ABCV
with Jean-Georges

ABCV wraps up my review on the three Jean-Georges restaurants at ABC Carpet & Home.... It’s no secret that I am a fan of Jean-Georges and since it’s impossible to splurge at his fine dining establishments on a regular basis, his three restaurants at ABC Carpet & Home are a great option. The focus here is plant based, non-gmo, sustainable, artisanal and organic whenever possible. Ingredients are locally and globally sourced from small & family farms. With more and more people trying to make the switch to organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and plant based lifestyles, ABCV is a perfect spot to begin your journey. If you are going to eat cauliflower or sauerkraut as an actual dish instead of a “side”, then having Jean-Georges behind the dishes is your best bet!

COCKTAIL, mezcal maracuyá, vida mezcal, amaro, passion fruit, lime juice, burnt coconut. APPETIZER, fresh sauerkraut horseradish, dill, extra virgin olive oil ~ wood grilled baby artichokes, california citrus, sicilian olive oil, basil ~ half roasted cauliflower with turmeric-tahini and pistachios. ENTREE, bucatini, artichoke, spigarello, fermented garlic, mint. DESSERT, coconut custard with seasonal fruit & my Birthday surprise, matcha crème brûlée, one of my favorite desserts with a healthy twist…. perfection!

….and of course, the mandatory walk through the store on your way out or in. I can’t get enough of this place!

While We Were Young
New York, New York

While We were Young located in the West Village.... Known as an Instagram worthy restaurant/bar so of course it had to make its way onto this page!  Be aware, this spot is tiny but cute and worth a visit if you can snag a spot at the bar or one of the few tables.  I stopped in around 4pm for an early pre-dinner cocktail and it was empty!  Pictured below.... "Froze" (frozen rose) machine in action, "Texts From Last Night"; Pink-Peppercorn infused Mezcal, Luxadro, Grapefruit, Lime & "It Takes Two To Make a Thing Go Right"; Mezcal, Tequilla, Rosemary, Orange Bitters.  Aside from cocktails with catchy names, they serve food as well. 

Rosarito Fish Shack
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Rosarito Fish Shack, aka R.F.S on Wythe Avenue....  Always a go-to for me when I find myself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn craving seafood with a Latin flair.  On this particular day we went for Brunch.  Pictured below... Flash fried artichoke hearts with calabrian pepper aioli, Tempura Fish Tacos & Bolero cocktail; Mezcal, Jalapeno, Basil, Pineapple, Lime Juice, Agave Nectar & Tajin/Salt rim.

ABC COCINA
with Jean-Georges

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS.... It should be no surprise that the impeccable details put into ABC Carpet & Home appear in their restaurants as well.  I have now eaten at ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina.  Next on the list, ABC V....  I usually display photos of food on this page but as you can see, I spent more time taking photos of walls, light fixtures and a seating area outside of the bathroom!  I managed to capture some photos of dessert before heading out.

Of course, I couldn't leave without a quick stroll through the store which you can enter through the back of the restaurant.  A perfect Friday afternoon!

DINING AL FRESCO in BROOKLYN, NY

When you can't hop on a plane to Italy, the next best thing is catching a train to Brooklyn for some authentic Italian home cooking! 
Lucky for me my friends parents were in town for their annual visit and I was invited to feast on the scrumptious dishes below.
A splendid summer night in a perfectly manicured Brooklyn backyard. Attention to detail was not lost on this evening from the mini laundry clip wine tags to the perfectly plated table.
Of course, the star of the evening - the Food! Mushrooms, Cheeses, Cured Meat, Anchovies, Melon, Bread, Wine, and fresh Pasta - Tortelloni Burro e Salvia & Tortelloni alla Bolognese.
Big thanks to the Barbagallo/Spagnardi family for hosting such a fabulous evening and to Luciana for cooking such an amazing meal! 
 Great company + exceptional Food & Wine = Lifetime Memories... (missing from the group picture, @interiorsbycarolinab - responsible for the decor).
Click for full images...

I celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary at GEM and wasn't sure what to expect since the chef was 19 years old.  Yet his age, the concept and the rave reviews were what intrigued me.  They offer a 12 to 15 course menu with only two seatings per night & a maximum of 16 guests. The majority of the dinner was served in the "Dining Room" and we moved to the "Living Room" for dessert.  The "Living Room" is also a coffee shop during the day. 

The concept of the restaurant is intended to be a similar format of dinner parties he used to throw at his mothers home as a young teenager.  Yes, pretty impressive and I must say GEM did not disappoint.  It's an open kitchen set up and Flynn is right there with the rest of his team prepping the dishes and serving some as well.  The decor was simple with some cool pieces throughout.  If you go during the first seating the sunset casts beautiful shadows inside of the restaurant.  We also opted for the beverage pairing which was unique and worth the cost.  Unlike other beverage pairings I have experienced, this one offered up cocktails with certain dishes instead of just wine. 

There are a couple dishes not shown here because quite frankly they were so good, I ate them before snapping the picture!  There was a cavatelli with spiced squash ragu that knocked our socks off.  I wasn't expecting to have one of the best pasta dishes I've ever tasted at this restaurant.  The aged beet (pictured above) could have easily replaced any meat dish that is how tasty and delicious it was.  I never thought I would say that about a beet.

Below the pork feast continues... I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised that this was the only meat course.  You would think that you would walk away from a 12 course meal feeling heavy and tired but that wasn't the case. 

At the end of the meal we moved to the "Living Room" to eat dessert. In addition to the ice cream pictured below, we were also served a rye bread pudding with coffee, rhubarb and apple blossom.  Flynn came into the room and walked around to have conversations with each guest while we finished our dessert.  I was amazed that this feast we just indulged in was created by a teenager! 

In continuation with the “hidden little gems” theme, next up is “CAMILLO” in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.  While not quite “hidden” (it’s easily found on Nostrand Avenue), it is indeed “a little gem”!  The owners are from the equally great “Locanda Vini E Olii” in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to check either one of them out, you need to!

Camillo delivers the three key ingredients to my perfect dining experience, “Amazing Food & Cocktails”, “Beautiful Décor” & “Ambience”.  A traditional Roman restaurant with a menu that offers, pinsa (pizza romana), pasta and plenty of other delicious dishes. 

On the evening we visited, the winemakers of Enzo Boglietti were in the restaurant and we were fortunate enough to taste some of their amazing wine.  Camillo is actually named after Count Camillo Negroni, the man that invented the Negroni cocktail so, of course, we couldn’t leave without trying one!  I had the classic (made with Gin), but they have a variety (9 to be exact) to choose from including Mezcal, Rum & Bourbon versions.

For all of you pizza lovers, you need to try the Pinsa, an ancient style of Roman pizza made using a mixture of organic wheat, soy and rice flour.  The dough is left to rise for over 48 hours, resulting in a crust that is lighter, crispier and more easily digestible than your typical Neapolitan pizza. There are several topping options to choose from. We opted for half Capricciosa (Artichokes, mushrooms, prosciutto cotto, olives, tomatoes, mozzarella) & half Funghi (Roasted wild mushrooms, mozzarella, smoked buffalo scamorza cheese, fresh oregano).  Another popular pinsa is the Romana (Half Ametriciana & Half Cacio e Pepe), need I say more!?!

For all of you cheese lovers, you can’t come here without trying their Cacio e Pepe (Fresh Tonnarelli, pecorino romano & black pepper), prepared for you in a giant cheese wheel in the middle of the restaurant to complete the experience - the flavor was unbelievable!

Just when we thought we couldn’t fit one more bite in our bellies, we ordered the Goat roasted with rosemary & white wine, served with braised chicory, otherwise known as “Abbacchio alla Romana”. To be honest, goat isn’t usually a dish that catches my eye on a menu but we heard from the gentleman next to us that it was a must and it truly was! Very Tasty... We wrapped up the meal with some of their house made Amari and a piece of olive oil cake!

We managed to roll ourselves out of there, jump in a taxi and smile all the way home.  Another memorable dining experience in the books!

Maman
Coffee ~ Bakery ~ Kitchen

I found this cute little gem in one of my new favorite neighborhoods, Greenpoint, Brooklyn!  A train stop away from Long Island City on the G train or a quick walk over the Pulaski Bridge will transport you into an entirely different borough. Beginning with the fork as the door handle, Maman, a coffee shop/brunch spot is decorated with cool touches throughout.  You can grab a seat at one of the tables suspended from the ceiling with rope and enjoy a cup of coffee and dessert. Or you can head to the second floor where they serve brunch.

Le Fanfare

I’ve noticed a theme that coincides with some of my favorite eateries and that is the memorable décor.  Nothing better than pleasing your palate while taking in the charm of your surroundings.  It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion. Now that’s not to say that I wouldn’t eat at a little hole in the wall spot with amazing food as well - but the start of this food blog seems to pair great food with fabulous scenery. 

Next up on the food blog happens to also be in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and it’s called Le Fanfare.  It’s authentic Italian cuisine, with live jazz music on certain nights and outdoor space in the back during the warmer months. All pasta and bread are made in house and they use farm sourced ingredients.  If you come for Brunch, prior to your meal they serve the most amazing piece of coffee cake that just melts in your mouth!  They offer great Italian wines and tasty cocktails.  My husband and I discovered a rosemary infused cocktail here that we managed to recreate at home and it quickly became our summer of 2017 cocktail.

The interior design is one of the things that caught my attention as I walked past this restaurant. It’s a little traditional mixed with modern/contemporary style. There is a communal table in the middle and cool benches, tables for two and lighting fixtures that complete the cool vibe of this restaurant.

BLVD Wine Bar

BLVD Wine Bar in Long Island City was voted #1 wine bar in Queens 2017.   You can enjoy tasty bites at the bar while taking advantage of their Happy Hour that lasts until 7pm, M-F.  I have to say the food here is pretty impressive for a “wine bar” and they also offer a great Brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday.

Black Star Bakery

You can find Black Star Bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and a new location opened in Long Island City just last year.  I come here when I have my avocado toast cravings, they have plenty of options to choose from along with some other popular breakfast favorites.