A few weeks ago, I was lucky to attend a fabulous tasting at Thalassa Restaurant in Tribeca. Being invited by the restaurant to taste its delicious food was a total treat and I knew I'd run into foodies I knew, so that was yet another plus. Low and behold, Lindsay from The Lunch Belle was a fellow dining companion and I was so excited to catch up and break bread (I mean pita) with her and my other lovely companions.
Atmosphere:
Set in an old historic building on Franklin Street in Tribeca that originally served as a warehouse, Thalassa is colossal. I love that it exemplifies a cross between old world industrial style and something completely modern. The bar is beautiful and sleek, made of custom-made white marble, and is a nice gathering spot when waiting for your party to arrive.
As we made our way into the main dining room, we couldn't help but notice the impressive display of fresh seafood that would later become dinner. The giant scallops were especially amazing and we couldn't help but snap a few photos, our excitement for our upcoming dinner growing by the minute.
Once we sat down, the atmosphere continued to be sleek and luxurious, studded with simple embellishments such as sheer flowing curtains, Greek urns and soft lighting, which made you feel as if you were very far away from Manhattan. This was very welcome after a long day at work, as we exhaled the stress and inhaled the serenity of Thalassa.
Food:
As Astoria has spoiled me with some pretty fine Greek food, I do tend to judge a little harshly. Thalassa certainly held its own, and then some, as I was impressed not only by the food's exquisite taste, but also by its beautiful presentation.
Meze - This is the best part of a Greek meal for me and was my favorite course at Thalassa. There were quite a few things we tasted, including the zucchini/eggplant chips you see above, the grilled octopus, Maine diver sea scallops, a series of dips with pita, and bakalao.
My standouts were by far the seafood dishes including the octopus and the scallops. Both really distinguished themselves from traditional meze - the octopus boasting a beautiful melt-in-your-mouth texture that can only be achieved by massaging the octopus during preparation, and the scallops enveloped in crispy kataifi phyllo dough that's typically used in dessert. The latter was especially unique, showcasing a sophisticated juxtaposition between the crispy exterior shell and the tender scallop nestled inside. Resting in a kalamata balsamic reduction, the whole thing was perfection on a plate.
Mains - I like that we went simple with our main course, which was a plate of grilled red snapper, prepared with olive oil, lemon, capers and a little bit of dandelion greens. The whole thing was clean and uncomplicated and reminded me of something I'd eat on vacation in the Greek isles. I'd recommend sharing something like this with another dining companion, especially if you've already tried a few meze.
Dessert - Ending things grandly, we enjoyed four shared desserts, including their house baklava, Ekmek, walnut chocolate Karydopita, and the Mastiha panna cotta. Each were delicious in their own right, but my favorite was the Ekmek, which looked pretty non-traditional, wrapped in a dark, rich Valrhona chocolate dome. Inside was a creamy, custardy middle with pistachios, and more pistachio ice cream on the side too. While it was a little tough to break its beautiful shell, it was completely worth it. The panna cotta was a close second favorite with caramelized pears and fresh berries on top, leaving the creamy middle simple and pure.
Service and Cost:
The best part of the service for me was the extensive knowledge that Thalassa's staff had about the food. Reciting the contents of each dish as naturally as stating the weather per se, you can clearly tell that you were at a fine dining establishment. We also had the pleasure to meet Thalassa's Chef, Raphael Abrahante who was happy to chat with us and even revealed some of his tricks behind making those impeccable scallops and octopus. It's clear that he has a passion for this stuff and it all showed through this spectacular dinner.
Costs are on the higher side, as this is fine dining at its best. However, they also have some reasonable happy hour specials Monday - Friday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. when they serve meze, 1/2 priced specialty cocktails and select Greek wines by the glass.
Meze - $14 - $22
Mains - $29 - $48
Desserts - $12
3 Mmmms
Thalassa - 179 Franklin Street, New York NY 10013
212.941.7661
1 Train to Franklin Street
www.thalassanyc.com
As a result of our constantly busy schedule, Dan and I are always on the run and rarely sit down to a nice, leisurely breakfast together. Well I aimed to change that this weekend, as a little purchase over at All Good Things on Friday inspired me to make French Toast.
That little purchase to be more specific was pumpkin bread. Not what you may be thinking, this wasn't a desserty pumpkin bread, but instead a hearty, not sweet version. I purchased it at All Good Thing's Orwasher's stand, which has a lot of other interesting breads, and while they come at a premium, they're really fantastic.
So as you can see here, I decided to use this bread for a homemade French Toast, topped with authentic Canadian maple syrup, courtesy of my friend Sarah from Calgary (thanks Sarah!). We further topped it with Back to Nature's Apple Blueberry Granola, which was just delicious.
Even though you probably don't need me to tell you how to make French Toast, here's a little synopsis just in case.
Pumpkin Bread French Toast:
Ingredients (serves 2)
3 eggs, beaten well
4 large slices of pumpkin bread (you can substitute with oatmeal raisin bread too)
A dash of cinnamon
Vegetable or olive oil
A pinch of salt
Good quality maple syrup
Your favorite granola
Directions:
Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium high with oil until really hot. Add the pinch of cinnamon and salt into the eggs and whisk well.
Coat the bread in the egg mixture and place into the skillet. Pan fry on both sides for about 2-3 minutes or until the sides are golden brown. Place on a plate and blot with paper towels.
Serve immediately and top with maple syrup and granola. Enjoy a great start to the day!
Totally excited by the fact that a food truck lot has set up right outside of my office building during lunch, I'm always looking out the window to check out the different food trucks that have landed there each day. I love that they alternate constantly, giving people the opportunity to try a variety of things at once, and it also defeats the sometimes arduous activity of actually locating these mobile kitchens.
I headed down for lunch with a co-worker of mine yesterday, and given that the weather was actually good, we decided to hang. At first, we checked out the offerings at each truck, starting with Munchie Mobile and working our way eventually to the Bongo Brothers Cuban food truck. And somewhere in between that was the Gorilla Cheese NYC truck, which I've always been dying to try. After taking one look at their menu, both my co-worker Rusty and I were all about it.
About the Truck
A lot of you may be familiar with this truck, as it's quite emblematic, with a picture of a large King Kong-esque gorilla holding a melted grilled cheese in one hand and the Empire State Building in the other. I love its whimsy design and bright yellow color, which automatically makes me think of cheesy goodness. In truth, I've seen this truck floating around quite a bit on Varick Street (and other locations around the city) but the sometimes long lines have turned me off.
Even though we found ourselves waiting in line here too, it went fast and we also didn't feel awkward standing on the street, as we were in a nice park that was enclosed and where we felt we could stay a while.
Grilled Cheese
Although there are many tantalizing options on the menu, my choice became very clear immediately, as I went for the #8 or the Spicy Buffalo Chicken grilled cheese. Besides the buffalo treatment, which always makes me think of Monday Night Football, I was sold by the fact that it incorporated smoked mozzarella on French bread. By the latter, I was expecting something crusty and substantial however, I was slightly disappointed by the ordinary white bread that encased the delightful contents of chicken and cheese.
Loving the filling of this sandwich, I appreciated the spice in the tender chicken chunks and the cheese was indeed quite smoky and out of this world. It went down easy, and despite it being a heaping, hearty sandwich, it didn't weigh you down, which was great.
Rusty got the smoked gouda with BBQ pulled pork creation and while I didn't try it, he assured me it was delicious. Next time!
Service and Cost
The service was very quick and efficient, as we waited for just 5 minutes before receiving our piping hot sandwiches. I have no complaints and overall the truck seems to run pretty efficiently.
Each sandwich set us back $8, which is pricey for just simple meat and cheese, but I have to say that it's doable once in a while and that the quality is very good.
3 Mmmms
www.gorillacheesenyc.com
Twitter: gcnyc1
646.538.1838
The fact that I work in a really exciting food neighborhood, on the crossroads of Soho and Tribeca gives me a lot of great lunch options. Being the frugal Franny I am though, I usually bring my lunch (it's dinner that I usually treat myself to), but once in a while I do get out to try something new and interesting.
Hearing lots of amazing things about Kutsher's, a Jewish comfort food restaurant in the heart of Tribeca, Gina and I went to check it out last week. Impressed with our experience with the food, and the chic ambiance (this is not your grandma's dining room scene!) we'll absolutely be back again soon.
Atmosphere:
As already hinted above, the vibe is modern, sleek and really inviting. I loved the high ceilings, which created airiness and space, while the simple tan wooden furnishing gave off a comfortable sleekness that was juxtaposed with stainless steel metal embellishings that looked like wall art. The seating is varied, which is nice, and can accommodate large groups (there are plush booths) as well as more intimate two-tops. So as you can tell, this isn't your typical Jewish comfort food eatery feel such as a Katz' Deli or Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop per se. It's a lot more refined and stylish - you almost couldn't tell the style of food they serve just by looking at your surroundings.
Food:
Since we heard the portions here are so huge, we decided to split everything, which was a smart way to go. The sandwiches are enormous and fed two people easily (we couldn't even finish the sides), so I highly advise going this route too, especially for lunchtime.
Matzoh Ball Soup - I'm a sucker for good matzoh ball soup, and given that it's Passover, now would be a good time to go in and try it. Kutsher's version was a stiff competitor with my mom's. Sorry Mami! The broth was flavorful and real chickeny, speckled with fresh herbs like parsley and dill, which added a nice earthiness. The matzoh ball itself was light and airy and not too salty - it's evident they've mastered it, and then some.
Smoked Turkey Reuben - Trying the healthier side of this sandwich, we went for the turkey, which attracted us even more because it's house smoked. How exciting! And even more exciting was what actually came out - a large, golden-crusted sandwich, packed to the gills with this delectable turkey, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and melty emmentaler cheese. The combination was blissful and so filling - the smoked tender turkey, juxtaposing nicely with the still crunchy sauerkraut and the pronounced tang from the dressing. It was all good, and even better once paired with a housemade pickled veggie mix as well as a side of Kutsher's famous duck fries, which were out of this world.
Service and Cost:
We couldn't be happier with the service - our waiter was helpful, quite poised and distinguished. It was this aspect of our experience that further made us feel that this was a high-class dining establishment, minus the pretension.
Costs are high, considering the type of food you're eating, but once again the quality is impeccable. This is why I highly recommend splitting dishes here - it won't empty the wallet but will still keep your tummy satisfied.
The sandwich and the soup cost us about $40 including tax and tip.
3 Mmmms
Kutsher's Tribeca - 186 Franklin Street, New York NY 10013
212.431.0606
1 Train to Franklin Street
www.kutsherstribeca.com
