Sometimes It's Who You Know

My cousin who we're going to nickname... Cousin (original right??) is in the restaurant industry so knows all the hotspots. And typically knows a waiter, a busboy, or manager here or there. Let's just say getting a meal with her is kinda awesome.

I bring you... The "Day After" Birthday lunch...

Yes. This is "just" lunch.

A Voce

10 Columbus Circle

With views of Columbus Circle, this Italian restaurant in Time Warner Center does not disappoint. Matter of fact, I think everyone should head there now.

We went there for brunch with expectations of restaurant week. Turns out it was over. Oh well. Regular menu it is!

I don't normally take pics of the bread they serve but it was heavenly. And buttery. And the spread was a mascapone cheese which I'm pretty sure just doesn't get utilized as much as it should.

Starters:

Funghi al forno- roasted trumpet royal mushrooms, fonduta, mache, hazelnuts

Now most of you may know I'm not a fan of the fungi. Clearly this was cousin's order. She raved about it and that's all I know. I'll take her word.

Stracciatella- creamy pugliese mozzarella, pears, speck, arugula

Ya know sometimes there's that one food item you can't stop thinking about. Here ya go. Yes the pears and prosciutto were write-worthy... but the pugliese mozzarella on the bottom. Unreal. Salty and creamy. I still think about that cheese. Matter of fact, I think I'm on a new search for that cheese. Let me know when you find it.

And then came a couple of "Compliments of the Chef" part. Oh Cousin...

Uova in purgatorio- poached eggs, san marzano tomatoes, rosemary, pecorino

Looks like ravioli right?? WRONG. Two poached EGGS that broke the minute you touched them. Genius in that screw with your mind type of way.

Oh Chef, no really I'm flattered...

Cauliflower with raisins and a bit of kick (so I improvise)

Mezzaluna- taleggio filled pasta, butternut squash, brown butter, sage

Cousin ordered this one and hellooo. The butternut squash was a bit more of a garnish on top. The pasta was a bit like ravioli with a nice sweet cheese that wasn't overly stinky. And the brown butter sauce- aah good choice cousin. Good choice.

Whole wheat tagliatelle with duck ragu with duck prosciutto. And other stuff

Hearty. Very hearty. This pasta dish was one of those stick to the ribs situation. Oh and homemade tagliatelle, this goes on the top pasta dishes.

Room for dessert?? Not really. But maybe just a nibble or two. Wait is that chocolate??...

Bomboloni alla Toscana- tuscan doughnuts, bittersweet chocolate

What the description is missing is that these doughnuts were FILLED with creme! Like the Bavarian type. And then the chocolate dipping sauce? Oh it wasn't necessary but I told it.

Crostata- chocolate-caramel tart, fior di latte sorbetto, sea salt

Oh chocolate caramel tart. Caramely, chocolatey. All things good. Possibly a bit too salty though. And the sweet cream sorbetto (the white stuff on top) was uh, a bit flavorless. And it's not creamy like you would think. I know, I know. I had to find one fault in this fab meal. Really Cousin and I were just raving about the doughnuts.

WAIT! There's MORE?! What's this?! Oh Chef, you tease, you flirt! I'm married! But uh, just one bite and Mr. Broad won't mind. Jealous? Oh we won't have to tell him.

Mint Gelati and Lemon Granite

Yes mint gelati. Different for sure. And the lemon granita- probably the best light option with all the heavy food. Just a taste of course.

And a birthday gift. Just for me.

Who knew I still got it :)

Cocoa Powdered Chocolate Covered Almonds.

Aah the perfect make up gift for Mr. Broad on missing out on a phenomenal meal.

Review:

A Voce (pronounced Ah Voh-Chay) is now a top favorite. I know it's gotten rave reviews before but I don't think I realized how you pronounce the restaurant so I didn't exactly put two and two together. Oops. I kinda want to give a public apology right here and say I'm sorry it's taken a year and a half for me to get to you. And Mr. Broad wasn't even there! I read a review and it proclaimed that this restaurant was a bit "corporate" feel. I mean I guess, in that it's probably better to go here on a corporate card... There's a second location to this restaurant in Flat Iron area so maybe we'll try that one next. But only with Cousin.

Rating: 10

Yes, I'm sticking to this one.

PS- Thanks Cousin :)

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The Birthday Dinner. Living up to the Hype

Aah the anticipated birthday dinner.

Union Square Cafe

21 East 16th Street

Friends and family have talked about this restaurant for years. My brother calls this his best meal he's ever had. My cousin who works for Mr. Danny Meyer (soo cool!) used to manage here. Needless to say, it's gotten a lot of PR amongst my family.

Lucky for us, we got a reservation.

This is Danny Meyer's flagship restaurant which I think means it's his first one he opened. They use local ingredients from the farms at the Greenmarket and change their menu out daily.

I went with the "lighter" fruitier appetizer-

Sliced Cara Cara Oranges, Fennel Vinaigrette, Toasted Pine Nuts, Mint and Ricotta Salata

These oranges were a cross between oranges and grapefruits. The ricotta was shaved on top and my only qualms was I wish it was a bigger (or even a scoop?) of ricotta.

Mr. Broad went the hearty route.

Crispy Chicken Livers with Greenmarket Beets and Gorgonzola Dolce

Fried chicken livers. Wow. What a delicacy. Not exactly the chicken liver grandma makes. And definitely not the meal to eat before a cholesterol test. The gorgonzola made the chicken livers taste like wings. Fabulous.

Grilled Lamb Chops Scotta Dita, Potato-Gruyère Gratin and Wilted Insalata Tricolore

Our waiter recommended this entree and I was easily convinced. Comparable to lamb "lollipops "that some people serve at weddings (eh hmm) just so much bigger. And let's not neglect the potato-gruyere gratin. I don't know the adjectives to describe it just have to give it a shout out.

Grilled Smoked Shell Steak, White Beans, Escarole and Salsa Verde

Mr. Broad has now declared that all steak should be smoked.

Anson Mills Mascarpone Polenta with Gorgonzola and Toasted Walnuts

Okay so we weren't going to order any sides but let's just say I had a bit of menu envy seeing other people order it so with our waiter's help we ordered a half side of this and spinach. No pic of the spinach, it was great but this deserves much more of the photography love.

Creamy, cheesy, creamy, and possible grit like but creamy, and with some walnuts in there. This really was the icing on the cake for me.

While Mr. Broad and I don't normally order dessert when we go out (hello, waistline) but it was my birthday. And we WERE at Union Square Cafe.

Warm Dark Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, Framboise-Plumped Dried Cherries and Whipped Cream

I don't normally go for bread pudding but the normal chocolate dessert I'd go to didn't look as good...

Complete with candle on top. And pump cherries. Plenty good but really I think I was too stuffed to really finish it.

Review

Oh Union Square Cafe. You didn't disappoint. Thank you for living up to all the hype and stories I have heard about. Thank you for (even though it's in season) not having turnips and root vegetables. We loved you. And thank you for letting us wear jeans opposed to your counterpart (which is fab but I'm just saying). Lastly, thank you for packing up every morsel of our meal into doggie bags so we could have our second best meal the following day.

Rating: 9

Probably would be a 10 but we sat next to these really loud Jersey stock brokers. "Which bottle of wine should we go with? This is $100 cheaper than the Bordeaux but let's go with the other one" Eww.

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The "Other" Macaroons

Ask any Jewish kid about Passover and the food items you MUST eat-- hands down right after Matzah is Macaroons. I don't know what it is about the overly sweet Manischewitz can of cookies but they're a must have for your 8 day Passover hibernation. (7 days if you are in Israel) Or maybe less if you run out of Matzah.

Can I eat beans? What about rice? Ugh the RULES!?

Fun Fact: Wikipedia has 7 different ways to spell Matzah. Who knew?

But enter the latest trendy sweet craze.

J. Chanceux Macaroons

202A Mott Street

Macaroons.

And these aren't the kosher for passover variety. (Or are they?? Anyone??)

These French macaroons come in a rainbow of colors and flavors that is harder to pick out than a ice cream flavor.

Mr. Broad and I were doing a walk around Chinatown into Soho to East Village and being tourists along the way. And then I came across this window.

Entranced.

Fig. Peanut Butter. Rose water. Vanilla. Mocha. Lavendar. Chocolate. Peach.

Whoa.

Excuse the glare behind the glass display.

And so many more...

Apparently this shop shares the space with an ice cream parlor. Like the ice cream shop closed their section in the back during the winter (Helloooo, people still eat ice cream in the winter!!) and this macaroon place subletted in. I love when people play nice in the sandbox.

Mr. Broad and I got a small box of 6 for $6.

So the French Macaroons. They're pretty small, airy yet not overly sweet. They're good for sure but I have to say the craze definitely revolves around the colors. Ya know that bright blue ice cream with pink sprinkles that you wanted as a 8 year old (or for Mr. Broad, yesterday). This is like that for grown ups.

But don't worry Manischewitz. I still have a place in my heart for your macaroons in April.

PS- But speaking of macaroons... did I mention that Mr. Broad and I are going to FRANCE next month?! Yes the Broads are continuing their travels and hitting up EUROPE... Aah lots to come.

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"Beer is proof that G-d loves us and wants us to be Happy"

Aah Ben Franklin, you got it so right.

I'm watching Anthony Bourdain inhale pork and beer right now while he's in Prague and it's only fitting that I write about this restaurant with the similar menu. Just from Belgium. And It's Daniel Boulud's restaurant.

DBGB

299 Bowery (btwn 1st adn Houston)

Aaah greatness. I've actually been here before for a work lunch. Mr. Broad hates when I say that. He gets Panera and I get well, homemade sausages. Tough life.

This place usually has a wait but lucky for us, Mr. Broad made a reservation. DBGB is known for it's beer list. It's extensive matching a Harry Potter book length (the first one, NOT the fourth one.)

And if you're not careful you may order a $50 GLASS OF BEER?! Thanks to Mr. Broad for aptly stopping the waiter before he fulfilled my order. (It was sweet and tasted like berries!! With aromatic senses! Who saw the price?!)

We started with the "salad" because we wanted to be like healthy.

Iceberg and Blue- tomato, walnuts, bacon bits & herbs

What's up best salad I've ever had.

I know, let's not all get into the merits of iceberg lettuce (Does it have any nutritional value??)

Something about the herbs really made this take on a wedge salad completely shine.

We also shared a sausage. Because you really, really HAVE to. Mind you, they ain't cheap. Apparently $12-15 and some are just ONE link. We went with one of Mr. Broad's favorite type's of sausages.

Boudin Basque - spicy blood and pigs head sausage with scallion mashed potatoes

Yeah it's called blood sausages because well. It's kind of the main ingredient. After the meat and all.

Aaah blood sausage how I love thee. In a thick large slice that was somewhat intimidating we had at it.

BURGERS...

Here's where the whole "You are what you eat" phrase kept creeping through my head. Similar to the sausages, Mr. Boulud has a thing for burgers here. Not cheap burgers, but damn good burgers. And they include fries! So that totally makes up for it, right??

I copied straight from the menu because I didn't want to mess these up...

THE PIGGIE

6 oz beef patty topped with daisy mays bbq pulled pork jalapeno mayonnaise & boston lettuce on a cheddar-cornbread bun with mustard-vinegar slaw, fries

phew

THE FRENCHIE

6 oz beef patty with confit pork belly arugula, tomato-onion compote & morbier cheese on a peppered brioche bun with cornichon, mustard & fries

And a much better angle

This burger sits proud.

And the bucket of fries.

Mr. Broad and I split them down the middle and we both tossed up on our favorites. The BBQ really overshined the burger of the Piggie (not that it was a bad thing!!) and the Frenchie... well ooh lala! The fries were just good ol' Belgium twice fried. (Btw, am I the only one that thinks McDonalds should change up their fries like Dominoes changed up their pizza recipe?? Or Burger King? I mean if you're going to have it your way you may as well have 'em Belgium style).

Review:

A mighty good restaurant, however not cheap. Great beer, great style and probably better to go in bigger groups... to try more sausages of course. Oh and the dessert. I mean we would have tried the dessert but we were full on ... iceberg lettuce.

Rating: 8

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