Tag Archives: Italian Food

Bianca in Noho

So, one of my dearest friends, Stef, took me to one of her favorite UWS restaurants several weeks ago (I didn’t blog about it because I was so hungry I forgot to capture photos… sorry folks!). This restaurant is called Celeste — and Celeste doesn’t even have a website, so I wasn’t able to menu-stalk prior to going for dinner. Following our dinner a coworker of mine mentioned that I should go to Bianca downtown in Noho — she described this restaurant making it sound a bit like Celeste; there were no reservations, always expect a wait, payment is cash-only and the food is spectacular. Bianca does have a website so I forwarded it to Stef saying we needed to get to this joint asap! Stef couldn’t help but laugh as she pointed out to me that Bianca is Celeste’s sister restaurant.

food from bianca

So Stef and I hurried down to Bianca at 7:30 p.m. thinking our wait would be quick and easy — nope! we waited over an hour to be seated. But time flew by as we caught up over a glass of wine at an uber hipster bar right next to the restaurant. When we were seated at Bianca, I was reminded instantly of Al Di La in Brooklyn; the decor was so similar — old-school wall paper with white subway tiling to help divide the space on the walls, even the smells coming from the kitchen were as delectable as Al Di La’s.

We quickly ordered — clearly, we both scouted out the menu prior to attending dinner. To share: the Gnocco Fritto with Stracchino Cheese, a caprese salad (special of the day) and for our main dishes we both ordered pasta — I ordered myself the Ravioli di Ricotta con Burro e Salvia (ravioli in a butter and sage sauce) and Stef ordered herself the Gramigna con Salciccia e Peperoni (pasta with crumbled sausage and red bell pepper). Even though the restaurant was packed — not a single seat was available — the food came out in a very timely manner.

gnocco

Our apps were d-e-l-i-s-h … The gnocco was perfectly cooked, nice and puffy and soft and the stracchino cheese was out of this world. It was obvious it was coated in a very flavorful truffle olive oil, but the cheese consistency was smooth and creamy — maybe even more so than a burrata. Remember folks, Gnocco is not the same as Gnocchi.

butter and sage ravioli

When it came to my ravioli, I instantly had a flash back. The first time I ever cooked my boyfriend a meal at home I made him a caprese salad served with ravioli in a sage and butter sauce (Thanks Food Network for the fabulous recipe and thank you Whole Foods for providing the “homemade” ravioli). This ravioli at Bianca though was homemade and wasn’t just “served with butter” — it was swimming in it. The longer I let the ravioli sit, the thicker the butter got, which allowed me to scoop more of it up on to my fork. I would order this rich dish again in a heart beat!

meat pasta

I had to share a pic of Stef’s pasta — it was out of this world! I also loved that Bianca wasn’t afraid to feed people, the serving sizes were outstanding!

I love finding restaurants like Bianca and Celeste — I am always ready for more suggestions… So if anyone has any, be sure to share the details! Bianca really fit the bill for me and Stef this weekend — literally! Ultimately for 2 appetizers, 2 main dishes of pasta, and 1 homemade sorbet for dessert … plus a bottle of wine. It all totaled up to $81. The way we ordered we were also “splurging” so the fact that we didn’t faint at the sight of the bill, we were very pleased!

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Pepe Rosso on Sullivan Street

My first summer living in Manhattan I lived down in the village, actually I lived in the heart of the village right by Washington Square Park. It’s a neighborhood of students — both under grad, graduate level, and even law students, not to mention there are loads of families that live in the neighborhood. Walk into the East Village and the mood will go from collegiate to hipster. Walk into the West Village and you’ll find yourself sitting in a sophisticated bistro. I love that I can walk for five minutes and feel like I’m in a different city!

Last night I met up with a friend who also happened to help me find my first New York City apartment, Sam. We met up on Sullivan Street right below Houston Street at a restaurant called Pepe Rosso. Typically you will walk into this little restaurant and take your food to go. I’ve done it numerous times on a beautiful spring or summer day and then I would take my food to Washington Square Park and people watch as I ate. But tonight, Sam and I snagged two of the 12 seats available!

pasta at pepe rosso

Pepe Rosso chefs know how to make a tasty pasta dish and the Caesar Salad is truly incredible. Plus, the prices on the menu are so cheap, I guarantee you’ll do a double take your first time eating at the restaurant. $10 or less for pasta! Incredible! But don’t expect for service if you sit down in the restaurant. There’s a water cooler that is self-serve and when you’re food is ready they will literally pass it to you over the counter. Customers sitting closest to the kitchen will even pass down plates of food in an assembly-like line to others that are sitting close to the window. And when you’re done, you clean your own table and pass your plate and cutlery items back to the guy at the register. Totally different than any other restaurant you’ve been to before, right? If the food is as cheap as it is, there’s no need for high-end service! But the guys working this joint are ridiculously friendly. Their warm smiles and peppy attitudes remind me of the Italian locals in places like Florence, Rome, and Capri.

The food also comes out so fast, it’s clear that the chefs are a well-oiled machine in this eatery! I ordered a very basic Penne Al Vodka that was insanely flavorful, creamy and rich. Of course I bathe the pasta in cheese! Sam ordered a lemon chicken and spinach dish that he nearly devoured within 5 minutes. There are so many choices to pick from on the menu, it would be nice to order for 5 people and sample a bit of everything!

When I compare Pepe Rosso to other Italian restaurants like Perbacco … well, there’s just no comparison. While Pepe Rosso is very tasty, Perbacco still blows me away! Pepe Rosso has very basic cuisine that hits the spot. And if you’re looking to have a picnic in Washington Square Park, I strongly suggest you order from here!

Have you ever walked Sullivan Street between 4th Street and Houston Street? If not, do it. There are so many gorgeous town houses that will have you day dreaming. It’s the heart of the Village, no tourist heads here — they are missing out on such a charming, sophisticated, and insanely intriguing neighborhood.

Italian Food — Good for the Soul

For me, Italian food is probably the most comforting food I could ever feed myself. When studying abroad and missing home — I would head to a tasty Italian restaurant to comfort me. The best thing about cooking this style of cuisine for yourself at home is it’s pretty darn cheap, flavorful and very basic to make (at least most dishes are).

Now that I have been to Italy — all over the place actually, this past fall I got a true taste of the country my ancestors came from — I can truly say that the sister restaurants Perbacco and Gnocco here in New York City are better than 99 percent of the restaurants I ate at while visiting the homeland. That other 1 percent is actually a random sandwich shop that I fell in love with in Florence called Antico Noe. And even Perbacco and Gnocco restaurant owner Gianluca Giovanetti says that the bread in Florence is the best — the bread = one of the reasons why Antico Noe’s sandwiches are to die for.

food at gnocco in nyc

I’m sure you are all used to by now my raves on these two restaurants… The truth is, I’ll never stop blogging about them because 1. They truly are the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to in my entire life, 2. The menus change and the specials are always blowing me away, 3. I’m not the only one that loves these restaurants, reviews all over the internet says fantastic things!

So I blogged last week about Perbacco and that means this week I am writing about Gnocco, again! The other night I went for dinner with my Penn State friend Alexandra and her father who also lives here in the city. Her father actually introduced me to Gnocco — so I can blame him on my addiction for the food.

What did we order? I ordered the special — a pumpkin ravioli which was both comforting, light, and full of flavor. I was surprised at how much more potent the ingredients became once the ravioli began to cool. The flavors stood out more! It came with long gorgeous parmigiano reggiano cheese shaving on top. And yes, I ate every single bite. It would be a sin not to.

But first, we ordered for the table an unbelievable burrata cheese special for an appetizer. The burrata was probably the best burrata I have ever had in my life — the cheese was so silky, fluffy, and perfectly seasoned. The plate came with fluffy, crunchy bread that was toasted with (most likely) olive oil brushed on top. And of course there was the tomato and basil seasonings as well. In all honesty, you can’t find better cheese in any other restaurant.

Alexandra ordered my favorite pizza — the Tartufata — which includes fresh mozzarella, a truffle sauce, mushrooms, and speck. Alexandra is a vegetarian so she ordered it without the speck. The first time I had this pizza I ordered it because the table next to me ordered 2 of the pizzas (for two people) and the smells of the pizza were so divine they floated over to my table and I became a huge fan instantly without even having tasted the pizza.

The evening was filled with spectacular cuisine, amazing company, and fantastic wine. The atmosphere is so cozy and you honestly can’t get any better than Gnocco (and Perbacco of course).

Happy New Year 2012

I hope everyone is off to a fantastic New Year! How did everyone spend their New Years Eve? Hopefully with a glass of champagne in one hand!? (I love this photograph from Red Haute and Bothered on Tumblr. I just had to share it with you).

Instead of going into all of the stereotypical New Year’s resolutions… I want to share with you a few of my favorite posts from 2011. I’ve discovered so many fantastic restaurants here in New York — and I hope everyone is able to try some new and interesting cuisine in this upcoming year!

For the overall tastiest dish in New York City — Al Di La Trattoria in Brooklyn, New York — fits the bill! I never go to Brooklyn, but I would happily go any time if it meant I would be eating at Al Di La.

My favorite meal while out of New York City was from — Antico Noe — a sandwich shop in Florence, Italy. I never imagined that a sandwich could be this delicious! I plan to go back to Florence one day, just so I can eat here!

The best burger award goes to — Minetta Tavern — their Black Label Burger is the reason why you need to make reservations one month in advance! And do not offer to share this burger with anyone. Trust me, you’ll want it all to yourself. (*and eat it the way the chef prepares it, do NOT add ketchup.)

For an affordable, yet trendy and sophisticated menu, the award award goes to — L’Artusi — I love that the menu changes seasonally, and the portion sizes are fantastic!

The most exotic restaurant surly is — Ventanas — this Spanish-Moroccan fusion restaurant has mastered the tastiest dishes and has an incredibly entertaining ambiance.

The fastest and tastiest restaurant award goes to — La Esquina’s Taqueria in Soho — it’s hard not to stop here for some tacos and grilled corn whenever I am shopping downtown! Plus, it’s a great place to take friends to when they visit, no one dislikes their food!

The best comfort food award goes to — The Meatball Shop — the unfortunately long wait keeps me from going back, but the food is delicious and insanely cheap! Who wouldn’t want a bowl of spicy pork meatballs?

Pizza may have been around for centuries, but Co. in Chelsea knew what to do to have people re-discovering it again. Even though it’s a bit pricey for pizza, you’ll love every bite!

The best South American food goes to the 24/7 joint in Hell’s Kitchen — Empanada Mama. The avocado salad is to-die-for but all of the empanadas are fantastic! This is obviously what they are known for, so you must order a bunch when you go (plus, they are wicked cheap!).

Antico Noe: Sandwich Shop In Florence

I was given a recommendation from my boyfriend’s brother (who studied abroad in Florence) to go to Antico Noe for lunch. It was only a short walk away from the museum we were touring in the morning, so it was very easy to get to. At first I thought he was suggesting us to go to the mother restaurant right next door, but when I read his email again he told me to get the #9 on the menu (and the main restaurant didn’t have the food labeled by numbers). But right next door was a small sandwich shop that had it’s sandwiches labeled by the number. We ordered a few sandwiches, including the #9 of course. Written on brown paper and practically stabled outside of the front door were our panini choices.

The #9 included: turkey, brie cheese, roast onions, and a spicy sauce. I was hesitant at first because I am not a fan of brie cheese, but I went with his recommendation and ordered it. Just one bite in, I knew I owed him big time! The baguette was so fluffy and crispy I realized that all of the baguettes I have ever had in the U.S were crap. (Here’s what I thought a baguette was really like: hard, difficult to chew, mostly thick crust, difficult to slice… so not what it really is.) It was also fresh right out of the oven so it was perfectly warmed but not soggy. I was also happily surprised when I realized that I really do enjoy brie cheese when it is paired with other ingredients. Would I ever buy a brick of brie and slice it and put it on crackers? No way. But since I returned home to the U.S I have bought brie and added it to my sandwich for lunch.

Another sandwich that we ordered included: pork sausage (yup, I ate pork), spinach, egg plant, and pecorino cheese. It took a bit longer for them to prepare this sandwich because they cooked the pork sausage nice and fresh. But I was surprised when I admitted that this one was my favorite sandwich out of them all (the #9 was almost tied for 1st place). The spinach was perfectly cooked and the pecorino cheese added a powerful flavor when mixed with the pork.

When I go back to Florence, I plan to eat all of my lunches here at this little sandwich bistro. Located right under this small arch-way, we sat outside in the shade and people watched as we waited for our paninis to be prepared. Until I return… I’ll dream of the decadent (yet simplistic too) ingredients held together between the most heavily, crispy, soft, fluffy, warm baguette.

antico_noe_florence

The Legend of Tortellini

My travels in Italy had me learning … constantly! But that’s the dorkiness in me, I will always and forever love to learn new things. Italian history blew me away, but one random factoid that I learned (and I will never forget) was the legend of the creation of tortellini.
The tale is that Venus had a peeping-tom… literally. Since her room was lit with only a few candles, her peeping-tom was only able to get a glance of her belly-button. He was immediately sent into ecstasy and he was so inspired by what he saw, he headed straight to the kitchen and created the tortellini! (Venus obviously had an “innie” belly-button!)
I love hearing all of these legends. I’m dying to know more like it — if you know of any, please share!

Art history 101: The Birth of Venus (today it is located in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy)... So what do you think? Does her belly button look like tortellini?

Good Food is Better When You Share It With Those You Love


I’m going to be a bit cheesy in this post today…
Have you ever had a meal that you really enjoyed, but you knew it would have been better if those at the table were, well, people you really loved? I’ve been there. Around the world you’ll see people come together all because of cuisine. Just take a look at countries that serve tapas at typically every meal — those at that dinner table are going to be talking and interacting more than those who are eating off of their own plate. (Just take a look at what I mean the next time you sit down with a group of people to eat.) Food is a fantastic conversation starter… “What do you think about the tuna tartare with sesame seed bread crisps?” … “I thought it was delicious the tuna was so fresh! Actually, one time I was traveling around Japan and I found this incredible restaurant that served…” And then people are off, talking about their lives, travels, family, even work experiences that all revolve around food.
My theory: everyone eats, everyone has a food they detest, everyone has a food they would eat every day if possible, and most of all everyone has memories that involve food.
I’m preparing for a trip to Italy, I’ll be leaving next weekend and I can not wait to go! Not only am I going to all of the important places around Italy, but I’ll also be traveling with my family — my mom, dad, and sister. I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life! I have always wanted to go to Italy and I’ve had the opportunity to go, but I knew the visit to the country of where my ancestors came over from would be more significant if I waited and went with my family.
So what’s on my Italian itinerary?
Rome
Pompeii
Capri
Florence
Cinque Terre
Viaraggio
Pisa
Lucca
Venice
I know, I will be so busy I will need a vacation when I get home from my vacation just to relax!
This is going to be the best vacation — and I am thrilled to be eating my way through Italy. (Have any restaurant recommendations? I would love to hear what anyone has got!)
In the spirit of my Italian adventures that are quickly approaching, I can’t get the CHEESIEST Dean Martin song out of my head … What on earth could the song be? I’m sure if you were to take one guess, you would probably guess right.
So here it is … I have it stuck in my head, and now it will be in yours all day long as well!

My Dinner From Eataly Had A Face

mario_batali

Me with Mario Batali the opening night of Eataly.

Back in fall 2010 I went to the opening of Eataly (located on 23rd street and 5th avenue). My first time at the “Italian Meca” was a little crazy — the store was packed, there wasn’t a place to sit, food was being carried every which way on different trays, it seemed like everyone wanted to go to Italy that evening.
The store is set up like a European market — there was the produce section, poultry, fish, cheese, pasta, gelato, etc. Everything had a place and the flow of the shop was designed so you would feel like you were wandering around an Italian market while shopping. Oh, did I mention that I even met Mario Batali? Well, I did. He was there for the opening night walking around in his popular orange Crocs while meeting people and making sure that the opening night ran smoothly.
That first night, I ate at the pizza/pasta section of the store and order a pasta with pesto. It was delicious although the portion size was very small and it was a little bland until I had fresh cheese grated on top of the plate.
Over the past few months I have returned to the store for a couple of specific items: risotto and blood oranges. My sister introduced me to blood oranges although she told me to wait to judge the fruit until when we are in Italy this fall because they are 100 times more flavorful and juicy in Italy.
european_sea_bass

My dinner was staring back at me aka my European sea bass also known as Branzino was my dinner at Eataly.

Last week I returned to Eataly with my friends Ken and Blaz for dinner — we decided on eating in the fish department (I don’t even know how else to describe it) for dinner. The restaurant is divided into sections and flows like an actual market but you can only order a fish dish if you are sitting in a certain section, you can only order pizza or pasta in a certain section, etc. I ordered the European Sea Bass also known as Branzino. What I wasn’t expecting was for the entire fish to be staring back at me from my plate. Hello Branzino I am hungry and you are going to be my dinner. My friend Ken warned me to chew real well to make sure I don’t swallow any bones. I pulled as many bones out as I could see and I wish my camera could have captured the bones in a picture but they were literally so small you could hardly see them! I’ve never been really grossed out by food before but I couldn’t handle pulling the spine completely off the plate — I had to have Ken step up to the plate and de-bone the poor little Branzino. At one point I got a small bone stuck in my throat, I swear I could feel the bone snap and fall down my throat — completely disgusting! At that point I gave up my fork and started to dig in with my fingers, I figured that I would rather look like a four-year-old eating my dinner than find myself chewing or swallowing another fish bone. I had to wash my hands 4 times after dinner to get the fishy smell off of my skin! The overall taste of the Branzino was very good, you could tell it was exceptionally fresh and I could tell that the chefs at Eataly prepared it as the Italians would: from the ocean, to the pan, to the plate.

West Village Italian Cusine – I Tre Merli

If I could, I would probably eat Italian food at every meal … every day … for the rest of my life! There’s something about the comfort of a lasagna and a smooth glass of red wine. I don’t know what it is, but it sure hits the spot every time!
I actually was introduced to an interesting habit in Amsterdam — their pastry/bagel shops offered a variety of toppings for their bagels and one topping was pesto! Pesto is probably one of my favorite toppings to put on things and I actually put a light layer of cream cheese followed by a grainy thin layer of pesto on my bagel for breakfast. I also use my pesto if I am out of basil when I make caprese salads! It’s brilliant! Actually, the crushed pine nuts in the pesto taste delicious with the tomato and mozzarella.

best_caprese_salad

The buffalo mozzarella is so creamy and fresh, the cheese is ordered fresh on a daily basis.

Okay, I’m obsessed with pesto. I admitted it! And I honestly don’t eat it that often (or as often as I would like). My boyfriend doesn’t like pesto so I am not able to whip up a gnocchi al pesto for him (but I have snuck pesto into a couple of things, like a caprese salad… shhhh! don’t tell). But when we are out at restaurants it’s rare for me to order pesto because we enjoy sharing dishes so the last thing I will put him through is ordering a dish that has pesto as its main ingredient. So when my friend Jesse came to town last weekend, I planned on ordering my favorite dish at my favorite West Village restaurant — I Tre Merli. And I didn’t feel guilty about ordering it!
There are 2 I Tre Merlis in NYC, one is the “restaurant” in Soho, and the other is the bistro in the West Village. I personally love the bistro not only because it’s probably the best neighborhood, but also because it’s a small and intimate setting. To start, I ordered the Buffalo Mozzarella with tomatoes and basil. I actually began to dig in and then I realized I forgot to take a photo (oops!) — which is why the photograph in the blog really is incomplete. Every bite of this salad was sensational! The mozzarella was so creamy and fluffy I couldn’t believe what I was eating. My friend Jesse said that the food at I Tre Merli is just as delicious as the food he had in Italy! There was some olive oil drizzled on top of the salad and the basil leaves were sliced up to distribute the flavor; salt and pepper also seasoned the dish to perfection.
I_Tre_Merli_Bistro

The gnocchi al pesto at I Tre Merli Bistro in the West Village.

For my entree I happily ordered the gnocchi al pesto. It is easy to mess up these potatoes; if over-cooked, gnocchi gets firm and isn’t an enjoyable dish to chow down on. But the chef at I Tre Merli has never given me a dish of incorrectly cooked gnocchi — and I have had many orders of gnocchi at the bistro. I have gone so many times to this restaurant in the summer of 2009 the hostess still remembers who I am and what I like to order! The pesto is also the best here, it’s very creamy and all of the ingredients are perfectly mixed together. I definitely don’t suggest ordering pesto if you are out on a first date … unless you are a very confident person. This pesto has managed to get stuck in my teeth very well, flossing still won’t guarantee that you’ll get everything out.
I love everything about this restaurant, I hope everyone will make their way to this spectacular West Village bistro at some point.
(New York Magazine has even given the bistro at 10 out of 10. A rare rating that I have only seen one other time.)

Gnocco

Italy came to me for dinner last night — the funny thing about the evening was as soon as I got to Gnocco with friends for a feast, my boyfriend’s flight to Rome was leaving New York. When he returns from Italy, I’m going to take him back — minus the long transatlantic flight and bags of cheap pretzels.
Let me be clear, the food Gnocco is different than Gnocchi; but they are both sublime at this restaurant. Gnocco is a deep fried dough but is not the fried dough you are probably thinking about — it’s not super thick and has both a crispy crunch and a fluffy texture to it. The Gnocco dish comes with northern Italian cold-cuts and can be placed on top of the fried-dough if you’d like, but I enjoyed it without. In addition to the Gnocco as an appetizer, I devoured the Caprese di Bufala Campana (sorry, it was eaten so fast I forgot to snap a photo!), which is buffalo mozzarella with fresh tomatoes and of course — basil. What made this salad so divine were two things: an extra basil-pesto was on the side of the dish and the flavor of this pesto livened up the food even more, and the buffalo mozzarella was also the freshest and creamiest cheese I have ever eaten. The restaurant has their buffalo mozzarella imported to them (see, I told you Italy came to me for dinner). My friend ordered their Caprino Tiepido, honey and golden raisins with warm goat cheese on top of mixed greens, she offered me some salad and if I wasn’t already getting full I probably would have demolished her dish. Having warm goat cheese makes it feel like you are having a hot dinner but the greens and especially the honey make the salad feel light. Usually I don’t enjoy salads, I think they are for wimps, but this one isn’t for the typical little salad eater, it’s for those who want to say “yum” after every bite and not feel guilty over what they are eating.
For my main course I indulged in a gnocchi in a pesto sauce (the gnocchi and a pesto sauce are on their menu but they are not with each other, the kitchen was kind enough to put the two together for me — and I must say, I think they are a great match). Owner Gianluca Giovanetti explained to me the gnocchi consistency is all about the amount of flour used; too much flour is going to make them too hard, not enough flour and it won’t hold together well enough to be called gnocchi. Gnocco chefs have the gnocchi recipe down — it was the perfect texture, not too hard but also it didn’t fall apart when my fork scooped it up. I am extremely picky with gnocchi, I feel like I may have a great dish of it once a year if I’m lucky and I almost gave up the search for the perfect gnocchi — and then I tried Gnocco’s plate. Gianluca also told me how each dish truly is a taste of heaven (and Italy). His mother came over to the United States to teach the chefs her recipes. In this case it’s true — mother knows best!

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Following the gnocchi came the pizza! The thin and crispy crust didn’t make me feel full on pizza and the toppings were amazing! It was covered with the classic italian seasonings and ingredients that make the food scream “ITALIAN GODS/GODDESSES CREATED ME!” There are plenty of pizzas to choose from — this side of the menu is a bit overwhelming because there are so many pizzas to pick from. One thing I did not try was the Calzone; it’s something I must do when I return for another dinner.
Dessert, was what officially put me in my food coma.
The mascarpone ice cream with espresso poured on top was to-die-for. Every one at the table laughed when I took too big of a bite out of the ice cream glass. After I got the spoon full in my mouth I closed my eyes because I felt like I was in food-heaven and then I quickly realized brain-freeze was the outcome of too much cold in one bite. I will NEVER again have artificial coffee flavored ice cream. If coffee is to be with the frozen dessert it is to be done one way and one way only — and it’s this way.

Note: Gnocco is located at 337 East 10th Street (between A&B).
Warning: don’t look at the online menu, it will make you hungry!
P.S: it’s 2 p.m the day after I went to dinner at Gnocco and I’m still full! That’s what great food will do to you!