Category Archives: Chelsea

May 7, 2013 · 6:21 pm

Montmartre: kicking off Chelsea’s fine food expansion

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When I pulled up to the busy thoroughfare of 8th Ave and 18th in Chelsea, I have to admit I was not excited to be there. To me, the few blocks north of my workplace represent quick service chain restaurants, pizza shops, and my cheap manicure salon -– not stand out cuisine. And while the Montmartre space itself is narrow, the bar is not very spacious (like all Joseph Leonard team restaurants), and it’s not a spot for those hard of hearing (I was yelling for most of the dinner), the food was some of the best I’ve had in a while at a new NYC restaurant.

We started with the chicken liver, which came generously spread atop a thick piece of country bread. The liver mousse was just the right texture – not too smooth, just enough roughness to make it interesting. The white asparagus salad totally reminded me of something that would come out of SPQR in SF, and came as one thick poached asparagus on top of a delicious puree topped with salty crispy ham. I’m usually skeptical to order raw fish when I’m trying to branch out, but the Hamachi here is unique in preparation and flavor – thick slices wrapped around a tartar topped with diced apple and a delicate vinaigrette.

hamachi (photo from SeriousEats.com)

hamachi (photo from SeriousEats.com)

There was a ton on the menu I would have loved to try for my main course, but I chose the smoked and roasted chicken because it sounded so intriguing with such a bare bones description. It may have been one of the most interesting chicken dishes I’ve had. And, the kitchen was even nice enough to plate a half order of the ricotta gnocchi with morels and hazelnuts that I just couldn’t resist, which ended up tasting like little clouds of heaven.

amazing ricotta gnocchi

amazing ricotta gnocchi

smoked and roasted chicken

smoked and roasted chicken

This place is very reminiscent of some of the inventive ingredient-focused restaurants that cover San Francisco (SPQR, Heirloom, Rich Table), and I absolutely love it. It could actually be one of my favorites for unique food in a familiar setting. So maybe middle of Chelsea isn’t so bad afterall. And maybe, since it’s not in the haven of wonder that is the West Village, it will be more amenable to walk-ins.

Grade: A
Location: 158 Eighth Ave., nr. W. 18th St
Website: (which I love)

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April 3, 2013 · 1:32 pm

Omai: authentic Vietnamese in an upscale setting

Omai

After reading Gabe Thompson’s Chelsea Neighborhood Guide on SeriousEats, I became inspired to branch out of my typical West Village confines to explore the bordering neighborhood that he so loyally promoted. Omai was the restaurant that stood out most on his list, and as a recent fan of Baoguette for delivery, I was curious to see if there really was a better nearby Vietnamese restaurant that I had been missing out on. I’m not one for settling when there’s potential for improvement. My conclusion? Omai has knocked Baoguette off my delivery list – bittersweet given my recent love affair with Baoguette’s grilled chicken pho.

Everything at Omai is done with a little more care and attention to detail than usual. The typical tom cuon shrimp rolls, for example, are made with plump grilled prawns as opposed to cold sliced shrimp. The eggplant hasn’t absorbed loads of grease because they’ve flash sautéed it in a gingery, vinegar-fish sauce. And the bun ga nuong, rice noodles with grilled chicken, lettuce and herbs, is utterly addictive tossed in their tangy vinaigrette.

rice noodle salad with chicken

rice noodle salad with chicken

beef pho

beef pho

Most remarkable, however, is the Pho. It took my tasting awe-inspiring pho to realize that what I had been eating for so long was actually not that great. The cinnamon-scented broth that was so simple, yet so rich in flavor, and it tasted like it had been brewing for hours. The noodles are wonderful too; long and thin, they perfectly capture the broth between each strand to make each bite a soupy one. I only wish there had been more bean sprouts. Either way, this is the type of food I love because it doesn’t leave you feeling heavy and gross.

In terms of service, the rhythm of our meal was a little spotty: everything came out one at a time with odd spacing in between. Given that, it’ll likely (as planned) be my go-to for delivery as opposed to a night out, though it got pretty lively with the techno music they were pumping.

Grade: A-
Location: 158 9th Ave btwn 19th and 16th Streets
Website

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March 17, 2013 · 1:29 pm

Chelsea Market Adventures: Amy’s Bread ham & cheddar biscuit

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Yes, I just went grocery shopping, and yes, I work across the street from Chelsea Market, but I trekked there today anyway for a little get-out-of-bed Sunday adventure. I awoke this morning with my stomach grumbling for a savory breakfast, so I headed straight to the Market’s Amy’s Bread where the sandwich selection is right up my alley – pre-mades with a variety of breads, cheeses, and meats in all shapes (from rolls to skinny baguettes) and sizes (from mini to massive). I generally go for the hummus veggie on wheat or the mozzarella and tomato on olive bread, but today I pointed right to the ham and cheese biscuit enticingly glistening in the display case. The second the server relinquished control, I took it out of the bag and chomped right into it. The verdict? Thick-cut ham sandwiched between two slices of sharp cheddar and a cheddar-speckled biscuit feels like a brick in my stomach, but is pretty hard to beat on a day that launches in hunger. The biscuit is perfectly doughy, warm and crisp on the outside, and the little nugget of a sandwich is thankfully easy to eat. It may just be my new favorite.

grilled biscuit

grilled biscuit

Grade: A+
Location: Multiple
Website

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March 10, 2013 · 8:57 pm

Juice Press: my generation’s McDonald’s (in a good way)

juice press

Smack dab in the middle of Juice Generation at Equinox and Organic Avenue on 8th resides the few-month old Juice Press, which has successfully out-shined its competitors in the notoriously juice-saturated zone. As I walk by each morning, I notice that both the lines and the product list are getting longer and longer, and even I, an Organic Ave fan, am totally drawn to the place. But it’s not necessarily the juice that keeps me coming back here; it’s the pristine glass walls, the spaciousness (try doing a cartwheel in Organic Avenue and you may kill someone), its comical approach to healthful eating (read the website) and of course, the  smoothies and the sweet treats.

There are a few things I love that I assure you are delicious to raw-foodists and burrito lovers alike: the raw oats and the Heaven on Earth smoothie. The raw oats are bathed in a silky smooth cashew milk and coconut mixture that make it taste more like dessert than breakfast. It’s incredibly rich and thankfully so, given the 600 calories per serving.  The Heaven on Earth smoothie is also a treat – cocoa, almond butter, cinnamon, dates, and banana turn health-food into pure chocolatey decadence.

raw oats with berry jam

raw oats with berry jam*

kale caesar

kale caesar

quinoa

quinoa

The fridge is packed with nutrient-rich foods, but make no mistake in thinking they’re all calorie-free – coconut oils and nut milks, which help to keep you full for longer, tend to pack in the fat. One major promise? The new additions coming our way from Chef Akhtar (yes, my bf) are unbiasedly delicious. The SPG (sweet potato ginger) soup I tried yesterday was silky smooth and unbelievably vegan, made rich an flavorful with cashew milk, garlic and shallots. I’ve yet to try the guacamole but will be back next week for a pint!

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sweet potato soup

Juice Press serves the need of quick service fresh food, something that’s hard to come by in this city. And unlike my usual eggs and toast brunch, the food actually makes you FEEL good!

Grade: A
Location: Multiple; I visit the one on 8th Ave and Greenwich Ave
Website

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Filed under Affordable Date, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, West Village

February 27, 2013 · 9:20 pm

Chelsea Market Adventures: Carla Hall Petite Cookies

timthumbGiven that one of my favorite pastimes is perusing Chelsea Market for a treat on my way home from work, I’ve decided to launch a recurring “Chelsea Market Adventures” post to feature a new tasty food item from one of the market’s many amazing purveyors. In honor of my Zagat Cookie post this week, today we’re talking about Carla Hall Petite Cookies, smaller-than-bite-size cookies in a dainty cylindrical container. I found these amidst the boat-loads of cookie varietals in my beloved Chelsea Market Baskets, a store that has every specialty food item you could ever imagine. The cookies come in unique sweet and savory flavors – oatmeal with white chocolate and cherries, cheddar pecan, Hawaiian wedding to name a few – and they’re the genius solution to my usual craving for “just a taste” of something sweet throughout the day. After popping more than a few of these almond-ginger nuggets in my mouth, I have no doubt this new venture will be successful. They’re dense, buttery, crunchy, subtly sweet and a perfect topping on ice cream – just the kind of cookie I like.

photo (2)

tiny little buggers!

Website
Where to Buy

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January 8, 2013 · 3:48 am

Chelsea Thai: the Meatpacking’s answer to quick, affordable and flavorful

Chelsea Thai

Despite passing by Chelsea Thai on my walk home every day for almost four years, I’ve never been compelled to stop for takeout; Buon Italia’s glass case of glistening pasta and bruschetta is just too distracting. But tonight, I was handed the opportunity to break my habit when my yoga buddy Emily suggested we eat there before parting ways. Thai isn’t exactly the type of food I crave after sweating out my angst and toxins in a therapeutic yoga session, but I’m trying to live on the edge a little more in 2013. So, I said boldly, “sure, why not.” Walking on the wild side if I say so myself!

Chelsea Thai sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the many modern and pristine little shops in the immediate vicinity. The steel walls covered in menu-photos are the only “decor” that add color to the place, and the minimal Thai products for sale sit lonely on an industrial shelf smack dab in the dining area. Fortunately, there are a few tables just outside the door in the Chelsea Market passage-way that are tolerable as dining tables for a quick meal on the run.

chicken pad thai

pad thai*

 

The place was closing up shop around 9pm as we were walking in, but we made it just in time to place an order for their hot chicken soup with rice noodles. A little disclaimer here, I’m on a semi-cleanse for the next few weeks, so had I been eating normally, I would have had Pad Thai or one of the other gloriously pictured noodle dishes on their menu. I know they are good because even free-food endowed Googlers order the stuff during lunch breaks. Still, Thai soup is admittedly much more entertaining than regular chicken soup because of the interesting sweet and sour flavors that pervade every molecule of broth. This soup was no different. I ordered it with extra vegetables and chicken, and it was unveiled as a bounty of “innards” (as my friend’s boyfriend likes to call it) in a delicious sea of earthy, lightweight but rich-in-flavor soup. A touch of sriracha brightened the flavors enough that I actually felt like I was indulging in something non-cleanse friendly (which truthfully and ironically is the goal when you’re trying to survive on a cleanse).

So my rotation of Buon Italia, Lobster Place or Hale & Hearty as dinner takeout must now make room for the occasional Chelsea Thai treat. While I wouldn’t think twice about eating inside the shop for a “feel-good” meal out, my soup has me convinced that I should permanently consider it as a dinner option on my nightly walks home.

Grade: A
Location: Chelsea Market, 88 10th Avenue between 15th & 16th streets
*photos from voiceplaces.com

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December 5, 2012 · 2:23 am

Sugar Surge: L’Arte del Gelato

larte del gelato

After a long day’s work and a dinner in the office, I’m often found looking for a sweet treat to reward myself for being both diligent and economical. Tonight, I left on a mission for ice cream and b-lined it to L’Arte del Gelato in Chelsea Market knowing I could get a small, (sort of) guilt-free cup of smooth creamy sweetness. As the only customer in sight at the counter, I took my time to sample a laundry list of flavors including biscotti, chocolate chip, Christmas cake, panna cotta, olive oil, and chocolate. The lady behind the counter surely wanted to hit me with her metal spatula by that time, so I quickly decided on the stracciatella and the biscotti and walked away.

ice cream

colorful flavors

straciatella

stracciatella

The gelato is adorable in its little white cup, but bite after bite, I remained unimpressed. Why does everyone love this place? While the product is sugary, cold, and creamy, it melts in no time and is no more remarkable than what I find at the grocery store. I’m a diehard Grom fan, and after forming an addiction to their round tins of thick, dense pistachio gelato in Florence, I’ve yet to find another gelato that’s just as impressive (though Mario Batali does quite the job at his restaurants). Contrary to what I think, though, people absolutely love this place – it’s constantly touted in the press and on Yelp it has a close-to five star rating. Not to mention that Tom Colichio recently called it out in his SeriousEats Neighborhood Guide.

I may just be more accustomed to a richer, more intensely flavored gelato, but I’ve confirmed that next time I want to drop $5 on a 3oz cup of frozen dessert, I’ll likely buy a carton of chunk-filled Ben & Jerry’s.

Grade: B-
Location: Multiple

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June 7, 2012 · 11:59 pm

La Bottega @ The Maritime Hotel

outside at lunch

Today, my manager was kind enough to take me out to an impromptu lunch to enjoy the sun and get out of the office, something we rarely do given we have 4 cafeterias at our fingertips as Google employees. We’re spoiled, but there’s really something priceless about exiting the building and disengaging for an hour for lunch. In Brazil, sitting down for lunch is not even a question – no one eats at their desk. They sit for a proper 1.5 hours, with an appetizer, main course, dessert, and coffee, and no one dares talk about work. Welcome to the US where eating at your desk is the new answer to efficiency (but really, who can really eat a delicious meatball sandwich and think strategically at the same time?).

Anyway, we decided to go to La Bottega, which is not only steps from my office, but also has a beautiful outdoor space for optimal sun exposure. I’ve been here countless times and the main thing that keeps me coming back is the ridiculous complimentary hot rounds of garlic and cheese-covered pizza dough that arrives to the table right after sitting. The pizzas are also delicious, but today we ordered two salads – the artichoke with radicchio and white truffle oil, and the farro with mozzarella, orange, and mint, both flavorful and delicious. The artichoke was served like a slaw – raw and thinly sliced, flavored with thin shavings of parmesan. The farro salad was lovely; the grains were dense, generously dressed with balsamic and olive oil, and tossed with large hunks of fresh mozzarella. Divine!

salads combined on one plate – tables are tiny

We then moved on to the tramezzini: italian finger sandwiches served with mixed greens. We got the bresaola (our waiter hardly knew what this was) with parmesan and arugula, and the tuna with mashed garbanzo beans. The sandwiches are served as three sections on soft, grilled white bread. I was a little disappointed by the straight up bagged-sliced bread, but I loved the tuna sans mayo – the mayo in most tuna is SO unnecessary, and this tuna had texture and flavor without being an oily mess. The bresaola was a little salty with the parmesan – I would have preferred it with mozzarella, but it had a flavorful bite that many cured meat and aged cheese lovers would have flaunted over.

tuna sandwich

La Bottega is the bomb. It has quick service, a beautiful al fresco setting for outdoor eating, and solid, affordable italian food. Our entire lunch was only $40. It’s also great for after work drinks – try the champagne cocktail!

Grade: A-
Location: 88 9th Avenue between 16th & 17th
Website: http://www.themaritimehotel.com

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April 30, 2012 · 3:25 am

AYCD Brunch: Il Bastardo & Poco

I feel sorry for this man.

It took a move across the country to finally understand the true meaning of “Brunch,” which is as iconic in New York as a taxi driver on his cell phone is. Brunch here is no joke – it’s not simply a midday meal to be later followed by dinner. It’s a full-day eating and drinking extravaganza, which makes finding places with drink deals that much more essential. Fortunately, the city is full of restaurants vying for a rowdy brunch crowd, and this month I just so happened to experience two of the most quality and affordable options available.

Il Bastardo packed for brunch

Stop one was Il Bastardo in Chelsea, selected by the Birthday Girl of the moment Lauren Nemeth. Yes, the brunch + unlimited mimosas / bellinis / strawberry bellinis for an extra $20 was definitely a draw, but the main appeal to Lauren and our group of 12 was the promised Drag Queen show as free entertainment. The space is well lit, all white, and very fashionable – a perfect setting for the stylish Chelsea crowd. The brunch fare, which includes panino, eggs, and random italian dishes, however, is nothing greater than standard aside from the endless focaccia. I ordered an omelette, others ordered pasta or cheeseburgers – everything was edible and did the job of lining the stomach for more champagne.

veggie omelette

Most remarkable were the countless bottles left on our table – whereas most unlimited drink spots serve next rounds when requested, Il Bastardo ensured we were never at a loss for champagne nor juices to prepare the mimosas to our liking. What ideal preparation for the giant Drag Queen who stumbled in an hour after we ended our meal? She lip-synched, structured a dance contest for the birthday folk (a woman from Zimbabwe won), did some aggressive stand-up, slapped asses…all the many essential things that take place during a high quality show.

Lauren seconds before a forced dance-off

Overall, for the amount of time we spent in the restaurant consuming hearty food and the copious amounts of alcohol, the average $35 per person was absolutely worth it. Definitely a recommended venue for an affordable and entertaining affair.

Poco front

Poco in the East Village today was just as much of a success, and they also take reservations – a rare trait for brunch in NYC. My SAS (Semester at Sea) friends and I got a table for 5 downstairs, which despite shielding us from the beautiful sun was the perfectly cozy setting for our typical bonding sessions. I prefer the menu here because of its Latin flair – the benedicts are served atop arepas, and the Poco special I ordered came covered with spicy chorizo. It was actually delicious, but next time I’ll have to get the lobster mac and cheese…

poco benedict

The food took over 45 minutes, but the delicious peachy-white sangria was enough of a distraction. Our servers were spastic but efficient when we had the chance to catch their eyes by vigorously waving our hands, and drinks arrived quickly upon ordering. Though Poco lacks drag queen entertainment, I prefer it for its location and laid back vibe. It’s smack in the heart of great East Village shopping and people watching, and right by the park for a good post-carb excess stroll. And, we may or may not have stopped by Puddin’ for dessert…

Sassy Brunch Tradition

Coming up this Saturday I will try the brunch of all brunches in the areas of all areas, Beaumarchais in the Meatpacking district. While I’m confident it will be wild, I’m a pretty positive we won’t be working with unlimited drinks for $30 a person. We’ll just have to see if it lives up to the hype! Until then…

Il Bastardo Grade: A-
Location: 191 7th Ave between 21st and 22nd Streets 
Website: http://www.ilbastardonyc.com

Poco Grade: B+
Location: 33 Avenue B @ 3rd Street
Website:  http://www.poconyc.com

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March 9, 2012 · 4:25 am

Bathtub Gin

I looooooooooove a good cocktail, but not as much as I love a good speakeasy. While some people despise the trend of these dimly lit spots with over-priced, overly-complicated cocktails and often snooty waiters, I tend to gravitate to them purely for the lure of enjoying a well crafted drink behind secret doors. Yes, I admit it, as the nosy person I am, I fall for the marketing technique of emphasizing exclusivity and mysteriousness to tempt the curious passerby.

But for all the gimmicks, moustached bartenders, and ridiculous rules (no speaking at high volumes) you must suffer through to sit undisturbed at these places, I am continuously wowed by the ice cold, perfectly shaken drinks. The speakeasy treats its cocktails like an intricate art-form, and Bathtub Gin is no exception to the rule.

Bathtub Gin focuses most of its cocktails on its namesake, which the waiters will advocate is the most versatile alcohol there is. After drinking two Fernet Sides, a drink with gin, lime, and mint, I can’t disagree.   And even more impressive is the great list of appetizers to choose from – a breath of fresh air when most speakeasies either don’t serve food at all (San Fran’s Bourbon and Branch once reluctantly gave me an olive upon request during a bout of extreme hunger) or pay little attention to crafting a cocktail-complimentary menu. The food options here are hearty, too – I loved the crab stuffed mushrooms , and the camembert, while served with a measly portion of bread, was some of the richest, most addictive camembert I’ve had.

To fit the reputation of a speakeasy in the traditional New York sense, there are many essentials. To name a couple: 1) Rude hostess and 2) clever mode of entry. Bathtub Gin wins in both departments, and makes up for the hostess with incredibly friendly waitstaff. Entrance is at the side door of Stone Street Coffee on 9th Avenue, with no sign of the cocktail bar outside – they’re really relying on word of mouth and proactive scenesters for their customers.

Bathtub Gin is a great option for a variety of occasions: a date, drinks with friends, drinks with co-workers, light bites and drinks with girlfriends before a night on the town, or even a drink solo. Considering its convenient location just blocks from Chelsea Market and my apartment, I have added this to my list of go-to drink spots.

Grade: A
Location: 132 9th Avenue btwn 18th and 19th Streets
Website: http://www.bathtubginnyc.com

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