Bonnie from BiteoftheBest.com

About Bonnie Tandy Leblang

Blogger Bonnie Tandy Leblang has been covering food since before it was hip to do so! She’s penned magazine, newspaper and syndicated food columns in addition to cookbooks. Follow her on twitter @BonnieBOTB and on Instagram@BiteoftheBest and at @BonnieBOTB "I eat for a living!” is her mantra, sharing what she’s sampled so you’ll know where (or where not) to go, plus what food products and gadgets to try. For her full bio go to the about us page.
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Somos Ecuador Restaurante, Quito, Ecuador

On Valentine's Day, while traveling in Ecuador, my group stopped at Somos Ecuador Restaurant to enjoy the globally inspired cuisine of Chef Alejandra Espinoza. After working in France with several Michelin-starred chefs, Chef Alejandra moved to Quito in 2018 with her husband, Signo Uddenberg, to establish SOMOS alongside her brother, Alonso Espinoza. The restaurant features colorful murals by Ecuadorian artist Apitatan, with every detail carefully designed to foster an atmosphere that emphasizes "food, conversation and human connection." Her food is not only delicious but also beautifully presented and served. Chef Alejandra Espinoza has recently opened a new location in Miami—Cotoa (address: 12475 NE 6th Ct, North Miami, FL 33161)—which I [...]

By |2025-04-28T10:59:15-04:00May 14th, 2025|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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**Happy Hour, Irregulars, Upper East Side, NYC

Arriving early to meet my friends for an evening of trivia at the Irregulars on the Upper East Side, I grabbed an espresso martini before the gals arrived. I connected with Mike Eagan, the owner, who highly recommended their housemade meatballs from the happy hour menu ($13).  Mike mentioned that recently, his mom had come into the kitchen and made 500 of them. I had to sample them. He is right! Don't miss these three pickleball-sized meatballs. I sopped up every drop of the sauce using the herbed garlic bread in the bowl. I recommend Irregulars's happy hour with each HH offerings that could make a meal, at least for [...]

By |2025-05-11T07:05:16-04:00May 12th, 2025|Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Bobbie Lloyd

What New Yorker isn't familiar with Magnolia Bakery? That small corner shop in New York's West Village has become a global phenomenon, now boasting 46 stores worldwide. This success is largely due to Bobbie Lloyd, their incredible CEO and Chief Baking Officer. I had the pleasure of meeting Bobbie when she joined Les Dames d'Escoffier New York (LDNY) and attended our annual conference in Phoenix, where all the New York Dames hung out. I learned that she has had a fascinating career; she served as Calvin Klein's private chef after finishing culinary school and then approached Danny Meyer at the original Union Square Cafe, where she started as a waiter. [...]

By |2025-05-10T06:59:51-04:00May 10th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, Foodie Interviews, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Sicily Osteria, Theatre District, NYC

If you're a theatergoer, I suggest dining at Sicily Osteria before your curtain. It's a warm, inviting restaurant on Restaurant Row in the heart of the Theater District and Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods. As their guests, we started with their specialty cocktails as we perused the menu. Requesting a non-sweet cocktail, our host suggested the Capri Crush made with vodka, Limoncello, St Germain, lemon juice, and egg white. It was perfect, even a tad tart. My dining partner sampled the Limoncello Spritz, a refreshing cocktail trending in Italy that replaces Aperol's bitterness with the less-complex, sunny taste of lemon. Restaurant Business recently reported that it's on trend to be the next Aperol [...]

By |2025-05-11T07:49:02-04:00May 8th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Argavi, Midtown, NYC + UN’s Focus on Woman Tour

Virginia, our passionate United Nations guide for our "Focus on Women" tour, amazed us with the figures and facts she spouted. She shared that in 1948, the UN had adopted thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we were shocked to learn that not one country honors them all. After our tour, we walked east to Argavi, a Georgian restaurant. I ordered thin slices of fried eggplant rolled around savory walnut stuffing ($16) and the traditional Khachapuri bread. I like the Adjaruli, an open-faced version topped with raw egg that gets cooked as the server mixes it with hot cheeses and butter ($18). Not to be missed. We [...]

By |2025-05-06T07:40:38-04:00May 6th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown, NYC + Statue of Liberty

We headed outside again after walking up the pedestal to and around the museum inside the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. Tickets to the crown had sold out a month before when we booked, so we could only walk the 215 steps of the pedestal. Afterward, we headed to the Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019, where the helpful rangers gave my grandkids a booklet, pencil and directions to finish the required activities. We rested while they worked on their form. We returned to Manhattan after completing their paperwork and earning their ranger badges. They wanted Chinese; They mentioned wanting Chinese as we disembarked the ferry. I [...]

By |2025-04-13T10:12:09-04:00May 4th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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RH Rooftop Meatpacking District, NYC

After walking the High Line and Little Island with my grandchildren, we headed to RH Rooftop for brunch. It never fails to satisfy or impress. Two of us ordered the Cappelletti Spritz ($18). I'm liking all the new twists on Aperol ones that are popping up on menus. Cappelletti is similar to Campari both traditional Italian aperitivi, but made with a wine base instead of a neutral grain spirit. Another a Golden Road mango wheat ale ($8). My 9-year old grandson ordered the broiled salmon and a side of asparagus, finishing the whole thing and washing it down with Fentimans rose lemonade ($7). I tried their Caesar salad ($18) with [...]

By |2025-04-13T10:20:08-04:00May 1st, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Dinners at Geronimo & Sazón, Santa Fe, New Mexico

When asked about favorite places to dine in Santa Fe, where I was heading with friends, most had Geronimo and Sazón on their to-try lists. Coming off Canyon Road into Geronimo, I felt elegant. The staff welcomed us. The lights were low, banquettes cushioned and tables spaced wide apart. I could hear my traveling companions without straining. That bubble burst when our unseasoned server set down our cocktails and began pouring our red wine. Worth having is the lobster poblano bisque with rock shrimp, fingerling potatoes, leeks and chunks of lobster meat ($22) in a rich broth. Also good are the rectangular stack of oven-roasted beets with candied pistachios, goat [...]

By |2025-04-12T10:50:41-04:00April 29th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Mind Shaft Tavern, Madrid, New Mexico

The Avis car rental man in Albuquerque suggested the more scenic route to Santa Fe on State Highway 14 that goes through Madrid (MA-drid). And and to satisfy our hunger he suggested grabbing a bite at the Mine Shaft Tavern, a rustic roadside tavern offering our first taste of New Mexican fare. Being famished, we did just that, starting with their delicious $8 house Margaritas. At that price, we had more than one, then shared their fantastic Southwestern food. The burgers come with fries and cole slaw, with the option to sub their stew (+3.50) for the fries, which we did with one burger. We worked on devouring their Classic [...]

By |2025-04-26T13:51:53-04:00April 26th, 2025|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Pumpernickel Everything Bagels at Tompkins Square Bagels, Union Square, NYC

I'm in love. Although I do tend to hyperbole, when I discovered Tompkins Square pumpernickel everything bagels it truly was love at first bite. Haven't visited another bagel shop since I discovered them. That good.  I try to make most grains I eat, whole. And as a registered dietitian, that's what I recommend for other. Pumpernickel bagels are a tad healthier because they are generally made with rye flour, which is higher in fiber and has a lower glycemic index, meaning it causes a slower rise in blood sugar levels.  This fiber isn't just for keeping things moving; it also plays a role in cardiovascular health, diabetes prevention, and more. [...]

By |2025-04-13T10:19:35-04:00April 23rd, 2025|Big Apple Life, Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro, Westchester, New York

I jumped on Metro North to Rye, as we hadn't had time together since her December birthday other than group meals and a disco party. This gathering, just us. We grabbed a bite at the Ruby's Oyster Bar & Bistro, a lively seafood restaurant on Purchase Street, and were seated by an open window with a warm breeze. The food is fresh, nicely prepared and everything's served with a smile. I sampled their expresso martini ($16), needing a caffeine pick me up; my friend their Tito's bloody Mary ($14.50). I was in a burger and fries mood; Ruby's ($21) hit the spot, topped with Farmhouse Cheddar and bacon jam on [...]

By |2025-04-20T13:25:44-04:00April 20th, 2025|USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Balaboosta, West Village. NYC

With New York offering so many dining, it's hard to revisit ones you've enjoy. Like Balaboosta in the West Village. My friend reminded me how much we liked it and suggested it for our catch-up dinner. I've been traveling so much that we needed gab time over a meal. Appetizers and small bites or Mezze—my thing at Mediterranean restaurants. As we yakked, we nibbled the puddle of hummus ($17) with droplets of tahini, warm chickpeas and green s’chug, the green chilies and cilantro sauce with their warm pita. The cauliflower florets ($19) came topped with peanut tahini, mixed with pickle crumble and topped with small puffed corn-peanut balls, bamba. Interesting, [...]

By |2025-04-20T13:41:32-04:00April 17th, 2025|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at La Pecora Bianca, Bryant Park, NYC

Not all La Pecora Biancas are the same. Oh, they have the same menu, but what comes out of the kitchen depends on their staff. I met a friend for brunch at the Bryant Park location, as La Pecora Bianca offers ricotta pancakes—perfect for my dining partner, who doesn't eat eggs. We experienced a slow start with the service. My friend ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes ($21), which come topped with blueberry compote and whipped crème fraîche, while I chose the Gramigna pasta—curly pasta with house-made sausage, broccolini, and chili flakes ($28). Although it took a while for our food to arrive, we didn't mind, as we had a lot [...]

By |2025-04-20T13:29:43-04:00April 14th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Roasted Red Pepper, Onion, and Asparagus Scones

Dan Leader, The James Beard Award-winning visionary behind the iconic East coast bakery Bread Alone shares decades of wisdom and techniques for soul-fulfilling baking, with 60+ bread and pastry recipes in his latest book, A Slow Rise: Favorite Recipes from Four Decades of Baking with Heart.  We recently featured Dan as our Guest Foodie. These roasted veggie scones are one example of his detailed recipes!  Dan provides the ingredients in both metric and imperial (American) measurements for both 6 scones and 12. I've adapted his recipe to show the ingredients in Imperial, what we use in the US and measurements for only 6. Roasted Red Pepper, Onion, and Asparagus Scones [...]

By |2025-04-20T13:31:31-04:00April 11th, 2025|Breads, Sides & Salads, Recipes|0 Comments
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Nordstrom’s Bistro Verde, Midtown, NYC

The last time I ate at Bistro Verde I was meeting an out-of-town friend who had errands to do in Nordstrom. I enjoyed the experience. This time, I went with some girlfriends to play bingo with Drag Queen Linda.  An event that happens every other Thursday at the fifth-floor restaurant, as well as around the city. For the evening, the restaurant offers a limited menu with deals on food and drink. One friend and I tried their Aperol Spritz ($12), and another the house wine ($9). Between us we sampled the Angus beef dip sandwich with hot crispy fries ($20), their cilantro lime chicken taco ($10 each), Kung Pao Brussels [...]

By |2025-04-20T13:39:06-04:00April 8th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Armani Restauranti, Upper East Side, NYC

My dear friend, who appreciates good food, recommended Armani Restauranti for lunch. With memories of the superb meal I experienced at the Fifth Avenue location about a decade ago, I booked it with a Connecticut friend who was in town. We had an eye on their reasonable 2-course $75 prix fixe. The bread service is worth-the-calories with crisp skinny breadsticks, salty bread crisps and warm sour dough bread with a chewy crust. Our meal was less than stellar, including each of our first courses returned to the kitchen.  What I can recommend are the seasonal salad with pickled daikon and the Pappardelle, Courtyard Ragu dusted with Pecorino. When Conrad, the manager, [...]

By |2025-03-17T11:37:30-04:00April 5th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A Burger at Pete’s Tavern, Gramercy, NYC

My friend wanted to celebrate her 70th birthday at Pete's Tavern in our hood.  It's that historic tavern on the corner of Irving and 18th that's pre-Civil War. It's the popular tavern that's been around since the mid 1800s that's served WHO. It's served the oldest continuously operating restaurant & bar in New York City, one where  O.Henry, author of the “Gift of the Magi”, was said to be a regular. And their burgers are worth it, and more than a meal.  Fries are worth the calories. Truth, I couldn't even finish, taking I  half home for dinner . When you're in the mood for a burger, I highly recommend. [...]

By |2025-03-17T11:06:45-04:00April 2nd, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Almond Cake / Torta di Mandorle

  One of my favorite cooking tasks is blanching almonds. While I know they are available pre-blanched, I find the process calming. It's a simple technique. Boil the almonds for 60 seconds, then drain and rinse in cold water. Then, gently squeeze each almond to remove its skin. It’s a technique that anyone can master. I love doing this each year when I prepare this flourless Passover almond cake, Torta di Mandorla, which is delicious at any time.   I first published this recipe in March of 1982 in The New Haven Register. Almond Cake / Torta di Mandorle 1 tablespoon sweet butter 3 tablespoons matzo meal 5 eggs separated [...]

By |2025-03-15T12:23:12-04:00March 30th, 2025|Endings, Recipes|0 Comments
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Lunch at Rezdôra, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

Securing a lunch res at Rezdôra is much easier than dinner; maybe that's because the restaurant has lost its luster! I met a friend there for lunch, starting with an app that sounded so delicious when our server described it. That was their Gnocco Fritto, fried dough topped with Prosciutto di parma, mortadella & guanciale ($18). A simple dough topped with the various types of meat that were so nothing special (a waste of calories), we left one, consuming the meat that topped it. With pasta Rezdôra's speciality, we ordered two dishes. The first was their Anolini Di Parma, one of the best dishes I sampled in 2021. The server [...]

By |2025-03-15T12:24:05-04:00March 27th, 2025|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Frena, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + Exile

Before heading to the MAP Theater's off-off-Broadway production of Exile, James Joyce's 90-minute play, which is rarely performed, we stopped into the fairly new Frena, where Taboon once was located on the corner of 52 and Tenth Avenue. It's a warm and friendly place decorated with lots of greenery from the ceiling. It is a modern Middle Eastern concept in Hell's Kitchen that — as Taboon did —celebrates that cuisine and its frena, the traditional communal Moroccan oven producing fresh, fragrant bread brushed with olive oil, Maldon salt, wild dry za'atar, We had to have that bread ($9) as the centerpiece of our meal, along with a trio of their [...]

By |2025-03-15T12:20:46-04:00March 24th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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