Vesta's Feast of the 7 Fishes is Back

It's been a while since I mentioned Vesta, but they're alive and kicking, and stronger than ever.  Not only does it continue to be a popular "must-try" restaurant in Astoria, it's now frequented by locals as well as city folk.  So I've heard...

Back at it this holiday season, they'll be serving the Italian signature, Feast of the 7 Fishes feast on Christmas Eve.  It's a festive meal that promises a lot of variety and deliciousness.  Just feast your eyes on these yummies:

Saturday, December 24th from 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. 
Prix-Fixe $55/person (+ $20 with wine pairing) 
‘La Vigilia’ menu is for the entire table

Antipasto
Oven Baked Sardines, Orange Segments, Fennel Fronds
Butter Poached Lobster Bisque, Tomatoes
Fried Shrimp, Roasted Tomato

Primo
Salt Cod Fettuccini, Potatoes, Parsley & Cream

Secondo
Pan-fried Skate, manilla clams, Caper-Sage Butter Sauce
Braised Hake, Anchovy, Fennel Seed, Garlic, Chili

Dessert (choice of)
Baby Jesus Cake
Creme brulee

For tables not selecting from the prix fixe menu, a portion of the a la carte menu will be available.

A La Carte Menu
Margherita...$12
Roasted Squash Soup, spiced butter & vin cotto...$8
Poached Egg Salad, frisee, arugula, mache, balsamic vinaigrette & crostini...$10
Rigatoni, blue cheese cream & seasoned bread crumbs...$13
Lasagna, three-meat ragu (Sunday Dinner Style)...$15
Vintage Bavette Steak, sweet potato puree & asparagus...$24

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue 
www.vestavino.com

Vesta's Thanksgiving Menu is Here

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I'd start rolling out some helpful info about restaurants that will be running specials.  One such neighborhood darling, which is extending a celebratory menu for this holiday is Vesta.  In addition to being a big fan of this restaurant myself, I've never heard any complaints from friends or readers. 

I hope you enjoy their special Thanksgiving menu and give them a try, whether if that's with close family, friends or with your special someone.

Vesta's Thanskgiving Menu:

Appetizers:

Caramelized Onion Soup - Grana Padano croutons, parsley...$7

Roasted Butternut, Acorn & Pumpkin Soup - Vincotto & pumpkin seeds...$8

Charred Apple Salad frisee - Radicchio, arugula, & endive lettuce, candied pecans...$8

Prince Edward Island Mussels roasted fennel, potato & tomato...$9
Fudge Farms Short Ribs - Sweet potato puree, roasted shallots and prunes...$10

Pizze:

(Vesta's thin crust pizza can also be prepared with whole wheat dough for $ 2.00 extra)

Margherita...$12

Potato, pancetta, caramelized onions, apple & goat cheese...$13

Yukon potato, provolone, Grana Padano, truffle oil & parsley...$15

Blue cheese, caramelized red onion, & tomato...$13

Entrees:

Ravioli (open faced) - Sausage, potato, pumpkin puree & sage bechamel...$15

Roasted Turkey Breast - Mashed potato, cranberry sauce & cornbread stuffing...$19

Gnocchetti Sardi - Toasted garlic, cauliflower, cheddar cheese, tomato & seasoned bread crumbs...$13

Roasted Cod - Lemon butter, roasted potato, cipollini, pearl onions & leeks...$24

Grass Fed Rib Eye - Braised greens & roasted tomato garlic sauce...$25

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie - With pecan shortbread, cranberry caramel & spiced whipped cream...$6.50

Chocolate Ganache Tart - With salted caramel peanuts and whipped cream...$6.50

La torta del piccolo bambino Gesu christo (aka Baby Jesus Cake)...$6.50

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

More CSA Veggie Goodness from the Brooklyn Grange

As I mentioned a couple of weeks back, I'm part of the recently-formed Brooklyn Grange/Vesta CSA that provides me with fresh, locally grown veggies each week. I always look forward to the weekend when I get a bag full of beautiful produce--although some of it looks quite different than what you'd find in the supermarket.  This, as I try to explain to Dan is a good thing because it means that the veggies are au naturale and not genetically mutated such as the crop we see in big chain supermarkets.

Anywho...I wanted to show you some of the ways I've been using my CSA goods.  I really enjoy figuring out how to prepare them and like to research recipes from some of my most trusted culinary sources.  My mom does the same although she takes a more grassroots approach and keeps things simple, as she improvises a lot.  Smart woman!  The below are some of the ways we've both been using our fresh crop. I think my mom wins this one - just look at the gorgeous colors on her plate.  To die for! And it tasted even better than it looked.

Sauteed Kale with Garlic and Shallots - I've been receiving fresh kale each week, and sadly have been wasteful with these large (and somewhat intimidating) leaves.  Well no more! I just couldn't stand them to go to waste, so I took a look at a few recipes and found this simple one on Bon Appetit, which took about 20 minutes to prepare and used very basic ingredients.  I omitted the capers that the recipe called for because I think they're too salty.  The end result was a smoky, slightly crunchy and earthy side dish that went well with the ground chicken and rice patties that I made with leftover stuffing  from my stuffed peppers.  Here's the recipe for the kale. 

Haricot Verts with My Signature Dressing - It was so nice to see these land in my CSA bounty and they came in three colors - green, purple and a pale yellow.  I prepared them simply by blanching them and then coating them in my signature, lemon juice, honey, dijon mustard and olive oil dressing.  I blanched the beans for 3 minutes in boiling water.  The only disappointment was when the colorful ones all turned green. What gives?

My Mom's Steamed Veggie Medley - As I already hinted, my mom kept things simple in terms of preparation, steaming a variety of veggies including beets, carrots, peppers, onions and zucchini.  She steamed them for 3- 5 minutes, allowing the beets to stay in longer since they take a little while to soften up.  Then she peeled the beets, which was an easy task (she says) and dressed the whole thing with good quality olive oil and a touch of salt.

But the true beauty in this dish is the way that she expertly arranged everything to make it look so appetizing.  I think that's one of my mom's strengths, as she really takes her time to think about presentation and to arrange food in a very mouth-watering fashion. It's a gift that some people are born with and others have to work harder at. 

There you have it - 3 simple recipes and ideas to spice up your veggies, whether local or not (but local are suggested).  Dig in and eat up!

If you'd like to enjoy the Brooklyn Grange's fresh veggies, but you aren't a part of their CSA, check out their farm stand at Vesta every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or the on-site farm stand in LIC, every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.. 

Vesta Trattoria - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102.  718.545.5550
The Brooklyn Grange - 37-18 Northern Blvd, LIC NY 11101.  718.707.9707

Vesta's Warm Bankie is More than Bank for Your Buck

It's been quite a while since I've been to Vesta for brunch and last weekend's CSA pick up gave me the opportunity to do just that.  It was a good excuse to have some comforting and locally sourced goodies, provided by no other than the Brooklyn Grange, which is partnering with Vesta for the aforementioned CSA.

After speaking with Farmer Ben and settling up with our veggies, my mom and I headed inside to enjoy a lovely brunch. 

The Warm Bankie - Since I've heard nothing but passionate raves about this dish from Meg, I just had to try it.  And after all, the fact that it incorporated truffle oil just sold me immediately. 

This dish was simply awesome (I know...not very eloquently said but words just don't do this breakfast of champions justice).  It consisted of delicate fried eggs on a luxuriously silky bed of polenta that was flavored with truffle oil.  Garnished with earthy mushrooms and asparagus, the Bankie was pure decadence (and sustenance) from start to finish.  And it reminded me of reBar's polenta egg dish, which was also out of this world.

Farmer Ben's Seasonal Salad - My mom already had breakfast so she was more in the mood for lunch food and went with this fresh salad with mixed greens, radishes, walnuts (instead of crispy bacon) and a light blue cheese dressing.  I say light because it wasn't doused on heavily, creating thick globules. Instead it was just the perfect amount, with a thin coating around the veggies that gave them a delicious, tangy flavor.

Breakfast Potatoes - We received a side of well done, crispy breakfast potatoes (sort of like hash browns) with fresh parsley on top.  They were pretty awesome and a nice way to supplement both of our dishes. Even though I didn't need them with my Bankie, I still dipped these crispy spuds into the creamy truffled polenta.  Let me tell you...it was gooood.

Brunch Cocktails - Although I don't remember the names of our brunch cocktails, they were pretty stellar. I had an OJ, prosecco and mint concoction that was oh so cool and refreshing.  Once I muddled the mint with my straw, its flavor intensified more, producing a pungently delicious combination.

My mom had a fizzy, cranberry cocktail with lime that seemed to be our server's special creation. That too was excellent and I slightly preferred it to mine (but only before I muddled the mint).

Service and Cost:
Our server, David was fantastic - very attentive and on point.  He made sure that we were happy with our dishes and even asked if we needed any adjustments. Everything was great and because it wasn't too crowded, we felt relaxed and happy to linger around and chat.

Costs are gentle on your wallet and include the following:

Brunch entrees: $6 - $14
Pizza: $12 - $14
Entree salads & pasta: $9 - $15
Sides $3 - $4

3 Mmmms

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

Relishing in Fresh Veggies from the Brooklyn Grange

A couple of weeks back, I mentioned a new CSA that was coming to Astoria, which is a collaboration between Vesta and The Brooklyn Grange Farm.  The offer sounded so enticing, that I decided to join so I can enjoy the fruits (or should I say veggies) of the farm's labor.  

I went over to Vesta on Saturday during lunch-time, as the CSA pick-up hours are between 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  It was exciting to see that a colorful vegetable stand took over the outside of the restaurant, where you could not only pick up your CSA veggies, but also buy them on the spot if you're not a CSA member. 

They had several varieties of fresh, seasonal produce such as gorgeous purple radishes, little bulbous carrots that were perfect for a single bite, deep-crimson beets, zucchini blossoms (awesome for stuffing and/or frying), fresh lettuce, kale and so much more.  Farmer Ben Flanner was on-hand to help out and answer any questions from customers.  He's extremely knowledgeable about produce, as he oversees the entire Brooklyn Grange operation along with his partners.

The farm-stand was quite busy throughout the day, and as I received my leafy, colorful goods, I couldn't wait to get home and make a fresh salad. I went right to it and this is what I came up with:

Foodista's Brooklyn Grange Salad:

Ingredients (serves 2)
2 very generous handfuls of mixed lettuce leaves
2 bulbous carrots, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
2 heirloom tomatoes, chopped into 1/2 inch sections
2 large purple radishes, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
A small bunch of basil, chopped (or ripped)
3 pieces of Milanese salami, rolled up and julienned into 1 inch pieces (optional)

Directions:
Toss all ingredients gently in a large salad bowl.  Dress with my signature dressing.

I can't wait to see what the next CSA delivery brings - I'll surely report back with more tales of veggies and a recipe too. 

Check out the Brooklyn Grange farm stand at Vesta on Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

Vesta's Easter Menu

Easter and Passover are just around the corner - and with that come wonderful eats, especially in restaurants that are planning special menus.  Vesta, one of my Astorian favorites always comes prepared for a special occasion with their Easter menu - featuring part brunch and part dinner.  I can assure you that this meal will not only be excellent, it won't break the bank.

Vesta's Easter Menu:

Brunch (Available until 3 p.m.)

L’Italiano poached eggs - Grilled Italian bread, hot sopressata & ricotta cheese...$9

Warm Bankie - Fried eggs with creamy polenta, asparagus, mushrooms & truffle oil...$10

Buttermilk Pancakes - Fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas & whipped cream...$10

Hangover Pizza (my favorite) - Potato, pancetta, sausage, fried eggs & spicy tomato sauce...$14

Appetizers (Available all day)

Borcht Soup - With zucchini fritters...$7

Housemade Mozzarella - With tomato, basil & grilled crostini...$10

Slow Braised Meatballs - With parmigiano cheese & tomato...$11

Bitter Green Salad - With radish, walnuts & anchovy vinaigrette...$9

Prince Edward Island Mussels - With sausage, roasted fennel & grilled crostini...$10

Pizza
Margherita...$12
Potato Pancetta - With caramelized onions, apple & chevron cheese...$13

Entrees (Available until 9 p.m.)

Lasagna - With three-meat ragu (Sunday Dinner Style)...$15

Spaghetti Chitarra - Sheep's milk ricotta & ramps
Braised Free Bird Chicken Leg - With cabbage, turnips & wheat berries...$16

Skate - With cracked wheat, lemon, arugula & cucumber cream broth...$22
Baby Lamb - With potato, olives, caper, garlic & anchovy dressing

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

Superbowl XLIV - Where to Watch the Big Game

 

With the Superbowl this weekend, I'm sure that everyone's plates are looking full.  If you're still wondering what to do on this American "holiday," here are my top 10 suggestions.   Whatever you end up doing, I hope you eat and drink your hineys off.

10.  Dillinger's Pub & Grill - While they're not having specific drink specials, the game will most certainly be on, the food will be plentiful, and you'll have opportunities to win some fun give-aways.  46-19 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.956.5601

9.  Irish Rover - The game will be star of this show, and as always, their cheap drinks bring in the fun crowd.  Draft beers $4-$5, bottled beers $4-$4.50, liquor $4.50 except for premium.  Enjoy and drink up!  37-18 28th Avenue, Astoria.  718.278.9372

8.  YOLO - If you haven't seen Yolo's modern space, now is a good opportunity.  Their big screen totally rocks and will make great football watching.  Specials will include pitchers and pizza pie combos.  The party starts at 5 p.m.  22-55 31st Street, Astoria. 718. 777.1177

7.  Gleason's - While their Superbowl plans are still in progess, they will have a gametime menu with wings and pitchers.  The wings are a must, as they're meaty and delicious - I recommend the honey mustard, which are slightly sweet and tangy.  33-08 Broadway, Astoria.  718.626.5393

6.  The Quays Pub - This low-key Irish pub is partying it up with plenty of food and booze - as in DIRT CHEAP brew.  $2 pints of Coors, High Life, PBR and more - this special speaks for itself. 45-02 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.204.8435

5.  Testaccio - An Italian newbie, they'll feature a special Superbowl menu as well as additional flat screen TVs in the main dining room to watch the game.  I recommend their stone oven pizza and the cheesy rice croquettes.  47-30 Vernon Blvd, LIC.  718.937.2900 

4.  LIC Bar - Happy hour deals will be extended on this special night with $3 Miller Light drafts, well drinks and shots.  A 6-for-$20 domestic beer special will also be in effect - that's just over $3 a pop, which is hard to pass up.  45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC.  718.786.5400

3.  Astoria Brewhouse - In their customary fashion, Astoria Brewhouse (previously Indigo) will host a Superbowl party with $13 domestic pitchers, 20-for-$10 wings and even chances to win a 32" flat screen TV.  The space is nice and boasts plenty of TVs to watch the big game.  28-50 31st Street, Astoria.  718.728.0050

2.  Studio Square Beer Garden - Now this is a proper party that will no doubt quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger.  For $25 per person, you'll get 5 hours of open bar (beer & wine only) as well as Studio Square's classic buffet.  The party starts at 6 p.m. 35-33 36th Street, Astoria.  718.383.1001

1.  Vesta - Vesta's Superbowl party promises a great time.  In addition to a special Superbowl menu with sandwiches, meatballs and pizza, you can win plenty of fun prizes including a dinner with me!  21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.545.5550

Superbowl Party at Vesta - Win a Dinner with Me

Superbowl time is almost here, and there's plenty of things aside from the actual game to get excited about.  Ummm...like the food!

I wanted to tell you about a great Superbowl party that's happening at one of my Astorian faves, Vesta.  They're having a celebration in honor of the big game, including a special "gametime menu," raffles and opportunities to win prizes including Vesta, Sweet Afton, Locale and Hell Gate Social gift certificates, as well as a dinner with me, your Foodista.

So come join the fun on February 7th, starting at 6 p.m.  Reservations are recommended.

And if you'd like a taste of the special menu, feast your eyes on this:

Vesta Superbowl Menu:

Meatballs, Pasta & Pizza:
Margherita...$11.95
Potato, pancetta, caramelized onions, apple and chevron cheese...$13
The Quacker - Duck leg, wild mushrooms, charred onions and goat cheese sauce...$14.50
Saltie - Olives, capers, serrano chili, blue cheese, tomato and radicchio...$13.50
Slow braised meatballs parmigiano cheese and tomato...$10.95
Lasagna, three-meat ragu (Sunday Dinner Style)...$14.95

Sandwiches:
Hot Roast Beef – Dry rub, crispy onion rings and horseradish cream
Hand Carved Turkey Breast – Marinated portabello mushrooms, melted tallegio cheese and mache lettuce
Ham and Cheese – Serrano ham, melted gruyere, fresh tomatoes and basil pesto
Crispy Chicken – Roasted red pepper, fontina sauce and romaine lettuce

Sides:
French fries
Potato Chips
Potato Salad
Mac n Cheese
Nut Mix
Pickles

Let the games begin...

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com