Channeling Elvis at the Morning Rose Cafe

Last week, Dan and I found ourselves back in NY visiting family for various exciting affairs.  It was nice to see everyone, but the weather didn't make it the best welcoming, as we got stuck in the snowstorm for a bit.  No matter though, as we got to enjoy more time with the family and eat delicious food in the process.  One such experience I'd like to touch on here is a fabulous breakfast we had with our sister-in-law, brother-in-law and nieces at a quaint little restaurant called the Morning Rose Cafe.

Atmosphere:
Situated right in the town of Bellmore on the South Shore of Long Island, the Morning Rose Cafe has proven to be quite the popular spot with locals.  We happened to come in on a snowy morning when the place wasn't too crowded but I've been told that on a regular weekend morning there's a line out the door with people waiting to have breakfast.

The decor inside is very simple, yet cozy and friendly.  There's plenty of natural light and the walls are painted in bright colors, which give the place a cheery look.  We were seated at a nice, long table for six and helped right away by the hospitable staff.  Needless to say, we felt right at home.

Food:
Marveling at the extensive breakfast menu, which has everything from Frittatas to French Toast, buttermilk pancakes to Belgian waffles, and more, a decision had to be made.  As soon as I noticed a tantalizing combination of ingredients in the King Cakes, I knew they had to be mine!

King Cakes - By King, we're no doubt talking about Elvis himself and his favorite combination of flavors including peanut butter, bananas and bacon.  Yes - those are the sinful ingredients that made up this pancake dish and looking at the above picture, you can imagine why I couldn't resist.  Loving the fact that the bananas were nestled inside the pancake as well as on top, they made for a perfect combination with the melty peanut butter sandwiched in between the fluffy stack.  Dan tried them as well and vouched for how awesome they were.  Even though I'm eager to try other things on the menu, this item will be tough to pass up next time.

Service and Cost:
As I hinted above, the service at the Morning Rose Cafe matched its hospitable surroundings.  All the servers were smiley and helpful and always there to refill waters and bring us whatever we needed. They were especially lovely to the kids, which says a lot about the restaurant's culture and management - thumbs up all around.

Costs are moderate to slightly expensive for a small local restaurant but definitely worth it for the quality of the food and the excellent service.  We paid a total of $50 for the both of us, including two cups of coffee.

3 Mmmms

Morning Rose Cafe - 317 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore NY 11710
516.221.5010
morningrosecafe.com

Lima 33 - Feast Fit for a Peruvian

Being that I'm a chicken, rice and beans kind of girl, I was naturally intrigued by the a fairly new Peruvian restaurant I spotted in Little Neck called Lima 33.  Previously a sushi joint, Lima 33 came on the scene about 4 months ago and sits amongst a sea of Asian food establishments.  Lima's differentiation certainly helps it stand out, as my brother Peter and I noticed it right away, and then shortly after, perused their Yelp reviews.  A few days later, along with Fiana, we were there devouring their delicious Peruvian cuisine.

Atmosphere:
Located on a busy corner on Northern Blvd and 254th Street, Lima is accessible by car, bus or even the LIRR.  Because it's new, the decor is sleek and modern, boasting a few colorful touches such as bright pink banquettes and seat cushions.  A royal blue accent wall injects more cheeriness and elegance, along with enlarged prints, showcasing scenes from Lima.

While the kitchen isn't completely open concept, you do get a glimpse of what's cooking, especially the golden brown rotisserie chickens that are Lima's specialty.  Since they're still in the process of getting their liquor license, you can for the time being enjoy a BYOB option, so if you fancy a a little vino, make sure you stop across the street at the new Collezione Wine & Spirits. The staff will even get a bottle of wine for you, if you ask nicely.

Food:
I liked perusing Lima's classic but uncomplicated menu, making it easy to choose something quickly.  Since we were in the mood to share, we went for the appetizer special of the day as well as the Super Combinacion meal, which was big enough to share between 3-4 people.

Stuffed Plantain Appetizer - Sounding too good to pass up, we were immediately entranced by our server's description of this dish and ordered it on the spot.  Consisting of a pretty layer cake of mashed plantains, chicken salad, olive tapenade and avocados, it presented virtually all of my favorite Latin flavors.  While we liked the overall flavor profile, we agreed that it would've been preferable to serve the chicken warm, instead of in a chilled salad format.

Super Combinacion - This combination meal represented everything that I appreciate about Peruvian restaurants, and it reminded me of a similar menu item you can get at Pio Pio.  We loved that the plates just kept on coming, creating quite a feast before our eyes of a whole rotisserie chicken, rice & beans, salchipapas (little hot dogs with French fries), sweet plantains and an avocado salad.

The chicken was my favorite, boasting a beautifully golden crispy skin and an incredible amount of juiciness in both the white and dark pieces.  A close second were the sweet plantains that had a slightly sticky, sweet coating and a nice firm texture when you bit into them.  The mountain of slightly smokey salchipapas and the crispy fries didn't suck either.  Together, it was more than enough food to feed a small Peruvian village (or at least 3 hungry New Yorkers).

Service and Cost:

While our food experience surpassed expectations, the service was even more remarkable.  Not only were we greeted in a friendly fashion, every last detail of our experience was well taken care of, including the refilling of our water and wine glasses, clean silverware, and an acute attention to virtually everything.  We felt well taken care of but in such a way that was friendly and welcoming, enjoying an easy conversation with the staff.

Costs are super affordable, especially now that Lima is still BYOB.  The above mentioned hefty dinner only set us back about $57 for 3 people, which includes tax and tip!  Que bueno!

3 Mmmms

Lima 33 - 254-04 Northern Blvd, Little Neck NY 11362
718.225.4949
LIRR to Little Neck or N20 Bus

My North Fork Adventure

Last weekend was eventful for Dan and me, as we spent it on the North Fork of Long Island, a region known for vineyards. We attended a wedding at the beautiful Raphael vineyard, and then chose to extend our weekend, visiting various wineries and tasting local cuisine. It was super relaxing and I'd recommend it for an impromptu getaway, as it feels like you've left busy New York and entered into a beautiful, wine haven.

Diliberto Winery - This was the first vineyard that we visited after Raphael, and it was our favorite. Although it's one of the smallest in the region, we loved its personal feel--from the cozy patio seating to the friendly owners who educated us about their signature wines. We did the Summer Tasting for $6 per person, which included two whites and a rose. I enjoyed the Chardonnay the most and thought that the tasting provided a good value. The vibe was very chill and we didn't feel rushed to leave, enjoying our wine and good conversation. 250 Manor Lane, Jamesport NY 11947. 631.722.3416

Martha Clara Vineyards - Next was Martha Clara, which had a very different feel than Diliberto--it was a lot bigger and somewhat corporatey. I later found out that it's owned by the Entenmann family, who also produces the well-known cookies, cakes and doughnuts that many of us grew up eating.

We participated in a special wine and chocolate tasting, which for a chocoholic such as myself couldn't be more perfect. The tasting consisted of 5 wines and 5 types of chocolate, starting with light and sweet to very dark and bitter. I preferred the sweeter wines but the bitter chocolate. We even got to meet the chocolatier who made all of the delicious treats--he was from a local dessert company called Chip'n Dipped. I highly recommend it, especially their darker varieties, some of which contain ganache.

Besides the organized tastings, there's also a small petting zoo on the premises, which is adorable and perfect for kids. You can pick fresh sunflowers and relax on the many picnic tables that they have on the property. 6025 Sound Avenue, Riverhead NY 11901. 631.298.0075

Castello di Borghese Vineyard - One of the oldest wineries in the region, it's been around since 1973 and produces mostly Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. I tried the Riesling and liked it very much--it was light, crisp with a peachy undertone. Their facilities are nice and unpretentious--we relaxed outside on reclining lounge chairs, peacefully passing the time. Route 48 (Sound Avenue) and Alvah's Lane, Cutchogue NY 11935. 631.734.5111

After all that wine, we filled our bellies with Long Island's fresh seafood. We stopped at Crabby Jerry's in Greenport, which is run by Claudio's Restaurant. It was a simple, no frills seafood counter, situated right on the water and next to other Claudio's establishments such as the clam bar and the restaurant.

We ordered three things--fried clam strips with French fries, a bowl of steamed seafood as well as Manhattan Clam Chowder. Out of all of these, the fried clam strips and fries were the best. I loved how fresh and salty the clam strips tasted and the batter was wonderfully crispy and zesty, after a nice spritz of lemon. The assorted seafood was good too but it wasn't a great value at $24, as opposed to the amazing deal on the fried clam strips, which were only $8.95 for a generous portion.

The Manhattan Clam Chowder was enjoyable but not one of the best I've had--the broth was lacking in flavor but the clams were superb. If you dine here, I'd go for the fried stuff. It's ok to splurge--after all, you're on vacation. 111 Main Street, Greenport NY 11944. 631.477.8252

It was hard to come back to the busy streets of Astoria after this short but tranquil break. With no traffic, it's only about an hour and a half away.

Peter Luger Steakhouse - Over-hyped, Overpriced and Underwelmed

Peter Luger Steakhouse - 225 Northern Blvd, Great Neck NY 11021
516.487.8800
www.peterluger.com

As mentioned, Dan's 30th birthday extravaganza extended through the weekend. And at the conclusion of it, we found ourselves at the legendary Peter Luger Steakhouse in Great Neck, Long Island. Although it wasn't the original location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we thought it would still promise an unprecedented experience.

While the birthday boy couldn't be happier, I wasn't impressed and wouldn't return again. Here's why...

Atmosphere:
Located on the border of Queens and Long Island, Peter Luger is situated in Great Neck, NY a nice town that doesn't exactly feel like suburbia and is easy to get to for both Queens residents and Long Islanders.

From first glance you could tell that Luger's is traditional. The outside is white with wooden moldings and old-school lanterns, while the inside is embellished with more wood accents. The feel is almost gothic with the many lanterns, chandeliers and large oil paintings. The prevailing aura is warm and cozy and I could see Luger's being a nice venue to celebrate the winter holidays.

There are plenty of large tables for big groups, as it seems to be the norm when dining here.

Food:
My expectations were super high in this area and I'm sad to report that I was underwhelmed. While there wasn't anything explicitly wrong with the food, it was just unexciting and plain.

Sliced Tomatoes and Onion - Although the description of this dish was simple, I was expecting something less ordinary than what came out on the plate. We were literally served large beef-steak tomatoes with sliced raw onions. I didn't understand why this even existed on the menu and why they charged $12 for it. What a rip-off! The tomatoes and onions were good but who couldn't just slice this up on a plate at home. One benefit was that when dressed with Peter Luger's own steak sauce, it brought all sorts of delicious flavors out of the tomatoes and onions.

Caesar Salad - Now this was a well done starter. All ingredients were wonderfully fresh, the dressing was creamy and tangy and the parmesan cheese on top was the piece-de-resistance--thick, flavorful and absolutely addicting.

Steak for Eight - We actually ordered steak for seven because there was a lot of meat served with this portion. Half the table got medium and the other half got medium-rare. I preferred the medium--don't care if it's un-foodie like--but I thought that the medium-rare tasted too raw. The flavors settled nicely in the medium cut and I liked the char on the outside. But steak texture is a very personal thing so naturally, some of my dining companions disagreed with me.

The Sides - This is my favorite part of any steak dinner, more so than the actual steak. Our sides included creamed spinach, Luger's special German fried potatoes and onion rings. I liked the potatoes best because they reminded me of what my dad makes at home. They were slightly well done and interlaced with caramelized onions. The creamed spinach was a close second, as it was gentle on the palate and so luxurious too. I didn't care for the onions rings at all and thought they were too greasy. Nothing compares to the gargantuan, cake-like batter onion rings at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Luger's version didn't stand a chance.

Dessert - Dan and I ordered the "Holy Cow" Hot Fudge Sunday, which was impressive-looking but tasted just OK. The chocolate sauce was flavorless but the homemade whipped cream was good, there was just too much of it. The other side of the table ordered key lime pie--it was very good, and I especially liked the homemade crust. Again, they overdid it on the whipped cream.

Service and Cost:
The service was superior and one of the best I've ever witnessed. The waiters are all older, experienced men who know their steak and who don't mess around. Their attitude is friendly and warm but straightforward - no bull. It was nice that they not only cut our steak for us but also placed it carefully on our plates. The same was done with the sides and although we didn't always see our waiter, he was paying close attention to everything, refilling our glasses when needed or wrapping up a dish to take home. Overall, the service was excellent and felt like family.

The prices at Luger's are exorbitant and not worth spending. Steak for seven cost us a whopping $298, while the sides ranged from $8.95 - $11.95 and dessert was $9 each. Needless to say, the whole dinner cost a small fortune.

2 Mmmms

Foodista Gets Married - Rehearsal Dinner at Cielo

Cielo - 321 Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788
631.724.1918

http://www.cielocuisine.com/

Loyal readers know that the Foodista is currently out of town, enjoying her honeymoon. I decided that my first post in her absence should pay homage to her just-passed wedding weekend. I’m aware that weddings/rehearsal dinners are notorious for serving sub par food, but fortunately for me (and everyone else who was there) this was not the case.

The rehearsal dinner was hosted at Cielo. Cielo, which I’m pretty sure is translated to mean “sky,” is a great little Italian restaurant. It has a real rustic feel to it, and while it does seem small, it really proved it could host a whole lot of people. It also has a really cool bar with TVs so you can conveniently check out the scores to any game while “on your way to the bathroom.” Anyway, here’s what my dinner consisted of:

Salad/Pasta- Nice way to start everything off. It was the usual, simple starter salad and penne dish, but they definitely got things started off on the right foot. There was a light balsamic dressing on top of the salad which wasn’t overwhelming at all. This was important for me because I’m not too big on being served a salad that’s pre-dressed. And the penne had the perfect amount of creamy sauce, which everyone was able to garnish for themselves with shaved parmesan.

Tilapia Oreganata- Awesome. This was the entrée I chose to go with, though there were a few other options. I loved my choice. The tilapia was perfectly cooked and not fishy at all. The breading wasn’t too crispy, and complimented the fish it encrusted. I cut off a piece with the edge of my fork, squeezed some lemon juice on top, and swirled it around in the light cream sauce it sat on top off. The flavor combination was refreshing, but also filling. Still, always room for dessert, especially when dessert means cheesecake.

CHEESECAKE- I couldn’t say enough good things about this cheesecake—or the whipped cream/caramel sauce combo that was drizzled on top. Really, just try it.

When it came to the service, the waitstaff was really nice, but things were definitely on the slower side. Though to be fair, we were a party of about 60. So I'd say that's understandable. But if you're ever in the area, with a smaller group of people, you should definitely check out Cielo and let me know about your service experience. Also, the lunch and dinner menus look great, so I'd love to hear from anyone who's had the chance to dine at Cielo for a non-catered event!

2 Mmmms from me (Vicky)

Abe's Pitaria - When in Long Beach...

Abe's Pitaria - 32 West Park Avenue, Long Beach NY 11561

516.897.3582

LIRR to Long Beach

On my way back from Long Beach last week, Dan urged me to visit Abe's Pitaria--a Greek take-out joint famous for falafel and gyros. Having worked in its Wantagh location back in High School, he's sort of biased, but after trying it, I certainly know what he's talking about. Abe's also happens to be owned by the brother of Dan's dearest childhood friend, Matt.

Atmosphere:

Abe's is a take-out joint, which is pretty obvious as soon as you step inside--no frills in terms of decor but it works for them.

I think that the best thing about this place is the location--it happens to be right across the street from the Long Island Rail Road, therefore getting plenty of foot traffic from beach-goers. Although random passerbys are common, I observed that Abe's has a loyal following. The place was never empty and every time someone came in, they seemed to really know the staff and the staff knew them--it felt like a trusty neighborhood hangout.

Food:

The menu offers all of your favorite Greek/Mediterranean staples such as gyros, falafel, spinach pie and such. I was in the mood for something substantial so I ordered a beef gyro. Quite delicious and one of the best I've had in a while. Here's why...

Beef Gyro Sandwich - Dan warned me about the amazingness of this gyro. The secret lies in its untraditional sauce, made up of tzatziki mixed with barbecue sauce. It sounds weird and it has a slightly pinkish hue but once that sweet tanginess hits your tongue, you won't look back. This was by far my favorite aspect about the gyro--the incredible flavor that the sauce brought. I also loved that they put feta right on the gyro. I happen to love feta and in Astoria, it typically doesn't come with the gyro unless you ask for it. I loved it and it melted nicely into the tender meat. The pita was also excellent and looked like it was whole wheat.

Although I didn't have any room for their famous falafel, I might try it next time in a sandwich. Dan still hasn't stopped raving about it!

Service and Cost:

The service was full of personality. Aaron, Abe's owner is quirky, spunky and not afraid to show how much he loves his job. His interaction with his staff was endearing, as they all seem to sing their customers' orders to one another. They laugh a lot and seem like they have a jolly good time, which rubs off on patrons. It's a fun and positive place to visit.

The prices are reasonable and while you might find a better deal on Greek fare in Astoria, the quality of food at Abe's is worth the extra bucks. My gyro and drink set me back around $8.

3 Mmmms