HB Eats: Le Fond, Brooklyn

Le Fond in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is a culinary dream come true for Chef Jake Eberle and I’m sure many of his diners, including me.  I’ve been looking forward to Chef Jake opening a restaurant since the first time I sampled his delicious food back in 2008 (my pre-blogging days!).  Since then I’ve followed him and his exciting take on food to great restaurants such as The Lamb’s Club.   I’m so thrilled that Jake finally got the opportunity to put his unique touch on French cuisine and create an inviting space to partake in the feast.

Le Fond’s setup is the perfect mash up of high-end dining meets rustic comfort.  Every inch exudes thoughtfulness and handcrafted detail, from the wooden serving tables built by Jake’s father to the ceramic bread plates and paintings made by local artists. But when you visit, don’t forget about all of the love put in the food.   

I wanted to order every appetizer on the menu, but narrowed my selection to the artic char, the foie gras terrine and the item that made my eyes light up upon viewing the menu:  the octopus.  After all, Chef Eberle was the first person who introduced me to the wonderful world of octopus and I haven’t looked back since.   The octopus was extremely beautiful and flavorful.  I could have eaten multiple dishes of this delicate treat.  I felt the same about the velvety smooth terrine, which spread amazingly on the accompanying toast.  The artic char is smoked in house, which was a perfect complement in the trio of apps.

My entrée selection was a bit trickier, because I was in the mood for chicken but I was worried that it wouldn’t be exciting enough, given the other great options.  Chef Jake assured me the chicken was a wonderful choice.  He was right, the chicken was perfectly moist throughout and topped with a crispy skin.  I was also impressed by the fun table-side pouring of chicken jus on my plate.  My dining companions enjoyed the Cassoulet and the Wild Striped Bass and raved about how excellent they were as well.

For dessert I knew exactly what to order from the previous photos that I had been drooling over on social media for weeks-- the maple grade ‘A’ beignets.  These little bites of heaven were in fierce competition for top dessert with the almond cake that tasted like the best Madeline cookie that I’ve ever had.  Overall, Chef Jake’s comfy play on French food went far beyond my high expectations.  Thanks for a great meal!  I’m so glad I now have another delicious reason to visit Brooklyn.  And so do you!

HB Eats: Toby's Public House - Brooklyn

Cozy. Friendly. Delicious… that’s Toby’s Public House in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  My good friend first introduced me to Toby’s when she had the pleasure of living just a stone’s throw from this awesome brick oven pizzeria and bar.  Years later when she sadly left New York for DC, her goodbye dinner was at Toby’s.  Now whenever she comes back to visit, a ceremonial stop to Toby’s is always on the itinerary.  Every time I eat at Toby’s the food seems to gets better and better.  On this recent trip, Toby’s was packed with happy patrons.  We chose to eat at the bar to avoid an unusually long table wait caused by the NFL playoffs.  This turned out to be an awesome decision thanks to the very nice bartender Mike, who doubled as our waiter. 

First we ordered a plate of Toby’s decadent mushroom ravioli.  It was served straight from the brick oven in a seasoned cast iron pan and topped with a luscious creamy black truffle sauce.  The dish was so good (and we were so hungry) that I didn’t take time to snap a pic.  I know it’s hard to believe!  Trust me, they looked and tasted fabulous and you should order them when you go!

After the ravioli, we had a tough time choosing which pizza to order since every pie on the menu sounded amazing.  My pick, and favorite, was the Proscuitto Di Parma with baby arugula, parmigiano reggiono, and olive oil.  We also had the Del Mac with sweet italian sausage and red onions, and the Quattro Stagioni with parma cotto ham, crimini mushroom, artichoke hearts, and olives.   All three thin crust pizzas were perfectly balanced and flavorful.  That was the first time that I remember actually having ham on pizza, and it was surprisingly tasty.

Since there is always room for dessert, I also shared a slice of light and fluffy key lime pie.  A perfect end to a great meal.

During my time at the bar I learned from Mike that Toby’s has a special beer club for discounts and specials.  You even get your own mug that hangs above the bar.  And if you can’t make it to Brooklyn, Toby’s has a second newer location in Little Italy.   I’ve heard that the pizza there is equally as delicious, so I can’t wait to try it one day soon!

HB Eats: Summertime wrap up - Ice cream, pizza, and po’boys!

Like most people I know, I’m in denial that the summer is almost officially over.  Luckily, most of the delicious food that I sampled over the last few months is available (in one form or another) year round:

1. Octopus Po’Boy @ LIC Flea and Food - Just in case you hadn’t heard, Queens is now home to its very own weekly food market and shopping festival, the LIC Flea and Food.  This diverse gathering of local merchants succeeds in transforming an empty lot, not far from the Queens waterfront, into a foodie destination.  After a few circles around the market, and much debate about what to try, I sampled and loved every bite of the maple bacon popcorn offered by Alobar, as well as their unique octopus po’boy -- move over lobster roll, there’s a new delicacy in town.  While I believe the sandwich is a LIC Flea special, you can also go straight to the source for other creative dishes at the nearby eateries themselves;

2.  Pizza pie @ Totonno’s - Totonno’s serves up fresh brick oven pies with your choice of traditional toppings.  You can feel the Coney Island history at Totonno’s simply by walking in the door, a door that is located just a few blocks from the iconic boardwalk.  This shop is a survivor, having suffered from a fire in 2009 and a through a post-Sandy shutdown.  The pizza could possibly be my favorite in New York, with its perfect balance of sauce, dough, and yummy mozzarella.   

Make sure to save room for dessert and stop by Williams Candy Shop on Surf Ave.  I couldn’t resist the bright blue and pink cotton candy hanging so beautiful around the store; and

3.  Ice cream sundae @ Eddie’s Sweet Shop - For another look at New York’s culinary past, check out Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Forest Hills, Queens.  Eddie’s is a neighborhood institution that has been owned by a number of different families since it was built in 1925.  While the original ice cream parlor wood finishes and décor were certainly a sight to see, I was also equally entranced by the large bowls of homemade whipped cream that they use for every sundae.  Nothing says indulgence like a few scoops of your favorite ice cream overflowing with delightful toppings.

I highly recommend checking out all of these destinations for a taste of summer fun!

HB Eats: Lunchtime Favorites in Lower Manhattan

Thanks to a new job downtown, I’ve recently had the delight of surveying a whole host of different lunch spots in and around the Financial District over the last few month.  Here are my top favorites so far!

Sushi: Bento - For quick and reliable sushi, check out Bento Sushi & Noodles on Broadway.  This place is always packed but the line (and the diners) move fast.

Burgers: Clark's Standard - From the same owner as P.J. Clarke's restaurant, this is the best burger that I’ve had in a long time.  Love the fries too! 

Vietnamese: Nicky’s – delicious banh mi sandwiches, summer rolls, and rice vermicelli.

                                     

Indian: Tandoor Palace - A no frills establishment with flavorful meat and veggie lunch boxes (and plenty of fresh naan!).

Mexican: Sabor de Mexico - A simple and tasty alternative to Chipotle (yes, there are tacos under the huge pile of toppings!).   

Thai: Aroy Dee Thai – Perfectly balanced Thai fried rice and other fun lunch specials. 

If you have a favorite lunch spot downtown, please let me know and I'll go check it out! 

HB Eats: Feel At Home at Doma Na Rahu

Looking for a delicious meal to start off 2013? I highly recommend heading to Doma Na Rohu.  The words “doma na rohu” mean “at home on the corner” in Czech, and that is exactly how you will feel in this cozy West Village restaurant and bar. Husband and wife team Michael and Evelyn Polesny opened the rustic, yet upscale Austro-Hungarian eatery in April of last year, and while the location is fairly new, the history behind Doma spans generations. The passionate owners have years of experience working in the restaurant industry, and bring with them culinary knowledge and family recipes lovingly passed down over time.

                                    

Serving up Doma's traditional plates with modern flare is Chef Jake Eberle, formerly of the Lamb’s Club.  Jake gave me the scoop on his kitchen offerings, with its delightful range of breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch options.  The restaurant also hosts a popular monthly pig roast, special neighborhood nights, and has a new late-night bar menu.  I have to admit that I was a little unsure of exactly what qualified as Austro-Hungarian food before my first visit last weekend.  Over the course of the evening I sampled a variety of dishes, all of which were delicious.   

The meal started out with a light kohlrabi salad with fresh croutons, brussel sprouts, and radishes followed by a Fisherman’s Stew made up of shrimp, mussels, and flounder.  The seafood melted in my mouth, as did the foie grois terrine with spiced walnuts, which came next.    

One of my favorite bites of the night was definitely the butternut squash spaetzle topped with fried sage leaves, which achieved a perfect balance of delicate buttery pasta and sweet squash.  I have tried spaetzle before, but none of that quality.  I finished off the main dishes with perfectly cooked duck and red cabbage served with Serviettenknödel (bread dumplings).  Jake shared with me that he infused the dumplings with a light cream to enhance the flavor and moistness.  For dessert I devoured the sachertorte, which was a rich and airy chocolate torte made of chocolate cake with apricot and chocolate icing, served with just enough whipped cream.  

I was blown away by my meal at Doma.  I even ordered a warm Bavarian pretzel to go because I just couldn't get enough. Not only were the food and beer great, but the owners and servers were very friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming and homey.  These are qualities that I cherish in a restaurant, especially in Manhattan.  I have to thank the whole Doma Na Rohu crew for making my first restaurant experience of the year a truly memorable one!

Doma Na Rahu, 27 1/2 Morton Street, New York, NY

HB Eats: The Lambs Club New York

I know a restaurant is truly unique if its atmosphere and food transport me to a different place and time. That’s what happened recently when I had the opportunity to dine at The Lambs Club. Hidden amongst the bustling streets of the Time Square area, inside the The Chatwal Hotel, is a culinary refuge owned by Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, of Food Network fame, and partners. This eatery, which opened in 2010, is named after the first-ever professional theatrical club “The Lambs” which was once housed in the landmark building. With its large maroon booths, gigantic fireplace, and celebrity portraits, The Lambs Club atmosphere is classic and sophisticated, but also very welcoming.

The restaurant is currently home to my friend and chef de cuisine, Jake Eberle, as well. Thanks to Chef Jake, I got the opportunity to sample some representative lunch and dinner items. I was definitely blown away. My favorites of Jake's specialties included the calamari with cucumbers and the braised short ribs. I usually shy away from calamari in most places, because unless it's cooked flawlessly it can taste like rubber. Well Jake has renewed my faith in the dish.  Meanwhile, the braised ribs were super tender, and I learned that it only took a few hours to cook them to perfection. The ribs were served two ways, over vegetables and stuffed inside yummy tortellini. A few other interesting facts about The Lambs Club are that the kitchen extrudes its own delicious gemelli pasta and serves up some tasty desserts. To my delight the cookie plate included an unexpected mix of pistachio biscotti, chocolate with sea salt, and mini strawberry macaroons. Overall the meal was a fun and memorable. Thanks again to Jake and the rest of the crew!

HB Eats: Salt & Fat for the New Year

Hi everyone!  It’s been a while since my last entry so I thought I would start out 2012 with a restaurant experience that promised to be over-the-top and delicious.  This mission brought me to SALT & FAT in Sunnyside, Queens.  It’s a charming little spot located on Queens Boulevard and 41st Street.  The chef and owner is Daniel Yi,  a Sunnyside native.  I received a preview of SALT & FAT’s inventive take on New American cuisine at the Taste of Sunnyside 2011, so I knew I was in for a real treat.

My meal started with braised pork belly tacos that were definitely my favorite dish of the night.  The pork was very tender and the flavors from the pickled onions, kimchi salsa, and queso fresco really popped together.   After the tacos, I shared the shrimp and grits and the fried chicken plates.  I loved the shrimp and bacon, but the grits were super creamy, especially when combined with the egg.  Therefore, if you don’t like creamy dishes I would skip this one.  My dining companion however loved the dish so much that he was basically licking the plate!  The fried chicken was cooked to perfection and a deep golden brown.  I preferred my chicken straight up, without the herb ranch dipping sauce, and I couldn’t get enough of the pickled daikon on the side.  That really balanced out the dish well.  

I have to emphasize that I was aiming to eat A LOT of salt and A LOT of fat on my trip, and I totally accomplished that.  Of course sometimes getting what you want can be a bit overwhelming, so it's good to know that even though the restaurant website  talks about small plates, not all small plates are created equal, and some dishes on the menu aren’t small at all!  For example, the fried chicken was half of a chicken! Our server was more than happy to help us navigate the delicious menu choices.  Hopefully next time I will save some room for dessert, because the Rice Krispies with marshmallow ice cream sounds amazing!

HB Eats: "Taste of Sunnyside 2"

I do believe that 2011 is the year of the food festival.  It seems like every week I am reading about or attending a new event highlighting local produce or restaurant fare. Yes, it's a great time to be a foodie in New York, and I was very excited to check out the second annual "Taste of Sunnyside" on October 18th in Sunnyside, Queens. The event was hosted by the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District and Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce. The diversity and vibrancy of Queens was well represented by over twenty restaurants from the Sunnyside and Woodside areas.

The action-packed evening was divided into two identical back-to-back 1 ½ hour tastings serving over 600 guests.  Organizers passed out Guest Pass dining cards that limited each participant to one sample per restaurant.  While this method seemed restrictive at first, it turned out to be a great way to keep track of what tastes the night had to offer, without overwhelming tables with repeat guests.  My favorite samples of the night came from De Mole, an authentic Mexican restaurant serving up shrimp ceviche on a corn tortilla chip, Copper Kettle’s comforting deconstructed chicken pot pie (the biscuit on top served as the crust), and Salt and Fat’s beautiful shrimp, corn, and carrot puree.   Other high points of the evening included Arriba Arriba’s delicious margaritas and Anise Fusion’s colorful carved watermelon sculpture (their Asian fusion food was great too).  I really got the sense that attendees had a wonderful time discovering new dishes and supporting local restaurants.  

Have you had a memorable experience at a local food festival?  I would love to hear about it!

HB Eats: Cruisin' Kitchen- Bringing the Kitchen To You

There’s a new food truck in town, and last week I had the opportunity to meet up with Keith Album, chef and owner of Cruisin’ Kitchen, in Manhattan.  When I first met Keith earlier in the year, his enthusiasm for the food business was contagious (not that I need much help in that department).  Keith has an impressive track record in the culinary world, having started his career as a bagel maker and part-owner of a deli/bagel shop in Forest Hills, Queens and later attending the French Culinary Institute. Since then he has worked in a variety of executive kitchens and ventures, but also had a dream of serving up great food in accessible settings.  Recently he has made that dream a reality by partnering up with former Ramones’ drummer Marky Ramone for his first foray into the food truck industry. 

Now Chef Keith and his crew serve up trattoria style eats out of a unique and rockin’ kitchen on wheels. The stars of the menu last week were Keith’s delicious homemade meatballs served with Marky Ramone’s signature marinara sauce.  The well-seasoned sauce was a nice compliment to the perfectly cooked meatball.  The side of cheese crisps was a fun and inventive way to soak up the sauce and balance the softness of the meatballs.   I can’t wait to sample more of Keith’s creations in the future!  You can follow the Cruisin’ Kitchen as it makes its way around the New York area on Twitter @Cruisin_Kitchen and Facebook.