Locanda Verde. Location: Tribeca. Greenwich St. and North Moore. Pastries: Black & White Cake. Nutella Cookie. Brown Butter Shortbread. Breakfast Tart. Zuccherino.Espresso. Latte.

Chek Recs:

1. Apple Cider Doughnut (1st and 2nd pic)
2. Olive Oil Coffee Cake (3rd pic)
3. Oatmeal Cookie Sandwich (4th pic)

Most people salivate over Chef Andrew Carmellini’s Sheep’s Milk Ricotta and Lamb Meatball Sliders (although now they’ve recently changed to duck) at dinner. However, pastry chef Karen DeMasco is also another star to holler about here – especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The bakery counter at the right of the entrance is overflowing with freshly baked golden treats that shimmer in the glass jars. Her Apple Cider Doughnut is absolutely ridiculous. It’s a perfect size, no bigger than your hand and tastes like a delicate cake with a contagious flavor. The flavors change seasonally, but each one will blow your Doughnut Plant obsession out of the water. The Olive Oil Coffee Cake is another irresistible winner that you can’t pass up. Basically, I would recommend everything on that counter. If you are just looking to meet some friends for coffee and a light sweet morning treat, this is the place and the baristas are as sweet as the baked goods. They’ll even give you a taste of something if you are indecisive and play your cards right. The area in front of the bakery is very cozy with perfect first-come-first-serve seating. Therefore, if you decide to pop in last minute,  you don’t have to worry about brunch waits in the dining room and can grab a seat while still basking in the timeless atmosphere. Definitely a spot to read your morning paper and exercise your sweet tooth for under $4. 

***See full dinner review here and a great breakfast review from Ed Levine’s Serious Eats here.

And at the bottom, you’ll find our line-up of restaurants from this trip. Enjoy and let us know if you have any other suggestions we should post and we’ll update this list with reader suggestions. Sport Degree of Style Friday will return next week.

I have one pair of Alexander Wang oxfords that I adore but I wish I could own every pair of shoes the American “It Designer” creates. And right now, the Alexander Wang store on the corner of Grand and Mercer is filled with his athletic chic spring collection. Think mesh bombers, floral BMX-inspired suits and plenty of racing stripes. Here’s a shot from one of the racks (above) and below, a selection of Wang’s sneakers. Don’t expect friendliness from the staff at this store except maybe the front door security guard but hey, you’re there for the clothes. And don’t snap photos, I got in big trouble for taking the sneaker shot.

Although I’ve never been a fan of the brand’s full name (Visible Panty Line), I love the look of the VPL store on Mercer Street just down from the NFL store. It’s a feast for the eyes and at every turn, there’s another sport-inspired décor piece. The clothing’s rich hues are also magnificent in the warehouse-like, old boxing gym setting. And it’s as if I have a thing with shoes because I loved every pair of designer Victoria Bartlett’s creations as well.

And now, on to eating. When someone asks us for recommendations, CH and I have our go-to spots (Locanda Verde, Stanton Social Club and Inoteca are some favourites) but we decided to try a few new places this trip.

The Croque Monsieur at Tartinery (209 Mulberry St.) is so simple but so good and you can practise your French while waiting for a table.  Another cute French spot we tried this time was Amélie (like the movie).

I’ve been to  Cafe Gitane at the Jane Hotel before but the Mott Street location is great for people-watching (242 Mott St.). Sit outside if you can.

From the owners of Inoteca (OK, we didn’t stray that far), Corsino (637 Hudson St.) is a great little Italian place with good pasta and quick service.

We also tried Prune (54 East 1st St.) for brunch but one issue I had with the charming eatery is that they don’t serve free refills on coffee and that’s a must for a brunch spot. But, we saw Andrew Garfield (a.k.a. the new Superman) and Emma Stone shortly after strolling around in the East Village so it was all worth it!

And finally, a trip to NYC would not be complete without a stop to honour our Ukrainian-Polish roots at the 24-hour-open East Village hot spot Veselka.

If you can make it to NYC before June 2nd, go see Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman on Broadway; the show is spectacular.

Ranked as ‘Must-go’ in my sis’s list of places to eat in New York and by R from {girl on the ave}, I was glad that our concierge managed to help squeeze us an early lunch reservation at Locanda Verde.  In R’s words in her little NYC guide that she so kindly shared with me ahead of our trip, the place was ‘owned by Robert de Niro with a super talented pastry chef which meant great desserts’ – what’s not to like?  We didn’t quite get to desserts for we were stuffed by then.  I guess we could always make room for dessert but I didn’t want to over-eat.  Hehe.

The place is fun and casual.  The best part?  The food is amazing too and at prices that won’t break the bank.  A quick search online revealed the restaurant’s popularity amongst food critics.   Click here, here and here to read more.

We did what we did best.. that is to order a couple of sides and a main dish to be shared.  According to the sis, these are what the critics recommended:

Lamb Meatball Sliders (US 12)

Sheep’s Milk Ricotta with sea-salt and herbs (US 15)

Crostino of the day (US 8)

This is a pretty common sight at the table.

My Grandmother’s Ravioli (US 18)

And because we felt starved of vegetables, we ordered 2 portions of broccolini to be shared among the 3 of us.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable lunch spent with my mom and sis as we exchanged stories about life.  It’s been a long while since we got together and did the girly thing so this was really special.

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Locanda Verde

This was how it was walking into Locanda Verde. It was lively and warm, and I immediately felt that I had come to the right place. Unfortunately, this was more than I could say for the rest of my party. One of our friends actually went to the wrong place and kept us waiting for over a half hour. And in a very New York fashion, we were not able to sit at our table until our party was complete. So, I sat at the bar with my friend that had already arrived, and we started in on a bottle of wine. The bartenders were appropriately aloof. Making eye contact to place an order was more than a bit of an ordeal as the one standing nearby was staring pensively into the distance for a good three minutes (in deep thought about his band’s most recent show, no doubt).

When our third friend finally arrived we were seated. Our bottle was brought to the table and menus were given. In contrast to the detached bartender, our waiter was friendly, and more importantly, knowledgeable. He knew the menu and the wine list inside and out, and even gave us a great, well-informed recommendation with regards to our second bottle.

Tripa a la Parmigiana

By this time we were starving (and halfway under the table), so we decided to order a ton of food. We got three appetizers, two portions of pasta to share, as well as three mains for ourselves. The food ranged from good to excellent. We started with a Warm Mushroom Salad, Tripa a la Parmigiana and duck meatballs with foie gras. The tripe dish was the best of the bunch. It was simply prepared and perfectly cooked, served in a basic tomato-based sauce and topped with two poached duck eggs. The meatballs were also very good. The meat was seasoned with a warm mix of spices, giving the balls a unique, Mediterranean flavor. As for the mushroom salad, the mushrooms themselves were incredibly flavorful, but were spread out too thinly betwixt the masses of arugula dominating the plate.

Spice Glazed Duck

After this, we split a double order of linguini done in a carbonara style. It was a lighter, greener, version of the original, yet very addictive none the less. We then followed this by our own secondi. The highlight of our mains was my Spiced-glazed duck with cavolo nero, faro piccolo and pomegranate. The duck was perfectly cooked with a crispy skin, and the faro, dotted with pomegranate seeds, added a great flavor and textural contrast. Both my dinner guests had fish dishes –a roasted Atlantic cod and a poached sea bass — both of which, unfortunately, were less than memorable.

Bursting at the seams, we forwent dessert, settling on just espresso and the check.

While we consumed some very good food, it was not the best Italian restaurant I’ve been to.  And the service, while sometimes stellar, was also often aloof. However, despite my verging on a tepid review, I will most likely be back. The reason being is that it possessed that unique and intangible New York quality of being memorable in and of itself. You feel good being there. And I, like most people, want to feel good. I will remember that I had a great duck dish and a knowledgeable waiter and that I enjoyed my time sitting underneath the warm antique-y lights. I just hope that next time it will be easier to order a drink at the bar.

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich Street (at N. Moore St), New York, NY 10013
212.925.3797
http://locandaverdenyc.com/

Last winter I had eaten at Locanda Verde in TriBeCa but I sadly haven’t been back since. For those who don’t know, TriBeCa stands for “Triangle Below Canal” and this neighborhood is known for some fabulous restaurants and luxurious lofts that will blow your mind away (if you need specific examples, tune in on Bravo for Million Dollar Listing New York). Well, I had such a great experience at Locanda Verde, I had to take Brittany here.

I was so sad to discover that the ravioli I devoured the first time I was at the restaurant was taken off the menu (I don’t remember exactly what it was, but it was in a brown butter and possibly sage sauce). I understand that restaurants need to change up a menu… but why on earth would you take off such a popular dish that everyone loves? Take off something shitty (like something with pork in it). Speaking of pork, I became overwhelmed when I discovered that about three-fourths of the menu had some sort of pork in it (remember, I don’t eat pork). So we had to be picky — and I hate being picky.

We settled on some Sheep’s Milk Ricotta crostini for our appetizer. Perfectly fluffy and flavorful ricotta cheese seasoned to perfection with just the simple basics of salt, pepper and a few herbs served with a fantastic rustic bread — yummm. I feel like the majority of ricotta cheese in the United States is fairly bland; but with the perfect seasoning from Locanda Verde I will now bite my tongue before judging ricotta because it was the complete opposite of what my perception of the cheese used to be. When in Italy this past September, my Italian family had us over for a family dinner one evening while we visited Rome. I think my parents and sister would agree with me on this — the home-cooked dinner our family prepared for us was probably the best meal while we were in Italy. My cousin had bought the most flavorful ricotta cheese for us to shred over top of our pasta. It didn’t taste like any other ricotta I have had before and she even told us that it wasn’t the typical ricotta cheese that you usually purchase. If only we could live in Italy and eat like the Italians every single day…

I think Brittany would agree with me on this, our favorite entree was the Spice-Glazed Duck served with cavolo nero, faro piccolo, and pomegranate. Every bite we took we made sure to scoop up the faro piccolo and the pomegranate because it added extra flavoring that complimented the juices that came out of the duck meat. Both sweet and savory — it was the best duck I have ever eaten. Quack Quack.

We also ordered a ravioli dish that is no longer on the menu this week — thank goodness! Instead it has been replaced with something called “Fonduta Agnolotti” with figs, walnuts, brown butter and sage — which I think we would have ordered if it was on the menu! The ravioli we got was supposed to be a shrimp scampi ravioli and when our plate arrived we were shocked to find some other types of fish in it that Brittany doesn’t eat. (The menu does a horrible job specifying what food is in each dish. For example, the Lamb Meatball sliders on the appetizer menu sounds fantastic and last second the waiter told us that there was pork in it! Why would a lamb meatball slider have pork in it!?! The same thing with the ravioli and other dishes that shouldn’t have specific ingredients in them unless noted on the menu. That is my biggest complaint about the restaurant.)

We had a side order of the most delicious potatoes. They were were perfectly seasoned and cooked beautifully. The skin was crunchy and the inside was creamy as if mashed potatoes was what stuffed these large bites of potato. The garlic and parmigiano-reggiano cream sauce on top was impeccable. Thank goodness we ordered this side dish!

Overall the food was great but we were insanely disappointed at how the menu is very deceiving. The ravioli was horrible and I am so happy that they took it off the menu! But, the duck was such a success and I recommend that to be your entree if you venture to this restaurant in TriBeCa!

next we ate at this little hole in the wall shop that makes fresh pork and vegetable dumplings right in front of you. this place is a must go not just cuz of how great they were but also the price… 5 dumplings for a buck… YEP $1.00 … omg so good we got so many of those. that place is in chinatown at 106 Mosco Street. YUM I WANT MORE lol

Lets see we also hit up Grand Pho in China town which was good not great. Also Naeroby and her boyfriend went into Queens somewhere and apparently got some great cuban food but i was to busy at O’Lunney’s Bar near times square. They has some good burgers and of course i went there on the night of St. Patricks day so it was busy and some bagpipers came in and started doing there thing next to Iliana and Micaela and I. O speaking of burgers we went to this place called the burger joint which was another hole in the wall. Inside the Parker Meridian hotel is this little red cape near the check in desks and thats the restaurant. Personally the burgers where ok and the fries were shitty but it was a cool little joint that obviously makes some real money.

O and finally we went to Hoy Wong’s in chinatown for some peking duck and steamed buns. I know all chinese food but thats what we like and we only had 3 days and much more to see. anyways this place was good and I enjoyed it being a nice close to our vacation.

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Elizabeth and I both agreed earlier today that if either of us ever lost our sense of smell or taste, it may as well be the end of it for us.  We also decided even though we aren’t bumper sticker folk, that we want to make a bumper sticker that says “oil be damned – will drive for food!”  We drove to Durham this morning to have brunch (the greatest meal ever) at Watts Grocery, one of my favorite places and we brunched with a fury!  She with her eggs benedict (sausage instead of ham) and hashbrowns and two bloody marys and me with my shrimp and grits (Bill Neal’s classic recipe, which should truly be a paradigm for all other shrimp and grits out there), house-made english muffin with homemade preserves and a hibiscus blini!  She’s the savory to my sweet and our drinks are proof.  It was a lovely start to a Sunday.

Here are some things I am loving right now…

• Florence Welch’s cover of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love.”  It’s pretty amazing and I’m basically obsessed with it.  Genius.
• Taking an afternoon nap with a snoring puppy dog.
• Taking an afternoon walk with a very excited puppy dog.
• Bradford pears and rosebud trees in full bloom.
• Frasier.  Can’t get enough of it.  Niles especially.
• The fact that my granny sends me aprons in the mail.
• Feeling nostalgic.

I’ve kind of been bursting at the seams to talk about my recent trip to NYC but have let the everyday tasks of life interfere.  Well I say enough of that nonsense!

It was my favorite trip to the city thus far and an ambitious one at that, seeing as I managed to visit most of the places on my list.  I am the same way with bakeries and restaurants as a womanizer is with notches on his bedpost.  Even if it means trekking all around the city back and forth in unbroken-in boots, as long as I can cover my desired terrain, I’m a happy, accomplished feeling chick.

Here are the bakeries that were visited:

• Silver Moon Bakery (on the upper west side) – we went there early on a Sunday morning and my heart did a cartwheel when I saw hot cross buns!  It was a tiny space and sadly we were in a hurry but I’d love to come back and try some of their bread, particularly their challah.  It all looked fantastic.

• Zucker Bakery- (east village) – what a delicate and humble bakery this was.  We settled into the cozy sun-soaked window seat nook and shared a latte and some chocolate roses (an Israeli version of a cinnamon roll but with chocolate).  They were chocolate laced  yeasty swirls or dough that melted in our mouths.  It was such a charming place and the owner who was working the counter was so kind and lovely.

• Babycakes:  Babycakes, you were not on my list.  I quite literally stumbled upon you when I was exploring the lower east side near our hotel.  You were cute, you really were and I was curious because I had heard such raving reviews about you from trustworthy sources, some of them even non-vegan.  I ordered a chocolate cupcake from you and it crumbled apart in my hands.  It was dry and not tasty and three frustrated bites later you were tossed into a trash can around the corner.  Perhaps I just had an unlucky experience but I’m sure glad I’m not vegan.

• Locanda Verde:  The adorable girl working behind the pastry case was reason enough for me to like the pastries here – after talking for awhile she even bought me an apple hand pie!  So sweet.  I felt like I struck out with this place because of the good karma and because every pastry was a delectable home-run, from the hand pie to the oatmeal sandwich cookie to the olive oil crumb cake (my favorite).  The apple cider doughnut was also heavenly.  I will definitely be returning and would love to try breakfast or dinner there sometime as well.

• Jane’s Sweet Buns:  I had learned of Jane’s when it was featured on a recent episode of Unique Sweets (on the Cooking Channel).  The food porn shots of booze-laced cocktail inspired sticky buns like “The Old-Fashioned,” and the “Rum Runner” immediately sold me and I added it to the list.   It’s a quirky little shop in the east village with a hot pink neon sign advertising “Jane’s Sweet Buns,” and the enticing aroma of boozy dough luring you in from the street and it’s run by a fierce redhead bartender turned pastry chef (named Jane of course, last name Danger).  I have a definite girl crush on her and she has now inspired me to sneak gin into buttercream.  She’s been playing with alcohol, bitters, butter and sugar,  concocting innovative pastries in her colorful, eclectically decorated bakery since last May and successfully so.

I originally wandered in there around 11 but they weren’t opening until 12 and I had somewhere to be.  Later that evening on my way back from Williamsburg, I decided to revisit and much to my surprise, there Jane was, laboring away.   After admiring the billowy sticky buns and champagne cupcakes, I ordered an old fashioned and sat myself down on one of the barstools.  It was delicious and not too sweet or overpowering.  We ended up chatting away for the next hour or so, about pastries and baking, vintage shops, boyfriends, living in New York, and work and we bonded over a mutual affection for Forever 21.  She was so kind and genuine and it was such a serendipitous experience to get to try her creations while talking to her at the same time.  Customers eventually started filtering in and I had to get back so I picked out some goods to take home to Jay and the Johns’, including a oatmeal cookie sandwich with roasted banana cream cheese icing that was absolutely heavenly and she bought me a bun!  Such a nice, kick ass girl.  She’s making things happen.  I love random little encounters like that and feel like I was fortunate to have a lot of them on this trip.

Check her out!

*More NYC recaps to come, stay tuned!*

Over the past several years, chef Andrew Carmellini went from relatively unknown to a household name, with two James Beard Awards and a Michelin Star under his belt. After successfully opening both Locanda Verde and the Dutch in Manhattan, he set his sights on Miami, bringing his popular locally sourced, farm-to-table cuisine down South.

“I didn’t think we were going to take the Dutch on the road—it’s so New York and looks so New York,” says Carmellini about the decision to open a Florida outpost. “But the idea is cooking American food, and we’re doing the same in Miami.” With family history in the area—his grandfather worked at the Surf Club; his father was born there; and his aunt lives in Coral Gables—the location is hardly random. “I have a connection to Miami and the beach, so if I were to do something outside of New York, it would be here.”

You can find the same roots-inspired cooking in his second cookbook, American Flavor, published last October. Co-written with his wife, Gwen Hyman,  the book takes inspiration from Carmellini’s cross-country road trips, offering up recipes about as diverse as American heritage itself. Like the Dutch—and its Miami location in particular—American Flavor relies on Carmellini’s personal approach to food, where a bit of his own history inspires everything he prepares.

One dish in particular, scallops with grapefruit butter—which he describes as “an ode to Miami circa 1982”—holds a particular importance for Carmellini. “This dish basically brings my two favorite things about Florida together—amazing citrus and fresh seafood,” he says. “I grew up in Cleveland, so when my dad and I would drive Down South to see my grandparents, we would stop along the way, in Fort Pierce, at Boudrias Groves, which had the most unreal Indian River citrus. This stuff was just magic to me when I was a little kid—I’d never had anything that good.”

RECIPE: Scallops With Grapefruit Butter

SERVES 4

FOR THE GRAPEFRUIT BUTTER
1 cup white wine
1 large shallot, diced (2 tablespoons)
Juice of 3 ruby red grapefruits (about 1 cup)
¼ cup bitter orange juice or juice of 1 orange and juice of 1 lime, mixed together
¾ stick (6 tablespoons) salted butter

FOR THE SCALLOPS
16 sea scallops ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or 1 tablespoon for each batch of scallops)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 fresh thyme sprigs
Juice of 1 lime (2 tablespoons)

TO FINISH THE DISH
2 ruby red grapefruits, segmented
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

But I don’t see a huge difference without foundation.  My skin must have looked fine because I still applied bronzer and blusher as usual without thinking twice. You can kind of see the effects of Highlighting 101 too! (Contouring 101 to be posted soon.)

Brunch at Locanda Verde

Anyway, I was thinking that foundation isn’t really a daily necessity if you only need to cover up undereye circles and a few blemishes.  It’s better to let your skin breathe, for the long run.  Just wear foundation for dates, weekend nights, and picture taking days.

Brunch at Locanda Verde (Tribeca) was delicious so I decided to share my gastronomic experience.

Pastry Misti del Giorno

We started off with the pastry platter of the day.  I don’t remember the exact names, but from left to right – a lemony cake doughnut covered in sugar, a cranberry pound cake of sorts, and a soft scone with dark chocolate bits inside. Everything was incredibly moist.

Uovo Modenese

Instead of sharing 3 different dishes, we all couldn’t help but order the same Uovo Modenese.   It’s basically like an Italian eggs benedict with cotechino (pork sausage) hash, spinach, and tomato hollandaise.  I wish there had been more of the cotechino hash.  Definitely in the top 3 for eggs benedict and I’ve been to MANY brunch places in the city.

Agnes B and Voluspa

M brought us belated Christmas gifts to brunch.  I got a pair of Agnes B earrings that are delicate and symmetrical, but one is slightly different from the other with the placement of the crystals.  It’s hard to explain so I’ll have to post a close-up when I wear them this weekend.  I also got a Voluspa candle in Saijo Persimmon, our favorite Voluspa scent!

Lastly, we spotted Jane Krakowski (from 30 Rock) at Locanda Verde.  She looked just as lovely in person as on TV.  And her infant son was absolutely adorable.

Copyright © 2012 by Jeweliette23

Noteworthy in New York
Aldea: yummy tasting menu
Locanda Verde: why?
Má Pêche: if it’s anything like Milk Bar…
Maialino: yessss!
Marea: on my to “eat” list for ages now
Torrisi: in my belly, now!

ALSO!  Restaurant Week Summer 2010 is here.  July 12 – 25.  Make your reservations now!

the magazine also covered a lot of new food places in different parts of the world that i’m putting on my list of things to do.  it’s an action-packed, taste bud overloading issue filled with all sorts of food porn. . . i’m glad i have my copy.

the japanese kit kat is becoming a bit of a “where’s waldo” exercise for me.  i hit the mega load back in january when i went to tokyo, and then spied some new flavors in london a few months later. according to the t+l article above, the folks at nestle japan have been busy concocting new and more exciting flavors!  i wonder if they’ll ever go the bertie bott’s (of harry potter world) route and create “rotten egg and bacon” flavored kit kats. . . although my guess is that that goes against japanese sensibilities.

remember this place?  the t+l photographers captured a great interior photograph of the pastry display at la pâtisserie des rêves.  the accompanying text in the article gives shout-outs to chef conticini’s tarte tatin.

so i’ve been noticing that i seem to write more about places that i visit while traveling, rather than ones that are close to home.  locanda verde is one of my favorite restaurants in new york city.  the food is rustic, homey, well-made, and it’s also a stone’s throw from where i live.  they have, amazing fig crumb muffins and a to die for sheep’s milk ricotta — happy sheep creamy, spiced with cracked pepper, herbs and orange truffle honey, and oh my god so addictive.  i really can’t stop myself when i order it, which is why, i must now stop ordering it.  and now that i’ve spilled the beans (again), i’ll probably never get a reservation!

]]> http://eatingthebigapple.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/eaten-locanda-verde/ Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:29:50 +0000 eatingthebigapple http://eatingthebigapple.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/eaten-locanda-verde/ It’s been approximately 1.2 million years that I’ve wanted to eat at Locanda Verde.

OK, a little bit of an exaggeration.

But seriously, it’s been ages.

After another long day of walking in the blistering (in more way than one) heat yesterday, I spontaneously suggested that my friend and I crash Locanda Verde, reseveration-less, for an early bite to eat.

Fortunately, Angie was game and our wait time was approximately 2 minutes.  We were seated at a small outside table along the cobblestone road – perfect for watching the well-dressed dates walk in and out of the restaurant.

Locanda Verde | High fashion, high food

I didn’t have the intention to write about this dining experience (shame on me), so I impulsively devoured the foccacia before realizing that this meal was going to be something special, and I had to document it.

Hence the lone piece of bread…

It was an incredible foccacia, however.  It was perhaps the softest foccacia I’ve ever had.  It melted in my mouth as only white bread can, and topped with crisp pieces of rosemary, a touch of lemon – it was a very gracious beginning.

Angie had spotted someone with a plate of sugar snap peas and decided we had to order it. I’m so glad she did.

The peas were a brilliant shade of green, enhanced by the light specs of basil from the pesto dressing.  Each bite I took was a perfect symphony of snap, crackle and pop.  The crunchiest snap peas I’ve ever had, this dish was an absolute ode to nature at it’s peak.

Next came our order of lamb meatball sliders.  Written up as one of Food & Wine’s 10 best restaurant dishes $12 and under, the meatball sliders were worthy of every single word.

The lamb is ground in-house with onions simmered in a tomtato sauce and served over some goat cheese and a pickled cucumber on parmesan housemade buns.

It was moist and flavorful just as a meatball should be.  Outstanding.

My main plate was a bowl of orecchiette pasta with homemade duck sausage, broccoli rabe and piave cheese.  I absolutely love orecchiette – the ear-shaped morsels are like tiny little boats so ready to hold all the creamy sauce and those salty bites of sausage.

My first impression was that the pasta was cooked molto al dente.  I can’t say I’d ever had pasta this firm before – but I’m a believer.  Each individual shell was so resilient, it took actual chewing to get through the dish (unlike some pastas that feel like blobs of starch).  It’s a difficult thing for me to explain, but this plate just made so much sense…pasta should not be treated as a bland canvas but instead, the foundation to a very flavorful dish – enhanced by everything else.

And this orecchiette was certainly the star.

Angie’s dish was a grilled branzino with a caponata (cooked vegetable salad) and pine nuts.

For dessert, I tried the strawberry “risotto” aka rice pudding with meyer lemon sorbetto.  It was a sweet play on risotto, and the strawberries, shreds of mint and mouth-puckering tart lemon sorbetto made this the perfect summer dessert.

And Angie had a duo of rhubarb and lemon sorbetta herself.

Locanda Verde lived up to every expectation I had of it.  All the reviews, all the hype – it’s true!

5 out of 5 stars for Locanda Verde.  It’s an eaten! first!

If you are looking for a special occasion brunch, look no further. Located in Tribeca, the restaurant is beautiful and airy, with enough tables to cut down on a long wait, but you can make reservations. The beverages all sound delicious, but if you’re not in the mood for alcohol the Tre-Stelle, which is the house juice made with pomegranate, blood oranges, and Valencia oranges is superb and refreshing. Although at $7 it’s not cheap. The cocktails are $12.

I highly recommend beginning with an appetizer, something I never really do at brunch. But at Locanda Verde it’s hard to pass up. The first time I was here, on Valentine’s Day, we got the Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, a specialty of the restaurant. The creamy cheese is served with truffle honey and burnt orange toast and it was sublime; really one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The second time I was there, for my husband’s birthday, we got the Pastry Misti del Giorno, a trio of the pastries of the day by pastry chef Karen DeMasco. DeMasco is a genius and her pastries have been much lauded by many. That morning we enjoyed a lemon rosemary muffin, a strawberry scone, and a cinnamon and sugar donut, served with a lovely strawberry jam and creamy butter. The scone was transcendant, the others very delicious.

Both times I’ve been there, I ordered the Soft Scrambled Farm Egg Crostino for my entree. It is a plate of the softest, lightest scrambled eggs with leeks and herbs served on a piece of toasted crostino. It also comes with a side salad that is among the best salads I’ve ever eaten. I don’t usually get so excited about salads, but this one is a thing of beauty. It consists of arugula and hen of the woods mushroom and has an amazing lemony parmesan dressing.

On his birthday my husband ordered the Organic Oatmeal with stewed fruits and almonds. It was light and creamy and delicious and perfect if you’re not in the mood for eggs, but don’t want to splurge on pancakes or French toast–especially if you’ve already had the pastries for an appetizer! However, the Hazelnut-Crusted French Toast, which comes with a lovely citrus salad, is delicious, of course. My husband had that on Valentine’s.

So, if you’re looking to splurge on calories and money at brunch, Locanda Verde is an ideal venue. And afterward you can enjoy the lovely Tribeca streets, especially in summertime.

(Sorry for the terrible pictures.  I didn’t want to be rude in a place so busy!)

The restaurant is beautiful but not exactly warm and inviting.  There’s a lot of wood and metal going on everywhere.  The mix of dark colors and indirect lighting gives the dining room a romantic-but-not-trying-too-hard kind of feeling, which is appropriate for dates, business dinners, and really, anything.  I was surprised how cold the restaurant seemed, and I’m not talking about the temperature.  I guess the light rain had something to do with my mood, but I didn’t feel relaxed in this restaurant.  And you know me, at a good restaurant, I’m in my prime.

It didn’t help that our server was semi-blunt and didn’t smile once.  Even at McDonalds, I can usually get a smile with my happy meal.  So if I’m paying $70+/person per meal, I better get some sort of delight, charm, or wit.  To be fair, she answered all our question and took down our order correctly.  However, she took forever to get my black coffee (just pour it into the cup), and I was three-quarters of the way through with my dessert by the time it got to our table.  And NO ONE messes with me and my dessert…

Okay, let’s get to the food.  Emily and I ordered a lot of items on the menu, but it didn’t turn out to be too filling.  The restaurant is all about family style.  So am I!

For appetizers, we ordered the Lamb Meatball Sliders (very popular).  These meatballs were very cute.  I can see why they would do well on the menu, especially with all the business-types at the restaurant.  There really wasn’t a distinct lamb taste (good thing) or any special flavors for that matter.  The slider bread had a hint of sweetness, and the pickle really gave this slider any taste at all.  The meatball was very greasy.  I had oil running down my hands from holding the slider up to my mouth.   Perhaps I had them on an off-night in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t order them again.

We also shared the Burrata, my favorite dish of the night.  Burrata is an Italian cheese that reminds me of watery poached eggs.  It was very creamy and resembled mozzarella.  The eggplant was cooked in a very flavorful mixture of tomatoes, garlic, onions, and olive oil.  The incredibly soft cheese was both heavy in the creamy flavor and light in its chilled, egg white-like texture.   Together, the burrata and eggplant “calabrese” was phenomenal: a little spicy, salty, peppery, olive-y, basil-y, and a lot more -y words.  Think of eggplant Calabrese as Italian ratatouille.

We shared two pastas: My Grandmother’s Ravioli and Slow-Braised Veal Pappardelle.  My Grandmother’s Ravioli was definitely not cooked by my grandmother.  Because even being an ancient Chinese woman, my grandmother could probably make better ravioli than Andrew Carmellini, chef de cuisine at Locanda Verde.  Emily and I couldn’t understand why the ravioli filling was tasteless and dinky-sized.  The sauce was quite obviously made from fresh tomatoes, but that couldn’t take away from the fact that the ravioli was so bland and pathetic.  To this day (it has only been one day…), Emily and I can’t figure out what was in the ravioli.  It could have been beef, pork, or frog for all we know!  The most disappointing part about the ravioli is that it’s supposed to be one of the best things on the menu.  It really didn’t live up to all or any of the hype.

We did better with the Slow-Braised Veal Pappardelle but not much.  The meat was cooked perfectly minus one thing: taste.  How could such delicious tender meat go to waste because the cook forgot to add something to give it flavor?  The sauce was an indescribable plum brown color, thin, and a little gummy.  I think the pasta wasn’t cooked right, so the sauce congealed.  The pappardelle (a flat and wide ribbon pasta) seemed homemade, but unfortunately, it was a little overcooked.  Sad, sad day when people overboil fresh pasta.

Our contorni (side) was a Steamed or Boiled Spinach with Fried Chickpeas and Ricotta Salata.  The Spinach wasn’t properly drained, so the fried chickpeas became soggy very soon after the dish was served.  The ricotta salata did nothing for me.  I can appreciate lightly-flavored cheeses, but this shredded version didn’t do anything for me but add some salty flavors to quell my taste buds.  This side dish is so boring.  I’m so confused right now.

Dessert was much butter than the entrées.  Emily’s Banana Walnut Brown Butter Cake was essentially a semi-warm piece of banana bread but a pretty good one at that.  I think the cake was over-baked, because it seemed a little dry (especially along the edges).  My Ricotta Cheesecake with fresh rhubarb and rhubarb sorbet was quite delicious.  The cheesecake seemed to be made of gelatin, but maybe the cheese was just kind of jiggly.  The chilled cake was very creamy and rich but no where near close to a Junior’s cheesecake.  I’ve never had fresh rhubarb before, but I wasn’t very impressed with this fruit.  It’s kind of crunchy like sugar cane, but you can actually swallow it.  The rhubarb sorbet and sauce were very nice.  Not too sweet or tart.  They complimented the cheesecake very well.

I’m done with Tribeca!  Bubby’s didn’t do it for me, nor did Locanda Verde.  Goodbye!!

Just one of the many NYC spots I pledge to visit before 2011.

Minetta Tavern - This West Village gem is always being talked about for its Black Label burger that costs $26. And guess what? I have $26 and I like burgers. This has always been on my must-try lists but when I saw Anthony Bourdain chowing down on the burger on a recent No Reservations, I realized times a’waistin.

The Red Head - This small, cozy restaurant that boasts tasty American food and a killer friend chicken has been calling me for a while now. There’s a cider pork chop on the menu that I feel is my duty as an American to try. Friends have raved about this place and their yummy peanut brittle.

KO - Since I’ve already hit up Momofuku Ssam Bar and loved it, the next logical step is to log onto my computer, frantically type away and pray that I receive a good reservation in the next 5-10 days. (KO is also my initials!)

Cavo and Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - Time for a roadtrip! Or a subway trip, whichever. I’ve told friends who live in Astoria that I would come visit them to sample some delicious Greek food and hang out at the popular Beer Garden. (Don’t worry, I’ll stick to some tasty German Riesling while I’m there!)

The Harrison - I’m a Food Network junky and I watched every single episode of the Next Iron Chef this season. I’m trying to eat my way through some of the better chefs’ restaurants. I’ve been to some (Brad Farmerie’s Public, among others) and now need to try Amanda Freitag’s cooking at the Harrison.

Lilli and Loo - One thing I really miss since becoming gluten free is delicious dumplings. A friend recommended Li and Loo on the Upper East Side that has a very extensive gluten free menu that includes dumplings, fried rice and sushi. I’ll let you know if they’re delicious or fall short like gluten free bread.

Park Avenue Spring - This choice is purely for ambiance. The restaurant that changes its décor, flowers, colors and menu every season seems so appealing. If I’m being truthful, I’m not going for the food. I’m going to take in the smells and sights of Spring an perhaps have a delightful cocktail or two.

Locanda Verde - Critics, bloggers and New Yorkers everywhere have been raving about Locanda Verde since it opened. And it sounds like my kind of place. It’s casual, it’s cozy and it’s Italian. I’m sold, see you there.

Balthazar - Brunch is one of my favorite pastimes and word on the street is that Balthazar does a pretty damn good brunch. I really get into French-style brunches since it’s a toss up if I’m going to go breakfast or lunch. But, let’s get real. They had me at Mimosa.

The Breslin - If it wasn’t for the lines, I probably would’ve feasted here already, but you can’t fault a place for being popular. This place has pork all over its menu and has a stuffed pig’s foot for two. Who wants to be my date?

i came across a bag of frozen figs i harvested from my fig tree last fall, while cleaning out my freezer the past weekend.  remembering the delicious fig muffins that they serve at locanda verde for breakfast, i decided to re-create the recipe at home.  i started with dorie greenspan’s recipe for allspice crumb muffins and adapted from there.  i thought they tasted really good, but then, what doesn’t taste good fresh out of the oven?

Fig Crumb Muffins
(makes 12 dozen muffins)

1. Make the crumb top and set aside.  To do so, sift together dry ingredients in a small bowl.  Toss in the bits of cold butter and use your fingers to work the ingredients until small crumbs form.  Place in refrigerator until ready for use.
2. Pre-heat oven to 375ºF.  Place paper muffin cups in a muffin pan, and set aside.
3. Add flour, sugar baking powder, nutmeg, salt and brown sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on the lowest speed.  Mix together until well-combined.
4. Then add in melted butter, eggs, milk and vanilla extract.  Mix together on lowest speed until just combined.
5. Add in figs and stir until evenly incorporated.
6. Drop the batter into the muffin cups.  I use an ice cream scooper with a lever to distribute the batter into the cups.
7. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the muffins and press in gently with your finger.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Pulino’s Bar & Pizzeria

Babbo

110 Waverly Pl , New York, NY 10011 (map)

Outstanding Restaurant – Babbo is at the helm of the Batali’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, bringing out the best (and most adventurous) in nouveau Italian cuisine.

Daniel

60 E 65th St, New York, NY 10021 (map)

Outstanding Restaurant – Daniel Boulud’s namesake restaurant with 3 Michelin stars. In contrast to other restaurants of this caliber, Daniel is less stuffy and each course will take your breath away.

Locanda Verde

377 Grenwich St, New York, NY 10013 (map)

Best New Restaurant – Andrew Carmellini. Robert De Niro’s restaurant venture (he’s invested in over 20 restaurants around the world!) continues with this outstanding new restaurant, opened in 2009. One of my favorite brunch places in NYC right now – so hearty and so absolutely delicious. Where else in New York City can you find Sheeps Milk Ricotta Truffle Honey, 8 Hour Tripe with a Fried Organic Egg, and Burnt Orange Toast and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes for breakfast?

Colicchio & Sons

85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (map)

Outstanding Chef – Tom Colicchio. Tom is one of the most celebrated chefs in the culinary world and here’s why: Not only is he Top Chef’s lead judge, spotting his famous bald head, he was the former chef at Gramercy Tavern, previously garnered 3 James Beard Award nominations for Best Chef in NYC, finally winning in 2000, earned The James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant for Craft in 2002, and now, he stands a chance at winning the most outstanding chef in the nation, and rightfully so.

Marea

24 Central Park South, 10019, NY 10019 (map)

Not only is Marea nominated as Best New Restaurant, Michael White was also nominated as Best Chef in NYC. I think he deserves to win the award. If you’ve been to any of the other notable restaurants under his belt (i.e. Convivio, Scarpetta or Alto), you’ll see why.

wd-50

50 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

Best Chef in NYC – Wylie Dufresne. Molecular gastronomy like no other. This is one place where I’d highly recommend getting the tasting menu and be prepared for this to be a multi-sensory dining experience that will entertain you for the duration of a Broadway play.

Prune

54 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003 (map)

Best Chef in NYC – Gabrielle Hamilton. With the best sweetbreads in NYC title in her honor, Gabrielle has done well for herself. You can’t go wrong with any order here and well worth the 45-minute wait for a table.

Eleven Madison Park

11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010 (map)

Best Chef in NYC – Daniel Humm. This young Swiss chef earned accolades for his elegant dishes like seared sea bass with chanterelle mushrooms, tomato confit and mission figs.

Gramercy Tavern

42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003 (map)

Best Chef in NYC – Michael Anthony. Known as the chef who takes pride in using the freshest seasonal ingredients from the Farmer’s Market, the dishes at this top-rated restaurant has never been better!

La Grenouille

3 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022 (map)

Outstanding Service Award – This classic French New York establishment wins the hearts of many with its impeccable service.

Chag Sameach!  Or Happy Passover, for the less Judaically inclined.  There’s more than Matzo going on across Manhattan for this upcoming holiday, which celebrates the Jews’ escape from enslavement in Egypt.  From Seders to wine tastings, here’s plenty to do from the first Seder on March 29 to the last day of Passover on April 6.  If you’d like to try your hand at homemade cooking, visit The New York Times for excellent kosher recipes for the holiday.

• Capsouto Frères: (51 Washington Street) This Tribeca French bistro will continue its 23-year tradition of Seders on March 29 and 20 with a non-kosher meatless menu and a reading led by a cantor.  Sneak some of the infamous chocolate soufflé while you’re there.  Cost: $150 per person.

• Streets International Third Annual Street Food Celebration Benefit : (Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street) Streets International is a not-for-profit, sustainable, social enterprise initiative for street kids and other disadvantaged youth.  On March 24, they will hold their third annual benefit featuring top chefs like Tom Colicchio (Colicchio & Sons, Craft), Floyd Cardoz (Tabla), Zak Pelacchio (Fatty Crab), and Karen Demasco (Locanda Verde).  If these top chefs aren’t enough of a draw, there will be a Vietnamese cooking demonstration, silent auction, and open bar.  Tickets start at $150 per person.

• Tabla: (11 Madison Avenue) Speaking of Tabla, this Danny Meyer interpretation of Indian will hold an unleavened bread bar on March 30.  Cost: $95 per person.

• Rosa Mexicano: (61 Columbus Avenue, 9 E. 18^th Street, 1063 First Avenue) Passover heads south of the border from March 24 through April 5 with special dishes for the holiday, including Red Snapper Gefilte Fish with spicy tomato salsa and pickled vegetables, Tropical Haroset and Banana Leaf Wrapped Beef Brisket.  Be sure to order their tableside made guacamole and stop by for a free Passover cooking demonstration at their Union Square location.

• Sherry-Lehmann: (505 Park Avenue) This grand dame of a wine and spirit store will offer four days of wine tastings for Passover ending on March 24.  Staff can explain what makes a wine Kosher for Passover and why they’re supporting a bill to allow grocery stores in New York to sell wine.

• Murray’s Cheese: (254 Bleecker Street) Embrace all things Sephardic with a Spanish wine tasting tonight by Tinto Fino.  Sample Murray’s vast and disturbingly delicious selection of cheeses around the globe.