Cooking a Good Everything Else
11-29-2018
, 10:35 PM
Yim, head out to the Bronx and hit up arthur ave italian bakeries and pastry shops, grab a canoli from one and cookies from another but don't forget about the cheesecake or tiramisu. Zero Otto Nove is also right there for excellent pizza and then scoot over to the kosher deli's in Riverdale like Liebmans or Loesers for the real deal. Lucali's in brooklyn is a pizza hotspot although there are a dozen other places in Manhattan or Queens who are also worth trying and its mostly what is convenient to where you are staying. Yonah Schimmel's for a knish, Sarge's for a sammy, and there's ethnic places for hand pulled noodles, pastitsio, basically whatever you want. Then there's the bagels, bialys, babka, breads, and cannot forget Lee's ruggelach by a brother 
- on and on...
Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
- on and on... Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
11-29-2018
, 10:43 PM
Quote:
Yim, head out to the Bronx and hit up arthur ave italian bakeries and pastry shops, grab a canoli from one and cookies from another but don't forget about the cheesecake or tiramisu. Zero Otto Nove is also right there for excellent pizza and then scoot over to the kosher deli's in Riverdale like Liebmans or Loesers for the real deal. Lucali's in brooklyn is a pizza hotspot although there are a dozen other places in Manhattan or Queens who are also worth trying and its mostly what is convenient to where you are staying. Yonah Schimmel's for a knish, Sarge's for a sammy, and there's ethnic places for hand pulled noodles, pastitsio, basically whatever you want. Then there's the bagels, bialys, babka, breads, and cannot forget Lee's ruggelach by a brother - on and on...
Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
- on and on... Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
BTC delivers, next time I’m in NYC going to Riverdale,want that pastrami and chopped liver from Liebman’s.
11-29-2018
, 10:58 PM
Quote:
Yim, head out to the Bronx and hit up arthur ave italian bakeries and pastry shops, grab a canoli from one and cookies from another but don't forget about the cheesecake or tiramisu. Zero Otto Nove is also right there for excellent pizza and then scoot over to the kosher deli's in Riverdale like Liebmans or Loesers for the real deal. Lucali's in brooklyn is a pizza hotspot although there are a dozen other places in Manhattan or Queens who are also worth trying and its mostly what is convenient to where you are staying. Yonah Schimmel's for a knish, Sarge's for a sammy, and there's ethnic places for hand pulled noodles, pastitsio, basically whatever you want. Then there's the bagels, bialys, babka, breads, and cannot forget Lee's ruggelach by a brother - on and on...
Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
- on and on... Must do's are the touristy stuff like Broadway, statue of liberty, sports, concerts, studio audience for the morning shows or late night etc, rockettes, big xmas tree, skate in the park, shop the markets, etc... Really just depends on when you visit. Lots to do outside of the city to like the the vineyards upstate or day at the races if you're into that.
Arthur Ave/Bronx is great.
Lucali is the best pizza in NYC, but it can be scene-y and a huge wait unless you want to get there before they open on a weekday or something. Scarr’s is a really great NYC slice shop. Joe’s also a classic and very good. Prince St for their pepperoni square. Best Pizza in Williamsburg for their white slice.
Haven’t been to Daniel but I’ve heard that it’s a bit stuffy. For a splurge, I find EMP to be not pretentious at all for a 3 Michelin Star spot.
Disagree with most of the touristy stuff listed...especially tree/skating stuff. It’ll take you an hour to move a few blocks. No thanks. Hard for me to relate to touristy stuff, but 9/11 memorial is def worth a visit. Statue of Liberty isn’t bad. If it’s nice out, walk along the High Line.
11-29-2018
, 11:01 PM
Btc,
It has been cold and rainy here lately, so I made another batch of stew. Same recipe as last time, except I added the peas and pearl onions in the last 20-30 minutes of a ~2hr simmer. Good change. But the reason I’m posting this is because I did add one ingredient to the stew...
It has been cold and rainy here lately, so I made another batch of stew. Same recipe as last time, except I added the peas and pearl onions in the last 20-30 minutes of a ~2hr simmer. Good change. But the reason I’m posting this is because I did add one ingredient to the stew...
11-30-2018
, 06:28 PM
NYC Trip report continued:
Forgot to mention where I stayed in NYC and I think its worth a shout out because imo the place is fantastic!
Its called The Beekman Hotel
I think it was originally built 100+ years ago and was beautifully restored in 2016, here's some shots:
This is looking up above the reception desk:
The hotel has an atrium down the middle from floor to ceiling, with a beautiful skylight at the top of the roof bringing natural light all throughout the building:
looking down toward the downstairs bar and hangout area from the railing:
Cool bar and hang out area on 1st floor (pic taken from Beekmans website):
looking up from bar area:
The hotel has two restaurants attached, one called Temple Court (haven't tried) by Tom Colicchio from Master Chef and a French restaurant called Augustine (so good we went twice).
The rooms are gorgeous, spacious and comfortable, service is A+ across the board.
You can walk 50 feet in either direction to subway access and 100 yards and you're ready to walk the Brooklynn bridge:
I paid $350/nt ($300 + $50 in taxes) and it was worth it, just love everything about this place, its location and of course NYC which I am still in a high from visiting and wish I was still there.
After walking off the DKA & Cronut I ate, I had an appetite again and we found ourselves in SOHO near a place called Lil Frankies, so we poped in:
This is a tiny, little place just oozing with charm and ambiance, exactly the way I like it:
They only take cash and somehow they bang out great food in a kitchen about 10' x 10' in size (I was later told they had a prep area in the basement):
I never drink beer but the bartender talked me into having an Italian beer called Forst:
And damn, it was great, so I had two.
They served bread with a bowl of olives in olive oil and garlic, spices. We ordered the calamari, ravioli & pizza (my camera wasn't taking good pics, so I'm using shots from their instagram):
and then our waiter/bartender drug me into another room accessible via a little door on the side of the main dining room that lead to another dining area with a pizza bar that had an oven crammed in the corner. He insisted I try their eggplant (& I'm so glad I did):
Holy ****, so simple, yet so damn good! This is a great example of how you don't have to do all these crazy things to an ingredient, simply start with a solid ingredient, cook it well, add a few simple spices, etc and it will shine.
The eggplant was creamy and tasty and something I would have never thought of doing. I only wish I hadn't attempted to make baba ganoush out of the two eggplants I grew in my garden and saved them so I could attempt the above at home.
I'd go to Lil Frankies every time if given the choice between LF and Daniel, its my type of place; the food and overall experience was fantastic.
Lil Frankies is owned by Frank Prisinzano and he also has a place called Frankies, SupperNYC and I think some others. I hear they're all great.
You can find lots of his stuff on his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankprisinzano/
needless to say, I highly recommend Lil Frankies and despite the fact I've never been, I would bet his other places are just as good.
Until next time...
~bon appetite!~
PS. Here's a bonus if you want to learn more about Frank:
Forgot to mention where I stayed in NYC and I think its worth a shout out because imo the place is fantastic!
Its called The Beekman Hotel
I think it was originally built 100+ years ago and was beautifully restored in 2016, here's some shots:
This is looking up above the reception desk:
The hotel has an atrium down the middle from floor to ceiling, with a beautiful skylight at the top of the roof bringing natural light all throughout the building:
looking down toward the downstairs bar and hangout area from the railing:
Cool bar and hang out area on 1st floor (pic taken from Beekmans website):
looking up from bar area:
The hotel has two restaurants attached, one called Temple Court (haven't tried) by Tom Colicchio from Master Chef and a French restaurant called Augustine (so good we went twice).
The rooms are gorgeous, spacious and comfortable, service is A+ across the board.
You can walk 50 feet in either direction to subway access and 100 yards and you're ready to walk the Brooklynn bridge:
I paid $350/nt ($300 + $50 in taxes) and it was worth it, just love everything about this place, its location and of course NYC which I am still in a high from visiting and wish I was still there.
After walking off the DKA & Cronut I ate, I had an appetite again and we found ourselves in SOHO near a place called Lil Frankies, so we poped in:
This is a tiny, little place just oozing with charm and ambiance, exactly the way I like it:
They only take cash and somehow they bang out great food in a kitchen about 10' x 10' in size (I was later told they had a prep area in the basement):
I never drink beer but the bartender talked me into having an Italian beer called Forst:
And damn, it was great, so I had two.
They served bread with a bowl of olives in olive oil and garlic, spices. We ordered the calamari, ravioli & pizza (my camera wasn't taking good pics, so I'm using shots from their instagram):
and then our waiter/bartender drug me into another room accessible via a little door on the side of the main dining room that lead to another dining area with a pizza bar that had an oven crammed in the corner. He insisted I try their eggplant (& I'm so glad I did):
Holy ****, so simple, yet so damn good! This is a great example of how you don't have to do all these crazy things to an ingredient, simply start with a solid ingredient, cook it well, add a few simple spices, etc and it will shine.
The eggplant was creamy and tasty and something I would have never thought of doing. I only wish I hadn't attempted to make baba ganoush out of the two eggplants I grew in my garden and saved them so I could attempt the above at home.
I'd go to Lil Frankies every time if given the choice between LF and Daniel, its my type of place; the food and overall experience was fantastic.
Lil Frankies is owned by Frank Prisinzano and he also has a place called Frankies, SupperNYC and I think some others. I hear they're all great.
You can find lots of his stuff on his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankprisinzano/
needless to say, I highly recommend Lil Frankies and despite the fact I've never been, I would bet his other places are just as good.
Until next time...
~bon appetite!~
PS. Here's a bonus if you want to learn more about Frank:
Last edited by yimyammer; 11-30-2018 at 06:36 PM.
12-01-2018
, 03:06 PM
12-01-2018
, 03:09 PM