Mar 29, 2012

Birthday Tradition: Motorino & Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

Kenzie and I have a fantastic tradition for our birthdays. We take the other out to dinner. We also have another tradition of sorts. We love visiting new pizza places (new = at least one of us has not been there before). For my birthday dinner, Kenzie took me to Motorino in the East Village. We started with a bottle of, as described on the menu, “the perfect pizza wine,” the Grangnano, Cantine Federiciane, Naples, Italy. Served cold, this semi-sparkling, light bottle of plum red was, in fact, the perfect companion to our meal.

We skipped the appetizers and got right to the good stuff. We ordered the Cremini & Sweet Sausage Pizza, minus the sausage, as well as the Margherita with an addition of Brussels sprouts and olives. I am not usually a big fan of a white pizza because it tends to lack a bit of flavor and can sometimes be a tad dry. The cremini mushroom pie with fior de latte, garlic, thyme, pecorino, and gaeta olives proved me wrong. The interplay between the ingredients made for earthy and fragrant bites. The thyme really pulled out the sweetness of the garlic and the sharpness from the pecorino.

The Margherita was a traditional Neapolitan with a twist due to the interesting toppings. The crispy Brussels sprout leaves along with the olives added texture and depth to a classic pie. Most importantly, the crust for both pies was consistently chewy and airy, making you feel full at the end of the meal without feeling a sense of heaviness at the pit of your stomach.

After our pizzas, we continued our never-ending conversation with a leisurely walk to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop. It is a fairly new addition to the East Village and partly due to the warm weather, there always seems to be a line. Kenzie, a frequent visitor and thus a pro at ordering, suggested one of her favorites on the menu: the Monday Sundae. I had no idea what I was in for. This is the ultimate for an ice-cream/chocolate/dessert lover. It all starts with a waffle cone which is lined with nutella, then filled with chocolate/vanilla twist soft serve ice cream and topped with whipped cream, a generous dulche de leche drizzle, and a sprinkle of sea salt. W-O-W, beyond wow. That about sums it up. This is a must try. Also, a note to the wise: Eat this on a slightly empty stomach because it is impossible to finish after a meal.

Recap: small, casual pizza place; good food and service; great wine; good for small groups or a meal for two; vegetarian friendly

Food tally: The Perfect Pizza Wine, $32 (bottle); Cremini & Sweet Sausage Pizza, $17; Margherita+toppings, $15+$6. Total w/o tip = $70. Monday Sundae, $6.50, worth every penny

Score: 4/5 for Motorino; 5/5 for the Monday Sunday at Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

Address: Motorino – 349 East 12th Street, between 1st and 2nd Ave.; Big Gay Ice Cream Shop – 125 East 7th Street, between 1st Ave. and Avenue A, NYC; www.motorinopizza.com; www.biggayicecream.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Dinner, East Village, Events, Food, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks, Trends Tags: Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, birthday, Dinner, East Village, ice cream, Motorino, NYC, pizza, wine

Mar 27, 2012

Eat By Color: A Guide to Jelly Belly

All too often, I get a craving for something sweet after a meal. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Then again, who doesn’t? One of my favorite candies to snack on post-lunch are Jelly Belly jelly beans. So just imagine my delight when I clicked on to Serious Eats and saw that they had created a “Field Guide to Jelly Belly Identification” complete with their scientific names! It is just the thing that I need to pick out my favorites the next time I have an assorted bag. The family I enjoy most is green and my least favorite (I try and avoid these at all cost/spit them out when I pop one in my mouth by mistake) is the white family, with the exception of the coconut. What is your favorite flavor or family?

Note: all pictures are courtesy of Serious Eats

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Food, Gift Idea, Products, Snacks Tags: candy, flavors, guide, jelly beans, Jelly Belly, Serious Eats, snacks, sweet tooth

Mar 26, 2012

Happy Monday: Balaboosta

Initially, I thought this weekend would be rather low key, a time to run errands, clean and catch up on sleep. Instead, it was a weekend of impromptu socializing. I had a late brunch on Saturday with two of my oldest friends, a belated birthday dinner on Saturday night for Ben and a Sunday full of family time with my two of my sister-in-laws. Sometimes having no definite plans can give you just the time you need to enjoy time with your favorite people.

In thinking about the week ahead, I hope I have a reason to return to Balaboosta, in Nolita, sometime soon. Maithil took me there for brunch recently and everything we tried had just the right amount of flavor, texture and spice. The open and airy space, complete with knowledgeable service, in just the place to have a leisurely meal.

The bar in the front

We started with a Pomegranate Iced Tea and a pot of Earl Grey Tea. Details such as the raw sugar cubes and dish of black salt on the table added that extra touch of care.

Teas

Sugar and salt

While awaiting our mains, we snacked on the Mediterranean Sampler, which consisted of hummus, babaganoush, a roasted red pepper salad, and a side of za’atar pita. Everything was fresh and well spiced; the pita was exceptionally soft and fluffy and served as a great base for the dips. Each part managed to, both, stand alone and play well with the others. After trying a few combinations, Maithil decided that his favorite was a bite that incorporated a little of each.

Mediterranean Sampler

The perfect bite

We got the Poached Eggs on Grilled Challah with portobellos, butternut squash, spinach fricasée, saffron aïoli, and a mixed green salad and the Shakshouka, Moroccan baked eggs in a spicy tomato cazuela, with spinach and a side of grilled country bread, to share. Both, while equally stellar, were completely different from the other. The poached egg dish was light and filled with subtle and delicate flavors while the Shakshouka was bold, hearty and robust. The finger-licking tomato base of the Shakshouka is what really stole the show, giving baked eggs a whole new meaning.

Perfectly Poached Eggs

Tasty Shakshouka

We initially wanted to come to Balaboosta because we knew that it was the sister to Taim, our go-to, scrumptious falafel spot. I love it when one good thing leads to another. I am really looking forward to not just coming back to Balaboosta from brunch, but also for dinner.

Recap: delicious food; laid-back but attentive service; relaxing atmosphere; great for a casual date or a dinner with a small group; fun for sharing a few plates; reasonably priced; many vegetarian options

Food Tally: Pomegranate Iced Tea, $4; Earl Grey Tea, $3; Mediterranean Sampler, $8; Poached Eggs, $13; Shakshouka, $12. Total w/tax = $43.55.

Score: 4.5/5

Address: 214 Mulberry Street, between Spring and Prince Street, NYC; www.balaboostanyc.com

4 comments

By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bar, Food, Happy Monday, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Soho Tags: Balaboosta, brunch, eggs, Nolita, Taim, tea, Vegetarian

Mar 21, 2012

Happy Birthday

It was my birthday over this past weekend. For some reason, 26 did not put me in the mood to have a grand celebration or really any celebration for that matter. Instead, I am having one-on-one dinners with my closest friends throughout this week. Maithil and I spent the majority of my birthday together. He woke me up at 9am on Sunday with a thoughtful and funny card (a tough to find combo) and a very sweet present. After quickly visiting with my mom, we headed into the city for what ended up being a mini food crawl of sorts, starting with a late lunch at Ippudo, followed by a walk around the East Village and a snack at Caracas Arepa Bar. We topped it off with a cupcake from Butter Lane to-go because I literally could not eat a crumb more. Our time together was filled with laughter and dancing (as we got ready for the day) and conversation and admiration for the gorgeous weather. My day ended with the consumption of the delectable cupcake and falling asleep on the couch as we started watching The Adventures of Tintin. It was an unexpectedly wonderful birthday.

Sapporo Light at Ippudo

Vanilla cake with sea-salt caramel chocolate frosting from Butter Lane

Flowers from Elizabeth at work

Flowers from my boss

Surprise cupcakes from my team at work, from Billy's Bakery

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bakery, East Village, Events, Food, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks Tags: arepas, Billy's Bakery, birthday, Butter Lane, Caracas Arepa Bar, cupcakes, East Village, food, Ippudo, lunch, ramen

Mar 15, 2012

Pi Day: Leo’s Grandevous

In celebration of Pi Day (3.14) yesterday, Maithil and I went to Leo’s, a regular spot for Frank Sinatra in his day and now a neighborhood staple, a few blocks from us in Hoboken. It’s a no frills Italian bar and restaurant with great food and great service. Since I could not manage to trek it uptown to Two Little Red Hens, my favorite pie spot, I decided to go for another kind of pie at Leo’s, their vegetable bar pizza pie ($7). It’s the only personal pizza that does not leave you feeling guilty after finishing every last crumb. Why? Because it is more like a roasted/grilled vegetable salad with melted mozzarella on a flat-bready crust covered with a thin layer of tomato sauce. The pile of veggies include: olives, roasted red peppers, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, artichokes, and mushrooms. It is best eaten with a fork and knife, topped with a sprinkling of garlic powder and crushed red pepper, and accompanied with a chilled beer. Simple, delicious and oh-so-satisfying.

Maithil and I shared the fresh Mozzarella and Tomato salad ($7.95) to start and he had the perfectly cooked Chicken Piccata ($16.50) for his main (he was also very happy to help me with my pizza).

Score: 4/5; 5/5 (for the pizza)

Address: 200 Grand Street (on the corner of 2nd and Grand), Hoboken, NJ; www.leosgrandevous.com/

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bar, Dinner, Events, Food, Hoboken, New Jersey, Restaurant Tags: beer, Dinner, Frank Sinatra, Hoboken, Italian, Leo's Grandevous, Pi Day, pizza

Mar 13, 2012

Time in Motion

Story-telling gets a new twist in Dominic Wilcox’s watch sculptures. He masterfully uses tiny sculpted figurines placed on the hands of vintage mechanical watches to capture scenes of love, protest, football, money, and other observations. Here’s to savoring those special, fleeting moments in time!

A football celebration

A protest

The time sweeper

For all of the vegetarians

The collection

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Accessories, Gift Idea, Jewelry, Products, Trends Tags: Dominic Wilcox, vintage, watch, watch sculptures

Mar 12, 2012

Happy Monday: Invisible Children

Over the last few weeks, I have seen many posts and comments about a powerful film created by Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole of Invisible Children, a non-profit born due to the conflict in Uganda. Their mission? To stop the abduction of children who are then used as soldiers and sex slaves by Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army, which is comprised of over 30,000 kidnapped children. Africa’s longest running war has to be stopped. Kony has to be stopped.

Have a great week!

The film creators (photo courtesy of prweb.com)

The Stop Kony Kit

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Events, Happy Monday, New Jersey, New York City Tags: children, film, Invisible Children, Jason Russell, Joseph Kony, philanthrophy, Uganda

Mar 8, 2012

In the Kitchen: Whole Grain Pasta with Asparagus and Peas

I didn’t start eating asparagus until I was about twelve. I had my first taste at my friend Jerri’s house. Crunchy, beautifully grilled stalks with a drizzle of olive oil and a dusting of salt and pepper made for an ideal side to an early summer dinner. Asparagus is just coming into the grocery stores and farmer’s markets and I used my first bunch of the season to make a whole grain pasta with asparagus and peas in a light cream sauce, opting for a variation on this recipe. The ingredients included:

- One pound of whole grain thin spaghetti

- 3 tablespoons of olive oil

- 12 ounces of vegetable stock

- 3-4 tablespoons of light cream

- One healthy asparagus bunch, trimmed and cut into one-and-a-half inch pieces

- 1 ½ cups of frozen peas, fully thawed

- 6 garlic cloves, minced

- 1 heaping tablespoon of crushed red pepper

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 2 tablespoons of dried basil; 1 tablespoons of dried parsley (use fresh should you have it)

- 6 ounces of grated Pecorino-Romano; 2 ounces of grated Parmesan

Cook the pasta until it’s al dente, drain, and set aside in a large bowl. (Note: Slash a couple of handfuls of cold water on the pasta and separate with your hands, for a few seconds, to keep it from sticking.) In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add and cook the garlic until fragrant. Add the crushed red pepper and mix for about 20 seconds. Add the asparagus, seasoning it with salt and pepper, and cook until all of the pieces are slightly soft (they will turn vibrant green). Pour in the vegetable stock, light cream, frozen peas, basil, and parsley and bring to a simmer. The stock will start to reduce after about 3-5 minutes on medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and pour the contents over the pasta and give it a gentle toss. Top with the Pecorino-Romano and Parmesan and serve.

Note: I made this for dinner and the leftovers were perfect for lunch the next day.

1 comment

By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Cooking, Dinner, Food, In The Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes Tags: asparagus, light cream, pasta, peas, recipe, whole grain

Mar 6, 2012

It’s in the Crust: Co.

One of the things I miss most about my school days are the long breaks, where you’d have the chance to catch up on sleep, have relaxing meals, mentally de-stress, and have a chance to re-group. The last time Ben and I dined out was for lunch over his break from his graduate program in architecture at Columbia. He took me to Co. because we were both baffled that I had never been there! We sat at the bar, forgoing the communal style seating, people watched a little, and leisurely indulged in fantastically chewy and flaky crusted personal pies sprinkled with thoughtfully paired toppings. Co., where chef and master bread maker Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery, puts his own spin on Roman style pies, is a must for any pizza lover.

Ben's pie: the daily special, complete with baby quail eggs

My Mushroom and Jalapeno pie with: béchamel, pecorino, gruyère, garlic confit, seasonal mushrooms, shaved jalapeno and fresh dill. Aromatic and refreshingly spicy, it needed a touch of salt so I added a dash of sea salt, given upon request.

A close-up of the Mushroom and Jalapeno

Recap: amazing crust; great for groups; eco-friendly, communal atmosphere; not cheap, especially for pizza; friendly service; great for any meal; good selection of beers

Food Tally: The Daily Special, $20; Mushroom and Jalapeno Pie, $18; Beer, $8; Cappuccino, $4; Total w/o tax: $50

Score: 4.25/5

Address: 230 9^th Avenue, at 25^th Street, NYC; www.co-pane.com

1 comment

By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Bakery, Bar, Flatiron/Chelsea, Food, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks Tags: beer, Chelsea, Co., Jim Lahey, lunch, pizza

Mar 5, 2012

Happy Monday

This weekend zipped by. There was a lot of cooking, eating and spending time with family and one of my closest friends since the fourth grade, Jerri. I made two of her favorite things for dinner on Friday night: black bean soup and guacamole. While I was prepping our meal, Jerri created the foundation of my plant. An avocado pit, four toothpicks, water, and a short glass — in three to four weeks, there should be a tap root and a baby tree soon after. If only Hoboken had the climate to cultivate an actual avocado tree. Have a great week!