Tag Archives: mushroom

Masa 14 in Washington DC

This past weekend I left the Big Apple and ventured down to Washington DC to visit friends — Brittany and Curtis. I can’t believe the two of them are moving all the way to the West Coast, so this was my last chance to see the two before they head off to LA.

Brittany is a big foodie just like me — I always look forward to her visits here in New York City because we always end up exploring the city and wining and dining. So, naturally I knew that Brittany had a restaurant or two in mind for my trip down to DC.

The night I arrived we went to Masa 14 — a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant with the perfect tapas servings. I can’t tell you how much I love tapas, it allows you to not only sample a little bit of everything but it also bonds everyone at the table because you are sharing the same food. Tapas is the perfect way to bring a group together.

We really chowed down — so get ready for lots of pictures (and I’ll be sure to keep the explanations short and brief).

food at masa 14

Lets start with the crispy shrimp — served with chipotle aioli, sesame, scallion and masago. The texture was perfect, exactly what you look for when you order crispy shrimp. And just take a look at this plate — it’s full of color, and when you see color I can guarantee you that the flavors will be bold!

flatbread recipe

There was a lovely selection of flatbreads so it was tough to pick which one would be best. We ended up going with the Wild Mushroom Flatbread that’s served with Oaxaca cheese, red pepper and avocado. The bread turned out perfectly crisp on the bottom and the avocado’s texture balanced out the bread’s crispiness.

best fried okra

The fried okra was actually the first thing that we ordered and it was gone in about 45 seconds once it hit the table. Perfectly fried means it was nice and crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. The dipping sauce made with ginger, basil, garlic and chilies added the perfect spice to the mild-fried okra. This is a must order dish if you go to Masa 14!

You might think that the last thing you should order from a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant is french fries — but you’d be a fool not to here! The fries were potatoey just the way I like them (I hate when fries are thin and crispy and there’s no soft potato left in them). They were served with one heck of a dipping sauce made with chimichurri, garlic and a lime aioli dipping sauce. This lime aioli dipping sauce has inspired me to experiment in my kitchen — I’m determined to recreate this! The lime brings such a refreshing taste to the fried potato.

Another winner on the menu was the Mole Dusted Tenderloin Medallion that was served with mustard potatoes that added a beautiful spice to the plate and mixed in with the potatoes were some edamame. The meat was placed on top of a cilantro-mint chutney — this was the highlight! I have never had such an amazing sauce on beef before. It wasn’t “rich” the way every other meat sauce typically is, it was light and fresh.

Another must-order is the crispy crab won ton rolls that are stuffed with cream cheese, corn, mushroom, shiso, truffle, and spicy ponzu. Need I say more? I think the ingredients do all the talking! I would have been happy to continue ordering these crispy won ton rolls all night long. Any one who eats at this restaurants MUST order these!

meatballs with beef and pork

I don’t usually eat pork, but I decided that one big bite of it wouldn’t hurt. We ordered the Angus Beef and Pork Meatballs. Perfectly moist and drowned in a delicious sauce, these meatballs were spicy and cooked beautifully. Served with cotija cheese, scallion and smoked tomato yuzu sauce, it makes me want to get into the kitchen at home to try to recreate these using all beef. But, I have a funny feeling I could never beat the recipe from Masa 14.

Overall our experience was unbelievable. Not only was every single plate we ordered perfectly prepared, but the service was fantastic and the ambiance was exactly what you’re looking for for a Friday night dinner. The restaurant was packed the moment we walked in at 8:15 — our reservation was for 9 but the host was so accommodating she sat us right away! When I go back to DC, I would love to eat out at this restaurant again — although I know the experience would never be the same without Brittany and Curtis.

Tello’s Ristorante

Last night I had met up with a very close family friend for dinner. I can’t get over that our families have been friends for over a century!

We decided to stay in Chelsea for some Italian food, and his friend recommended Tello’s on the corner of 20th Street and 8th Avenue… a 7 minute walk from my apartment.

I had scouted out the review online a week in advance and of course I eyed down the menu one too many times. And I couldn’t wait to try out this Italian restaurant. After all, it’s always a treat to discover something new/old that’s in my neighborhood!

Immediately when you walk into the space, you’ll notice that it’s similar to a Ma and Pop’s place — with red checkered table clothes and old black and white family photos covering the walls, you knew right away that wearing jeans is totally acceptable here.

the best calamari

As I eyed down the crowd the scene was clearly a mix of folks — from a high-power career-looking woman with her husband still in his work clothes and their typical 12 year old child playing video games at the dinner table. To a group of men giggling, gossiping, and overall just loving their company. To intimate dates spread evenly throughout the restaurant. I loved that this restaurant plays music, but doesn’t blast it. With the high ceilings you’d think that the restaurant would get obnoxiously loud, but it doesn’t!

This is the perfect place to: have a meal without screaming across the table to talk with your date, bring your kids to, dine out casually, and of course to enjoy good food.

To start, we ordered the calamari which was brought out so quickly I didn’t even get a chance to eat my bread. After squeezing the lemon on top, then dunking a piece into the red sauce, I realized how fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked this fish was. Not only was the fish fresh and perfectly cooked, the red sauce added a lovely zing of heat. I’d give the calamari an A+ in my book!

food at tello

The menu has a large selection of dishes to pick from… it was a good thing I scouted out the menu before arriving. By the time the waiter asked what I would want for my entree I knew I could tell him the Porcini Ravioli (I know, I’m on a mushroom and ravioli kick this week). He also said that the dish was “fantastic.” So of course, I had to order it! My family friend, Dennis, ordered another pasta dish: Rigatoni Tello which included pasta with sweet sausage, tomatoes, peas, and zucchini.

The ravioli was incredible! I love creamy pasta dishes and when it includes mushrooms it is even better! And that’s just what this dish had — lots of mushrooms! Every bite was filled with a cheesy, creamy, and mushroom flavors that all fused so beautifully together.

Dennis loved his pasta dish too! He gobbled it down so fast I had to eat a little faster to catch up.

My only complaint about dinner was that the food was so hot when it came out, I had to let it cool off for a bit before I could take my first bite… It’s not a large complaint in any way, but I was totally tortured by the most delicious smells coming from my plate and I knew I couldn’t eat it right away!