Crispy on the outside, but soft, pillowly, buttery on the inside, this subtly sweet brioche is my ideal breakfast fare with a cup of English breakfast tea.
brioche
Why does everything at Levain taste amazing?
Grade: A
Location: 167 West 74th St. at Amsterdam
Website: www.levainbakery.com
Filed under Erin's Favorites, Upper West Side
peruvian chicken
It’s so refreshing to come across a deal for good quality food in New York. My fellow Semester at Sea-ers have been raving about Pio Pio for years now, but it took my friend breaking up with her boyfriend to get me to the uptown location near her house to console her over peruvian chicken and avocado. Our conversation ended up migrating from the philosophical topic of young relationships to the ridiculous amounts of chicken, rice, beans, fresh salad, tostones, and sausage that lay before us – the Matador combo for under $30. The only thing we needed double portions of was the addictive green avocado sauce – magic with the fries.
spicy green sauce
the spread
The chicken here is incredibly flavorful, and the amount and variety of food for the dollar is unbeatable. And for such a value, the space has atmosphere. It’s surprisingly clean, perfectly civil, and a great backdrop for a dinner date with a glass of wine. The only downfall is the lack of cocktails, but that’s an afterthought when you’re eating marinated chicken and fried plantains. Fortunately, there are multiple locations to get your fix!
Grade: A-
Location: multiple in Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx
Website: www.piopio.com
Filed under Fun Group Dinner, Upper East Side, Upper West Side
I’ve neglected the blog these past two weeks and I really have no better excuse than to say that I’ve been busy with work and a social life, like any normal person. That’s not to say I haven’t visited a ton of great restaurants worth reporting. Quite the opposite. The standout of the bunch, however, is Blue Ribbon Sushi, which was so breathtakingly delicious that it triggered me to see the movie chronicling a man in Tokyo who’s been improving his sushi making skills for 75 years, Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
hamachi collar
Blue Ribbon is tucked away on Sullivan Street in Soho. It’s intimate. It’s special. You really feel like you’re embarking on a spiritual sushi experience when entering the low-ceiling, cozy space, which hosts just a few tables and a tiny sushi bar as the work space for multiple sushi chefs. The menu is filled with an overwhelming number of both hot and cold food, so to make the ordering process easier, strategize on what you want before our actual investigation. The green salad is colder, fresher, crunchier, and more flavorful than any other ginger-dressed Japanese starter salad I’ve had. The Hamachi Kama, broiled yellowtail collar, was rich, perfectly seasoned and meaty. The fried oyster roll was living proof that fried seafood can be nourishing and refreshing. And as for the sashimi…you never really realize how much bad sushi you’re tasting until you eat stuff like this – how can a piece of fish have so much intense flavor with absolutely nothing on it? It was perfect.
fried oyster roll (upon request)
I love this place. And, the wines by the glass are great and hefty. Expect to wait for a table but it’s 100% worth it.
Grade: A
Location: 119 Sullivan btwn Prince and Spring
Website: www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/rests_sushi_man_main
*picture from NY Times
Today my friend Ashley (formerly introduced and pictured in Alta post) and I went on a mission to eat at Ippudo, something I’ve been trying to do since the day I moved to New York. But when she and her boyfriend called me to announce the 2.5 hour wait for a table, we all knew that today was not our day for ramen. We wandered the neighborhood, and after seeing a crowd outside of Peels and Five Points, we decided to sit at the wooden high top tables inside Il Buco Alimentari, an italian eatery that recently earned a NY Times’ three star review.
I was of course thrilled to have an opportunity to eat somewhere new and on my list, but I have to admit pasta and panini are not my meal of choice after a night of a few too many cocktails. But once we sat down and were served a bountiful basket of the soft, chewy, perfectly tearable housemade italian bread, I was sold.
Despite sighting Tara Reid in a blue trucker hat alternating between smoking a cigarette and kissing a boy (also in trucker hat) right outside our table, we were able to focus on the array of meats, bread, cheeses, and baked sweets at the counter to prevent us from losing our appetites. We started with the fresh ricotta, beautifully prepared with pea-green fava beans, fresh oil, oregano, black pepper, and anchovies, as well as the crispy artichokes, which looked like one luscious bouquet of green roses. With the soft bread, these two appetizers could have been the perfect vegetarian meal, but they only encouraged us to order more.
ricotta
amazing crispy artichokes
After seeing the fried soft shell crab sandwich special, Ash and I knew we were set to order. With layers of meaty fried crab, fresh greens and basil aioli between a soft italian hoagie, the sandwich was fit for a king. We also couldn’t resist the grilled sausage with lentils the zuppa with kale, farro, and chickpeas – both which were intensely flavorful and again, wonderful complements to the incredible bread.
crab sandwich
zuppa
sausage with lentils
Typically if I am impressed with my meal, I can’t resist seeing what’s in store for dessert. Glancing at a dessert menu like Il Buco’s, I knew there was no turning back. We shared the polenta orange cake with amaretto gelato and the chocolate budino with espresso mousse, whipped cream, and a crispy chocolate wafer. Both were to die for but I couldn’t keep my spoon out of the pudding, which was light but intensely chocolatey and subtly sweet.
best part as always
Considering the casual setting, friendly service, and minimal wait time, I can’t imagine that I won’t return here this month. The food is straight forward and simple but perfectly executed. And next time, I’ll try the pasta.
Grade: A+
Location: 53 Great Jones between Lafayette and Bowery
Website: www.ilbucovineria.com
Filed under Brunch, Erin's Favorites, Fun Group Dinner, Italian, Nolita
I tend to avoid midtown-east restaurant establishments because I find them impersonal and fussy compared to my cozy West Village favorites. Ilili’s ambience didn’t necessarily prove me wrong, but the food was stellar. It’s pretty easy to win me over with complimentary freshly baked pita and crackers with herb marinated cheese, and the hummus, chicken skewers with crispy skin, pan seared tuna belly, fattoush salad and warm eggplant that followed were incredible.
Ilili is a great place for a corporate event – they have a few rooms on the second level that can accommodate large groups, or a post-work meal. It’s also a great place to bring parents or adult out of town visitors. Though the food is great, I wouldn’t head to this area on the weekends unless you’re looking to be with an older, more mature crowd.
Grade: A-
Location: 236 5th Avenue between 27th and 28th Streets
Website: www.ililinyc.com
Filed under Business Meal, Drinks & Apps, Family Style, Gramercy, lebanese, Mediterranean, Parents in Town
Who else was as excited as me to watch the long awaited Season 5 Premiere of Mad Men? I was ecstatic, so to ring in the momentous event, I went to my friend Ashley’s for a sixties-themed feast of all boxed good, declasse staples: pigs in a blanket, fried mac & cheese, carrot sticks, Shake ‘n Bake chicken, regular mac & cheese, and a modern take on twinkies.
I’m not generally a fan of fried mac & cheese, but the Trader Joe’s frozen version had an interesting flavor, and a thin, soft crust that made them easy to bite – actually quite tasty for a pre-made rendition. The pigs in a blanket, surprisingly, were stellar. I am a huge fan of this bar-mitzvah hors d’oeuvre staple – probably taking after my dad – but a crispy wiener and flakey puff pastry are essential to a good one. As always, Trader Joes executed beautifully. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for my next @home rendez-vous.
trader joe's mac & cheese balls
you know what this is
Right around the time when Don Draper’s new wife began to awkwardly perform “Bisou Bisou Bisouuuuuu,” the crispy Shake N Bake drumettes and fool proof boxed Annie’s Mac & Cheese arrived to the table. In my opinion, nothing can replace Kraft’s good ol’ blue box, but Annie’s is the next best (and healthier) thing. I was blown away by the Shake & Bake. Who knew a little flavored bread crumb fairy dust could make a chicken leg so crispy and flavorful? I can’t say that I’ll make these boxed flavor pouches a house staple moving forward, but I won’t deny that I’d be tempted…
Lindsay with the magic dust
Dessert brought us into the future with beautified, glorified lemon, chocolate, and red velvet twinkies from Empire (formerly Lulu) bakery on 8th and 16th street. These little cakes are filled with delicious cream and dipped in either white and dark chocolate, forming a sweet, crunchy crust that seals in all of the moisture.
twinkies!!
Fortunately, Mad Men episodes air weekly, so I have no fear that this meal won’t make a frequent appearance for dinner. Mark my words!
Filed under Kitchen Adventures
I always love an impromptu food adventure (who wouldda thought?). This morning, I texted my cousin Harry to let him know that I’d be in his neck of the woods (Brooklyn), and he invited me to brunch with his co-workers at Pies and Thighs, a place that has been on my mind as a must-try before leaving New York. Pies n’ Thighs is known for it’s fried chicken and waffles, but it actually offers a small collection of other solid brunch options: scrambled eggs, biscuit sandwiches, pancakes, and of course, a wonderful array of pies. It has nothing close to refined food, and with its low prices, diner furniture, and country grub, aside from its hipster waiters, you really feel like you’re in the heart of the south when eating here.
fried chicken and waffles!!!
Our wait around 1:30pm was 45 minutes, but after being seated and placing our order we waited a good 25 minutes before getting our food. Though the place is small, they do things slowly and with care – but it’s worth the wait. The food was ridiculous. I did a good number on the crispy fried chicken and waffles covered in sweet butter, preserves, and maple syrup. I never quite understood the hoopla over this southern tradition until today, but the sweet and salty carbo-load tastes like magic. Plus, the chicken here is incredibly crisp and juicy, sort of like the crispy chick I remember trying at Jacques-Imos in New Orleans. I also had the special eggs scramble with asparagus and goat cheese, which came with an oversized crispy biscuit, honey butter, and a green salad – very soft scrambled, but very good! And for the table, we shared a chicken biscuit, a sandwich layered with a buffalo sauced chicken strip, sweet honey butter, and a buttery golden biscuit. Everything I tasted was amazing, so far outside the box of what I normally eat.
eggs special
cousin harry gettin' down
Despite my impending food coma, we opted for two slices of pie, because when in Rome…I thought I had tasted the best cream pie from Two Little Red Hens a few weeks ago, but this banana cream pie was a strong contender. With a crust made of buttery nilla wafers beneath a layer of banana and a massive scoop of fresh whipped cream, this was the quintessential, classic banana cream pie. The peanut butter chocolate pie was a dense, thick layer of sugary peanut layered with a thin coating of dark chocolate and peanut. This slice could have benefited from some whipped cream, but that didn’t stop us from chowing down.
Brunch was another sure sign that Brooklyn is a food world worth exploring. I am overwhelmed with places to try before I return to the west coast – but fear will not stop me!
Grade: A
Location: 166 S.4th Street (@ Driggs)
Website: www.piesnthighs.com
Filed under Brooklyn, Brunch, Cheap Eat, Fun Group Dinner
