Empanada Special at Tierras Colombianas

Who loves empanadas?! I do, I do!  While strolling on Broadway yesterday in this gorgeous weather, I noticed that Tierras Colombianas is running an empanada special, which includes 5 empanadas for just $5.  Not only is this an awesome deal, the other things on the menu here are also tasty and a bit under the radar.  

Although it's been a while since I've been here, I always think back on the experience with pleasant memories.  The food is quite hearty and pretty affordable too - check out their many combination plates, which contain a protein such as steak, rice, beans, plantains and the like.  Everything is super affordable, with most entrees under $20.  

Hope you enjoy it, and let me know your thoughts about the empanadas.

Tierras Colombianas - 33-01 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.856.3012
N/Q Train to Broadway

Fall Eats at Koliba Slovak Restaurant

It's been a while since I've been to my favorite Slovak restaurant in the neighborhood, which you guys know to be Koliba.  Every time I go, it's an opportunity to introduce someone new to my culture, which I always love doing.  This time, the introduction was made by my friend Anne (who often  helps contribute to We Heart Astoria), as she introduced me to Jared from the Eat the World NYC blog and his friends.  

Jared's mission is to explore international cuisine, right here in our neck of the woods - whether that means Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan or any other borough that will let him and his comrades sample different things.  I love their fearlessness of trying virtually anything, and it was a lot of fun to dine with them last week, as they exemplified a passion for Slovak food.  I was flattered!

Although I'm pretty familiar with most things on Koliba's menu, there were a few newbies too which I tried.  Here are my highlights:

Dumplings with Eggs and Pickles - It's been years (yes, years) since I've had this dish with my Slovak friends, and it was just as good as I remember.  Made up of delicate little bread dumplings that are intermingled with clouds of scrambled eggs, it's like a late night twist on brunch.  Paired with a sour/sweet pickle on the side, it provides a fun contrast for the more mild dumplings and eggs. Even though it wasn't a strong enough flavor profile for some of my American friends, I continue to enjoy it.

Fried Cheese - One of my all time faves here, it yet again delivered.  My new friends loved the little surprise found in the center, which was the smoky ham. Yeah, it's a ham and cheese in a fried format, so how can you really go wrong with that?!  I continue to love their homemade tartar sauce that comes on the side and makes this dish so comforting.

Grilled Kolbasa - I'm not sure that I've ever had this here, but it's an all-time Slovak staple.  Koliba's version delivered with a smoky rendition of this pork delicacy.  It didn't need much of anything in terms of sauce, since it was as juicy as can be, boasting a blistered exterior.  Dan, who just had klobasa at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden just a few minutes before commented about how much better this one was.

Schnitzel Vihorlat - An unusual take on the pork schnitzel, this one was covered with a variety of veggies and cheese.  It was a very rustic (almost messy dish), which was tasty, but the only bummer was that they skimped out on the schnitzel meat.  We brought this to the staff's attention and they graciously fixed the mistake.  Despite this little mishap, the veggies and the cheese created a fun combo that got me inspired to make something like this at home.

Marlenka Honey Cake - Seeing this cake as part of Koliba's offering really surprised me, as they usually just a have a standard dessert offering of strudel and crepes.  Although this cake isn't baked on premises, it's made in the Czech Republic and ironically comes from an old Armenian recipe.  I liked its many beautiful layers that were bound by a creamy honey glaze.  The walnut topping was delicious, adding an earthy quality that we all appreciated.  My dining companions concurred that this was the most original of desserts.

Service and Cost:
Given that we were a pretty large group of people, the service was on-point.  I was happy to order for everyone in Slovak and the waitress was sweet and very accommodating.  Although we had a little mishap with our schnizel dish, the staff at Koliba more than made up for it, and we left feeling great and pleasantly full.

Costs continue to be affordable, and for the above-mentioned feast, including 3 more entrees, apps and a round of beers, we paid a total of $31/person with tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.kolibarestaurant.com 

M.Wells Dinette is Back this Season

Photo by Jesse Winter

After an irregular summer schedule, M. Wells Dinette, located inside P.S.1 MOMA is back with their regular hours and always an evolving menu of unusual eats.  The restaurant celebrated their 1 year anniversary just yesterday, and they're currently also working on a steakhouse project, also in LIC.  The latter will be done in their signature quirky style and will be located in a former auto-body garage on Crescent street.

If you've been curious about the dinette, here's when you can go, and a little sampling of what you can get:

Thursday - Monday, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sampling of the menu:

Egg & tomato pot...$8
Foie & oats..$16
Foie gras bread pudding..$15
Escargot & bone marrow...$12
Fluke crudo...$13
Blood pudding...$13
Veal cheek stroganoff...$16
Bi bim Wells...$22
Aged Ribeye...$30
Pumpkin Tres Leches...$10
Chocolate Cheese Pie...$10

M.Wells Dinette (located inside P.S.1 MOMA) - 22-25 Jackson Avenue, LIC NY 11101
718.786.1800
7 Train to 45th Road/Courthouse Square
www.magasinwells.com

A Pig is Born at the Meyers' Goomba's Pig Roast

Last weekend was pretty special, as Dan and I embarked on a pig-tastic adventure in Aldie Virginia at the Quattro Goomba's Winery.  Being a place to gather for our friends Adam, Jessica and their families, the winery served as the venue for their third annual pig roast.  It was amazing to see so many people come out for this very meaty occasion, and while it was a celebration of all things delicious, it was mainly a good reason to get together with good friends and family and enjoy each other's company.

The Setting:
Hosted at the beautiful Quattro Goomba's winery, we enjoyed its laid back vibe and communal atmosphere.  While the actual pig roast took place in the main house on the property, where the DeCianno family hosts private tastings and events, we also had the opportunity to hang out in their spacious tasting room.  Enjoying all the amazing wine, it truly elevated the already yummy experience.  The winery specializes in old world style wines, some aged in whiskey barrels such as the Tradizione.

Pig Prep:
Since we were dealing with a large beast, our team of hogmasters (Adam, Tom, Chris, Chad and Dan) got ready the evening before.  It was a lot of fun to observe the guys handling the pig and trying to get it up on the spit.  And since the pig was about 115 pounds, it was no easy task, and something that had to be done 3 times until they got it right.

After that, the guys took turns tending to the pig by making sure it was nicely basted and that it stayed in its place.  In fact, they toiled late into the night, checking on poor Wilbur, only to report in the morning that it was beautifully golden brown and ready to go.  All in all, it took about 12 hours to get it in this condition.

Head Hogmaster:
Even though roasting this piggie took a whole village so to speak, most of the credit goes to our head hogmaster, Adam.  Not only does Adam organize this shin-dig by inviting everyone, he takes care of securing and buying the pig from a local farmer.  Respecting the way with which he handles the pig, Adam is also knowledgeable in the whole breakdown process, making sure that we used the animal in its entirety.

Our Feast:
After all the guests arrived at about 2 p.m. on a Saturday, we were ready to eat.  I'll be honest in that we all had a few snacks here and there, including the pork shoulder, but the real feasting started that afternoon.

The pig was of course the centerpiece, and the best part of this celebration.  I enjoyed several different cuts including the shoulder, the ribs, the crispy skin and of course the belly. The latter was the most delectable snack, as Tom cut it up into cubes and deep fried it in a coating of flour and brown sugar.  A few of us remarked at how amazing it was, and we even nicknamed it the "pig dessert."

Other components including the shoulder and the ribs were deliciously tender and juicy.  My favorite part was the smokiness you got from each bite and the crunchiness from the well done crust.  While I put a little bit of homemade BBQ sauce on top of the shoulder, the meat was so moist that it didn't even need it.

A HUGE thank you goes out to the Meyers and DeCianno's for hosting us last weekend.  We had a truly amazing time, and were honored to be a part of this delicious, and long lasting, tradition.

LIC Market Has a New Bar Menu

Fully embracing the fall season, I recently learned that local LIC eatery, LIC Market is rolling out a new bar menu, with tasty local eats and some specialty drinks too.  I loved seeing the combination of small plates and fancy cheeses that set my tastebuds aflutter.  Here's what you can expect at the bar:

*Happy Hour takes place Tuesday - Friday between 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Cheese:
Moses Sleeper (cow’s milk), Jasper Hill, VT $8 - aged 3-6 wks, bloomy-rind cheese, buttery, bright, and savory

Reading Raclette (raw cow’s milk), spring brook farm, VT $8 - aged 3+ months, mild, semi-soft, sweet milk, acidic rind

Pave de L’Averyron (raw ewe’s milk), Roquefort, France $12 - ivory colored interior, semi-firm texture, sharp flavor

Small Plates:
Marinated Olives $6 - citrus, roasted garlic, fresh thyme & extra virgin olive oil
Sautéed Chorizo $8 - potatoes, chives and extra virgin olive oil
Cockles $12 - salsa verde, extra virgin olive oil
White Anchovies $7 - toasted pine nuts, chives & extra virgin olive oil
Charred Endive $7 - aged balsamic, grana padano, extra virgin olive oil
“Bar Nuts” $6

LIC Market - 21-52 44th Drive, LIC NY 11101
718.361.0013
7 Train to 45th Road/Courthouse Square
http://www.licmarket.com/

Oyster Party at SingleCut Beersmiths

I love any chance I have to get out to SingleCut Beersmiths, which is usually reserved for the weekends.  Digging their live music, and the laid back communal vibe, it's never a hard sell to get a group out to enjoy it.  

While they usually have a pretty limited food offering, consisting mostly of snacks such as giant warm pretzels or savory meat pies, I was excited to learn that they're offering something new this week.  Oysters!  

A nice combination with their hoppy ales, oysters will be making a debut on their menu this coming Wednesday, September 25th as well as this Sunday, September 29th.  They're calling it their Oyster Party, which starts at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at at 1 p.m. on Sunday.  Wednesday's celebration is extra personal, as you can bring in a record of your choice and they'll play all your faves right on the spot.  

The oysters are supplied by Crudo Sea and Land, which is a travelling oyster and raw bar.  Neat idea!  Let me know how you like it.

SingleCut Beersmiths - 19-33 37th Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.606.0788
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd
www.singlecutbeer.com 

5 Napkin Burger Happy Hour Nosh

Last week, Dan and I spent Sunday evening at the Museum of Moving Image, as we went to see a great film called Enough Said with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini (his last motion picture).  Prior to the movie, we stopped at 5 Napkin Burger's Happy Hour for a little bite and some beers.

Since it was Sunday, they had all the football games on the big screen, and Dan enjoyed that aspect of the experience very much.  I liked the food a lot more, and there's a few things here I'd like to highlight:

Guacamole - We liked munching on this chunky guac, which came with a side of tortilla chips.  Priced at just $4, we thought the portion was generous and we even had a little extra left over at the end.  The avocados tasted fresh and boasted nice texture and flavor, the  whole mixture being seasoned nicely.

Fried Pickles & Pastrami - This is one of our favorite signature 5 Napkin Burger dishes, as it's a unique little roll of pastrami heaven.  Loving its fried exterior and the contrast of savory and sour flavors inside, it usually does the trick of satisfying our fried food craving.  We liked the Happy Hour version, but thought that the exterior had been crispier in the past.  It seems like the batter was done in a tempura style vs. the crunchy panko style we've been used to in the past.

Bavarian Pretzel Sticks - A big stand-out of our experience, the pretzel sticks were piping hot and were accompanied by a little pot of cheesy fondue.  The combination was excellent, and the thick cheese tasted as if it had beer in it.  It was the perfect pairing with my Singlecut ale.

Service and Cost:
I'm disappointed to say that our service was quite poor.  Unfortunately, we felt as if our waitress couldn't care less about us, and on several occasions  she forgot about our order, didn't bother asking us if we wanted something to drink or if we were satisfied in general.

Costs are competitive, and the above mentioned dishes, including 2 drinks set us back just $30 including tax and tip.

2 Mmmms

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106 
718.433.2727
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
5napkinburger.com

Cyclo Noodle Shop – Pho, Banh-Mis, and Clay Pot Dishes

Last week’s visit to the LIC Flea, got me poking around the neighborhood, and I also had the chance to peek into a few places I’ve been meaning to check out. One such eatery is the Cyclo Vietnamese Sandwich and Noodle shop, which boasts popular foods such as banh-mi sandwiches (my fave), pho, noodles salads, as well as clay pot rice dishes. While I saved all the eating for the actual LIC Flea that day, I made sure to grab a menu to entice me for next time. Here’s a peek. Have you tried Cyclo yet?

Noodle Soups (Pho)
Pho beef – with oxtail broth…$6 (Small)…$9 (Large)
Pho veggies and tofu…$6 (Small)…$8 (Large)
Super Bowl – pho with beef, chicken, shrimp and tofu…$14

Vermicelli Noodle Salads – these come with green leaf, cucumber, mint leaf, lime fish sauce, fried shallots and crushed peanuts
With marinated tofu…$8
With grilled lemongrass chicken breast…$10
With grilled pork chop or beef…$10

Sandwiches (aka Banh-Mi) – these come with pickled daikon, carrots, cilantro, cucumbers, soy sauce and spicy sriracha sauce
Classic Banh-Mi Sandwich – with Vietnamese ham, roasted ground pork and pate…$8 
Banh Mi Ga – traditional Banh Mi with chicken…$8
Vegetarian Banh Mi – with tofu…$8

Clay Pot Rice Dishes – these are cooked over rice in a clay pot with a side of steamed Yu Choy and Soy Gravy
Clay Pot Ginger Chicken…$10
Clay Pot Tofu and Shitake Mushroom…$10
Clay Pot Vietnamese Beef Stew…$11

They also have a lunch special on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during which they serve their regular fare but at lower prices, or sometimes combined with a side such as a salad.

I’m totally intrigued and can’t wait to check it out soon!

Cyclo – 5-51 47th Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.786.8309
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.cyclolic.com

Lemon Rosemary Tart Recipe is Great for Fall

I’ve been on a dessert break lately, since the summer was full of indulgences, and therefore I haven’t baked lately. Deciding to change that last weekend during a Yom Kippur get-together with my family, I decided to make a rustic lemon rosemary tart, which I spotted in my Luxurious Eats Pinterest board.

The recipe comes from Happy Yolks blog, and intrigued me because it used both sweet and savory ingredients. I adore rosemary, and was excited that the crust used a lot of this herb in its fresh form. Enjoying the whole process of chopping it, and smelling its enticing earthy aroma, I mixed the fresh rosemary into the crust batter, which I then pre-baked while putting together the filling.

Made up of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, plain Greek yogurt and eggs, the tart's filling was refreshing and light and was a great complement to the more savory crust.  I loved hearing the nice feedback from my family about how flavorful it was and they clearly recognized that the filling was made from real lemons instead of pre-made lemon curd, which is sometimes used in these types of desserts.  The whole pie was almost gone within minutes, which I took as a sign of success.  The only thing I have to work on now is refining its look, as my version turned out to be quite rustic.

Lemon Tart with a Rosemary Crust recipe, courtesy of Happy Yolks Blog

Little Wrinkles - Best Homemade Raisins

Another yummy delicacy I experienced at the LIC Flea this past weekend were the best raisins I've ever had.  I know what you may be thinking, "that's a pretty strong claim," but it's true.  My experience with Little Wrinkles, the cleverly named company that specializes in homemade raisins, made from locally grown grapes, was pretty life changing. 

About Little Wrinkles:
Founded by Jose Alba and Stephanie Venetsky, two local chefs from the East Village, the concept of Little Wrinkles came about from leftover grapes at their school's salad bar.  Instead of getting rid of these little nuggets of goodness, they dehydrated them, and produced a refined raisin that not only looks gorgeous (significantly larger than your typical raisin) but tastes truly unique.  I love that the grapes are sourced from local farms in New York and New Jersey, and are made sans preservatives, sugar or sulfites.  

Muscat Wrinkles - Samples of plump, sumptuous raisins initially drew me in, and I got to sample a few different kinds before I decided on the Muscat.  I liked these the best, as they looked to be the largest and proved to be soft and really juicy inside.  Each bite was delightful, as the juicy flesh exploded in your mouth with each bite.  Unlike raisins you'd find in the supermarket, which tend to be dry and lifeless, these had so much flavor and made for a great dessert substitute.  I've already added them to my cereal in the morning as well as in a quinoa rice mixture today for dinner - both proving successful.

You can find Little Wrinkles at the LIC Flea as well as the Fulton Stall Market
www.littlewrinkles.com 

Indulging in Meatball Sliders from Bills Balls

Finally venturing to the LIC Flea today, I was welcomed by rows of local food vendors and therefore with plenty of choice for an impromptu lunch.  Finishing a challenging workout at Tone Pilates, not long after, I was in the mood for some protein.  It didn't take me long to decide on the sumptuous meatball sliders at the Bills Balls stand.  

About Bill's Balls:
First hearing about Bill's Balls from Dan who spotted them at a street fair in Manhattan, I've researched their company a bit more and found out that they mostly do special events and catering.  The company however, is based in Astoria.  Boasting freshly rolled meatballs (by Bill himself), they feature up to eight different meatball varieties, including The Astoria, paying homage to our awesome neighborhood.

The Upstate Meatball:
There were three different meatball varieties to choose from today at the Flea, including Bill's Original, The Upstate and The American.  The Upstate caught my eye immediately, as I noticed it was Bill's spin on the Buffalo chicken wing, in meatball form.  In honor of Football Sunday, I thought, what the hell...why not?!

I wasn't disappointed by my choice, as the slider was absolutely gargantuan and oozing with chicken goodness.  The ball itself was tender and moist as can be, boasting delicious chicken white meat, which was then slathered in tangy buffalo sauce, creamy blue cheese dressing and a celery chimichurri sauce.  I loved the crunch from the celery and bits of carrots that cut the richness in the blue cheese sauce.  Overall, the meatball felt substantial but not heavy in your tummy.  I must compliment the eggy brioche bun as well, which held all these ingredients in place and totally held its own with all that buffalo sauce.

Service and Cost:
Welcomed by the friendly Bills Balls staff, they were kind and expedient with my order.  I felt that great care was taken to construct my meatball slider, and I'd happily return for more ball goodness.

Each slider costs $6 or you can bring a friend along and get the 2 for $10 special.  Take a look at their catering options on their site as well - they seem reasonable.

3 Mmmms

Bill's Balls - www.billsballsnyc.com 

Mac 'n Cheese Brunch Bites at Ovelia

Image by Ovelia

Ovelia is known to have great brunch, and I personally love their standbys such as Yiayia's omelette with French fries embedded right in the omelette; the stuffed French toast; corn flapjacks topped with ricotta and walnuts; as well as other yummies.  However, spotting a newbie brunch item today on their Facebook page, I got excited and wanted to share it.  I'm talking about their mac 'n cheese bites that you see here, which consist of little balls of mac 'n cheese goodness, which are then further topped with Hollandaise sauce and then sprinkled with bacon bits.  

It's considered an app during brunch service, so if this sounds like it's up your alley, make sure you ask them about it this weekend.  While it's rich and indulgent, why not share just a little bite with your dining companions?!

Ovelia's brunch service goes all weekend from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Enjoy!

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

Prosciutto, Tomato and Olive Pastalicious

After a relatively healthy week, I couldn't resist a little indulgence by way of pasta.  Flipping through my "rustic eats" Pinterest board, it contains a lot of food porn that I knew I could choose from.  It didn't take me long to decide on this pretty spaghetti, prosciutto, tomato and olive concoction.  

Further exploring the Tartine and Apron Strings blog from which this recipe came, I was impressed by its simple, rustic style.  I had the pasta, the garlic, tomatoes, even the fresh herbs already on hand.  Doing a quick run to the supermarket for other essentials such as white wine, prosciutto and olives, I had everything I needed to begin, not long after.

The sauce for this dish is the best part, as it's incredibly easy and takes only about 15 minutes to prepare.  The only pain is chopping all the onions, garlic and tomatoes, but once you get through that, the recipe is a cinch.  My favorite part is rolling delicate pieces of Prosciutto di Parma on top and then finishing it off with a sprinkling of fresh parsley, which is just to die for.  Dan and I devoured firsts, seconds, and then some.

Prosciutto, Tomato, and Olive Spaghetti recipe, courtesy of Tartine and Apron Strings blog

Tasty Impromptu Dinner at Mezze Place

Tonight, I attended a lovely party at Mackenzi's brand new, Lockwood Shop, which is an evolution of her original Site.  The party was fantastic and gave me a chance to reconnect with folks in the community that I haven't seen this summer.  Meg was there of course, and the two of us decided to grab a quick dinner after the party at nearby, Mezze Place.  We felt like having something light, and since Mezze is also close to the train, it couldn't be more convenient.

We shared a few apps, including the Labaneh dip, bureke, falafel and the red lentil kofte.  While everything was really tasty and satiated us for the night, my two stand-outs were the bureke and the falafel, pictured above.

Bureke - Not reading the description carefully, what I thought this would be was a meat filled dish, however what arrived was something purely vegetarian.  I didn't mind, and in fact it worked out better, as the flaky pastry crust married so well with the spinach, feta and leek filling.  I liked that it was a little bit indulgent, but that the richness was cut with the fresh tomato coulis, which came as a side.

Falafel - I remember the falafel being good the first time around, but it particularly shined tonight.  The outside was crispy and nicely browned whereas the inside was almost bright green, slightly chunky and wonderfully garlicky.  It didn't need much in terms of a dipping sauce, but we couldn't help ourselves with the Labaneh, which was also a nice complement to all that hearty goodness.

Service and Cost:
We experienced really nice, attentive service tonight.  I liked that our waiter was easy going, but we never felt that he forgot about us, and our food came out in the perfect amount of time.  We hung around for a little bit to chat, and weren't in the least bit rushed to leave.

Costs remain wallet friendly, and for the above mentioned meal, we paid a total of $17 each including tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Mezze Place – 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria NY 11106
718. 777.2829
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.mezzeplace.com

Splurging at S. Prime Steakhouse

Image by Meg Cotner

Image by Meg Cotner

Since Dan and I have been pretty diligent about eating healthy and cooking at home, we decided to splurge the other night and had dinner at S. Prime Steakhouse.  I've been there once before with Meg and loved it - and now wanted Dan to have a taste too.  Having the foresight to buy a Groupon, we had even more of an incentive to go, as it provided a nice savings.

Here are the tasty highlights of our experience:

Spicy Tuna Tartare - Wanting to start out light, we ordered the tuna tartare, which was deliciously fresh and had a nice bite from the spicy aioli that was used to bind all its ingredients.  The piece-de-resistance were the crispy wonton chips, which we used as a vehicle to transport all that tuna and avocado goodness.

Porterhouse Steak for two - S. Prime prides itself in dry aged steaks, and this is what we came for.  Since the steaks are quite large and pretty pricey too, we thought we'd get the best value by getting the Porterhouse for two, which included both the New York Strip and Filet Mignon cuts.  Packed with 48 ounces of juicy goodness, we both loved the steak, which was cooked perfectly to a medium rare.  Although it didn't need much sauce, I enjoyed dipping the filet into their signature tangy steak sauce.  The NY Strip, the more marbled of the two didn't need much embellishment.

The Sides - Divided by "good" and "bad" sides, we got one of each.  Our good (if you can call it that) was the creamed corn you see above and the "bad" was the Monster Baked Potato, which came with a whole tray of fixins.  Both were excellent, and I loved the interactive element of the potato, which came with a healthy dose of chives, bacon lardons, sour cream, butter, and parmesan cheese.  The bacon was a superior topping, which we devoured with the tender flesh of the potato.  

Enjoying the corn as well, you can tell it was cooked fresh off the cob and then mixed with fresh herbs and spices.  It was even delicious when put on top of that colossal potato.  

Service and Cost:
Even though the food was a total home run, the service was not.  I'm sad to report that it took quite a while for our waiter to appear and take our order.  We were checked on pretty rarely and waited about 35 minutes for our steak to appear.  Unfortunately, no one apologized or even addressed the issue, so we had to flag down our waitress and pester her about it.  It wasn't a smooth experience to say the least.

Costs are expensive and definitely wallet breaking.  The Groupon helped a lot (you can still get one), and after we cashed that in, we still owed an additional $85 including tax and tip.

2 Mmmms

S Prime Steakhouse - 35-15 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.707.0660
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
www.sprimenyc.com

My First Crack at an Ottolenghi Dish

After a recent visit to the U.K, I was introduced to the cuisine of Chef, Yotam Ottolenghi who's quite well known there for his vibrant Middle Eastern cuisine.  Actually, his food is sort of a craze right now, and any foodie worth their salt has either been to his restaurants, located in the trendiest parts of the city, or has one of his cookbooks sitting on their bookshelf.  Although I can't boast that I've checked off either thing on my culinary must list, I've been perusing his website consistently and have experimented with one of his dishes.  

In fact, Dan and I tried the Braised Eggs with Beef, Smoked Aubergine and Tomato tonight, and it totally rocked our world.  I can definitely see what the fuss is about, as there's a certain magic about Ottolenghi's food that makes is both sophisticated but not intimidating to prepare.  

As you can see above, I substituted the beef for ground chicken and it worked great.  The aubergine (aka eggplant) was fussy to prepare, as it called for cooking it on an open flame.  I went for it, since I wanted to create the dish exactly as Ottolenghi suggested, but after the high-maintenance experience, I realized I could've just grilled it or put it in the oven.  
The best part of the dish was the runny egg, which we broke into the fragrant meat and eggplant mixture.  It served as a velvety binder for all that roasted goodness, and I was grateful that I didn't overcook the eggs.  Phewww... I'd say this first Ottolenghi experience was a hit, and I now can't wait to continue with more dishes soon. 

Braised Eggs with Beef, Smoked Aubergine and Tomato recipe, courtesy of ottolenghi.co.uk

New Veggie Dish at Astor Bake Shop

As fall is almost here, I'm loving all the heartier foods available on local menus.  I noticed this lovely veggie option available today at Astor Bake Shop, which made me hungry.  Check out this beautiful stuffed baby eggplant, featuring quinoa, red pepper, onion and mozzarella cheese.  

In case this doesn't whet your appetite, there's always their signature burger, which comes on a fluffy brioche bun and can be topped with your choice cheese and bacon.  The latter is deliciously thick, lean and smoky - I highly recommend it.

It behooves you to get a seasonal dessert too such as their fruit and nut tarts and pumpkin desserts.  Rumor has it that they've got a lot of other seasonal sweets and drinks in stock.  Hope you enjoy your visit.

Astor Bake Shop - 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd

718.606.8439

astorbakeshop.com

Incognito Bistro – A Melding of Scotland and Italy on a Plate

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a press dinner at Incognito Bistro – a Sottish-Italian fusion restaurant in the Flatiron District, which was new to me. Aside from loving Italian food, I’ve never yet imagined a melding of these two cultures, especially on a plate. I was in for a treat, as the evening took my palate on a most unusual and delicious, journey.

Atmosphere:
Located on the busy 18th street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, I must’ve passed Incognito before without noticing. Not that their signage is discreet, it’s just that the street is populated with so much great shopping that it’s good to know its exact location.

Once I walked in, I was welcomed by a sleek, airy space which was comfortably filled with patrons on a Tuesday night. There’s a bar up front, which is nice to occupy while waiting to be seated or for enjoying an impromptu glass of wine. Overall, the dining room feels sleek and refined, with a few bright pops of color which come in the form of painted rounded columns that slightly break up the room. It reminded me of something I’d find in a Miro painting, which gave it a hint of irreverence and a touch of whimsy. We later found out the columns remained from when the space used to be a parking garage, and I appreciated that Adriana and Paolo, Incognito’s owners chose to incorporate it into the décor.

Food:
I liked that our dinner consisted of several tasting options with manageable portions that allowed us to sample a wide variety of the menu. We started with a few apps, then a pasta course, followed by a sampling of entrees, and then finally dessert. Everything was prepared with a lot of thought and precision, and I’ll touch on my personal highlights here:

Apps – The first dish of the night was also one of the most memorable, which was the Roast Beef Pizza. I admit that it sounded odd, even a little unappetizing, but once it arrived and I had the chance to try it, I fell in love. As you might’ve guessed, this was no ordinary red sauce pizza pie, and instead was topped with a spicy horseradish sauce as its base. While this topping had a kick, it wasn’t overly spicy and provided a nice pop alongside the savory roast beef and the tangy manchego cheese topping. I’d highly recommend sharing a plate of this with your dining buddies.

Another app that also stood out to me was the avocado gazpacho, which was topped with a sprinkling of red and green peppers, crumbly feta cheese and fresh pepper. It was a great summer dish that helped tide you over for the next course without weighing you down. The texture was smooth and velvety, but also wasn’t too heavy handed in terms of cream content.

Pasta:
Again, not your traditional pasta offering when you think of an Italian restaurant, I enjoyed a helping of risotto with a thick lamb ragu. The latter was the best part, as it boasted rich, deep flavors that were all about comfort. While the portion was just a sampling size, I can see ordering this dish during chilly fall and winter months alongside a full bodied red wine.

Entrees:
Graced with an elegant plate of Ayrshire Pork, this was one impressive dish that boasted a lot of interesting elements. It symbolized to me a slice of Scotland, with a piece of stornoway black pudding (popular in the Western part of Scotland), sweet caramelized onions and another hint of sweetness and sourness from the julienned apples. The composition of the dish was genius, combining a bevy of textures, flavors and colors on one plate. I loved the slightly creamy sauce that tied it all together, adding one more hint of indulgence.

Dessert:
Dessert didn’t disappoint, as we were offered a beautifully composed plate with a dark chocolate torte, and cranachan (another quintessential Scottish dessert) made up of mascarpone cream, meringue, toasted oats and a wild berry compote. The mascarpone was that Italian influence creeping in, which tasted smooth and decadent. I loved the balance and the slight earthiness in this dish which came from the rolled oats and the tangy berries.

Service and Cost:
We experienced really great service and hospitality from the Incognito staff. Paolo and Adriana, Incognito’s co-owners were incredibly charming and explained to us not only the story behind each dish, but also how this Scottish Italian restaurant came about. Apparently there are close to 60,000 Italians living in Scotland – who knew?!

The waitstaff was helpful and professional and some of the folks helping us definitely had a nice dose of personality – making the evening a lot of fun.

Costs are moderate and range widely, depending on what you get:

Starters - $8-$18
Pizza - $16-$24
Pasta - $12-$24
Meat & Fish - $22-$38

3 Mmmms

Incognito Bistro – 30 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
212.414.1231
1 Train to 18th Street of V/F Train to 14th Street
www.incognitobistro.com

The Next Astoria Book & Supper Club: Garlic & Sapphires

I'm excited to see that after a longer respite (everyone needs the summer off), my friend Lisa who heads up the Astoria Book & Supper Club is back to her delicious goings-on.  Her next book discussion and themed dinner will be coming up in October, and I was delighted to see that the subject is one of my favorite Ruth Reichl books, Garlic and Sapphires.

Focusing on Ruth's career as the NYT food critic, the book talks about her fun and irreverent escapades, as she works her way through some of Manhattan's finest restaurants.  Lisa's dinner pays a homage to all the luxurious bites in this book, so you're in for a real treat with this one.  Here's the proposed menu:

Garlic & Sapphires inspired dinner menu:
Sunday October 13th at 7:00 p.m.

Hudson Valley Fois Gras with truffles served over baked New York state apples in season
Seasonal vegetable risotto topped with truffle oil 
Caesar salad 
Grilled Porterhouse steak served with Lisa's potatoes (her take on au gratin) 
New York style cheesecake

$40/person, BYOB

RSVP to Lisa.

Happy Sweet New Year Recipes - Rosh Hashanah

This week is full of holidays, including the start of the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah.  Beginning this Wednesday night, Rosh is also one of the major high holidays, during which Jews get together with family to welcome the new year.  Typically, there's a big dinner with lots of sweet things that symbolize the start of a sweet new year.  In honor of that, I'm featuring a mini round-up of desserts fitting for the occasion:

Apple Fig and Almond Crostata - I love that this rustic tart combines seasonal ingredients such as apples and figs.  While it looks impressive, it's wonderfully forgiving, meaning that you can improvise with it and make lots of aesthetic mistakes, because it'll still look and taste really good.

Castagnaccio (aka spicy chestnut cake) - Another rustic dessert, this one uses mostly dried fruit, nuts and savory herbs such as fresh rosemary.  It's a pretty hodgepodge of things that work really well together and remind you of fall.  This is a perfect kind of cake to have with tea or coffee, and a generous helping of honey on top. 

Nectarine Upside Down Cake -Another fruity dessert, this one switches things up, as it uses nectarines instead of apples, which are traditional for Rosh Hashanah.  Fresh or frozen nectarines will do just fine, and make sure you also use the plain Greek yogurt the recipe suggests to keep the cake nice and moist.

Baked Apples with Chocolate Granola - Anyone who's looking to whip up a quick, homemade apple dessert can create this.  Made up of any kind of sliced apples, a few dashes of cinnamon, lemon, maple syrup and sage, it's my own take on the classic apple crisp, except with granola on top. 

Labor Day Brunch in Astoria

I can't believe it's already September, and Labor Day is here.  While I'm sad that the summer is unofficially over, I'm excited for the fall as well, as it brings with it delicious, hearty eats, and I can't wait to indulge.  But back to Labor Day...

If you're in the nabe and looking to enjoy a leisurely brunch, here's a quick round-up to help you out.

Sugarfreak - For a comforting brunch, stop in to Sugarfreak for some yummy Cajun food.  On the menu, you'll find Southern staples such as Shrimp and Grits, a breakfast po boy, my personal favorite, bananas foster French toast and more!  Brunch starts tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.  36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.726.5850

LIC Market - If you'd like to jump start your day early, LIC Market will serve brunch from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  The menu is diverse, which is great for folks with all sorts of cravings and special diets.  My favorite brunch item is the Bullseye Eggs with two eggs fried inside an earthy piece of 7-grain bread.  21-52 44th Drive, LIC.  718.361.0013

Queens Kickshaw - In the mood to sleep in tomorrow? You totally can and still be able to catch brunch at the Queens Kickshaw from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  There's plenty of interesting indulgences here, including a unique version of Scotch Eggs, cold poached eggs in miso butter, biscuits and grits and other incredible eggibles.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria.  718.777.0913