NYC Restaurant Week

   Restaurant week in NYC was a couple of weeks ago and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  So even though I've been running like a mad woman, I took an afternoon to go with my co-food critic Dawne.  Lol.  She is one of the most pickiest eaters I've ever known but this place got two thumbs up from the both of us. 

   Ilili restaurant is located at 236 5th Avenue and is definitely a must have whenever you're in the city.  Their cuisine is Mediterranean.  I loved the fact that for restaurant week they gave each of us two appetizers!  We had a feast and a half.  We picked the Mouhamara a walnut puree delicious and different, Moujadara a green lentil puree.  The BEST string beans ever but so simply cooked with lemon juice, garlic, salt, olive oil and dried mint.  The Phoenician fries are the best fries you'll ever have in your life they come with a garlic whip that is non-dairy and seasoned with Aleppo pepper.  The Aleppo pepper aka Halaby pepper is used in middle eastern & Mediterranean cuisine.  It has a moderate heat level with some fruitiness and mild cumin undertones it's similar to the Ancho Chile.  I have yet to find it locally but my next trip into the city I will be on a mission until I find it because it had such great flavor.  I had the braised lamb shank sandwich with roasted peppers it was so delicious that even when I brought it home and my boyfriend ate it cold out of the fridge he was amazed. Lol.  Dawne had the chicken wrap with garlic whip an they even put one Phoenician fry going down the middle to make it perfect!

  Our desserts were amazing!  I had the Ilili candy bar which had chocolate crunch, chocolate ganache, pistachio & fig caramel & finished with a warm chocolate sauce.  Tell me that's not one of the greatest desserts ever.  My girlfriend had the Awaimat.  That translates to a Lebanese beignet with orange blossom simple syrup.  I also had Arak which is a liquor.  It is mixed 1/3 Arak with 2/3 water because it is so strong.  It aids in digestion and has a licorice & anise flavor.  It's something to be sipped slowly and you have to have a strong love for licorice because that's exactly and only what it tastes like. 

   I want to urge you not to wait until next year for the next restaurant week try it ASAP!

www.ililinyc.com

Fine Turkish Cuisine in New City!

    Yesterday afternoon I had a few hours before my boyfriend had to go into work so, we decided to cruise around to try and find something different.  We did! A new Turkish restaurant in New City.  I recommend trying this place if you truly enjoy lamb and if you enjoy the simplicity of food.  Their recipes included whole grains like bulgar something I usually only see in health food stores.  We enjoyed our appetizer which was basically grilled eggplant, tomatoes and green peppers smothered with yogurt.  The lunch specials are great for the price.  Just 11.95 for a meal with an appetizer.  I ordered the stuffed cabbage with ground lamb meat and a very light red sauce.  My boyfriend enjoyed his lamb cubes served with bulgar wheat and a small salad.  For our appetizers I had a puree of lentil soup and Anthony had a refreshing salad of nicely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers that was such a refreshing dish so simple yet delicious.  I really appreciate food like that.  The restaurant is called Ephendi and is located at 191 S. Mai Street in New City there is no website but their phone # is (845) 708 5752.  I will quote my boyfriend as best as I can " You know your in an authentic restaurant when the English on the menu is terrible"  LOL!

My Sunday must have!

   Every Sunday I must go to J & B luncheonette to have my weekly eggs Benedict.  I have had eggs Benedict all over at some of the best restaurants in NY.  But, by far my favorite place to have this is at J & B luncheonette in Haverstraw on route 9W.  Their prices are great and their staff is so friendly they know everyone by name.   I do not like my eggs poached I like them scrambled so they scramble instead of poach my eggs and smother them in hollandaise sauce.  It's a very comfy and relaxed atmosphere and their homemade soups and Mexican specials on Thursdays are also a must.  This place has been there for over 20 years and the owner is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet.  It's one of those old fashioned places that are hard to find.  It's a place where you'll find Joe sittin at his favorite spot at the counter where he's sat at for who knows how many years considering Joe is 90 years old.  With all the chain restaurants around it's nice to see a mom and pop restaurant still around.  A place where the community gathers and where the community is so loved in return.  Joann the owner is always cooking and donating her time to local organizations like The Arts Alliance, The 42 Club and where ever else she's needed.  Try my Sunday must have you won't be disappointed :)

Listen to Liz....go to BARTACO!!!

  This one is a MUST! I found out about this restaurant through Liz Johnson's blog on lohud.  I'm almost a foodie psychic because I can look at a place most of the time and be able to tell you if it's going to be a good one or not.  Me and a couple of girlfriends took a ride to Port Chester to eat at this tapas place what a great place this is.  The entire concept of this place is one you will not see just anywhere.  First, the atmosphere was so enjoyable because on a cold snowy winter like we've been having it was so nice to go to a place that made you feel like you were beach front while sipping your margarita.  The place is decorated very nautical with beautiful basket lights hanging from the ceiling, lots of lounge areas, and even a foot rest under your booth for your feet!  I mean these people have thought of it all.  When it comes to ordering, instead of a waiter taking your order, at each table there are pencils and an order form with a list of everything on their menu you just write how many and what size you want, clip it in the holder and they come pick it up for you.  If you want to get the attention of one of the wait staff all you have to do is clip your little flag up and they come love it so much fun.

   Now about the food lol!  We started off with a pitcher of Clarico which is fresh cut fruit and liqueur with the wine of your choice added.  We had baja fish tacos, thai shrimp tacos, pork chili verde tacos, beef al carbon tacos, roast chicken tacos, grilled corn, stewed beans with pork, pork and chicken tamales, cheese quesadillas, sopa de pollo, shrimp ceviche, guacamole and half a rotisserie chicken.  We finished off with some churros with chocolate sauce and coconut gelato.  And Yes! We ate it all just us three girls lol!  The tamales were to die for very tasty with a touch of spice.  The thai shrimp tacos and pork chili verde tacos were my favorite.  They bring everything out to you on small  trays and some brown butcher paper.  Everything was made very simple but tasty and delicious just the way I like it.  The guacamole was a real treat we put some on top of our ceviche and YUMMY!!  The churros you could tell were made fresh to order and the coconut gelato had slices of real coconut inside.  All I have to say is if Liz Johnson suggests a place I recommend you give it a try.  Thanks Liz ;)  Check out the website: http://www.bartaco.com/

Restaurant X better than sex?

  Oh yes I said it lol!  This meal was better than sex lol.  This past Sunday I had a girls brunch at restaurant X for my Aunts birthday.  You cannot beat this deal $38 all you can drink mimosas I won't even tell you how many I had.  All I'm gonna say is that the food was free because I drank my $38 worth of mimosas.  You sit and are served an array of food starting off with grilled vegetables, Cesar salad, eggs Benedict, fresh fruit and move on to roasted chicken, ham, lamb chops, shrimp cooked a few different ways,roasted potatoes, risotto, mushroom ravioli and the list goes on and on.  The shrimp are huge the lamb chops cooked to perfection the mushroom ravioli are filled with tasty plump mushrooms.  The eggs are poached perfectly for the eggs benedict.  You finish with an array of desserts they place on your table buffet style.  Everything from flan, strawberries and cream, chocolate mousse, pecan pie and that list goes on again.  It's truly unbelievable Chef Peter Kelly you have done it again!

Art Cafe! That's all I gotta say!

  I absolutely love cafes. One day I hope to own one but until then I search for the greatest ones to sit in relax and be inspired.  One of the most inspirational cafes I've ever found is the Art cafe in Nyack.  The food is simple but great.  The borekas are my fav!  Their flaky pastries filled with your choice of feta cheese, spinach and cheese or mushroom and cheese.  Their hummus is warm and creamy you can tell it's definitely homemade.  My absolute fav is having a decaf caramel latte mmmmm!! That's all I gotta say.  In the winter you can sit inside the warm ambiance surrounded by interesting pictures hung on the wall and little birds painted in various places.  In the spring and summer there is plenty of room in the front and back of the cafe.  I love sitting outside of this place in the warm weather because the sun beams down on you while your sipping your iced decaf caramel late lol!  The rice bowls are a great lunch my fav is the Monet bowl.  It's simple yet tasty basmati rice with goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, red onions and spices.  This place is a must! You can find them at 65 S.Broadway in Nyack I'm sure you'll see me there.

Patisserie

  Everyone has got to love a good bakery.  The question is where to find one.  We all remember Mardoffs bakery if you grew up in my neighborhood.  But as chain restaurants and coffee shops have open mom and pop places have closed unfortunately.  I am a huge believer in supporting independent owners.  I haven't been able to find a good bakery but I've found a phenomenal patisserie. Well, one of the best around hands down is Didier Dumas in Nyack.  I go there several times a month and everything is always fresh and delicious.  I always love getting the lemon croissant well that's what I'm calling it.   The flavors are perfectly balanced between the cheese and lemon and the flaky croissant.  It's a must try especially for a lemon lover.  I took a few of my girlfriends there after lunch for her birthday and we had a feast of sweets.  I truly enjoyed the strawberry shortcake the cake was fluffy and moist the whip cream was light and delectable and the strawberry preserves used in between was the perfect amount with a very smooth strawberry flavor.  They also had a chocolate torte with a creme brulee on top the combination of the two in one dessert was delectable.  This was definitely a favorite of my girlfriends.  We ordered two lol.  We also ordered a chocolate mouse cake filled with raspberry mousse.  Again very light and flavorful but not over bearing at all.What I love about this place is that the flavors are so subtle it's actually very enjoyable not like many other places whose desserts are over powering or so commercial tasting you think your eating an entemann's. Well not here so when you get a chance and make it soon drive on over to Didia Dumas 163 Main Street Nyack NY.  Let me know what you order when you do go.

So many places so little time lol!

I have just realized why I'm broke all I do is eat out.  All I do is eat.  So Thursday night a girlfriend and I made plans to go the city but decided to stay local to save on tolls and parking so we heard about this restaurant in Pearl River called Kumo.  It's located across from the post office on 22 S.Main st.  Their open 7 days a week and we both really enjoyed the place.  We loved the fact that it felt like we were in a restaurant in the city but didn't have to take the drive.  The menu was very creative. Unfortunately my girlfriend isn't as open to all foods as I am so I will definitely have to return with my boyfriend to try a few things like their foie gras they sear it and serve it with watermelon and a special sauce.  They also had duck spring rolls with a seafood sauce that I really wanted to try.  Instead we had the rock shrimp for an appetizer it was ok but not highly recommended.  We really enjoyed their miso soup their is nothing like a good miso soup.  I had the fire roll which was lobster salad, crab meat & mango inside, spicy tuna & crunch on top with spicy eel sauce.  My friend had a dinner box which was a great meal for $19.  It was huge it came with soup, salad, shrimp and vegetables tempura, 3 dumplings a California roll and your choice of meat! Wow!! That's all I have to say she had to take half of it home.  My roll was good not as spicy as I would have liked but a good choice.This place is a great place for a girls night out without having to go all the way to the city and I say this because of the ambiance.  It does make you feel like your in downtown Manhattan.  It's not a typical looking place for the county.  Try it I think you will like ;)

Take this trip!!!It's worth it!

   One of my all time favorite places to eat is in Brooklyn. Now Brooklyn use to be an area no one ever wanted to go to unless you were producing a movie about gangsters but, now Brooklyn is a food hot spot.  Big name chefs are opening up shop there and entire communities are getting revitalized.  If you've never been to Williamsburg GO!  It's a very trendy area thats been totally revitalized and their is a great thai restaurant called Sea.  Very chic and very affordable but, you wouldn't think so from the outside.  The place is very dark and factory lookin with swinging chairs and bubble stools.  They have great thai ice teas in several different flavors two bars that serve awesome cocktails and that's where you will stand for a one to two hour wait on the weekends in this place.  But, it's all worth the wait.  My kids love their pad thai and I love feasting on several of their appetizers and salads especially their tup tim fritters and crisy seafood salad.  i'll eat anything from Chicken garlic saute dish to the shrimp and red curry with sticky rice.  I never eat desert there because I love walking around in this area strooling through the streets after a good meal to look at the boutiques and I usually stop at the cafes to have a decaf and something sweet.  Get out your navigation devices and set your dial to 114N 6th Street Brooklyn NY and tell me what you think.

Hidden Gem

   I wanna start my first real blog on here with a real hidden gem in my neighborhood.  It's the best sushi around.  The place sits only about 15 people but the fish is fresh and the company is awesome.  It's run by a husband and wife Jenny and Jimmy two immigrants from Korea.  For lunch they have some awesome specials at awesome prices.  I always order the two roll special you get miso soup a salad and two rolls of your choice from their list.  They also have this special I have never had anywhere it's a small ball of rice deep fried so it's crispy on the outside then they top it off with spicy tuna and a jalapeno sitting in soy sauce mmmm good.  A lil kick and some crunch I love it. My friend Kurtisa loves their crunch roll another favorite over there,  They are locate on Route 9w in Stony Point.  It's a must try believe me you'll love it.  Oh and I almost forgot it's calle Hanabi!