Miss Lily's Variety - Hard to Reach but Attained Goodness

Ever since last week, I've been trying to eat at Miss Lily's, the funky Jamaican inspired cafe in the West Village.  My cousin Vicky and I unluckily missed our 6 p.m. reservation, only to find the place backed up and the staff showing their prickly disposition.  This of course made me that much more curious, and I returned to Miss Lily's Variety & Melvin's Juice Box outpost later that week.  I'm happy to say that it more than delivered and was worth the come-back.

Atmosphere:
The bright, cheery, casual vibe of Miss Lily's is almost as big of a draw as its food.  Looking like a Caribbean style shack amped up to NYC standards, Miss Lily's transports you to a laid back, tropical place without having to leave our busy island.  My favorite aspect of the cafe are the comfy vinyl booths that sport a green, yellow and red stripe across the top, and the old vinyl record covers on the walls that pay an homage to legendary Jamaican artists.

A lovely display of Miss Lily's famous chicken, beef and veg patties decks the front counter and cooking space, along with a pretty display of their layer cakes and pastries.  The fresh and packaged juices also create some eye candy, making Lily's just as conducive for taking out as dining in.

Food:
Confronted by a bevy of interesting West Indian foods such as jerk chicken, oxtail, roti, salads, and of course their patties, my friend Angela and I just skimmed the surface of Jamaican goodness.  We'll certainly be back for more.

Curry Chicken Roti - Resembling a burrito, a roti is an unleavened wrap made from wholemeal flour, and it's absolutely delicious.  Stuffed with chicken curry and flavored with spices such as cumin, it was hearty and comforting with a bit of pop in flavor and freshness from the julianned jicama and carrots on top.

Oxtail - My friend Angela was craving oxtail and immediately ordered this when she spotted it on the menu.  I had the chance to try it and enjoyed the chocolate brown sauce, laced with chunks of carrots.  The meat itself was falling off the bone and was literally finger lickin' good.  Yes, this dish gets messy so get some extra napkins.

Sweet and Dandy Juice - Not getting a Melvin's organic juice would be a crime, so we went for this bright concoction of apples, beets, lemon, ginger, carrots and pineapple.  The ginger was most distinct but the crimson beets also dominated in color and flavor.  Angela and I split this one, as it's quite filling but also on the expensive side.

Service and Cost:
Unlike my previous attempt at Miss Lily's just earlier that week, the staff at the Cafe and Melvin's Juice bar were as bright and cheery as the scenery.  One of the cooks was even joking around with us saying that I can't take photos, but followed his comment with a big generous smile.

We sat down after ordering and were pleasantly surprised to get our dishes just 5 short minutes later, which was awesome.

Prices are in the moderate price range with most rotis and salads being in the $10 ballpark, while the Jamaican specialties run anywhere between $10-$17.

3 Mmmms

Miss Lily's Variety & Melvin's Juice Bar - 132 West Houston Street, New York NY 10012
646-588-5375
A/C/E Train to West 4th Street
misslilys.com

Da Marcella – Unassuming Gem that Wows the Palate

A few weeks ago, I spent time with my fellow NYC food bloggers at a press dinner at Da Marcella restaurant.  Being that the restaurant is located close to my day job neighborhood, I was eager to attend, so I can learn about it and hopefully spread the word to others.  I’m happy to say it was a fruitful experience and a restaurant I’ll gladly return to again.

Atmosphere:
Set on a busy restaurant block on Houston Street between McDougal and Thompson St., it’s easy to miss Da Marcella if you’re not looking for it.  Located in the lower portion of the building, it almost feels like a cellar—one that you most definitely want to spend time in.

I loved that the vibe felt communal with a mix of small and large-ish tables suitable for groups such as ours.  Everyone seemed to be relaxed, chatty and equipped with a glass of wine and something delicious in front of them.  The front door was open, letting in the fresh spring air, and the overall feeling was one of friendliness and hospitality.

Food:
Da Marcella’s Northern Italian cuisine was presented in the form of a family style dinner—a great format for this hearty meal.  Sharing everything with my dining companions was a lot of fun, and the food paparazzo definitely came out in all of us.  Here are a few of my personal highlights:

Grilled Marinated Spanish Octopus – Cooking octopus to a fine texture is no easy feat, but Da Marcella mastered it well.  Each bite was a delight, as the meaty octopus melted in your mouth, also creating a pop of flavor from the lemony vinaigrette, a peppery arugula and fresh caper berries.

Scottish Wild Salmon Tartare – Although I wouldn’t expect this dish to come out of an Italian kitchen, once again it was executed to a tee.  The portion was small and delicate, as it should be, and the salmon tasted fresh and vibrant like the sea.  Pretty flecks of green avocado contrasted the salmon in color and taste, giving it body and substance.

Burrata with San Daniele Prosciutto – I can never refuse a good burrata, relishing the creamy substance that lies in the middle of the not quite set cheese.  Da Marcella’s version was simple but beautiful, accompanied by thin slivers of salty prosciutto and a few hints of luxurious white truffle sauce that set our tastebuds aflutter.

Chef Francesco’s Meatballs – A likely staple at Italian restaurants, a meatball dish is usually a good barometer of overall quality, and this one didn’t disappoint.  Served in a homemade tomato sauce, the meatballs had everything we could hope for including juiciness, flavor, fresh herbs and gooey muzz on top.  This was a favorite for a lot of my dining companions, as well.

Ricotta Cheesecake – A traditional Italian-style ricotta cheesecake is always a bonus, so I was excited when this beautiful slice was placed before us.  Not too sweet, with a hint of orange zest, it exemplified a perfect balance of flavors.  After being approached for seconds, we all replied in unison with a spirited “yes.”

Service and Cost:
Matching the laid back, warm atmosphere, the service at Da Marcella exhibited just that.  Manuel, who was our host for the evening did a great job of explaining each dish and paired a complementary wine with each selection.  We felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the evening.

Costs are competitive, especially given this expensive Soho/West Village neighborhood.  I can’t wait to return with friends and co-workers from the area.

Appetizers - $6 - $12
Pasta - $10 - $14
Entrees - $17 - $19
Dessert - $7

3 Mmmms

Da Marcella – 142 West Houston Street, New York, NY 10012
917.639.3911
A/C/E Train to West 4^th Street
damarcellavillage.com

Bantam Bagel Balls Made My Morning

Who doesn't love a good bagel, people...especially here in NY?!  Being a staunch bagel fan, I try to limit my intake since they're quite impactful on the waistline (and thighs).  The bagels I'll tell you about here aren't like that at all, as they're little bagel balls filled with a shot of cream cheese in the middle.  I'm talking about Bantam Bagel balls that are the newest innovation in bagel technology and they hail from the West Village.  

Atmosphere:
Occupying a tiny storefront on Bleecker Street in the West Village, Bantam Bagels are easy to miss if they're not on your radar.  It's very much a take-out type of place, as there's nowhere to sit down, but you always the option to stroll down Bleecker street, find a nearby bench or park and enjoy a little bite of carbie goodness.

Bagels:
Ordering an assortment of 24 bagel balls, I loved the variety of savory and sweet bagels, including their fun, whimsy names such as the hot pretzel, cinnamonster, vegesaurus rex, grandma jojo, the hangover and more.  Each bagel ball has a unique spin, whether an innovative bagel topping or an injection of a flavored cream cheese (and in some cases butter).

Personally trying three of these varieties, including the Grandma Jojo, Everything Bantam, and the Pumpkin, I enjoyed them all but certainly had my favorites.  Grandma Jojo stood out the most, both with its beautiful presentation (boasting a marinated tomato on top) as well as its slightly crispy exterior.  The inside was soft and doughy with a pop of earthy basil pesto that was nestled inside.

The pumpkin, which is this month's special was delightful as well, with black sesame seeds on top and a slightly sweet pumpkin custard middle.  If you have a penchant for sweet things with a cinnamony flavor profile, you'll love it!

Service and Cost:
Bantam's staff was a pleasure to deal with this morning, as they were cheery and very accommodating to my indecisiveness.  They had a good way of giving me the right information about their bagel flavors and even managed to sell me a delicious cup of Gorilla coffee (roasted in Brooklyn).

Costs are expensive for little bagels but totally worth it for a novel and flavorful product.

1 Bantam - $1.35
3 Bantams - $3.50
6 Bantams - $6
12 Bantams - $11.50
24 Bantams - $22
38 Bantams - $42

3 Creamy Mmmms

Bantam Bagels - 283 Bleecker Street, New York NY 10014
646.852.6320
1 Train to Christopher Street
www.bantambagels.com

De Santos – Charming West Village Eats

Besides eating in Astoria of course, I love visiting and trying new restaurants in the city and its many charming neighborhoods. The West Village, an area that I really adore is fantastic for adventurous eats, and I recently had the opportunity to eat at a restaurant there called De Santos.

Atmosphere:
Never taking for granted the lovely atmosphere that the West Village naturally brings, with its gorgeous architecture and residential neighborhood charm, I was happy to see that De Santos embodied all of that. Housed in a pretty brownstone on 10th street, you immediately get a feeling that rich history was made here. And indeed this is the case, as I found out the building actually served as a previous home for famed musicians, artists and actors - Janis Joplin, Jean Michel Basquiat and others for example.

The dining room is a cozy place with quintessential exposed brick walls, a fireplace and dim candle light. It feels as if you’re sitting in someone’s private home, which is so lovely. This sentiment is shared with others I presume, as the space was always occupied and I saw people lingering and taking their time with their meals and conversations. There’s also an outdoor space, which is very charming, and is now covered to keep out the cold. That’s actually where we sat, as our host wanted to give us the full experience. I liked it very much and am excited to go back in the summer, when I can really enjoy some sunshine.

Food:
Boasting a menu of continental cuisine, the majority of it very comforting, there was plenty to choose from, and we took the sharing route for the apps and desserts, but ordered individual entrees.

Appetizers – Ordering a couple of things, including the beef carpaccio, the truffled mac ‘n cheese, and the pulled duck tacos, it was all very tasty. I had a strong preference for the mac ‘n cheese, which was stupendous, and breaded perfectly with really crunchy, delicious panko breadcrumbs. It was a fabulous way to start a meal – or it would’ve been nice too to share with a main dish.

The carpaccio was sliced delicately, as it should and was even accompanied by a helping of creamy gnocchi that were the perfect little size. It gave a hint of indulgence to this otherwise simple dish, and the whole combination worked well to create something uncomplicated yet elegant.

Entrees – Everyone went for something different for their entrees, which was nice to see, and I personally was attracted to the seared sea scallops. I adore scallops, and look forward to the big fleshy ones I can order at fine restaurants. The plate I got here was lovely, as you can see, with a beautifully seared scallop crust and some crispy parsnips on top that added a hint of earthiness. A bed of creamy truffled risotto sealed the deal on this already luxurious dish, and you can really taste the pungent truffle flavor coming through with each heaping forkful.

Desserts – Simple and delicious, we received two varieties of dessert, including a classic molten chocolate cake as well as thin Paris-style crepes with salty caramel sauce. Both were delightful, but I preferred the crepe and its simplicity – the dough was perfectly paper-thin, and the caramel sauce in the middle really made it sing. A generous scoop of good quality almond ice cream was a yummy way to refresh the palate after each indulgent bite.

Service and Cost:
I found the service a bit interesting, as our servers used iPads to place our orders and to show us pictures of the day’s specials. Not sure if I’ve ever seen that done before, it was unique, although I’m not sure necessary. In my opinion, it didn’t really go with the rustic vibe of the restaurant, but to each his own, I guess. Otherwise, the service was quite nice and everything went over smoothly. 

Costs are moderate and actually well priced for this expensive neighborhood at:

Appetizers - $12-$16
Entrees - $18-$29
Sides - $6

3 Mmmms

De Santos – 139 West 10th Street, New York NY 10014
212.206.9229
1 Train to Christopher Street
www.desantosnyc.com

Braeburn - Understated, Elegant and Wonderfully Delicious

Braeburn - 117 Perry Street, New York NY 10014
212.255.0696
C/E/L Train to 14th Street
www.braeburnrestaurant.com

I love having the chance to connect with fellow food bloggers, and last week's dinner tasting at Braeburn restaurant gave me that opportunity.  In addition to meeting some new people, I also reconnected with old friends and caught up with them on various sorts of food geekery, including our personal thoughts and ruminations about NY restaurants, food photography (galore!) and of course food itself. 

Braeburn hosted a very lovely private dinner for us, which I can't even begin to praise.  I'll start momentarily but before I do that, let me mention the wonderful company I was in the presence of that night:

Esther from Ambitious Deliciousness
Grace from Grace Notes NYC
Amie from The Healthy Apple
Josh from the NYC Foodie (AKA the talented foodie magician - see videos of his magic tricks from dinner. Video 1, Video 2)
Michael from Socialites Anonymous
Amy from Amy's Blog Chow

But now...about dinner:

Atmosphere:
A quiet, residential West Village street is the setting for Braeburn restaurant.  It's somewhat easy to miss unless you're really looking for it, but once you find it, you're in for a real treat.

Upon walking in, you're greeted by a gorgeous array of fresh apples, paying homage to Braeburn's namesake. The overall decor is very simple and elegant, embellished by earthy tones and beautifully crafted wooden furniture.  Everything seems natural and organic, giving the diner a preview of the seasonal delicacies on the menu. 

We had the pleasure of eating downstairs in a private wine cellar room, which had an elegantly set table with soft tealights.  In front and back of us were walls lined with Braeburn's special wine selections.  It was all very lovely and because it was private, the experience was that much more special. 

Food:
The dinner menu that night was especially crafted for us in preparation of Braeburn's Big Apple Harvest Week.  Seasonal ingredients such as apples, pumpkins, various root veggies as well as fish and duck made an appearance on our 4-course tasting menu.  Here are the highlights.

Course 1 (Warm Smoked Trout) - The first plate of the night was small but packed a lot of flavor with a smoked, flaky trout with delicate sides of roasted butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds and an apple celery salad.  Although the portion was small, it was just enough to bring the senses to attention.  My only criticism was the large plate they served it on - I thought the food would've stood out better on something smaller.

Course 2 (Long Island Fluke) - My favorite dish of the night consisted of a crispy piece of fish that was very tender and fresh.  Offset by a creamy (yet technically creamless) celery root clam chowder, dressed with bacon and some baby squash, it proved to be a perfect pairing with the light fish.  I liked that the chowder added some indulgence and a touch of smokiness from the bacon. 

Course 3 (Creamless Trumpet Royale Soup) - Another chowder course came expertly presented with an exposed poached wellfleet oyster and crispy potatoes only to be drowned by the silky chowder liquid right in front of our eyes.  I enjoyed the drama of the presentation, and the soup's luxurious texture, but in all honesty the oyster was a tad fishy for me and I would've preferred something more subdued.

Course 4 (Breast of Long Island Duck) - Another highlight of the meal, the duck was tender and oh so juicy - dressed with earthy ingredients such as kohlrabi, wheat berries and duck confit.  I'm very picky about my duck and I often find this bird to be overcooked in restaurants.  But this wasn't the case here at all.  What the duck showed besides impressive mastery of preparation was the deep respect that Chef Bistrong has for food and the inclusive way he bestows it upon others.  For this reason mainly, eating this dish was an honor.

Dessert - We marveled at the impressive spread of desserts that showed up at the end of this already extravagant meal. There must've been about half a dozen items including chocolate beignets, Southern banana pudding, a coconut roulade, yogurt souffle with berry sauce and an apple cobbler.  Everything was unbelievably tasty and for the most part light. 

Two items stood out to me the most including the cobbler and the banana pudding.  The former had the most intense apple flavor, made with apples picked from Chef Bistrong's property in Connecticut, and served with a side of clean, crisp buttermilk ice-cream.  The pudding was also a stand-out, however a polar opposite of the former dish, as you can imagine.  Its texture was extra smooth and silky, with a muted banana flavor that intensified as you reached deeper into your cup and pulled out chunky pieces of bananas and caramel.  What more can a girl with a sweet tooth ask for?

Wine - Each course was thoughtfully paired with a glass of specially selected wine from Braeburn's cellar.  We started with a sweet, French Riesling and worked our way to a full bodied Oregonian Pinot Noir.  My dining companions and I couldnt've been more impressed.

Service and Cost:
There's no doubt about it, Braeburn's staff is top notch.  From the friendly and cordial waitstaff to the warm, welcoming owners, we felt comfortable and truly as special guests.  I personally enjoyed listening to all the interesting food and wine commentary prior to each course.  The highlight for me however, was when Chef Bistrong came out after service and chatted with us about what we thought of the meal as well as just shooting the sh*t about his favorite restaurants around town (many of which were Asian eateries in Chinatown and beyond).

Braeburn's costs are moderate to expensive, but in my opinion fairly reflect the top notch quality food and atmosphere found here:

Appetizers - $9 - $15
Entrees - $24 -$33
Desserts - $5
Brunch - $8 - $15

3 Mmmms