Pizza & Co – Authentic Neapolitan Pizza in Antibes

In case you may be wondering, I’ve been traveling in Europe for the past two weeks – partially for work and in part for pleasure. The first portion of the trip was spent in Cannes, France for the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival and in the second part of the trip, Dan and I gallivanted around the South of France and Italy. Our first stop was Antibes – a small beachy town on the border of Nice and Monaco.

Antibes brings with it lots of diversity in culture and cuisine, so needless to say I took full advantage. From traditional French fare to seafood, Italian, Moroccan and beyond, there’s lots to explore – especially when you’re situated close to their fabulous daily farmer’s market, which we were. However, since I got there in the eve, I didn’t get to hit the market right away and explored a quintessential Roman style pizza place called Pizza & Co, highly recommended by locals. 

Atmosphere:
Situated in old Antibes, on a little street off the beaten path, Pizza & Co draws in big crowds of both locals and visitors. The long lines are something familiar to me as a New Yorker, so I was prepared to wait for greatness.

Occupying myself by observing my vivid surroundings, taking photos of the atmosphere and just generally people watching, it was all a part of the experience. Essentially, Pizza & Co consists of a counter and a few spots to sit inside, which no one really uses. The fun part is to really take your pizza with you and eat it out in the open air in Old Antibes – soaking up the fun vibe of this old, historic village. This is what I chose to do as well and loved it!

Food:
While this place is totally no frills, the menu offers an extensive array of pizza options. Everything from a classic Margherita or a Marinara slice to a fancy Salmone (mozzarella, mascarpone, smoked salmon) or a Capriccio (tomato, ham, mushrooms, artichokes, mozzarella) it's fun that to mix up your choices to form a colorful pie.

First having my eye on the Patate slice (potato, mozzarella, lardons), I quickly changed my mind after seeing a fresh batch of the Pachino (sun-dried tomato, buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms) emerge from the oven.

Pachino Pizza – Like I just said, since this slice came fresh out of the oven, it was mighty enticing. Loving the simplicity of it all, but also the high quality ingredients, I took my pizza to go and devoured it on the steps of a busy square. The mozzarella was melty and not too salty, which was nice but the best part were the smoky sun-dried tomatoes, which were homemade. I adored the crunchy crust, which was still on the thin side, as was the rest of the pizza – an overall home run that made me curious about the other slices too.

Service and Cost:
Just like the establishment itself, the service is pretty straightforward, with two people running the show – a woman at the front of the house and her partner (I assume) at the back. The former is a total bad ass, slicing pizza with quick dexterity and immediately serving it up to hungry Antibeans.

Compared to other establishments in this touristy town, Pizza & Co actually provides great value at about 2.60 Euro – 3.90 Euro for a slice. However, stacking this up with U.S. prices is an unfair game, as everything is exponentially more expensive in Europe.

3 Mmmms

Pizza & Co – 1 Rue des Casemates Antibes, France 06600
04 93 34 64 86

Quick Homemade Tostones for Snacking

In the mood to cook something quick and healthful, I got inspired by a ripe bunch of plantains I spotted at the supermarket.  I love ordering a basket of tostones when dining at Latin eateries, but I’ve never had the chance to make them myself.

A quick search through some recipes produced a quick, no frills method for making them that I was inspired to try.  See tostones recipe here.

Peeling these babies was cinch since they were already ripe, and once I fried them the first time, they produced a deliciously crispy snack, which reminded me of sweet potato fries. I was determined to make them the right way though, and followed through with the rest of the method, as I mashed these into flat discs and fried them once again. While I think I brunt them a little, they were still delicious and almost as crispy as French fries. A side of avocado dipping sauce, which I made by combining a few tablespoons of mayo and mashed avocado made each bite a delight.

Loving the Ice Cream Sammies at BareBurger

Hearing about the recent addition of Coolhaus ice cream sammies at BareBurger, I was eager to try them out – especially since I haven’t had a Coolhaus treat in so long!  Dan and I went in today on the fly and watched a little of the World Cup – Dan getting a beer while I had my eye on the prize, the ice cream.

Bacon Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sammy – When I first heard they had this on the menu, I didn’t think about anything else and immediately declared my sammie of choice.  Our server praised me for this selection and in just a few minutes brought out a large, luscious ice cream sandwich with a side of maple caramel sauce.  We had them split this baby in half, as you can see how large it was.  Each bite was heavenly, and had just the right concentration and essence of bacon – while it wasn’t overpowering, the flavor was just enough to get you thinking about it and to relish in the smokiness.  The caramel sauce too was a thing of beauty, reminding us of something you’d have while camping with friends.  

Service and Cost:

We experienced great service, which isn’t out of the ordinary here.  The BareBurger staff has a great thing going in terms of their overall team dynamic, including a nice rapport with customers. I liked the relaxed vibe of the afternoon, which is pretty rare for BareBurger, and we hung around for a little while watching a bit of the Colombia/Costa Rica game. 

Each ice cream sammie will set you back $7, which is totally worth it, especially if you split it with a friend.  Be prepared to lick your fingers clean!

3 Mmmms

BareBurger (31st Avenue) - 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.777.7011
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bareburger.com23-01 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105

718.204.7167
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd
bareburger.com

Miss Lily's Variety - Hard to Reach but Attained Goodness

Ever since last week, I've been trying to eat at Miss Lily's, the funky Jamaican inspired cafe in the West Village.  My cousin Vicky and I unluckily missed our 6 p.m. reservation, only to find the place backed up and the staff showing their prickly disposition.  This of course made me that much more curious, and I returned to Miss Lily's Variety & Melvin's Juice Box outpost later that week.  I'm happy to say that it more than delivered and was worth the come-back.

Atmosphere:
The bright, cheery, casual vibe of Miss Lily's is almost as big of a draw as its food.  Looking like a Caribbean style shack amped up to NYC standards, Miss Lily's transports you to a laid back, tropical place without having to leave our busy island.  My favorite aspect of the cafe are the comfy vinyl booths that sport a green, yellow and red stripe across the top, and the old vinyl record covers on the walls that pay an homage to legendary Jamaican artists.

A lovely display of Miss Lily's famous chicken, beef and veg patties decks the front counter and cooking space, along with a pretty display of their layer cakes and pastries.  The fresh and packaged juices also create some eye candy, making Lily's just as conducive for taking out as dining in.

Food:
Confronted by a bevy of interesting West Indian foods such as jerk chicken, oxtail, roti, salads, and of course their patties, my friend Angela and I just skimmed the surface of Jamaican goodness.  We'll certainly be back for more.

Curry Chicken Roti - Resembling a burrito, a roti is an unleavened wrap made from wholemeal flour, and it's absolutely delicious.  Stuffed with chicken curry and flavored with spices such as cumin, it was hearty and comforting with a bit of pop in flavor and freshness from the julianned jicama and carrots on top.

Oxtail - My friend Angela was craving oxtail and immediately ordered this when she spotted it on the menu.  I had the chance to try it and enjoyed the chocolate brown sauce, laced with chunks of carrots.  The meat itself was falling off the bone and was literally finger lickin' good.  Yes, this dish gets messy so get some extra napkins.

Sweet and Dandy Juice - Not getting a Melvin's organic juice would be a crime, so we went for this bright concoction of apples, beets, lemon, ginger, carrots and pineapple.  The ginger was most distinct but the crimson beets also dominated in color and flavor.  Angela and I split this one, as it's quite filling but also on the expensive side.

Service and Cost:
Unlike my previous attempt at Miss Lily's just earlier that week, the staff at the Cafe and Melvin's Juice bar were as bright and cheery as the scenery.  One of the cooks was even joking around with us saying that I can't take photos, but followed his comment with a big generous smile.

We sat down after ordering and were pleasantly surprised to get our dishes just 5 short minutes later, which was awesome.

Prices are in the moderate price range with most rotis and salads being in the $10 ballpark, while the Jamaican specialties run anywhere between $10-$17.

3 Mmmms

Miss Lily's Variety & Melvin's Juice Bar - 132 West Houston Street, New York NY 10012
646-588-5375
A/C/E Train to West 4th Street
misslilys.com

Happy 5th Birthday BareBurger!

I can hardly believe that our very own BareBurger has been around for 5 years! What started as a small indie burger joint on 31st Avenue and 34th street is now a national burger empire.  It's exciting to celebrate BareBurger in all its glory at the location that started it all exactly 5 years from this coming Thursday.  In honor of this milestone, BareBurger will be giving out free Coolhaus ice cream sammies, which are relatively new to their menu.  Here's the deal for those of you who will be stopping in.

Thursday, June 12th 
Free ice cream sammies (one per person)

Flavors offered:
Peanut butter with double chocolate chip
Dirty mint with double chocolate chip

BareBurger (31st Avenue) - 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.777.7011
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bareburger.com

Omonia's Sweets Explosion

Image via Yelp by A.A

It's been way too long since I've visited Omonia Cafe, which is no doubt one of the most quintessential Greek cafes in the neighborhood.  And while Omonia may carry with it many Astoria-centric stereotypes that we often try to shake, it remains a special place for me, reminding me of my early days here.  Dan and I finally went back the other eve, for a late night snack, together with our friends Nuno and Jennifer.  We tried a few new things,  which left us feeling pleasantly full (and plump).

Chocolate Napoleon - Being that I'm Eastern European, I love me some Napoleon (or Kremes, as we say).  Omonia's version more than delivered with a light as air filling of smooth chocolate cream that was carefully placed in between crunchy layers of filo dough, topped with whipped cream and more powdered sugar for good measure.  Although I couldn't take a photo of our piece because the place is famously dark, I think the above photo helps to paint a picture.

Walnut Cookie - Because I was trying to keep to my gluten free diet, I managed to find something without any pastry dough (but truth be told, I cheated that night, as proven by my Napoleon escapades), which came in the form of a walnut cookie.  Resembling a macaron in appearance and texture, the cookie was light and airy, hugging the sweet contents of a seedy raspberry jam, producing some serious yum action.

Service and Cost:
We experienced fast and efficient service during the time we ordered and when our sweets were delivered to our table.  Even after we finished everything, we felt comfortable to just hang out and were by no means rushed to leave.

Pastry prices remain competitive, especially when dining in-house at $4.75 - $7 a piece.

3 Mmmms

Omonia Cafe - 32-20 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106

718.274.6650

N/W Train to Broadway
omoniacafe.com

Monday Brunch at the Queens Kickshaw

I recently wrote a post on We Heart Astoria about Everyday Brunch, which got me inspired to explore the topic more closely.  Loving brunch food in general, I love having the excuse to eat it on weekdays, especially at establishments who do them well.  That's why I was psyched to see that the Queens Kickshaw is extending their weekend brunch to Monday as well.  This special promotion goes on each Monday during the entire month of June, so I hope you get to take advantage of these savory and some sweet delicacies.  Here are a few of my personal highlights:

French Toast - Brioche, hard cider pear compote, chili cheese crisp...$12
Biscuit & Grits - Buttermilk biscuit, creamy grits, roasted vegetables, sunny egg...$12
Layered Potato Cake (pictured above) - with sunny egg, gruyere cheese with toast...$11
Bread Pudding - Custard brioche, orange caramel...$6
Egg & Cheese - Ricotta, cheese crisp, thyme, maple hot sauce on brioche...$6
Gouda Grilled Cheese - Black bean hummus, guava jam, pickled jalapenos, green salad with jalapeno vinaigrette...$10

The Queens Kickshaw - 40-17 Broadway, Astoria NY 11103
718.777.0913
M/R Train to Steinway Street
www.thequeenskickshaw.com 

Pye Boat Noodle Makes Waves in Astoria

It's always exciting when a new restaurant opens in Astoria, especially because of the high standards we've come to expect.  With the coming of Pye Boat Noodle, a new Thai noodle restaurant in the Broadway neighborhood, that standard has definitely been upheld - and then some.

Dan and I along with friends, Jennifer and Nuno tried it last week and were impressed with the offering, the service and the ambiance.  The whole shebang was something to write home about, and we'll definitely be going back for some more tangled noodle goodness.

Atmosphere:
Intrigued by Pye Boat's unique white and blue clapboard exterior and a sign that appears to be written backwards, it's clear that this is no ordinary Thai restaurant.  In fact, when you walk in, the place very much embodies something you'd find in a Thai seaside locale with fresh, whimsical elements infused into it.  The walls are decked in rustic wood paneling and accented by blue and teal embellishments such as the posts by the bar, the cabinet doors and such.  I especially liked the vintage art such as an old Coca Cola sign near the bar and other decor that looks like Thai pop art.

Despite the lovely interior, it was a mild night so we decided to eat in their expansive back garden, which comfortably seats about 25-30 people.  I love the little rectangular pool that's the focal point of the space and brings with it a classic simplicity and calmness.

Food:
Expecting to see a large, all-encompassing menu as in other Asian fusion restaurants in the vicinity, we were surprised by how concise and focused it was.  It's clear that Pye Boat has its specialties and this is exactly what the clientele will know them for - the noodles!

Fried Pork Strips - I spied this appetizer in Meg's Pye Boat write-up and knew I had to try it.  Reminding me almost of a thin jerky-like texture, the pork strips were crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Accompanied by a fiery chili sauce, it elevated the flavor of the pork to the next level.  Needless to say, this appetizer disappeared quickly.

Salted Wings - Dan and I are big wing people and can sometimes be harsh critics when it comes to this savory snack.  Although Pye Boat's version didn't look to be particularly meaty, the wings were very delicious, with a crispy, salted skin and a wonderfully moist inside.  This too came with a spicy chili oil vinaigrette, but it wasn't even needed.

Boat Noodle with Pork - There were two ways you can order your noodles, either dry or in a soup broth, and I chose the latter.  I also appreciated that you can have a choice of rice, wide ribbon, egg or vermicelli noodles.  My gluten free diet dictated my noodle choice, as I immediately decided on the rice and wasn't disappointed.  The pork came in three varieties including an anise pork meatball, fresh slices of lean pork as well as fried pork skin, which was my favorite.  I also must praise the soup broth, which was deeply flavored by the anise, which added an almost Middle Eastern quality to this dish - so unique!

Lychee Smoothie - Originally thinking this was an adult cocktail, it turned out to be a non alcoholic frozen juice, which was A-OK.  I enjoyed the tropical lychee flavors I got both in the pureed and whole form, with an entire lychee placed on top of the slushie.

Service and Cost:
We were greeted by Pye Boat's friendly staff and throughout the entire experience felt well taken care of.  It was nice to see that outdoor dining service didn't fall by the wayside, as can sometimes happen and the overall pacing of the meal remained good.

Costs are affordable and on point with other comparable Thai/Asian fusion restaurants in the nabe.

Appetizers - $4.95 - $7
Noodles - $8.95 - $11.95
Rice Dishes - $8.95 - $12.50

3 Mmmms

Pye Boat Noodle - 35-13 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.685.2329
N/Q Train to Broadway or R/M Train to Steinway 

The Craft Beer Clambake at Snowdonia

Image by Snowdonia

In the true spirit of summer, I was interested to see that Snowdonia will be hosting a Monday eve Craft Beer Clambake during the entire month of June.  The menu intrigued me, as I'm a big beer and seafood fan - plus knowing that the beer comes from local Coney Island Brewing Co was a plus.  Check out the menu and pop in on a warm Monday eve to start your week:

The Craft Beer Clambake Menu:

Mains:
Broiled stuffed half lobster...$14
Clams & mussels in spicy beer broth...$12
Grilled hot sausage and peppers...$10
Monkfish corndogs...$10

Sides:
Roasted redskin potatoes...$4
Corn on the cob with miso butter..$5

Snowdonia - 34-55 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
347.730.5783
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
snowdoniapub.com

Highlights from the Astoria Flea

Given that I've been traveling a lot lately and therefore not around during weekends, I was sad to miss out on the first couple of weeks at the new Astoria Flea.  Luckily last weekend finally presented the opportunity to check it out, as Meg and I went to peruse their food, drink and retail offerings.  

Overall, I have to say that I liked it very much, and the spacious layout at Kaufman Astoria's lot was a lot more conducive to shopping, browsing and trying food than its LIC locale.  I liked the overall vibe, which was comfortable, friendly and welcoming, and the clientele exemplified this as well.  Differing from the LIC crowd, I noticed the patrons at the Astoria Flea to be a bit younger vs. the families with young kids you see in LIC.

Aside from being out in the open air and enjoying chatting with local artisans, I had the chance to sample a few goodies, which I'd like to touch on here:

Arborio King - Looking forward to Arborio King's arancine, I had a hard time deciding between the sweet or the savory variety. In the end, I decided to lay off the sweets and tried the saffron, parmesan risotto with 3-meat Sunday ragu.  Bursting with flavor and overall cheesy gooeyness, I'm happy to say the rice was cooked to a perfect al dente and paired perfectly with the saucy, meat filling.  While it may appear to be just a side dish, this arborio ball is a full meal deal.  I'll definitely try the sweet Nutella variety next time!

Frittering Away - This awesome "small batch lemonade" company made a big impression on me from first glance to the last sip.  In loved their cheery stand and their cool logo that right away told me this would be quality.  Ordering their signature strawberry basil lemonade, I was instantly refreshed and my tastebuds came to attention through each sweet, tangy and earthy sip.

Ice and Vice - It's a pleasure seeing Paul and Ken from Ice and Vice, and as always they were full of positive energy and lots of delicious ice cream samples.  Boasting three new flavors that day including the unforgettable Milk Money, Meg and I both went gaga for its toasted milk notes accented with a salty bite from the sea salt and luscious chocolate.  Look out for it next weekend, but do come early, as it'll most likely sell out.

Having a great time at the Astoria Flea last week, I'll surely be back.  You can visit it as well  each Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and see what foods stand out to you.

Astoria Flea - 35-23 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R Train to Steinway Street
https://www.facebook.com/astoriaflea

Sinking My Teeth into the Waffogato

Never tiring of Dominique Ansel's creations, it was now my turn to try his newest confection called the Waffogato.  Hearing about this delicacy from my daily intake of DA news through my various foodie social outlets, I found out that the Waffogato is essentially another ingenious hybrid food.

Paying a visit to DA right before my Portland trip, I was hopeful but skeptical I'd score one of these babies.  My doubt was sadly validated, as I soon discovered that that Waffogato went as fast as that morning's Cronut.  I kept the hope alive and went back a few weeks later with my co-workers only to find the Waffogato in stock - yay! I ordered one right away and watched them assemble it with admiration.

Waffogato - What is an actual Waffogato, you may be wondering?  Just like some of DA's other hybrid foods, it also consists of a bevy of different ingredients that you wouldn't normally think to put together, but that work really well.  Melding together ice cream, tapioca balls and bits of Belgian waffle, the Waffogato brings together something nostalgic and luxurious at the same time.

Served chilled, it's something you must eat pretty quickly, as the ice cream melts fast, especially since it's soaked in a sweet maple espresso liquid.  I let it melt a little, walking back to work, but I loved the effect, as the liquid took on a milkshake-like consistency. The tapioca balls were distinctive and added surprising texture to each vanilla-ey bite.  As much as I couldn't get enough, I impatiently await his next creation.

Service and Cost:
Getting to the bakery after lunch, we were confronted by a long line and waited for about 15 minutes to be helped.  And while the line went slowly, the end result was so delicious that as usual, it was totally worth it.

At $7 a pop, each Waffogato doesn't come cheap, but just like Dominique's other delicacies, you're paying for the magic.  And as usual, it totally delivers.

3 Mmmms

Dominique Ansel Bakery - 189 Spring Street, New York NY 10012
212.219.2773
E/C Train to Spring Street
dominiqueansel.com

A Healthy Side with your BBQ - Quinoa Caprese Salad

With a lovely weekend such as the one we just had, it was fun to spend it outside, surrounded by great friends and delicious food.  Dan and I were invited to an all-day BBQ celebration, hosted by our friends Greg and Rikki who live on Long Island.  Of course we didn't want to come empty handed, so I whipped up this easy Caprese quinoa salad, while Dan brought with him the ingredients for his famous fried Oreos.

As far as the quinoa goes, I'm happy to say it was a big hit with the adults and kids too.  Consisting of just a few fresh ingredients I had on hand, I made a Caprese version of an otherwise plain quinoa salad.  Here are the simple instructions:

Quinoa Caprese Salad (serves 8-10)

Ingredients:
2 packets (or 2 cups) of white or black quinoa
1 quart of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 handfuls of fresh basil, cut into rustic pieces
1/2 fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed into chunks
Olive oil & truffle oil (the latter is optional)
Balsamic vinegar
Black pepper

Directions:
Cook the quinoa according to the directions on the box.  Let cool for about 10 minutes and then combine with the rest of the ingredients.  Fluff with a fork and then dress with more oil or vinegar if needed.  Season to taste as needed.

Enjoy with your favorite protein or just on its own.