As Fresh as it gets at Ned Ludd

Even with the bounty of deliciousness that constantly surrounds us in Portland, it's not often we get to eat at an upscale, gourmet restaurant but when we do, it's always spectacular.  Our recent visit to Ned Ludd for my birthday last week gave this statement more truth, as we were surrounded by fresh, seasonal and thoughtfully prepared dishes that we'd go back for any day.

Atmosphere:
Situated on the border of NE and NOPO, you'll find Ned Ludd on the busy MLK Blvd and truth be told, it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it.  The exterior is sort of rustic looking and the restaurant's signage not too prominent that you really have to look out for it.  But when you find it, you'll be glad you came - and you'll be happy to also see that it has an official parking lot, which is kind of rare.

The exterior is enticing in itself, as it adorns all the natural wood they use to power their signature wood burning oven.  I love that the vibe is very organic, rustic and doesn't look like it's trying too hard, which is definitely felt inside too.  While the interior decor feels a little thrown together, being made up of a hodgepodge of knick-knacks that look like they came from competing households, it still works together to create a charming atmosphere and in its own way, harmony.

Food:
Since the restaurant's philosophy is all things seasonal, fresh and centers around local bounty, we made sure to try a little bit of everything - especially the vegetables.  We weren't sorry in our choices and I was especially impressed with Dan's main dish:

Spiced Flatbread - Starting off with some homemade spiced pita breads simply sprinkled with course sea salt and fruity olive oil was a good idea.  Not only were they warm and airy, they paired nicely with our other dishes, especially the veggies.  It must be noted that the portion is generous and ample enough to share between 2 to 3 people.

Summer Squash Salad - I was instantly drawn to the description of this dish, which included Mediterranean flavors including za'atar and yogurt sauce.  Dan remarked that it tasted a little bit like tzatziki, which I somewhat agree with.  The squash itself was lovely, vibrant and cooked perfectly to preserve a little bit of bite.

Pastured Lamb - Being a total sucker for lamb, this was my dish of choice and while I liked it, I can't say I was in love.  Surprised that the meat was served on the cold/room temperature side, I expected something hot that melted in your mouth instead.  And while the cherry tomatoes and the pea shoots that rested on top were simply flawless, I thought the greyish eggplant puree on the bottom didn't do much for the plate's sensory appeal.

Cornish Hen - Totally opposite of the lamb, Dan's entree was a total standout.  First off, it looked absolutely gorgeous, sporting perfectly roasted skin that was sprinkled with fresh herbs and little edible flowers.  It just looked like a happy dish that you coudn't wait to dig into and once Dan gave me a generous piece, I was hooked and went back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.  The way in which it was cooked, resulting in one of the juiciest renditions of a chicken dish, was impressive.  It surpassed any expectations one may have about chicken, and while the veggies that surrounded it were fabulous too, it almost didn't even need anything to go along with it.

Service and Cost:
Just like everything else in the restaurant, the service was very much on point.  Our waiter was precise and attentive and very knowledgeable about the food.  It was he who steered Dan towards getting that amazing Cornish Hen, so if you're stuck between a few different choices, the staff can certainly help you.

Costs are on the higher side but justified given the quality and precision of everything.  The above mentioned meal with a drink set us back about $40 per person not including tip.

3 Mmmms

Ned Ludd - 3925 MLK Blvd, Portland OR 97212
503.288.6900
nedluddpdx.com

5 Great Seasonal Pies for the Fall

I love the fall, as it’s a great time to enjoy comforting foods that are warm, gooey, and sometimes sweet. Things like pies for example are now the ticket (and when aren’t they really?) and here I’ve put together a short list of 5 of my favorite places to get them:

Astor Bake Shop – I love ABS for pie especially since they often dish up delectable creations and bake with seasonal ingredients such as figs, apples, pumpkins and the like. Here’s a recent fig and almond tart/pie that I have my eye on.  12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria. 718.606.8439

Image via Yelp by Helen M.

Martha’s Country Bakery – To put together a pie round-up and not include Martha’s would be a sin, so I have to give them a nod here. From pumpkin, blueberry, lemon meringue, blueberry, cherry, apple, sour cream apple, they’ve got it all! I love the buttery, crumbly crust on their pies and appreciate that the ingredients inside are chunky and rustic.  36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.9737

Image by Leli's Bakery

Leli’s Bakery – Similar to Martha's, this country-style bakery and cafe serves up traditional fruit pies such as cherry, apple and blueberry. Flavors vary per day, but the price remains the same at $12.95 per pie.  You may get lured into trying their other goodies while you're there.  Don't resist! 35-14 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.626.8090

Image by The Queens Comfort

Queens Comfort – While you won’t find pie on their menu everyday, they do bake some on occasion and when they do, you can believe it’ll be creative and tasty. Look for non traditional pies such as this Pennsylvania Dutch Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie. Make sure you check their Instagram often where they disclose new things they’re working on.  40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria. 646.597.8687

Image by 51st Bakery and Cafe

51st Bakery & Cafe - This quaint little bakery in LIC dishes out some beautifully rustic creations such as this gorgeous apple tarte that resembles a traditional French galette.  Yum! 5-33 51st Avenue, LIC. 

Bear Rocks it Out for My Birthday

Last week was my Birthday Week, as I call it and I celebrated in many ways.  One of those ways involved getting together with my closest friends and family at Bear Restaurant and having a smashing meal.  I love to come by and sample their delectable local and seasonal dishes, and now with the official launch of the chef-driven menu that changes daily, I couldn't wait to see what was in store.

And as Chef Natasha hinted to me during our interview, she handed us a handwritten menu, full of daily specials, which we first devoured with our eyes.  Here are some of the awesome new things we tried that night, which you can probably find again this week or later in the summer:

Roasted Beet Salad - This was my appetizer, and it was really delightful - the beets looking beautifully crimson and tasting super fresh.  Dressed with the perfect accompaniments such as crunchy pickles, greens, cucumber and a little bit of fresh dill, the whole plate was earthy and left a clean taste on your palate.  Overall, it was a perfect way to tee up dinner.

Cheese Plate - One side of the table got the colossal cheese plate, which featured local cheeses from Hudson Valley, including Camembert, Brebis rousse d'Argental, Selles Sur Cher and Fourme D'Ambert along with creative fixins such as strawberry and blackberry purees and buckwheat honey.  The whole thing looked like a work of art, and was a delight to try, juxtaposing the savory cheeses with the sweet purees, bringing your tastebuds to attention through all that complexity.  I'd recommend this for hard-core, adventurous cheese lovers, and it can be something to get in the beginning or at the very end of your meal.

Pulled Pork Ribs - I love me some ribs and was expecting this to be tender and luxurious. I think I'd call it more rustic instead, but as far as taste is concerned, it was spot on.  Loving the spices that were incorporated into it, such as mustard seed and cumin, the dish was comforting and really primal.  While it had some nice, fresh sauteed veggies on the side, it didn't need much, as the protein itself was pleasantly filling.

Dessert - We chose to try both desserts of the day, including the homemade chocolate mousse and the yogurt parfait, both dressed with fresh berries.  Both were lovely, but I preferred the chocolate mousse, which was soft and velvety and as light as a cloud.  The fresh berries were simple, but really did the trick of making the overall flavors in each dessert pop.

Service and Cost:
I'm happy to report that the service continues to be a home run, full of personalization and special touches from Chef Natasha, her brother Alex and the rest of the Bear staff.  They really do make you feel like at home, and my guests were pleasantly impressed.

Costs are moderate and include:

Appetizers: $6-$11
Entrees: $18-$42

3 Mmmms

Bear - 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11106
917.396.4939
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bearnyc.com

LIC Market’s New Seasonal Spring Items

Everyone loves spring, and all that comes along with it, including a fresh new harvest of fruits and veggies. It’s exciting to see that local nabe favorites such as LIC Market continues to incorporate freshness into their menu, and here I’d like to tell you about some of their new items for spring. I hope they intrigue your tastebuds!

Morels, English peas applewood-smoked bacon, mint, ricotta salata
Heirloom tomatoes, basil puree, tatsoi, breadcrumbs
Asparagus, grana padano, lemon zest
Soft Shell Crab BLT, avocado, baby arugula, tomato, Maryland crab

Yum! I hope you stop in soon to check these out, as well as their other goodies such as bullseye eggs, a frittata of the day (pictured above), slow roasted duck hash, slow roasted pork and much more. Let me know what you think.

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

Guest Foodista Courtney on NYC's Seasonal

Top two images, courtesy of Seasonal

My colleague Courtney, who's a journalist is back with another guest review. You might remember her way back when she wrote about her experience at the romantic DC restaurant, Marvin. This time, Courtney covers NYC's Seasonal, a very special kind of eatery--upscale, non-pretentious and delicious.

Seasonal - 132 West 58th Street, New York NY 10019
212.957.5550
N/R/W/Q Train to 57th Street
www.seasonalnyc.com

Atmosphere: Seasonal is an elegant European midtown restaurant in a warm alcove of leather cubby seating, natural wood floors and brilliant white walls--adorned with contemporary Austrian and German art.

Food:

Aperitif - The "Spicemaker," a Maker's Mark mix of cinnamon, tangerine and spices warmed me up on a very cold January evening.

Appetizers - The beet infused pasta, accompanying the buttery scallops was phenomenal--in fact, one of the best food items I've ever eaten. The Executive Chef, Wolfgang Ban, came over to tell us how he had peeled the beets, cooked them for hours, saved the juices and allowed the tender pasta to soak up the purple flavors all morning.

Entrees - The pumpkin seed crusted Black Sea Bass with butternut squash sauce and black truffles was fresh and full of texture.

Wine - The Austrian and German wine pairings were exceptional; the attentive wait staff paired the appetizers with a very dry white and then followed up with a fruity, light wine for the main courses.

Dessert - Our dessert, pumpkin seed semolina cream with fig confit, was very unique and tasted better with each bite.

Costs: Seasonal is an expensive Midtown restaurant, but they deliver elegant service and use only the freshest ingredients from locally sourced products. Appetizers cost between $10 - $18 and entrees are between $21 - $32. Seasonal produced the utmost quality in their cuisine. My only disappointment was with the boring white bread, but I shouldn't have eaten two pieces of it anyway.

3 Mmmms