Chocolate chip cookie recipes are  intriguing because they typically only vary by 1 or 2 ingredients. They are all eerily similar but can taste drastically different. More flour and egg tends to turn into a fluffier cookie, more brown sugar a browner, more molasses-like cookie. This one, taken from Martha Stewart, interestingly calls for an egg plus an egg white, but is no more difficult to make than the standard Toll House recipe. In terms of taste, however, it is SO MUCH BETTER. I can’t believe how such slight changes in ratios of flour to sugar and a simple egg white can improve a recipe I’ve been using for years.

perfectly golden

how to eat all of these in 4 days?

These cookies are perfectly crispy on the edges and the outside, soft and melt in your mouth on the inside. They are a little flat like I like them, but if you heavy up on your rounded tablespoons you can get a plumper cookie. I added milk chocolate to the bittersweet chips to give it more of a creaminess.

Toll House, I’m sorry to say I’ve found another. This will be my go-to recipe until I’m convinced there’s a better one out there.

]]> http://erinalacarte.com/2013/06/16/kitchen-adventures-the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies/feed/ 0 erinbellsey IMG_1119 IMG_1121 http://erinalacarte.com/2013/06/13/wondee-siam-authentic-thai-experience-in-hells-kitchen/ http://erinalacarte.com/2013/06/13/wondee-siam-authentic-thai-experience-in-hells-kitchen/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:25:53 +0000 Erin A La Carte http://erinalacarte.com/?p=3486 Continue reading →]]>

I remember hearing about Wondee Siam years ago. My colleague and now friend Jane would venture crosstown just for a crispy beef salad at this tiny 5-table restaurant. So naturally, when she had a free night back in town, she suggested we meet there to fulfill her undying craving for their authentic thai food. As soon as I was forced to squeeze through the kitchen to use the restroom, I knew it would be tasty. Chefs orchestrating woks and pots and fryers gracefully and pumping out hot, flavorful food made me feel like I was actually in Thailand, in the thick of master thai chefs so focused on their craft.

crispy pork

fried red snapper with mango salad

I arrived famished, so after a short wait for a table, Jane and I shared pad thai with shrimp, crispy pork with water spinach, and whole fried red snapper with a vinegary mango salad. Overwhelmed by the bounty of food and salty and spicy sauces, we slowly made our way through the bright and flavorful meal. The fried fish was meaty and surprisingly easy to eat – instead of arriving whole and untouched, the fish was more of a plate to whole the perfect rectangular pieces of fish filet that had been removed from the fish and fried separately. With the mango salad, this was the perfect hearty and refreshing flavor combination. The pad thai was, as pad thai always is, delicious, and the bite sized crispy pork was crunchy but not at all greasy. The service was spot on, and with a bill amounting to $50, I only wish this place was closer to my house. Keep in mind it’s BYOB – another great reason to gather here for a cheap meal with friends.

Grade: A+
Location: 752 9th Ave btwn 52nd and 53rd streets
Website

I did it. I finally did it. Last Sunday night, inspired by the lack of crowd outside the highly coveted Chez Sardine, I unexpectedly dove right in determined to check this place off my bucket list. I sat at the sushi bar, excited by all of the interesting combinations and the miso-maple salmon head, a dish that has been praised by my friends and fellow bloggers alike. Hipster waiters in high top converse were very attentive, bringing a complimentary pickeled daikon salad to start the meal. And while the maple-wooden space is pristine and beautiful, the food just didn’t impress. While the sushi arrived so beautifully plated and sounded so intriguing (as they should for $5-$7 a tiny piece) - hamachi with chicarron and ginger, mackerel with leek and potatoes, smoked arctic char with spicy rice – they oddly lacked flavor, and were no more exciting than the several pieces I can get for this price at my local sushi spot down the street. The spicy tuna hand roll was thin and skimpy – not what I wanted on an empty stomach. I waited for the salmon head to arrive to take my breath away, but after minutes of peeling away skin and fat to get to a microscopic piece of edible meat overdosed in miso paste, I gave up. I decided to stop my order right there and head home.

$70 later, I was disappointed that all that I had hoped and dreamed of regarding Chez Sardine (considering this group’s other restaurants I love – Montmartre, Joseph Leonard, Fedora….) was blown to pieces. I would come back to try the buttered caviar toast, but only on someone else’s dime. Coming here hungry and with hopes to spend conservatively was torture. I’d save your sushi cravings for Momoya in Chelsea.

Grade: C+
Location: 183 West 10th Street @ West 4th street
Website

Whenever I trek along 7th or 8th Avenue to make my way uptown, I gaze straight ahead, more focused on dodging pedestrians than exploring the side by side box-shaped restaurants. But while this may not be the area for restaurants oozing with character, there are a few reliable ones that serve the purpose of providing solid food without pretention. My favorite? Momoya, the modern, often bustling sushi restaurant that has Morimoto-style Japanese at competitive prices.

Tonight my order was easy given I arrived hungry, which is just as dangerous as grocery shopping while starving. I wanted everything. I saw the man to my right having the crispy rice with tuna and shiitake, so I ordered that. I saw a yellow tail  roll further down the bar, so I added that as well. I was also able to try the white stone roll, a non-traditional tofu-skin roll with fried tempura, crab, tuna and a sweet chili sauce. Along with a few pieces of sashimi and a seaweed salad, I had ordered the perfect amount of food for two that came out to $40 each – a steal given my typical $100 tabs at Blue Ribbon Sushi. Everything hit the spot, but the crispy rice with tuna was a standout.

crispy rice with tuna and seaweed salad

the works

The food at Momoya is fresh, the service efficient, and the space open, airy, sleek and clean. Sit at the sushi bar if you want to be inches away from the sushi chef action, or if pointing to the most appealing items is your preferred method of ordering.

Grade: A
Location: 185 7th Ave @ 21st Street
Website

Balthazar is one of the few restaurants that has remained one of my favorites since since moving to New York 5 years ago (I still can’t get over how long it’s been). I love it for the atmosphere – the hastiness of the waitstaff zooming by, the energy of the people in the room, the wide brasserie style seating, and I go back each time of course for the food and drink – the amazing bread and butter, the simple salads, the hot fudge covered profiteroles, and the shockingly strong French 75′s get me every time. Everything about this place screams New York brasserie, which Keith McNally seems to do so well.

Never did I ever imagine that a newcomer could one up such a longstanding New York staple, but after my epic experience at beautiful Lafayette last Tuesday, I think Balthazar may need to up its game to remain the king of the brasserie crop. Lafayette, which took over the massive Chinatown Brasserie space, is a beautifully spacious, well-lit and enchanting French brasserie that transports you from New York city to a fantasy land (think Great Gatsby) where there’s not a care in the world. I walked in and gasped – a delectable boulangerie with mounds of pastries welcomes you at the entrance, and with staircases and side-by-side booths to optimize the space, there really doesn’t seem to be a bad table in the house. And just like Balthazar, there’s this inescapable and addictive vibrancy – everyone is more alive than ever: happy, hungry and actively people watching.

grandiose bakery upfront

Service was humble and spot on. After a few slices of the rustic sourdough bread with salted butter and a delicious glass of champagne (cremant de Bourgogne), we were served Eggs Lafayette, essentially two stuffed hard boiled eggs with sable fish and trout caviar. Absolutely heaven on earth, and pretty much the best, most unique rendition of deviled eggs I’ve ever had. Next was the Pate Maison, which came with brown ceramic jars of unlimited cornichons (great touch) and brown mustard and grilled rustic bread. This paired well with the massive, lightly dressed butter lettuce salad with roquefort and country ham. RARELY am I impressed by a salad, but this was so fresh, light and stunning with the creamy blue cheese. I was dying for a pasta, but in an effort to eat lightly I went for the steamed trout, served with an utterly flavorful bean and tomato “mush” that I couldn’t get enough of.

Dessert was insane too. Hot fried beignets with chocolate mousse fulfilled my craving for something classic, and the Sweet Cheese Cremant with blueberry sorbet proved that there’s more than just traditional dishes at this place. By the end of the meal, I was reluctant to leave our cozy booth for two, but I have every intention of coming back next week for a bowl of the gorgeous black fettuccine that was served to my neighbor.

pate maison (photo from SeriousEats)

blueberry cremant (photo from SeriousEats)

Compared to Balthazar, I think the standout difference of Lafayette is its slightly more elegant setting and menu (and a few more pastas) – Balthazar is just a touch more core to its rustic French brasserie roots. Either way, it’s going to be a real toss up the next time I’m in the mood for French food.

Grade: A+
Location: 380 Lafayette Street at the corner of Great Jones and Lafayette
Website:

Ohh Babbo. I  love everything about this place. I love that it’s tucked away in a Greenwich village townhouse. I love the round table that anchors the space with cheese, wine and gorgeous fresh flowers (same flower director as Gramercy Tavern). I love the beautiful bar upfront, and I love the exposed staircase that leads to the second floor. I also love that they seat parties of 2 next to side by side in some booths. And lastly, but most importantly, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the food!

So, you all know I am a sucker for Italian food, but this I promise you is above and beyond in deliciousness. It’s not any more complex than you would expect, but the chef embraces each ingredient so carefully that you can’t help but cherish the flavor intensity. Absolutely delicious. If you can’t get a reservation (it’s still the hot commodity it always was), go early and sit at the bar.

While every dish I’ve had here has wowed me, the one that I order every time (when it’s on the menu) is the homemade mozzarella with grilled leeks on rustic Italian bread. You can’t go wrong with any of the pastas, and the incredible desserts (which in my opinion is a rarity for Italian restaurants) makes it the perfect spot for a special, celebratory occasion.

burrata special

chickpea fritters with ricotta salata

stinging nettle fettuccine with asparagus and fried pancetta 

simple spaghetti with bottarga

wild striped bass with watercress pesto

way too much dessert – the cheesecake is mind-blowing

special cookie plate

Babbo is a little more on the fancier end of the spectrum of Italian restaurants, but don’t be fooled by the white table cloths and formal service – the food is pure, straight forward, Italian goodness. I can’t wait to return.

Grade: A+
Location: 110 Waverly Place btwn 6th Ave & Macdougal Street
Website

When I pulled up to the busy thoroughfare of 8^th Ave and 18^th 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)

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

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)

1. Sultanahmet Koftesi [Sultanahmet]: This legendary Turkish meatball shop is, according to locals, the only decent place to eat in tourist-covered Old City. The menu is short and sweet and the space and service is completely no frills. Don’t be confused by the nearby impostors that claim to be the original (a la Ray’s Original Pizza in NY).

halva at Sultahanamet

2. Dicle Balik [Kordakoy]: The best place for simple fresh fish – any kind, any way – on the Asian side. Casual but absolutely fresh and delicious.

flattened fried Hamsi (anchovies) at Dicle Balik

3. Sofyali 9 [Beyoglu]: One of the well known-mezze restaurants on a busy bar-lined street in Beyoglu, this 3-story place is always packed. Call ahead for a reservation. When you arrive, you hand select the mezzes from a platter brought over by your waiter, sort of like the Turkish dim sum. Be sure to get the Borek, which was some of the best we tried in Istanbul.

Sofyali 9

4. Fürreyya [Galata Balikcisi]: Looking for a simple fish restaurant close to the Old City? Then this local favorite is your place. Tiny, quaint, and on top of the hill past the Galata tower, it’s easy to miss, but worth finding for the insanely fresh sea bass, addictive fried anchovies and bountiful Mediterranean salad.

fried hamsi

sea bass at Furreyya

5. Dibek [Cappadocia]: This one’s outside of Istanbul..in fact, only accessible by plane. But if you’re in the Goreme area of the enchanting Cappadocia, be sure to stop by Dibek for the only authentic clay-kebab experience in the area. I can’t say that the food is remarkably flavorful, but the experience of sitting with your shoes off on pillows while eating meat that’s been broken out of a clay pot is worth the unusually high price tag.

clay pot kebab at Dibek

6. Delicatessan [Nisantasi]: Located in the Upper East Side of Istanbul, Delicatessen is many cuts above Istanbul’s traditional “meyhanes” (drinking taverns) in terms of style – in fact, it’s downright gorgeous. The food is beautiful too, and reminiscent of the food served in the many well-designed cafes in London. Coming here at the end of the trip was perfect timing; after days of borek and gozleme I was craving cold salads and fresh veggies more than ever. Don’t forget to stop by the baked goods counter for a massive $7 brownie.

bountiful salads at Delicatessen

7. Lucca [Bebek]: The Meatpacking / Soho / really posh area of Istanbul is home to a ton of the city’s most modern restaurants serving “global” cuisine. At Lucca, don’t expect to find hummus and kofte – our meal consisted of tuna tartare, duck spring rolls, quinoa salad and baked brie. While the food wasn’t necessarily better than what I could find in NY, the scene was a fresh of breath air just as I was starting to get homesick for the big city.

Lucca – posh and pristine

8. Vogue [Besiktas]: The perfect spot for drinks, but the food is quite expensive. The restaurant, which takes over the entire top floor of what looks like an office building, has floor to ceiling windows for a 360 degree view of Istanbul. Delicious pickled cauliflower and cucumbers served with every drink make the $3 mark up on cocktails easier to swallow.

View from Vogue restaurant

9. 5 Kat [Cihangir]: On a side street behind the local hospital, through a random entry way and up a tiny elevator, you’ll find the most beautiful country French restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus river. I can’t speak for the food since the place was closed when we visited, but the gorgeous furniture and the expansive view of the city would make any tier of food worth trying.

5 Kat

10. Chilai [Bebek]: Just blocks away from Lucca, this massive club-like restaurant pumping dance music also focuses on international cuisine, like sushi and pizza. Again, the food isn’t what brings you here as a New Yorker; it’s the glass walls that start at sea level that make you feel like you can reach out and touch the bosphorus. There’s nothing like it in New York (except for the clientele, whom all looked like they were straight out of Real Housewives of NYC).

Chilai

11. Mikla [Beyoglu]: A well known spot for fine-dining and gorgeous views, this restaurant at the top of the Marmara Pera hotel serves some of Istanbul’s most refined food. While the food is creative and gorgeously plated, I would have rather had the kebaps served down below to accompany these views. Still, if you’re looking for a fine dining experience in this wonderful city, this is the place to do it.

I had no idea what a culinary adventure Istanbul would be, but I’ve been in absolute awe of Turkish food from the moment I boarded the Turkish Airlines plane. I’m surprised that after considering myself a knowledgeable eater, I’m finding improved variations of staples that I thought couldn’t get any better, like bread, bagels, wraps and tea. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out for this long! 

foggy ferry ride across the Bosphorus

Turkey’s food is simply a product of its diverse surrounding influences and interesting culture. Bordered by the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Turkey has a rich history with Istanbul as the former capital of both the Roman and Ottoman Empires and a strategic locale for international trade. The country is largely Muslim (80%), but its government is a secular democracy as part of the European Union. Istanbul is a city of contrasts: it’s sandwiched between Europe and Asia, you can hear prayer calls as you end your late night out at a club, and ancient mosques stick out in a skyline of tall modern buildings. And though the city is considered a modern one, its food has remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

After a few days in Istanbul I’ve realized the best food is found at the most unassuming places. We spent our first night out at Istanbul’s hottest restaurant Mikla, and while the visit was absolutely worth the gorgeous view of the city, it struck me to leave my fancy food excursions to New York and instead focus on eating more authentic street food. Since then, every meal for the most part has been a success. Major staples of Turkish food that I’ve fallen in love with are borek (phyllo and fillings), gozleme (flat bread with fillings), melemen (turkish eggs), tantuni (ground beef wraps) and white cheese (feta, but much creamier). There are more than enough things to try to keep food lovers entertained for weeks — I actually have anxiety because I only have three days left with so much on the list. 

Fortunately, I signed up for an Istanbul Eats culinary backstreet walking tour to help me manage the burden of sampling every Turkish specialty in 7 days. After seeing an overview of the walks on SeriousEats and learning that IstanbulEats.com is a highly acclaimed food resource in Turkey, I knew that I was in good hands. The Two Markets, Two Continents walk was 6 hours with a small group of 6 and the perfect mix of tasting, walking, and learning history through food. Our guide Gocken had no shame taking a group of tourists to some of his favorite local spots, rarely frequented by non-regulars. He took the time to explain the significance of certain ingredients and traditional dishes, and there was no pressure to finish everything. Small bite sized pieces of a dozen things helped each of us maintain some sense of comfort despite the constant ingestion. 

The day started out with a talk on the tea culture in Turkey at a well-known Turkish tea “shop” (more like a closet) among the fish mongers below the Galata bridge, and led to the best Turkish breakfast so far at an Armenian-owned restaurant frequented by nearby metal and fish-workers. Here we were introduced to kaymak, skimmed milkfat similar to clotted cream and used somewhat like butter in Turkish cuisine. Incredibly creamy, it adds an earthy richness to breads and sweets. We also tasted the best ever melemen, Turkish eggs soft scrambled eggs with tomatoes, garlic and spices, with fluffy white bread hot out of the oven.

Fortunately we had a ferry ride to the Asian side of Turkey to allow time to digest the overload at breakfast. Once we debarked, we entered the market, starting at a no frills Turkish meatball shop that’s known for it’s grease-soaked bread slices. The rest of the day consisted of tasting treats throughout the market like Turkish delight, pickle juice, tahini paste, mezzes, Turkish coffee, a lamb-intestine wrapped sweetbread sandwich (I passed on this one), and multiple Turkish desserts. Surprisingly at the end of the day, I wasn’t stuffed to the brim, just pleasantly full and ecstatic to have learned so much about Turkish food in that period of time.

at the tea stand in Kadikoy

menemet and fluffy bread

creamy sheep’s milk feta

group photo at breakfast

kofte – Turkish meatballs

mezze

making the tantuni

tantuni – the Mexican food of Turkey

kunefe – crispy noodles with butter and loads of sugar

Aryan – yogurt drink

Though I have a few days left in Istanbul, I already know this culinary walk will be the highlight of my trip. I highly recommend it regardless of the timeframe you have in this incredible city.

I spent my first years as a restaurant-goer in NYC dining where I could most easily imagine myself as a cast member of Sex in the City. Straight out of college, I wasn’t looking for cute hole-in-the-walls — I got the biggest thrill wearing heels and strutting into exclusive spaces pumping dance music, offering $15 specialty cocktails, and turning tables like clockwork. Buddakan and Stanton Social were my locations of choice. Fortunately I’ve now moved on to less trendy pastures as a more seasoned New Yorker, but every now and then I’m dragged into the high concept restaurant chains of my past.

Catch last week was one such occurrence, but it helped me remember why I like menus intended for broad audiences. I admittedly went into it with low expectations, but I left impressed with the service, the food, the drinks and the experience overall. As a seafood lover with menu anxiety (it’s difficult to narrow down to one item after eating a Google buffet for the last five years), Catch’s food selection is perfect for me. They offer a small delectable sushi rolls, a raw bar, a ton of hot specials, family style platters, or a variety of fish simply prepared for those not as adventurous. Think of this place as the steakhouse for fish. It keeps that well-known, roomy corporate feel, but maintains a relaxed, light-hearted vibe with light colored furniture, good lighting, dance music, and fun cocktails. Waiters aren’t as formal, but the service is spot on.

The highlights of the many dishes we tried were the MrC roll with tuna, tempura shrimp and ponzu butter, the soft shell crab roll, the crispiest crispy rock shrimp I’ve ever had, and the tuna tartare crispy rice cakes. These dishes aren’t necessarily unique to Catch (find similar variations at Koi, Bond Street, Nobu, etc), but they’re done exceptionally well. The showstopper visually was the crispy whole snapper that comes out deep fried with an asian style saute, positioned as if it’s about to swim away. The sauce was definitely needed to add flavor. Chinese food lovers would die over the salty cantonese lobster tails; I’m just not a fan for thick brown sauces. The overly buttered mushroom pasta was the only disappointment, but that came as no surprise given it was one of the only pasta dishes on the menu.

warm pretzel rolls with mustard butter

hot, buttery crispy shrimp

hamachi tartare

salmon belly carpaccio – yes we did get all of this.

scallop dumplings

fried whole snapper

cantonese lobster – photo from Zagat.com

banana brulee split

Dessert at Catch and its sister restaurants are remarkable, and that goes a long way for someone like me. The strawberry shortcake with a large buttery biscuit brought me straight back to my childhood. The banana brulee split was beautifully prepared, but given the tiny scoops of ice cream and difficulty of scooping up all the ingredients off the flat dish for an ideal bite, I would have preferred a less stylized version.

Despite the hiccups in food, I left hoping to plan my next work event or dad’s visit to town at Catch. It’s a crowd-pleasing special occasion restaurant that sets you up well for a night out – there’s not surprisingly a club upstairs, and it’s situated smack dab in the center of the Meatpacking.

Grade: A-
Location: 21 9th Ave above Sephora, entrance on 13th street. Also one in Miami.
Website