The Chit 'n' Chat

Floyd Cardoz of Tabla

2009-09-14T22:48:00.001-04:00

Back in late July, I was fortunate enough to see one of my favorite New York chefs demonstrate his lamb roasting skills live at Google's New York offices. It was only over the weekend that I found this clip of the event, and (even though it already appeared on Grub Street), I too wanted to share it with my readers. Because I was there. And they weren't!

Tabla
11 Madison Avenue
(at 25th Street)
(212) 889-0667

Top 10 Cheeseburgers (... Okay, Top 11)

2009-09-13T14:43:00.017-04:00

Balthazar
Meat Source: Piccinini Brothers blend
Patty Weight: 8.5 ounces
Cooking Method: Grilled
Roll: Balthazar Bakery pain de mie
Toppings: Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and served with pommes frites
Price: $16

Blue 9 Burger
Patty Weight: 3 ounces
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: "p/fglain bread."
Toppings: Lettuce, tomatoes, double cheese
Price: $4.75

Burger Joint
Patty Weight: 6 ounces
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: Arnold bun
Toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced pickles, mustard, ketchup, mayo. Cheese: Colby and Cheddar
Price: $7.50

Cookshop
Meat Blend: short rib, brisket, and chuck combo
Meat Source: Eco Friendly Foods
Patty Weight: 8 ounces
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: homemade potato roll
Toppings: Applewood bacon, Vermont Cheddar, chipotle ketchup
Price: $17

Corner Bistro
Meat Blend: chuck and ground sirloin
Patty Weight: 9 ounces
Cooking Method: broil
Roll: sesame-seed bun
Toppings: bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese
Price: $6.75

Fanelli's
Patty Weight: half pound
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: onion roll
Toppings: lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon, chili, choice of cheeses
Price: $8.75 plus toppings

Minetta Tavern
Meat Blend: short-rib blend
Meat Source: Pat LaFrieda
Patty Weight:: 8.5 ounces
Cooking Method: griddle
Roll: Balthazar Bakery brioche bun
Toppings: caramelized onions and cheddar cheese
Price: $16

Shake Shack
Meat Blend: mostly brisket with chuck and short rib mixed in
Meat Source: Pat LaFrieda
Patty Weight: 4 ounces
Cooking Method: griddle
Roll: griddled potato bun
Toppings: American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion
Price: $4.75

Spotted Pig
Meat Blend: secret beef blend
Meat Source: Pat LaFrieda
Patty Weight: 8 ounces
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: brioche bun
Toppings: Roquefort
Price: $17

Stand
Meat Blend: ground chuck 70-30 ratio
Meat Source: Pat LaFrieda
Patty Weight: 7 ounces
Cooking Method: grill
Roll: bun from Long Island City bakery Pain d’Avignon
Toppings: red onion, lettuce, tomato, sliced pickle, homemade ketchup, Dijon mustard
Price: $9

Stoned Crow
Meat Blend: freshly ground chuck
Meat Source: proprietary
Patty Weight:: 2 three-ounce patties
Cooking Method: griddle
Roll: Tom Cat Bakery bun with a semolina crisp
Toppings: sheep’s-milk cheese, pickled onions, sliced cornichon, and special sauce with Indian-pepper-pickled basque pepper
Price: $11

Minetta Tavern

2009-09-12T20:00:00.001-04:00

I have found a new favorite burger joint in New York City: the Minetta Tavern.

The Tavern first opened in Greenwich Village in 1937 (and it was named after the Minetta Brook, which ran southwest from 23rd Street to the Hudson River – who knew?). For the last 72 years, it has been a notorious hangout for some of America's great writers and poets, including Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O'Neill, E. E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas, and Joe Gould.

After decades of serving Italian cuisine, the Tavern was purchased by Keith McNally and his chef-partners Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr (Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller's, Morandi, etc.). Their goal: to turn the Minetta into a "Parisian steakhouse meets classic New York City tavern." After it finally reopened, it had been transformed into an 85-seat bistro, with the vintage murals and photo intact.

The French framework of the menu fits in perfectly with McNally's other eateries, and so does the cuisine. On one end, you have the classics, such as oxtail and foie gras terrine, stuffed squid, or filet of trout meunière. But there is also a section of the menu devoted solely to the tavern-esque fare that you'd expect.

Despite having an appetizing menu, I limited myself to only have one thing: one of the Tavern's infamous cheeseburgers. I was advised by a friend that the Pat La Frieda “Black Label” burger (for $26) had not lived up to his expectations, mainly because it lacked cheese. So instead, I chose the Minetta Burger. It's a hearty short-rib blend from the legendary West Village meat purveyors Pat LaFrieda, which is topped with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese and served on a Balthazar Bakery brioche bun (naturally). Eight and a half ounces for only $16. And it comes with a plate of amazing frites. I ordered it medium, and ate it right at the bar with a Gin Blossom (Plymouth Gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Aperol and fresh grapefruit juice – $14). As soon as I tried the burger, I was in heaven. It was cooked perfectly, so juicy and tender.

HEAVEN.

I also ordered a plate of delicious wild mushrooms, that had been heavily cooked in butter and a variety of herbs. Plain and simple. But they were an absolutely perfect side for my cheeseburger.

All that I have to say is GO! The Minetta Tavern has a fantastic environment; it was crowded when I went over the weekend, but like McNally's other restaurants, it was a crowd of beautiful people. Give it a try, you'll love it. Next on my list was the bartender's recommendation: the Tavern Steak with pommes frites ($21).

MINETTA TAVERN
113 MacDougal Street
(at Minetta Lane)
(212) 475-3850

L'Artusi

2009-09-06T16:30:00.000-04:00

Located just off of Bleecker Street in the heart of the West Village is L'Artusi, the younger sister of one of my favorite restaurants Dell'anima.

Also run by Gabe Thompson and Joe Campanele, graduates of the Batali empire, L'Artusi has both an excellent menu as well as clean and comfortable decor. The small Italian plates are inviting, and the neo-Regency décor of Dell'anima has been splendidly recreated. While there are plenty of tables downstairs (in addition to seating upstairs), an extensive bar with 30 seats dominates the first floor of L'Artusi, as well as an excellent raw bar and cheese bar.

Before coming to L'Artusi, I naturally did my research and checked it out online, where I learned that cheese snobs speak highly of the restaurant's selection. Naturally we decided that our meal must then start with cheese. After speaking with the waitress, she recommended two: tomme du berge ($6) and ossau iraty vielle ($6), both of which came from Murray's. The tomme had a buttery richness and was remarkably fruity, with ripe pear flavors, which went nicely with my glass of Syrah (by the way, there are quite a few reasonably priced bottles). On the other hand, the ossau had an excellent smoked flavor, which gave us a nice balance with the tomme.

For our meal, we ordered both a pasta and a carne. For our pasta, we chose the tagliatelle ($18) which was topped in a lovely bolognese bianco. The pasta itself was a dual sided tagiatelle – one spinach, one egg. And even though it was not a cream sauce, there was enough pecorino that when it blended with the sauce, it became decadent and creamy.

Our carne was the hanger steak ($20) which was simple but quite good in my opinion. On the inside, the steak was still tender and juicy, but on the outside it was charred to perfection. It was served with a delicious salsa bianco as well as crispy roasted potatoes.

L'Artusi in my opinion was an excellent restaurant. The cheeses were excellent, and both plates were delicious. And I appreciated the fact that I left feeling full, but not obese. I would definitely recommend going, especially if you enjoy the atmosphere of a good wine bar. Great date spot as well.

L'ARTUSI
228 W. 10th Street
(near Bleecker Street)
(212) 255-5757

Fancy Fast Food

2009-09-01T19:11:00.000-04:00

... for garnish and a touch of irony!

I first heard about this web site over the summer, but after it appeared on The Huffington Post as one of the best web sites that "You Should Be Wasting Time On Right Now," I decided that I too should post about the excellence of Fancy Fast Food!

My personal favorite? Tapas de Castillo Blanco.

It begins as one White Castle Sack Meal #1, with cheese and bacon (four bacon cheeseburger Slyders, a box of french fries, and a medium Coca-Cola), one White Castle Sack Meal #8 (two chicken sandwiches, a box of onion rings, and a medium Hi-C Poppin’ Pink Lemonade), one order of fried clams, as well as a few packets of tartar sauce and ketchup.

In the end however, it has been transformed into a delicious tapas cuisine: onion rings draped with a dollop of dressing, cheese croquetas, clams wrapped in bacon, chicken papas rellenas, meatballs served on a drizzle of Coke syrup, the remaining bacon (a.k.a. jamón) garnished with parsley, and chicken breast garnished with parsley after being brushed lightly with sweet Coke syrup.

It's really an amazing web page, with excellent recipes from McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, and even 7-Eleven!

Co.

2009-08-29T20:33:00.008-04:00

When I first moved to New York in August 2006, I remember hearing about the Roman-inspired pizza slices available in Hell's Kitchen, at the Sullivan Street Bakery. I was told by a co-worker that they had some of the best pizza in the city, but it tended to always fly under the radar.

Little did I know that Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street also owns a local Chelsea eatery: Co., an intimate pizzeria, serving Lahey's newest creation: round, thin-crusted, Nepolitanesque pies with standard, yet delicious toppings.

One key difference between the pies at Sullivan Street and Co. would be the temperature. At Sullivan they're served at room temperature, while at Co., they are baked in at around 700 degrees in a wood-burning oven imported from Modena. And the result is quite appetizing, providing a light, fluffy crust with a slightly charred flavor.

Since the pies are relatively small (4 slices per pie), we decided to order two. First was the Ham and Cheese ($14) which was topped with prosciutto and caraway, and then covered with a 3-cheese mixture of pecorino, gruyère, and buffalo mozzarella. I must say, the prosciutto was outstanding; I would have willingly ordered a second pie simply to devour the ham on top! Our second pizza was the Flambé ($16) which a mixture of parmesan and buffalo mozzarella, with caramelized onions and lardons, covered in a béchamel sauce. At first I was concerned the the sauce was too heavy for the pizza, but I was certainly wrong once I bit into the pizza; the flavors blended together perfectly, creating a truly delicious piece of pizza. I was recommend cutting back on the lardons though, I thought it made the pizza a little too salty at times.

We also ordered an Escarole Salad ($7 – topped with bread crumbs, capers, and anchovies in a lemon and olive oil dressing) which was, well, fine. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would have picked something else.

Overall? Co. was a really enjoyable experience, with a friendly staff and excellent food. I would highly recommend giving it a try, but I must say that it was definitely overpriced for pizza. Between the two pies, one salad, and a bottle of wine (with tax and tip), the bill was almost $100!

CO.
230 Ninth Avenue
(at 24th Street)
(212) 243-1105

The Park

2009-08-29T17:18:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, I took my mom to The Park for brunch...

While the food was fairly standard, I must say that the space is phenomenal. At a time when so many restaurants are opting for minimal and modern, The Park is wild and exciting. The main dining room is spacious and organic, filled with a National Geographic decor and a vibrant bar. And then of course there is the Garden, which is more than just your average garden. It is an enclosed jungle, covered in twinkle lights. It's obvious that The Park is a late night hot spot.

That being said: the food. I had a bowl of Gazpacho ($6) and a Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken ($10). I know, boring choices. My apologies. The Gazpacho was quite good, although it was quite wet and lacked enough raw vegetables to make it exciting. And the salad was your standard run of the mill Caesar. My mom on the other hand had the Crab Cake Benedict ($14) which looked quite good.

While I will not be going back to The Park anytime soon for food, I will certainly make a point to return in the near future for a fun night of debauchery.

THE PARK
118 Tenth Avenue
(near 17th Street)
(212) 352-3313

Mercat

2009-08-29T15:09:00.009-04:00

Despite all that transpired after my recent meal at Mercat in NoHo, I must say that the restaurant's Catalan cuisine was some of the best that I've had, maybe even comparable to some of Barcelona's notable hot spots.

We started off with the cheese platter (3 for $14, 5 for $20) which came with an assortment Catalan cheeses. We chose to go for the larger platter, which paired together two goat cheeses, two sheep cheeses as well as a mixed cheese: Garrotxa (a semi-firm goat cheese with a milky flavor and a delicate hint of nuttiness), Caña de Cabra (a creamy and mild goat cheese), Manchego (a nutty, sweet, and tangy semi-firm sheep's milk cheese), Idiazabal (a smokey yet nutty firm sheep's milk cheese), and La Peral (a blue cheese that resembles an Italian Gorgonzola, with a nice olive flavor).

That plate was accompanied by an assortment of meats (Assortiment d’Embotits for $24). In my opinion it was an excellent pairing of four different Spanish meats: Pernil Serrano, Morcilla (a Spanish blood sausage, probably my least favorite), Llonganissa (a thin dry-cured Spanish sausage), Sobrassada (a raw cured sausage), and Xoriç.

We then transformed the remainder of our meal into a tapas-style feast...

First we ordered Croquetes de Gamba ($7), which were croquettes with shrimp and spinach. Despite their small size, these really packed a punch. They were fried to perfection and tasted absolutely amazing – the spinach to cheese ratio was absolutely flawless.

That was followed by another enjoyable appetizer: Bombas ($9), which were chicken, pork and beef meatballs in an aioli sauce. Initially I was concerned about the mixture. My untrained palate had no idea that the combination would be so good.

Finally, we ordered Trencat d'Ous ($13), which was a mixture of sliced onions, fried eggs and salsa verde. It was very good, but I found it to be the least enjoyable of the last three plates.

In terms of wine and liquor at Mercat, it was all quite good. The wine list was impressive, the cocktails were mixed to perfection. Although we were quite shocked to find that they were unable to provide us with a single bottle of port. Still, everything was quite satisfying. Too satisfying. I learned my lesson though.

MERCAT
45 Bond Street
(between Bowery and Lafayette)
(212) 529-8600

Julie & Julia

2009-08-13T16:38:00.012-04:00

I finally saw "Julie & Julia," the story of chef Julia Child, and how her life contrasts with Julie Powell, an ordinary woman who aspires to cook all 524 recipes from Child's legendary cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."

Yes, the rumors are absolutely true: the film is absolutely superb. It's a really terrific story about two women from completely different generations, and how they establish their identities through food.

Meryl Streep is brilliant, even Oscar worthy. Every single word and every movement is eerily similar to the great Julia Child. In fact, after I left the theater, I looked at the poster and had to remind myself that the woman in front of me was Meryl Streep and not Child.

Amy Adams isn't bad either. She plays Julie Powell, the down-and-out blogger who was determined to cook her way through Julia Child's masterpiece in a single year. After reading the book "Julie & Julia" about one year ago, I knew that Adams was dead-on with her portrayal of Powell. That being said, Powell is an overbearing character who was complained far too much in the book, and just as much in the movie. I almost feel bad saying this, but it needs to be said: this should have been a movie based solely upon Julia Child's "My Life in France."

Either way, go and see "Julia & Julia." It's a charming story that will leave you longing for some of Child's classic dishes. Especially her legendary Boeuf Bourguignon, which I have conveniently posted below...

Boeuf Bourguignon à la Julia Child

Ingredients –

For the Stew:
6 ounces bacon, solid chunk
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 lbs lean stewing beef, cut into 2-inch cubes
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 onion, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups red wine (a full bodied wine like Bordeaux or Burgundy or Chianti)
2-3 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 garlic cloves, mashed (you may choose to add more)
1 sprig thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dred thyme)
1 bay leaf, preferably fresh

For the Braised Onions:
18-24 white pearl onions, peeled
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup beef stock
salt & fresh ground pepper
1 bay leaf
1 sprig thyme
2 sprigs parsley

For the Sauteed Mushrooms:
1 lb mushroom, quartered
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions –

1. First prepare the bacon: cut off the rind and reserve.
2. Cut the bacon into lardons about 1/4" think and 1 1/2" long.
3. Simmer the rind and the lardons for ten minutes in 1 1/2 quarts of water.
4. Drain and dry the lardons and rind and reserve.
5. Pre-heat the oven to 450°F.
6. Put the tablespoon of olive oil in a large (9" - 10" wide, 3" deep) fireproof casserole and warm over moderate heat.
7. Saute the lardons for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly.
8. Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon.
9. Dry off the pieces of beef and saute them, a few at a time in the hot oil/bacon fat until nicely browned on all sides.
10. Once browned, remove to the side plate with the bacon.
11. In the same oil/fat, saute the onion and the carrot until softened.
12. Pour off the fat and return the lardons and the beef to the casserole with the carrots and onion.
13. Toss the contents of the casserole with the salt and pepper and sprinkle with the flour.
14. Set the uncovered casserole in the oven for four minutes.
15. Toss the contents of the casserole again and return to the hot oven for 4 more minutes.
16. Now, lower the heat to 325°F and remove the casserole from the oven.
17. Add the wine and enough stock so that the meat is barely covered.
18. Add the tomato paste, garlic and herbs and the bacon rind.
19. Bring to a simmer on the top of the stove.
20. Cover and place in the oven, adjusting the heat so that the liquid simmers very slowly for three to four hours.
21. The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.
22. While the meat is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms and set them aside till needed.
23. For the onion, if using frozen, make sure they are defrosted and drained.
24. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet and add the onions to the skillet.
25. Saute over medium heat for about ten minutes, rolling the onions about so they brown as evenly as possible, without breaking apart.
26. Pour in the stock, season to taste, add the herbs, and cover.
27. Simmer over low heat for about 40 to 50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but retain their shape and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
28. Remove the herbs and set the onions aside.
29. For the mushrooms, heat the butter and oil over high heat in a large skillet.
30. As soon as the foam begins to subside add the mushrooms and toss and shake the pan for about five minutes.
31. As soon as they have browned lightly, remove from heat.
32. To Finish the Stew:.
33. When the meat is tender, remover the casserole from the oven and empty its contents into a sieve set over a saucepan.
34. Wash out the casserole and return the beef and bacon to it (discarding the bits of carrot and onion and herbs which remain in the sieve).
35. Distribute the mushrooms and onions over the meat.
36. Skim the fat off the sauce and simmer it for a minute or two, skimming off any additional fat which rises to the surface.
37. You should be left with about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.
38. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of stock.
39. If the sauce is too thin, boil it down to reduce to the right consistency.
40. Taste for seasoning.
41. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
42. If you are serving immediately, place the covered casserole over medium low heat and simmer 2 to 3 minutes.
43. Serve in the casserole or on a warm platter surrounded by noodles, potatoes or rice and garnished with fresh parsley.
44. If serving later or the next day, allow the casserole to cool and place cold, covered casserole in the refrigerator.
45. 20 minutes prior to serving, place over medium low heat and simmer very slowly for ten minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.

As Julia Child would say, Bon Appétit!

Restaurant Aquavit

2009-07-30T12:14:00.000-04:00

I finally made it to Marcus Samuelsson's Restaurant Aquavit!

Since Aquavit first opened in 1987 under the leadership of Håkan Swahn, it has been firmly established as one of the best dining destinations in Midtown Manhattan. What I appreciate about Aquavit, it the fact that it has always striven to be an international restaurant with Scandinavian flair and not simply an ethnic restaurant.

Before I get to the cuisine, I want to address my one complaint: the restaurant's interior. The modernist IKEA-esque decor creates a harsh and even claustrophobic atmosphere, especially inside the restaurant's tiny but upscale dining room. That being said, as soon as the flawless meal begins, you'll immediately forget about the decor as you find yourself entranced with the cuisine.

Three different plates made up our first course: first, we had tuna tartar which was topped with toasted pine nuts, and served on top of avocado slices and mixed greens. With tuna as fresh as Aquavit's, there was no possible way that this dish could go wrong. Our second dish was an heirloom tomato salad, which was served with sliced red onions and blue cheese, and topped with a onion-tarragon dressing. Simple, but delicious. I think I enjoyed it so much, because it reminded me of the salads that my mom used to make when I was growing up.

Our final plate for the first course was my favorite by far: a herring plate, which came with four slices of herring, and each was paired with a piece of cheese, a potato or a homemade jam. Before arriving at Aquavit, I jokingly said that the menu would be filled with herring made by the Swedish Chef from The Muppet Show, so when I finally saw that herring was on the menu, I chuckled, but at the same time was a little nauseated by the idea that I would eat raw chunks of herring. I was certainly wrong however! Each piece of fish was perfectly paired, and I must say, all of the combination's were quite delicious.

On to the second course. Two dishes this time. The first was a smoked venison loin paired with huckleberry, dumplings and morels. Enjoyable, but in general, it was your typical venison: quite tough, and gamey in flavor. The second dish was delicious, despite sounding quite generic: Swedish Meatballs, which were served on top of mashed potatoes, and topped with a cream sauce and lingonberries. What I really appreciated about this meal was the fact that Marcus Samuelsson clearly took a typical Swedish meal, but used spices from his native Ethiopia in order to bring a new and exciting flavor to both the meatballs and the cream sauce.

We ended up splitting two desserts. The first was called the Arctic Circle, which paired a goat cheese parfait with blueberry sorbet and passion fruit curd. Between the sweetness of the sorbet, and the tangy flavor of both the parfait and the curd, the Arctic Circle created a lovely balance of flavors. The second dessert was somewhat average, but quite delicious nonetheless: a chocolate mousse coated with a peanut powder and topped with a grape sorbet. (By the way, the grape sorbet was phenomenal.)

And don't forget to try some of the restaurant's signature aquavit -- a flavored Scandinavian spirit that typically contains 40% alcohol by volume. I would personally recommend the cucumber, but would certainly not recommend the lingonberry.

RESTAURANT AQUAVIT
65 E. 55th Street
(between Madison and Park)
(212) 307-7311

Restaurant Week -- Summer 2009

2009-07-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

For Restaurant Week this summer, I decided to join two friends from home for dinner at Zoë, the contemporary American eatery in SoHo.

Yes, I was certainly looking forward to my meal, but my initial impression of the restaurant made me question our restaurant week selection. I have always heard good things about Zoë, but as soon as I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was in an upscale California Pizza Kitchen. There was a type of faux-elegance about the whole space. At the same time, as soon as I sat down, the wait staff was overly friendly in an obnoxious and uncomfortable way. For example, after I finished my first glass of wine, the waiter asked if I wanted another every 2 or 3 minutes.

But I didn't want to judge the restaurant too quickly, so I waited for our $35.00 three-course meal...

I was quite pleased with the first course: a watermelon gazpacho, with jicama and crab meat. It was incredibly refreshing, as any gazpacho is, but at the same time it had a very interesting flavor. On one end it tasted like your average spicy gazpacho filled with crab meat, but on the other end, the taste of watermelon was clearly present, adding a truly summery feel. We all gave the gazpacho two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Next, for my entree, I ordered the marinated grilled hanger steak, which was placed on top of a warm salad of string beans, roasted new potatoes, which was then topped with a blue cheese and balsamic reduction sauce. While the steak was a little tough, it was in general, quite good, and with the blue cheese and balsamic, it was even better.

I was quite jealous of my one dining companion, who ordered the grilled mahi mahi, which was served with a coconut-saffron risotto and pineapple mango salsa: excellent and refreshing.

Now on to dessert: we decided to share two desserts. First was a white chocolate pudding, served with bing cherries and caramelized pistachios. I was a little concerned that the bing cherries would overpower the remaining flavors; however, they were cut in such tiny pieces that they added to the flavor without destroying the creaminess of the pudding and the saltiness of the pistachios. Our second dessert was very good but too generic in my opinion: an Illy espresso layer cake served with a heavy dark chocolate sorbet.

Overall, it was a very nice experience. The food was good, but not exceptional. And the service was okay. Everyone was kind, but they certainly enjoyed taking their time. Between our appetizer and our entree, we waited for more than half an hour. If it hadn't have been for the company, I think that my time at Zoë would have not been nearly as enjoyable.

ZOË
90 Prince Street
(between Broadway and Mercer)
(212) 966-0644

The Perfect Brunch

2009-07-13T14:38:00.005-04:00

Eric Kuhn, a new media consultant and a good friend of mine recently published "45 Minutes (and 400 Miles) Till French Toast," an article discussing the importance of brunching in New York City. Since my last two posts were about brunch, I felt the need to publish a link to his article on my blog.

Almond

2009-06-29T15:39:00.000-04:00

Located in the famed home of Rocco DiSpirito's failed reality show restaurant, the traditional French-American "Almond" offers a high class menu at a reasonable price, which may be exactly what the doctor ordered during these rough economic times.

While dining at "Almond" the other night, we transformed their typical menu in an enjoyable tapas-style meal. We started off with the Select Cheeses ($14.75), which included four different pieces: a buttery Gorgonzola, a Parmigiano-Reggiano with balsamic vinegar, a particularly creamy Mozzarella, and a light Camembert. In addition to the slices of cheese, the plate came equipped with both dried cranberries and dried apricots, as well as walnuts and slices of toasted bread. The platter was very nice, but somewhat generic.

Next, we had the Escargot ($11.50), which was cooked in a butter-based garlic and Pernod sauce, and topped with small cubes of toasted bread. I found the snails at "Almond" to be particularly enjoyable, since they were not particularly tough, and the garlic-Pernod sauce created a delicious flavor.

We followed with another mollusk: Steamed Black Mussels ($9 for small, $15 for large). The mussels were served in a white wine sauce with shallots, and topped with parsley. The mussels themselves were standard, nothing to write home about. The sauce however was quite enjoyable. Light but extremely flavorful.

We finished with "Le Grand Macaroni & Cheese," which included penne served with prosciutto and chopped truffles ($18.25). In my opinion, it was a little overpriced for macaroni and cheese, but it was worth every penny. The cheese was still warm and filled with distinct flavors, and when mixed with the ham and truffles, the dish was absolutely delicious.

"Almond" was an enjoyable and I'd highly recommend it to any diner. And after the failure of both "Rocco's on 22nd" and "Brasserio Caviar and Banana," it's nice to see a success.

P.S. While I really enjoyed my cocktail, I was advised by a fellow diner that it was too limey. I had the St. Germain cocktail, which included gin, St. Germain elderflower liquer, and fresh lime.

Almond
12 East 22nd Street
(at Broadway)
(212) 228-7557

Brunch B: Blue Water Grill

2009-06-21T13:20:00.001-04:00

Yes, I know that it has been almost a week since I last posted on my blog. These past few days have been quite hectic, and well, I had absolutely no motivation to sit down and write this post. But here it is...

Last weekend, I finally went to Blue Water Grill for brunch, and had a very enjoyable experience.

With the brunch menu at Blue Water, you receive a complimentary beverage. My selection: the SKYY Bloody Mary. For some reason, I was craving tomato juice with a splash of Vodka and a touch of cracked pepper. Ah, perfection.

My meal selection was boring: Eggs Benedict. Standard, I know. But it is after all my favorite. And since hundreds of men and women have used Eggs Benedict as a cure for a hangover since it first appeared at New York's Waldorf Hotel in 1894, I decided that I too would use it for my hangover.

Like any other Eggs Benedict, it consisted of a half of an English muffin, topped with Canadian bacon, a poached egg, and then covered in a rich Hollandaise sauce. At Blue Water, it was served with a generous portion of home fries, which in my opinion were quite good. Just the right amount of peppers and onions so that they spiced the dish up but didn't take anything away from the potatoes.

Overall, a very nice experience and I would certainly return to the Blue Water Grill again for brunch. Recommendation: sit on the first floor. I felt that the upstairs was a little claustrophobic and removed from the excitement of the restaurant.

Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West
(at 16th Street)
(212) 675-9500

Brunch A: Vento

2009-06-14T20:16:00.006-04:00

Enjoyable, but satisfactory. Those two words describe my recent experience at Vento Trattoria in New York's Meatpacking District.

On one end, the atmosphere at Vento was excellent. Its prime location in the Meatpacking District offers fantastic people-watching along the street, especially during warm weather. Last Saturday when I was there, the weather was perfect. Sunny, but a few clouds overhead kept the temperature from reaching uncomfortable levels.

Now onto the cuisine. Vento is actually one of the few Italian words that I am familiar with. It means wind. And let's just say that the food at Vento Trattoria did not blow me away.

Between the two of us, we ordered two dishes. For some reason, I've always had a sensitive stomach in the morning, so I went with my stereotypical brunch selection: the Classic Benedict ($12). Just your average Eggs Benedict: an English muffin, topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty, and it did its intended trick -- to soothe the effects of a night's carousing -- but it did not sweep me off my feet.

Also on the table was the Parma Pizza, which was a regular pizza pie with tomato sauce and mozzarella, topped with prosciutto and arugula. Again, the pizza was very good. The crust was thin and there was a perfect amount of sauce with an adequate amount of prosciutto. They went wild with arugula though. Too much in my opinion. But overall, the pizza did not blow me away.

I did enjoy my meal, and would certainly go back. But if I was looking for a restaurant with an innovative and exciting menu, Vento would not be on the top of my list.

Vento Trattoria
675 Hudson Street
(at 14th Street)
(212) 699-2400

Bar Stuzzichini

2009-06-10T20:35:00.000-04:00

Bar Stuzzichini was my most recent dining experience in New York's Flatiron District, and despite being concerned about the restaurant because of its fairly empty dining room (during the Sunday lunch hour), I found everything that I ordered to be, well, delicious.

We started the afternoon off with the large Stuzzichini Misti, which was essentially Italian tapas. Five plates for $25. I decided to be adventurous and let a Stuzzichini-regular order since I had never been there before.

We started off with Scamorza alla Brace (normally $8) which is a Scamorza cheese (similar in taste to a mozzarella, but notorious for melting better in baking) that is then topped with with a spicy, grilled meat. Nice flavor, but I felt that the meat was much too powerful for the cheese.

Next, a simple, but classic Italian specialty: meatballs in tomato sauce (normally $7). The sauce was not too heavy which was nice. Light, but not watery. And the meatballs were very good: adequately seasoned, and they appeared to have been cooked in the sauce instead of in the oven, which I prefer.

Prosciutto di Parma (normally $10) came next. What can I say? It's prosciutto. You either like it or you don't.

Probably my favorable part of the meal was the Ricotta e Miele Crostini (normally $4), which was a light, whipped ricotta cheese, placed on top of a small crostini, which was then drizzled with a saffron-infused honey sauce. I have always enjoyed dishes that are both sweet and salty, and this dish certainly fell into that category. The bread and the ricotta were obviously on the saltier side, but the slight touch of honey added the perfect pinch of sweetness to dish. As I write this, I'm craving another order.

Again, I've become much more adventurous in the past few weeks, and was willing to try grilled octopus (normally $9). It had been cooked and then drizzled with olive oil. I was not looking forward to trying it, but we ordered it, and my dinner date was accurate when he said it tasted like chicken. And it did, a combination between chicken and rubber. A good combination though.

Our next dish was not part of the large Stuzzichini Misti. It was part of the restaurant's weekend brunch menu: Maccheroni alla Carbonara ($14). The spaghetti was served with traditional guanciale (an unsmoked Italian bacon) and egg yolk, and was topped with black pepper and shavings of pecorino. I felt that the pepper in the dish, combined with the spices used as a rub for the guanciale made the dish a little too spicy, but not necessarily in a bad way. Just a surprising way. It certainly wasn't your typically bland Pasta alla carbonara.

And of course I shouldn't neglect our personal carafes of Prosecco di Conegliano ($12 each).

Overall, a very pleasant experience. I have yet to return to Bar Stuzzichini for a weekday meal, but I plan on going back soon. In the meantime, try their weekend brunch. I think you'll find it quite enjoyable.

Bar Stuzzichini
928 Broadway
(between 21st and 22nd Streets)
(212) 780-5100

Nine the Movie

2009-06-08T20:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know that the trailer for "Nine" came out nearly three weeks ago, maybe even a month ago at this point, but I think that it looks absolutely fabulous. First of all, the music -- in general -- is amazing, and it's directed by Rob Marshall of "Chicago" fame. Second, the cast is the definition of an all-star cast. Six Academy Award winners. One Academy Award nominee. And a Grammy winner.

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Guido Contini, an Italian director who is facing a midlife crisis that is stifling his creativity, while at the same time, he is attempting to balance the numerous women in his life including his wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard), his mistress Carla (Penelope Cruz), his muse and protégé (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer Liliane (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).

And p.s. I have never been a huge fan of Fergie, but she sings the song in the trailer ("Be Italian") and it sounds awesome!

Now I will be anxiously awaiting November 25th!

Momoya - Chelsea

2009-06-04T08:49:00.011-04:00

Another date, another enjoyable restaurant. This time, Japanese in the heart Chelsea: Momoya.

We started off simple: edamame and sake. The edamame ($5) was typical. Baby soybeans that had been boiled and were served with salt. A little too much salt in my opinion. The sake was delicious however. We ended up splitting two bottles of Tokimeki ($26 -- 300ml). In the past, I have never really enjoyed sake. I find it to be too bitter. That being said, I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to sake, but the Tokimeki was outstanding. First of all, it was a sparkling sake, which was something that I had never had before, but it was crisp and refreshing. On top of that, the Tokimeki was fruity, which made it a very pleasant drink.

Next, we moved on to the meal. Our first appetizer was Beef Tataki ($11), thin slices of beef, lightly seared and placed in soy-based au jus. Very enjoyable plate. Topped with a kaiware salad (sprouted daikon radish seeds), it reminded me of a perfect, slightly chilled summertime meal. After we had finished our plate, we sampled a dish of raw Yellowtail amberjack in a citrus-soy sauce which was topped with sliced jalapenos ($10). The fish was fresh and delicious, but I felt that there were too many jalapenos, which overpowered the flavor of the fish and sauce. By simply pushing them to the side however, the problem was easily fixed.

Our sushi then arrived. First, we sampled the Salmon Crunch roll ($10), which had spicy salmon paired with mango and avocado, as well as crunchy rice. While the salmon was very fresh and the roll had a lovely assortment of flavors, we both agreed that the Salmon Crunch seemed to be too heavy.

While we were consistently satisfied with our meal, I must say that a particular dish stuck out for me. I had never eaten eel before, and had no interest in ever trying eel. But there it was, sitting in front of me. A slice of eel, held on top of a bed of rice by a piece of seaweed, and then lightly drizzled with teriyaki. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

With Momoya, the dishes aren't wildly innovative, but being innovative isn't Momoya's goal. Their goal is to make a pleasant and enjoyable meal. They offer a comfortable and familiar menu, with your standard appetizers, sushi and sashimi as well as conventional main courses.

Overall, a very enjoyable experience and seeing that it's only a few blocks from my apartment, I will certainly return in the future.

Momoya
185 Seventh Avenue
(at 21st Street)
(212) 989-4466

Changes on Washington Square Park

2009-06-03T12:32:00.007-04:00

Last month, the Archdiocese of New York agreed to not only demolish the Catholic Center at N.Y.U. but to also sell the plot of land that it was on to the university. For weeks, students and residents of Greenwich Village had no idea what would replace the building. Curbed however recently revealed the design for the new N.Y.U. Center for Academic and Spiritual Life at 58 Washington Square South...

Tía Pol

2009-06-03T00:22:00.017-04:00

Since returning to New York City in December I have been particularly interested in finding an enjoyable tapas restaurant in my neighborhood. After sampling Casa Mono & Bar Jamon (which I was quite disappointed with), I finally found one near my apartment in Chelsea: Tía Pol.

I went there on Sunday night for a date, and arrived at the door without knowing a single thing about the restaurant, except for what the web page had told me: according to the owner, Tía Pol is a traditional tapas restaurant, which features small plates from various regions of Spain, from Galicia to Andalucia, from the Basque Country to Cataluna.

Naturally, we started the evening off with amazing sangria. They used what I believe was a Spanish Tempranillo, and topped it off with apples and brandy, and just enough ice to chill the sangria, but not enough to water it down.

And now for the tapas...

We started off with croquetas de jamón y croquetas del día ($9). For those of you who do not speak Spanish -- myself included -- we had ham croquettes and the croquette of the day, which was a shrimp croquette. I personally felt that the ham croquette was a little generic, it was however one of the better ham croquettes that I have had. The shrimp croquette on the other hand was delicious. The flavor of the shrimp was clearly present, but did not overpower the potato or the fried exterior.

Next, the pan con tomate ($8), which included two toasted baguette slices, topped with a tomato puree. It was simple, yet extremely refreshing. The tomato seemed lightly chilled and was blended perfectly with the olive oil, and the seasonings really added to dish as a whole.

We then ordered both plato de quesos de la casa and embutidos ibericos. The first, plato de quesos ($7.50) was a plate of assorted Spanish cheeses, including manchego, garrotxa and valdeon. Each cheese was paired with an accoutrement, such as a nut or berry. The dish was served with baguette slices. Very simple dish, I know, but I cannot resist the power of cheese.

The embutidos ibericos ($16) was a plate of assorted cured Spanish meats, which included an aged, spiced ham (similiar to an Italian prosciutto), chorizo palacios (a dry-cured, mild sausage with a smokey flavor), and lomo embuchado (a dry-cured pork loin seasoned with smokey pimenton).

Our final plate was a special for the evening (price unknown since my date was kind enough to pay). It was cochinillo asado, a tender slice of suckling pig topped with a mild sauce. Hands down one of the best suckling pig experiences that I have had within the past few years. The skin was crispy, but not nearly as tough as I would have expected it to be. It was easy to bite. Enjoyable in fact. And due to the amount of collagen in the young pig, the meat was extremely tender.

Overall, I must say that Tía Pol was quite enjoyable. The staff were friendly and attentive. One concern that I had with the restaurant was with its size. It is very small, tiny in fact. But I must say, it is quite intimate, and there seemed to be plenty of space at each table, and just as much space at the bar.

Overall, Tía Pol is most definitely worth a visit.

Tía Pol
205 10th Ave
(between 22nd Street and 23rd Street)
(212) 675-8805

Agatha Christie's Istanbul

2009-05-30T11:59:00.000-04:00

All my life I had wanted to go on the Orient Express. When I had traveled to France or Spain or Italy, the Orient Express had often been standing at Calais, and I had longed to climb up into it. Simplon-Orient-Express – Milan, Belgrade, Stamboul...
– Agatha Christie, An Autobiography

All my life I too had wanted to go on the Orient Express. I was only 8 years old when my grandmother gave me an original 1934 edition of Agatha Christie’s thriller, Murder on the Orient Express. It was an easy read. Only 256 pages. But in those pages, I found a new world, filled with dark and sinister characters.

Returning from a case in Syria, the famous detective Hercule Poirot boarded an unusually crowded Orient Express in Istanbul. As the train worked its way through the Balkans, a heavy snowstorm caught the train dead in its tracks.

On that night, Poirot was awoken by a loud cry coming from the compartment next to his, occupied by the mysterious Mr. Ratchett. Seconds later, a bell rang and the conductor arrived at Ratchett’s door.

“Ce n’est rien. Je me suis trompé,” said Ratchett, which was strange, since he was hampered by not knowing any foreign languages.

At breakfast the following morning, as the other passengers complained about being trapped by the snow, Poirot was informed that Mr. Ratchett had been found murdered, stabbed twelve times during the night.

As the evidence mounted, it continued to point in wildly different directions, appearing as though a mastermind was challenging Poirot. But in the end, Poirot’s little grey cells won.

After reading and re-reading Murder on the Orient Express, dreams of the fabled train and its fabulous final destination constantly stirred in my head. So I made the decision: I too would go to Agatha Christie’s Istanbul.

The murderer is with us–on the train now...

After her unhappy marriage to Colonel Archibald Christie came to an end in April 1928, Agatha Christie was determined to leave England behind. Initially her mind was set on the West Indies, but a chance meeting with a naval officer and his wife who had just returned from the Middle East had changed her mind. At age 38, Agatha Christie was going to fulfill her dream of traveling from Calais to Istanbul on board the Orient Express, before continuing on to Baghdad.

Her journey began at Victoria Station in London, where she then traveled to the white cliffs of Dover, before crossing the English Channel to Calais. There, she finally boarded the legendary Orient Express bound for Istanbul, a journey that covered 3,342 kilometers in three days. On that trip she encountered the woman who inspired one of her greatest characters: the loud and obnoxious American woman, Mrs. Hubbard.

Unfortunately, my journey did not begin in London or even Calais, but in Bucharest. Regular service between Calais and Istanbul was discontinued in 1977, but the Simplon-Orient-Express lives on, operating as a luxurious, private train, which operates between London and Istanbul from March until November each year.

After a short time in the Romanian capital, I arrived at Gara de Nord with two friends of mine from college. Together, we boarded our train and settled in for our 18-hour journey.
By midnight, we were racing through Bulgaria, and when I awoke at 8 o’clock, we were traveling along the Sea of Marmara.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be arriving in Istanbul in five minutes.”

As our train pulled into Istanbul’s Sirkeci Garı, I had an overwhelming feeling of excitement, a dream fulfilled. Eighty years ago, Agatha Christie found herself in the same position that I was in. She had gone to bed the night before, probably somewhere in the Balkans, and when she awoke, she was in the Orient.

The Bosphorus was rough and M. Poirot did not enjoy the crossing.

After leaving the train station, we headed to the docks near the Galata Bridge. I was determined to cross the Bosphorus, the tiny strait with stunning blue waves that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and separates the European side of Istanbul from the Asian side. At 11 o’clock, we boarded the “ATATURK,” a rickety, old ferry bound for Asia. Despite being the end of October, the sun was shining brightly above Istanbul, and a cool breeze was blowing across the deck. A handful of women were standing at the stern of the boat, sunglasses on, hair blowing in the wind. It was also their first trip to Istanbul.

“When I was little, my mother and father told me stories of their trip to Istanbul, and how they crossed the Bosphorus before continuing on to Syria,” said Margaret Smith, 74, an American tourist from Chicago. “I have always dreamt of what it would be like, so I finally sat down and told myself that I was going to do it.”

After ninety minutes, the small ferry finally docked on the Asian side of Turkey, in the picturesque town of Anadolu Kavağı, situated on the peninsula where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea. It was just as I had imagined it would be like. Small homes lined both the coast and the hills above the town, and fishing boats surrounded the harbor, with hundreds of Turkish men and women waiting for the tourists to disembark.

Madame. Madame, lucky tooth from St. Augustine of Hippo. Lucky Buddha, Madame?

As soon as the passengers left the ferry, they were immediately surrounded by Turkish men and women, carrying enormous wicker baskets, filled with everything from curry and cayenne pepper to a pair of used Nike sneakers to baskets filled with nazar boncuğu (an amulet that protects against the evil eye).

“Sir, sir, I have something perfect for you,” said one of the men, showing me a miniature Turkish flag. “Only 10 Lira.”

I kindly rejected the offer, and headed to the crystal clear shores of the Bosphorus.
Around 3 o’clock, the ferry’s whistle began to blow, and all I could do was imagine Hercule Poirot standing there.

“He was hardly more than five feet four inches but carried himself with great dignity,” said Captain Arthur Hastings upon meeting the famous Poirot. “His moustache was very stiff and military.

“The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound,” added Hastings. “Yet this quaint dandified little man had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police.”

Somewhere in the distance, an announcement was made: “The Bosporus Ferry will shortly depart for Istanbul Sirkeci Station, connecting with the Orient Express.” I could see the characters assembling: Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot in one corner, with Poirot alone in another.

The return trip was more similar to the one that Hercule Poirot had experienced: the Bosphorus was rough, and with the sun hidden behind the clouds, there was no protection from the cold wind that swept across the boat. No matter how cold, following Poirot’s footsteps had been well worth it.

On arrival at the Galata Bridge, M. Poirot drove straight to the Tokatlian Hotel.

Unfortunately, Hotel Pera Palace – the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s glamorous Tokatlian Hotel – was closed for renovations during my visit. The massive champagne colored, oriental palace loomed large on Mesrutiyet Caddesi, near the leisurely Taksim Square district however, with signs advertising its upcoming grand re-opening. I briefly stood in front of the hotel, with my eyes closed, imagining Room 411, the room where she had written Murder on the Orient Express.

We then worked our way across the Golden Horn, to Sultanahmet, the heart of historic Istanbul, and what 19th-century travelers called “Stamboul.”

After wandering around “Stamboul,” and exploring everything from the Blue Mosque to the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, I finally stumbled upon Bayezid Square, the entrance to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. But to call it a bazaar is a sin. It is more like a small, indoor city, filled with 58 streets and over 6,000 shops. To wander through the Bazaar is a thrilling experience, as it is the perfect setting for one of Agatha Christie’s novels. Anything can be bought there, from spices and silk to old Ottoman doorknobs and Byzantine coins. I was even able to buy a barber shave for $10 USD from Abdullah Youssef, a Jordanian living in Istanbul with his wife and six children.

And for you New Yorkers, the Grand Bazaar makes Canal Street look like an amateur’s show.

“Prada, Gucci, Chanel, we have it all,” shouted one vendor named Mustafa.

“How much for the loafers,” I asked, inquiring about a pair of ‘real’ Prada driving shoes.

“They are real leather my friend, the highest quality,” he responded.

“How much?”

“For you my friend, 100 American dollars.”

I laughed and began to walk away, but suddenly I was beckoned back.

“Okay, okay, for you, a special offer,” he said quietly.

After a going back and forth, I finally got my loafers, for $35 USD. Quite the bargain, indeed.

‘I shall have to go on tonight,’ he said to the concierge. ‘At what time does the Simplon Orient leave?’

On my last day in Istanbul, I returned to Istanbul’s Sirkeci Garı.

Since the decline of the original Orient Express, the train station was renovated and transformed into a regional transportation hub. The glorious old entrance was no longer used, and instead, passengers entered through a modern one near the northwestern end of the station. New ticket windows replaced the old ones, and the old passenger waiting room was transformed into a restaurant, with a suitable name: the Orient Express Restaurant. Above the restaurant’s fireplace was a photo of Agatha Christie, the woman who turned the Orient Express into a symbol of mystery, power, intrigue and glamour.

Despite the hundreds of tourists crowding around the station, Hercule Poirot was still there, lingering on in spirit. I could still see him entering the station with his close friend M. Bouc, the director of Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits. Together the men separated the crowds of merchants and gypsies as they walked towards the train.

Beyond the noise and commotion, a final call was made: “The Orient Express will depart from platform one for Uzonköprü, Sofia, Belgrade, Zagreb, Brod, Trieste, Venice, Milan, Lausanne, Basel, Paris, and Calais, with connections for London.”

The characters began to assemble: the devious Mrs. Hubbard, the gentle Countess Andrenyi, the youthful Mr. MacQueen, and the ruthless Mr. Ratchett. As the conductor Pierre Michel escorted the passengers to their cabins, the whistle blew, creating a melancholy cry from the engine. Suddenly, a jerk, as the train came to life.

The Orient Express has started on its three-days’ journey across Europe.

While Agatha Christie boarded a train of extreme luxury headed for Calais, I boarded a train owned by the Turkish State Railway headed for Thessaloniki, Greece. It was 5 o’clock in the afternoon when the whistle blew, and our train slowly began to leave Sirkeci station. The sun was slowly beginning to set as the train raced along the Sea of Marmara, with the red and orange rays reflecting in the clear blue water. And in that moment, I know that I had left behind a piece of my heart in the fabled Istanbul. I sat back, and closed my eyes, remembering all of the fabulous treasuries that I had seen, in Agatha Christie’s Istanbul.

GETTING THERE
Direct flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport are available on either Delta or Turkish Airlines.

WHERE TO STAY
For some extra glamour, try the Four Season Hotel at Sultanahmet (Tevkifhane Sokak No. 1, Sultanahmet-Eminönü, Istanbul; 90 (212) 638 82 00; www.fourseasons.com; rooms starting at 300 EUR per night for a standard double room). Interested in being on the water? Try the brand new Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus (Çirağan Cad. No. 28, Beşiktaş, Istanbul; 90 (212) 381 40 00; www.fourseasons.com; rooms starting at 300 EUR per night for standard double room).

If you are traveling on a budget, but looking to stay down the street from the Four Seasons at Sultanahmet, try a quaint bed and breakfast: Hotel Peninsula (Adliye Sokak No. 6, Sultanahmet, Istanbul; 90 (212) 458 68 50; www.hotelpeninsula.com; rooms starting at 35 EUR per night for a standard double room).

WHERE TO EAT
In Sultanahmet, wander along the main street of Akbiyik Caddesi, which has everything from chicken shish and falafel to narguile (water pipe, hookah). And it’s extremely inexpensive, with most meals being less than 10 TRY ($6.37 or €4,94). If you are looking to experience it all in one sitting, try Café Meşale (Arasta Bazaar, Utangaç Sokak, Cankurtaran; 90 (212) 518 95 62). Located in the Arasta Bazaar, behind the Blue Mosque, Café Meşale has it all: cheap prices, phenomenal chicken shish, whirling dervishes, and what most consider to be the best narguile in Istanbul.

Try Beyoğlu for an excellent outdoor dining experience. Cezayir Street, also known as La Rue Française, has rows of francophone cafés and restaurants. Go to Artiste Terasse (Cezayir Çikmazi, 4/9-10, Galatasaray, Istanbul; 90 (212) 244 70 18) for rooftop views of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque and Galata Tower.

This piece was originally written for my Travel Writing course, which I took at New York University in Prague in Fall 2008.

Tina Parol - Who's Got Your Money

2009-05-30T11:33:00.003-04:00

Tina Parol is one of my close friends from N.Y.U. and I am so very excited to be posting her first major music video. The title is "Who's Got Your Money." It's super cute, and just a lot of fun to listen to. Enjoy!

End of an Era

2009-05-28T12:51:00.007-04:00

Earlier this morning, it was announced that Toys R Us will be acquiring FAO Schwarz, one of the nation's oldest toy retailers, which opened in 1862 and was immortalized by Tom Hanks in the hit movie Big.

According to Toys R Us CEO Jerry Storch, Toys R Us will continue to operate FAO Schwarz's flagship store in New York City as well as a second store at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas: "We will work tirelessly to preserve the distinctiveness and integrity of the FAO Schwarz stores and brand."

"Keeping the FAO Schwarz brand to stand for what it is, an iconic specialty toy store, is the important thing," for Toys R US, he said.

In the long run, this purchase should improve FAO Schwarz and return the store to its once iconic status. But at the same time, I find it quite upsetting that Toys R Us now owns New York's greatest toy store.

I still remember my first time at FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue. After eating at the old Houlihan's (currently the Apple store), I stood in line with my parents, anxiously waiting to pass by the toy soldiers. I remember the enormous clock. And the robotic elevator. The piano. And the massive candy room. In my opinion, it was -- and still is -- one of the most magical stores in the entire world. Hopefully, Toys R Us will make sure that it remains this way!

Vietnamese. Thanks to Betty.

2009-05-28T11:24:00.002-04:00

Betty Ming Liu, a former professor of mine (who is now teaching a Food Writing course at N.Y.U. this summer) recently posted an article on her blog entitled, "How and where to eat Vietnamese."

The last time that I tried Vietnamese food, it was not a pleasant experience. I tried Bun Rieu, which is a noodle soup made of thin rice noodles, topped with crab and shrimp paste, served in a tomato-based broth and garnished with bean sprouts, prawn paste, herb leaves, water spinach, and chunks of tomato. Sounds delicious, right? Well, I spent the next few hours hugging a toilet. Probably just your average case of food poisoning, but boy did that kill my interest in Vietnamese cuisine.

Well, after reading Betty's article, I was determined to give it a second try. Last night, I left my apartment in Chelsea, jumped on the 1 to Franklin Street, and slowly wandered east, until I made it to Thai So’n, at 89 Baxter Street.

With memories of that awful afternoon with my toilet bowl, I decided to follow Betty's trusted advice...

My first dish was Goi Cuon, a classic Vietnamese spring roll. It was a nice way to ease into Vietnamese cuisine since it was simply greens and shrimp which were then tightly wrapped in a translucent rice noodle. And it was delicious. Simple, refreshing, and the shrimp were cooked to perfection. Betty recommended both the peanut sauce and the fish sauce for dipping. I chose the former (something about a condiment made of fermented fish extracts grossed me out).

Again, following Betty's instructions on her blog, I ordered a small platter of Tom Chien Bot. Essentially, it is a platter of fried shrimp, served with a sweet-and-sour sauce. They were absolutely delicious, but I found them to be a little too greasy. After I dabbed them on my napkin and wrapped them in a lettuce leaf, I found myself enjoying them much more however.

Next, I decided to be a little adventurous and pick something of my own: Ech Xao Xa Ot. Frogs legs. I had first tried stereotypical French-style frogs legs last summer while I was living in Paris, but had not had any sort of frog since. At Thai So’n, they still tasted like chicken, albeit stringy, but they had a nice zing since they were cooked in a refreshing lemongrass sauce. Really enjoyable!

Unfortunately, my meal ended on a blah note, with So Nuoc Dua, green mussels in a light coconut-curry sauce. Light would not be the right word however. I've always enjoyed the subtle taste of coconut, but in this dish, the coconut overpowered the curry in my opinion. Not so light. Oh well, everything else was delicious.

One thing that I did not try that Betty had recommended was Soda Xi Muoi, which is a drink based on salted, dried plums, that are mashed up and served in a glass with sugar and club soda. Never been a huge fan of plums. But everyone else who joined me for dinner last night thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks for the great advice, Betty!

Thai So'n
89 Baxter Street
(between Bayard and Canal Streets)

Phone: (212) 732-2822

Hours: 10:30am–10:30pm.

Philadelphia: Top 10

2009-05-26T11:48:00.027-04:00

About two years ago, Frank Bruni of The New York Times wrote an article titled "The Fertile Territory Beyond Our Own," about a trip outside of the boroughs, to Philadelphia where he dined at one of the City of Brotherly Love's finest restaurants.

While he does conclude by admitting that he has not been fortunate enough to spend a significant amount of time outside of New York in order to experience some of the country's greatest chefs, he begins his piece by saying that, "We New Yorkers like to think we live in the best restaurant city in the country, and I’ve not seen any compelling evidence to date that we don’t."

Over the past three years, I have attempted to shed my Philadelphia heritage by integrating myself into New York City, but one aspect of my birth city that I have always been proud of is its dining scene. While New York is a city that makes it difficult for aspiring chefs and restaurateurs to run their own shows as Bruni says, cities like Philadelphia have made it easy for some of the nation's most talented chefs to break into the business.

And so, after a recent trip back to Philadelphia, I have decided to select my choices for the Top 10 Philadelphia restaurants.

10. Le Bec-Fin
1523 Walnut Street
(215) 567-1000

Nearly four decades after famed French chef Georges Perrier opened his landmark Philadelphia restaurant, Le Bec-Fin, it remains atop the city's culinary ladder, as not only one of the greatest restaurants in the United States, but also as Philadelphia's sole representative in both the Michelin Guide and the Mobil Travel Guide.

That being said, I have never been a huge fan.

While the food is amazing, Le Bec-Fin has lost (its coveted fifth star in favor of a more relaxed atmosphere and...) its ability to thrill and surprise me. The last time that I went to Le Bec-Fin, I tried the spring 3-course prix-fixe meal for $35 per person. A braised red beet salad with goat cheese, candied walnuts and a citrus vinaigrette for an appetizer; organize white feathered chicken, with roasted cauliflower, brussel sprouts, lamb bacon, topped with a sherry vinegar sauce for dinner; and for dessert, Gâteau Le Bec-Fin , featuring layers of chocolate genoise soaked in rum and chocolate mousse, topped with a stunning display of chocolate fans.

Like I said, the food was fantastic, but there were no sparks. It was just another meal, and just another Philadelphia restaurant. That being said, it is Philadelphia's only Mobil Five Star Restaurant.

9. Gnocchi
613 East Passyunk Ave
(215) 592-8300

I first went to Gnocchi on Passyunk Avenue (at South Street) about five years with my parents, and I've loved it ever since. Appetizers range between $5 and $8, with salads costing $6. My personal favorite: the Gnocchi House Salad with roasted peppers, portabello mushrooms and romaine lettuce in an olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Then there are the homemade pastas which range between $11 and $16. At Gnocchi, I tend to be a person of habit, and will always stick to the classics: Tomato Basil Gnocchi classic with homemade potato gnocchi served in aurora sauce ($11). I admit the service is occasionally not the best, but I still think that this is one of the best BYOBs in the City of Brotherly Love.

8. Sang Kee Peking Duck House
238 North 9th Street
(215) 922-3930

First of all, I'm talking about the one in Chinatown. And not the one in Wynnewood. Yes, I know that parking is impossible, but it is totally worth it.

If you are looking for perfect Peking Duck, then look no further than 9th Street (between Spring and Winters Streets). What else? I always start out with a bowl of their exceptional won ton soup. I was last at Sang Kee in the December, and with the chill in the air, I started out with the house tea. It was hot, delicious, made from healthy ingredients; just the thing my immune system was looking for. Another stand out item at Sang Kee is their General Tso's Shrimp with brown rice. No matter what you order, the dishes are always flavored impeccably.

The atmosphere is fantastic at Sang Kee, constantly bustling. I admit that it is not the place for a quiet, romantic date, but if you are looking for something fun and vibrant with damn good, Chinese food, I'd highly recommend Sang Kee.

7. Melograno
2012 Sansom Street
(215) 875-8116

When my friends recently gave me a call and asked me to join them at Melograno ON SANSOM STREET, I was quite confused. What had happened to the quaint Italian BYOB on Spruce Street. Yes, it was tiny, and yes, the average wait for a table was about an hour long, but the food was simply amazing.

Needless to say, I was pleased that little had changed. It's still Italian. It's still BYOB. And it's still quaint, with a neighborhood-gem sort of charm, despite the fact that the dining room at its new location is significantly larger. Most importantly, it still offers amazing, flavorful, and generally inexpensive food.

Classics: arugula and prosciutto salad with a light dash of lemon dressing, or cod lightly coated in truffle oil. Required to try: any of their papardelle pastas, or tagliatelle with pork, which at $16 is a steal especially based on the size of the dish. My personal favorite: spaghetti carbonara with anchovies in a white truffle sauce, especially if you bring a long a nice bottle of red.

6. Pod
3636 Sansom Street
(215) 387-1803

Pod introduced something to Philadelphia that had only been seen in the culinary meccas of New York and London: the sushi conveyor belt.

That however was quite some time ago, and now that the excitement has worn off, what is left? Fairly consistent and enjoyable Pan-Asian cuisine in a retro environment.

Again, I'm a creature of habit, so what do I get? Chicken potstickers in mustard aioli ($9) and kobe beef with wasabi, which is cooked tableside on steaming Japanese river rocks ($15), both for appetizers. I generally share the Pod Caesar (shredded romaine, wonton crisps, sesame seeds, and ginger-infused caesar salad dressing - $10) with those dining with me. And for an entree, one of the following: wasabi crusted Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes covered in a black soy truffle oil ($29) or glazed Chilean sea bass ($28).

And my favorite dessert in Philadelphia: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate ($11) which includes three chocolate desserts in a bento box. A chocolate shochu shooter. Chocolate bread pudding with crumbled English toffee. A chocolate caramel tart with salted cocoa crumble.

5. Tacconelli's Pizzeria
2604 East Somerset Street
(215) 425-4983

In 1918, a genius moved to Philadelphia form Italy: Giovanni Tacconelli, the creator and original chef at Tacconelli's Pizzeria in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.

Open from Wednesday to Sunday, Tacconelli's only makes about 200 pies per evening, and when you call for your reservation, you are required to state how many pies you would like to reserve, in addition to the number of seats. It's BYOB as well, and beer and wine are welcome. The pizzeria is in a very residential neighborhood, and it has a very mom-and-pop atmosphere about it.

Philadelphia magazine has often listed it as the best pizza in Philadelphia, and both Zagat's and Emeril Lagasse have named Tacconelli's one of the best pizzerias in America. And thanks to the pizzeria's genuine brick oven, the thin crust pizza is the best that I have ever had.

My family eats a lot, so we generally order one pie less than there are people. Does that make sense? Five people, four pies; four people, three pies. And trust me, they're all gone by the time we finish. You can order a tomato, regular, white, or margerita pizza, and you can cover it with a variety of toppings. Our usual: a white pie with tomatoes and basil, or regular pie with lots of prosciutto.

Whatever you order though, you'll be happy that you tried Tacconelli's!

4. Morimoto
723 Chestnut Street
(215) 413-9070

Let's be honest, Morimoto in Philadelphia is not the establishment it used to be. It is no longer Stephen Starr's new and trendy hot spot. It isn't his flashiest restaurant anymore either. And the Iron Chef is hardly there anymore now that he has Iron Chef: America and Morimoto in New York. But despite being open for almost eight years, this hot spot still remains Stephen Starr's best restaurant.

Yes, it is quite expensive. Who in their right mind would pay $7 for a cup of miso soup? But the presentation is flawless and the service is impeccable.

Whitefish carpaccio melts in your mouth. Barbecued eel is a revelation. Caviar and white wasabi adorn the best tuna tartare you'll ever nibble. Kobe beef is cooked tableside in a hot stone bowl. Tofu is mixed to order. Even at $120, the Morimoto Omakase is totally worth it! A multi-course tasting menu designed to allow you to experience the essence of Morimoto's cuisine, the Omakase (on the night that I tried it) included five flawless slices of varying fishes, paired with five perfectly matched sauces. And who can forget that citrus jalapeno squirt. Or the spicy sashimi carpaccio with anchovy sauce. Nothing is nullified, each flavor accentuates the other creating a depth that shows the sheer knowledge and genius of Chef Morimoto.

3. Rouge
205 South 18th Street
(215) 732-6622

I hate to say this, but for the most part Neil Stein is past his prime. The Fish Market closed ages ago. He was forced to sell the Striped Bass to Stephen Starr who turned it into Butcher & Singer. Bleu is gone. So is Avenue B. His once mighty empire has dwindled down into a single restaurant: Rouge.

But what a restaurant.

It's tiny. But comfortable. Laid back. But chic. And while I absolutely love mostly everything on the menu, there is one thing that keeps me coming back for me: the Rouge Burger.

One bite and you are immediately in beefy heaven. The patty is moist and flavorful. The brioche bun is flaky and sweet. The cheese and caramelized onions are outstanding as well, but overshadowed by the almighty beef. The burger was so satisfying that I skipped on the ketchup, lettuce, and tomato. And the Pommes Frites that come along with it are divine. Every frite from top to bottom in the conical holder was crisp and salted nicely. And all of this for $15. And let's not forget that in July 2005, Alan Richman of GQ ranked the Rouge Burger #4 on his list of “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die.” (And p.s. the Kobe Sliders at the neighboring Barclay Prime claim the #5 spot.)

While Neil Stein's future may still be in question, I pray that Rouge will never die.

2. Marigold Kitchen
501 South 45th Street
(215) 222-6751

Brunch. You must go for brunch. Especially in May 2009 after Bon Appétit named Marigold Kitchen one of the best places to take mom for a Mother's Day. Number 3 to be exact. According to Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appétit:

Enjoying southern dishes (like a collard green and mushroom frittata; a Surry sausage and mushroom crepe; and stone-ground grits) in a converted Victorian home, you'd think you were somewhere in Dixie. But no: It's just Sunday at this lovely University City BYOB.

It truly is one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, nestled in quiet corner on a charming block, the restaurant feels more like a chic grandmother's home. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's comfortable and cozy.

The best bet is the 3-course meal for $30. Here's what I had last time I was there: mussels sauteed in herb butter for the first course. Pork tender loin with asparagus and a warm bacon vinaigrette came next. And finally the Apple Spice Cake with caramel sauce and buttermilk ice cream. Delicious.

1. Vetri
1312 Spruce Street
(215) 261-7069

And now, for my top choice: Vetri.

I had never been to Vetri before, but had been hearing about it for quite a while. After all, it opened in 1998. And after Frank Bruni reviewed both Osteria and Vetri by Marc Vetri, I knew that I had to try it.

I arrived at Vetri one evening, and as the hostess took me to my seat, I was taken through the narrow hallways of a townhouse that could have easily been mistaken as someone's home. It's tiny, 35 seats only. And the cuisine, divine Italian. As Bruni said, "Vetri ranks with the very best Italian restaurants in New York."

What did I have? First: spinach gnocchi with shaved ricotta and brown butter, which was simply fantastic. And with each bite, another piece of gnocchi simply melted in my mouth. Next: guinea hen breast stuffed with prosciutto served with mushrooms. I had never had guinea hen or guinea fowl before, so this was a first. But it was The combination of flavors between the guinea hen and the prosciutto provided me with the contrasting but equally delicious flavors, and with the mushroom sauce on top provided me with a creamy alternative.

Outstanding.

Hot Children in the City

2009-05-03T17:40:00.004-04:00

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” said one recent post by $eeking Generou$. “I'm a young professional, recently laid-off, and really would love to keep living in Manhattan. I am looking for ONE, very very very discreet man who’s attracted to the notion of taking care of a guy from an economic standpoint.”

This is just one of the gay personals on Craigslist that recently turned up during a simple search on the Manhattan “men seeking men” personals section on Craigslist last week. It was one of over 300 posts advertising sex-for-money, despite reaching an agreement with 40 state attorney generals in Nov. 2008 which stated that Craigslist would closely monitor the erotic services available online.

“While violent crime is exceedingly rare on Craigslist, with only a handful of cases known out of billions of face-to-face human interactions facilitated through the site, sadly, there is a risk whenever meeting a stranger for the first time,” said Craigslist co-founder Jim Buckmaster, who also condemned illegal use of the site.

However, the risks are still there. On March 24, 2009, radio journalist George Weber was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment, his ankles bound with duct tape and his body stabbed 50 times. Two days later, a 16-year-old boy who had agreed to have a sex romp with Weber in exchange for money, confessed to his murder.

But Weber’s murder did not stop countless men from posting their ads on Craigslist, including the man who posted $eeking Generou$: Gavin Davenport, 26, who asked to use an alias for privacy issues.

On the outside, Davenport appears to be your typical businessman. He is dressed from top to bottom in Ralph Lauren as he saunters into his $3,000 per month apartment, in one of the Chelsea’s trendiest buildings. He just got home and needs some relaxation after a job interview, so he slips off his Gucci loafers and plops down on the couch. After responding to a few messages on his iPhone, he turns his attention to his brand new 50-inch plasma TV.

“Initially I answered an ad on Craigslist for male escorts and masseurs,” said Davenport. “I met with a guy named Max, who became my pimp, and he gave me a beeper and told me that I was too accept $300 in cash; I would take $115 and he would take $85.”

“My first client rejected me but then they started liking me, and I found a few regulars,” added Davenport. “I remember one guy who had this thing about armpit hair. It was crucial that I kept my arms up, hands behind head, so that he could see my armpit hair while he blew me.”

Davenport claims that he felt uncomfortable at first, but since he enjoyed sex and making money, he soon eased into his role as a male prostitute.

“No, I am not surprised that men have turned to prostitution as a means of replacing lost income,” said Simon Bowmaker, a professor at N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business, who’s book “Economics Uncut” features a chapter on the economics of prostitution. “Of course, one can argue that several other factors that need to be taken into account when considering the decision to become a prostitute, but in recent years, there has been evidence of well-educated people entering the prostitution profession and talking openly about their experiences.”

“This perhaps suggests a softening of attitudes towards commercial sex,” added Bowmaker. “For some, then, the decision of men to offer sexual services during a recession is not a shocking one.”

Despite his Ivy League background, Davenport said he felt no shame in turning to prostitution to help him make it through the recession. While he admits disliking some of his clients, he said for the most part, he found their company intellectually stimulating.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet many different men, in many different fields,” he said. “Bankers, lawyers, doctors, men in the arts.”

P.R. was one of Davenport’s early clients. (Like other clients who were interviewed, he would not allow his full names to be published, but agreed to use his initials.) He is married and has three children, who live in Fairfield, Conn. Without fail, he is home every weekend to see them, but from Monday to Thursday, he lives in his apartment near his office in the Financial District, where he works as a lawyer. And when he is in New York, he sees Davenport anywhere from two to four times a week, sometimes paying $300 for an hour or $1,500 for an overnight visit.

“My wife knows about my lifestyle, but a divorce is out of the question for the sake of our children,” he said. “She and I live in a don’t ask, don’t tell world.

“And frankly, I am not ashamed of the fact that I hire a prostitute to service my needs,” he added. “I pay for my wife, and she is just as much as prostitute as Gavin.

“Year after year, she only continues to put on this charade everyday because she knows that she will be taken care of if she does,” said P.R. “Who pays for her big house? Her new Mercedes? Her country club membership? Her Barney’s charge card? I do. A prostitute, just as much as Gavin.”

Davenport is just one of the city’s male prostitutes. Out of seven men interviewed, five of them were Caucasian, one was Hispanic, and one was African-American. Two identified themselves as homosexuals, while five identified them as heterosexuals. Only one man – Davenport, a homosexual – identified himself as strictly interested in male sexual partners. While the remaining six said they would involve themselves with the highest bidder, either men or women. All seven were in perfect physical shape. All seven were well dressed. Five of them were under 28 years old, while the remaining two were under 35. And six of them agreed that they had not regrets.

Only one of the seven men regretted his decision.

Ricardo Alvarez, 31, has been a full-time erotic massage and escort for the past 10 months, and receives almost 70 percent of his clients from his ads on Craigslist. Alvarez said that he first started advertising on Craigslist after his 17-year-old sister moved in with him while she was attending a summer program for high school students at N.Y.U.

“I thought it would be okay because I was working and making decent money,” he said. “But I didn’t have enough, and I could never let me sister go hungry.”

Initially, Alvarez started by allowing gay men to perform oral sex on him in return for cash. But as he became accustomed to having extra cash, he started offering more and more of his body, and even began offering erotic massages and full-scale escort services. Despite his frequent sexual encounters with other men, he still identifies himself as a heterosexual.

Alvarez’s need to refer to himself as straight is not unusual, according to Michael Kimmel, a leading researcher and writer on men and masculinity in the world today.

“There is a dramatic difference between male and female prostitution," said Kimmel. “Females protect their femininity by not allowing their customers to kiss them, while males will be the inserter, and not the inserted in order to protect their masculinity. What I am trying to say, is the male prostitutes will do the fucking.”

“For years, young male hustlers, who have been having sex with older gay men, identified themselves as heterosexual and would have wives or girlfriends,” added Kimmel. “Because in their eyes, they were in charge, they had not lost their masculinity.”

While Alvarez admitted that he has started performing oral sex in order to make more money, he said that he does not intend “to bottom” during anal sex, despite the fact that one man offered him $800 to give a try.

“My ass is off limits,” said Alvarez. “I’ve never let a guy have it, and I still bring in anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 per week.”

Despite his steady income, his time as a prostitute has not always been a happy one.

“Weber wasn’t the only man who liked kinky violence, some guys like to get rough, and sometimes they take their anger and frustration out on you,” said Alvarez. “I’ve never been beaten up, but I have needed a few stitches.”

In Feb. 2008, a client told Alvarez that he enjoyed biting. Initially Alvarez thought nothing of it since quite a few of his clients enjoyed using their teeth. He said his client started biting harder, and ended up biting Alvarez’s nipple so hard that he needed to go to the emergency room.

“I was in so much pain and I was bleeding, but I kept going,” he said as he lifted his shirt to reveal the scars. “But I desperately needed the money.”

Alvarez never reported the violence. He said he was afraid that the police would ask too many questions. But despite the fact that prostitution is illegal in New York, it appears that little is being done to prevent its spread.

The chief police spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said that in 2008, there were 1,650 female and 233 male prostitution arrests citywide. Browne also confirmed that the NYPD shut down its Vice Squad operations on Craigslist because a new commanding officer of the squad thought it was “a waste of resources,” despite being highly successful in targeting sex-for-money ads, which led to arrests throughout New York City.

Davenport and Alvarez have eluded the police so far, but both agree that the fear of arrest and exposure is constantly lurking in the back of their minds.

“Getting arrested scares me,” said Davenport. “But I’m terrified that one day my friends and family will figure out what I’ve been doing.

“If they ever learned what I’ve been doing, I honestly don’t know what I would do,” he added.

Top Chef, Low Cost (pt. 2)

2009-05-03T17:04:00.009-04:00

Way back in February, I posted an article that I wrote about "Halfsteak": Tom Colicchio's recession version of his trendy steakhouse, Craftsteak. Well, the piece has been revised over and over again thanks to my professor Betty, and I am now posting the final piece which I am quite proud of. Enjoy!

HALFSTEAK: Half the Price, Half as Filling

At last, I made it to Craftsteak, one of the trendiest steakhouses in Manhattan. Normally my roommate and I would never consider a restaurant as expensive as this one, but tonight was different. We were here for “Halfsteak,” the scaled-down, recession version of celebrity chef Tom Colicchio’s Chelsea restaurant.

And unfortunately, “Halfsteak” left us half-full.

Last month, Colicchio turned his popular and pricey restaurant into a casual dining experience with a cute name. It’s cute in size too, seating only 44 with 12 additional spots at the bar. The most expensive entrée on the menu is the $15, 6-ounce New York strip steak. It’s cute too. Cute – and way too little.

You can get the “Halfstreak” treatment each Wednesday, in the front section of this two-star eatery at 10th Avenue and 15th Street, while the high ceilinged main dining room with enormous windows overlooking the West Side Highway is still full price. On the particular night that I was there, “Halfsteak” was jammed while the big room was well, slightly more than half full.

That should be no surprise, given the economy. In fact, the city’s top restaurants are all in a panic. It’s gotten so bad that New York magazine’s “Grub Street” dining blog has gained attention with a game they play called “Two for Eight” – calling the most exclusive restaurants at 4 p.m. to see which ones can squeeze in a last-minute reservation. Guess what – almost all of them can.

With “Halfsteak,” Colicchio joins a host of other celebrated chef s who are going discount. First, it was Jean-Georges Vongerichten; six of his Manhattan restaurants now have both a $24 three-course lunch menu and a $35 three-course dinner. Then came Mario Batali, offering a “bargain” nine-course tasting menu at $125 a head (formerly $175.) Next, Colicchio stepped in – Craft, his flagship, cut its $185-a-head, eight-course dinner to $150, and added a Friday night, $10-a-plate tapas menu.

And as of last month, there was “Halfsteak.” Like the regular menu, Chef de Cuisine Shane McBride stays close to his Southern roots with everything from smoked chicken wings in a white BBQ sauce ($6.50), to chicken fried cod with hash browns ($9.50), and a brisket sandwich topped with sauerkraut and provolone ($11.50). Appetizers and salads all cost between $6.50 and $9.50, while sandwiches and entrées costing $11.50 to $13.50. While each dish was beautifully presented, I felt like I had just sat down for a meal with the Keebler elves.

Now what about that halfsteak? I had the same cut as Craftsteak’s $50,12-ounce high quality, dry-aged strip of perfection. But at half the size, it was merely a high-class McDonald’s Kids Meal – and even with the signature hand-cut fries thrown in I started drooling the leftovers at the table next to mine.

But there was still the hope of filling up over dessert. At $4 apiece, the red velvet cupcakes and an ice cream sandwich of the day are a third of the cost of a normal Craftsteak dessert, but they resemble the sweets my niece adorns her doll tea party with.

The half-size, half-price concept also extends to cocktails which all cost less than $9, and half-pints of small, artisanal beers which all cost less than $4. But who want to pay $4 for a half-pint of beer when a full pint only costs $7?

While on the outside this appears to be a good deal, it is just another gimmick from the Craft restaurant family. With Colicchio’s restaurants, the quality of the food is never an issue – it is always solid, delicious New American cuisine. The issue with “Halfsteak” is whether or not it is actually worth it. My visit cost around $80 with tax and tip for the two of us, which is not bad for a steakhouse. But the rumbling in my stomach was a clear sign that I would need to pick up a slice of pizza on the way home. Craftsteak on the other hand is more expensive. The price limits customers on a budget from trying a wide variety of food, but at least they leave without a lingering hunger.

In the end, the choice is yours: would you rather a wide variety or full belly? It’s up to you to make the decision (but I would personally recommend hitting up Craftsteak).

More Inspiration

2009-04-29T23:00:00.011-04:00

I was reading my friend Emilia's blog the other day, and one of her posts really inspired me to go out and try something that I have never done before...

... Now all that I have to do is get motivated and make it over to the Bushwick Country Club! Yeah, Brooklyn, that'll happen.

(If it does, I will certainly blog about it!)

Inspiration from Amish Chatterjee and James Lipton...

2009-04-26T17:04:00.008-04:00

In a recent interview conducted with Amish Chatterjee, a local food truck vendor, I concluded by asking him what his favorite curse word was. While walking home, my mind began wandering back to "Inside the Actor's Studio," a television show on Bravo, hosted by James Lipton. At the end of each segment, Lipton ends with his famous 10 questions, stolen from famous French journalist Bernard Pivot.

I know this has probably been done a million times, but I've never done it so bear with me.

1. What is your favorite word?

Yes.

2. What is your least favorite word?

No.

3. What turns you on?

Anything that has been deep fried.

4. What turns you off?

The inability to laugh.

5. What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck. Or cunt. Both are so versatile!

(Check out what Natalie Portman had to say, it's brilliant!)

6. What sound or noise do you love?

Dog's barking.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

Silence.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Trophy wife.

9. What profession would you not like to attempt?

Anything that would place me a cubicle.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Sorry, hell is one floor down.

Now it's your turn to answer....!

Food Truck Q & A

2009-04-26T17:02:00.004-04:00

Amish Chatterjee, 38, a native of Calcutta, India who now resides in Bushwick, arrived in New York City 10 years ago, with a duffel bag filled with clothes and his mother’s spatula. His dream: to become a chef. After working as a waiter for four years in a Midtown diner, Chatterjee finally saved enough money to open his restaurant, a food truck located on the corner of 18th Street and Sixth Avenue, where he serves traditional Indian and Bengali cuisine, including his mother’s favorite, kati rolls.

Why New York?
Why not?

But why not London? Sydney? Why here?
My first time seeing a motion picture, I saw Woody Allen’s “Manhattan.” I was 8 years old, and I knew that one day I must be here in New York.

Despite your success, why do you refuse to open a restaurant?
Too expensive. And I like to be alone when I work. No one can bother me.

What inspired you to become a chef?
When I was younger, my mother told me I must go find a job, and so I started working at a small restaurant in the Bidhannagar district of Calcutta. I wanted to work there because the chef would let me eat all day. I was a fat boy back then. I would go into the kitchen and make myself different dishes, throwing different meats and vegetables and sauces together. After three years, the chef brought me into the kitchen and told me to sit down. He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘You Amish, you must grow up to be a chef.’

Favorite dish?
Aloo Gobi. It’s simple. And I am a simple man.

(For those of you who do not know what Aloo Gobi is, it is a dry dish made with cauliflower and potatoes.)

Happiest day since you arrived in New York?
The 15th of September 2001, because my truck opened in the morning and my daughters Kalpita and Pusti were born that night.

Only four days after 9/11?
Yes. In terms of my business, my cart was on 50th and Sixth Avenue at that time, so it was not so bad. But I had no customers for quite a few days. I would go to work everyday for a week and no one would buy anything.

How is business now?
Booming. I make just as much as my family needs.

(Which he says with a wink)

And how was 9/11 for your family? Must have been traumatic…
The birth of my daughters was just what me and my wife needed. Not traumatic at all. When the city saw so much death, I witnessed birth and life. And overtime, America has witnessed a rebirth. It has life again.

(Which he says as he points to his Obama pin)

Favorite thing about America?
I can curse without my mother hearing me.

Favorite curse word?
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. See, doesn’t it sound nice?

Getting Published!

2009-04-24T11:13:00.003-04:00

Hey y'all,

Just wanted to let you know that an article that I posted on my blog is getting published!

It's all about the Chelsea Market and it's appearing in the Chelsea-Clinton News!

AHHH!

Just Stop

2009-03-26T23:13:00.007-04:00

Scaffolding never made me stop.

It only made me run in fact, generally for cover during New York's rainy days. But earlier this afternoon, on my way home from work, I decided to stop. I was on my way to my favorite Chelsea dive, The King's Head Bar on West 23rd Street and 10th Avenue. Along the way, I found myself slowing down just one block away, on West 23rd Street between 9th and 10th avenues. And there it was. Something that made me stop.

Outside of the London Terrace Gardens apartment complex is a different type of scaffolding. A pleasant type, that makes you enjoy and realize the beauty of renovation and restoration. Instead of the typical white banner plastered with posters about magazine or unknown musicians, the scaffolding around this building was different. It was art.

One panel in particular caught my attention. It was a profile of a woman done completely in black and white, which was very reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Initially I thought that she was smoking from a long cigarette holder, but in actuality she was blowing smoke from the palm of her hand. And within the smoke were large ants, crawling about. Strange, I know. But captivating.

Never had their been a single piece of scaffolding that made me stop and realize that art is everywhere, constantly surrounding me, and in a neighborhood where art reigns supreme, the scaffolding bridges the gap between the art world and the real world.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Oh snap, who beat The New York Times? I did! Below is the link to an article that appeared in the Times on March 27, 2009.

Converting Chelsea Scaffolds Into Art

Alone?

2009-03-25T23:32:00.002-04:00

It’s Wednesday evening. My apartment is eerily quiet tonight, since my one roommate is studying for an Orgo final at the library, while the other one is seeing “God of Carnage” uptown. And me? I’m curled up on the couch, watching Family Guy, with my best friend: Bombay Sapphire with tonic, and a splash of lime.

With each sip, I kept thinking of my father. It’s almost been two years since I last saw him. Two years since I last heard his voice. He died on the final night of my freshman year of college. Right after he and my mom settled in for the night, he had a massive heart attack. Just a few minutes after midnight, my father was pronounced dead.

Around 2:00 a.m., the R.A. on duty pounded on my door. I was fast asleep, having nightmares about my French final scheduled for later that day. I opened the door, and there she stood with a man from N.Y.U. Public Safety.

"Beau," she said. "You need to give your mom a call."

Before I even reached my cell phone, I knew. But I kept going, and dialed. My mom answered the phone. Her voice had always been so strong and fearless. Tonight it was different. It sounded empty. Alone.

"Sweetie, I need to tell you something," she said; she was crying. My heart started beating faster. I began shaking. "Your dad, he passed away tonight."

And that was when my world fell apart.

Bombay Sapphire had been his favorite drink for years, and even after he finally stopped drinking when my older brother was born, he always kept a bottle prominently displayed in our liquor cabinet, despite the fact that he never actually offered it to anyone. To this day, it remains unopened.

"It's the best," he told me once. "Just look at it."

He always loved the bottle, the light blue sparkling gem with a portrait of Queen Victoria displayed prominently in the center of the white label. Even now, I can see a bottle sparkling on my kitchen counter top.

The first bottle of liquor that I ever bought – legally that is – was a bottle of Bombay. I had just turned 21 years old, and I found myself wandering around Warehouse Wines & Liquor on Broadway near N.Y.U. For some reason, I was very stressed. I had no idea what I would choose for my very first legal purchase. Then I saw it. It was beautiful. The sun was coming in through the window, and it truly looked like a sapphire, perched atop the gin shelf. It was expensive, but I bought it.

A month later, the same bottle is still in my kitchen. There is still more than half a bottle since I save it for lonely nights, when I need a friend to cheer me up. Tonight is one of those nights. Despite the fact that my apartment is silent, besides the voices coming from the television, I know that my father is here with me tonight. And with my final sip, I suddenly don’t feel so alone anymore.

End of an Era

2009-03-25T12:12:00.010-04:00

Can you believe it!?! The iconic New York magazine sign on Madison Avenue and 49th Street is in the midst of being removed, in order to make way for the Burberry logo.

In October, the online fashion blog Racked reported that the British luxury label had signed a lease at 444 Madison Ave., which will included retail space, in addition to a significant amount of office space within the building, thus giving Burberry precedent over New York magazine.

Once the transition is complete, the Burberry sign will be placed above another sign, which will display both the time and the temperature.

“Being able to have a building that’s going to say ‘Burberry’ in lights is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Eugenia Ulasewicz, the president of Burberry North America. “Remember, Thomas Burberry founded gabardine fabric, and outerwear is a cornerstone of our brand, so to have it say ‘Burberry’ and, by the way, here’s the temperature — that’s very unique.”

To me, that says trashy.

Due to new zoning codes, illuminated signs are no longer allowed on new skyscrapers in this part of the city; the new sign atop 444 Madison Ave. however was however grandfathered in due to the building's age. Let's just pray that this will not start a trend with other luxury labels. I cannot even imagine what New York would be like if Juicy Couture situated themselves atop the MetLife building.

Hot Child in the City (cliché, I know)

2009-03-24T23:37:00.009-04:00

When I landed on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 19, 2008 after having spent 4 months living in Prague, I had become accustomed to male – and specifically homosexual – prostitution. It was normal, nothing shocking at all.

I still remember the first time that I ever met a prostitute. After downing half a bottle of vodka, I left my apartment with my roommate and a friend, and we headed to Escape, what we assumed was simply a gay club. Wrong! As soon as we arrived, we learned that it was what the Czechs called a gay rent bar (a place where men go if they are specifically looking to find a prostitute). And on that night I met my first prostitute. He looked no different that any other student at N.Y.U. in Prague. He was 19 years old and a high school drop out, who made almost $300 per encounter.

After that, I began to see prostitutes more and more often. By simply walking down a certain street, I would have to struggle to avoid eye contact in order to prevent a hoard of teenage boys from running towards me, offering everything from oral sex to their virginity. On one occasion, I was actually mistaken for a prostitute and offered $400, because the man thought that I seemed purer than the rest. At that moment, I lost interest in Prague.

But upon my return to New York, I thought that was all behind me. That is until I downed yet another bottle of vodka – I should seriously consider switching to gin or rum – and headed off to a notorious, local gay bar (if you're really curious and want to know which one, send me an e-mail).

After getting my groove on to a handful of classics – Britney, Madonna, etc. – I wandered away from the dance floor and over to the bar. Standing there, looking right at me, was a god: a 6-foot-5-inch god. Persian. Wavy, brown hair. Blue eyes. Fantastic body. He ordered me a drink – Vodka again, ugh – and we talked for the next hour, about politics, restaurants, the Yankees, even the latest Kelly Clarkson song. Anything and everything.

When I finally got up the nerve to ask him if he was – and let's pray that my mother won't be reading this – interested in, uh, joining me for the remainder of the evening at my apartment, he moved closer, and whispered something in my ear.

"I'd love to," he said. "For $200."

I pulled away with a confused look on my face.

"Are you a..."

"Yes," he said. "Yes, I am."

I politely declined, and instead of admitting my disappointment, I simply blamed the economy and N.Y.U.'s hefty bill. He smiled, and was kind enough to buy me another drink (Rum! Praise the Lord!). And that was when I heard his story. He was 28 years old, a graduate of the University of Chicago and Columbia Business School, and a former employee of Lehman Brothers. After months of being unemployed, he wanted to return to his financial stability and used the only asset he had left: his body. After a few more drinks, I left the bar (with a dinner date I might add – bad choice?) and I went home to go to bed.

I was restless for nearly two hours however. In the wake of the economic recession, had prostitution crossed the Atlantic? I sat there wondering about prostitution in New York. This may sound naive, but while I was living in Prague, I had this image that New York was above Prague, and far too cosmopolitan for prostitution. I eventually decide to wake up my roommate and tell him my story. He chuckled.

"Haven't you ever looked at Craigslist? Loads of 'escorts' advertise on there all the time," he said. "And check out Rentboy too."

I spent the next hour realizing that prostitution had been surrounding me for longer than I had cared to imagine. In the deep corners of my mind I am sure that I knew that petty prostitution existed, but it was not until I had my first, one-on-one experience with a prostitute in America that I realized that it was indeed everywhere.

The next morning I headed off to brunch with several fellow "Chelsea Boys." It was eerily similar to a "Sex and the City" moment. We were all at Cafeteria, sitting around sipping mimosas and talking about life. When I brought up my night, I was surprised by the responses that my story received. My friends were not concerned with the fact that a smart, intelligent young man was selling his body so that he could simply get by. They were in fact more concerned with whether or not I would attempt to sleep with him after our date. It was in that moment that I finally realized Chelsea's biggest flaw.

For them, living in Chelsea is about the excitement and the glamor, the cheap thrills. If only they could finally take a step back, and see all of the flaws of the community that they have come to cherish and love so dearly.

(And for your information, the answer is no, I did not.)

Am I an Artist?

2009-03-23T13:15:00.003-04:00

Last Saturday, I was walking down West 24th Street in Chelsea, on my way to brunch with some friends. As I walked down the street, with music from my iPod drowning out the world around me, I passed by the Danziger Project, an art gallery that focuses primarily on photography.

Normally I would have walked past the gallery without a second thought. It was just another Chelsea art gallery. Nothing new. Nothing different. But I decided to stop this time. I had time to kill, and after all, the gallery had been receiving quite a lot of attention in the past month, especially after The New York Times reported that artist Shepard Fairey had filed a lawsuit against The Associated Press over the use of his now iconic poster of President Barack Obama.

Currently, the Danziger Project is displaying both the Shepard Fairey poster and a copy of the original photograph that it is based on, one taken by photographer Mannie Garcia for The Associated Press in April 2006, when Obama spoke at the National Press Club with George Clooney after he returned from Darfur.

Due to the success of Fairey's poster, James Danziger, the gallery owner and a former editor for Vanity Fair, helped to lead the effort which discovered the original photo that Fairey based his posted on. Now that it has been discovered, Danziger is selling reproductions – some autographed! – developed by Garcia. A limited number that is. Only 200. Each going fro $1,200!

Twelve hundred dollars for a reproduced photograph!?! Sounds crazy, right? Well, apparently people in the art world do not seem to think it is that crazy. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for example, just purchased a copy of the photo, and will display it alongside a copy of the Fairey poster.

The commotion surrounding Garcia's photo and the Danziger Project again prompted an article from The New York Times, just two days after my initial visit to the gallery. Noam Cohen's article was titled, "Viewing Journalism as a Work of Art," yet he himself never answered a very important question: is journalism art?

As a student of journalism, I began to think about this question, and it was not until I heard a lecture given by one of my former professors, which addressed both "In Cold Blood" and "All the President's Men." Truman Capote transformed his notes and interviews with convict Perry Smith, into what is now often regarded as a pioneering work of true crime. While Bernstein and Woodward's novel is now one of the best-selling novels of all-time and is read by historians and thrill-seekers alike. Both are journalism. And both are art. If these are art, then wouldn't Mannie Garcia's photograph of Obama be considered art as well? Of course. Garcia is making art every single time he picks up a camera. Despite the fact that his art traditionally appears in USA Today and not MoMA does not change the fact that he is indeed an artist.

But the notoriously humble Garcia refuses to call himself an artist.

“I want to avoid calling myself an artistic photographer," he said. "Wire guy, I am comfortable with that."

Danziger Project:
534 W. 24th St.
New York, New York 10011
(212) 629-6778

info@danzigerprojects.com

Hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 11am to 6pm
Saturday: noon to 6pm
Monday - Tuesday: by appointment only

Hey Chelsea, did you know…?

2009-03-05T01:00:00.005-05:00

When I signed my lease for my apartment back in November, I really did not know anything about Chelsea. In fact, all that I knew was that Dorothy and all of her friends would be there to greet me, with arms wide open. Besides that? Not much at all.

Well, all of that changed when I decided to explore my new neighborhood, with my friend Alfred, a professional tour guide with 19 years experience, who allowed me to follow him on one of his walking tours through Chelsea. Despite the fact that it took place over three hours, during one of the worst rainstorms that I can remember, I truly did learn a lot.

For example, did you know that before it became New York’s rainbow capital, Chelsea was once the capital of red America? Located on 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues, was the headquarters of the Communist Party of the United States of America. What is it today? A pet supply store.

And just across the street was the infamous Hotel Chelsea, where Sir Arthur C. Clarke wrote my favorite novel, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

What else happened in Chelsea?

Did you know that French singer Edith Piaf was married in 1952 at the Saint Vincent de Paul Church on 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. And who was her matron of honor?

“Piaf asked her best friend, Marlene Dietrich, to be the matron,” said my guide Alfred.

I was also informed that the original headquarters of my mecca was located at 17th Street and Seventh Avenue:
“In 1923, Barney Pressman pawned his wife’s engagement ring for $500 in order to lease a small store on 17th and Seventh Avenue,” said Alfred. “He built that into the 200,000 square foot flagship store of Barneys New York.”

Which unfortunately closed in 1996 when the company filed for bankruptcy, and is now home to the Rubin Museum of Art.

At first, I was not sure if I would get anything out of the tour, but was I ever wrong! Yes, it was long. Yes, it was raining, and yes, by the end, I was soaked. But, yes, it was worth it.

For more information, please call (212) 979-2388.

Trip to the Market

2009-03-04T23:27:00.006-05:00

As stock market prices continue to plummet, the current recession has had one benefit: notoriously expensive food is suddenly inexpensive. Including lobster, which recently sold for a mere $7.95 at the Lobster Place, located at the popular Chelsea Market.

“We’re selling just as much lobster,” said Ian MacGregor, president of the Lobster Place, New York City’s largest purveyor of live lobster. “Prices are down, and suddenly people are willing to buy lobster.”

The Lobster Place is just one of many tenants at the popular Chelsea Market, located on Ninth Avenue between 15th and 16th streets, which has come to symbolize the transformation of a gritty neighborhood into a vibrant culinary hub.

Despite the recent economic crisis, the upscale Market appears to be unaffected, as its stores are filled with locals and tourists alike who have come for the opportunity to buy fresh foods directly from wholesalers.

“Believe it or not, our wholesale operation has outgrown the space here, and the original vision for this market is definitely evolving,” he said. “If you take a walk around here, you’ll find no less than 15 luxury high-rise buildings going up, and now we view our tenancy here as a tremendous opportunity for retail expansion.”

“It has more than any food store that I’ve ever seen,” said Charlotte Garvey, a Maryland native who is spending the week in New York City with her husband. “And I’m surprised how inexpensive everything is. The produce here is some of the cheapest I’ve ever seen, but it all looks so fresh, and delicious.”

The present-day Chelsea Market is a product of investor Irwin B. Cohen, who in the 1990s purchased a handful of buildings that had once made up the headquarters of the National Biscuit Company, commonly known as NABISCO.

Completed in 1898 as the company’s bakery, the ovens were notorious for baking some of the world’s most famous biscuit and cookie brands, including Premium Saltines, Vanilla Wafers, Fig Newtons, Barnum’s Animal Crackers, and Mallomars. The building is however probably most famous for being the birthplace of the Oreo.

“When I was little girl, we used to buy Oreo cookies that came straight out of the oven, in fact they were still warm,” said longtime Chelsea resident, Marissa Shapiro. “Then we’d get a nice, cold bottle of milk on the way home, and sit on the front steps eating them.”

“A package was only a nickel back then,” added Shapiro. “With the way that the economy is now, I can’t afford to buy all of the extravagant products at the Chelsea Market. No sweets for me. Just my produce.”

In 1959, when NABISCO moved its operations to Fair Lawn, N.J., the complex was sold to investor Louis J. Glickman. With few tenants, the buildings slipped into disrepair throughout the 1970s and 1980s. When it finally reopened in the 1990s, the Market helped to gentrify not only west Chelsea but also the nearby Meatpacking District. Today, the Market is as a masterpiece of Chelsea, and despite the rough times, is as crowded as ever.

“I love it here,” said Eloise Parks, a longtime resident of Manhattan. “You can buy anything you want here. If you want wine, you can go to Chelsea Wine Vault. If you want the freshest produce, go to the Manhattan Fruit Exchange. It’s all here.”

When she first opened her bakery at the Chelsea Market in 1997, Eleni Gianopulos had never imagined that how successful the Market would become.

“I had no idea how much our retail business would take off,” said Gianopulos, whose bakery is called Eleni’s New York.

In August 2005, Gianopulos moved her bakery operations to a new 20,000-square-foot space in a warehouse building in Long Island City, and has decided to transform her Chelsea Market store into a full retail location, and now uses the entire ground-floor portion of her space at the Market for her retail business.

“Am I worried about the economy?” said Eleni Gianopulos, the owner of the popular Eleni’s New York bakery. “Of course not.”

“Everyone needs to eat,” she added. “As long as they continue to eat, we will continue to serve.”

Top Chef, Low Cost

2009-02-25T12:49:00.009-05:00

Watch out New York City: restaurateur and “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio has come up with a new, low-cost option for those who looking to save some bucks.

Every Wednesday, Colicchio will turn the front section of his popular and pricey Chelsea restaurant Craftsteak, on 10th Avenue and 15th Street, into “Halfsteak,” which will provide diners with a casual dining experience, with smaller plates and much lower prices.

The new weekly menu was devised by chef de cuisine Shane McBride, who was inspired by his southern upbringing, and offers everything from smoked chicken wings in a white BBQ sauce, to chicken fried cod with hash browns, and a brisket sandwich topped with sauerkraut and provolone. The menu would obviously not be complete without the Halfsteak: a half-portion of Craftsteak’s high-quality, dry-aged strip steak, served with hand-cut fries, all for less than $15. Just remember, it normally costs $50. Pastry chef Erica Leahy has also created new individually sized desserts, including red velvet cupcakes and an ice cream sandwich of the day.

The half-size, half-price concept also extends to cocktails which all cost less than $9, and half-pints of small, artisanal beers which all cost less than $4. Even the notoriously overpriced wine list has been dialed down, with glasses costing around $10 and about 20 bottles for under $50.

A warning: beware of the “Half Naked,” a blend of tequila, Cointreau, jalapeno and fresh lime juice, served in a miniature mason jar.

It just so happens that opening night coincided with part one of the “Top Chef” season finale. Crowds flocked to the restaurant, where Tom Colicchio and his fellow judges Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons, as well as the final four contestants, were gathered around the flat-screen televisions situated above the bar.

“Halfsteak” came as no surprise, given the recent economic recession. In fact, restaurants all over New York have been hurt by the dramatic drop in customers, along with the increase in operational expenses.

A simple phone call can prove that restaurants are desperate. On “Grub Street,” the dining blog for New York magazine, bloggers play Two for Eight, a game that involves calling some of the cities most exclusive restaurants at 4 p.m. to see which ones can squeeze a couple in for dinner. Some recent restaurants that topped the list: Danny Meyer’s Eleven Madison Park and Gramercy Tavern, Chanterelle and The Harrison in TriBeCa, as well as Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Matsugen and his Michelin three-star flagship restaurant, Jean Georges.

Celebrated chef Vongerichten led the recent recession trend last October, when his Greenwich Village restaurant Perry St. began offering a $35 three-course dinner menu. The trend quickly spread through his organization, and today six of his restaurants offer the dinner menu, in addition to a $24 three-course lunch menu.

Next was Mario Batali, when the price of the extravagant 20-course meal at Del Posto was reduced from $250 to $175, and the price of his nine-course tasting menu dropped from $175 to $125.

Tom Colicchio followed shortly after when he made some changes to the menu at his trendy flagship restaurant, Craft. Every Tuesday, Colicchio offers, TOM: Tuesday Dinner. Instead of the usual $185 per person menu, an eight-course meal served is in the private dining room for $150. Craft executive chef Damon Wise has since created Damon: Frugal Friday, a weekly tapas style meal with everything costing less than $10 per plate. Now, he has “Halfsteak.”

When Craftseak first opened in 2006, it received mainly negative reviews. In an effort to save his restaurant, last year Colicchio revamped the menu, and even replaced the restaurant’s initial chef de cuisine, Chris Albrecht. But based on the attendance and the excitement surrounding “Halfsteak,” it is obvious that Colicchio and his restaurants will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

A Second Chance

2009-02-23T19:33:00.007-05:00

“He looked like he could have been anyone’s father.”

That was what a fellow classmate said last Thursday about Steve Zakrzewski, a recovering alcoholic who has been at the Bowery Mission on New York City’s Lower East Side since last May.

Zakrzewski had actually reminded me of my own father. He was roughly the same height, with salt-and-pepper, barely-there hair. He was well dressed, wearing blue jeans, a dress shirt and tie, with a Polo windbreaker.

“For 30 years I was a functioning alcoholic,” said Steve Zakrzewski. “I had a great job and was able to travel around the world, but about three years ago, I crossed the line and became a drunk.”

“After I lost my apartment and my car, I was hospitalized with liver inflammation,” added Zakrzewski. “AA just didn’t work, so a doctor recommended that I come here.”

That’s exactly what he did. Roughly eight months ago, he arrived at the Mission. Since 1879, the Bowery Mission has worked to provide, as they say, “compassionate care and life transformation services” to those homeless men and women living in New York City. The halls of the Bowery Mission are filled with success stories.

“Before I came here, I drank to numb my feelings because I had nothing to believe in,” said Zakrzewski. “But now that I have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, I was finally able to pull myself out of the pit that I was living in.”

In mid-November, he graduated from the program, and has since started working as an operations manager at a transitional housing office associated with the Bowery Mission.

Zakrzewski is not the only success story at the Mission. In fact, one of the directors of the program claims to be one of the Bowery Mission’s greatest success stories.

“I like to say that I went from the garbage to Madison Avenue,” said James Macklin, the Director of Outreach at the Bowery Mission

About 22 years ago, Macklin became heavily involved in drugs and lost his business. He eventually made it to the Bowery Mission to receive treatment and guidance. After volunteering at the Mission, he eventually moved to Madison Avenue, the Mission’s headquarters when he was placed in charge of outreach.

“This is my home,” added Macklin. “This is where my family is.”

When I first arrived at the Bowery Mission that morning, I had assumed that it would be a place of sadness. As men lined up for their lunches however, they were covered in smiles: laughing, joking, and patting each other on the back. Despite the hard past that they had obviously endured, the Bowery Mission had given them something that most men and women never get. A second chance.

Haute Cuisine by the King of Haute Couture?

2009-02-19T20:55:00.004-05:00

Despite the terrible state of the economy, Giorgio Armani recently opened a massive Fifth Avenue boutique, equipped with its own restaurant. Intriguing. Here's what Florence Fabricant of The New York Times had to say about it:

Giorgio Armani, who has a Nobu branch in his Milan store, is opening a restaurant and bar in his huge new Fifth Avenue store with his longtime friend Lorenzo Viani. Mr. Viani is the chef and owner of Ristorante Lorenzo, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the beach town of Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast. Mr. Viani will be a consultant/chef at Armani/Ristorante 5th Avenue, which is expected to open this week on the top level of the three-floor location.

The decor, in the subdued Armani palette, is glossed with metal. The menu is modern Italian — sole on an eggplant puree, feuillettee of pecorino with pears, turkey with green tomato mustard, zucchini flan, gnocchi with chanterelles, baby veal in an almond crust, semi-freddi and panna cottas for dessert. They will only serve dinner at first, until 11 p.m., but later they’ll open for lunch too.
Sirio Maccioni had tried to do a restaurant in Paris with Mr. Viani and said he was having lunch with him on Monday. “I’m still trying to do something,” Mr. Maccioni said.

Well next time I actually decided to venture north of 23rd Street (minus the occasional visit to Shake Shack), I'll have to check that out.

Information:
Armani/Ristorante 5th Avenue
at Armani/Fifth Avenue
717 Fifth Avenue (56th Street)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 207-1902

Jean-Georges

2009-02-18T20:41:00.002-05:00

Well, I don't even know where to begin. First of all, I need to apologize to all of my readers (hah) for not posting in over a month. My bad! I'm currently on a flight to Florida, where I am heading to a family wedding. I had nothing else to do, so I figured that I must must must update you all (double hah) on my recent culinary experiences. Mainly restaurant week.

I only went to one initially, but as soon as it was extended due to the terrible economic crisis that has swept across the United States, I decided to try another...

(oh, and I went to the Tribeca Grill, but it was actually too boring to write about... sorry Robert DeNiro!)

Spice Market

I started off going to Spice Market in the Meatpacking District, in order to add a little Jean-Georges Vongerichten class to my life. As soon as we arrived I was impressed, yet disappointed by the decor. Yes, it's elaborate. But, I thought it was a little over the top. I mean honestly, it looked like what Disney would have done if they had made Thailand a country at Epcot. And the uniforms were similar. Very Epcotesque. However, everyone wearing the uniforms was, well to be honest, gorgeous. I would have willingly taken any of them home in a doggy bad. Even the women. Everyone had amazing bodies, perfectly tanned skin, and were just really really... hot. Grrrrr.

I went on a Sunday evening for lunch with my best friend from high school, Kelly. And in true Beau-and-Kelly fashion, we ordered booze as soon as we sat down. They were delicious, but to be honest, I don't really remember what I had since this was a few weeks bad. I had some sort of margarita and she had some sort of ginger mojito. So, let's just skip booze and we'll discuss food!

At Spice Market for Restaurant Week we were presented with a bento box filled with delicious goodies. I began with the butternut squash soup, topped with a spoonful of cream and ginger pumpkin seeds. I have to say, the soup was fantastic. On it's own, it would have still be divine, but with the crunchiness and the delicacy of the ginger, it really made the soup out of this world. The butternut squash was just the right consistency. Not too thick. But not too watery. I always hate ordering butternut squash soup because I always find the consistency to be off. Well, not at Spice Market.

In the next square, I found a salad made of sliced green papayas and apples, with candied ginger. Good. Nothing to write home about.

Then, beef skewers with a pistachio dipping sauce. Simply, but splendid. The beef was tender and moist, perfectly cooked in a delicious and somewhat spicy seasoning. They weren't too big that they became awkward as you tore them away from the skewer. But they weren't tiny either. They would have been ideal for Goldilocks. And the pistachio dipping sauce was to die for. Creamy and rich, yet tangy from the lime.

The final box contained one of my favorite fishes: striped bass, with wok fried cabbage. water chestnuts and cucumbers. On one end, it was simply too spicy. Way too much cayenne pepper. One the other end, the striped bass cooled my mouth as soon as I tasted it. As we both sat quietly trying to figure out what we thought about the the final box, I could see the expression on Kelly's face and knew that we were in accord: too spicy.

Dessert was amazing though! An outstanding Ovaltine kulfi, topped with caramelized bananas and popcorn, and a spiced milk chocolate sauce. I don't even know where to begin. I know that if I attempt to describe how amazing they are, I will not be able to do it justice! Go! Eat!

Overall, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my first Jean-Georges experience. However, my second one was far superior....

Information:
403 W. 13th Street
(at Ninth Avenue)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 675-2322

The Mercer Kitchen

One Friday afternoon, when I was supposed to be at work, I traveled to the Kitchen with my roommate Nina for lunch. Again, the booze was very good, but I don't really remember what I had. Tear. Like last time, I'll get right to the food.

I started off with a salad. Well, to clall it a salad would be inappropriate because it was so amazing that I am still trying to make it on my own at home. Unsuccessfully of course. But hey, at least I'm trying. On a bed of mixed greens, there were avocado slices, tiny mushroom slices, and tomato slices. Placed on top were several large steamed shrimp. On then drizzled all over the salad was a champagne vinaigrette, and cracked black pepper. Basically, sex in salad form. A. MAZE. ING. The smooth creamy avocado blended with the steamed shrimp perfectly, which then blended perfect with the dressing, which was a slightly more tart version of a vinaigrette. My mouth is watering as I think about it.

From there, nothing could be better. Sorry, Jean-Georges. It was all downhill.

Well, not downhill, but that was a damn good salad, and in my mind nothing could possibly beat it. But next, they brought out a delicious slider, topped with avocado and pepperjack, with a side order of french fries. The slider was average. Delicious beef, great cheese, excellent choice of toppings, but the bun was overly greasy, and well, when you think of Jean-Georges, you think of haute cuisine. This was haute Five Guys. In fact, I think I'd rather a Five Guys burger than a slider from the Kitchen. Sorry, Jean-Georges!

He made up for it in the end though, with a warm "Valhrona" chocolate cake, with a warm chocolate inside, and topped with vanilla ice cream. The warm, gooey chocolate covered all over my plate as I cute into it, and when mixed with the ice cold vanilla, it was a comfortable combination. Comfortable in a good, delicious, sitting-at-home-with-your-family-on-a-cold-winter's-day sort of way.

The Mercer Kitchen was definitely worth it. In addition to the salad, the atmosphere is just so New York, which I love. It's trendy and chic, yet comfortable. The decor has plenty of wood and steel, clean lines, and just feels like the perfect New York kitchen. The staff is friendly (and gorgeous). The people are trendy (and gorgeous). And come on, it always sounds classy when you can turn to your vastly inferior friends, and say, "Oh, guess who I saw the other day at the Mercer Kitchen..."

Information:
99 Prince Street
(at Mercer Street)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-5454

Mesa Grill – New York

2009-01-12T21:08:00.008-05:00

Last night, I returned to one of my all time favorite New York restaurants: Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.

I went with my friend Maddie, who had never been before. All she knew was that she was in the mood for some delicious Mexican and Southwest cuisine.

We started off by ordering the Barbecued Pork and Oaxaca Cheese Quesadilla for an appetizer. As usual the presentation was meticulous. The four slices were filled with shredded pork that had been lightly cooked in a tangy barbecue sauce, and pork was topped with melted Oaxaca Cheese, which is a white, semi-hard cheese of Mexican origin, similar to un-aged Monterey Jack cheese but with a mozzarella-like string cheese texture. On top of each slice was a light dollop of barbecue sauce. Placed on top of the quesadilla was a delicious hot and sweet cabbage relish, which was a perfect compliment to the barbecue pork and the Oaxaca Cheese.

Following our appetizer, we each ordered steaks...

Maddie ordered the Spice Rubbed New York Strip Steak. The larggggge piece of meat was rubbed in the Mesa Grill spice mix, which was extremely similar to a Cajun spice rub with salt, chili powder, paprika, garlic and onion powder and cayenne pepper. The piece of steak was then placed in a tiny pool of steak sauce. Neither the spice mix nor the steak sauce were too spicy, but they both had an amazing kick, and the piece of meat was delicious with very little fat. Luckily for me, Maddie couldn't finish all of it, so I took it home and had it this morning for breakfast.

I on the other hand ordered the Black and Red Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon, which was amazing! The piece of filet of fantastic. Big. Juicy. Perfectly cooked. And the black and red peppercorn spice rub gave it a delicious kick. And the piece of filet was placed in an amazing sauce: a Mushroom-Ancho Chili Sauce. It had tiny pieces of sauteed mushrooms, which were cooked in a delicious, but spicy gravy. Overall, was VERY pleased with the steak options at Mesa Grill.

Then, onto dessert, which was the only part of the meal that I wasn't crazy about: the Milk Chocolate Coffeebean Tart. As it says in the title, it was a tart filled with a light and fluffy milk chocolate and coffee bean mousse. Caramelized bananas covered the tart, and a scoop of passion fruit-banana ice cream was placed next to the tart. For me, the passion fruit did not contrast nicely with the banana, and with the caramelized bananas and the banana ice cream, I felt like the taste of bananas over powered the chocolate and coffee bean tart.

Overall, Mesa Grill was delicious as usual, and did not disappoint me at all! And let's be honest, even if the food was shit, I'd still give it a good rating because Flay is sizzling!

INFORMATION:
Address: 102 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets)
Phone: (212) 807-7400
www.mesagrill.com

I Miss New York!

2008-12-17T11:29:00.007-05:00

Okay, I'm not ashamed to say it, I miss New York! I know that in two weeks I am probably going to say that I wish I was back here in Prague, but for now, I miss New York!

Here is just a sampling (in no particular order) of the top ten meals that I miss the most!

1. Pommes Frites
Any New Yorker knows that the best french fries in the city come from Pommes Frites on Second Ave. While I do love the Poutine (cured Canadian Cheddar cheese covered with chicken gravy), I generally just get a large ($6.25) with one of the following sauces: Rosemary Garlic Mayo, Sun-Dried Tomato Mayo, Pomegranate Teriyaki Mayo, Parmesan Peppercorn, or my personal favorite (and the most boring selection) Cheddar Cheese. Go after a long night at Asian Pub!

2. Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Sexy Red Velvet (Red velvet cake with “The Moose,” which is their homemade Satin Buttercream). There was a point during the spring semester when I was eating several of them, each and every day. They're fabulous. Get them. Eat them. Love them. Tell Magnolia to fuck off. Enough said. And they're only $1.50 each! AH!

3. S'MAC
Easily New York City's best macaroni and cheese. It's divine. Fantastic. Orgasmic. What else can I say? I love it! I always get the same thing, which needs to change. I seriously need to be more open, but I love my usual so much: the Cheeseburger, which has Cheddar and American cheeses combined with seasoned Ground Beef. Get it with breadcrumbs. And it's so cheap! There are four sizes for all of their dishes: Nosh ($6.25), Major Munch ($9.75), Mongo ($17.00), and Partay ($41.00). Try it!

4. Chipotle
It's not chic. But I crave Chipotle on a weekly basis. I've tried almost everything that they offer, and have found my favorite: the Salad, with Romaine lettuce, vegetarian black beans, braised carnitas (pulled pork), guacamole, pico, and cheese, topped with their fabulous Chipotle-Honey vinaigrette, which is an amazing combination of sweet and spicy, which compliments the salty pork perfectly.

5. Pinkberry
Initially, I totally hated Pinkberry. I was like, ew, this is stupid. When I want frozen yogurt, I don't want it to taste like plain yogurt. But all of that changed. Everyone was constantly going there and so finally I decided to give it a try, and it was outstanding. My favorite? Original with raspberries, strawberries and chocolate chips.

6. The Spotted Pig
New York's best gastropub, and home to my favorite cheeseburger in New York: the Spotted Pig Burger ($17). It's a thick, juicy, chargrilled piece of meat, topped with Roquefort, and served with shoestring potatoes. SO GOOD! Also, I highly recommend either the Deviled Eggs or the Marinated Olives.

7. All About Food
It may not be glamorous, but I love going to All About Food for lunch. I always get one of two things... Option A: a mixed green salad with grilled chicken, carrots, kidney beans and feta cheese, topped with their very own Vinaigrette. Option B: penne with grilled chicken and prosciutto in the vodka sauce. Both are amazing. Both are cheap. Both come with garlic bread. And they deliver anywhere. Enough said.

8. Risotteria
New York's best gluten-free restaurant (to be honest, it could be New York's only gluten free place, but I actually have no clue). They make some of the world's best risotto. It's light. It's warm and creamy. Delicious. Filling. Fabulous. I never know what to order because everything looks so amazing. But here is a random sampling of my favorites: baby lettuce salad with mozzarella, tomatoes and asparagus; Arborio risotto (made w/ chicken stock) with porcini mushrooms; Arborio with shrimp, mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes; or Carnaroli risotto (also w/ chicken stock) with Italian sausage and portobello.

9. Miyabi
Absolutely fabulous Japanese restaurant right near Washington Square Park. I initially went there with my love Bryna O'Neill, and at first I was not too happy. It is down the street from the West 4th Street subway entrance on West 3rd. Looks a little 'eh' from the outside, but it is divine. And they have the BEST salmon teriyaki ever, for less than $14... and it comes with amazing Miso soup. Whenever I go with Bryna, we always end up splitting shrimp or beef Gyoza. Yum!

10. Cafetasia
Cafetasia has my all time favorite lunchtime special! And it's so cheap! For only $7 you get a small plate and a large plate. Again, I always get the same exact thing. Over and over again. It's just so amazing. Although, I must admit that the last time that I had my usual small plate, I felt so sick eating it because I had had them six times in one week. For the small plate: the Petite Cheese and Crab Stick Rangoon, served with a spicy tomato sauce. Large plate: the Chicken with Cashews, served with stir-fried chicken, onion, pepper, celery, and cashews coated in a roasted chili paste.

And one more honorable mention....

11. 'wichcraft
One of my favorite sandwiches in the entire world comes from 'wichcraft. I would put this higher on my list... however, every time that I go there, they never seem to have it on their menu. And if they do, they always say that they're out of something. So, normally I'm disappointed when I go there. But when I go and they have it, I just die! What am I referring to? The French Onion Soup Sandwich... also known as the Grilled Gruyère. It's a sandwich with Gruyère and caramelized onions that is served on toasted rye bread. A-MAZINGGGGG!

Well, in two days I will be in the United States. And in about ten days I will be moving back to my apartment in New York! AHHHHHHH! I cannot wait!

I miss you, New York!

Return to Radost - Prague

2008-12-14T18:43:00.005-05:00

Just went to Radost again the other day, and I have BIG news! I tried something new! Well, not completely. As usual I got the Garlic Cheese Bread, but I decided to be adventurous and get a different entree. Still a salad, but at least I didn't get the Greek Salad yet again.

This time I was inspired to try Romaine Holiday. Why you ask? Well, my friend Katie tried it and loved it. My friend Abbey tried it and loved. And I love the movie Roman Holiday. So I decided to order it.

It's a little overpriced for a salad (195 Kč), but when you think about it, that really isn't bad. Less than $10 for an enormous salad. Basically the salad is a blend of lettuces (mainly Romaine) in a sharp garlic-Parmesan cheese dressing with croutons and slices of fresh Parmesan that is served on their homemade pizza bread (thin pita that has been covered in olive oil and garlic, and then roasted on a grill).

Essentially it is a Caesar Salad -- but where can you find a good Caesar Salad in the Czech Republic? NO WHERE! This is as close as you are going to get. But it's refreshing and fairly healthy, and the dressing is really delicious.

Yet another fabulous meal and one of my favorite restaurants in Prague!

Grosseto v. Overtime - Prague

2008-12-14T17:04:00.004-05:00

Pizzeria Grosseto or Pizza Overtime?

There are two very similar Italian restaurants near my home in Vinohrady, and I am never sure which one I like better...

Let me break them both down! One thing however that I should definitely mention, which applies to both restaurants: the pizza is just blah. Especially if you compare them to Tacconelli's.

First of all, there is Pizzeria Grosseto near Náměstí Míru. It's a fun restaurant with a great atmosphere and it's awesome for people watching. Tiny but vibrant.

Here is what I always get:

Zuppa di pomodori
48 Kč
I have to say that this could quite possibly be the BEST tomato soup that I have ever had. It's like drinking tomato sauce that's been thinned out with cream and chicken stock. That may not sound too appealing, but it is to die for.

Penne con rucola e pomodori
135 Kč
Oh my god, I don't even know where to begin! First, a description: penne with sun-dried tomatoes, rucola, fresh basil and slices of Parmesan in a garlicy-olive oil sauce. The combination of the rucola and the sun-dried tomatoes, with the sharp Parm is refreshing and light. Get it! It really is one of my all time favorite pasta dishes, and you know what? I'm going to get it tomorrow for dinner!

In general, Pizzeria Grosseto is a great place, and the bread and butter (with tiny pepper slices in a garlicy butter) is out of this world. Negatives: slow service, and they don't refill your bread.

Okay, on to Pizza Overtime, which is just two or three blocks away from Grosseto. Again, the pizza isn't that amazing. It's equally as good as Grosseto... it is however cheaper, which is why I think Grosseto is a better pizza option.

Favorite dish?

Fusilli al Pesto con pollo
115 Kč
For those of you who do not speak Italian, or even restaurant Italian, let me break it down for you: Fusilli is the small, thick, corkscrew shaped pasta, and at Overtime, they serve it with small slices of chicken, and cover it with a pesto-olive oil sauce, and then they add slices of Parmesan on top. They are a little too excessive with the pesto-olive oil, but it's damn good. And fairly addicting. I find myself thinking about it often.

I like that Pizzeria Overtime is small and quaint, and the staff is ALWAYS friendly and attentive, but I not extremely impressed by their menu choices. And don't get the tomato soup unless you like tomato sauce soup. But their butter is equally as delicious as Grosseto (mixed with garlic and chives, yummy!)

I'm not really sure which restaurant I like better. When it comes to the atmosphere, I think I prefer Pizzeria Grosseto because it is more spacious and it is always filled with strange characters -- and people watching is VERY important! When it comes to food, I would again say Pizzeria Grosseto. However, I cannot bring myself to say that I like it better than Overtime because, well, I just don't. Know what I mean? Yeah.

Culinaria - Prague

2008-12-09T10:22:00.005-05:00

So, I've yet to actually mention one of my favorite restaurants in Prague: Culinaria.

I am not even lying when I say that I come here almost every single day for lunch. Why, ask you. Well, it's cheap and it's damn good.

From 1pm until 3pm, you can get the lunchtime plate special for only 149 Kč. Each plate comes with a main course, a starch, a vegetable and a salad. What is really great about the food at Culinaria is that after I'm finished, I feel genuinely healthy. Unlike so many other places in Prague, where I feel as though I've just eaten my recommended daily intake after only two or three bites.

So, what's on my plate today?

First of all, I started with the Beef Stroganoff. Thinly sliced pieces of lean beef, in an amazing beefy-cream sauce, that has been filled with thinly sliced onions and shiitake mushrooms. Next, an amazing slice of quiche: filled with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. The quiche is fantastic for many reasons, but what really makes it tower above the rest is the flaky pastry. It isn't too doughy, but at the same time, it doesn't crumble immediately, leaving you with what resembles a pile of rubble after an earthquake. For my vegetable dish, I chose to get zucchini and squash which had been stewed in a delicate marinara sauce.

The best part about my main plate is ALWAYS the combination of the flavors from the various meals. Today, for example, the sauce from the Stroganoff blended perfected with the quiche, transforming the strong goat cheese into a warmer and more delicate cheese, that had a new flavor, one that was slightly tarty from the goat cheese, but also filled with a creamy, warm blend of mushrooms, onions and beef. On the other hand, whenever the quiche touched the stewed vegetables, the goat cheese was transformed into an Italian heaven from the marinara sauce.

For my salad today, I had the Greek Salad, which is easily becoming one of my favorite things from Culinaria. Filled with red, green, and yellow pepper slices, pieces of Bermuda onion, sliced Cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and pieces of feta cheese, and topped with a light dressing, the salad is always cool and refreshing. A prefect way to reminisce about those long summer days, despite the fact that it is freezing outside and that the sun is always gone by 4:15pm.

I have had so many amazing meals here at Culinaria, and I feel as though I need to recap some of my favorites:

1. Chicken breasts, stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy basil, tomato sauce.
2. Sliced pieces of chicken chicken, served in a thickened soy sauce with onions and sliced red and yellow peppers, topped with Sesame seeds.
3. Small, roasted potatoes with Rosemary, tomatoes and black olives/
4. Beef Lasagna (almost as good as my mom's, but not quite)
5. Chili with shredded beef, corn, in a tomato sauce, with Cheddar and Monterrey Jack running through it like veins in a wrist.
6. An amazing salad with chick peas and tuna, in a vinaigrette dressing -- DELICIOUS!
7. Lentil salad with spinach and pieces of feta, in an oil and vinegar dressing -- again, DELICIOUS!
8. Sauteed mushrooms and onions in a thickened beef sauce.

And one thing that is not part of the lunch plate...

9. Chicken Toscana Sandwich (129 Kč) Smoked chicken breast, fontina cheese, sun dried tomatoes, lettuce and pesto mayonnaise. With the smoky flavor from the chicken, the nutty flavor from the cheese, the distinct taste of the sun-dried tomatoes, paired with the crispness of the lettuce, and the smooth but garlicy/herby flavor from the pesto mayonnaise. One of the best sandwiches that I've ever had!

And what is also amazing about Culinaria is the fact that you can get just about every great western snack... including:

- Nacho Cheese Doritos (known as Tangy Cheese Doritos in the UK where they are shipped from)
- Häagen-Dazs
- Ben & Jerry's
- Skittles
- Fruit by the Foot
- Kettle Chips
- Heinz
- French's Yellow Mustard
- Jelly Belly
- Arizona Green Tea
- Fiji Water
- Kellogg's Corn Flakes
- Betty Crocker Cake Mix
- Carr's Crackers

It's a fantastic place to go, and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is amazing. The restaurant is clean. And the staff are always kind and ready to strike up a conversation. Especially if you've eaten there at least four times for the past two months.

INFORMATION:
Address: Skořepka 9, Praha 1
Phone: +420 224 231 017

Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 10.00 - 19.00; Sunday, 12.00 - 17.00
Location: Staré Město
Metro: close to both Staroměstská and Můstek

Attire: Casual.
Payment: Cash or Credit.

The Best (and Worst) of Bohemia

2008-12-08T14:25:00.005-05:00

While I am pretty much over the whole Bohemia Bagel thing, despite the fact that I was eating there at least once a day at the beginning of the semester, I've decided that I still like it enough to include it on my blog. I've tried so many things though that I cannot write about just one meal, or one experience. Therefore, I've decided to make a list of my five favorite dishes, and my five least favorite dishes.

Five Favorites:
(these are in no particular order)
1. I Don't Want To Go Anywhere After This Breakfast
Biscuits and sausage gravy, three fried eggs, American bacon or sausage patties, hash browns, and mini bagel. I admit the biscuits are a little dry, and the hash browns have some unidentifiable spice, but it's a damn good breakfast. And it's only 169 Kč.
2. Chicken Salad
Chicken salad, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, lettuce, and fresh vegetables. Okay, the tomatoes need to be cut into smaller pieces, but this salad is always delicious. I've never had chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes. Good idea. A full-size salad is 135 Kč, and the half-size is 75 Kč.
3. Turkey and Swiss
Turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and mustard... but get it without the mustard or else you won't be able to taste anything else. Only 105 Kč.
4. Hamburger
This is about as good as it's going to get when it comes to burgers in Prague. A plain burger comes with lettuce, tomatoes and onions, and only costs 135 Kč. But for 145 Kč, you can add melted American cheese, and for 155 Kč, you can add melted American cheese and bacon. They call it American bacon, but it's European bacon. The only place in Prague with good American bacon is The Globe.
5. Bottomless Fountain Drinks
It's probably one of the only places in Prague with fountain sodas, and drum roll ice! AHH! Only 49 Kč.

Five Least Favorites:
(these are in no particular order)
1. Bagels
They come in a variety of styles: classic, poppy, sesame, garlic, onion, cinnamon raisin, tomato basil, spinach, supreme, cheese, whole wheat, and chocolate chip. But no matter which kind you get, they won't be toasted properly. And the cream cheese won't taste like Kraft's Philadelphia Cream Cheese. And more importantly, they don't have sun-dried tomato cream cheese to put on their onion bagels. They are however only 11 Kč.
2. Chili
Specifically, the Vegetarian Chili with roasted vegetables. It's pretty much vegetables, and that's it. They aren't cut small enough, and it makes the whole thing WAY too overwhelming. Cost, 125 Kč.
3. Caesar Salad 65/119 kc
According to the web page, it has Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and croutons. But it's basically anchovies with a side of Caesar Salad. A full size cost 119 Kč, while a half portion only costs 69 Kč.
4. Healthy Hummus 105 kc
Hummus, black olives, olive oil, tomatoes, cucumber, and bagel chips. And let's not forget to mention garlic. Lots and LOTS of garlic. Yum? Only 105 Kč.
5. Philly Cheese Steak 155 kc
Grilled steak, onions and peppers, and melted cheese. Philly Cheese Steak my ass. It's all about
Dalessando's Steak And Hoagies, but I'll talk about cheese steaks once I get back to Philadelphia. Any way, this is NOT a Philly Cheese Steak.

(Just a warning, avoid the Quiche as well, and the desserts aren't so hot either)

Brunch and Booze at Radost (plus some Lily) - Prague

2008-12-07T10:10:00.006-05:00

I love Radost. That's it. There is really nothing more to say. It's delicious. It's amazing.

After being here for nearly three months, I finally got up early enough on a Sunday morning to go to the infamous brunch at Radost -- Prague's most successful club/vegetarian restaurant.

First of all, let me inform EVERYONE that it isn't a regular vegetarian restaurant. Normally, if someone asked me to join them at a restaurant that didn't serve a) chicken, or b) steak, I'd say no. But the first time that I went to Radost, no one told me that it was a meat-free zone. Without realizing it until my third or fourth visit, I've come to love Radost. In fact, I've ordered take-out from Radost for five out of the past six nights... I always get the same time: the Classic Greek Salad and one FULL order of Garlic Cheese Bread...

Garlic Cheese Bread
Foccacia bread grilled with cheese and garlic-basil butter
half order: 60 Kč
full order: 90 Kč
with vegetables: 100 Kč

Greek Salad
Red and green peppers, cucumbers, olives, and onion, topped with feta cheese served with Greek dressing and pita bread
170 Kč

Order it. Eat it. Love it.

So... any who... my first time for brunch...

Let me give you the back story though. Last night I went out to Harley's with Sam, and our friends Evan and Dina. They were wasted. I was *drum roll* sober. A rare occurrence (if you're reading this mom, disregard what I just said). But they drunkenly decided that we were going to go to Radost for brunch today at 12:30. Well, I woke up at 12:11 after going to bed at 5AM. But, at 12:31, Dina knocked on our door and asked us if we were ready. Ha. After quick showers, we were up and ready. And off to Radost we went. They were hungover. I, I was tired. And there is nothing better than booze to wake you up...

We got there. We ordered. Service was a little slow at first. But it IS the Czech Republic after all. For drinks, I ordered the Sleeping Beauty which is a Mimosa, made with strawberry juice instead of orange juice. AMAZING! And it was only 70 Kč. For brunch, I ordered the Iron Man for 150 Kč. Basically it was just a regular old omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese. It came with a side of AMAZING potatoes though. They were covered in a light sauce that was spicy, but not too spicy. And they didn't have a terrible seasoning that most potatoes in the U.S. have on them. The omelet also came with rye bread and an herbal butter. Bland, but okay. The meal was great though. Everything that I had hoped Radost brunch would be. I mean, it wasn't anything new or exciting, but it was a damn good AMERICAN meal, which is rare in Prague. And I think the fact that I didn't have one Sleeping Beauty, but six, really helped me out. After all that alcohol, the staff also seemed MUCH more attentive and friendly. So yay! But if you ever make it to Prague, GOOO!

And definitely go to Radost FX at night, especially on Friday or Saturday... although I've been on Wednesday and Thursday as well. I mean, it's awesome. Rihanna filmed her music video there for Don't Stop The Music. It's awesome. Although, I love how Rihanna totally uses an old New York City cab in the beginning, but in the background you can see a tram and Vodafone. Go though. It's one of the best clubs in Prague, and for less than 400 Kč you can be wasted, if you just keep ordering Absinthe and Soda (each 90 Kč). I normally pre-game with cheap wine, and if I order at least three, I'm gone. In fact, my friend Mark blacked out after two. They are potent. And amazing.

Little off topic, but I am currently listening to a song from Lily Allen's upcoming album, "It's Not Me, It's You." The track is "Everyone's At It," and I lovvvve it. It's a commentary on the drug culture, and people seem to either love it or hate it. For example, the the world's biggest, and fattest waste of life does not like the song, because he says that the chorus isn't catchy enough. Well, he's fat, and no one cares what he has to say. So, to Lily: I love your song, and the chorus is great in my opinion...

I'm not trying to say that I'm smelling of roses,
But when will we tire of putting shit up our noses?

I don't like staying up, staying up past the sunlight.
It's meant to be fun, and this just doesn't feel right.

Why can't we all, all just be honest,
Admit to ourselves, that everyone's on it.

From grown politicians, to young adolescents,
Prescribing themselves, anti-depressants.

How can we start to tackle the problem, if you don't put your hands up,
And admit that you're on them.

The kids are in danger, they're all getting habits,
Because from what I can see,
Everyone's at it.

INFORMATION:
Address: Bělehradská 120, Praha 2
Phone: +420 603 193 711, +420 224 254 776

Hours: 10:30AM to 3:00PM, 5:00PM to 12:00AM
Location: between Náměstí Míru and I.P. Pavlova
Trams: metro or tram to either Náměstí Míru or I.P. Pavlova

Attire: Casual, but chic.
Payment: Cash.
Price: Drinks are between 100 and 150 Kč, but at brunch, a Mimosa is 70 Kč, a Sleeping Beauty is 70 Kč, and a Bloody Mary is 100 Kč). Most meals are between 100 and 200 Kč, with side dishes between 50 and 80 Kč.

Lays

2008-12-06T21:32:00.004-05:00

Back in New York, I would always buy the same exact thing at the Market Place at Kimmel: sour cream and onion Lay's potato chips. Always. In fact, I bought them almost every single day. Only days after arriving in Europe did I realize just how much I missed sour cream and onion, simply because they don't have them here. They do however have various other brands, which I have decided to rank...

5. Bacon (pretty much BBQ, with a meatier taste)
4. Paprika (as close to BBQ as you're going to get)
3. Salted
2. Spring Onion (pretty much sour cream and onion, with a greater emphasis on the onion...)
1. Fromage (sour cream and onion, but creamier)

Wow. This is sad. I just wrote a post about potato chips. And I'm not even drunk. Strange.

Meester Burger - Amsterdam

2008-12-06T14:15:00.005-05:00

Yet another piece for my Travel Writing class...

No matter how hard he may try, a chef can never truly make a cheeseburger pretentious. As soon as one bite is taken, juices come flooding out of the beef, while ketchup and every other condiment begin to bleed their way out from in between the tomato and lettuce, both of which are sliding out from underneath the bun. Cheeseburgers are at the same time both messy and fabulous. They are a classic symbol of childhood: simple, delicious and unpretentious, three things that all foods should be.

I never realized just how much I enjoyed cheeseburgers until April 30, 2007– the day my father died. He had always valued the simple things in life, and cheeseburgers were one thing that he had placed atop his culinary pedestal. No matter where we went he would order a burger, whether we were at a five-star restaurant in Paris or a hole-in-the-wall diner in New Jersey. A few months after his death, I was sitting in a restaurant in Brussels with my older brother. It was one of those fancy, ‘jackets are necessary, and ties are recommended’ places. After being thoroughly disappointed by most of the menu, we decided to start a new tradition: every time we traveled to a new city, we would eat a burger for dad. That’s exactly what we did that night, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing ever since.

“Een Meester Biefburger.”

It was a cold, windy evening in Amsterdam. The snow had just started coming down unexpectedly, and frowns filled the small restaurant. Apparently no one had thought to bring an umbrella. Despite the dreary weather, smiles suddenly returned as the scent of Blonde d’Aquitaine beef filled the air at Burgermeester, Amsterdam’s most successful mom-and-pop burger joint.

Situated only one block away from the famous Albert Cuyp market, in the trendy de Pijp neighborhood, Burgermeester is a haven for burger lovers. While the menu is filled with colorful creations, ranging from a lamb burger with spicy jalapeño mayo to the tilapia burger with asparagus and saffron sauce, the most popular is certainly the infamous Meester Biefburger…

Made with a perfectly sized beef patty of Blonde d’Aquitaine – a hardy cattle from the Aquitaine region of France – the Meester Biefburger is then placed on a homemade roll, and is then topped off with grilled vegetables (usually eggplant and zucchini) and a special sauce they call “dragon mayo.” Addictive, simply addictive.

But more importantly, the Meester Biefburger is messy, and filled with luscious juices that trickle out as soon as your teeth tear away at the beef. A word of advice: at least four or five napkins are mandatory when eating the Meester Biefburger.

While the Meester Biefburger is a personal favorite, all of the burgers served at Burgermeester are delicious. And what if you simply cannot pick just one? Then order three of them. For only €9, the chefs at Burgermeester will make three miniature burgers, allowing any customer to try some of their other culinary achievements. For example, the falafel burger with chickpeas and Parmesan, covered in a homemade relish. Or one of Burgermeester’s newest creations, the tuna burger: a patty of Albacore tuna covered in sautéed Shitake mushrooms, with an electrifying wasabi mayo drizzled on top.

“I really cannot begin to describe them,” said Pieter van Kampen, 67, a longtime resident of de Pijp and a frequent customer of Burgermeester. “They’re the perfect cross between gourmet and…”

“McDonalds,” says his wife, Olivia van Kampen, 63, an American who moved to the Netherlands after getting married nearly thirty years ago. “They are extremely messy, but at the same time, they are just so satisfying and delicious.”

“And you aren’t just another customer here, you’re a part of the family,” she added.
“When our son was still studying at Universiteit van Amsterdam, he would just come here for lunch, and end up staying for two, three hours,” said Pieter van Kampen. “It’s just that kind of place.”

The van Kampen’s are right. Burgermeester is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. The cozy restaurant consists of only five tables, which each seat four people, and all of the tables face the open kitchen, allowing the customers to see just how fresh their burgers really are. At the same time, the small and cozy atmosphere allows every customer to join the Burgermeester family. In fact, on any given day, you could easily strike up a conversation with anyone from the chef or the cashier to the owner.

“This is my fifty-eighth burger for the day, and I’m going to be here for three more hours,” laughs assistant chef Jan Bakker, 27, from behind the counter as he prepares the monthly special: the Kalkoenburger, which is a turkey burger topped with a mild tomato salsa and pancetta.

“But there are always fun people here to talk to, so it never gets old,” he added.

As I finished my burger, it was still snowing outside, even harder than before. I wrapped myself in my heavy coat and scarf, and headed for the door, bidding the chef goodnight. Before sending myself out into the blizzard that took Amsterdam by surprise, I turned around, taking one final look at Burgermeester. Laughter filled the warm restaurant, and for one brief second, I felt like a little boy again, sitting at McDonalds in between my parents, happy and forever young.

INFORMATION:
Address: Albert Cuypstraat 48
Phone: +31 (0)20 670 93 39

Hours: Daily 12pm to 11 pm
Location: de Pijp, just west of the Albert Cuypmarkt.
Trams: 16 or 24 to Albert Cuypstraat.

Attire: Casual. Very casual.
Payment: Cash and European “PIN” card
Price: All the burgers are under €7 for full size and under €3.50 for a mini version. And what to do if you cannot pick just one? Try three mini burgers for just €9. All homemade shakes and side dishes are under €7 as well.

A Czech Delicacy

2008-12-06T13:47:00.007-05:00

This following piece was written for a course that I am currently talking at NYU in Prague, Travel Writing.

It was a Saturday afternoon on Wenceslas Square, the commercial center of Prague, and as usual, hoards of tourists filled the street as they listened to their tour guides, who spoke just about every language known to man. I pushed and shoved my way through, heading towards my goal. It was so close that I could almost smell it. Almost.

After working my way through the “CONNOR FAMILY REUNION 2008,” according to their lime green t-shirts,

I spotted it: a small silver kiosk with bright red signs lining its top. It may have seemed like a typical New York hot dog stand, dingy and greasy, but it was different, special somehow.

Fodor’s and Frommer’s have called it a “hot spot,” and “a place not to be missed.” Or as Dorling Kindersley put it, “a slice of culinary genius, for the late night connoisseur.” Oddly enough, however, the tourists in the large group surrounding the kiosk were all ordering the wrong delicacy that day.

“One hamburger,” cried a Brit.

“Jedna sausage,” shouted an American. I chuckled; American tourists always pretend to be “fluent” in the native language. But I should not have laughed since that was exactly what I did next.

“Smazeny syr, prosim.”

Before coming to Prague, friends had told me all about the infamous sandwich sold along the square. And not once did it sound appetizing. Where to begin? Essentially, Smazeny syr, fried, cheese, is a thick slice of cheese, preferably edam, covered in egg and breadcrumbs, deep-fried, served on a hamburger bun with tartar sauce – I prefer it with ketchup – and purchased in droves by tourists and Czechs alike. Even though the current kiosks only date back to 1998, the stands have actually been located on Wenceslas Square since the late 1940s.

“They first appeared after the second World War,” said Jana Novakova, 49, a lifetime resident of Prague who runs one of the smazeny syr kiosks on Wenceslas Square.

“People come from all over to buy them,” she added. “One of my very best customers, he will drive here three times in one week from Brno.” Located two hours south of Prague, a drive from Brno shows true commitment to the fried cheese cult.

“Mothers and fathers bring their children here,” said Martina Janku, 38, who works at the same kiosk as Novakova. “And when the children grow up, they bring their children, and their grandchildren.”

“It’s a tradition,” she added. “People feel comfortable when they eat smazeny syr.”

I tried one on my third or fourth night in Prague. After stumbling out of the infamously wild nightspot Chapeau – or is it Chateau Rouge? – I found myself passing the kiosk on my way back to Vinohrady.

“Jedna smazeny syr.”

One minute and 35 crowns ($1.75) later, the warm oozing cheese fell upon my tongue, and I knew that I had found something truly amazing. The sandwich climbed to the top of my list of favorite Czech dishes, clogged arteries be damned!

May I take your order?

2008-12-06T13:29:00.003-05:00

My favorite thing in the entire world: food.

A recent obsession brought about by my roommate: blogs.

I wouldn't call myself an avid blogger. I read them occasionally, some more than others. While I love hearing about the latest celebrity gossip, I couldn't really find a blog that I enjoyed reading. Mainly, a blog that talked about what I was interested in. That's why I decided to start this blog, so that I could combine my new passion for blogging and my love of food.

So sit back, get your forks and knives, and welcome to my world of food.