Showing posts with label FoodCrushFriday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FoodCrushFriday. Show all posts

#FoodCrushFriday-Lafayette


After months of whining that I haven't had an opportunity to try out Andrew Carmellini's new restaurant, Lafayette, I finally talked some old coworkers into going for our usual get together. It didn't hurt to further my point that we also used to go to the Dutch all the time and my one former coworker loves anything French! The experience to unfold below is why they're my #FoodCrushFriday this week.


Don't even get me started on how cute this place is and the inviting ambiance of the space. If you bring a date here, they will be impressed. We began with Marinated Olives to nosh on and complimentary freshly baked bread, which was gone pretty quickly. What I also liked about this experience is that the staff is well versed not only on the menu (one coworker had a lactose allergy), but also the wines by the glass, to step in when the sommelier is busy. We were able to taste a couple that were recommended, so that we were happy with our final choice. 


After much debate, I decided on the seasonal Roasted Squash with Ricotta Ravioli, with Apple Mustard and Sage. One of the selling points for me was that the pasta is made on site. The chunks of squash combined with the ravioli filling and unique combination of the mustard, made this a perfect choice for the Fall. 

My one friend went for the Dry-Aged Strip Steak Frites, with Bearnaise Butter because he was craving meat and the fries came highly recommended. They did not disappoint and the portion was quite large. 

Because of her allergy and help from our server to decipher what on the menu she could have, she opted for the Atlantic Cod with Roasted Peppers, Chorizo and Basil. The red sauce created a more hearty spread than is usual with white fish dishes. The cod flaked perfectly.

There were too many great dessert options, so we chose two. Had I known the dessert menu changed so often, I would've take a screenshot to correctly name the above dessert, but I didn't! The above was a grapefruit dessert with elements of crushed sorbet, merengue and seeds. Its function is primarily as a palate cleanser. It was very refreshing, citrusy, and light. 

Secondly, we sampled the Chocolate Coupe with Chocolate Ice Cream, Ginger Beer Gelee, and Cocoa Nib Chantilly. Because of one of the diner's allergy, the sundae was served to us deconstructed so that everyone could have some. Their accommodation took their service above and beyond the norm and we were definitely grateful. Lastly, we were given complimentary chai tea marshmallows. 


Overall, this was just a lovely dining experience and I want to also try their brunch, which also came highly recommended. Lafayette is perfect for a night out with family or friends, a business dinner, or anyone you might have reason to impress. Have you eaten at Lafayette? Do you agree with its #FoodCrushFriday title? Let me know your thoughts!




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#FoodCrushFriday-Park Avenue Winter




When I walked into Park Avenue Winter, I was dismayed to find that it was no longer Autumn! Were we no longer in the Fall season?! Not only that, but I was also informed that there were no warm cocktails on the menu on this frigid rainy still technically Autumn day. Troy, the mixologist the day we went in, made up for it by making me a Hot Toddy off the menu, and the following dining experience made this my #FoodCrushFriday.


The bar is lined with fresh ingredients, an indication of the quality of ingredients that go into the seasonal cocktails.



We started our meal with a complimentary bread dish. The caliber of this bread had set the bar so high that I could only imagine how the rest of the meal was going to be! The bread had a crispy exterior and soft and luscious interior, and was topped with a pinch of rosemary and salt, which made all the difference. One of the staff members, Oscar, had to come over to see what I was eating because it looked like I was "having a moment." He was surprised that it was just the bread, but for me that is typical!


What's great about dining with friends is that you can get more food! We decided to start with the Crispy Octopus and Black Chickpeas Salad, which was dressed with Burnt Caramel Vinaigrette and Lemon Preserve. As someone who cannot really handle anything spicy, I must warn you that there is a kick to this salad, but it's bearable. The octopus, which was a good size and texture, was flavorful and paired well with the chickpeas.


The Hot Toddy, which went down far too smoothly, needed to be followed up with another beverage before our next course. With Troy leading my choices, I decided to try the Road to Jericho, a delightful mixture of Vodka, Pomegranate Molasses, Fig and Orange Blossom. This concoction lasted me the rest of my meal! It's also served like art with a dried fig and pomegranate seeds atop a copper mug.


We moved onto our second course and the reason we came in for lunch, the Park Avenue Burger, served, "In 'n Out Style." This is one of few offerings only available during the daytime. I have read the countless reviews for this burger and have tried burgers at multiple locations, including, In-N-Out Burger, so I can see the sentiment for the positioning of the burger. However, my expectations were skewed and I didn't like the burger as much as I would've because of the description. Don't get me wrong, the burger was the bees knees, cooked perfectly with an array of fresh toppings. I just would've liked the bun to be less brioche to fit into that particular style of burger I anticipated. 


We then moved on to what would become my favorite part of the meal, the Everything-crusted Branzino, with Smoked Cream Cheese and Pickled Onions. We figured this is Park Avenue Winter's take on a bagel with lox. Mission accomplished! The crispiness of the everything crust with the flakiness of the fish and layer of cream cheese sauce on the bottom was everything! The pickled onions also added a great acidity to the dish and a welcome flavor combination. I finished this course and looked back on the experience with fondness!


As we were waiting for the dessert that Troy insisted we have despite being quite satiated, I got a glimpse of the Take Three; Bourbon, Nutmeg-muddled Blackberry, Maple Syrup and Lemon. A night cap I will need to have when I don't have to get work done after the meal! The presentation was absolutely flawless. I can see how this fits into the winter category because all it needed was a bow to be the type of present I'd want under my tree!


We ended on a sweet note with the Winter White Sundae. We were informed that the lunch portion is smaller than the dinner portion, which we couldn't fathom considering how rich and decadent this amount was! The dessert is comprised of Popcorn Ice Cream with a Coconut and White Mocha Sauce that is poured on table side that you can add more of if you'd like. The combination might not be traditional, but that's what I liked about it. The flavors worked together in perfect harmony.


Overall, this place is like a winter wonderland. I loved coming here for the seasons when it was up on 60th Street, and I know I'll love coming back now. The decor and ambiance is quite magical, as are the food and cocktails. Don't even get me started on how personable the staff is and how I want to BFF with every one of them. We got a sneak peek at the dinner menu and already racked up a list of items we need to try/ a reason to come back and put in our bestie applications.


So go to Park Avenue Winter and let me know what you think. Do you agree with my breakdown and the # FoodCrushFriday title?  Also, if you go into the bathroom, don't forget to look up!

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#FoodCrushFriday- Alder

Last month I finally got a chance to check out Alder. It might've been the announcement of the closing of WD~50 and the fact that I would never get there that motivated me, but regardless of the reason, I got there and it was amazing.

We started our meal off with a bevi, and opted for the Bartlett & Jaymes, a delightful concoction of  Pimm's, pears, rum and apple brandy, served with a fun paper straw in a fun cup. The cocktail lasted our entire meal!


We ordered a bunch of small plates and ended up ordering one more because we were still hungry! We were first served Shrimp on Shrimps, ruby red shrimp, on a bed of green papaya salad on a shrimp cracker, topped with peanuts. The dish was very light and refreshing for the first course.


The Toasted Honey Bread sounded like a heavy dish, but very much like the Shrimp on Shrimps was very light as well. This was a perfect fall dish with the uni-pumpkin and sunflower.

The Rye Pasta with shaved pastrami was my favorite dish of the night. The flavors melded perfectly together and I probably could've eaten three more dishes of it.


For our final dish we opted out of dessert and went for one more savory dish. We were between the "Pigs in a Blanket" and Eggplant Ribs and I guess you can tell which one we went with. The Chinese sausage with Japanese mustard, and sweet chili sauce took a usual cocktail appetizer and elevated it to be more of a sophisticated but still tasty dish. It also made me plan in my head when I would be back to try the other dishes I didn't get to.

Overall, this experience was great. The ambiance and decor is great for a girly get together or date. I think I even saw a business dinner there when we visited. The presentation and taste of the food was on point and I can't wait to go back and try the dishes I didn't get to. I also can't wait for football season to end so we can try out the Sunday Brunch.

Have you tried Alder? Do you agree with my #FoodCrushFriday nomination? Let me know what you think via Twitter.

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November 28- #FoodCrushFriday, Doughnuttery x Rekorderlig


I've decided to start #FoodCrushFriday on the blog and couldn't think of a better way to launch it than with Doughnuttery's recent partnership with Rekorderlig Cider. The donut outpost, with locations in Chelsea Market and Union Square Holiday Market, just added a Rekorderlig Spiced Apple Cider Dipping Sauce to pair with their donut offerings. It's the perfect holiday treat for those cold city days that are going to inevitably sneak up on us. You can try the limited edition dipping sauce at either location through Christmas Day. 

Rekorderlig also gave us a warm cocktail recipe to share called, The Hot Swede, which also incorporates the new Rekorderlig flavor. You can make this at home by grabbing the cider at a Morton Williams or Gristedes or if the weather is making you lazy, maybe have someone else make it for you. Whitehall, Randolph Beer, and Berry Park are just a few bars in the area that carry the new addition.

If you end up trying the Doughnuttery and Rekorderlig dipping sauce concoction or the winter Rekorderlig bevi, let me know what you think of them on Twitter, Instagram, or the comments below!
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