East River Cafe - Old Fashioned Italian Never Goes Out of Style

East River Cafe - 1111 First Avenue, New York NY 10021
212.980.3144
N/R/4/5/6 Train to 59th and Lexington
http://www.eastrivercafe.com/

Always in the mood to explore a new restaurant, my friend Bo and I dined at a traditional Italian eatery called East River Cafe on the Upper East Side.  We were invited to a tasting and were of course excited to sample a wide variety of Italian goodies including pasta, seafood and desserts.

What I found interesting about East River's history is that it's actually owned by an Egyptian gentleman whose grandmother ironically only cooked Italian food. I found that to be a neat story and was looking forward to trying an Egyptian take on Italian cuisine.

Atmosphere:
Even though East River Cafe isn't a new restaurant, it's been refurbished on the inside with modern chairs and tables that make you feel comfortable, but also with nostalgic decor elements such as black and white photographs, mirrors and lanterns that bring you back to another time.  The music is what really did it for me - jazz classics and slow ballads that transport you to a time when going out to eat was glamorous and people dressed up to do it.

We arrived early enough that the place wasn't crowded - we saw a few couples enjoying a romantic meal, but East River also has larger round tables suitable for bigger groups.  I loved that the front-of-the-house windows opened up, allowing us to enjoy the warm summer breeze outside as well as the lively activity on 1st avenue.

Food:
We tried a little bit of everything - fresh veggies, a pasta course, seafood and dessert.  There's a lot to choose from and I think East River does a good job of accommodating different palates  - from serious meat eaters to vegetarians.

Insalata ai Lamponi - We were in the mood for something healthy and refreshing and our eyes automatically veered to this summer salad with arugula, fresh raspberries, feta cheese and a coating of lemon vinaigrette.  It was a perfect way to start a multi-course meal.  I especially loved how the sweet raspberries offset the salty feta cheese--the combination working beautifully to satisfy your immediate hunger but still exciting the palate for more things to come.

Pomodori Gnocchi - Being a huge fan of gnocchi, I was excited to see the amazing variety that was offered at East River Cafe.  While I've already tried several combinations on the menu at other restaurants, what stood out to me most was the gnocchi pomodori, with pesto, brie cheese and cream sauce.  I've never had brie in a gnocchi dish and the prospect of it was very exciting.  Overall, we loved these soft, delicious mounds, which were made out of potatoes and tomatoes (hence, the "pomodori").  It was evident that they were homemade due to  their light texture, which softened the rich flavors of the cream sauce.  The brie was gentle but definitely evident and if you're a cheese lover, you'll appreciate it.

Salmone in Crosta di Patate alla Senape - Even though the name of this dish sounds fancy, it wasn't uber sophisticated, yet it was very delicious.  Consisting of decadently moist salmon wrapped in a thin layer of potato, resting on a bed of dijon mustard sauce, I thought this dish was scrumptious.  It's not one that I ordered but will definitely have to next time around.  While the color of the mustard sauce was off-putting, don't be misled by it because the flavors are just right.

Cannolis - A classic Italian dessert, we were curious as to how it'd measure up at East River Cafe.  While I'd say that the cannoli shell was crispy, light and excellent, the filling needed some help and maybe additional vanilla bean flavor.  I also would've liked the cannoli cream to be colder, as I love the taste of a rich, chilled custard.

Service and Cost:
Our server was confident and respectful and I loved that he had a clear command of the menu.  Even though we were on a tasting, he wasn't over-attentive, which I appreciated and thought it added authenticity to our experience.

Costs are moderate and include:

Appetizers - $6 - $14
Pasta & Gnocchi - $12 -$20
Pizza - $9 - $14
Entrees - $16 - $26

2 Mmmms

The Crooked Tree Serves Straight-Up Goodness

The Crooked Tree - 110 St. Marks Place, New York NY 10009
212.533.3299
6 Train to Astor Place

Mmmm...I love crepes! Accustomed to eating this wonderful delicacy at home in true Eastern European fashion, I was excited when I got invited to a crepe tasting at The Crooked Tree in the East Village.  A fan of both sweet and savory crepes, I was happy to explore The Crooked Tree's offering, looking forward to being exposed to their creativity and variety of flavors.  My experience went something like this:

Atmosphere:
Three words I'd use to describe The Crooked Tree are quaint, intimate and cheery.  It's very much a Village restaurant, in that it's funky and whimsical and doesn't care about fitting the mold.  I like that it offers sparse outdoor seating with a view of their namesake, a tilted tree that grows out front.

The inside, while small is really cozy and endearing.  Fun accoutrements such as old books, figurines and even an oversized jar of Nutella (giving you a preview of what's to come) provide sure conversation starters among diners.  I almost keeled over with joy when I saw that Nutella! 
 
You'll find that because the tables are positioned closely together, you almost feel like you're dining with close family and friends.  And while this sometimes bothers me, it worked well in this atmosphere by creating a strange and wonderful "communal" feel.  We got to meet our fellow diners and even exchanged a few opinions about the food. 

Food:
In addition to trying the sweet and savory crepes, we also had a few Crooked Tree signature appetizers and their house-made sangria.  Here's what we thought:

Appetizers - We wanted a little buffer before diving into the crepes, so we tried The Crooked Tree's signature bruschetta and pesto breads.  Although they were simple and certainly not new to us, they were made with such delicious ingredients that we devoured them quickly.  The tomato in the bruschetta was juicy and sweet, intensely flavored by garlic and fresh basil.  And the pesto breads were something else - topped with tangy goat cheese, they were also garlicky and earthy, its flavors rounded out by good quality olive oil.

Another app we tried were the fried zucchini sticks, which I was really looking forward to but ended up being disappointed by.  Overall, I thought they were too heavily breaded and a bit on the oily side - there was too much breading and not enough zucchini. I also wasn't in love with the marinara sauce they were served with - it tasted generic.

Savory Crepes - Now this is where things started to turn around for the best, and I could see why they specialize in crepe making - they're great at it.  Michelle and I ordered 1 savory crepe each - she tried the classic mozzarella, tomato, basil while I went for the prosciutto, brie, tomato and arugula.  Both were delicious and what I most loved about them was the light, fluffy crepe exterior.  It was delicate in your mouth but was durable enough to hold all the hefty ingredients nestled inside.

Both crepes we chose were awesome and the cheese melted beautifully in them, melding with the rest of the ingredients. I had a slight preference for my crepe, as it incorporated bolder flavors with the smoky prosciutto, peppery arugula and a salty bite from the luxurious brie.

Sweet Crepes - After gawking at the impressive-looking Grand Marnier crepe that our next-door-table-friends ordered, we couldn't wait to try our own.  Even though we were full, we ordered two sweet crepes--the homemade dulce de leche and the chocolate stuffed with tropical fruit such as mango.

The dulce de leche was out of this world, boasting a homemade caramel sauce that was thick and velvety.  Its sweetness was set off by the fresh fruit that was tucked inside the crepe and the airy whipped cream, piped around the edges of the plate. 

Unfortunately, we didn't feel the same way about our latter sweet crepe - not to say that it wasn't enjoyable, but it didn't share the same pizzaz as the dulce de leche.

A funky variety of the sweet/savory crepe that I'd love to try next time is the Chocolate/Almond/Bacon.  Wow - doesn't that just make your mouth water?

Sangria - Michelle and I were intrigued by The Crooked Tree's Peach Mango sangria.  It sounded exotic and wonderful, promising a much needed refresher on this very hot day.  While it was satisfactory, the flavors didn't really pop and were a bit watered down.  I'd like to try the classic red or white option next time.

Service and Cost:
Just as the size of this place is so intimate and personal, so is its service.  The restaurant's owners handle service themselves, making you feel comfortable and just like at home.  I love that they have a clear command of the menu, being able to recommend sound dishes as well as describe ingredients and cooking methods.  It was impressive to see that the minute our glasses were drained, the friendly staff was right there ready to accommodate us.

Prices are wallet friendly and include:

Appetizers: $6 - $11
Sandwiches: $7 -$10 
Savory Crepes: $6 -$10
Sweet Crepes: $4 -$8

2.5 Mmmms

Masala Wala Tasting - Healthy Indian Street Food

Another fun part of my Chicago trip included attending an Indian street food tasting at Kimberly's friend, Aditya's place. I was excited to attend, as I love Indian food and the thought of modern, healthy Indian eats intrigued me.

The story behind the tasting is that Aditya, along with his classmates at the University of Chicago are working on a business plan for Masala Wala, an Indian street food company, which they invented. Currently, Masala Wala is a finalist in the school's business plan competition, and if they win, they have the potential to bring their idea to life--very entrepreneurial and very exciting!

The Masala Wala Chicken Wrap - The main dish that we sampled was a very light yet filling chicken wrap, enveloped in a paratha (Indian flat bread). I liked that the chicken was fresh, with a lot of good, juicy white meat. Indian flavoring was definitely felt but it wasn't too overpowering or spicy--thus, appropriate for an American palate. My favorite part of the dish was the actual wrap (paratha), which was on the medium-well done side and it felt substantial enough for a starch. The tamarind chutney served alongside of it was fantastic, introducing an element of sweetness.

I would definitely buy something like this for lunch or even for a snack during the week.

I wish Masala Wala luck in the competition and I hope to be eating their delicious chicken paratha wraps next time I'm in Chicago. Chicagoans, look out for them!

Bondi Road - Great Food from Down Under

Bondi Road - 153 Rivington Street, New York NY 10002

212.253.5311

F to Delancey Street

www.bondiroad.com

I was happy to accept an invitation to a private fall tasting at Lower East Side Aussie restaurant, Bondi Road. Relatively new to the nabe, Bondi is also sibling to an Aussie joint in Alphabet City called The Surnburnt Cow. My bro Peter and I spent an enjoyable evening at Bondi and we can't wait to go back for their $15 unlimited cocktail brunch.

Atmosphere:

Bondi Road is a small, casual restaurant on Rivington Street--right in the middle of hipster Mecca. Fitting in with its surroundings, it offers something new and unique to the trend-setting crowd that gathers there.

The restaurant is small-ish and narrow. There are a couple of tables outside but the majority are inside booths or you can sit at the bar. What I like about Bondi is its casual vibe. Upon walking in, Peter and I were greeted by a floor-to-ceiling mural of Bondi Beach. It was pretty cool to look at and definitely provided a conversation starter. Although, I consider Bondi to be a trendy place, I wouldn't dress up to come here. You'll see the staff sporting comfy jeans, t-shirts and piercings? Umm...yeah. Anything goes here--it's quintessential Lower East Side.

Food:

Both of us have never had Aussie cuisine, so we were pretty psyched. Our tasting menu consisted of 7 courses including dessert--indulgence at its max. My favorite dish was the kangaroo. Believe it or not, this breaded meaty sensation stole my heart. Here's more about our tasting:

Classic Oysters Kilpatrick - This was our starter course--it consisted of baked Blue Point oysters on the half-shell, dressed with plenty of bacon. You had to eat pretty much all of the bacon to get to the precious oyster. That wasn't a problem for me, as I adore bacon--and once I got that lovely smoky taste in my mouth, it made the oyster taste that much better.

BBQ Shrimp and Watermelon Salad - I've never seen this type of inventive combination before--shrimp, watermelon tossed with lettuce, feta cheese and a lemon mustard vinaigrette. The watermelon and feta combo was the best. What a lovely, refreshing contrast of sweet and salty! The shrimp were delicious too and provided a hearty touch from bbq flavoring. I'd love to get this again in its regular portion. What a treat!

Baby Scallop Rigatoni - Whenever I think of pasta, I envision something really heavy. Not this. It was super light because the rigatoni were cut in half and paired with asparagus, porcini mushrooms and baby scallops. I also liked the sauce, which had a seafood essence and the scallops themselves were sliced thin, making them much more manageable. Another interesting touch was the generous slice of muenster cheese on top--a lovely smooth finish, which made this Peter's favorite dish.

Shark with Roasted Beets and Barramundi with Chips - Getting to the core of this tasting, the shark and barramundi provided a glimpse into Bondi's Sunday and Monday specials. The shark was fabulous and again, very easy on the stomach. It was grilled lightly and rested on a bed of chunky red beats seasoned with lemon juice--very simple, natural flavors that worked well. I'd definitely come back for a Shark Attack Sunday offering.

The Barramundi, an Australian freshwater fish was beer battered and accompanied by thick-cut fries or chips. I liked the breading a lot but didn't care for the fish itself. It had a funky aftertaste that just lingered on your tongue, making you reach for a glass of water or beer. Although it looked great, I probably wouldn't get it next time.

King George Whiting and Tasmanian Ocean Trout - I'm a big fan of whiting--having tasted it a couple of times in Astoria. Bondi's version was grilled lightly and paired with garlic mushrooms and sweet pea puree. Absolutely loving sweet mushy peas, I was crazy about the ones here as well. I kept dipping the fish into them, which again made for a wonderfully sweet/salty combination.

The trout provided an earthy taste, as it was served with ratatouille and roasted tomato sauce. While I enjoyed it, I preferred the whiting. Peter on the other hand liked the trout better, appreciating its substantial texture and acidy taste from the veggies.

Breaded Roo Fillet - People might frown upon eating kangaroo because it's such a foreign concept but I strongly suggest it. To put it in familiar terms, it tastes like a delightful combination of chicken and beef. It was breaded in a crunchy crust--maybe topped with panko. And since the meat was so hearty, it was accompanied with arugula salad, embellished with sweet cherry dressing. The salad was sprinkled with a handful of dried cherries--just fantastic when combined with a forkfull of the roo. This was hands-down my favorite dish of the night.

Beer - What better way to wash down all that fish than with authentic Australian brew. Peter and I both ordered Coopers Original Pale Ale--a semi-bitter beer that reminded me of a cross between Stella Artois and Red Stripe. Definitely a good option that I'll order again in the future.

Kiwi-Mango Pavlova - A typical Australian dessert, the Bondi Pavlova provided a yummy ending to a delicious night. The kiwi and mango were sliced thin and and topped the crunchy meringue shell. The inside was soft and silky--a luxurious nucleus to this mound of goodness. Although I do love me some chocolate, I didn't miss it one bit in this fresh, indulgent dessert.

Service:

We were at a tasting so the service was pretty superb--no surprise there. Our waitresses were friendly, engaged us in conversation and solicited feedback about the food. It was also nice to hear their endearing Aussie accents--hard to understand at times but pleasant to the ear.

We had the honor of meeting the chef too, who was as funky and as interesting as our evening at Bondi Road--he represented the restaurant well and you could see why things are done the way that they are.

I strongly suggest that you pay a visit to Bondi Road, especially on the weekends for brunch or their $10 shark steaks or $10 pitchers of beach juice.

3 Mmmms Mate

"Giro di Italia" Tasting at Winegasm

Winegasm is having an Italian food and wine tasting tomorrow, featuring a guest chef, Pasquale Frola of NYC's Naples 45. Winegasm's owners have been talking about this for quite some time but now it's actually happening--yay! Below is the scoop as well as some of the menu items--including wine. Go ahead and pop-in, it'll only set you back $25.

When: Sunday, August 24th at 8p

Where: Winegasm - 31-86 37th Street, Atoria NY 11103. 718.932.3331

How Much?: $25 for food and $5 for wine

Food:

Crostata di Tagliatelle - Tagliatelle pasta with peas, bechamel sauce, parmesan cheese, ham; oven baked with a crunchy crust

Polpetti Alla Luciana – Braised octopus with olives, capers and cherry tomatoes

Pizza Rustica - Rustic pie with ricotta, eggs, ham and cheese

Pere al Cioccolato - Baked pears, almond dark chocolate, honey, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze

And much more...

Vino:

Sparkling - Lessini Durello

White - Falanghina dei Feudi di San Gregorio

Red - Cannonau Riserva Sella & Mosca

They'll also have specialty aperitifs such as Molinari sambuca and limoncello.

Buon Appetito Astoria.