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You should buy these when they come to Whole Foods

2 May

And let’s hope it’s soon. I discovered Nutwhats at a farmer’s market in Scottsdale, AZ: little bites of addictive, buttery, nutty goodness, each flavor combining different ingredients like jalapeno or pretzel or beer or bacon!?!?!? As if it couldn’t get any better, some are drizzled with chocolate.

Don’t ask me any more questions because I just don’t know. All I can say is that these are delectable and I am oh-so-happy for the husband-and-wife team behind them; apparently the move to Whole Foods has been ten years in the making.

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Mushy peas are not just for babies

23 Apr

I learned this last week at Whitehall, a Modern British restaurant in the West Village, where everyone left happy after a group dinner. Cozy atmosphere. Terrific service. Super gin cocktails. And interesting food with British touches from the team behind Mary Queen of Scots and Highlands.

The Mushy Pea Fritters with Minted Yoghurt (leaving in English “H”) was prob my fave snacky item. Or the House Cut Chips with HP Sauce—our only mistake was not ordering more. App: Salmon with Celery Root-Horseradish Panna Cotta (where weird meets good). Mains ranged from chicken to sea bream to pork chop, and the best dessert was Bitter Chocolate Brownie (not bitter, yes warm, no nuts).

Don’t come here on a diet or a budget. But with a small group celebrating something special, you can eat like the queen for a day.

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It’s hard to be a wine snob when you’re poor

13 Apr

So I don’t even try. But surely you have heard that wine in a box is back. And Black Box is the best of the bunch as far as taste and value. One box has the same amount of wine as 4 bottles, and because it stays fresh for up to a month, you can drink a little at a time without feeling like it will go to waste. **There’s also something disturbingly gratifying about pouring wine from a spout.** In NYC a box of Shiraz was $24, which comes out to $6 a bottle—for decent, everyday wine (and it’s probably less at Costco). Choose from four reds and four whites—and toast to saving money.

Where to Buy

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Riverpark: Non-frenzied brunch spot may be my new fave

26 Mar

The schlep to get to Riverpark is well worth it for the calm that awaits. The site of Tom Colicchio’s nouveau American spot—led by chef Sisha Ortúzar—is on the East River at 29th Street. To get there you have to walk waaaay east, past Bellevue, through a business plaza and alongside a farm where much of your meal’s produce is grown.

Decor is modern and sleek, while expansive water views keep the vibe comfortable. I think my blood pressure dropped the minute I walked in. There’s outdoor seating for the warmer months but we thought indoors was just as relaxing—our brunch lasted two hours. They take reservations, can accommodate large parties, the service is outstanding and it’s somehow kid-friendly and appropriate for business lunches at the same time. No scene, no waiting, no NYC drunken brunch craziness.

Food is pretty good, too—menu features twists on typical brunch fare, like a breakfast sandwich with fried green tomato and pork belly, and brisket with a poached egg served over hash browns. To share, we had the creamiest avocado spread slathered atop thick toast, along with cinnamon donuts (which should be saved for dessert). Our friends’ toddler loved the homemade vanilla ice cream. This is one of the best places to bring out-of-town guests. Or just go with other city dwellers—and be glad you live here.

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Corkbuzz is for grown-ups

20 Mar

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Despite all its conveniences (and I don’t mean TGIF), Union Square can be overwhelming for visitors, especially adults over 30 who may be confused by students sleeping under an Occupy Wall Street banner.

Luckily there is now a calm and sophisticated place to pop in for a drink and plan your next move. Tucked away on 13th Street, the newish Corkbuzz Wine Studio features inviting, stylish decor with rustic touches. Stop in for a nibble of cheese and an unusual glass of wine (I tried a Chinon from the Loire Valley); sit on the couch by the front window if it’s still light out. With pours priced around $15, this place is not for kids—and that’s exactly why I’ll be bringing my mom when she comes to the city in a few weeks.

PLUS! Corkbuzz is also a place to learn about wines. In addition to classes, other educational events include themed dinners, Bring Your Own Bottle Night and the weekly Blind Tasting Happy Hour (Fridays at 5pm).

Photo: Originally published in WSJ.

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One Tsp. = Super site to store ALL of your recipes (from other sites, emails, your mom…)

19 Mar

My kitchen aspirations come from various sources: friends, recipe sites, fitness magazines, food blogs, even the New York Times. But most food sites only let you save their recipes (understandable, but not very convenient).

The simple, no-frills One Tsp. organizes all of your cooking to-dos in one place—for free. Either cut/paste recipe info, type ingredients manually or use the awesome one-click Recipe Clipper to import directly from nearly 30 supported sites like Bon Appetit, All Recipes and Epicurious. Just drag the little bookmarklet into your bookmark bar and start clicking. One Tsp. is free for 150 recipes; upgrade to unlimited for $5/year.

Now go make me a fancy sandwich.

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Best-ever granola made in Brooklyn

13 Mar

Thanks to our friends at Samplrs I had the chance to try Early Bird granola, which, with a little Greek yogurt, has taken my breakfast-at-desk experience to new heights.

This granola is crazy good! A little sweet. A little salty. Organic ingredients. Just a touch of olive oil. Perfect.

I had the Jubilee Recipe with cherry and pistachio, but they also sell Farmhand’s Choice with pecans and Choc-a-doodle-do with dark chocolate and coconut.

At $7 bucks each—with free shipping—you will never eat trail mix again.

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This is my desk right now.

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Because you sometimes suck at presents

16 Feb

What if you opened your mail and found a Mini Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie?

Samplrs delivers locally sourced artisan foods to your doorstep. Indie merchants get a way to promote their products; foodies get new and exciting delicious bits. And bites. Bits of bites. It’s a monthly subscription service; $30/month for 4 to 5 full-sized products. Or just browse the Market to handpick treats for yourself (or for friends).

And trust me—these are not your everyday cupcakes/pretzels/whatever blah blah they are selling all over the place. Items include Danny Macaroons in Salted Caramel, Cheshire Canning HoneyHeat Sauce and Kings County Korean BBQ Beef Jerky.

In other words, YUM.

Let me know if you need my address.

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Why I like Top Hops

13 Feb

You may have heard about the new craft beer bar/store Top Hops on the Lower East Side. You probably know it’s a beer snob’s dream, with 20 taps and 800 (!!) stocked bottles. But also…

1. It’s a comfortable place to hang out—even by yourself—and not feel weird. Top Hops is not a scene. It’s a shop that has a bar in it. And talk about a clean, well-lighted place; it’s perfect for working on the NY mag crossword puzzle while you wait for your friends.

2. A flight of any four beers is $8. For someone who cannot make decisions, 20 taps is problematic. Flight = happy solution.

3. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The guys who work here like their customers and love their beer. They’re chatty and fun and make you feel welcome. Plus, they let you try whatever you want.

4. It’s all about options. Want to sip one pint at the bar? Get a growler to bring to a party? Mix and match your own six-pack from the many bottles from all over the world? Or just get one interesting bottle to go with your takeout?

5. Dutch pretzels for free snacking! And as the food menu rolls out, they’ll offer other locally sourced goodies like cheese, olives and chocolate. The night I was there they were sampling Mast Brothers Chocolates.

6. It would make a cool event space. Roomy and uncluttered, it seems good for groups, fundraisers and small parties. The shop has started to do pairing and tasting events—the owners are flexible and willing to work with you.

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Who needs another Irish pub? Scotland’s where it’s at!

3 Feb

My cousin works at Mt. Sinai so sometimes I end up on the UES (boo). But this week we discovered a totally awesome spot up there (yay). Caledonia is the Latin word for Scotland, and it is also the name of a super-friendly Scottish pub on Second Ave between 83rd and 84th. You are probably thinking, who cares about another pub? Well, there are only 4 Scottish bars in Manhattan*, according to Mike (bartender/co-owner). Caledonia is tiny—maybe 15 bar stools—but its low-key vibe is the perfect escape from the sea of ultra-douchey bars around here. Not a frat boy in sight.

In addition to 10+ Scottish craft bottled beers, they have Belhaven on tap—both the Cream Ale and IPA—as well as Innis & Gunn cask (Rum Cask until March, when it will switch to Whiskey Cask). Draft beers/wines are $2 off until 7pm.

But onto the whiskey! I am not a whiskey girl but this place has about 130 of them! They also do whiskey tastings. And I am willing to bet the Old Fashioned is one of the city’s best.

You know what really made my night, though? When Mike told me he lived in Queens, I said, that’s funny—I know another Scottish bartender who lives in Queens. Um, yep. They came over from Scotland together.

Only in New York.

*St. Andrews near Times Square, and Highlands and Mary Queen of Scots.

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