Monday, September 24, 2007

Tamarind

This was my first experience eating Indian food and now I'm a huge fan! I ordered the Chana Pindi- a north Indian specialty of chickpeas cooked with onion tomatoes and pomegranate seeds. Yes, it was a bit spicy but amazingly delicious and filling. Most of the friends I dined with ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala- chicken tikka cooked in a tomato fenugreek sauce with Indian spices, which they loved. All the dishes were served in elegant silver dishes, as was the rice we ordered on the side to cool down our spicy dishes.
I definitely recommend making reservations for a weekend night at Tamarind (E. 22nd Street) as it was really crowded by the time we left. However, it wouldn't be a bad place to have to wait to be seated. The decor was crisp with white and beige hues which allowed for a nice relaxing meal.

Banc Cafe

This Murray Hill (30th and 3rd) hot spot is perfect for a drink during a game or an even out and about. No snobbery, pretty casual, friendly bar tenders, overall Banc has a chic appearance but an easy going attitude.

Kellari Taverna

I was truly impressed with this large Greek restaurant. Kellari Taverna is warmly lit with tall ceilings, a nice sized bar with oak barrels all around. I was pleasantly surprised by the waitstaff's knowledge of the cuisine and wine menu and the attentive service made me feel like I was attending their Grand Opening event. When I found out that this restaurant had been in NYC for 2 years I was blown away. I recommend the traditional Green wine, Assytiko produced by Boutari Estates in Greece (Vintage: 2002). And definitely start with the Saganaki (translation: flaming cheese) appetizer. Click here to see their menu but I also suggest the Patzaria salad.

Eatery

Eatery is a great brunch spot in Midtown West (53rd and 9th).Have a drink at he bar while you wait for a table. Once you're seated you're welcomed with a small bite of banana bread topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a little taste of nutella. The menu boasts some great sounding dishes like Santa Fe Sweet Potato Pancake and Homemade Granola with dried fruit. Whether you sit inside or out it's a fun place to meet up with friends for a weekend brunch.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Sundaes and Cones

After having dinner at The House and champagne at FLUTE my friend and I walked to Sundaes and Cones (10th St. near 3rd Ave.) where we had some fabulous ice cream!
With tons of flavors to try- some organic, some sugar free, and even soft serve frozen yogurt- it was hard to choose but I finally went with the fat free raspberry soft serve and the cookies n' cream ice cream. It was so good- creamy and smooth, just the way homemade ice cream should taste. I wasn't brave enough to taste the truly unique flavors like ginger, red bean or lychee even though they are recommended by Gothamist. A perfect way to end a casual night out in NYC.

FLUTE

After dinner at The House my friend and I walked to FLUTE, a champagne lounge in Gramercy (20th btw. Broadway & Park). I never knew there were so many different types of champagne, most of which lined the shelves above the bar. The dim lighting and plush sofas would be perfect for an after-dinner date, even though I was there with a friend we had a great time and ordered the Bellini Sampler. For each of the champagne samplers you could choose 3 different types to taste. For the Bellini sampler we choose the pear, mango and peach flavors. Pear was our least favorite as the taste was very subtle.
Apparently Tuesdays from 5-8pm it's Happy Hour at Flute. On our way out we also noticed a flyer announcing Champagne classes, it would be interesting to learn more about the varieties of champagne, I'll have to look into it.

The House

Not loving the menu at Casa Mono on Irving Place btw 17th and 18th my friend and I headed over to the quaint little restaurant called The House.
It's charming black and silver-themed decor is well lit with beautiful chandeliers. All the outdoor tables (3 of them) were taken so we sat inside on the main floor at a tall table with cushiony swivel chairs. We started our meal with the White Bean Hummus and Avocado Puree appetizer. For our entrees my friend ordered the Panino of Prosciutto di Parma with black mission figs, gorgonzola cheese and rosemary oil. I had the Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella di Bufala "Caprese" accompanied by a very refreshing lemon basil sorbet. The rectangular plate was decorated by a simple line of tomato water and basil oil. I loved this dish, I also added some balsamic vinegar which really added to the dish.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Sweet Lucinda's

For my sister's birthday I surprised her with cupcakes from the amazing Zionsville, IN-based bakery Sweet Lucinda's. It was so exciting to present her with a beautiful box full of delicious and gorgeous cupcakes that were designed especially for my sister's 15th birthday! The box was filled with an assortment of red velvet and white chocolate cupcakes with smooth buttercream frosting decorated with colored fondant. As an added bonus the talented baker, Courtney, added a bag full of colorful white chocolate-covered pretzels with sprinkles and a white chocolate cupcake-shaped lollipop. All of the treats were excellent! Surprising my sister with these fabulous treats was the perfect way to start celebrating the birthday weekend!

Orders can be placed by calling Courtney, find her contact info on her website: www.sweetlucindas.com. Sweet Lucinda's amazing treats can also be found all summer long at Zionsville's Farmer's Market.