklyn.  A trip to Brooklyn wouldn’t be complete without a hipster spotting, and this spot was worth mentioning.  A hipster who kind of looked like Robinhood, hat and all, ordered a cup of coffee after I did.  He had the good sense to order a drip as well.  But, this sneaky son of a gun took my coffee instead of his.  Robinhood lives up to his name, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, if by rich I mean well dress and poor I mean wears a funny looking hat.

Oh yea, can’t forget to mention that Coolhaus sells Blue Bottle iced coffee, and you know how much I love Coolhaus.

Blue Bottle Coffee
160 Berry Street
Brooklyn, NY
718.387.4160

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B is for Bad

Posted on November 15, 2011 | 4 comments

Unless you are out to lunch, figuratively, not literally, you’ve probably noticed the grades being posted in restaurants all over NYC…because literally you would have to be blind not to notice.  The grades are seemingly meaningless as they don’t appear to have affected business at all, probably because diners are in the dark as to what these grades mean.  Eaters, it’s time to get educated, before you wake up and realize one of your favorite lunch time spots has a B for all the wrong reasons!

The Health Department is rating restaurants based on sanitary conditions to help consumers make better decisions.  It’s also kind of genius as it works to
incentivize restaurants to keep it clean. Looks like someone is looking out for us, so thank you to the HD of NYC.  But what do these grades actually mean? Grades are given out based on the number of violations a restaurant receives.  Unlike basketball, points are the enemy here, not the goal, but what does the NBA know about points these days anyway?  The more violations you have, the more points you get.  Points are based on just how gross bad the violation is; expect a violation such as mice or roaches to carry more than let’s say, not properly sanitizing utensils.

Taking a note from Tosh.O, in this week’s breakdown, here’s how the grades work:

Grade A. 0 to 13 points for sanitary violations.

Grade B. 14 to 27 points for sanitary violations.

Grade C. 28 or more points for sanitary violations.

If a restaurant has a sign that says “grade pending”, that means they didn’t get an A the first time around.  So, the restaurant is contesting the violations, aka stay tuned…

Of course, the Health Department wouldn’t let a restaurant operate if the violations were fatal.  But, do you really want to knowingly eat at a restaurant that has a mouse problem? Unless I’m visiting Disney, I don’t need to eat lunch with Mickey.

Not only does this post serves as a little nip of knowledge, it’s also my official declaration of a lockout.  A lockout from what you say? Glaze, a former favorite lunch spot.  After further inspection, I learned the reason for their B rating was live roaches and mice.  So, Glaze, unless you can give me what I want, a clean restaurant, I’m walking out.

Wanna know how you can check your favorite restaurants? Click here.  Be forewarned, you might be upset with the results, since it’s basically the same as Facebook stalking your boyfriend to find out if he is cheating on you.

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Sunday Lazy Sunday

Posted on November 13, 2011 | 7 comments

I love waking up on a Sunday knowing that I have nothing to do but go to brunch. This hybrid meal takes on activity status for a reason.  If done correctly, brunch can last the whole day.  Whether you spend the entire day eating and drinking or spend the entire day in a food coma slash drunken stupor is entirely up to you. We all know who the Bite-Sized Blonde in the food coma is…

One of my favorite places to brunch is Peels in the East Village.  This adorably quaint restaurant is totally unassuming.  Don’t get me wrong, this place exudes that cool factor.  Case in point: the heaps of hipster customers.  But, that’s not why this place is cool.  This restaurant, known for their baked goods, turns out amazing breakfast, lunch and their love child, brunch.

Peels is as popular as it is delicious and cool.  So, you should expect a wait. But, it’s well worth it.  The baked goods sell quickly, so make sure to order them as soon as you sit down! I made the mistake of waiting to order the monkey bread until after we ate brunch, and I was SOL when I was told they were sold out!

Here are some things you shouldn’t miss:  The Fried Chicken Sandwich and The Roasted Tomato Benedict.   The Fried Chicken has a crunchy and salty exterior. Cushioned by a soft potato roll and complimented by tangy pickles and shredded lettuce, this sandwich is irresistible.

If the words Roasted Tomato Benedict don’t turn you on, then maybe it’s time to do a little soul searching.  These beautifully cooked eggs sit on top of homemade biscuits.  These doughy biscuits are still warm when they are covered in basil and roasted tomato hollandaise.  So simple, yet to elegant.

And now for the money shot…

oh yea…that’s good.

Food is everything to me, but a close second is caffeine.  A great cup of coffee has the potential to change a day, just like a bad cup of coffee is essentially a recipe for a bad mood.  The cappucinno at Peels is rich and earthy.  Better just tell the waitress to keep em coming.  Like I said, brunch is an all day activity and you’re going to need your strength.

Peels
325 Bowery (Corner of 2nd St.)
New York City, NY 10003
646.602.7015

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Bite-Sized Banter & Wollensky

Posted on October 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

If you happen to work or live in midtown Manhattan, you might have noticed that Smith & Wollensky has been looking a little different these days.  How different? Well for starters, the all-important Smith is no longer there.  As part of a pretty clever ad campaign, Smith & Wollenksy is replacing the “Smith” in exchange for a loyal customer’s name.  The campaign started on October 3 and will run through the end of the month.  All you have to do is make a reservation, and hope your name gets picked. 

Each day, a lucky, loyal customer gets chosen to have their name put up outside the restaurant – on the building and awning.  This witty campaign goes all the way…waiter’s jackets are also being changed with the new name, and don’t forget about the napkins and matchbooks!

The though process behind this unusual campaign?  If your name is on restaurant, it becomes yours, and then you are a customer for life.  Now that’s some serious loyalty.  I’ll hand it to them, I was even thinking about making a reservation.  Although Smith & Wollensky isn’t my steakhouse of choice,  I would love to see Bite-Sized Banter & Wollenksy in big letters on 3rd Ave.

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Greece Lightning

Posted on October 11, 2011 | 1 comment

Dare I say pleasant weather, pleasant surprise.  This warm weather has been such a nice break.  Indian Summer take 2…and hey, why not.  I’ve never heard anyone complain about too much summertime.   And speaking of summer, I know we are all dreaming about it.  So, whether you are dreaming about last summer or this coming summer, it might just be that time for a vacation, if not physical then at least mental.   Is there a food adjective that’s appropriate here? Foodal? No? I guess delicious will just have to suffice.  Come on Webster, it’s time for some new words.

I’m certainly ready for a vacation, and since I’m not heading anywhere anytime soon, I’ll just pretend.  If I close my eyes, spin around in a circle, and wind up pointing at a big, giant map, I bet I’ll be pointing at Greece.  While I don’t have time for a crazy long flight,  I do have time for a short cab ride down to the East Village.   Don’t be skeptical.  I promise this trip won’t disappoint.

Any true foodie knows the next best thing to actually going to Greece is eating authentic Greek food.  Attention restaurateurs…there is a lesson here.  Food can, and should be, transcendental, which is exactly what the food is at Pylos.  You know you are in a special place when you walk into this restaurant.  The stark white walls are accented by the bluest blue panels and decorated with copper nail heads to match the hundreds of terracotta pots hanging from the ceiling.  Beauty isn’t just skin deep at Pylos.  The food is equally as beautiful.

Pylos has some of the best pita bread I’ve ever tasted.  It’s soft and sweet yet slightly salty.   And since there are so many Greek options when it comes to dips for pita bread, why just get one?  You know this Bite-Size Blonde always thinks two are better than one.  And in this case, three are definitely better than one.  The Poikilia is a trio dipping sauces — tzatziki, taramosalata and meltizanosalata. Tzatziki is that addictively tangy yogurt sauce.  Taramosalata is a citrusy fish dip, similar to lox, but chopped up into a spread.  Melitzanosalata is rustic grilled eggplant dip that is irresistible.

It’s a fact that if you have a salad named after you, you have to be doing something right.  And the Greek’s are definitely doing this right.  Horiatiki is the authentic name for a classic greek salad, and authentic this is.   Forget the lettuce, the veggies speak for themselves.  Tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, capers and  kalamata olives combine to become an oasis of freshness.  The tangy feta cheese adds just the right amount of saltiness to this iconic salad.

The grape leaves at Pylos are familiar but not ordinary whatsoever.  They are stuffed with ground veal, golden raisins and pine nuts and drizzled in a lemon sauce.

The Italians get the most praise for meatballs; that’s for sure.  But the Greeks know a thing or two about their balls.  The seasoning is different, so you can really taste the meat.  And more than that, they aren’t camouflaged with sauce.  They are simply pan fried in olive oil and left to be admired in all their glory.   And admire I will.

Ouzo is as Greek as the Parthenon, although I’ll admit I think I like the Parthenon more.  Ouzo’s pungent flavor is not a Bite-Sized favorite, but when it’s used for cooking, the harshness dissipates, and leaves a unique concentrated flavor.  When combined with tomato sauce and cream, it makes a complex sauce for succulent shrimp.

If you’ve never tried octopus, and want to give it a shot, Pylos is the place to try it.  The octopus is charred perfectly and tossed in an acidic balsamic reduction.

If you learned anything from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, other than windex is the cure for every ailment, it’s that Greek’s love their lamb.  The lamb chops at Pylos are a Greek lovefest, grilled and served with eggplant.  This dish is comforting but satisfyingly light at the same time.

Short ribs are not usually a dish I would think to order in Greek restaurant, just like ordering steak in an Italian restaurant.  I was wrong before, and I was wrong again.  These short ribs were exceptional.  The ribs were fall of the bone tender and smothered in a sea of red wine sauce and potato puree that made me want to lick my fork clean.

Can you really say you’ve been out for Greek food without ordering a whole fish?  The jury is still out, but I don’t think so.  Pylos will filet that fish for you, leaving you beautiful, and easily edible filets of delicate fish.  Olive oil and fresh lemon juice dress the perfectly grilled fish for a true taste of Greece.

Now, it’s not over until the fat lady sings, or in my case, the Bite-Sized Blonde says Uncle.  And no one, I repeat no one, can get me to say Uncle sans dessert.  If you are thinking baklava, you are going to be wrong.  Just this once though.  The most underrated and delectable Greek dessert is the Galaktobourekakia, buttery phyllo triangles filled with Greek custard and drizzled with cinnamon and honey.   Don’t waste a single second trying to pronounce it, just point to it.

Still thinking about that vacation?  Yea, me too.  But in the meantime, Pylos is just a short cab ride away.

Pylos
128 East 7th Street
(between Avenue A and First Avenue)
New York, NY
212.473.0220

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If You Wanna Be My Lobster

Posted on October 6, 2011 | 1 comment

We all have our little litmus tests, ya know, to see if someone is worth the time and effort.   And mine just happens to be a family tradition.  You want to date one of us?  It’s rather simple.  To be my lobster, you have to eat a lobster.  And not just eat it, I mean really eat it.  If you can’t destroy a lobster, the future our relationship is questionable.  Is this shallow? No, it’s actually the opposite.  Eating lobster is about three things that are anything but shallow…hard work, pride and happiness.

Eating a lobster is totally hard work.  Sure, you can order a lobster out of the shell, but that’s just lazy.  The real way to eat a lobster is to have it served as its cooked and crack that shell one claw at a time.  Eating a lobster is seriously messy, if you eat it correctly.  And you have to be confident to get food all over your face when you eat.  Now, that’s the kind of pride I’m talking about.  And obviously this leads to happiness because delicious is a synonym for happy, or at least it is in my dictionary.

So where’s my favorite place to eat a lobster?  If you thought I was going to say Centro Vasco, think again.  I have another place up my sleeve that isn’t totally obvious.  Malaga is a small Spanish restaurant on the Upper East Side with great lobster and an unassuming atmosphere.  You know this is a place you can get a little messy.  Whether it’s broiled or steamed, this lobster is out of this world! Or should I say lobsters. Why order one when you can order two? That’s right, this Bite-Sized Blonde orders two lobsters, 1 ¼ pounds each, and I eat each and every morsel.  The lobster is always perfectly cooked, resulting in sweet and succulent meat.  Now that’s what I’m talking about it.

The lobster also comes with a salad covered in homemade house dressing, critical to the Malaga experience.  And you can’t forget the sides.  My choice, of course, is the homemade potato chips and broccoli in garlic.  Seriously yummy accessories to a great meal.

Speaking of accessories, lobster and sangria go hand in hand.  I mean, is there even another beverage option when it comes to eating lobster other than sangria? I don’t think so.  Malaga makes sweet sangria.  They also have live music on Sundays from 6:30 – 9:30.  Does it really get any better than this?

Malaga
406 East 73 Street (1st Ave)
New York, NY
212.737.7659 

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