Bites

**Happy Hour at Aqua, Flatiron-Gramercy, NYC

A group of us met for happy hour at Aqua, a relatively new restaurant in the former We Work space on Broadway, which serves Italian and Japanese cuisine in a cavernous space. The one-star rating is not due to quality but rather because of the limited options.  The sushi is good, with two options, attractively presented. I sampled their espresso martini ($12 for happy hour). One person had their cocktail special, a spicy passion fruit margarita, while others sipped the happy hour wines ($10). Like many websites, Aqua is not up-to-date with pricing. As of today, June 1, the cocktails are listed at $12; they're now $16. Happy Hour details [...]

By |2025-06-13T08:54:53-04:00July 1st, 2025|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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All-Clad Lifetime Warranty!

When my All-Clad stainless-steel tea kettle started leaking more water from the base than from the spout, I decided to check the warranty online. "They did say lifetime," I recalled, thinking back I had gotten the kettle. 1993.  Yup, 32 years ago!  I reread their warranty statement: "When we say our products last a lifetime, we mean it," and then I called them. If you need to contact All-Clad about a warranty issue, call 1-800-255-2523. If you are calling from Canada, use 1-800-418-3325. The representative sent me a prepaid label so I could return my leaking kettle. I found an appropriate box, sent it off, and was delighted when my [...]

By |2025-06-06T08:50:19-04:00June 28th, 2025|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Prix Fixe Lunch at The Palm, Theatre District, NYC

When I think of The Palm restaurant, I envision a humongous steak overlapping the plate. I also think of those walls adorned with fun caricatures of famous people. Recently, I discovered that this classic establishment now offers a "Power Lunch" featuring a three-course prix fixe menu for just $34. I visited with a friend to give it a try. We both began with an over-dressed Caesar salad and their wonderful bread basket, which included fresh-sliced bread, cheesy rolls, breadsticks, a pretzel roll (my favorite) and fresh butter. I highly recommend choosing their fresh options. My dining companion ordered the "Catch of the Day," which was a fabulous branzino served over [...]

By |2025-06-02T06:42:25-04:00June 26th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Garden Café, The Newt, Bruton, United Kingdom

One day while at the Edible London culinary adventure created by members of London Les Dames, we divided into two Country Tours groups, I chose The Newt in Somerset, a working estate with acres of  gardens, woodland, farmland and cider orchards. After  exploring the grounds, we headed to the café for a communal lunch. On the table already was their sourdough bread made with apple waste, topped with hangop with garden veggies. Hangop is strained yogurt, literally meaning 'hang up' that we had watched Cheesemaker, Margaretha Van Dam, make at her creamery alongside the railway tracks. Our main dish was the spiced roasted whole cauliflower with fermented leaves, English grown [...]

By |2025-06-28T09:31:50-04:00June 23rd, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Caractère Restaurant, Notting Hill, London

We divided into two groups, mine heading to Kew Gardens, then all met up again for dinner at Chef Emily Roux and husband Diego Ferrari's Caractère Restaurant. It's a former pub now one of "The Best Restaurants in Notting Hill" that's about to receive their first (well-deserved) Michelin star. Lucky us. We began with three creative passed bites, with the fish bone cracker topped with eel and furikake getting the most raves. The other two included a smoked cod roe tartelette with piment d’Espelette and a charcoal tea pie with soy and smoked whisky. Once we were seated, I dove into the crusty bread on the table. Heavenly crust! Then [...]

By |2025-05-27T07:04:45-04:00June 21st, 2025|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|0 Comments
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Pig & Khao, Lower East Side, NYC

NOTE: After visiting, we saw this notice online: "Our last day of service will be June 22." Both the UWS and Chesea (Piggyback) locations are open.  Earlier this year, my daughter-in-law raved about a Southeast Asian restaurant on the Lower East Side where she met a colleague when in town. I couldn't resist trying it, so I made a reservation with some friends I had met on a recent trip to Ecuador. We squeezed into a cozy corner booth, and right away, the atmosphere was lively and casual, with loud 90s hip-hop music playing in the background. I love the family-style dining experience, as it encourages sharing. Once we sipped our [...]

By |2025-06-30T16:01:33-04:00June 18th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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High Tea at The Veranda, Goring Hotel, London

Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport, I proceeded to the "Arrivals" lounge, where I met my friend who was also attending the Edible London culinary adventure put on by members of London Les Dames d'Escoffier. We checked into our hotel and began walking toward The Goring to join some other Dames for Afternoon Tea to enjoy an elegant afternoon overlooking the garden from their veranda. Our attentive server started us off with their seasonal amuse-bouche of savory pea tartlets filled with goat curry and pistachios, and an unusually refreshing welcome drink made with apple juice, non-alcoholic gin, apricot syrup and elderflower.  Two of us ordered the Bollinger Afternoon Tea, which included [...]

By |2025-06-01T06:57:54-04:00June 15th, 2025|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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***Happy Hour Tao Uptown, Midtown, NYC

Our ex.expat New York group New York group began hosting happy hour gatherings on the first Wednesday of every month. This time, we chose the stylish Pan-Asian eatery, Tao Uptown. What we loved about this happy hour was the spacious lounge with comfortable seating, which made chatting much easier than sitting on bar stools. The highlight was their martini flights presented on a carousel, allowing you to choose three mini martinis for $15. The options included lemon drop, dirty martini, cosmopolitan, lychee martini and appletini. The only downside: the restaurant didn’t have enough holders or glasses, and servers would take them away as soon as one was finished. I would [...]

By |2025-06-01T06:58:01-04:00June 13th, 2025|Happy Hours, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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MAD Museum’s Robert Restaurant, Midtown West, NYC

After visiting and shopping at the fabulous MAD About Jewelry 2025,  the annual benefit awards celebration and sale of contemporary jewelry at the Museum of Art and Design, we took the elevator up for a quick lunch at Robert, located on the ninth floor. If you go, request a window seat with views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. Service is top notch in this quiet setting. We sipped the Pasqua, Rose, 11 Minutes, Treviso, Italy, 2023 ($55) while savoring our lunch. My dining partners enjoyed their toothsome pasta. One had the rigatoni ($25) with a pomodoro (tomato) sauce topped with artisanal ricotta and fresh basil, the other their penne [...]

By |2025-06-01T06:58:09-04:00June 11th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Joseph Leonard, West Village, NYC

"I'm in love! This place is a great find. The friendliest staff!" I texted my dining partner when I arrived at Joseph Leonard in the West Village. Each staff member greeted and welcomed me warmly to the restaurant. "That's the best table," Daly commented as he seated me window side on the upper bar level. He then proceeded to describe the menu items in mouthwatering terms. I couldn't wait. While waiting, I sipped their nectarous JL Old Fashioned ($19), a blend of rye, bourbon and—for the sweetness—amaro.  My dining partner started with a glass of rosé, the Famille Coulon 'Le Petit Renard' ($16), Rhône Valley, France 2024, grenache. Following Daly's [...]

By |2025-06-09T09:34:35-04:00June 9th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Birthday at Zizi, Chelsea, NYC

I had only been to ZiZi for their happy hour and liked what I tried when one friend suggested it as the location for a birthday gathering. Five of us went, starting with their $11 happy hour martinis! Remembering a wonderful lemon drop martini at Bar Hemingway in the Ritz Hotel in Paris years ago, I had to try the Motek Martini lemon drop one. Delicious. The five of us then shared some apps. After ordering, one server accidentally served us someone else's halloumi pesto and hummus and decided to leave it for us, which we devoured. After enjoying that, we shared the roasted cauliflower with lima beans ($16), crazy [...]

By |2025-06-07T08:11:41-04:00June 7th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Felicè 56, Midtown, NYC

A gathering of girlfriends took place at Felicè 56, which we discovered is regarded as one of the best Felices in Manhattan. At least, that's what we heard and experienced while dining with Italian royalty at this lower level location. Some of us had drinks while catching up. I recommend their Espresso Martini. Make sure to request their special pizzetta, which isn’t listed on the menu ($25). It's a small, pizza-like, unleavened bread, we ordered ours topped with prosciutto. I also recommend the fried baby artichokes and calamari ($25) as well as the baked eggplant parmigiana ($22). Management surprised us by sending out the Fusilli al Ferretto e Burrata ($29) [...]

By |2025-06-01T14:45:26-04:00June 5th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Brunch at Pascalou, Upper East Side, NYC + Conservatory Gardens

After meeting at the 86th Street subway entrance, we walked along Central Park to the 105th entrance to the Conservatory Gardens, passing from the formal French gardens to the more relaxed English gardens, both in full bloom. I highly recommend making this stroll. We headed downtown on Madison to find a place to grab a bite. Fortunately, we snagged a window seat (which had the best light for photos!) at the small split-level French bistro, Pascalou. We started with an Aperol Spritz and engaged in lots of conversation while sharing two delectable entrees. One, a bucheron goat cheese omelet, the other a ham and cheese quesadilla. Each came with two small [...]

By |2025-06-01T14:39:43-04:00June 3rd, 2025|City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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A Return to The Little Owl, West Village, NYC

Like many West Village restaurants,  The Little Owl is a cozy neighborhood gem; this one offers bold Mediterranean cuisine with friendly yet professional service. As the waiter began describing the soft-shell crab special, two of us lit up! We had to have it, sharing an entree portion with two crabs as our appetizer ($48), while our other dining companion enjoyed their rich onion soup topped with a Gruyère gratin ($19). With both, we three sipped their Garnacha ($76) Pegaso 'Zeta', Cebreros, Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2022, then shared the asparagus & mushroom risotto ($36) with roasted cherry tomatoes and the delicious zucchini ($18) and yellow squash. Two light and delicious [...]

By |2025-06-13T08:53:51-04:00June 1st, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC

I looked forward to what I remembered as authentic Southern cuisine before enjoying some great jazz and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline at Dizzy's Club. The venue is located within Jazz at Lincoln Center, on the 5th floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle, not at Lincoln Center. When I visited  Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center a decade ago, the food from Great Performance Hospitality Group and the service were good, and the jazz was great. I had the same experience this time, although the minimum cover charge has increased to $21 per person per set, up from $10 a decade ago. We experienced the incredible "South African [...]

By |2025-06-01T16:58:58-04:00May 30th, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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John Fraser’s Iris, Midtown, NYC + All-Schubert Program at Carnegie

Before heading to an All-Schubert Program, Piano Four Hands, at Carnegie Hall, we stopped at John Fraser's Mediterranean restaurant, Iris. At this Aegean restaurant, we chose an Assyrtiko white wine for our meal. Specifically, the Atma Assyrtiko, Macedonia, Greece 2022 ($98), a crisp white variety with notable acidity. My friends selected some items from the menu I hadn't noticed before, as at Iris, I often enjoy their mezze options with their incredible spicy lamb flatbread ($18), which we did, too. Their crispy veal sweetbreads came with chili-honey savoy cabbage with a pine nut gremolata ($30) and the two meaty, small—and quite bony—pepper-crusted quail ($32). Also tasty is the branzino fillet [...]

By |2025-05-27T09:06:47-04:00May 27th, 2025|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Bobbie LLoyd’s Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

We recently featured Bobbie Lloyd as our Guest Foodie. She's the CBO—chief baking officer—of Magnolia Bakery who has recently published another fabulous cookbook:  The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts: Classic and Creative Icebox Desserts with a Magnolia Bakery Twist, Share with Friends and Family by Bobbie Lloyd. This Banana Pudding Icebox Cake is one of her favorites from the book. She wrote, "This cake is a deconstructed version of Magnolia Bakery’s famous banana pudding. Each component is recognizable on its own, but assembled as a beautiful, layered cake." Banana Pudding Icebox Cake Makes one 8-inch round cake that serves 6 to 10 Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding (recipe below) [...]

By |2025-05-27T08:43:10-04:00May 25th, 2025|Endings, Recipes|0 Comments
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Ci Siamo, Manhattan West, NYC – After A Walk on the Edge

The first time, a private event had locked us out of The Edge at Hudson Yards. We had spent the required amount ($40) at The Peak to secure free entry, but we talked too much. By the time we were ready, the party had already started. Their management promised us free entry upon return. It worked. We skipped the lines and walked right out onto that triangular point sticking out of the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards. It was a chilly spring day with incredible 360-degree visibility. Lucky us. We had escaped the line-up to get in, but for the first time I remember, we found ourselves queuing in [...]

By |2025-05-27T08:45:51-04:00May 23rd, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Outdoor dining at Novita, Flatiron, NYC

My friend and I decided to get together at the last minute. I called around the neighborhood and was lucky when Michelangelo answered the phone and mentioned he could accommodate two more guests. As I arrived at Novita, a couple was finishing their meal outside, allowing us to enjoy dining al fresco on a perfect spring evening. We started with martinis ($23) while perusing the menu and listening to the specials. The funghi misti, which features a delicious grilled blend of mushrooms with Parmigiano shavings ($23), is a must-try. The simple combination of portobello, shiitake and oyster mushrooms paired wonderfully with a glass of Chianti Classico ($20). The night’s special [...]

By |2025-05-27T09:07:54-04:00May 21st, 2025|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Returns to Chez Josephine, Theatre District, NYC

I love the immigrant story of Manuel Uzha, dishwasher turned owner of Chez Josephine, that I learned about on visit earlier this year. Since then, I've returned multiple times to a warm hug welcome. It's that kind of warm and welcoming place. From those visits, I'd like to recommend a couple items including their espresso martini, their country pâté with a celery rémoulade and their cheese plate with three yummy cheeses. I highly recommend a visit!   Chez Josephine Hells Kitchen 414 West 42nd Street New York, NY 212.594.1925 chezjosephine.com

By |2025-05-11T07:19:29-04:00May 19th, 2025|Big Apple Life, City Bites, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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