Day 1001 : Monument Lane

Located on the corner of West 12th and Greenwich Avenue sits the locally sourced American restaurant -- Monument Lane. Inspired by the street's name back in the 1700s, this rustic yet inviting restaurant is covered in maps of the New York of yesteryear but the menu itself is very contemporary and strictly seasonal.

The menu itself is a melange of small bites, appetizers, entrees, cheeses and cured meats -- lots of dishes that sounded appealing that's for sure!

So what did we have?

We had a selection of three of their cheeses - all locally sourced and each more wonderful than the last. There was Vermont Creamery's Torus, the goat cheese roundelle with a cutout center that has a special place in my heart; Hudson Flower, the local aromatic bloomy rinded goddess modeled on the likes of Fleur du Macquis; and of course Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.

Apart from their cheeses - we split a few of their small bites - their crispy chickpeas, roasted baby beets with a dollop of yogurt and their grilled English peas. The chickpeas were the absolutely perfect snack for our glasses of Vermentino but what wowed significantly more was their grilled English peas - flavorful and dynamic yet rustic and aromatic. The meal was off to a good start!

We then split a few of their salads  -- first of their Kale and Escarole salad topped with a soft poached egg, croutons, local Grana Padano and an anchovy vinaigrette. Simple yet flavorful - it's pretty hard to go wrong with kale in my mind! Next up, their Red Jacket Fuji apple salad with Vermont cheddar, wild arugula, red onion, and ramp vinaigrette. A classic combination made local and seasonal that delighted on the palate - fanciful and light! And last up we had their spring vegetable salad which was composed of watermelon radish, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onion and a lemon vinaigrette. A simple clean celebration of springtime in vegetable form.

Overall, a lovely meal at a warm and welcoming locally sourced tavern that's definitely worth a trip back for.

Monument Lane

103 Greenwich Avenue

NYC

Day 989 : Brunch at dell'anima

Opened close to six years ago, this neighborhood joint named after "of the soul," in Italian, is always packed with folks looking to enjoy some of the simple yet elegant and flavorful Italian dishes on offer. In the warmer months, there's sidewalk seating right behind the restaurant on a quiet and quaint stretch of West Fourth Street. In the chillier months, step on in to the small yet warm and friendly space for excellent dishes.

Yesterday, after a seventeen mile run, it was time to try their wonderful brunch which Fromagical had yet to experience. Their brunch menu was inventive yet warming and comforting -- a melange of salads, pastas, egg dishes along with a selection of creative cocktails.

Start with a Dell 38, inspired by a French 75 -- this refreshing and light cocktail is composed of fennel infused gin, lemon juice and sparkling wine. A cocktail after my heart!

And what of their food offerings?

First off -- their homemade ricotta topped with honey and pine nuts was just the perfect beginning to the meal. Served with grilled bread, this bright milky Italian classic young cheese was a delight.

Looking for something refreshing? Then try their Seasonal Fruit Salad with yogurt, basil and mint. Crisp and flavorful yet light and fanciful!

Maybe you were looking for something more brunchy?

Well then Fromagical recommends the Uova Fungi composed of two poached eggs, sauteed cremini mushrooms, creamy polenta and Parmesan. Rustic and earthy yet warming and comforting -- just what one wants in a brunch dish. Perhaps you don't like poached eggs, then go with their frittata composed of kale, red onions, charred fennel and Pecorino topped with a small melange of arugula and other greens. Flavorful and dynamic yet simple and satisfying, you can't go wrong here!

Overall - a truly enjoyable meal at a fun and lively joint. The perfect beginning to my Sunday afternoon.

dell'anima
38 8th Avenue
NYC

Day 958 : Brunch at Baracca

Located on the corner of Greenwich and Bank is Barraca, a Valencian joint opened by Jesus Nunez, originally of Graffit / Gastroarte. Opened approximately three months ago, it is a lovely new addition to the Greenwich Avenue dining options.

Walking through the door, one is greeted with a bright rustic yet sleek farmhouse room complete with Spanish pop playing in the background. The brunch menu was a lovely mix of classic egg dishes, salads, tapas, copas or Spanish style flatbreads, sandwiches, entrees and more. On Saturdays and Sundays for brunch, they offer $3 mimosas and bloody mary's to go along with their brunch offerings.

So what did we have?

Well I decided to go more lunch than brunch and we started by splitting their grilled octopus served with baby potatoes and apples in a roasted red pepper and tomato sauce with pimenton de la vera. Rustic with hints of spice yet light and flavorful, this was a lovely yet simple preparation of one of my favorite shellfish. Not at all heavy handed this dish was a celebration of the warmth of the octopus and tomato sauce -- perfect for a grey January day,

Up next I had their grilled kale salad served with grilled zucchini, Manchego cheese, apricot compote, and roasted pumpkin seeds. This sweet and savory melange of flavors highlighted the best qualities of each of the ingredients and created a perfect flavor dance on one's palate. Vegetal and green yet sweet and round, this salad was a unique combination of flavors that totally worked.

Overall, a lovely meal and a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning and exploring other dishes on the menu.

Baracca

81 Greenwich Avenue

Day 950 : Vacation Day Cheeses

I feel fortunate to have the pleasure of having the week between Christmas and New Year's off, it is one of my favorite times to have a staycation in Manhattan -- see friends; catch those movies and museum shows that I never seem to have the time to see; relax and read; and most of all take advantage of all of the wonderful pleasures the city I call home has to offer!

How often do you get to enjoy seeing a movie at 11am on a weekday or sit and chat over a glass of wine and cheese with a close friend in the middle of the afternoon? It sure is a treat!

If you're having a staycation, then I surely recommend stopping by Avoce in the Time Warner Center for a selection of their cheeses. At $19 for five different Italian cheeses with individual compote pairings, it is an excellent deal and surely don't forget the complimentary ricotta and homemade foccacia that comes along with.

Of the cheeses currently available - I recommend having the following five cheeses :

Sottocenere - Hailing from Veneto, this cow's milk cheese is infused with black truffles and aged on its exterior with nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, licorice, cloves and fennel. Paired with a grappa raisin puree. The cheese is elegant and sleek, rustic and earthy yet round and flavorful -- a holiday treat!

Gorgonzola Dolce - The classically fantastic Italian cow's milk blue that is both approachable, luscious, and round yet spicy and dynamic. Appeals to the blue cheese lover and novice all at once. This was served with honeycomb to add a naturally earthy sweetness to the blue.

Asiago d'allevo - Aged Italian cow's milk cheese - we all know it, we all love it. Quite the versatile sort! Paired with a green olive tapenade to bring out the vegetal rustic characteristics of the cheese.

La Tur - One of my all time favorite Italian creamsters composed of a mixture of goat, sheep, and cow's milk, this is decadence in a morsel. Round and unctuous, this cheese begs a glass of bubbles to go along with it. Served with homemade pistachio brittle to provide a crunch and texture to the milky cheesy paste.

Pecorino Oro Antico - Aged sheep's milk cheese with a deep nutty, caramelly, butterscotchy bent and an all around fabulous winter feel. Great with a glass of red wine! This was paired with homemade Pinoli Butter to accentuate the nuttiness of the cheese.

Overall the perfect place of an afternoon staycation glass of wine and cheese!

Day 945 : Brunch at Jacob's Pickles

The Upper West Side is not want of brunch spots that's for sure -- there's your classic diners, your upscale dining experiences, the neighborhoody joints, the new places that are trying to stand out from the crowd, you name it, you can find it on the Upper West.

One of my favorite new-ish places in the neighborhood is Jacob's Pickles. Named after the owner, Jacob, and inspired by Southern cuisine but with locally sourced ingredients and an extensive beer selection, house cured pickles and homemade biscuits, it is a warm and inviting spot with a rustic feel. 

The brunch menu is a mixture of Southern classics, biscuit sandwiches, egg based dishes and much more.

We of course had to start with a selection of pickles : sweet & spicy carrots, sour green tomatoes, thyme jalapenos, and their sweet and sour pickles. Looking for a wake-me-up on a Sunday morning, definitely have a jalapeno -- it is guaranteed to make your eyes water and stimulate your senses. In the mood for something less in your face, their homemade sweet and sour pickles were to die for -- fresh, crunchy and flavorful -- these will bring a smile to any pickle lover out there.

But what of their non-brine orientated options?

I had their Veggie-Cheese Omelette with egg whites of course. The omelette was composed of mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes and aged Vermont Cheddar. Traditionally served with home fries, I instead had their mixed green salad. The omelette was delish -- not heavy handed as you can sometimes find in traditional brunch cuisine, each vegetable was allowed to sing and the cheese added the perfect creamy touch. You could truly taste the rustic meaty qualities of the mushrooms and the vegetal herbaceousness of the asparagus and the spinach along with the bright juiciness of the tomatoes.  A great start to a rainy Sunday morning.

A welcome addition to the dining options of the Upper West Side -- welcoming and friendly with reliably satisfying food and drink. But know if you are going for brunch, go before Noon if you want to avoid the wait. 

Jacob's Pickles

509 Amsterdam Ave

Day 941 : Lunch at A Voce Columbus

This weekend was a blur of holiday parties full of good cheer, good drinks, good friends, good food, and of course good cheese! But in the process, we fell a little behind in our cheese musings and for that my dear friends, I am sorry.

It's catch up time!!

Lets rewind the clocks back to Saturday afternoon and lunch at AVoce Columbus Circle. Located at the other end of the third floor corridor of the Time Warner Center as my other local favorite, Landmarc. Elegant and sleek with a warm inviting atmosphere, this rustic yet elevated, inventive Italian restaurant looks out onto Central Park and currently the Public Art Fund's Discovering Columbus exhibition.

The room was a-buzz with holiday cheer on Saturday -- friends enjoying a late brunch; families enjoying a little midday nibble; those in from out of town trying this well regarded restaurant; couples in the holiday mood toasting the season and many others.

We started with their complimentary homemade whipped ricotta topped with olive oil, chili, sea salt, and parsley served with homemade foccacia. Fresh, creamy, and delish, this is such a nice interpretation of the classic bread and butter or bread and olive oil to start off the meal.

I had their funghi al forno dish -- a beautifully composed plate of roasted trumpet royal mushrooms, fonduta, mache, and roasted hazelnuts. Rustic yet refined, flavorful yet simple and perfectly seasonal. Great with the glass of Nero D'Avola I was enjoying.

We of course had to split their brussels sprouts contorni served with chili, lemon, and shaved pecorino. Warm and comforting yet with a dynamic bright depth and very well balanced.

Overall - a delish meal with stunning views of Central Park in a cozy yet sophisticated environment. It is always a pleasure to visit A Voce Columbus.

A Voce Columbus
Time Warner Center
3rd Floor
NYC

Day 933 : Brunch / Lunch at Print

Fromagical hopes everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend and apologizes about her silence. Stay tuned today for lots of catch up! So lets get right to it!

Located on 11th avenue and 48th street in no-man's land of car dealerships is the Ink 48 hotel, opened approximately two years ago, this hotel is a hidden gem -- rooftop bar views of the Hudson in warmer months at Press lounge and farm to table cuisine in their lobby restaurant at Print. Due to its location, both Print and Press seem to function right below the radar in a good way.

Walking into Print, you are greeted with a warm and inviting room full of natural touches. The menu is a celebration of farm to table cuisine from the region.

To start off, we split their Fall Vegetable Salad which a melange of carrots, parsnips, romanesco cauliflower, radishes, endive, and radicchio. Light yet flavorful, this truly was a celebration of Fall's bounty.

Then we split their frittata, egg whites instead for us, with goat's cheese, roasted tomatoes, basil pesto, and a mixed green salad served with grilled bread. A classic combination of flavors done well with just the right amount of tangy citrusy brightness from the goat's milk cheese with a nice aromatic herbaceous-ness from the basil pesto and a juicy fruity forwardness from the tomatoes.

We also split their stuffed carnival squash with roasted sunchokes, hen of the woods mushrooms, chestnuts, and seasonal vegetables served in a truffle sauce. Sound a little bit like an extension of our salad? Perhaps right? Our first reaction was wow!

And that was definitely due to the presentation! The mushrooms, sunchokes, and seasonal vegetables were absolutely lovely but we found the squash itself to be needing to be dialed up in terms of its flavor profile somewhat -- perhaps a little more herbs here and a little more roasting there. But overall, when enjoyed all together in one bite, this vegetarian celebration of Fall's bounty came together nicely and boy was it beautiful to look at.

Looking for a nice quiet place to grab a bite on the far west side, this is your place. Perhaps you're going to see a Broadway play and you wanted to have dinner before out of the hussel and bussel of the theatre district or have brunch before heading down to Chelsea -- Print is a lovely option.

Print Restaurant @ the Ink 48 Hotel

653 11th Avenue

Day 931 : The Smith Lincoln Center

Location : 63rd and Broadway, in the old Josephina space, kind of diagonally across the street from Lincoln Center and down the block from the Boulud's, that is Bar, Epicerie, and Sud. Opened just over a week ago, branch number three of the casual American brasserie / gastro-pub that originated in the East Village.  Think that local neighborhoody gastro bistro in the Marais or even in the 10th arrondissement but situated on the corner of 63rd and Broadway.
 
The menu is a melange of soups, salads, entrees, pastas, burgers, and the such. Elevated gastro pub food in a fun yet casual and lively environment. A nice selection of wines, cocktails and beers as well, if you fancy a tipple.

So what did we have?

We split their Burrata appetizer served with homemade pesto, fried red peppers, tomato jam and toasted ciabatta. This was delicious and sumptuous burrata -- luscious, creamy, and sensually fabulous. Just the way Burrata should be.

We also split their Tuna Tartar appetizer served with jalapenos and black sesame. Tangy and flavorful, this was a clean and simple interpretation of a classic.

Lastly we split a side of their brussels sprouts which were lovely. Confession - I am having a love affair with brussels sprouts right now. Well, lets be clear, every year when late Fall rolls around, my mind goes to roasted brussels sprouts, there's just something so satisfying about them -- rustic and comforting yet vegetal and fabulous. They bring a smile to my face and at the Smith, they did just so.

Overall, a selection of small tastes of their menu which were quite tasty. I look forward to returning to try a more extensive selection of their dishes.

The Smith Lincoln Center location has the perfect downtown meets uptown feel. Full of bubbly chatter and crowds of people, it is exactly what the neighborhood needs if you ask me.

The Smith
1900 Broadway
NYC

Day 927 : Dinner at the NoMad

The NoMad hotel and restaurant opened earlier this year to great acclaim with that downtown chic vibe mixed with an air of uptown elegance -- a few blocks away from the Ace Hotel nestled between the perfume and electronic shops on Broadway in the 20's. The hotel's restaurant is helmed by Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park and is meant to be the more casual sibling to his established fine dining restaurant nearby.
Warm and inviting with a lively buzz, the restaurant was divided into two main rooms -- the parlour and the atrium, along with a sleek and sensual bar in the back and a cozy library room space where one could enjoy a drink and a bite. We had the pleasure of being seated at a small round table in the parlour, considered to be one of the quieter areas as sound tends to be amplified in the atrium.

Enough about the space, what about the food?

To start we split three of their appetizers :

First up was their radicchio salad with apples, basil and mozzarella. A unique combination of classic ingredients with an inventive and dynamic flair. The round milkiness of the mozzarella cut right through the vegetal bitterness of the radicchio to form a perfect beginning to the meal.

Along with this salad we had their roasted cauliflower with grapes, cheddar, and marcona almonds. Rustic and warming yet delicate and delightful -- an elegant autumnal delight of flavors.

Lastly we had their tuna prepared two ways -- tartar and tuna belly, served with preserved lemon, Parmesan and kale. Sensual and round with a crisp brightness, this creative appetizer showcased Humm's artistry with flavor combinations.

But perhaps my favorite part of the meal was my roasted butternut squash main. Served roasted with green apple, quinoa, and hen of the woods mushrooms, it was the perfect celebration of Fall encapsulated in a dish. A portion of the quinoa was left crunchy which provided the dish with the most interesting textural dance on your palate. Flavorwise -- the dish was savory and rustic yet elegant and refined.

Each dish was composed with a keen intellect for flavor combinations and boy did they delight! Humm's more casual joint and the NoMad hotel are a welcome addition to the New York dining scene -- an excellent meeting of uptown and downtown in midtown...

The NoMad
1170 Broadway

Day 926 : Birthday Lunch at Vitae

Wow, what a week! A true whirlwind! Unfortunately in that whirlwind, my Fromagical musings fell by the wayside, but fret not my dear friends, we are playing massive amounts of catchup now. Let's continue with the birthday celebrations and today highlight a lunch with a close friend at Vitae.

Vitae opened earlier this year in Midtown, on 46th street, right off of 5th avenue to be precise. Refined cuisine focusing on local and fresh ingredients in a retro yet sleek and warm environment. Inconspicuous on the exterior, walking in one feels like they have turned back the time to the Mad Men era of martini lunches and pencil skirts yet with a contemporary current feel.

The menu was a nice elegant melange of salads, soups, salads, and entrees with a focus on the quality of the ingredients. So what did we have?

Well nothing says a birthday lunch without a glass of celebratory bubbles, right?

With our bubbles, we split two lovely appetizers and their cheese selection. 

First up was their seared diver scallop served with cauliflower, golden raisins and cashews and topped with a Thai curry sauce.  Delicate, sensuous, inventive, and subtle with a rustic sweetness. A beautiful flavor combination that brought to light each and every of ingredient in the dish. We were off to a great start!

What was next?

Their grilled octopus, with roasted celeriac and apple topped with pickled celery hearts. A warm and comforting dish yet sleek and refined. The roasted apple paired with the grilled octopus was a unique and bold preparation that delighted. 

The perfect blend of rustic and inventive, classic yet creative dishes and then there was of course their cheese selection! Their cheeses were a mixture of local producers like the Rainbow Ridge Meriden, a firm cow's milk cheese, along with overseas greats like Gorgonzola, Prefere de Montages and a Fiore Sardo. 

Not familiar with Prefere de Montages? 

Are you a fan of Reblochon? The absolutely decadent washed rind creamy French stinker? Then you need to try this cheese. Hailing from the Rhone-Alps, this cow's milk round is round, buttery, creamy yet rustic, barnyardy, and fabulously stinky. Great with a glass of big, bold, red wine! 

Overall, a lovely meal with a great friend in a new place in Midtown that's worth the trip whether its for a business lunch, a pre-theatre meal, or a quiet dinner. 

Vitae

4 East 46th Street

Day 925 : Birthday Dinner at Marea

Just east of Columbus Circle, on Central Park South, sits Michael White's homage to seafood -- Marea. Meaning 'tide,' in Italian, this elegant yet discreet, warm and welcoming restaurant is one of the city's loveliest fine dining spots, at least in my humble opinion. This past Monday, I had the pleasure of dining there as a pre-birthday dinner and boy what a treat.

The menu features a selection of crudos, an extensive offering of oysters, fish centric appetizers, White's infamous pastas, and entrees from the land and sea.

We started off the evening right with glasses of fabulous pink bubbles in the form of Franciacorta Brut Rose. Crafted with 100% Pinot Noir Grapes, this crisp, dry and bright sparkling hailing from Lombardy is an absolute delight. With a bouquet of summertime peaches, roses, cranberry, honey, and toasty nutty notes, we were off to a great beginning.

So what did I have?

I started off with their Nova Scotia Lobster, Burrata, Eggplant al funghetto, and basil antipasti which was bright and flavorful with a fantastically decadent sumptuous roundness. A bold and inventive combination of flavors that just hit it out of the ballpark. Each morsel just melted in your mouth in the most sensual of manners. Great with the crisp, bright acidity of the Franciacorta.

It was going to be hard to top that but the following course was just as beautiful in a completely different rustic and earthy, yet big and bold manner. Next up I had the grilled octopus with smoked potatoes, pickled red onions, radish, chilies and tonnato. Confession -- I absolutely adore octopus and if its on a menu at a restaurant, I will more than likely order it. This preparation was elegant and bursting with flavor.

After these two delicious courses, what was next on the four course tasting?

The Florida Red snapper served with seasonal squash, mustard greens, radish, pumpkin seeds and Parmesan. A bold combination of flavors composed in a beautiful manner.

To finish up -- no candles and singing thank you very much but instead a selection of Italian cheeses including La Tur, Caciocavallo, Pecorino, Blu del moncenisio and more.

An elegant and inventive celebratory meal at a wonderful restaurant. What a great way to kick off my birthday! Stay tuned tomorrow for two other birthday meals!

Marea
240 Central Park South