Alobar's Celebratory Feast

This past week, I mentioned to you that Alobar celebrated their big 1 year anniversary.  I can't believe that a year has gone by, as it seems like these guys have been around forever.  

Featuring a new special each day of the week, I just couldn't refuse, and took Gina along for the ride.  Known for her open mindedness when it comes to food, she was happy to try the charcuterie special that night that featured all sorts of cured meats and terrines.  Along with that, here's some of the other things we tried.

Maple Bacon Popcorn - Trying this once before at the recent Food Film Festival, I was so happy that Alobar's owner Jeff offered it to us as an app.  While I thought the sample at the Food  Film Festival was amazing, this one was better and piping hot.  The maple glaze was sweeter and gooeyer and the bacon was just oozing with smokey goodness. And there was a A LOT of it to go around.

Jersey Heirloom Tomatoes - Just to throw in some veggies into the mix, we ordered this refreshing app, which certainly cut the richness in that decadent popcorn.  I enjoyed the balsamic sweet glaze on it very much, which went perfectly with the bite sized pieces of mozz and the juicy tomatoes.  The lardo toast (yes, you heard right) was the perfect vehicle for transporting all this goodness into your tummy.

Charcuterie - Consisting of a two tiered platter or 11 different types of house-made meats, we were quite impressed and also happy to see their pickled veggies as an accompaniment.  Amongst some of our favorites were: the creamy chicken liver pate, the delicate pork tongue terrine (yes it was soft and jelly-like), the spicy chorizo with quite the bite and the smokey duck prosciutto.  Everything was presented in small bites, which was approachable and conducive to sharing.  We had a few pieces of crunchy toast to layer all this goodness on, and in my opinion there could've been a little more of it.  In terms of the pickled veggies, the cauliflower and the carrots were superb.

Dessert - As a special treat, we got the toffee bread pudding - again, compliments of the chef.  While I had this dessert here last time around, and loved it, this time was just as special, as Gina and I delighted in its, sweet, sticky interior and the extra toffee glaze on top.  And just like the rest of the meal, it illustrated sophisticated indulgence.

Service and Cost:
As I've already hinted, the service we received was extremely welcoming and warm.  Not only because I've given them a few shout-outs, I don't think - their attention seemed really sincere and genuine, as it was proven by other satisfied-looking patrons.

Costs are moderate and fair, and for the above mentioned meal (not excluding the $5 glasses of Montepulciano we had at the bar) set us back about $40 with tax and tip.

3 Meaty Mmmms

Alobar - 46-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.752.6000
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.alobarnyc.com 

Alobar Turns 1 - Let's Celebrate!

I can't believe it's only been a year since Alobar has joined LIC - it's felt like they've been a staple in the nabe for so long.  In just one year, they've not only brought us some revolutionary food (especially in pig form) but also a great sense of community, elevating the level of food sophistication on Vernon Blvd.  

See what they've got in store for their big anniversary week next week - it looks like a rich lineup of goodies is in store:

Tuesday, November 13th:
Whiskey Tuesday with Four Roses Bourbon - Includes a complimentary tasting of Four Roses Bourbon.  Experts will be on-hand to share their best tips about each variety.

Wednesday, November 14th:
Alobar Charcuterie Night - One large platter of eleven house-made meats for $50 (serves 2-3 people) and includes pig ear terrine, duck breast prosciutto & foie gras-apple terrine.

Thursday, November 15th:
Anniversary Beer Dinner - Includes a 5-course menu paired with beers from San Diego's Stone Brewing Company.  $50/person for dinner and pairings.

Friday & Saturday, November 16th - 17th:
Weekend Pig Roasts - Served family style, $30/person for main course and sides

Alobar - 46-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.752.6000
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.alobarnyc.com 

New Menu Items at Alewife

I wanted to spread the latest deliciousness going on at Alewife, as they've added new menu items and tweeked some oldies too.  You may remember me writing about this place a few months back, and totally boasting about the burger you see before you with a deep golden pretzel bun.  Well you can still get that, along with other new goodies such as:

Apps:
Winter risotto - with barley, butternut squash, cauliflower, and brown butter...$10 or $17
Liver and onions - foie gras, onions, tangerine and brioche...$12
Beet carpaccio - beets, hazelnuts, goat cheese...$11

Entrees:
Salmon - with carrot puree and dashi, cucumber, dill...$23
Berkshire pork shank - confit pork shank, spaghetti squash, apple butter and mustard jus...$27
Magret duck - black rice, brussel sprouts, pistachio and sherry gastrique...$22

Sides:
Brussel sprouts...$7
Pomme puree - with chive and garlic chips...$6
Cauliflower - brown butter, lemon...$5
Baby bok choy - with black sesame chili, charred scallion...$7
Soy glazed carrots - soy, passionfruit...$7

Still on the horizon - steamed pork buns, chicken wings, and steak. Exciting!

Alewife - 5-14 51st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.937.7494
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.alewifequeens.wordpress.com

Skinny's Cantina - Nothin' Skinny About It

The other week, I had the pleasure of attending LIC's Skinny's Cantina second grand opening party.  Dan and I went to check it out, and needless to say, I was curious after reading about Bradley's enticing post about it in Boro Mag.  Not only did we get to feast on a 3-course special menu, we also witnessed a lively burrito eating contest that got pretty colorful.

Atmosphere:
Skinny's, which is located right across the street from one my favorite Asian fusion restaurants, SHI is a lively, happening place.  Even though its cuisine couldn't be more different than SHI's, it's evident that the place is owned by the same management, as you run into a similarly young, trendy clientele, hip staff, and loud pop music.  Despite it being a little crazy, it's a lot of fun, especially on Saturday nights when people unwind more and let their hair down.

The bar is more of a scene, as people gather there, sippin' on margaritas or sangria while waiting to be seated.  Actually some of the folks seemed to come by just to hang at the bar, which was cool on its own, and also a nice atmosphere to watch a sports game with its large LED TVs.

Food:
Given that I love the food at SHI, I had high expectations for Skinny's which delivered but overall still has a few kinks to work out.  These will correct themselves in time, I think, as this place is still very much a newbie.

Apps - We ordered an app each, which came with the special menu and went for the guacamole and pico de gallo plate as well as the flautas stuffed with pork.  Both were really delicious, and while the guac and pico veered on the side of standard, the flautas were clear stand-outs, wrapped in a crispy corn shell, stuffed with slightly spicy pork and then glazed with a spicy mayo sauce.  I loved dipping these into the super creamy avocado sauce that came as a condiment, and it was the perfect way to start this meal.  Dan agreed that the flautas were something special, and because the portion was large, it was great for sharing.

Entrees - Once again I think I had a winner on my hands with the roasted, sweet pork loin that was dressed in a squash reduction and a side of sliced roasted squash, further topped with pepitas.  I loved the crispy haricot verts on top of the meat, and it also came with a side of fresh tortillas, which I used to make some mini pork tacos.  The whole combination was very delicious, and something I'd like to have again.

Dan's entree was a trio of fish tacos, one incorporating fried snapper and the others with shrimp.  I only tasted the shrimp, which was quite delicious and a little on the spicy side.  The shrimp tasted fresh, presented in palatable bite-sized pieces.

Dessert - Even though I was pretty full by the time dessert came around, I simply couldn't refuse it.  Our two choices included a tres leches cake with meringue on top and churros with chocolate and caramel sauce.  Out of the two, I preferred the churros, not only because they're a classic Mexican dessert but also because they were wonderfully crunchy and the accompanying sauces were a little different than the norm.  The chocolate sauce had a hint of cinnamon and spice to it, while the caramel sauce wasn't overly sweet and had a gorgeous silky texture.

Service and Cost:
I think the service was very efficient, but not overly charming.  Overall, they were quite busy, running around left and right, but on the whole, I appreciated their speediness and attention to customers.  There was also a burrito eating contest going on, as I mentioned, so needless to say, the staff was a bit tied up.  To get a view of this crazy contest, see my video.

Costs are inexpensive for an upscale Mexican joint and include:

Apps - $7 - $13
Quesadillas - $10
Soups & Salads - $8 - $10
Tacos - $11
Burritos - $12 - $15

2.5 Mmmms

Skinny's Cantina - 47-05 Center Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.806.1068
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.skinnyscantina.com 

Alobar - Viva la Piggie

Ever since this place has been fabled to open (back in the summer), I couldn't wait to check it out.  And while it was one thing or another that prolonged me from going, I finally had the opportunity to check it out with my friend Bob, who's a fellow food enthusiast.  We enjoyed it very much and took away the restaurant's theme clearly - pig is king!

Atmosphere:
A modern gastropub, Alobar has all the components that make it feel like a contemporary, sophisticated eatery.  Starting with the dim lighting, your mood eases immediately upon stepping inside, and you can quickly tell that you can now begin to unwind from the stresses of the work day.  Even though the space is on the narrow side, like many of the establishments on Vernon, it's spacious, has nice high ceilings and simple (yet classic) wooden furnishings.

My favorite aspect of the interior is the open kitchen, where you can observe the chefs working their magic.  In fact, our table was pretty perfect for that, as it was right on the edge of the kitchen area.  While normally I'd like to be in the comfy banquettes section, I didn't mind this at all and liked sitting in the middle of the action.

Food:
I love that the menu doesn't mess around with protein, and is filled with tons of traditional as well as creative proteins such as pork belly, bone marrow, short ribs, duck rilette and more.  Of course if you're a vegetarian, you may have to get creative, although there are veggie plates on the menu too - the meat just happens to stand out for me.

Wild Mushroom Toast - This was my favorite starter, as it incorporated some gorgeously sophisticated elements such as a hearty portobella mushroom, smoked ricotta cheese, soft pearl onions and a fried duck egg on top.  The latter was the icing on this savory dish, as we broke the yolk, let it spill over everything and relished each bite.  Carnivore or veggie alike, you have to try this dish.

Citrus Roasted Beet Salad - To keep things at least a little healthy, we chose a veggie plate as well, and as we both happen to love beets, this worked out nicely.  Although the plate was simple as can be, beets marinated in a citrus glaze, they were vibrant, fresh and a nice way to juxtapose the heavier flavors from the aforementioned toast dish.

Pumpkin Risotto - Another veggie friendly option come to think of it, it had all the components of a quality risotto.  I loved that the rice was cooked al dente, however it was also enveloped in the most luxuriously rich pumpkin, cream broth with a healthy dose of peppery mustard greens on top.  The contrast between the velvety rice and the earthy greens was just lovely.

Pork Belly Entree - How great is it that Alobar works through a whole pig over the course of a few weeks (a month?) and each day features a different part of it to its patrons? I thought this was just awesome and we couldn't resist ordering the pork belly, with another risotto base (just our luck).  Not only was the meat as tender as pie, it had lots of delectable, smoky flavor that paid testament to the health of the animal from which it came.  I liked that the seasoning was simple, but thoughtfully put together.

Chocolate Chip/Toffee Bread Pudding - Not sure how we found the room, but when they mentioned a chocolate chip toffee bread pudding, we couldn't resist.  I loved how tender it was on the inside and how the chocolate melted beautifully upon contact with your spoon.  The silky Anglaise sauce on top was a yummy way to dress this already sinful dessert and although it was small, it was so rich and therefore, hard to finish.

Service and Cost:
Just like everything that night, the service went off without a hitch.  We really liked our waiter who was friendly, attentive and brought out each dish in good time.  Never feeling like we had to wait long, the evening's service was very fluid and natural, as it should be.

Costs are moderate, but fair for the good quality food you're getting and include:

Charcuterie and Cheese - $10 - $23
Small Plates - $6 - $22
Pickles, Snacks & Sides - $4 - $9 
Large Plates - $17 - $25

3 Mmmms

Alobar - 46-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.752.6000
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.alobarnyc.com 

More New Year's Eve Goodness at LIC Market

Since I started the New Year's Eve train, I gotta keep riding it.  That's why I thought today, I'd tell you about another New Year's Eve special that's happening over at our LIC neighbors', LIC Market.  

Gaining popularity for their Saturday Night Supper Club dinners, not to mention just really all-around great food, LIC Market is extending their supper club concept to New Year's Eve.  How fantastic, and you'll be able to indulge in Chef Alex's special 5-6 course tasting menu, made up of no other than seasonal and local treats.

There will be two seatings - one for early birds and another for the midnight marauders.  Here are the specifics:

Seating 1: 6:00 p.m. 
Includes a 5-course tasting menu and a glass of sparkling wine.  All other drinks are a la carte. $65/person

Seating 2: 9:00 p.m.
Includes a 6-course tasting menu and a glass of sparkling wine.  All other drinks are a la carte.  $95/person

I hope you get to take advantage of either deal and spend your New Years in good company and delicious food.

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

Welcome...the New Bear of LIC!

Image by Bear Restaurant

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

It’s always a pleasure to discover the wonderful, new changes happening around the nabe when food is concerned. And since Astoria/LIC is such a hoppin’ place, there’s never a shortage of it. One area in particular, which I’ve been noticing is at the forefront of action is 31st Avenue. While it’s mostly the upper part of that Avenue that’s budding, the lower part is slowly but surely waking up too.

That’s why I was so excited to hear about Bear, a new European-style restaurant that’s opening up this fall on 12th Street and 31st Avenue, very close to the Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park and The Piano Factory.

Even though I haven’t yet been there, I must confess that I had a sneak peek at the menu and it sounds fantastic. Constructed by Chef Natasha Pogrebinsky, you can expect some familiar European-style eats with a new twist. Here’s a sampling of the menu to whet your appetite:

Appetizers:

Three Shot Vodka with Three Zakusky – Caviar on bliny, house-pickled vegetables, house-made sausage

Charcuterie and Cheese Plate – Butter, bread, cornichons, and mustard with cured meats, house lardo, chicken liver pate and pork jam

Herring – Marinated in white wine sauce, served with steaming potatoes, poached in dill butter

Mackerel Sashimi – Served with lemon ginger pate

Entrees:

Roasted Duck – Slow roasted duck with apples pulled off the bone and served with pan-seared potatoes

Chicken Rissole – Breaded and fried, served with yams and mushrooms

Pork Sausage – House-made sausage, braised in white wine, garlic and ginger, served with parsnip puree

Ricotta Dumplings – Fresh ricotta filled into house-made pasta with red watercress and candy cane beets

Sides and Bar Snacks:

House Pickle Plate – Cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant

Roasted Croquette – Potato and roasted onion croquette with white wine sour cream

Eggs in a Nest – Eggs mimosa with smoked sprats and mushrooms in a nest of carrot straws

It should also be noted that both vegetarian and vegan options are available. YUM – I can’t wait to try it!

Spring Things at LIC Market

LIC Market, a very delish natural foods resto is rolling out some fun stuff in the month of May.  First off, they're staring Sunday brunch service, beginning this week in honor of Mother's Day.  How exciting!  There are plenty of yummies to choose from, and I especially love their Bullseye Eggs (pictured above) with eggs cooked into crusty 7-grain bread. Mmmm...

Something else they're doing is participating in the LIC Arts Open, an eight day festival that honors and celebrates the growing creative community in LIC.  Hours will be extended on the weekend of 5/21 to the following:

Saturday, May 21: 11:00am - 4:00pm, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Sunday, May 22 : 11:00am - 4:00pm, 5:30pm - 8:00pm

Those who attend the LIC Arts Open will also enjoy a 10% discount at LIC Market. Pretty snazzy...I hope you enjoy.

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

El Ay Si's "Reworked" Brunch

Image by elaysi.com

I love brunch. Who doesn't love brunch?! I haven't met a person to date who doesn't enjoy this relaxingly starchy weekend meal.  That's why I was pretty pumped when I received news that comfort food eatery, El Ay Si is re-jazzing their brunch offering.  By that, I mean putting their unique spin on classic brunch dishes, that are already comforting by nature, but reworking them to be even more cushy.  Here's a sampling of what you can expect:

Eggs Benny with smoky pancetta and creamed spinach...$13
Omelette with Chorizo, Caramelized Onions and Manchego...$11
Eggs Any Style with Papas Bravas and Toast...$9
Steak and Eggs with Papas Bravas and Toast...$17
The X Sandwich - Scrambled Egg, Maple Irish Sausage, White Cheddar on a Toasted English Muffin with Tater Tots...$10
The Red Eye - Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon between slices of French toast...$11
French Toast with Sweet Balsamic Glazed Mixed Berries...$11
Wild Boar Shepherd’s Pie...$17

Wowza...break me off a piece of any of that, which by the way also comes with a choice of a spicy Bloody Mary, Mimosa or fresh squeezed juice.

El Ay Si Brunch - Saturday/Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

El*Ay*Si - 47-38 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City NY 11101
718.389.8781
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.elaysi.com

M. Wells' Gravlax Pie Made Me Swoon Today

During a nice and productive meeting with a cool LICer, Anthony Cekay of Page4Music, I found myself at the much-raved-about M.Wells Diner.  What can I say, all the recent hype got me excited for it, and it seemed like Anthony picked up on this too, as he actually made the suggestion to go.

When we got there, the place was absolutely buzzing - so much so that we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, which wasn't that bad in hindsight.  The place was packed at the seams - no empty seats at the bar, the long communal table up front completely occupied and the waitstaff was certainly working for their tips, running around like busy worker bees.

We were lucky enough to score a booth by the window.  It was hard to hear one another, per my above mention of the activity going on, but nonetheless, a great time was had.  Here's what we ordered:

Gravlax Pie - I had a hard time deciding between this, the seafood cobbler and a marrow sandwich.  Our gracious waiter highly recommended the Gravlax Pie so I took his word for it.  Wow, and am I glad I listened.  While I couldn't really picture what a gravlax pie would look like, the beautifully composed plate of vibrant colors and amazing textures surpassed anything I could've imagined. 

The actual "pie" was made of a flaky, buttery crust that was easy to break into, revealing a creamy interior filled with potatoes.  Topped with smoked salmon (or gravlax), a heaping scoop of velvety creme fraiche and fish eggs, it was the most intricately composed and well rounded salmon dish I've had to date.  All the flavors and textures worked perfectly together to create a little piece of Scandinavian heaven in your mouth.  Although I absolutely adored this dish, lactose sensitive friends should beware, for it's not easy on the tummy. But so worth every bite!

Cheeseburger - Anthony ordered the burger, which contained a mixture of beef and lamb, cheddar cheese, grilled onions and pickles.  While I didn't try it, he finished it to the last bite and said it was one of the better ones he's had lately.  He also revealed his best of the best burger of LIC, which is found at the most unusual locale.  I won't reveal it now but rest assured that I'll give it some properly-paid attention soon.

Iced Tea - I also got a simple iced tea, which was very well made and came in a very cool-looking glass that reminded me of a glass version of this.  It tasted fresh brewed and didn't need any kind of sweetener. 

Service and Cost:
Given the hectic atmosphere today, the service was still very much on-point.  We were served quickly and I definitely felt that our waiter paid enough attention to us.  He was quick with the check too, which was appreciated.

Costs are moderate to a little pricey with my entree at $16 and Anthony's at $12.  Total including tax and tip was $38.

3 Mmmms

M. Wells Diner - 21-17 49th Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101718.425.6917
7 Train to Hunters Point Avenue
mwellsdiner.com/

LIC Market Rolls Out Dinner Service

Exciting news - the deliciously, market-driven eatery, LIC Market is offering dinner service, previously open for just breakfast, lunch and brunch.  I was happy to hear about their upcoming dinner plans, which start this Wednesday, March 2nd and continue into Thursday, March 3rd between 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For now, dinner will be served during these two days of the week, but as things pick up, LIC Market hopes to extend dinner service throughout the week.

Here are some of the yummies you can expect to see on Wednesday's dinner menu.  Mmmm...my mouth is watering as I read...

Braised Short Ribs - foie gras, truffled potato, oyster mushroom hash

Whole Roasted Brook Trout - lemon, green onion, parsley, sauteed turnip greens

Sauteed Sweetbreads - wilted frisee, applewood smoked bacon, roasted garlic, toasted almonds, sherry vinaigrette

Roasted Turnips - golden raisin, bacon, toasted pine nuts

Mussels - toasted garlic, scallion, stewed tomato

Shredded Endive - arugula, grana padano, aged balsamic vinaigrette

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

Tournesol - Like Coming Back Home

After a very long but unintentional break, I returned back to Tournesol this week.  I dined with Meg, who suggested we check it out for their Monday - Wednesday dinner prix-fixe.  Never not in the mood for French food, I gladly obliged and after just a few minutes in the restaurant, we couldn't be happier that we came back.

Tournesol, we were glad to see, hasn't lost its touch.  On the contrary, it seemed to be as on-point as ever, proven by an almost full restaurant on a random Wednesday night.  Here's what we ordered:

Soup of the Day (Carrot soup with leeks) - I'm a sucker for carrot soup because to me, it just says comfort.  Our waiter described this one as also containing leeks, which completely excited both Meg and me.  As you can see from the above shot, the soup had a gorgeous pale orange color and its taste was lovely and mild.  The leeks were a nice addition, adding more texture and a gentle onion flavor.  They made the soup heartier and unexpected - it could've been a meal in itself.

Mussels with Frites - Loving the simple basics when it comes to French food, I eyed the mussels marinieres, which are just traditional mussels cooked in white wine, garlic and fresh parsley.  They were served with frites of course, which were just perfect for dipping into this timeless sauce.  The mussels themselves were plentiful and of good quality - I only had one unopened one, which I of course left alone, but all the others were big and meaty.

Braised Lamb Shank - Meg ordered this decadent entree, which was quite impressive in presentation.  The meat rested on a bed of cous-cous and was further dressed with roasted veggies as well as crunchy veggie chips on top.  I had a bite of the meat and it was really tasty - tender, succulent and absolutely falling off of the bone, as it should.

Dessert - We each got a dessert, which came with our prix-fixe deal.  I got the tarte tatin (an upside down apple tart) and Meg chose the Marquise au Chocolate, which consisted of dark and white chocolate mousse.  Both were excellent options and I enjoyed the light, homemade flavor of the buttery tarte tatin crust.  The plump apple on top of the crust was a pleasure to bite into, gentle in taste but just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving.

Meg's dessert was more decadent, and really amazing.  My favorite aspect about it was the fresh raspberry sauce that the mousse floated on.  Pairing the creamy, rich chocolate with this slightly tangy sauce made my tastebuds do the happy dance.

Service and Cost:
We were impressed with the professional service, and as I mentioned in an earlier review, the waitstaff is actually French.  They had the pacing part of service down pat and we liked that they let us chat as long as we felt like at the end of our meal.  Not unlike in a bistro in France, it felt relaxed, casual and delivered on quality.

Prices were moderate and for a 3-course prix-fixe we paid $25 - together with wine, tax and tip, our total was about $43 each.  Not cheap but so worth the amazingness I just described.

3 Mmmms

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com