Near my apartment in Brooklyn, there is a fantastic place called Oak. I have walked passed it a million times and written it off each and every time until a few weeks ago when I learned of the backyard garden.
Feeling peckish, I popped in for an early evening/late afternoon bite. The food was delicious and the garden was the ideal place to eat it. The menu is comprehensive, offering European cuisine with a slight emphasis on Spain. Gingered sea scallops were quivering with freshness; they arrived on a mound of arugula salad with fennel and red onion tossed in tasty citrus vinaigrette. A tuna panini proved to be gourmet with the addition of capers, olive tapenade, roasted tomatoes, and basil. I liked the drink selections. I only wish the fig tree growing next to our table was in bloom. Next time!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Late Night at Ditch Plains II
The article bellow leaves out a certain aspect of the meal… oh yeah—the food! Read this article second.
So, that lovely waitress served us lovely food. The late night menu does not skimp on tasty options. Warm crab dip served with bagel chips came out bubbling in a French onion soup bowl. Fish tacos came three to an order and were loaded with strips of breaded white fish, lettuce, tomatoes, and a spicy sauce the tied the whole thing together wrapped tightly in a corn tortilla. We defaulted to the lobster roll ($27!!!) after peel and eat shrimp were unavailable. After one bite, we were glad we did. THIS is the best one in the city. Forget Pearl, Mary’s, and Ed’s. Enormous chunks of lobster pile into a delicious, doughy (we think gourmet) hot dog bun. Splitting it is easy enough, especially with the homemade sweet potato chips that we aptly used in chaser fashion: one bite of lobster roll, three chips, repeat. Perfection. We can’t wait to miss dinnertime again.
So, that lovely waitress served us lovely food. The late night menu does not skimp on tasty options. Warm crab dip served with bagel chips came out bubbling in a French onion soup bowl. Fish tacos came three to an order and were loaded with strips of breaded white fish, lettuce, tomatoes, and a spicy sauce the tied the whole thing together wrapped tightly in a corn tortilla. We defaulted to the lobster roll ($27!!!) after peel and eat shrimp were unavailable. After one bite, we were glad we did. THIS is the best one in the city. Forget Pearl, Mary’s, and Ed’s. Enormous chunks of lobster pile into a delicious, doughy (we think gourmet) hot dog bun. Splitting it is easy enough, especially with the homemade sweet potato chips that we aptly used in chaser fashion: one bite of lobster roll, three chips, repeat. Perfection. We can’t wait to miss dinnertime again.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Kittichai
I hadn’t been to Kittichai in several years, but upon returning last week with a few family members, I was reminded of how delicious each dish really is. Despite the restaurants über-hip décor and wait staff, the pretense stops there. The Rockwell Group headed up the interior design and architecture of the space in 2004 and since then, those staying in the Sixty Thompson Hotel have been treated to a lavish, extravagant version of hotel dining. The principals responsible for Indochine, Bond St, and Town are behind the concept, which includes a Feng Sui dining space, waiters clad in designer duds, and a chef imported from the Four Seasons in Bangkok. Of course, all of this is old news if you’ve read Zagats in the past four years.
What’s new, however; or, at least, what’s refreshing is the fact that after these four years, the place is still hopping—and it is due to the outstanding quality of the food. While presented with much pomp and production, so as to match the ambiance—each dish proved to be honest and unique. From tuna tartare—presented with mini tuile cups and a giant pitch fork looking thing for decoration—to sea bass tempura served in what looked like a Thai or Chinese spice box, the appetizers were pure in taste and flavors. Fluke sashimi was as good, if not better than a similar dish at Nobu.
Entrees like the pineapple braised short ribs in green curry and tiger prawns with garlic sauce and green beans had my brother and I practically licking our plates. Four enormous prawns lined up on the plate next to cubes of watermelon—perfect to ring in summer and the short ribs where fall-off-the-bone fantastic. Another stand out was the sea bass with morning glory, also called water spinach. The delicate sautéed greens and the crispy-skinned fish was a dream for my grandmother. We were lucky she shared. Other choices looked fantastic, too:a Thai omelet with lump crabmeat, crispy rock shrimp with grilled eggplant, the list continues.
Whether you are going with friends, with family, on a first date, or your anniversary, rest assured this is the place for a beyond doubt wonderful meal.
What’s new, however; or, at least, what’s refreshing is the fact that after these four years, the place is still hopping—and it is due to the outstanding quality of the food. While presented with much pomp and production, so as to match the ambiance—each dish proved to be honest and unique. From tuna tartare—presented with mini tuile cups and a giant pitch fork looking thing for decoration—to sea bass tempura served in what looked like a Thai or Chinese spice box, the appetizers were pure in taste and flavors. Fluke sashimi was as good, if not better than a similar dish at Nobu.
Entrees like the pineapple braised short ribs in green curry and tiger prawns with garlic sauce and green beans had my brother and I practically licking our plates. Four enormous prawns lined up on the plate next to cubes of watermelon—perfect to ring in summer and the short ribs where fall-off-the-bone fantastic. Another stand out was the sea bass with morning glory, also called water spinach. The delicate sautéed greens and the crispy-skinned fish was a dream for my grandmother. We were lucky she shared. Other choices looked fantastic, too:a Thai omelet with lump crabmeat, crispy rock shrimp with grilled eggplant, the list continues.
Whether you are going with friends, with family, on a first date, or your anniversary, rest assured this is the place for a beyond doubt wonderful meal.
Lil-Love
That last visit to Florent got me crazy for white Lillet, a French aperitif from Bordeaux. It was my first time noticing this dainty bottle behind the bar and wanted a taste. As sweet as can be, several types of oranges, macerated into a liqueur, improve upon the base of white wine.
Served on the rocks with a twist is how I like it best, but if I’m going to be sipping more than one, I like it cut with a little soda water to minimize the alcohol. At 17%, this is a very potent elixir for an alternative to ordinary wine. Lillet with orange juice is terrific in the morning to cure an evening of a little too much fun.
It’s a lovely summertime beverage to take on picnics, serve seaside with lobster and scallops, or simmer with honey and cinnamon to pour over grilled peaches.
Served on the rocks with a twist is how I like it best, but if I’m going to be sipping more than one, I like it cut with a little soda water to minimize the alcohol. At 17%, this is a very potent elixir for an alternative to ordinary wine. Lillet with orange juice is terrific in the morning to cure an evening of a little too much fun.
It’s a lovely summertime beverage to take on picnics, serve seaside with lobster and scallops, or simmer with honey and cinnamon to pour over grilled peaches.
Florent, Such a Lovely Place
Florent closes at the end of this month and so, a few weeks ago, with inescapable rock ballads from the 70s, 80s, and 90s stuck in our heads from The Eagles concert at Madison Square Garden, Florent seemed like an excellent place to go for a post-concert meal.
Having been around since 1985 and serving the population of post-clubbers, rockers, performers, and queens since day one, this crew depends on the fact that, “you can find it here, any time of year” and any time of day for that matter. I wondered where they’d go once this legendary diner closed its doors.
“So I called up the captain, please bring me my wine.” Thereafter, we put in an order for mini-crab cakes and steak frites after surveying the menu, and the scene, both of which seemed endearingly nostalgic already. We reflected, “such a lovely place.” For one thing, in a 24-hour joint, the friendly wait staff like those at Florent is a rare and wonderful thing. Secondly, the food—our steak, which “as I stabbed it with my steely knife,” I thought, they “just can’t kill the beast.” I was already missing the place, knowing this would be one of my (if not the) last meals here.
Having been around since 1985 and serving the population of post-clubbers, rockers, performers, and queens since day one, this crew depends on the fact that, “you can find it here, any time of year” and any time of day for that matter. I wondered where they’d go once this legendary diner closed its doors.
“So I called up the captain, please bring me my wine.” Thereafter, we put in an order for mini-crab cakes and steak frites after surveying the menu, and the scene, both of which seemed endearingly nostalgic already. We reflected, “such a lovely place.” For one thing, in a 24-hour joint, the friendly wait staff like those at Florent is a rare and wonderful thing. Secondly, the food—our steak, which “as I stabbed it with my steely knife,” I thought, they “just can’t kill the beast.” I was already missing the place, knowing this would be one of my (if not the) last meals here.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Party Crab
I hadn’t been to Fatty Crab in a while and was pleasantly annoyed to see them lining people up to wait for two-tops at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night. The food is so tasty there; it’s a great place for culinary aficionados to keep in mind if they are out for a late night and start getting peckish. You can keep the party going but get the food in your belly for which your hangover will be thanking you tomorrow.
Don’t miss the squid salad, with dozens of psychedelic slivers of super spicy red peppers. Wash it down with a large Hittachino beer, or if you don’t want any more drinks, follow it up with sweet baby bok choy. Shrimp sambals make a great healthy late night meal, made up of a lettuce wrap, greens, and lightly sauced shrimp. Any wild evening won’t be so bad after Fatty Crab.
Don’t miss the squid salad, with dozens of psychedelic slivers of super spicy red peppers. Wash it down with a large Hittachino beer, or if you don’t want any more drinks, follow it up with sweet baby bok choy. Shrimp sambals make a great healthy late night meal, made up of a lettuce wrap, greens, and lightly sauced shrimp. Any wild evening won’t be so bad after Fatty Crab.
Wildwood Lunch
I had a fantastic lunch at Wildwood BBQ with a few associates last week. Besides the pulled pork and braised beef brisket that is protocol at these NYCBBQ establishments these days, I had a delicious finger food starter that set this smoke shop apart from the rest.
Bottle caps. Bottle caps should be at more restaurants in New York. They should be freebies at BBQ joints in my humble opinion…They are my new favorite.
Bottle caps are slivers of (I think) canned jalapeño peppers that get breaded and deep-fried. The result is little saucers of crispy fried dough encasing a spicy button of punchy surprise. At Wildwood, they get served with a ranch dressing for cooling off your mouth. I went the route of feverishly continuing to pop them though, which I recommend. Next time you go, ask for at least one order for the table. These buggers are so tasty though; you’ll need more. See if you can eat just one.
Bottle caps. Bottle caps should be at more restaurants in New York. They should be freebies at BBQ joints in my humble opinion…They are my new favorite.
Bottle caps are slivers of (I think) canned jalapeño peppers that get breaded and deep-fried. The result is little saucers of crispy fried dough encasing a spicy button of punchy surprise. At Wildwood, they get served with a ranch dressing for cooling off your mouth. I went the route of feverishly continuing to pop them though, which I recommend. Next time you go, ask for at least one order for the table. These buggers are so tasty though; you’ll need more. See if you can eat just one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)