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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A Return to South of Nick’s Mexican Kitchen + Bar, San Clemente, CA

It had been a couple years since I had been to San Clemente. It's where I rendezvous with a friend who I met in Europe over 50 years ago and it's where my son buys his Rainbow sandals. I walked down Aveninda Del Mar to see the sunset, then back up for a bite at South of Nick’s Mexican Kitchen + Bar hoping they still made their housemade jalapeño infused tequila for my margie.  Sadly they did not. They did though offer several other options. I tried their smokey pineapple ($14) one made with Los Vecinos mezcal, grilled pineapple, cilantro fresh Fresno chilies, lime and agave. I nibbled Nick's warm chips [...]

By |2022-04-09T17:54:13-04:00April 1st, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Village Taverna Greek Grill, Union Square, NYC

My friend chose Village Taverna Greek Grill, an airy inviting restaurant in our hood, as the place she wanted her birthday lunch. She had frequented this friendly Greek restaurant many times. It was my first experience. I had their keftedakia kokinista ($14.95), that's four flat beef meatballs made with ouzo, herbs and spices then baked in a tomato-mint sauce topped with crumbled with feta cheese. My friend chose the bifteki yemisto from their Psita —"from the grill" — menu. Hers included two char-grilled Greek seasoned burgers along with a salad and fries ($21.95). I had arranged for them to sing to her after I convinced  her to have dessert. Didn't [...]

By |2022-04-09T17:52:40-04:00March 30th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Con Pane Rustic Breads and Cafe, San Diego, CA

Landing in San Diego on my way to see my grandkids and attend the Super Bowl, I met my cousins for a quick bite at Con Pane Rustic Breads in Liberty Station not far from the airport. This shop offers handmade artisanal breads, decadent pastries and signature sandwiches. The breads get their complex flavor from levain (the French for leaven), a natural culture of wild yeast.  Had it been the end of my trip, I might have brought some home with me. Yes, that good. I had to try their unusual  turkey cobb sandwich. Roast turkey breast, Applewood smoked bacon, fresh avocado slices, crumbled Italian blue cheese, house-roasted Roma tomatoes [...]

By |2022-03-25T08:21:26-04:00March 28th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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A Light Bite at Olio e Più, West Village, NYC

My friend was in the city to see her hairdresser before her son's upcoming wedding. We were able to meet for a quick nibble so I could hear about the plans. We met at Olio e Più near her beauty parlor for our rendezvous.  With the upcoming nuptials, my friend wanted to sit outside with the windows of their shack open. They happily accommodated as it was an unseasonably warm day. We split three items from their "carne e formaggio" ($27), selecting the thin slices of prosciutto di parma, runny imported Italian burrata and a slice of Humboldt Fog, one of Bite of the Best's favorite US cheeses.  That and [...]

By |2022-03-26T10:20:21-04:00March 26th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Haven Rooftop, Midtown, NYC + The Music Man

Haven Rooftop, a lively eatery located on top of the Sanctuary Hotel in the heart of the theatre district, was the perfect spot for brunch before heading up Broadway a few blocks to see the not-to-be-missed The Music Man.  Always arriving early and my friends often a tad late, I had time to notice what other tables were enjoying and asked if they minded me photographing their food. Consistent with this place's warm friendly vibe, everyone was amenable. These included the brunch pizza ($19) topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, diced bacon then sunny-side-up eggs; the scrambled egg version of the huevos rancheros ($18) with crisp corn tortilla atop black beans [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:05:06-04:00March 24th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rooftop, Theatre|0 Comments
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Anne’s Amazing Almond Toffee Crunch

One weekend while at my friend Anne's home in Mantoloking, she mentioned that we would make Almond Toffee Crunch to then pack in red and white striped boxes as party favors for a cocktail party we were having the following week for our ex.expat group. We made three batches before breaking it into pieces, boxing and tying with red ribbon! Anne had learned how to make the toffee from her friend Kathy when living in Hong Kong. Anne's Amazing Almond Toffee Crunch 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter 1 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons water 1 heaping cup slivered almonds 1/2 cup ground almonds (NB: can make in a food [...]

By |2025-03-17T14:42:53-04:00March 22nd, 2022|Endings, Recipes|0 Comments
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Faces and Names, Midtown West, NYC + Prayer For the French Republic 

We stopped at Faces and Names, a contemporary pub serving sandwiches & bar food, for a bite before heading to City Center around the corner to see a Prayer For the French Republic, a play that friends raved about. We were seated in the cozy back room, replete with couches in front of a fireplace and TVs.  My friend went retro with a Tito's Cosmo, I  had an Old Fashioned. We then shared their Buffalo chicken salad ($16) with chopped romaine, sliced cucumbers, crisp apple slices, grape tomatoes and walnuts topped with warm, moist, well-seasoned chicken breast cut into strips. I highly recommend. Also good is their Cubano sandwich ($16) with [...]

By |2022-03-26T10:28:35-04:00March 19th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling, Theatre|0 Comments
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Amata, Midtown, NYC + Carlton Fine Arts

COVID had kept us apart, so we had lots of catching up to do, including a belated birthday celebration. Before dinner at Amata, we met at the Carlton Fine Arts gallery on Madison to see their Pop Art Festival, having read about it in a friend's real estate newsletter. We headed west to Amata being the first seated in the dining room at this midtown Italian restaurant serving Neapolitan fare. We started with cocktails, my friends each having their Le Grand Fizz ($17) with Grey Goose Poire and St. Germain liqueur and I had their Old Fashioned ($17). We then split their white salad with endive, artichoke hearts, hearts of [...]

By |2022-03-28T18:12:42-04:00March 16th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Breakfast at Dune Grass Cafe, Bay Head, NJ

While spending the weekend in Mantoloking, NJ, we headed to Dune Grass Cafe for breakfast one morning being invited by one of our friends who is their landlord. The warm and friendly cafe is family-owned and operated, and has been for decades. I couldn't resist their huevos ranchero ($12.95), one of my favorite breakfast items, as when we walked in I noticed another patron enjoying it. Their version contained two fried corn tortillas topped with black beans, poached eggs (my request), house-made salsa and queso fresco topped with fresh avocado. One friend enjoyed their three-cheese — American, Swiss and Mozzarella — omelet ($9.95) with home fries and toast, the other [...]

By |2022-03-14T21:14:14-04:00March 13th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Hearth, East Village, NYC

It had been decades since I had been to Hearth, Chef Marco Canora's market-driven upscale Tuscan-American restaurant on the lower east side. My eldest son took me there for my birthday when he was living and working in the city. My dining partner has recently had her birthday celebration there and it was so good, she wanted to return. The bartender happily filled her request for the specialty cocktail they had created for her party.  The "I Can't Feel My (Scar)fazzi" combines Tito's, Amaretto and Cappelletti, a bitter, sweet, herbal wine-base aperitif.  I sipped their Old Fashioned made with Doc Swinson's rum cask bourbon ($18, each). To start, my friend [...]

By |2022-03-12T09:03:49-05:00March 11th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Great Thai Food at Thai Diner, NoLita, NYC

I'd been hearing and reading accolades about Thai Diner, the more casual offshoot of the highly acclaimed Uncle Boons that shut down during the pandemic. We had heard that it's always packed so decided to go at an off time, late afternoon. Laughing that our timing might be coined as the new early-bird dining! The restaurant on the corner of Kenmare and Mott was not packed so we were immediately seated in one of the tiny but  comfy booths. When we ordered, we requested that each item be served separately. They gladly obliged.  That's another reason to dine at an off-hour! We started with an order of the shrimp-paste coated [...]

By |2022-01-31T15:49:03-05:00March 8th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Watertable Restaurant, Hyatt Huntington Beach, CA

My son chose the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach because of the waterslides for kids. Great choice as once my two grandchildren — Cole 6 and Eloise 3 — braved it, they were nonstop running up to and going down the slide into the kiddie pool! Many of our meals were eaten right near the slide, ordering from Shubee's, their poolside restaurant. One morning after collecting shells on the beach, we sat outside at Watertable Restaurant for breakfast. I started with their bloody Mary, my son their fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. The kids ate chocolate chip pancakes plus fresh fruit and yogurt. My son had pancakes, too, but the zesty lemon-blueberry ones [...]

By |2022-02-22T13:41:48-05:00March 6th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Revisit Marseille, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC + NYC version of Company

I've always enjoyed going to brunch at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen before theatre. Service and food are generally good and the location is close to many theatres. It was only a five-minute walk to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre where we were seeing a matinee performance of Company.    We skipped the "go bottomless" drinks of $21 for 90 minutes along with food that's available 12 to 3 pm as we were off to theatre. Instead, I sampled their purportedly spicy, Moroccan Bloody made with Absolut Peppar vodka, cumin, fennel cardamom and harissa ($12) that was tasty, yet didn't have much of a kick. My dining partner had their Le [...]

By |2022-02-22T13:40:40-05:00March 4th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, Theatre|0 Comments
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Yummy Italian at Grandma’s Meatballs, Manasquan, NJ

While visiting a friend at the beach in Mantoloking (NJ) this winter, we dined out at a cozy, friendly Italian BYOB place in Manasquan. My friends at been many times as they have homes nearby; it was my first time and won't be my last. The service is warm and friendly, the food delicious. I tried their Bell & Evans panko-breaded chicken parmigiana baked with marinara sauce served with a choice of pasta ($27). With one friend raving about the rigatoni bolognese, I chose that for my "pasta" ($3 upcharge) with a side of garlicky broccoli rabe ($6). One friend indulged in their spaghetti bolognese ($26), the other in fettuccini [...]

By |2022-01-25T13:03:40-05:00March 2nd, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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The New Comodo, Freehand Hotel, Flatiron, NYC

Comodo, formerly of Soho, is the new Latin American restaurant in the Simon and The Whale space in the Freehand Hotel. Met a friend there recently, starting with cocktails.  I sampled their Martina #2 ($17) made with Mezcal, Raicilla (a distilled agave spirit similar to Mezcal and tequila) with lime and orange juices and a bit of olive brine, served up like a martini. Instead of one of the specialty ones, my friend asked for a Tito vodka-martini but settled on Grey Goose as the bar doesn't carry the Texas type. My friend began with their East Coast oysters with yuzu mignonette (6 for $21), I with their pan-seared shrimp al [...]

By |2023-08-26T12:10:18-04:00February 28th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A Messy but Fun Meal at the Boil, NoHo, NYC

Arriving during their happy hour, we first requested a few items from that menu. My dining partner began with their plump happy hour oysters ($7.50 for 6). We shared the fried calamari ($8) and added their Cajun fries ($7). Silly us. We could — and should — have stopped there, but had already ordered the main event. The Boil's menu reminded me of a fun, messy visit to Hell's Kitchen's Aqua Boil. First we selected our catch, then picked a sauce and heat level. My friend picked the head-on shrimp Boil special with a garlic-butter Cajun blend at a medium spice level; I chose the headless shrimp with the same [...]

By |2022-03-12T08:45:56-05:00February 26th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling|0 Comments
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Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium Los Angeles + Tailgate

Who knew? I certainly didn't. The Super Bowl's main event is the game yet the NFL offers lots of pre- and post-parties and communications. Our tailgate began when the gates opened at 11:30. That party included non-stop entertainment headlined by The Chainsmokers and more food than possible to consume — although we tried — before heading into the stadium for the pre-show and 3:30 kickoff. These food photos are a smattering of what was offered including the cumin-spiced vegan taco, spicy tuna dip, chopped salad with tomatoes chickpeas and peperoncini, "cali" toast with cauliflower hummus and heirloom tomatoes; harvest grain kale salad with roasted butternut squash and farro; and my [...]

By |2022-02-24T06:39:35-05:00February 24th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|2 Comments
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Auntie Guan’s Kitchen, Chelsea, NYC

A trip to Auntie Guans Kitchen on 14th Street just south of Sixth Avenue seemed prudent on a single-digit night. This restaurant specializes in the regional cooking of northeast China, or Dongbei. It's known for northeastern Chinese handmade noodles, dumplings and pancakes. We started with their steamed lamb dumplings (6 pieces $6.99) that were made to order. The lamb was flavorful; I found the noodle wrapped too thick for me. I prefer a more delicate one. Don't miss their scallion pancake (4 pieces $12.99). My dining partner prefers that filled with lamb. Since we ordered that type of meat dumpling, we opted for the spicy chicken wrapped inside the pancake [...]

By |2022-01-20T11:44:33-05:00February 21st, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Jane, Soho, NYC

The last time I was at Jane's, was a decade ago when Urbanspoon still existed. That restaurant information and recommendation service lasted a decade before being gobbled up by the India-based Zomato, now-defunct in the US. So much in our world has changed other than I still recommend a visit to this casual American bistro located on the edge of Greenwich Village and Soho. This time, I returned for a delightful brunch with attentive service. We started with what they call their "The Best Bloody Mary" ($14 regular, $5 virgin) made with their secret recipe. To me, it was a decent cocktail but certainly not the best! My friend ordered [...]

By |2022-01-11T13:36:56-05:00February 18th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling|0 Comments
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Peter McManus Cafe, Chelsea, NYC

I had time to think about the charcoal-grilled burger and fries I was craving. Time, as I was isolating after a bout with omicron. When I was finally allowed out, I headed to Peter McManus Cafe, open since 1936. It's an Irish pub with old-city charm that includes torn plastic seats on their cozy corner round booths. I was the only person in the dining room as I went at an off time. That was even better than I had hoped for my first post-COVID outing. I ordered my medium-rare cheddar cheese bacon-topped burger with crispy fries then sat back dreaming about that first bite. It was perfection.  Juicy. Smoky.  Satisfying. [...]

By |2022-01-11T10:08:43-05:00February 15th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews, Rambling|0 Comments
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