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A Taste of Bergamo in New York – Italy's Da Vittorio makes a splash in Manhattan

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Taste of Bergamo in New York – Italy’s Da Vittorio makes a splash in Manhattan

BY ELENA MANCINI

Solid, riveting haute Italian cuisine was the toast of Soho last week via Chefs Enrico (Chicco) and Roberto (Bobbo) Cerea and their cooking workshop at the International Day of Italian Cuisines hosted at the Italian Culinary Academy in Manhattan. The brother-chef team brought the uniquely refined tastes of their three-star rated Michelin restaurant-spa, Da Vittorio Relais & Chateaux in Bergamo to a room full of cooking students, foodies, restaurantuers and media types.

The Cerea Brothers: Chefs Bobbo and Chicco of Da Vittorio Relais & Chateux, Bergamo, Italy

The Cerea Brothers: Chefs Bobbo and Chicco of Da Vittorio Relais & Chateux, Bergamo, Italy

After a twenty minute technical glitch induced delay, the fifty or so attendees were extended a warm welcome by Italian Culinary Academy  Dean and Chef-Owner of Salumeria Rosi, Cesare Casella, who was donning a chef smock accessorized with his signature  rosemary flair. Casella gave a gracious but informal introduction to the Cerea brothers, Chicco (Enrico) and Bobbo (Roberto), underscored their reputation in the European culinary world and emphasized the prestige and significance of the three-star Michelin distinction awarded to their family-run restaurant-spa, da Vittorio. [Read more...]

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A Taste of Bergamo in New York – Italy’s Da Vittorio makes a splash in Manhattan

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Taste of Bergamo in New York – Italy’s Da Vittorio makes a splash in Manhattan

BY ELENA MANCINI

Solid, riveting haute Italian cuisine was the toast of Soho last week via Chefs Enrico (Chicco) and Roberto (Bobbo) Cerea and their cooking workshop at the International Day of Italian Cuisines hosted at the Italian Culinary Academy in Manhattan. The brother-chef team brought the uniquely refined tastes of their three-star rated Michelin restaurant-spa, Da Vittorio Relais & Chateaux in Bergamo to a room full of cooking students, foodies, restaurantuers and media types.

The Cerea Brothers: Chefs Bobbo and Chicco of Da Vittorio Relais & Chateux, Bergamo, Italy

The Cerea Brothers: Chefs Bobbo and Chicco of Da Vittorio Relais & Chateux, Bergamo, Italy

After a twenty minute technical glitch induced delay, the fifty or so attendees were extended a warm welcome by Italian Culinary Academy  Dean and Chef-Owner of Salumeria Rosi, Cesare Casella, who was donning a chef smock accessorized with his signature  rosemary flair. Casella gave a gracious but informal introduction to the Cerea brothers, Chicco (Enrico) and Bobbo (Roberto), underscored their reputation in the European culinary world and emphasized the prestige and significance of the three-star Michelin distinction awarded to their family-run restaurant-spa, da Vittorio. [Read more...]

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A Turkish-Med delight – A review of Bistrouge

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Turkish-Med delight – A review of Bistrouge

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Bistrouge
432 East 13th Street
 East Village
 212-677-2200/bistrouge.com

I was excited walking into Bistrouge.  It was a cozy little hole in the wall complete with a bar, a small open kitchen, exposed brick walls, and red leather banquets.  The crew, including the visible kitchen staff were young, no older than 30 years old.  My boyfriend and I were promptly greeted by our friendly waitress who can only be described as cute.  Everything down to her lovely accent (somewhere out of the Netherlands perhaps) was charming, sweet, and sincere.  She presented us with our menus, simple parchment paper on clip boards and scurried around the corner to her waitress station out of sight.

“Tender” lamb skewers at Bistrorouge - Photo by Carolyn Onofrey

“Tender” lamb skewers at Bistrorouge - Photo by Carolyn Onofrey

The menu was comprised of mostly Turkish and Mediterranean inspired fare including Turkish beer and wine.  Although not overly inspiring, the menu items sounded simple and light and so I was eager to try the tender lamb skewers ($16).

Our drinks came first, cocktails of Maker’s Mark and Carpano Antica outfitted with chunks of Japanese cut ice (large, hand-cut ice cubes), which our waitress was quick to inform us was for a colder and less watered down drink.  Strong, aromatic, and sweet, the Kentucky Sunrise 2.0 ($12) was a wonderful drink to sip on and had me wishing I was sitting under the hot Kentucky sun at the horse races. [Read more...]

Filed Under: East Village, Mediterranean, Reviews, Turkish Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

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January 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“Scene-setter or Cent-stealer?” – Review of Gahm Mi Oak

BY SARAH IP

Gahm Mi Oak
43 W 32nd St.
(between 5th Ave & Broadway)
 Koreatown
(212) 695-4113

Bibimbap. Photo by Sarah Ip.

Bibimbap. Photo by Sarah Ip.

After nearly shattering our vocals during three hours of intense karaoke, my friend C and I were on the hunt for victuals.  Still unable to consume the more fiery offerings of Pocha 32 (notably, the kimchi and gochujang-soaked budae chigae), I chose Gahm Mi Oak for a change.  From outside, sparkling white Christmas lights cast a soft glow over the people eagerly eating and chatting away within.

Gahm Mi Oak’s taste palate is actually more akin to a hybridized take on Korean cuisine than straight-up Korean BBQ.  In fact, Gahm Mi Oak doesn’t even sell Gopdol (stone-bowl) Bibimbap, only the cold version, which C and I both had.  At $14.95, it was one of the less expensive items on the menu, though it was rather light and not fully satisfying. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Korean, Koreatown, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

NYC Restaurant Week 2010: Jan. 25 – Feb. 7 -Book your tables now

January 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Don’t miss the biannual restaurant event that makes you love NYC a little bit more:
NYC Restaurant Week, Jan 25 – Feb. 7.

Over 200 participating restaurants, many offering three course lunches for $24.07 and three course dinners for $35.

Click on image below for details and reservations.

Restaurant Week NYC

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Filed Under: Informational, Restaurant News, Upcoming Events Tagged With: , , , , ,

Blissful Sunday brunch: A Review of Bliss Cafe'

January 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Blissful Sunday brunch: A Review of Bliss Cafe

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Bliss Café
191 Bedford Ave.
Williamsburg
718-599-2547

Lazy Williamsburg mornings are the best – especially because there are so many great little stops for a laid-back breakfast.

Bliss French Toast - Photo by Beth Kaiserman

French Toast at Bliss Cafe' - Photo by Beth Kaiserman

To accommodate my vegetarian houseguest, who had an irritating confrontation with bacon-laced French toast the previous evening, I suggested Bliss Café, 191 Bedford Ave., for brunch on Sunday. The café is all vegetarian and vegan. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Brunch, Reviews, Williamsburg Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blissful Sunday brunch: A Review of Bliss Cafe’

January 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Blissful Sunday brunch: A Review of Bliss Cafe

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Bliss Café
191 Bedford Ave.
Williamsburg
718-599-2547

Lazy Williamsburg mornings are the best – especially because there are so many great little stops for a laid-back breakfast.

Bliss French Toast - Photo by Beth Kaiserman

French Toast at Bliss Cafe' - Photo by Beth Kaiserman

To accommodate my vegetarian houseguest, who had an irritating confrontation with bacon-laced French toast the previous evening, I suggested Bliss Café, 191 Bedford Ave., for brunch on Sunday. The café is all vegetarian and vegan. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Brunch, Reviews, Williamsburg Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luzzo birthday bash – celebrating food and fun at Ovest Pizzoteca

January 15, 2010 By 1 Comment

“Luzzo birthday bash – celebrating food and fun at Ovest Pizzoteca”

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Though the pizza oven wasn’t yet up-and-running, Luzzo’s pizza was on hand for the owner’s birthday party at his latest restaurant, Ovest Pizzoteca, 513 W. 27th St., in Chelsea.

Ovest NYC Birthday Event

Birthday party in progress at Ovest Pizzoteca - Jan. 2010

The celebration kicked off with plenty of Prosecco and a plethora of finger food, served buffet-style. While the music blared, a Queen concert was shown on the TV, since Queen is Luzzo’s favorite band, manager Eden Tesfamariam said. The restaurant is cozy and has a relaxed, informal vibe.

Row of Italian red wines - section of bar at Ovest Pizzoteca

Row of Italian red wines - section of bar at Ovest Pizzoteca

The festivity was a preview of “aperitivo,” an event of free appetizers, drinks and wine specials that will be held for the after-work crowd from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during weekdays at the restaurant. The appetizers served at the party included fried calamari, meatballs and various bruschetta. But the highlight was the amazingly smoky pizza brought in from Luzzo’s, 211 First Avenue. Ovest Pizzoteca’s pizza oven will be operating this week, Tesfamariam said.

The restaurant will hold its grand opening in February and will also have an event during Fashion Week, February 11 to 18.

For more info, see ovestnyc.com.

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Filed Under: Informational, Neighborhood News, Restaurant News, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Tips for selecting a quality olive oil

January 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Behind every delicious meal is a high quality oil. This statement holds true for most cuisines.

Choosing from among the vast array of cooking oils available in the supermarket aisles can be confusing enough,but sorting out fact from hype with the common misleading labeling practices furnishes  a whole other layer of confusion.

The Gourmet Foodie breaks down the essentials behind shopping for a quality olive oil.

To read the article, click on the image below.

Taken from the thegourmetfoodieblog.com

Taken from the thegourmetfoodieblog.com

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Purveyors of delicious cheap eats and more – Review of La Nueva Espana

January 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“Purveyors of cheap delicious eats and more” – Review of La Nueva Espana

BY CLAIRE McCURDY

A review of La Nueva Espana

La Nueva Espana
“Spanish”- Rotisserie Chicken, with Dominican Sides
606 W 207th Street
Inwood
(212) 567-0500 – restaurantlanuevaespana.com

Interior of La Nueva Espana - from restaurantlanuevaespana.com

Interior of La Nueva Espana - from restaurantlanuevaespana.com

Dining in Inwood can be a great cross-cultural experience. It’s not just the food, it’s the ambience. The Dominican warmth of a place like La Nueva Espana is apparent from the moment one steps in the door.  On a recent evening several waitresses immediately came forward to invite us, a group of five, to find our seats.  A speedy executive decision was taken and my brother, sister in law, nephew and friend and I were quickly ushered upstairs to a spot which could accommodate us all, to an expansive room with a picture window,  which gave our waitress a little quiet space to give us the grand tour of the menu.  Seeing me brandishing my Spanish dictionary, she smiled and waved it away.  Her excellent English abolished the need for me to attempt to bumble my way through the order in Spanish. She gave us a clear and friendly explanation of every dish we enquired about, all of which proved to be wonderful.

My brother and his family, from suburban Connecticut, very much wanted another visit to this New York City restaurant they had first tried over two years ago. They were eager to try its several new versions of chicken, which they remembered fondly.  So we ordered the pollo al ajillo (chicken in garlic sauce); the pollo al limon (lemon chicken), pechuga de pollo con camarones (chicken with shrimp), and a sampling of the sides:  red beans and rice, tostones (fried green plantains)  and maduros (fried sweet plaintains).  A near silence reigned for some time while we savored our meals. My pollo al limon was pungent, crisp, just slightly oily, and exactly what I had hoped.  And the tostones, which were huge, were crisp, slightly sweet, not at all oily, and crackling—almost like potato chips,  and a great offset to the densely sauce drenched main dishes. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dominican, Inwood, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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