Pylos is a greek restaurant on the lower east side in NYC. It has some great fish dishes as well as flavorful appetizers to share with your dinner pals. I love the clay pottery is hung from their ceiling, it makes you feel like you are going to step out and be by the Mediterranean Sea after dinner.
The weekend is coming and that means going out for brunch, one of my favorite things to do. If you are in the DC area, check out Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan. Sunday brunch is delicious and the interior is classy and unique. Sit by the window to people watch those going out for a stroll.
This tiny tapas restaurant makes for a cozy night out for small plates and sangria. It's so small that I would normally find it too tight of quarters for comfort even though I love little restaurants. However, the staff was so professional and careful not to bump their patrons around as they attentively went around, I would definitely go back. Try the Albondigas (roasted meatballs, garlic, manchego cheese, and oregano dressing) and the Gambas San Martin (shrimp in garlic). No reservations, be ready to wait a bit but I think it will be worth it if you do.
Did you know that Washington DC boasts a large Ethiopian population? It is known for some good Ethiopian cuisine. On the Sunday I went to Dukem, a woman was making freshly ground coffee and after she poured it she offered it to us. Someone later came by with the grinds in a decorative metal container and wafted towards each table the aroma. Everyone said thank you which I found interesting.
The food comes out on a large flat tray on top of a spongey round
flat bread called Injeera that has a tartness to it like sourdough
bread since it is fermented. The food is prepared in these strong but
delicious spices. You eat with your hands by tearing off the bread and
scooping the food onto the Injeera. Here is the vegetarian dish:
One of Dukem's meat dishes:
We ordered these two dishes and an appetizer for four people so it was great to try a little bit of everything.
Sometimes I feel like there is no place in the US that has food as good and as varied as New York City. However, I discovered the restaurant The Original Pancake House in Fort Lee, NJ and breakfast has not been the same since. If you want sweet or savory on a weekend morning, this place delivers on taste. Below is the Dutch Special, a one up on their Dutch Baby as it has fruit. They also serve a large list of traditional pancakes that hit the spot on a Sunday morning. If you are looking for less sweet fare, their omelettes are baked in the oven so they come out fluffy and of a different texture than normal eggs.
So warm weather finally graced us this weekend, it was heavenly. I got to go to Taste of Chinatown, an event where you can sample $1 and $2 plates at all these participating restaurants. It was so fun to just walk around and eat a little bit of everything. There was a very long line at Peking Duck House:
When we finally got up to the front though, we were able to sample some of this for only $2:
Definitely worth it the wait.
What a week! I'm so glad it is Friday and the weather being warmer than last month. I would love for it to creep back up to 60 degrees though! I went to a great place this week called Alta where I discovered a nice Spanish wine called Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero 2003 (Ok, I cheated and got a little help remembering the name of this wine). Alta is a nice little tapas place which is good to share small plates and enjoy a glass of wine. It looks to accomodate groups as well; there is an option on their menu to order EVERY ITEM for $320. They call it 'The Whole Shebang'. The geeky part of me wants to push up my glasses with my index finger and whip out my calculator and see if it is in fact cheaper than ordering every item a la carte. The Whole Shebang is estimated to feed about seven people. If you are a bit more discerning though, I would go for the caramelized cauliflowers, the ribs, bacon-wrapped dates and olives, and the ox-tail ravioli. Their cheese plate is a great way to end the meal.
Last night I got home very late beause of thousands of screaming girls and their moms blocking my path home. I don't understand what the big deal is.
Ok, fine, maybe I do.
Max Brenner is a great dessert place near Union Square/East Village. It is ALL about chocolate. If you don't feel like something sweet when you go there, have some coffee and then pick up a few pieces of chocolate for later at the little boutique area in the back. I got to enjoy some of this yummy dessert. What's that there on the bottom of that waffle? That's right, chocolate...
I went recently to this Japanese restaurant in Chelsea called Momoya
(thank you Caroline!). It was a clean space that was large yet the
small tables gave it an intimate feel at the same time. We had some
great rolls, tartare, and a yummy cooked appetizer of black cod
miso. I had a delicious dessert that I had never had before, a green tea
mille crepe which similar to what is to the left. It's now one of my favorite desserts. It had the subtle taste of green tea with a spongy and soft consistency. Definitely order this if you ever stop by this place!
(photo by eggrollboy)
I love of banana dishes. I like to make low fat banana bread with those ripe bunch bananas you buy and forget to eat. You know, the ones that are so ripe you can smell them in the air and one more day longer they will need to be thrown out? It's just at that moment they are great for making bread!
Some places that have great banana dishes:
~Jane in NYC. It is called Banana Brulee. It is not what you might expect from the name - it is not a banana flavored creme brulee. Rather, it is chocolate brioche with banana that is soft and moist topped with chocolate gelato and caramel that tastes delicious!
~Morning Glory - The Banana Bread's top is browned to perfection on this brunch menu item. You take a bite and once you get past the crisp outside, the inside is so flavorful, be careful not to eat the whole loaf!
~Buttercup Bake Shop in NYC. Best known for their cupcakes, but be sure to try their banana pudding as well. Bite into vanilla wafers that are mixed in with their yummy banana pudding, one spoonful is never enough! Get by the cup or buy a large dish of it to bring to that housewarming!
(Photo to the top left by smaku on flickr. Photo to the right by smcgee on flickr. The blog by her and her friends looks interesting too!)
