Peter Oh Peter

Just when you think you’ve had the best steak of your life…you haven’t. At least not until you’ve been to Peter Luger in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This place is old school, so old school they don’t take credit cards…These guys have been around since 1887 serving the finest USDA prime meat available on the market. Only short loin is served up and anything chosen goes through a crucial selection process only done by members of the family. Once the meat is selected it is brought up to the restaurant premises where the dry aging process begins. What is dry aging? The loins of beef sit in a temperature controlled cooler where air circulates around them for a certain amount of time (undisclosed and probably a family secret). After the aging process is complete, the meat is butchered and taken up to the kitchen for broiling. Yep, broiled!

 

…and the result…this beautiful thing right here. Crispy on  the outside thanks to the broiling, as soft as you like it on the inside. So flavorful you’ll wanna scream, but you won’t because you won’t even want to open your mouth unless there’s more meat coming. I’m really not kidding, it’s that delicious. What else is on the menu? Who cares! Kidding, the menu is pretty straight forward. You have your starters which include bacon, tomato, salads. You have the meat OBVIOUSLY, selection of for 1, for 2, for 3…You also have a small selection of seafood items like shrimp cocktail. Truthfully I’ve only gone for the meat and the sides…oh the sides!

Speaking of perfect, how about perfect french fries? Crispy and potato-y, exact thickness, no extra oil. No wonder the menu is short, they stick to what they know perfectly and don’t try to experiment.

The creamed spinach, that’s my other favorite. Really, no way to explain this. Lots of spinach and not overly creamy, you can see in the picture above it’s more green than white right? That’s how I like it!

Now, yes this place is expensive at about $100+ per person. But if you had to splurge in food, do it here, you will never ever regret it! Don’t forget to make a reservation for that special occasion…the place is huge but tables fill up in the blink of an eye.

Mango Chutney

Believe it or not, I discovered chutney not too long ago…You probably won’t believe where either – Argentina. Yep…I’ve always known about chutney, I’ve know what it’s paired with but never really – really – tried it correctly. And it’s at my favorite Indian restaurant in Argentina where I discovered how delicious a chutney could be.

Chutney, I believe, is one of those jars that you constantly have to have in your fridge…be it the kind that you like. Put it on a cracker, spread it on bread for a flavorful sandwich, as a small side for your delivered home-made curry. I feel it rounds out a dish perfectly by adding the right amount of flavor and spice!

Mango Chutney Recipe:

2 cups Light Brown Sugar

1 cup White Vinegar

4-5 Mangos cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 large Onion medium dice

1 1/2 inch piece Ginger minced

1 large Garlic Clove minced

1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds

1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

*Ginger, garlic and cayenne can be added to your liking…like it hot?! Just add more!

Bring the sugar and vinegar to a boil. Add the rest of the ingredients in at once and simmer for about 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the pot and stir every once in a while, you’ll notice the chutney will begin to thicken and you’ll know it’s ready!

Have 4 to 5 half pint jars ready to be filled. Want a quick and easy way to can? Boil water and fill the jars and tops to the top, let it sit for a minute and pour the water out. While your chutney is still piping hot, fill the jars and close.

I’ll let you know this chutney will not last very long in the fridge – not because it’s gonna go bad – but BECAUSE YOU’RE GONNA BE EATING IT! A delicious balance of sweet, sour, and the right amount of spice. Now get to ordering that curry and pair it with your very own chutney!

 

They’ve got la nonna in the kitchen…

‘Comfort in a bowl’, that’s what I like to call a good old bowl of pasta. It’s what you’ll go for at Bianca, and it’s what you’ll return for. Truthfully, it’s also what you’ll be waiting in line for. Yes, the good authentic food here makes you wait…but boy is it worth it!

But don’t stress, Bianca is so cool they have a great relationship with the bar next door! Wait for your table at Von, grab a glass of whatever you like…before you know it Bianca’s hostess will be in to fetch you and let you know your table is ready…AND you can take your unfinished drink in to dinner with you, huh!

You’ll start your meal off with some Gnocco Fritto – fried dough paired with some soft fresh cheese. I also suggest the Fried Calamari. Now, I’ll tell you I’ve been lucky enough to have tried my share of fried calamari around the world…this is truly the best I have ever had. Soft and flavorful – just perfect!

Every single one of their dishes will sound and probably be amazing. Being my first time at the spot I decided to go for a classic. I try to do this when I’m trying new places out – if the classics are good I will probably make my way back to try the rest. So Spaghetti Bolognese it is! Amazing and surprisingly light!

Dessert at an Italian spot?! Tiramisu – my friends went insane on it, couldn’t even get a decent shot…they were decent enough to leave me a few bites though. =) Very creamy, a bit tangy and sweet…exactly like it should be.

I swear they’ve got an Italian grandmother hired and cooking in the kitchen. It’s the only way everything could taste so fresh, homemade and comforting…

Cash only – you’ve been warned.

Balthazar

Should I go as far to say this is and has been my favorite NYC spot for years and years to come? Yup…for sure.

Balthazar, a French New York restaurant will make you feel good. Haha the atmosphere here is as delicious as the food. Comforting, comfortable, fancy yet down to earth.

There’s a lot to choose from and their daily specials are insane…helloooo Saturday night! But I’ll run you through the staples I could eat there every day of the week.
Many go for the French Onion Soup as a starter – I don’t disagree – BUT I go for the Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Tart. It’s as good as it sounds and better. The crust is so flakey and soft you won’t even notice it’s there, the filling – creamy sweet onion with a touch of goat cheese to break it up…hmmm.
Steak – I’ve been talking a lot about it. There are two places in NY where you can eat a perfect piece of steak (that I know of so far)…Balthazar is one of them. Order their Bar Steak (medium-well for me) – it will come to the table exactly like you ask for it! But what really makes this dish?! French fries…crispy on the outside, potato-y and soft on the inside – just like they should be!
For dessert, the warm apple Tart Tatin…end it French.
Make sure you make a reservation here or be ready to wait! Either way it’s worth it. Just like any other part of the city, Balthazar is certainly a place to people-watch.
As you exit watch out for their Boulangerie next door…but that’s a whooole other post!

A Sweet Escape

While walking the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires look for a red awning. Yeah, ridiculous! You know what, don’t look for it…know exactly where you’re going! Farinelli – a sweet escape.

This cute little spot is all white and red, full of delicious goodies.

Walking by Farinelli will remind you of grandma’s house. That is, if your grandma put pies on the windowsill to cool. No? Ok, well, mine didn’t either. But you’ll feel like a child wanting every single goodie, face right against the glass, tongue out! Brownies, bundt cakes, cheesecake…all lined one next to the other. All fresh, what there is is what you’ll get!

As you walk inside…because you WILL walk inside…you’ll find baskets full of fresh fruits and veggies that they use to create the wonderful recipes made right in front of your eyes.

If you are lucky enough to go on a day when they have brownies, don’t doubt it – just do it! If it’s not clear enough in the picture above, ooey gooey wal-nuty! That perfect texture you dream of when you bite into any brownie…it’s got it.

And below a traditional vanilla ‘bizcochuelo’ with a hint of lemon and a side of red berry sauce. Fluffy and moist – cakey perfection.

To wash the sweetness down order the lemonade – please don’t leave without tasting this! So fresh, so minty – minty freshness.

A sunny Sunday afternoon, heck any afternoon! End it well, at Farinelli.

Good Food In a Hotel

Yep, in a hotel! You’ll have to travel to Buenos Aires to get these good eats (if you’re not already there)…lucky duck!

My dad is the expert when it comes to finding hidden treasures…and thanks to me, they are no longer hidden! =P

To start the meal off go for the creamy Burrata and fresh salad. Do NOT forget the Mollejas – grilled sweetbread with a lemony egg emulsion base. Insanely good!

Main dish – two options.

If you wanna go all typical you will never go wrong with their Ojo de Bife / Angus Rib Eye grilled to your liking of course! Elena pairs it with a side of yummy veggies – really – it’s all about the MEAT though!

OR go for the Cabrito Rostizado / Slow Roasted Baby Goat with a cramy ‘humita’ base and marinated raw zucchini. (Humita is basically a cream of corn, perfect balance of sweet and savory).

Yeah, having been my first time here I made someone else order the ‘other’ dish I wanted – that way I got to taste both. We all know we both left happy!

Oh dessert. Sweet, sweet dessert. Ice cream made in house, you’ll have a choice of original flavors. Photographed here is the ‘chocotorta’, a take on a cake you’ll find at every single Argentine adult’s child’s birthday party!

Our infamous Almendrado on the right. A block of vanilla ice cream rolled around in almond brittle, top that puppy with warm chocolate sauce. Mouth – water…I know! Perfect end to a perfect meal in truthfully a perfect setting!

1 2 3 4 Winter Spring Summer Fall =)

Raw (Not the Vegetarian Kind)

I’ll start with – Vegetarians beware! – Although it may be too late now! =/

As many of you may already know, I’m Armenian. Armenians love food – Armenians love meat – Armenians love raw meat. (I guess that’s the simplest way to describe us). haha!

Yes, raw.

This particular dish is my dad’s – Pepan’s – specialty! Ever since I was a little girl I would stand by and watch him make it. I would prep each ingredient in a dish, set it all up on the table and then watch him work! From years of watching I can say I’m quite the expert myself…I think…

So what goes into Chikefte? – aka Kibbeh, Keyma, Steak Tartare:

Very, very lean, extremely finely ground beef

Uncooked bulghur wheat

Red pepper paste

And those secret family ingredients I can’t give away! (I know – lame – but I’ve been sworn to secrecy!)

In traditional Armenian tables Chikefte is usually served as a mezze or appetizer. At home, it’s our main meal! Mom prepares a fresh tomato and green onion salad. Dad also makes a cooked ground spiced beef dish.

Ideally each is layered to make (to me) the perfect platter! Pair it with a few pieces of lavash and you are good to go!

Now, give yourself time for a nap right after the meal…you’ll need it!

Thank you Papi for teaching me your specialty…although I now know how to make it, I will never stop asking you to make it for me! =)

Whoooly Moly

Given the amazing locations I’ve been writing about all this time, you’ll probably laugh at me when you read this…

If I had to choose one place to eat at for the rest of my life – deep inhale, relaxing exhale – yes, I choose Whole Foods.

We all know WF right? You walk in and instantly the first thing that hits you is the colors – like a slap in the face (making you feel guilty after all the junk you’ve been consuming). Organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts, seeds, clothing, ahh!! You can smell how healthy this place is – and you love it!

To tell you the truth I don’t actually grocery shop here, prices are way too high to make it my regular go-to. But there is something in here that is so totally worth it!

SALAD BAR – SOUP BAR – BAKED GOODS BAR?

Yup, after a mid-morning walk with my mom Susy, to keep up with the healthy ‘glow’, we head on over to Whole Foods for lunch! What I personally go for is a big ‘ol mix of they’re prepared salads, a cup of soup, and a perfectly puffed up whole wheat mini baguette of course.

So about the salads – you know when you get home after work and all you want is something light but still crave creativity? All you can come up with is cut up romaine, store bought croutons and a dollop of Caesar dressing? – just sad. The team at WF clearly does not have this issue. The variety here is insane, and you want to try it all! Asian noodle salad with peanut dressing, chicken with Turkish dried apricots, Mediterranean orzo with feta and olives, ginger orange beets…the list is never-ending, and it’s all perfectly dressed.

Oh man, and the soups. Again, variety! My two go-to’s – split pea or lentil – and on a really cold day…fiiiine…I’ll take the barley mushroom. =)

Before we head over to the check out lines Susy and I stop, no exception, at the baked goods section. I think I’ve mentioned my favorite meal of the day? La merienda?! That’s tea-time for me. I need something to accompany my mate people! Cookies are good, but go for ANY of the muffins, my favorite – blueberry!

…and that’s why I choose Whole Foods.

The End

The Impossible IS Possible

Oh wait, what? You didn’t know soup could be enclosed perfectly in a dumpling?! Oh man…if you’ve never hear of or have heard of and never dared to try soup dumplings…you are in for quite a treat!

I never really make my way to Chinatown too often for some reason, but when I do I’m probably on my way to Joe’s Shanghai – the soup dumpling palace (as I like to think of it)! Waits are long – so go with time. Service is quick – so go prepared to order right when you sit down. Room is tight – so be open to sharing tables with strangers. Oh…and cash only!

There are two things I want when I walk in the door: scallion pancakes and the incredible soup dumplings. The pancakes are crispy and flavorful, they are a great and quick start after the (probably) longish wait. Now, as for the dumplings, crab or pork?! I have tried both…pork.

I know, I know…I often say that certain meals are ‘rituals’ – I’m so serious about this one. Everyone has a particular way of eating these things and every time I introduce a friend to my favorite pockets of goodness, I guide them through the process (and take pictures too…cuz it’s just so funny!)

This time it was Celi’s turn – she took to it like a pro! Step 1 – Carefully, with tongs, place a dumpling on your spoon. Step 2 – As you pinch the twirled tip with your chop sticks, bite! Step 3 – After pouring a few drops of provided sauce in the dumpling, literally suck the tasty soup out of it! (I know – just go with it…) Step 4 – Eat the rest of the dumpling and find a yummy surprising bite-sized meatball inside!

It’s delicious, it’s fun, you’ll love the experience…and the prices. How they get soup into a dumpling? The mystery remains. You’ll have fun trying to figure it out with your eating companions! Enjoy =)

 

 

Casa

Awesome food, good music, and great company – It’s what I got at Casa…known for it’s regional Brazilian home cooking, this cute little place on 72 Bedford Street get’s you in the mood right when you walk in the door. Being my first Brazilian cuisine experience in the city, I obviously had a hard time choosing just one dish!…And you will too.

I decided I should go for the national dish: Feijoada! A black bean stew prepared with prime meats paired with white rice, fresh oranges, collard greens, farofa, and a type of pico de gallo. Eating this dish, I found, is a bit of a ritual. A little stew on top of the rice, add a bit of each accompanying item on top of that…and boom – the perfect bite of rich, meaty, zingy, crunchy goodness.

Plates here are huge, you’ll be full and happy swaying back and forth to sexy Brazilian tunes.

The dessert we enjoyed is not featured in the picture above – but just describing them to you will (no doubt) make your mouth water. A flan had to be on the table – caramel custard, what could possibly be bad about that? Then a rich coconut custard that blew our taste buds away, and lastly a passion fruit mousse so creamy that the usually sour flavor of the fruit went unnoticed.

Make your way to the West Village for a different and tropical experience. On your way out, don’t forget to grab a few pieces of Brazilian candy you’ll find in a jar right next to the door!