Achieving a Proper Winegasm

I know what some of you may be thinking, "did she have to go there?!" Yes. I did. Come on people...loosen up and just go with it.  Anywho...

Wanting to re-visit Winegasm for a while now, I was incentivized by a Scoutmob deal for $10 off.  For those of you who haven't yet downloaded this nifty little mobile app, I urge you to go right ahead, as it'll change your life and bring you tons of advantageous savings.  

Mackenzi and I headed over to this wino haven last weekend for some casual snacks and wine, both of which were delicious, the vibe being fabulously chill.  We also really found ourselves enjoying the mild temperature that we soaked up from dining al fresco.

Snacks:
Since neither one of us was particularly hungry, we went for a few sharable snacks, which I'll go into now.  The portions were quite generous, and I'd highly recommend getting them if wanting to go halfsies with a buddy.  We even had some leftovers, which was encouraging.

Muhammara Dip - While I've had this before with Dan, it didn't stand out to me as much as this time around.  A somewhat creamy but still a little bit chunky dip, it was made up of red peppers (hence its brick orange color) as well as earthy walnuts that gave it a little bite.  Paired with nicely toasted pita bread, the dip was super spreadable and somehow hearty enough like hummus.  I think it'd also go well with protein such as tofu or chicken.

Wild Mushroom Crostini - Although it sounds like a super simple dish, it was actually quite complex and really outstanding.  Its excellence really stemmed from a delicious base, which was a thin piece of perfectly toasted bread that was slightly chewy on the inside.  The topping was brilliant as well, consisting of delicate little pieces of wild mushrooms and curly ringlets of asparagus, which were all melded by a sea of gooey fontina cheese.  A piece-de-resistance was the sprinkling of truffle oil on top that really made all these flavors sing.

Service and Cost:
It's interesting that my previous dining experiences have been somewhat mixed, and we haven't always received great service.  Tonight, that was totally set right, as our server was just awesome, pacing everything out perfectly and having a sense of humor at the same time.    He was also really gracious about us using the Scoutmob coupon, which I sometimes get a little flack for, even though it's totally legit.

Costs are fair, with the above-mentioned apps setting us back $7 and $6 respectively.  We also each had a glass or two of wine, so with all of that, the discount came in really handy.

3 Mmmms

Winegasm - 31-86 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103

718.932.3331

N/Q Train to Broadway

www.winegasmeatery.com

Ukus - Best Hidden Balkan Secret

After a fun time at SITE's 5th Anniversary party, Meg and I went to get some grub at Ukus Balkan Grill, which was entirely her idea.  Only too happy to oblige, I can never say no to delicious meat on a stick, especially when other Eastern European delicacies such as potato pies and sheep's milk cheese is also involved.

Atmosphere:
There's not much to say in terms of the atmosphere, as it's pretty much no frills and small, yet still intimate and welcoming.  Even though lots of people come by for take-out, there's also table service available and this is how we chose to dine that night.  

The casual, low-key setting was just the perfect thing after a long week, and we loved lingering around and chatting, while our food was being prepared in the small kitchen area up front.  As we sat there, we noticed other people (from what it seemed, regulars) come in and enjoy a leisurely meal.  You got a lot of native Croats and Serbs, but having said that, Meg and I felt right at home, fully immersed in the wonderful ethnic surroundings.  Meg did say she was channeling her Eastern European obsession, so there ya go... :)

Food:
After taking a good look at the menu, it didn't take us long to decide on a serious meat dish, which was their mixed grill plate with various proteins you see above, as well as a lighter salad and a not so light cheese roll to go with it.

Salad (Ukus Salata) - Although it was a basic lettuce, tomato and sirene cheese (similar to feta) salad, it was deliciously fresh and juicy.  I loved that it was dressed really simply with olive oil, a little bit of vinegar and some lemon juice too.  The sirene was crumbled finely so you can really appreciate its soft texture, melding beautifully with the veggies.  It reminded me of summer.

Potato Roll - When we first saw these on the menu, we noticed they came in packs of 3.  Not knowing what to expect, we asked for this, but got a strange look from our waiter. "Nooo...you'll just need one," he said with confidence that we couldn't question.  Once it arrived, we totally understood, as it was a huge snail roll of beautifully flaky filo dough filled with mashed potato.  It was quite delicious and not overly salty, which was nice.  Meg and I tried to make a dent in it, but the salad alone nearly filled us up, and we needed to save room for all the meat that was still coming.

Mixed Grill - We couldn't wait for the meat extravaganza to begin and ordered a whole platter of assorted meats, including smoked beef sausage, steak kebob, veal liver, chicken and of course the cevapi (or ground beef links).  All of this came with the traditional Balkan sides of bryndza (an amazing sheep's milk cheese, which is also used in my beloved halushky), raw onions and ajvar (eggplant/sweet pepper chutney).  Simply said, the meat was amazing, and I enjoyed each cut of meat, with the sausage and the beef kebob being my favorites.  Meg loved the sausage as well, as it was amazingly smokey and reminded me of of the klobasa from Slovakia that we ate on really good, crusty bread.  The beef was really juicy and cooked perfectly.  I loved stuffing it into the fat, white pita we got as a side, and further topping it with the ajvar, onions, and the tangy bryndza. YUM!

Service and Cost:
Overall, we thought the service at Ukus was friendly and personal.  The man who was serving us could've been its owner, and we exchanged some friendly banter.  He broke our chops a bit about taking pictures of our food, but I think that was an off-handed way to say that he liked the attention.

Costs are super affordable and for the food you see here, we paid a total of $30, $36 with tax and tip.

3 Meaty Mmmms

Ukus - 42-08 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.267.8587
N/Q train to 30th Avenue

Veslo Introduces Game Night

Image by Veslo

One of my favorite ethnic eateries on Broadway, Veslo is rolling out two fun theme nights during the week, and it caught my attention.  They'll be hosting game night every Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 p.m. to close, where you can enjoy playing nostalgic games such as Scrabble, Connect Four, Trouble, Checkers, Chess, Backgammon and more.  Sounds like something totally up my alley and I hope yours too!  But where does food and drink come in?

Special deals on drinks will be in order such as:
$15 pitchers of Blue Moon, Guiness, Sam Adams, Spaten & Stella
$4 domestic bottles - Bud, Bud Light, Coors Light
$4 well drinks and wine

While the food won't be on special per se, it's absolutely delicious and I highly recommend ordering the Dalmatian platter of various cured meats and cheeses, homemade gnocchi in veal sauce and don't forget about dessert in the form of Croatian style crepes or palacinke, as they call them.

Veslo - 32-11 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.728.0549
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.veslonyc.com 

Saro Bistro - Your Croatian Grandma Knows Best

Saro Bistro - 102 Norfolk Street, New York NY 10002
212.505.7276
F Train to Delancey Street
www.sarobistro.com

As you can tell, I've been on a Balkan food kick lately, visiting Veslo last week and this week trying out an interesting newcomer on the Lower East Side called Saro Bistro.  I first read about Saro from my daily dose of Scoutmob mail.  The minute I saw mention of Balkan cuisine, I was captivated and took the opportunity to try it through a tasting.

Atmosphere:
Not long after setting foot in Saro Bistro did I feel completely comfortable and excited about my upcoming meal.  It's true that the square dining room is on the intimate side, seating about 25 to 30 people - but in my book that's an advantage, personalizing the experience and helping to focus my attention on all the amazing details that make Saro memorable.

Headed by Chef Eran Elhalal, who is Israeli born and raised with deeply seated Eastern European roots, Saro is named after his beloved grandmother Sara (affectionately nicknamed Saro by his grandfather).  Growing up in the former Yugoslavia, Saro's influence helped shape not only the menu but also the bistro's decor. 

Even though I don't know Saro personally, I can confidently say that her essence and influence is deeply felt in the space.  Mismatched antique plates, cups and silverware, rustic wooden credenzas, old books, maps and of course a lovely picture of Saro herself effectively communicate Eran's clear inspiration for this deeply personal restaurant.

Food:
Overall, I'd describe Saro's menu as comforting and nostalgic.  And though we all have different cultural pasts, we can on a common level appreciate the feel-good nature of a grandmother's kitchen.  As I mentioned, we indulged in an eight-course tasting, which allowed us to try a variety of dishes.

Appetizers - Starting out with a warm squash soup was a home run for me, as it's the way Eastern Europeans start any big meal.  Saro's was thoughtfully presented in a delicate tea cup (pictured above) that made it not only appetizing but also very endearing.  I loved the spice that the red pepper flakes incorporated into the squash and a sprinkling of crushed pistachios added a lovely crunch at the end.  The soup was also served with corn fritters, which had feta cheese in the middle - Saro's own version of croquettes if you will.

Our second appetizer was the burratina, which consisted of freshly made burrata cheese stuffed with ricotta and then topped with smoky prsute (Balkan version of prosciutto).  The whole thing rested on a bed of gorgeously yellow heirloom tomatoes, which infused freshness and acid into a decadent dish.  One more note about the cheese - it was so soft and so creamy that it was almost spreadable. I enjoyed the ultra-smoky prsute but preferred eating it solo, as I felt it didn't need the cheese, rather it shined on its own.

Saro's crabcakes were also delightful yet simple in their own right.  Made of high quality crabmeat and not much else, they did a great job of highlighting the main and most important ingredient.  I loved the hint of spice from the cayenne and texturally, the crabcake was tender as can be on the inside with a perfectly crunchy outside. 

We enjoyed a palate cleanser between courses, a peppery arugula salad with blue cheese and poached pears, encrusted in brown sugar.  I loved the combination of savory and sweet and looked forward to scooping up a deliciously tender pear and pairing it (pun intended) with the tangy blue cheese.

Entrees - I was most excited about trying Saro's cevapcici, which I'm familiar with from my own childhood (Slovak and Yugoslavian cuisine sometimes intersects).  It was exciting to see the medley on our plate - four glistening, oval beef kebobs with a side of paper-thin onion shavings, fresh ricotta cheese and homemade zucchini fritters, which oddly looked like my mom's potato latkes.  The combination of flavors worked harmoniously to create a little taste of the Balkans - the tender salty bite of the meat, combined with the creaminess of the cheese and the warm gooeyness of the zucchini fritters was like a visit to the Dalmatian coast.

Our second entree was a veggie pasta dish, made with homemade fettuccine noodles.  You can immediately taste the difference with the freshly made pasta - it had a nice bite to it but also a melt-in-your-mouth quality.  Dressed with seasonal veggies such as acorn squash, collard greens and wild mushrooms, the dish had a pungently earthy quality that was perfectly appropriate for winter.

We rounded out the entree course with Saro's twelve-hour braised short ribs, served with traditional egg noodles (also homemade), feta cheese and a shredded greens salad. I enjoyed the meat and its rich sauce, but my favorite were those egg noodles, which also reminded me of the rezance my grandma makes with either sweet cabbage or tangy farmer cheese.

Dessert - It was nice to see that dessert was a simple affair with mini sugar doughnuts, which resembled Italian bomboloni and in my culture, the miniature version of fanky (fried doughnuts stuffed with jelly). Despite being fried, Saro's rendition felt wonderfully light and airy - it was a nice way to change the flavor profile from savory to sweet.

The grand finale was sealed with a slice of gluten-free hazelnut chocolate cake, which is apparently the thing grandma Saro would serve at the end of a meal.  I liked that the cake was on the cold side and reminded me very much of an old recipe for walnut cake my great uncle Simon makes.  The chocolate is a big component and even though Saro's didn't skimp out, it wasn't too heavy handed either. 

Wine & Beer  - All the above mentioned food was intelligently paired with Eastern European wine, a lot of it being from Croatia, Slovenia, even Romania.  I was intrigued to try a lot of these obscure wines, which paired well with each food course. 

On the beer front, I was impressed that they had my beloved Zlaty Bazant, a Slovak beer, which is referred to here as Golden Pheasant.  You have to try it!

Service and Cost:
Just like the atmosphere and the food at Saro, the service was also very personal and thoughtful.  The staff is knowledgeable about all aspects of their menu, including pronunciation of each dish (some of which are really difficult - i.e. karadjordjeva).  Chef Eran is not only passionate about the menu, he's well versed in the history behind each dish and his enthusiasm for Balkan cuisine pours out like water from a spout. 

Costs are moderate and fairly priced for the level of sophistication infused into each dish:

Appetizers - $12 - $24
Entrees - $14 - $22
Sides - $6
Dessert - $8

3 Mmmms

Marshall - New Balkan Eats with a Modern Twist

 

While in the Broadway neighborhood yesterday, I stumbled upon a new restaurant that caught my eye called Marshall.  From afar, it looked like any modern cafe (perhaps Greek, I thought) but upon looking closer, I saw that it actually serves Balkan food.  I peeked inside and loved what I saw - a really beautifully laid-out, modern space with an impressive bar and a sleek dining area.  It looked really pretty without trying too hard.  Of course I spied the menu too and was intrigued to find yummy-sounding Balkan dishes such as cevapi and pljeskavica.  Prices seemed moderate to inexpensive, with most entrees in the mid to low teens.  I'm very curious to give it a try.

In addition to their regular menu, I noticed they're running a Valentine's Day special:

5-course prix-fixe for $40 per person (includes a glass of champagne)
There will also be live music.

Enjoy and let me know how you like it!

Marshall - 35-03 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106

718.545.3500

N/W Train to Broadway

Punta Dura - Daring to be Different for Queens Restaurant Week

Punta Dura is doing things a bit differently for Queens Restaurant Week, and they're certainly standing out. Instead of a Monday - Friday offering, they're changing things up with a Tuesday - Sunday promotion from 10/6 - 10/18. I got a hold of their menu below, which sounds scrumptious (the fish is highly recommend).

Punta Dura Restaurant Week Menu - $25 per person, prix-fixe

Appetizers (choice of one)

Vegetarian Split Pea Soup - Topped with homemade croutons
Caesar Salad - Romaine lettuce, homemade croutons and Caesar dressing
Fried Calamari - Lightly fried calamari served with marinara sauce
Spiedini all Romana - Layers of mozzarella & bread, fried & served with anchovy caper sauce

Entrees (choice of one)

Filet of Sole - Broiled filet of sole with yellow rice
Three-Cheese Lasagna - Classic lasagna with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses
Capellini Primavera - Capellini pasta served with chef's selection of seasonal vegetables, garlic & oil
Stuffed Peppers - Red peppers stuffed with ground beef & seasonings, served with whipped potatoes
Petite Steak - 8 oz petite steak with marsala and mushroom sauce, served with whipped potatoes
Chicken Scarpiello - Sausage, white wine & fresh rosemary served with chef's selection of seasonal vegetables

Dessert (choice of one)

Tiramisu
Key Lime Cheesecake
Fruit Tart

Another cool feature is Punta Dura on Opentable - you can make your reservation directly on the site and get dining points. I'm sold...are you?

Punta Dura - 41-15 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.2137
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.puntadura.com

Djerdan - Serbian Comfort Food at a Comfortable Price

Djerdan Burek - 34-04A 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.721.2694
N/W Train to Broadway
http://www.djerdan.com/locations.htm

My parents and brother came to see me last weekend and the dilemma of picking a place to eat came upon us once again. After much back and forth, we decided on Eastern European-style cuisine, and we headed to Djerdan Burek. We're somewhat familiar with this food, as we used to vacation in Serbia, and this visit would take us back in time.

Atmosphere:
There's not much to say about the atmosphere at Djerdan because it doesn't really exist. Everything is very plain and overall, it resembles a no-frills take-out joint. But don't be turned off by this--you'll quickly see that the food more than makes up for Djerdan's bare-bones vibe, making this place a rare, special find.

There's a small "garden" in the back, with plastic furniture and fake hanging plants, but it is a nice, quiet getaway and a good place to talk. We liked how private it felt and it was like dining in our backyard--peaceful, unobtrusive and relaxing.

Food:
The menu drew us in from the beginning, offering a mix of ethnic appetizers, grilled meats and Serbian entree specialties. All this came at a very affordable price so we decided to grab the menus and sit down, ordering a plethora of dishes:

Appetizers - We ordered a couple of things that we shared including Djerdan's famous burek, shopska salad and a veal soup. Out of those, I strongly preferred the burek, which was stuffed with salty cottage cheese. To say that it was excellent doesn't do it justice! The layered dough consisted of flaky, buttery phyllo and the top boasted a well-done blistery crust. It was a pleasure to bite into, and the cheese provided a nice contrast in texture, mixing the flaky (crust) with the soft (cheese). I'm curious about trying it with meat next time.

The salad was a nice fresh start and reminded me of a Greek salad, with the the feta cheese and all. The veggies were crisp, juicy and overall, the dish offered a nice refreshment for the palate.

Peter ordered warm, veal soup that was comforting and very generous in portion. He finished most of it but I had a few spoonfuls of the flavorful broth and a few bites of the slow cooked veal--it was as tender and delicate as can be.

Entrees - We again ordered a bunch of plates and then passed them around for everyone to try. Our choices consisted of beef goulash, stuffed peppers, veal shish kebabs and cevapcici.

My favorite was the beef goulash, which unlike in Zlata Praha or Koliba where it's served with dumplings, came with hearty mashed potatoes and plenty of delicious beef gravy. The meat was the best part, as it was so tender that it fell apart on contact. Seasoned well and again, not too heavily salted, it was a filling dish, probably more suited for colder months.

Peter's stuffed peppers were wonderful and came with a side of those yummy mashed potatoes that were also served with the goulash. The portion was impressive with two large green pepper halves, stuffed at the seams with rice and ground beef. When I took a bite, I was immediately transformed to my grandmother's kitchen - the mix of comforting flavors tasted very homemade and you could feel the love and tradition that was poured into it.

I ordered my beloved cevapcici, which are tiny veal kebabs served on warm pita bread, with a side of chopped raw onions and red pepper sauce. There were so many of these lovely veal sausages that I knew I'd be taking half of the portion home. The red pepper sauce was refreshing to put on top of the meat and the onions provided a nice crunch. Although the meat came in a large pita, I liked eating it separately but that's a personal preference. If you like burgers, you'll love this.

My mom got an impressive order of veal shish kebabs, which were interspersed with slivers of carrots. The presentation was interesting, and the meat was juicy and zesty--flavored with Mediterranean spices and plenty of lemon. Sides of creamy lemon rice, raw onions, red pepper sauce and a chopped salad made this an extremely generous dish. It was the most well-rounded meal, providing diversity and excitement on a plate.

Dessert - It's hard to believe that we saved room for dessert, but lo and behold, we did. Our two choices were the keks torta (layered custard cake) and bombica (coconut, dark chocolate, rum macaroon). The keks torta was the more impressive of the two, offering a decadent cream filling that came in both chocolate and vanilla, sandwiched between spongy layers of cake. It reminded me of tiramisu, except the texture was firmer and the layers offered more complexity.

The bombica was delicious too and reminded me of my grandmother's rum balls. Djerdan's version was about 4 times the size but the taste and texture was virtually the same--thick, fudgy and chocolatey, laced with sweet coconut and rum. Mmmm...

Service and Cost:
I prefaced this review by saying that there's not much of an atmosphere here, and this extends to the service as well. I'm not saying that the service is bad, it's just kind of lax and not detail oriented. Things that should've been a no brainer (i.e. bringing glasses and straws with bottled water or giving us two extra forks for the dessert) had to be asked and reminded over and over. We didn't care because we weren't in a hurry, but just know what you're getting into--you have to spell it all out for them.

Despite the inconsistent service, our waitress was nice and courteous. She gave us recommendations but we had to pull them out of her. I think that she just wanted to get on with it.

Cost are unbelievably inexpensive and you can dine for way under $20/person for a big meal:

Appetizers: $2.95-$12.95
Entrees: $7.95-$16.95
Dessert: $2.50-$6.95

3 Mmmms

Pasha - A Convenient Bosnian Grill

Pasha - 28-27 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11102

718.726.0230

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I've been noticing Pasha, the new Bosnian cevapcici counter, on my way to the gym--it happens to be conveniently located underneath the subway. Everytime, I hear the word cevapcici--grilled minced meat served with flatbread, onions and sour cream--I think about my childhood and the vacations my family took to the former Yugoslavia. I remember the summers in Serbia, where we spent our days on the rocky beaches and our evenings in town, eating these delicious meaty treats.

Pasha provides a small glimpse of that childhood memory, as they serve traditional style cevapcici but their menu is also mixed to please a variety of palates. Below is a sampling of their menu. I'm excited to report back to you once I sample their cuisine--which I hope will be soon.

Bosnian Sandwiches: From the grill, they come served on fluffy pita bread with tomatoes, onion, lettuce and your choice of hummus, ayvar or sour cream).

Cevapcici - Minced beef, lamb kabob...$5.95-$8.95

Pleskavica - Bosnian-style burger...$8.95

Sudzuk - Spiced, smoked sausages...$5.95-$8.95

Healthy Corner: Served on toasted whole-wheat pita bread with mesculin greens

Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwich - Hot pita, hummus, sheppard salad and eggs sunny side up...$4.95

Healthy Tuna Snack - Hot pita bread, tomatoes, black olives, julienned carrots, red onions and light mayo...$5.25

Power Sandwich - Egg whites, turkey, fresh mozzarella, light mayo and tomatoes...$5.95

Salads:

Sheppard's Salad - Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, peppers, dill, olive oil, lemon sprinkled with feta cheese...$4.95...add $3.00 extra for grilled chicken

Pasha's Salad - Spring mix, chick peas, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, grilled mushrooms, crumbling of feta cheese, olive oil and vinegar...$5.50...add $3.00 extra for grilled chicken

Bosnian Cucumber Salad - Yogurt sauce, fresh cucumbers with dill and a little bit of garlic...$3.50

Desserts:

Tufahija - Sugary, walnut-stuffed apple, Bosnian style...$3.00

Tulumba - Honeyed pastry barrels, an old-time favorite...$2.00

Palacinke - Crepes with choice of nutella, banana and strawberries...$4.50

Pasha would be a good place to stop before going to a picnic in the park or when you're in the mood for a different kind of take-out.