Happy Holidays! & Tai Show North

Tai Show (North)

316 Main Street

East Setauket, NY 11733

(631) 751-2848

Happy Holidays, everyone! Whether it is Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, or something else that you may celebrate! I hope everyone has a safe, loving, and joyous time with family and friends. I know I am lucky to have a wonderful family, boyfriend, and group of friends who I can count on to keep a smile on my face year round. Now, on to the food! I am not Italian, but in the spirit of things and to follow some sort of tradition known to many of my friends, Christmas Eve is the night of seven fish. So, my visit to Tai Show with Fiona and Rich is quite appropriate for this day! Enjoy!

Fiona is not only my lovely sister, but also a great go-to for decent restaurants. She had been to Tai Show with Julie, another anti-big chain restaurant girl (no offense, TGIFriday's) and they loved the atmosphere and raved about the sushi. Located in scenic north shore LI, Tai Show offers something for everyone, from hibachi to sushi, and other Japanese fare. Walking in, I was immediately excited. They have a separate room for hibachi, but in the main restaurant, you can request to sit in a room, where you are immediately transported to a Japanese room complete with authentic looking Shoji divider doors enclosing your party in your booth. Mucho points for atmosphere and interior design!

As for the food, I was so impressed by the variety's of sushi rolls they offered. I don't know why, I just was, but they had great flavor combinations and it was super fresh. I have found, throughout my sushi-trying years, that yes, sushi is definitely an acquired taste that has only increased with intensity, for me, at least. And a great way to try different fish is to order a roll with other fish that you've tried before and like. It's like taking baby steps. So far, it has been a no-fail way for me to try different sushi.

Another good way is just to sample what your friends order, which is precisely what Fiona, Rich, and I did. We started with the pork shumai appetizer. Although shumai always looks so pallid and rather boring to me, there's was still visually boring but tasted wonderful. Then again, I guess it's kind of hard to make pork dumplings look truly appealing. Anyway, it was perfectly cooked and the sweet and salty dipping sauce is a great paring. I also had miso soup, which I love and it was nice here, too. Rich ordered Shrimp Asparagus- rolled in panko and fried and served with an interesting dry salt-herb mixture. I thought it was a bit plain tasting, but the herbs added the saltiness which it needed.

Finally our rolls came and they were visually spectacular. It's one thing to plate something visually appealing, but I am always amazed by the way food is presented in some Japanese restaurants, such as this. They are truly works of art... literally edible art, and you can really appreciate the time that the sushi chef took to make the roll. I ordered the Diamond roll (tuna, yellowtail, cucumber, avocado with salmon on top), Fiona chose the Amy roll (tuna, salmon, yellow tail, spicy mayo, tempura flakes topped with avocado), and Rich got the Dynamite roll (tuna, fluke, scallion, caviar, cucumber with spicy scallop and tempura flakes). As for all of the rolls, I really enjoyed them all. I absolutely love the salmon sashimi on top, as it is one of my favorites and the crunchy cucumber with the soft fish and creamy avocado were wonderful with the wasabi dipping sauce, which I traditionally make a bit spicy. As for the most different, it was Rich's dynamite roll. His was partially cooked (the scallop top) and I'd never had it with sushi before. It was a bit ginormous to eat in one bite, but a big flavor roller coaster in your mouth!

Overall, the dinner was great. Here, I had the full sensory experience: Visually, olfactory, tasting, texturally, it was all appealing, which I believe takes a restaurant to a higher caliber/top-notch (change wording). And, it was not too expensive for a sushi night.

Pastis

9 Ninth Ave.

New York, NY 10014

(212) 929-4844

Pastis is set in the heart of possibly my favorite part of Manhattan- the Meatpacking District. It is like another world there, without the sardine can-like crowds and the cobblestone streets remind me of Europe and the old world. I love it and could spend a day in the little nook of the city people watching and staring at the lovely buildings and architecture. Anywho, Pastis, I feel is perfect for the area. The 1940's french themed bar and restaurant are precisely how I want to decorate my future kitchen! Fiona suggested that we go here- finally! We went with fellow foodie, Joe, and had a ball. It was very crowded and there was a wait, but nothing too complain about while we admired the decor. I was just excited that we were going to have brunch!

Coincidentally, the three of us wanted the same thing, so to change it up, I ordered the .... which are from the bakery, Balthazar owned by the same proprietors. I should have known it was a funny selection because of the waitress' questionable expression on her face and the fact that she said "you just want the pastry for brunch?" I thought nothing of it, of course, but then understood when my order came. My order consisted of a croissant, chocolate croissant, sticky bun, and orange brioche. For some reason when I ordered, I envisioned tiny bite-sized pastries, but no, it was an enormous bread basket, obviously made to share as a side dish. Either way, after I giggled at my order, I was very happy. Helloooo carbs! I was instantly transported to an outside boulangerie in Paris. Each pastry was sugary, sticky, flaky, and just as buttery as I'd hoped. I shared with Fiona and Joe and I think they had the same sentiments.

I also stole some of their Eggs a la Basquaise- the dish we all wanted originally (poached egg with polenta, peppers, onions, and prosciutto). We were all surprised by how small the serving was, when presented. However, it was lovely. The yolky egg and peppers were an excellent flavor combination. Very much like a breakfast-y sausage and peppers. But, towards the scraping of the plate at the end of the dish, the very obvious question came to be-- Where is the polenta?? I don't know if they were sleepy back there in the kitchen, but it certainly was not on the plate. Oh well!

To end, my sister and my dessert was poire au vin rouge or poached pears. Instantly, I thought of the winter holidays. Each bite of pear was very reminiscent of a mulled wine spiced with cloves. The pear was tender but not mushy and soaked in the flavorful wine. Quite yummy and a lovely light choice to end our brunch. Joe ate bananas foster, which was okay, but I'm not a big fan of bananas unless it is right out of its' peel. I will definitely go back here again as the other menus seem spectacular and it is a good excuse to go back to the meatpacking district... a pretty decent excuse, if you ask me!

The Odeon

145 West Broadway

New York, NY 10013

(212)233-0507

Going out for dinner is obviously very much a social event and The Odeon provided a great menu for my friends and I to dine on. Fiona, friend Joe, and I happened upon this place recently and determined that it would be the next spot for us to meet. So, with the three of us, Rich, Sal, and Kristin, we enjoyed a French Bistro-esque type meal. With all of us, we practically ordered half the dinner menu, and I felt very lucky to sample much of it! I think that's one of the great things about going out with larger groups- you get to taste a bunch of food. Sounds good to me!

I ordered the Country Frisee Salad, Angus Hangar Steak, and, if you've read my previous blogs, you won't be at all surprised to read that I ordered the Molten Chocolate Cake (I know, I know, I'll change my dessert choices, but I just love that gooey chocolate. Mmmmmm!).

The salad was simply seasoned with a vinaigrette and garnished with bacon lardons. It was absolutely delicious. The fatty bacon and lightly acidic dressing cut the tangy cheese so nicely and I wanted to lick up my plate. Except, I remembered that I should act like a lady and waited hungrily for the next course. Gladly, my friends came to the rescue and I was able to nosh on their appetizers which included a Warm Goat Cheese Salad, Baby Beet Salad, Spicy Chicken Dumplings, and Chicken liver mousse which was a special. They were all very tasty but if I chose a favorite of the three, it would be the beet salad.

Eventually, our entrees came and I was eager to dive in. My steak was cooked precisely as I'd ordered- medium and thinly cut into strips. I was admittedly taken aback by this presentation, as I was anticipating a whole cut of steak. However, that was soon forgotten because the combination of bearnaise sauce, fabulous confit potatoes and steak juices melded beautifully together. It was practically sublime and I did not have an ounce of regret with my choice. The only thing I was disappointed with was that I hoped for more. The portion was fair, but I definitely wanted a few more bites to savor.

Lastly, after good conversation and a few sly forkfuls of Rich's meal, the famously predicatable chocolate cake emerged. Now, I have to defend myself slightly because when we passed The Odeon, a couple weeks ago, there was an ice cream cart with a guy serving up some cones and we found out that they made their own ice cream. Therefore, even though I got the cake, I also was able to taste a very nice hazelnut ice cream served on the side. It was very smooth and creamy and had a nicely subtle hazelnut flavor which complimented the cake.

Overall, it was a very yummy experience and I also want to return to the area, which was littered with many restaurants I want to try. Another restaurant down, many more to visit!

Funchos

1166 West Main St.

Riverhead, NY 11901

(631) 369-7277

As soon as we pulled into the Funchos parking lot, I knew I would enjoy my meal. The tiny place (sits about 15 people inside and there are outside tables) was full in the middle of the afternoon and just the decor- orange, neon greens, and purples cover the walls- invited you to gorge on some messy, scrumptious food. Me and some girlfriends came here, famished after apple picking, at the request of my good friend Lianne; if she raves about a place, it must be worth it!! The menu is big, but trusty Lianne and sis, Fiona suggested 2 fantastic tacos for my meal...

I ordered the highly recommended Chili taco, Funchos style, and West Coast Fish taco with yellow rice and black beans. The first thing I noted before even tasting the food was the abundance of fresh vegetables on the tacos. No soupy salsa from a jar, but good old homemade chunky salsa. I ordered the Chili taco on a hard shell, Funchos style; in addition to lettuce, tomato, salsa, there is also sour cream, corn, olives, and jalapenos. That alone could make you feel good on a cold day. Eat 2 or 3 of them and you'd be satisfied. Eating it, a lovely mix of heat, spice, and coolness combined together for a nice lingering sensation on my taste buds.

I was also eagerly anticipating the West Coast fish taco, as my sister ate here once before and said it was the best one she's had outside of southern California. Those are some bold words and some big shoes to fill, so I ordered it with high expectations. If you've never had a fish taco, you are probably thinking, "Bite-Sized, you are one nutty person." But, fish tacos are actually an overwhelmingly popular fare in southern California and so amazingly tasty! They often come either fried or grilled. Looking at mine, it seemed like a standard white fish taco on a soft corn tortilla with the usual accouterments. However, the taste was far from ordinary or standard. The fish was not 'fishy' at all and was nicely fried, not oily, and stayed crunchy despite the jalapeno cream sauce on it. I think the corn tortilla brought it over the top. The flavors worked so well together and felt light at the same time, not too heavy where you are too stuffed from eating.

The last picture is one of my friend's burritos and she said it was delish! Overall, the meal was very satisfying and cheap! Now if I want a good fish taco, I know where to get it. There is also a relatively generous offering of drinks to quell the spice (Dos Equis, Coronitas) that came as a surprise, being such a small place. And there's a bonus! There just happens to be a great little ice cream place right next door, all homemade, and very creamy, with various unique and standard flavors. Many thanks to go to my friends who often suggest the places for my foodie adventures :O)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! Even when it's not the day, I am thankful always to be surrounded by loving family, friends, and given wonderful opportunities in life. Have a safe and fun day and I promise to put up a new post... I've been busy lately, but thanks to all who've been reading!

L&B Spumoni Gardens

2725 86th St.

Brooklyn, NY 11223

(718) 449-1230

Today I decided was the perfect time for me to post this blog because yesterday on "Man vs. Food" (Travel Channel), he was in Brooklyn and featured this wonderful eatery. It's fate-- who am I to mess with fate?

L&B is always full whether it's dinner time on Tuesday evening or you're hungry after a Saturday night out. There is outdoor seating for the pizzeria and indoor seating for the restaurant, which I intend on sampling from soon. I have been here many times, thanks to a certain someone, just for some pizza. When I first went to L&B a long long time ago, not even knowing the popularity of it all, I think I was actually just going, begrudgingly. I thought, 'what's so great about Sicilian pizza?' I never cared for it. I've always been a pepperoni and mushroom slice kinda girl. That is, until L&B!

The way they make their Sicilian, you'd want to hit yourself on the head-- it's so simple! It looks funny too, since the sauce is on top, but it's perfect: dough, layers of mozzarella, sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes, and a healthy dusting of Parmesan. To be honest though, if I attempted cooking it, I would still swear that L&B is better. I absolutely adore it and just thinking about it, even if I just polished off a whole pie to myself, would make me hungry for more. It is not overly doughy or chewy and has a nice amount of saltiness and tart from the tomato sauce, with yummy gooeyness from the cheese.

If you're ever in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, make L&B a priority stop!

The Palm Restaurant

250 West 50th Street

New York, NY 10019

(212) 333-7256

Yearning for an excellent steak, I entered The Palm with very high expectations. It is another chain, just like Morton's but I let that slide. The decor is modern meets Tommy Bahama. Very southern Florida-esque and not too snooty. There are caricatures that paint the walls with famous people who have visited the eatery. And, apparently anyone can get their face up on the wall- with the stipulation that you join the Palm's 'club' and by earning a certain amount of points you, too, can be staring at patron's as they devour their steak!

Anywho, with a coupon that was mailed to my boyfriend, we were more easily able to afford dinner here. Otherwise I'd probably ONLY be eating the steak and then saying my goodbye's to the waiter. However, with the coupon, though limited menu choices, we were able to have a lovely full course meal with wine and have a pretty good opinion of the restaurant. I started with the Lobster bisque, and while I normally love the stuff (yes, despite my odd relationship with seafood), it really did not impress me. My boyfriend, however, loved it and thought it was the most amazing lobster bisque he's had. Maybe I've just been eating cheap lobster bisque all my life? Moving on to my entree, I ended up with NY Strip and we shared sides of sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes. The sauteed spinach, first of all was to die for! I am a huge believer in Ina Garten's theory that good quality food made simply can often be the best. This was precisely the spinach. It was fresh and perfectly seasoned with loads of garlic and salt. Ces't Magnifique! The potatoes on the other hand, while good were nothing to delight over.

Now let's see how the steak measures up- and if you haven't noticed by now, I take terrible pictures, so please, let's remember that old adage our mom's told us, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I took my first bite and knew that I had found it. And, I will readily admit that my NY strip was much better than the Filet Mignon that my boyfriend ordered. I actually have always found it rather interesting that many people believe Filet Mignon is the best cut; and while I have also thought so, sometimes I feel mislead, as there are many other wonderfully tasty cuts of steak, i.e., my NY strip! It was perfectly fatty and unbelievably scrumptious with a magnificent crusty char on the outside and juiciness on the inside. I have found the answer to my steak yearnings! It was a nicely sized portion too, as I needed to (happily) save the rest for leftovers. I ended my scrumptious meal with something I'd been wanting to try- macerated strawberries with reduced balsamic. The balsamic, reduced to a thick syrupy consistency became sweet and the tartness of the strawberries pared nicely.

I was so satisfied with my meal, I will be happy to oblige another trip to the Palm in the near future! Oh yeah, the one bad thing to this story- an apparent aura of Alzheimer's-like symptoms overcame me with a food coma and I forgot to put my leftovers in the fridge. My mistake was sadly realized the next morning. I hope you're happy, garbage can! You just got a really good meal in there!

Cafe Espanol

172 Bleecker St

New York, NY 10012

(212) 505-0657

Spain has some remarkably complexly flavored, yet simple, savory food made with exceptional flair. Fortunately, because my Grandma lives in Spain, I've had the opportunity to experience some of the amazing culture and beautiful cuisine. Cafe Espanol has instilled great excitement in me that outside of Spain, there IS great Spanish food. Wonderful food and service is what you will experience here.

Ordinarily when I read something, it needs to be incredibly interesting or else my attention span, already unfortunately short, will quickly turn to something else. However, when I read menus, sometimes you can't budge my attention. At Cafe Espanol, I was blessed with that experience. First of all, when tapas are offered, how can you NOT peruse through each and every item?? I love reading through, salivating and wondering what my meal could potentially be, based on the menu. After a very difficult decision, the tapas I ordered was Chorizo Salteado. It was EXCELLENT. The saltiness of the sausage and sweetness from the peppers and onions permeated the sauce, which was wonderful to mop up with with crusty bread. I could have eaten that all night, to be honest. I only chose one tapas since the others also ordered some (which is typical of a tapas-style restaurant). One other tapas of note was the Tortilla Espanol, a Spanish omelet with potatoes. In Spain, many restaurants devoted to serving tapas and no other main dish, so of course, I would have been happy sampling the tiny appetizers throughout the evening picturing myself in the country, but tonight we all ordered a main course instead.

My boyfriend, as you can see in the picture, ordered a lobster dish and he loved it. I got the Paella Valenciana. This was a big step for me as paella is a saffron rice dish with chicken but primarily filled with a variety of seafood. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, seafood is not my forte, but I want it to be a part of my diet, so I bit the bullet. What happened next was a revelation: I LIKE most seafood! I still don't like shrimp, but the clams, mussels, and scallops were lovely as they were scented with the broth of the dish. There was also an abundance of food- I was given my plate plus a pot-full of more paella. I was generally satisfied, as it was a good choice and one that I am happy I made. It only makes me want to go to Barcelona and experience paella over there!

Morton's Steakhouse

Morton's Steakhouse

551 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(212) 972-3315

(Multiple locations throughout the country)

I'm on the hunt for meat! Steak to be specific! I was eagerly anticipating my visit to Morton's, as it seemed a legendary place to eat some great steak. Hopefully the franchise will live up to my expectations...

I went here for a surprise proposal party, so of course, a fun evening with friends was going to be had. Upon entering the restaurant, it was a dark vibe and quite smaller than I had expected. Either way, the crowd appeared lively and I remained excited to eat.

Because we were here for a private party, the menu was practically pre-determined; choose your appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert from one or two selections. I was rather surprised when deciding what to order for my appetizer because there were only seafood choices: Broiled Sea Scallops, Colossal Shrimp Alexander, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. Being a relative newbie to most seafood I was forced to choose the broiled sea scallops with bacon, as I unfortunately still do not like shrimp (I'm trying though!) and I didn't care to know what Alexander had to do with it! Reluctantly, I tried my selection and was actually quite surprised. Even though my scallop tasting history is scarce, I thought that these were very well cooked and paired nicely with the saltiness of the bacon. Satisfied, I was hoping for a lovely steak to follow. Unfortunately, my filet mignon was not as tasty as I'd hoped. I really hoped for something that would 'hit the spot,' but it tasted rather ordinary. It was not as juicy or lip-smacking as I'd hoped. Sides were also standard- potatoes and asparagus; didn't make me jump for joy. Oh well, I can always rely on dessert, right? I ordered the Morton's legendary hot chocolate cake- you know, the stuff with the gooey inside. I quickly forgot about my dinner and enjoyed the company I was with. With that said, I will not lie- my edible hopes were dashed Maybe you can't turn into a franchise and truly maintain quality.... will I ever find the Great Steak?

The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant

709 North Harbor Blvd

Fullerton, CA

(714) 871- 7447

I was a bit skeptical when my dad said that we were going to eat at a British place. I thought, British food.. in California?! For some reason, it just seemed odd to me, but The Olde Ship was a lovely place and makes you think you just stepped into a pub on the corner in London. The vibe was very much akin to a true pub, not a dingy bar where you feel uncomfortable and people are spilling their drinks on you. I recommend going to the website and reading about what a real pub is because they have a great description on their menu. My pictures of the menu are a bit difficult to read.

Their food was very tasty, hearty, and abundant. I ate the Cornish pasty which is a light, flaky pastry filled with ground meat and different vegetables. The traditional usually calls for ground meat, but at this restaurant, the filling is with chunks of beef. I know that many people would tend to favor hunks of meat, but I was slightly disappointed as I expected and prefer the old-school way. My Cornish pasty was also covered in brown gravy which kind of banished my hopes for crunchy pastry. All in all, it was certainly not a bad meal, it was actually very flavorful and savory, but I guess when you are so used to one way, it's hard to stray from the familiar.

One awesome thing about the Olde Ship is that they serve their huge selection of beers in actual pint-sized glasses! This statement probably sounds funny, but sometimes when you ask for a pint in some bars, believe it or not, the glass is deceptively not a pint!

It was a grand "olde" (<-- ha ha I crack me up!) time at The Olde Ship and a nice place for some British type fare in SoCal.

Max's Resturant

Please note, I will not normally write up on chain restaurants, but this was an exception. I visited the Max's in Puente Hills Mall in California. Multiple locations in Philippines, California, and Hawaii.

At long last! A Filipino restaurant! Unfortunately where I live, there is not a lot of Filipino cuisine unless you want to drive 45 minutes away. Luckily, my mom is an excellent cook and exposed my family to great Filipino cuisine. But, if you do not feel like cooking and happen to be in southern California, Max's is the place to go. SoCal is brimming with many cultures, including my mom's native, Philippines. At Max's, a chain establishment, they offer traditional Filipinodishes to give a taste of the homeland.

The best way I can describe the food is homey (probably because it was a big part of my childhood), rustic, and nutritious; containing fresh ingredients and a mostly simple preparation. I attribute these characteristics to the food primarily because of the influence of the land and surroundings of the Philippines-- aka there's lots of fish, rice, and fresh fruits and veggies. So the locals subsist on the land/sea- like most other cultures. Okay, at the risk of sounding like a cheesy school essay, I will stop my tangent now.

Max's was great! First of all, the service was great and the native Filipino wait staff were so friendly; apparently, and I am not making this up, (I swear!), Filipinos are known to be friendly people and I would tend to agree. Secondly, I was dying to go to Max's because my family had already gone there and raved about the chicken. "Oh my goodness you MUST try the chicken!" "It's so good and crunchy!" Needless to say, I had to order it. My meal was a combination, "Max's Platter:" Max's chicken, Pancit Canton, and garlic fried rice. Ahhh, the ubiquitous rice! It is just not a Filipinomeal without the rice. My mom ordered the soup, Sinigang sa Miso and my sister ordered another combination, "Max's Budget:" Max's chicken, Lumpia, and rice. For dessert, my mom and I ordered the Halo Halo. Because many people are unfamiliar with Filipino fare, I will describe each component one by one. It is worth it, trust me!

It only seems appropriate to start with the much raved about chicken. Max's apparently does not like to leave any stomach full, so as a result, they serve you a quarter chicken and, of course, mounds of rice. The chicken was so simply prepared, I was actually stunned. To be honest, I was expecting something like Paula Deen would make: pounds of buttermilk and flour drowning the chicken so you can't find it. But this poultry would put that to shame, as Max's chicken was delicately seasoned and fried. As a matter of fact, it was quite reminiscent of my mom's Sunday roast. I was in my happy place. It was remarkably moist all over and just so darn tasty! Absolutely incredible! I now know what everyone was making such a fuss over and completely agree with them.

The Pancit Canton that accompanied my meal was not as memorable as the chicken, but also quite tasty. Basically Pancit is Philippines' answer to China's, lo mein. Pancit is a noodle dish with assorted vegetables, pork, and shrimp all stir fried to make a lovely mixture. Canton means egg noodles, and mine were a bit over done which I was disappointed about because, to me, that is the best part. However, a dash of lemon or lime juice surely takes the dish to new heights and made me forget about the sogginess. I will say, though, my mom's Pancit still reigns as number 1 in my book.

My sister's combination included the Lumpia. It is another food that many will find familiar in some aspects: the Filipino version of spring rolls. Max's was filled with the traditional pork and various vegetables. The Lumpia was nicely fried and the filling was good, but of course I was subconsciously comparing it to my mom's. Although the crunchiness was impressive, it does not stand a chance against my mom's! Did I mention she is a phenomenal cook??

The Sinigang sa Miso is a tamarind flavored soup. Well, actually, that is just Sinigang; broth and then you choose what protein you would like. The 'sa Miso' means milkfish, a flaky, mild fish. Sinigang is sour, which happens to be a very popular taste found in Filipino fare. The soup is also chock- full of vegetables. This was probably the most 'exotic' (depending on how you view food) food we ordered, as there was a whole fish in the soup. Some westerners may view this as unconventional, when the reality is, most of the world eats the WHOLE fish and it is actually kind of cool seeing the whole thing there in the bowl. I have had Sinigang before and while it was tasty, it was a bit too tangy for me to help finish off. Now, you remember how I said Max's does not like to leave you hungry? Well, this soup was enormous. There was enough for three of us and leftovers.

Finally, the Halo Halo topped off our meal, and even though I was full, I am so happy I had it. First of all, it has been one of my all time favorite desserts which literally means, "Mix-Mix." When it is made at home, it is more fun and it can be made with more of one ingredient than another, but Max's rendition was still just as good. It is a concoction filled with, among many things, shaved ice, macapuno (young coconut), langka (jackfruit), ube (purple yam), caramel custard, tapioca, beans... Now, your eyes are probably huge and you are amazed that all of that can be in a dessert. And I know what you are thinking. "Beans?! How absurd!" But, trust me people, this is why it is so exciting and enlivening to try another cuisine. The beans in the Halo Halo practically MAKE the dessert. The flavor combination and endless textures are out of this world and to die for, especially if you have a sweet tooth.

Max's was certainly a taste of home. Better yet, it was a lingering delight on my palate, leaving me wanting more Filipino food!

P.S. These pictures do not do the food justice, but I hope you enjoy them anyway!

Fushimi

9316 4th Ave (btwn 93rd & 94th)

Brooklyn, NY 11209

(718) 833-7788

An additional location is in Staten Island

Set in the heart of the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn is a Japanese/ French fusion-type restaurant with your basic Bento boxes and also various combinations of sushi rolls. Dark lighting and modern architecture naturally create a mysterious aura and intimate atmosphere with the people at your table. Friendly and helpful service from wait staff provides a comforting experience. Typically, I do not favor chain restaurants, however, Fushimi exceeded my expectations with fresh fare and good service.

We were recommended this place by a friend and he mentioned the large cocktail selection with delicious mixed drinks. I had the Lychee Champagne, a refreshing and light cocktail with a garnish of lychee, which I loved. A nice balance of sweetness and bubbles cut the sharpness of the vodka.

I commenced dinner with the 'Amazing Crunchy Calamari' which were panko-breaded calamari, fried, and served with a dipping sauce that tasted like sweet duck sauce, with hints of jalapeno and sesame seeds for added crunch. It was delicious and a surprising spin on your standard fried calamari. For my entree I asked the waitress to suggest which roll to choose from ~3 that I selected from the menu. I find that, in many places, the staff or surrounding patrons are often the best measure of what to order. It definitely worked in my favor! I choose the Sunset Blvd roll: yellow tail, salmon, and spicy tuna with avocado and tempura flakes on a bed of plum sauce. Lately, I have gone on a trying-something-new kick, as, I believe, a normal foodie should be; take that risk and hopefully will enjoy what you select. Well, I was happily surprised. With the saltiness and slight heat of the wasabi-soy dipping sauce (standard sushi accompaniment), the delicate sweetness of the plum, and crunchiness of the roll, there was a lovely balance of flavor and textures with each bite. I thoroughly enjoyed my roll and my mouth is watering as I reminisce! My boyfriend had a chicken terriyaki- shrimp tempura Bento box with a side of shrimp shumai, which, while standard, was also delicious. Between my appetizer and entree, it was a perfect amount of food for dinner and I left Fushimi completely satiated! Side note: Fushimi does offer a tasting menu which is recommended and Zagat rated. It is approximately $70pp so bring your appetite!

Maroni Cuisine

18 Woodbine Avenue

Northport, NY 11768

(631) 757-4500

So, I had always heard about Maroni's: not only from word-of-mouth, but of course, through the Food Network's, Throwdown with Bobby Flay- Meatballs. Maroni's has been featured for their meatballs and I have heard nothing but good things about them, so one day, as my boyfriend and I were walking through Northport village one night, we became hungry. We both wanted to eat outside since many of the restaurants offer such seating and it was also such a lovely night out. We passed Maroni's, which was full, but ...long story short, we got lucky and were seated in the outside section!

First thoughts were that it reminded me of an ally in Little Italy; very quaint and utterly romantic. But, it is also conducive for a fun night with a group. Of course, I knew about the tasting menu, but that night, we were both not starving, so instead of spending ~$150pp (Cash or check only) on their tasting menu, which I WILL do one day, we just went a la carte.

For an appetizer, I had the salad, which was a simple mesculin salad with shaved ricotta salata. The vinaigrette was wonderful- I don't typically pick standard vinaigrette, however, this was acidic, yet sweet and was perfect with the salata. My boyfriend ordered the baked clams oreganata. Now, clams are not my favorite, but I can't stop raving enough about these! They were crunchy and delectable, but not overly stuffed with breadcrumbs that you tasted a mouthful of dryness. These clams were still moist and tasty. Scrumptious! For our entrees, my boyfriend ordered a three-cheese-type pasta, which was delicious and the pasta was truly al dente. If you have not had truly al dente pasta before, please do! It really makes a difference to your pasta meal. As for me, I had to get the much raved about, Spaghetti and Meatballs. It was in a wonderfully light tomato sauce. The meatballs were not too heavy and simply garnished with basil. An even better treat (which most people might not do): the leftovers were equally as spectacular as the flavors melded together even more. To drink, we had Cabernet Sauvignon, which complimented my meal wonderfully.

Finally for dessert, I had a chocolate souffle (surprised?) with an oozing center of chocolate. Essentially, it was simple but a chocolate lovers dream. It was a fabulous way to end an even more fabulous dinner.

Side note: Seating is limited as it this is a teeny, tiny restaurant, so I would call in a reservation. Also, there is no menu, your options are tasting menu (approximately 20? various bite-sized nibbles for your palate- bring your appetite!) or a la carte, which the waitress or waiter expertly details for you.

Kitchenette

156 Chambers St (btwn Hudson St & Broadway)

New York, NY 10007

(212) 267-6740

Kitchenette is a cute little restaurant located in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Manhattan. It drips with charm with eccentric decor-- the tables are old doors and is a great place to meet with friends after a night out. They do serve lunch and dinner, but we came here for brunch, which seemed to be many other people's idea.

I ordered the Bridgehampton- silver dollar pancakes with fruit and yogurt. It was not a risky choice, but it suited me just fine. The pancakes were served with some type of strawberry butter. Now, normally I just push the butter off my pancakes because I think it's just plain weird, but oh my goodness this butter was spectacular! Syrup was not necessary due to the sweetness of the butter, but if you mixed the two together, it was heavenly. The butter concoction had just a slight hint of berry and touch of saltiness and was freshly made. If you put this butter on steak, I would probably eat it. Anyway, I'll stop being obsessive about the butter, because the other food was great too! I sampled some of my sister's fare- the Mixed Berry pancakes (scrumptious) and friend, Joe's, Breakfast enchiladas. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the enchiladas, as it was a mix of charred poblano peppers, cheddar, and topped with creamy avocado. The only thing that did not agree with my tastebuds were the accompanying potatoes. Now that I think about it, I should have put the strawberry butter on them...

Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant

7315 3rd Ave(btwn 73rd St & 74th St)

Brooklyn, NY 11209

(718) 836-1512

Yippee! I convinced my boyfriend to eat indian food for the first time and since I do not know of any places in Brooklyn, we just googled and found this place. Because it was his first time, I did not order anything too complex and stuck with my usual 'safety dishes:' vegetable samosas, chicken tikka masala, vegetable korma (vegetable stew in a cream sauce), and chicken biryani. All relatively harmless for beginners. Unfortunately, Taj Mahal was just standard, in my view; nothing spectacular. We did have a slight mishap, which I won't discuss as it is nothing to write about, but the staff was consistently gracious throughout our dining experience and attended to our needs. Overall, I thought the dishes lacked the spice and vibrant kick that you expect with a mouthful of curry. But, I will say, ironically, for that reason, Taj Mahal was a good choice since I was with a first-timer. Let's just label this is the Starter indian restaurant.

Quercy Restaurant

242 Court St

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(718) 243-2151

Since it was Brooklyn's restaurant week, many places were offering prix fixe menus. Quercy is a relatively small eatery and every table was full and lively with conversation. Here, the prix fixe was 3 courses for $23- not a price to complain about. Unfortunately, the same can not be said about the staff, who were slow and inefficient, to be quite frank. Anyway, lets talk food.

Starting, I ate goat cheese wrapped in puff pastry with salad greens. I thought that the warm goat cheese salad was relatively good. There was a housemade dressing on the side, which did not seem to complement the salad as a whole, so i did not use it too much. Basically it tasted like buttermilk-ranch dressing. However, the goat cheese was scrumptious... well, let's face it, anything wrapped in pastry is divine! The Coq Au Vin was relatively okay and was accompanied by a side of buttered green beans or, 'haricot vert'. It is a traditional french dish, meaning chicken cooked in wine. I expected much more vegetables in my stew, but I cannot complain about the quantity of chicken. Unfortunately, the stew seemed to be lacking something, though I could not pin-point what was missing. As for my dessert, I was very happy. The chocolate cake was flourless and decadent! Very chocolatey and a dense cake who would make any chocolate lover happy. I sampled some of my fellow diner's food: the chicken in a mustard sauce was excellent. The chicken was moist and the mustard sauce was not overpowerful, yet creamy and pungent enough to have a lasting taste on your tastebuds. Also, the scalloped potatoes were creamy, cheesy, and buttery. What more can you ask for in a potato?

I drank House wine and it was very good red wine. It was notable, as it came in a wine bottle where the label seemed to have braille on it; never saw that before. Definitely not a bad drink of choice, especially for house wine.

Overall the food was decent. I really wanted to try the beef bourguinon but it was not part of the prix fixe menu. Maybe I would go back and try that next time especially if the service changes. Hopefully it was just an 'off' night for the wait staff and next time they will be a bit more speedy with the service. Overall, the food was quite lovely.

Mama Mexico

2 locations in Manhattan and 1 in New Jersey

Are you looking for a loud, lively scene? Well, vamos a Mama Mexico's! Mama Mexico offers a large selection of Mexican fare, with more than just your standard burrito and taco. However, this place is usually crowded with large parties and a mariachi band with over-sized guitars and sombreros! So, if you're expecting a fine Mexican meal, this might not be the best start. I have sampled many items including various enchiladas which are good, but not mind-blowing. I will, however, rave on and on about the guacamole. It is house-made at your table, which adds to the already chaotic scene, with a mortar and pestle. The creamy avocado is suddenly a memory with the medium blast of heat. It is perfect to wash down with their sangria. Portions are plentiful here and whether the food really wakes up your palette or not, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a great time with friends!

Dawat

(212) 355-7555

210 E. 58th St (58th & 2nd)

New York, NY 10022

Indian food has played a big part in my childhood...thankfully. My father, hailing from England always cooked his 'Saturday night curry' and slowly introduced my sister and me to this excitingly mystical cuisine. I think that many people are intimidated by the strong aromas and spices that are not commonly used in western cuisine, but really it makes for some flavorful food.

Dawat (pronounced, Da-vut) was an excellent representation of Indian food. Owned by Madhur Jaffrey, cookbook writer and winner of several James Beard awards for cookbooks, this restaurant offers a varied selection of Indian dishes. Often times, dishes are shared, or, 'family style.' My group and I ordered vegetable samosa appetizers, lamb and chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, and naan. All entrees were very tasty and with a good amount of spice. I often get samosas at Indian restaurants because any type of pastry stuffed with potatoes and veggies is bound to be yummy. These samosas were excellent, as expected, but they were on the small side, as were the entrees- really the only complaint I have. The lamb and chicken biryani's are essentially meat and rice. The meat, in both dishes, was tender and juicy in comparison to the al dente rice (can rice be al dente?... oh well, I'll go with it!). It was a nice marriage of textures. Finally, the masala, which is similar to stew: bite sized pieces of chicken swimming in a creamy, spiced tomato broth, was delicious and comforting. It is the perfect dish to mop up with fluffy naan bread, especially with the sudden heat that arises after a bite or two.

I was certainly happy with the meal and my company- my cousin and his girlfriend were visiting my sister and I, from the west coast! I would definitely return here, especially to sit in the back of the restaurant where you can view chefs cooking at the tandoors (ovens commonly used in middle eastern cuisine). Now, if only I can hop on a plane and get to India my experience should be complete...

ColYUMbian...

Okay, so unfortunately with this posting, I clearly don't have the name of the restaurant or location. The reason for this is that by the time I wrote the post, I had completely forgotten the name. The best I could do was this: it is located somewhere on W. Waters Avenue and Armenia Avenue in Tampa, Florida. Luckily my dad told me this. I feel very sad that I can not share the precise location, as this restaurant was an absolute gem!!! Ironically, I remembered everything that I ate. I guess you could say it left an impression on my palate. For the sake of everyone's sanity, let's just call this place, "ColYUMbian." HaHaHa I crack myself up!

"ColYUMbian" place was a true hole-in-the wall!!! But, these places usually have the tastiest, most authentic cuisine. Also, it's not filled with tourists, but the people of the culture! We were practically the only one's who spoke english. I loved it! I felt like I was in Colombia! The staff was SUPER friendly, helpful and always greeted with a smile on their face. Always appreciated!!!

If I had one word to describe the food at "ColYUMbian," it would be 'rustic.' Nothing was overdone, just food cooked from the heart, just how I like it. I ordered the half chicken with fried plantains, white rice, and beans. The beans were so tasty and wonderfully authentic! They were chock-full of shredded pork and perfectly seasoned. I would probably be happy eating that with rice for dinner! The chicken was good, in some parts a little dry, but it had good intentions with great seasoning and a perfect match with the plantains (another thing I could eat singularly for dinner). I sampled pork rinds that came with my mom's entree, and that was also amazing--fresh, crispy, and goooood pork fat and flavor. Who doesn't like pork rinds??

I would certainly go back here. The portions are monstrous and your stomach will be happily satiated for a long while, so expect to bring home leftovers. I have eaten Colombian food before in more fancy places, but this restaurant was much more authentic and the experience felt much more truly Colombian. I was overwhelmingly satisfied!

Boizao

4606 W Boy Scout Blvd

Tampa, FL 33607

(813) 286-7100

If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse (often known as a Churrascaria), this is an excellent start. First of all, they are fun, lively, and just plain different, compared to standard dining. I love them! If you have been before, Boizao will surely meet your expectations, as it did mine. Basically, they give you a 2-sided dic, one side green, one side red. When you want the meat-servers to come to your table, you turn the disc to the green side. When you need a break, you turn it to the red side. Beautifully cooked meat comes to your table on a large skewer and they cut off the amount of meat you would like.

Here at Boizao, staff was extremely helpful and quick. The meat was served hot, which can be difficult at some churrascarias considering all of the tables they need to visit. It was tender, and extremely juicy. They are masters of their craft. The various meats (chicken, beef, lamb, pork) are served with mashed potatoes and fried bananas. The rest of the meal comes from a freshly and high-quality stocked buffet, filled with various cold meats and cheeses, lettuces, fresh vegetables, rice, beans, and surprisingly, even sushi. You WILL leave the place VERY full and VERY pleased!!! Finally, I somehow had room for dessert and ate the chocolate souffle. It was decadent and they used good chocolate. I could not complain a bit!

The restaurant was quiet in the beginning, but the expansive space began to fill up by 7pm and made the atmosphere more lively. It was my sister and my birthday dinner and they brought us out an extra dessert AND sang for us a version of happy birthday in their native Portuguese. It was so lively and fun and everyone at the restaurant was clapping to the song. One of the best renditions of happy birthday I've ever had sung to me! You will not be disappointed. The beautifully simple decor, kind staff, and excellent food were something to beam about.

Salud

142 Beekman St

New York, NY 10038 (btwn Front & South St)

(212) 566-2220

Stepping into this small restaurant, you're immediately greeted by the sounds of Latin America. Going with this theme, the lattice trim and white paint with contrasting wood floors solidified my out-of-world experience, sort of being in Cuba. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Even better? My food!

Instead of the standard bread on the table, fried Plantains were served in place of, with a spicy bean dip. VERY addicting. The spiciness of the dip hits you almost like a sudden thought and accompanied the plaintains nicely. We ordered from the prixe fix menu which was a great idea since we were in a big group. It turned out to be similar to a tapas bar where many small appetizers are ordered for everyone to share. I chose the Cubanito (Cuban sandwich), Yuca Frita (fried yuca with a garlic-type topping), Piononos (plantains with beef and monterey jack cheese), and Anticuchos (steak with chimichurri).

The Breakdown--

The Cubanito was spectacular- beyond words! It was excellent! I've only recently become obsessed with cuban sanwiches and this one was divine. The unexpected burst of pickle in your mouth is a nice surprise with the saltiness of the meat and cheese. If you've never had fried yuca before, you should try it. It is a root vegetable, just like potatoes. The starchiness of the yuca paired with the salty-sweet garlic was also yummy. It's an exciting twist on french fries. The Piononos were different, but I had to try it when I read it on the menu because I knew the flavors would be great. It was lovely- sweet, salty, and a nice texture combination. Who knew that a plantain would be a nice pairing with beef? Finally, I have recently become a big chimichurri (a parsley- based sauce often accompanying grilled meat) fan, so when I saw Anticuchos on the menu, I had to order it. It definitely was tasty, but unfortunately, I became too full to completely enjoy it. Don't you hate that?

The only complaint I had was the rice pudding I ordered for dessert. It was served with a caramel liquor which made it overly sweet (I tend to enjoy savory dishes over sweet ones).

Now, typically I don't comment on my drinks, but here I drank Sangria which was probably one of the best Sangria's I've tried. It was not too sweet and was choc-full of various fruits. Super refreshing! Also, they kindly served complimentary Mango shots, which were delicious (didn't really have any alcohol, but I did not care! Mango is one of my favorite things!).

My overall impression is that Salud is a bit pricey but definitely worth the trip to try something new aside from your general 'mexican' 'italian' or 'chinese' fare that many people seem to opt for these days.