Kerry, this was stellar, and nicely accompanied (and even threatened to upstage) the 2001 Lafite Rothschild we popped open (wedding gift 5 years ago!). Really easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Remarkably good spring dish too--definitely not too heavy. We did over TJ's red quinoa and served with a light mache and radish salad. Followed with a not-so-light strawberry rhubarb pie.
Next time, I'm making double and turning the leftovers into tacos.
I'll try not to be overly defensive of my beloved neighborhoord (oft unfairly deemed the culinary armpit of Manhattan), but I think we're quite lucky in terms of Mexican cuisine. Not only do we have the Cocina Economica (which I'm excited to try, even if it did replace RECIPE, which is sorely missed), we also have great options like Cafe Frida, Great Burrito (where you can find a seriously amazing tamale (mole or verde)), and the newly opened Oaxaca Taqueria.
In fact that whole stretch of Amsterdam has really improved. Now if only they would re-open Recipe! We're seriously lacking good, reasonably priced, farm-to-table fare for date nights.
Fatty Crab = one of the best happy hours on the UWS (I admit I prefer the sliders there to Shake Shack's). I almost hate to mention it, but I love the place so, and it's a much needed addition to the neighborhood.
@JustinH, try a deeper baking dish or a smaller, free-range chicken. I tend to buy ones under 3lb and they give off less fat/smoke
Agree the Keller recipe is perfection. I only wish I had multiple ovens so I could make for dinner parties more often (that is the problem with a smaller chicken)
Meant to add: I love this new feature. Very handy (not to mention self-satisfying for those of us that live in the featured 'hoods!)
Love seeing the neighborhood so nicely rounded up! This reminds me I have not had T&R pizza in way too long. Glad to see I'm not the only one who enjoys it. One place I'd add is Great Burrito (on the ever-more ubiquitous Amsterdam b/t 79 & 80). I don't love their tacos or burritos, but their specials are fabulous (tamales, chilaquiles) and excellent guac. Can't say I enjoyed Boulud Sud. Far too pricey for the resulting dish ($34 for four silver dollar-sized slices of lamb tenderloin over a meager spread of eggplant for example). I would do Telepan or Dovetail instead.
I have such an addiction to sour cherry pie--thanks in part to my mother--thank you for featuring it! Recently tried to enter one in a competition and alas, failed (see my user name link for the whole sad tale). But, I remain convinced that sour cherry pie, particularly warm sour cherry pie with vanilla ice (or creme fraiche for something even more delightfully sour) is dessert's greatest gift to humanity.
For those New Yorkers trying to hunt down canned/jarred sour cherries in the off season: Trader Joe's and Pioneer (a bit sketchy, but great beer selection) reliably carry the jarred sour cherries. Note that Citarella, Food Emporium (at least the one on the UWS) and Fairway do NOT, so don't even bother trying to wade through the crowds at the latter to try and locate some. And naturally every other major grocery chain outside of NY carry them in either the fruit or pie aisle. I think the canned ones do a great job, but there is nothing like the color, taste, and texture of fresh. I found the oxo cherry pitter did a very good job, but the shield is pretty pointless, and yes, don't wear anything nice if you go the pitter route. The web-recommended "paper clip" method pretty much sucked.
All hail Lady M! Want this so badly--particularly the banana. I know my foodie cousins in Oahu would die for something that approximates Lady M--any recs on the islands?
[Side note: For our wedding, we ordered 10 of the mille crepe cakes, which ended up being more economical than your standard wedding cake and oh-so-much more our style (this was during the cupcake-as-wedding cake craze too, so I think it was a refreshing change). Hoping to get to Ippudo soon for some miso ramen and mille crepe cake for dessert (bless them, they carry it)]
Yay! You posted my strawberry pie! Thank you for including it. If you want, you can read more about that night's food exploits with 311 on my blog (link in profile). Since making this one, I've tried out Kenji's "science of pie dough" recipe, which makes a killer crust (as advertised of course).
Thank god for this addition to the neighborhood. I particularly love the woman up front, who is always ready with a recommendation and willing to make an adjustment (for example, they've swapped normal tofu for fried and I think even made my mother a custom ordered bean sprouts dish). True, not as spicy as some of the other sichuan places, but still challenging. Considering this is now our go-to take-out place, that's probably not a terrible thing. The House Spicy Beef Noodle Soup was a particularly excellent remedy to allergy induced sinus headaches this spring. Has anyone tried the hot pots in the restaurant? That's next on our list.
Grom + Beard Papa = instant profiteroles/instant magic. I can't tell you how many points you win as dinner guests.
Also-rans: Bin 71 for lunch/brunch (crazy at night, but lovely during the day), Barcibo, newly-opened Saravanas for dosa, Grand Sichuan if you're in the mood (near Hummus place),
Cynar does actually make quite a nice negroni, but I prefer it on the rocks with a dash of orange bitters. It's particularly refreshing right now with the spring weather. The bitterness also seems to have a good affect on my hay fever. Or maybe that's wishful thinking.
Yay--A question about my neighborhood!
I highly suggest eating dinner at the bars in any of the nicer restaurants in the area (no need for a reservation). Chances are you'll be able to spend about $30 for dinner on an appetizer or two and a drink.
I'd suggest getting appetizers at the bar at Fatty Crab (broadway and 77th) (nothing goes better with their "fatty sliders" than PBR in a can for $3), Cafe Frida for truly excellent mexican on 77th and Columbus (again, sit at the bar), and Salumeria Rosi for cured meats and wine (Amsterdam and 73rd). If you want to splurge, Dovetail does an excellent Sunday Supper for $38 (on Sundays, of course!)--they also have a great bar. I believe Telepan does as well (69th and Columbus), but check. Both may be a bit too fussy for your taste.
Wine bars with food:
Barcibo Enoteca 69th and Broadway
Bin 71 (columbus and 71--also one of my favorite quiet brunch spots on weekends. Always a seat. Good panini)
Burgers, pizza, and pubs, and cheap eats:
burger and a beer at the "Amsterdam Ale House (formerly Westside Brewery) on 76th and Amsterdam, or follow the trend and go to Shake Shack (Manhattan's In and Out) on Columbus and 77th
Patsy's for pizza on Columbus and 76th (no delivery or slices--but they do have "individual pizzas)
or Rigoletto for pizza (Columbus and 70th)
I like Maoz for their falafel boxes (Broadway and 70th)
Aroma Cafe on 72nd between b-way and columbus has good sandwiches I'm told and free wifi
Dessert
Gellato at Grom on Broadway and 77th (or thereabouts)
Cupcakes at Magnolia on 69th and Amsterdam (another trend)
I second recommendations for:
Levain cookies
Beard Papa cream puffs
Grandaisy
Zabars
Barney Greengrass
La Caridad
Putting together a picnic and eating in the park (either Riverside or Central Park)
Finally, Harry's Burritos has a happy hour if you're looking for a cheap margarita to unwind with (but don't eat there!)
And the boat basin cafe at the 79th Street Boat basin (79th and hudson river) is a good place to get a sandwich and a drink and watch the river. Not great food, but you can't beat the location.
Just wanted to say I made the Ina Garten recipe that PumpkinBear recommended. They were awesome! I did double the pecans and used dried cherries instead of raisins. Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm planning on having many more brunches so I can try all of them!
I'm not sure if smoked whitefish is always Haddock. You would have to ask. If you're looking for the equivalent of Finnan Haddie, the only place I've found it is Citarella (and every supermarket in Maine). Russ and Daughters, Zabar's, and Fairway do not carry it--or at least they didn't when I was looking in December.
I didn't have a good experience here, unfortunately. I found the paella (Valencia I believe) greasy and not terribly flavorful. The tapas are a bit bland as well and quite expensive considering what you get. (Boqueria is actually a better deal I think). That said, these lunch boxes look pretty awesome and I'm wondering if I should give it another try...
This is excellent to know. It sounds like should the best thing to do is supplement the microwave/convec with a large countertop convection oven if I can't reconfigure the kitchen and put in an in-wall convection oven.
I want to know how many readers are making roast chicken tonight. I sure am!
This is excellent advice. I shall be heading to the Trader Joe's directly (of course, the one in Manhattan is typically out of food, but I will try!)
Tortillas
Cheese
These two items have made my life infinitely better
I've been meaning to start making batches of steel-cut oatmeal and bringing it to work. But somehow, I worry it's going to "go bad" by the end of the week (or get too gloppy and lose its bite). Does that happen? Does anyone have any good recession-friendly suggestions for the top-shelf oatmeal lover?
@cyberoo Damp Potholders, I've suffered from their ill effects time and time again. (It's just a little damp, it's still a pot holder, surely I'll be fine. Stupid.) Young and frustrated, I tried to finish opening a can of Crisco with my hand, after the can opener had failed halfway. That did not go well.
Mustard, gruyere, and butter assembled on good white bread and then toasted in one of those lovely croque-monsieur presses that turns an ordinary sandwich into a seashell of hot, gooey, delightfulness.
I'm thinking of just doing a creme anglaise, but I'd love to be a bit more creative. Not sure a whiskey sauce would work. Any thoughts?
(This is for dinner tonight. Waiting until the last minute as usual!)
Thanks serious seriouseaters!
Well, my summer batch of Santa Rosa plum preserves ran out and I'm looking for the next thing. Anyone do persimmon preserves or jam? I am wondering which kind to use (Fuyu or Hachiya). I will probably just freeze, since I worry about my sterilization techniques (and I like a less sweet jam). Any thoughts?
Any top recommendations?
I would love to make terrific pecan rolls for a brunch tomorrow, but I fear I don't have the time or space to do it. Does anyone have any low-maintenance recipes? Or, barring, that, any nutty, delicious breakfast "bread" I could make instead?
Mr. Duckwise (Drakewise?) and I are off to Bermuda for a spring getaway. We're staying in town (Hamilton) and need some good restaurant recommendations. I will say we enjoy eating in bars of good restaurants so we can a.) eat well, but not feel guilty about splitting entrees or just ordering appetizers; b.) drink with abandon; and c.) sit next to each other. Cheap eats and fine dining options are welcome as well!
Let me preface this with the fact that I am an oven fanatic. Almost everything I like to cook uses either the oven or the broiler. My husband and I are thinking of moving and I've been surprised that so many renovated kitchens (really nice kitchens) have eschewed a traditional range for a cooktop (which makes sense) and an over the "range" convection microwave. Is it possible that one of these gadgets can actually replace a traditional oven? Or were the owners more interested in saving space than doing oven-specific tasks (like roasting a pork shoulder for three hours or broiling fish)? What say you serious eaters? Should that be a deal breaker for us?
My husband and I bonded over our love of all things food--from the "best" pie in Maine to the delights of ssam. Four years in, we've discovered discovered another shared, albeit closeted, love: fish sticks. I will preface this by saying my mother, who filled my lunch bags in the 80s with leftover veal sandwiches and this remarkable grain called "cous cous," would occasionally bring home a Stouffer's chicken pot pie (which I still love)--so I'm not entirely resistant to buying frozen prepared food stuffs. In fact, I love the Alexia line. That said, I wants some fish sticks, but the adult in me hesitates to buy Mrs. Pauls or Gordons. Should I just suck it up? Or can any of you serious eaters recommend a more "organic" or, heck "lower-sodium" brand to quench our craving? And can the rest of you forgive my taste?
After finally finding a crust I like (thank you Mark Bittman), I'm ready to branch out from my typical sour-cherry pie filling (also, I have the hardest time finding sour cherries--canned or frozen--in NYC. So annoying). My husband, I know, would love a strawberry rhubarb pie--but I need a good recipe recommendation. We like things tart (but not too tart!) and not too mushy. I'm willing to branch out from strawberries too. (And I'm totally trying that pie-in-a-jar thing. Best invention ever.) I'd love to hear suggestions you brilliant folks might have!
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Quick follow up: we finally had the pleasure of trying Cocina Economica. (We ordered. In typical LAND style, it arrived in about 5 minutes and everything was hot and perfectly cooked.) Anyway, it was delicious. Took your advice about the shrimp and pork shoulder, and we were both really pleased. The habanero salsa should come with a warning though! Glad to have them in our neighborhood.