cuisine « WeCouldEat @ the GrubHub

What does Carrie Bradshaw know about food?

June 24, 2010 — spud

Pastis
9 9th Avenue at Little West 12th Street, Meatpacking District

Pastis has been around since 1999 and has definitely been made famous by the fact that the “Sex and the City” women would often frequent here on the show, sitting on it’s plentiful sun-soaked sidewalk, enjoying lots of frites (cause you know those figures that they have were definitely made by eating lots of fried foods….harumph!). So, it was on one of these beautiful Summery days we’ve been having lately, that the hubs and I walked around the High Line and then decided to have an early dinner. Pastis is not cheap, but if you want to feel like you are in Paris, it’s a wonderful experience.
We sat for two beautiful hours dining on simple arugula salads with nice shavings of parmesan cheese. We then enjoyed really rich Croque Madame’s and Croque Monsieur’s . A simple order like this will run you about $25 per person, without any wine, but you cannot beat sitting in the sun, watching all of the beautiful people walk by. The food is good….the sandwiches were far more rich than anything we had in France, but they were tasty, with large, buttery slices of brioche covered in a thick slice of ham, slathered in rich bechamel sauce and gruyere cheese and then baked in the oven until they are browned and toasty. You really can’t go wrong with a sandwich like that! The service was great; they refilled the water glasses constantly….they were almost too attentive (afterall, when you’re in France, they let you sit forever without waiting for you to be done)….and I was only slightly bothered when a pretty little waitress waited over me because I had a few slender pieces of arugula left on my plate….hustle along, pretty one….this gal is a finisher and those leaves were headin’ towards my tummy!
Overall, I would not run here all the time, but it’s a great place to enjoy decent French food in a beautiful setting. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll hear some puns about weight-loss and love and hormones floating from the “Sex and the City” wannabe’s at the table next to you!

Posted in french, meatpacking. Leave a Comment »

Semi-decent burgers and fantastic cupcakes!

June 24, 2010 — spud

Burgers & Cupcakes
458 9th Avenue (35/36 Streets), Chelsea/Midtown West

I’ve been taking this improv class, which gets us into Chelsea on a regular basis. This has proven to be interesting when it comes to dining, and we’ve definitely had a difficult time finding wonderful cheap eats.
Burgers and Cupcakes has been on my list for years…..I guess it’s because of the simplicity of the name. I mean, who doesn’t love burgers and cupcakes??? And in the same meal? Even better.
The burger was okay….I think that everyone should order it medium-rare to rare, because we got it done medium and it was waaayyyy over-cooked. It was advertised as coming with tomato, lettuce, onions and pickle. We assumed this meant on the burger, but then it was strangely served with a pickle spear on the side. Hey man, what if I want pickle on the burger?? We tried to cut it and place it on the burger, but this just turned out messy. The bun was nice and soft, but the meat itself was lacking flavor. We tried their sweet potato fries, which were smaller than shoe strings and really, really, fried. They were okay as well.
We also ordered a pizza. What’s this?? Pizza at a burger place? Yeah, well, it was pretty good. They have a wood burning stove in the shop and the pizza had a nice charred flavor. We got prosciutto and arugula on it…..the meat could have definitely been sliced a little more thinly. Then it would have crisped up nicely.
The best part of the meal came with dessert. They have two sizes up cupcakes….really, really tiny ones ( I wouldn’t recommend those because they dry out faster….even if there are two of you, get a larger cupcake and split it), and then larger ones. We tried the peanut butter, chocolate cupcake. It was fantastic! There was real peanut butter on top of a chocolate ganache frosting. It was wonderful and the deep chocolate cake was moist.
At the end of the day, this place was casual and easy to sit in….it’s got a nice diner-feel to it, but really, I would recommend getting a burger elsewhere and just coming here for a good cupcake when you’re jonesing for one.

Posted in burger, chelsea, dessert, midtown west. Leave a Comment »

Those ain’t my Grandma’s balls!

June 24, 2010 — spud

The Meatball Shop
84 Stanton Street, LES
goldenbonzone
I have to admit, I was supremely skeptical when we decided to go to The Meatball Shop….I am forever wary when there is a lot of buzz around a new restaurant, and I generally don’t like one-trick pony types of institutions, but I was very pleased with our experience eating these balls!! These are not your typical balls…..the fun is in choosing how you want your balls…..they give you a menu and some dry erase markers so that you can decide if you want them light (over salad), as a meal (over polenta, mashed potatoes, risotto, etc) with great sides (lovely market fresh veggies, and super-crisp salads), or if you want them traditionally in a hero, or as mini-sliders (1 ball sandwiched between super-cute brioche mini-rolls). You get to decide your sauces and cheeses and even whether or not you want white or wheat bread. Overall, this is a great pleasure, for you can really get to control whether or not you want a heavier dining experience, or a super-light lunch or snack.
I ordered the chicken meatballs, while the hubster went for the all-out-and-out traditional beef meatballs. I decided to have them over their risotto of the day, which was risotto with peas and mushrooms, with their market salad of the day on the side (a wonderfully crisp salad with cabbage, arugula, chives, capers and a light vinaigrette dressing). The hubs went for the hero, the meatballs sandwiched between deliciously crispy bread loaded with provolone and tomato sauce. It’s served with an accompanying arugula and apple salad.
The balls were delightful….really, some of the best I’ve ever had in my mouth! (Yes, the ball jokes must abound….really, how can they not??) The chicken balls were just as wonderful as their beef, which really is saying something….they are wonderfully seasoned and moist. The vegetables are stunning….they really seem to purchase the best produce right from the greenmarket.
This place is run by two young guys (Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow) who have grown up in the culinary world in NYC and they really know what they are doing. Yes, there will definitely be a line when you go, but it moves quickly, and is quite worth it.
Also, I must mention the ice cream sandwiches….they are a definite must in all of this hot weather! Try the peanut butter unbaked cookies filled with their homemade vanilla ice cream…..amazing!!
Definitely try this place out….it’s worthy of the buzz and offers a more complete meal with delicious fresh options. I will eat these balls anyday! These balls even get a golden bonzone.

Posted in GOLDEN BONZONE, italian, les, sandwiches. Leave a Comment »

Why Leave Astoria?

June 7, 2010 — spud

These days, Astoria really has it all: great food, diverse cultures, and even multiple beer gardens. Of course there are many reasons to leave here – like um, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the rest of the planet. But if you are an Astorian, go get yourself a Why Leave Astoria? Card. For only $20 you get major discounts at dozens of cool stores and eateries in the hood. For instance, see the pic below. That’s the FREE dessert we devoured at one of our favorites places, Ovelia (see review). It has an amazing brunch with stuffed french toast, corn pancakes, and amazing sandwiches, plus spicy bloody marys for only like $13. We like it more and more each time we visit. Now, this free bowl of piping-hot Greek donuts topped with ice cream and chocolate syrup has really put Ovelia over the top as a true destination in our town. So get yourself a WLA card and go consume some free donuts or drinks!

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Good Stuff in Philly

May 25, 2010 — wecouldeat

A brief detour down the turnpike….

Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks
Philly

No the title is not an oxymoron, there are a few positive things about Philly: South Street is good times, parking is easier, people are more down-to-earth and cheesesteaks – the city’s wonderfully sloppy gift to the culinary world. This place has more joints vying for top cheesesteak, than Williamsburg has hipsters with mustaches. Now I am fully aware that neither Pat’s nor Geno’s offers truly the best quality “hoagie”, but for pure experience these battling old timers still are the places to go. Geno’s is all neon glass glitz (Apollo) and Pat’s is stark white and gruff (Rocky). So, of course the underdog wins, as all four of us preferred Pat’s because of the chopped beef and onions soaked in whiz. The texture and flavor were just better. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Posted in american, outside metro nyc, sandwiches. 1 Comment »

Brunch for Dinner: What a Craaazy Idea!!

May 25, 2010 — wecouldeat

I have to admit that I am pretty good at finding restaurants that Spud and I really enjoy. It’s not that difficult in NYC where 9 out of 10 meals are going to range from average to awesome. But sometimes I connect to a place that will keep the wife happy for days. She’s not a picky eater, but gets very specific cravings that last several weeks. They have included avocados, hummus, duck, pickles, sun chips, etc. The current fixation is pancakes. So my brilliant idea was, instead of waiting for an hour and a half for an ultra-popular brunch spot, why not visit that same spot for dinner and get incredible pancakes in a serene environment? So that is exactly what we did at…

Clinton Street Baking Company
4 Clinton St (E. Houston/Stanton), LES

…and it was delicious! Clinton Street Baking Company is one of the most popular brunch destinations in the entire city. This little bakery & cafe has them lined up for their amazing baked goods and egg dishes. We just sauntered in (yes, we saunter!) at 7 pm on Friday night and enjoyed a heaping stack of their famous wild Maine blueberry pancakes. Their signature item is a pile of large fluffy discs cooked with so much butter, that the edges are slightly crispy. The blueberries from Maine make a difference and are super sweet. This ain’t no compote. We can honestly say they are the best we have ever consumed. We had complimentary doughy biscuits, and coffee to round out the brunch experience.

I couldn’t commit fully to brunch, so I had an excellent skirt steak with ramps and a fresh Asian flavor. What put the wife over-the-top with baked ecstasy was that the generous people of this fine establishment handed us an unassuming brown paper bag on the way out that contained a perfect breakfast in bed for the next morning. It was the surplus goods from the day what included an herb & cheese scone, cranberry scone and crumb muffin! If there is one thing Spud loves better than her cravings, it’s free baked goods! So, as she likes to say: “Hustle your buns people!” over to Clinton Street Baking Company. Whether it’s brunch, lunch, dinner or snack, you won’t be disappointed with this true winner.

Posted in GOLDEN BONZONE, american, breakfast, les. Leave a Comment »

Food in Another Dimension: WD-50

May 6, 2010 — wecouldeat

wd-50
50 Clinton St, LES

People often misuse and overuse the word unique, but to describe my dining experience at WD-50, there is simply no other word to use.
Going into a restaurant that is famed for its molecular gastronome of a chef, Wylie Dufresne, it is assumed you’ll be getting some surprises along the way. But wow – my senses were shook all around and turned upside down.

Before I go on, I should say I am a guest blogger here – having dined at WD-50 with my husband and the famed We Could Eat bloggers themselves. We created our own “tasting menu” of sorts by sharing everything we ordered: apps, mains, and desserts.

The restaurant was rather small and largely unassuming at first glance, although the artwork, brightly colored walls, and beautiful bathroom space projected a subtle modern fashionability. From the hostess to the waitstaff to the specially-designated beer-pourer, everyone was incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable. We felt well-attended to and important.

The appetizers we started with were a delectable introduction to the world of molecular gastronomy. The famous Eggs Benedict (essentially deconstructed and using the brilliance of liquid nitrogen) was absolutely brilliant and lived up to its reputation. The Foie Gras was light and creamy, although did feel a little rich by the last passing in our round-table tasting. Shrimp Canelloni was a pipe dream masterpiece as the canelloni itself was made out of shrimp! The food’s structure was as intriguing as the taste. Finally, the Cuttlefish seemed to me almost a “tofu of the sea” as it especially picked up the flavor of the rootbeer gelatin cubes (by itself, however, a bit dense and unremarkable).

Famous Eggs Benedict

Shrimp cannelloni, cranberry, daikon, mint

Cuttlefish, cashew, rootbeer, watercress

While waiting for our entrees, we all happily noshed on the unbelievably-thin goodness of sesame crips in lieu of bread. Another basket, please!

Although I didn’t personally eat the group’s red-meat dishes (the Wagyu Flap Steak and Iberico Pork Neck), I most thoroughly enjoyed the Duck Breast with it’s sharp cheddar and apples and the Cod. Ohhhh, the cod. Stacked Napoleon-style with steamed vegetables on a bed of mashed peas and coconut (just a hint) and sitting in a light dashi broth, the most amazing part of the meal was definitely the nori pasta that blanketed the stack.

Duck breast, apple, cheddar, kimchee-cous cous

Iberico pork neck, endive, buckwheat, clove

Wagyu flap steak, barley, malt, turnip

Cod, peas-n-coconut, nori, carrot dashi

Dessert is too often an after-thought. Not so with Iron Chef champion, pastry chef Alex Stupak. Trying to pick the most unexpected of flavors, we settled on the Caramelized Brioche, Lemongrass Mousse, and Soft Chocolate with Peppermint Ice Cream. All of the desserts were hallmarked by flowing lines and abstract shapes, but more importantly, tasted phenomenal. At this point in the meal, you think you can’t possibly be surprised by what is put out in front of you, but then you taste a whole wheat sorbet or some almond foam, and you know you can.

Soft chocolate, peppermint ice cream, black cardamom, toffee

Caramelized brioche, apricot, buttercream, lemon thyme

Lemongrass mousse, brown sugar, jack fruit, whole wheat sorbet

Throughout our meal, we all were challenged to taste textures and flavors, both individually and combined with others, that made us outright giddy. All the while, we could see Chef Dufresne himself in the open kitchen, directing and overseeing his staff with such calmity and ease. It made you truly wonder what goes on in this brilliant man’s head.

It's Wylie in the Kitchen!

Special Guest Reviewer Rosefarmer

Posted in american, les. Leave a Comment »

Thank You 1000 Year Old Modern Sandwiches

May 3, 2010 — wecouldeat

Xie Xie
645A 9th Ave (45th), Midtown West

Xie Xie pronounced “shay-hay” is the word for thank you in Mandarin, which is fitting for this little sandwich shop that tries hard to nab some of the spotlight on a restaurant-packed stretch of 9th Ave. It does a pretty good job of it too. The environment is ultra-modern with stark white tables and stools, white and purple ceiling and wall slats and a hip Asian-style logo and website. The tiny menu contains 5 or 6 sandwiches with modern fusion combos like shredded braised chicken with egg salad, cilantro; Asian Lobster Roll with mayo, tarragon, crispy shallots; fish with onion jam sriracha mayonnaise, dill; and Vietnamese bbq beef, basil, mayo carrots, kimchee. We had the fish, which was tasty, but didn’t quite blow me away, and the bbq beef, which was amazing and I would definitely return for it. The salty beef was balanced nicely by crisp carrots and the tangy kimchee. It’s similar to a bahn mi, with a slightly different flavor profile and a big thick roll. Xie Xie’s dessert is quite interesting too. The 1000 Year Old Ice Cream Sandwich (see full review on our sister site Diner Cakes) is a little bit of a gimmick, since it is obviously much younger, but contains a molten caramel center that is said to resemble a 1000 year old egg. It’s a fun little dessert and a cool accompaniment to the spicy sandwiches. Check out Xie Xie, you’ll thank yourself!

Posted in asian, midtown west, sandwiches, thai, vietnamese. Leave a Comment »

The Masked Mexican Mystery

April 19, 2010 — wecouldeat

Cascabel Taqueria
1542 2nd Ave (80/81 st), Upper East Side

Simply stated, I really want to like Cascabel, there’s nothing really wrong with it, but I just can’t seem to put my finger on why I wasn’t happier there… Cascabel is a little storefront taco place on 2nd Ave that opened a few months ago. The food is good, the signature tacos are quite flavorful and tasty. We tried two standard ones: the camaron and the carnitas. Both the shrimp and the pork were cooked well and the tacos were well-dressed with high quality versions of the standard taco fillings. We tried the rich cheese slathered corn on the cob, and the quinoa and beans – an upscale, healthier version of the standard rice & beans. The fresh squeezed lime aqua fresca was delicious and refreshing. So the food isn’t the problem here. It’s not cheap ($7.50 for 2 tacos), but certainly a good value for the neighborhood. The patron orders at the counter, and the food is delivered at the table, and drinks are refreshed by a server, all of whom are helpful. I even really liked the decor of the Mexican wrestlers, which provided a unique Mexican vibe. The seating was one problem, because it’s a tiny place with only a few tables, so I felt a little cramped and rushed, plus people waiting for tables are standing over you. But I guess overall, I think my main gripe is that it’s just too contrived. It’s not authentic. It’s just a little too well-executed for a “taco stand”. But I guess it’s an Upper East Side version, so while it isn’t my favorite, I’m sure most people in the area will love it. And if my arm is twisted, I’m sure I’d return for a few tacos and cervezas.

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A Curry Hill Duo

March 24, 2010 — wecouldeat

Lexington Ave and 27th Street is not just another intersection in Manhattan, it is ground zero for cheap Indian eateries in NYC, dubbed “Curry Hill”. In the past few months we have visited two of these seemingly similar places and had two very different experiences.

Saravanna Bhavan
81 Lexington Ave at 26th, Murray Hill

Before I entered the door, I thought this place had better be good, because it’s not going to get far in name recognition from non-Indians. But little did I know that this is a large Indian chain with outposts all over the world. And while the food was fair and inexpensive, I felt like a number and the food was churned out in more of a fast-food format. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing for an interesting, fast meal. And with Indian food, I never mind a vegetarian menu. We had some dumplings and fritters and cakes, which were all tasty and come with the exact same sauces. The main draw here is the foot long, paper-thin dosas. Their size is overwhelming, but they are actually light and flavorful, especially with the trio of spicy condiments. While I am not running back to Sarvavanna, you could probably do worse in terms of value and convenience in Curry Hill.

Tiffin Wallah
127 East 28th Street at Lexington, Murray Hill

Tiffin Wallah is one block away, also serves inexpensive vegetarian Indian food, but is in a different class in terms of overall experience. It’s popular and usually packed with a young crowd, but has more of a mom and pop feel than Saravanna, probably because it is not a chain and has warm service and a genuine feel. We very much enjoyed the Thali Dinners, which is a sampler platter delivered in little metal cups, which I gather is what a thali is. We shared a north Indian and south platter to contrast the differences in dishes. They are Tiffin Wallah: papadum, palak paneer, chana masala, rasam, raita, chapati, pulav & kheer and South India idli, medu vada, masala dosa, uttapam, sambar, coconut chutney & badam halwa. They are not cheap at $14.50, but are much better than ordering all the dishes, rice and breads separately, and was more food than we could even finish. We found the experience fun, the food delicious, and would definitely come here again. (But they do need to work on their website =).