Appetizing Appetizers

Always a crowd pleaser at any brunch or dinner party, you cannot go wrong with Spicy Crabcakes and a Chipotle Mayo dip. Here, it was garnished with oven roasted asparagus as a first dish. Crispy yet delicate panko encrusted, double sided, pan-seared, lump crab meat melded with minced jalepenos offering a nice hot kick to tingle the tongue and senses. Anyone up for seconds?

Pass the wasabi please

For friendly, fun-loving, fresh fish fans/fanatics finding a feast...look no further than Ginza. A favorite frequented by foodies for fluke to fatty tuna, and a hidden gem in Queens, arguably the most delicious sushi around. They literally have over a hundred different specialty rolls. A personal favorite is their "Where is Charmine?" roll - eel, soft shell crab, spicy mayo, top with crab meat.

Just out of the oven

You simply can't beat a hot, fresh Cholocate Chunk Walnut Banana Loaf direct from the oven. As an added bonus, your house will maintain an aroma worth salivating over for the next few hours. Baked to perfection, the natural unmistakable sweetness emanates from the over ripened mashed fruit as you slice into the semi-moist steaming center. The chunks and nuts dispersed throughout and atop offer a beautiful, substantive, chewier texture to balance it out.

The familiar and the unfamiliar

The joys of experimentation in the kitchen (when things turn out well!) Taking something common and recognizable and fusing it with ingredients underused in everyday cooking and voila!, we have a savory Dill and Fava Bean Risotto. This starchy dish has a nice buttery texture, and its nutty, grassy aromatic flavors meld into the creaminess and richness of the risotto, impregnated with a chicken stock made from scratch, adds depth and multiple layers of taste. We simply top it off with a shot of parmigiano-reggiano on top. Bon appetit!

Looking for an Eatery on the Whym

It was Father's Day and plans were set to try out Eatery, in the Hell's Kitchen scene on the West side. Unfortunately, a place that didn't take reservations, and a table of 7 was doomed for failure. As it turns out, they recommended we stroll several blocks north to their sister restaurant, Whym, just reopened and renovated, with similar style new American fusion flavors, and more stylish decor, in a less boisterous and chaotic space.


Appetizing appetizers - the Calamari with a sweet chili sauce had a nice zip not overly spicy and somehow, it maintained a nice crispy texture. A Grilled Flatbread with cambezola cheese, gaeta olives, grilled zucchini, charred tomatoes had a slightly subdued blue flavor, tart and salty. Perfect for snacking on!


With our group, we basically ordered one of every entree on the menu, and they delivered with a speedy turn-time to boot! This was a Chipotle Spiked Meatloaf with sautéed spinach, vermont cheddar mashed potatoes, double smoked bacon-mushroom gravy. The subtle smokiness and heat rises from the back of your throat, while the decadent gravy cohesively ties the package together. Comfort at its best. There was also Barbequed Short Ribs with caramelized baby carrots, sweet potato mash. Now that was the epitome of very tender, fall-off-the-bone, braised beef.

"There's always room for dessert." A Banana Cream Pie with caramelized banana, chocolate, caramel, toasted coconut. Pillowy and airy on the top, more fragrant, creamier and resolute in between, and a firm, substantive and hearty crust at the base, entangled by drizzles of sweet deliciousness.

In between breakfast and lunch

Nothing says weekend like waking up and going out for brunch in the city. My sister and I love getting brunch at Norma's, at Le Parker Meridien. We recently introduced my mom to this delicious feast! The wait is normally long on the weekend but luckily we made reservations and were seated promptly.

The portions are huge so we split two entrees and a side between the three of us, which was still too much food. We ordered "Irresistible Banana-Macadamia Nut Flap Jacks" served with Whipped Banana Brown Sugar Butter and "Scrambled Eggs and Bacon Breakfast Quesadilla" with Monterey Jack Cheese, Guacamole and Salsa. The banana flap jacks came with 3 large pancakes filled with fresh banana. I didn't even need to use any syrup. I can't wait to go back!

Hot, fresh baked goods

Ahhh, the anticipation of delicious, sugary sweetness rising in the oven. This night, there is a homemade Strawberry cake. Hot, steamy, irresistible. Plump on the outside, velvety goodness on the inside.

Big Apple BBQ in NYC

Attended this festival for the second year in a row today. The weather really turned out great, as droves of people showed up. My advice, buy the Fast Pass and go with a group of friends, it'll definitely save you countless wait time on those long lines for food. For pulled pork shoulder sandwiches, look no further than Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q. The meat was flavorful, succulent and tender. Just a dab of tangy BBQ sauce, and a side of spicy Southern mustard coleslaw to hit the spot.

Ain't nothing like homemade cooking

Dining in...Success on my first try at Grilled Skirt Steak w/Chimichurri Sauce and Sauteed Brandy Mushrooms


Perfectly seared, done medium-rare, mouth-wateringly juicy and as tender as it looks. This definitely holds it's own against any Argentinian steak house versions I've had.

TGIF!

Just what I need to start the weekend -- the perfect pina colada.