Big Apple Life

A collection of posts on Life in the Big Apple along with interviews with foodie friends

Island Oyster on Governors Island, NYC

Once a year, I would find a friend who wanted to join me on a trip to Governors Island to dine at Kerry Herffernan's Island Oyster, a seafood restaurant located right off the dock serving sustainable seafood in an upscale high-end waterfront establishment that felt like dining at a resort. We'd sit at the tables, sipping the on-tap Rosésoaking in the amazing views of lower Manhattan. Wanted to support the restaurant, I took my annual trip thinking that it wouldn't be much different — other than socially distancing — as it was always an outdoor restaurant. I was so wrong. The trip over was still a lovely short — 5-minute [...]

By |2020-09-12T11:56:31-04:00September 12th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Alfresco Dining COVID Phase 2 at The Leroy House, West Village

I'm fine with alfresco dining but not waiting on the street until a table opens up. So I secured a res at The Leroy House, a neighborhood place on the ground floor of a beautiful townhouse that until last year was Harwood on Hudson before that Piora — for me and a friend. Like other restaurants, they enlarged their dining area well into the street and spaced their tables at least 6 feet apart unlike many other outdoor establishments. I hadn't seen my friend since quarantine started in March. We were getting together as she was heading into the city so we had lots to catch up on. We each [...]

By |2020-08-22T08:09:04-04:00September 2nd, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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COVID Phase 2 Lunch: La Pecora Bianca, NoMad, NYC

Dining in the middle of Broadway and 26th Street with the subway running beneath is truly a unique New York City COVID experience. I ate lunch there with a neighbor recently. La Pecora Bianca gave us one-use paper menus plus a wax paper sandwich bag to each store our mask while eating. We shared a shaved Brussels sprouts salad that the menu described as containing pickled raisins, sunflower seeds and parmesan ($16). As you can see, our salad was mostly the shaved sprouts with a couple of sunflower seeds and raisins, yet little cheese. The better choice was the chicken paillard ($21) topped with fresh arugula, marinated tomatoes and parmesan [...]

By |2020-08-22T08:04:41-04:00August 29th, 2020|Big Apple Life|0 Comments
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COVID Phase 2 Lunch: L’Express, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

L'Express didn't disappoint. It never does when I order my two regular offerings at this consistently good French bistro on the corner of 20th and Park.   My friend and I shared their medallions of warm chèvre (Montrachet goat cheese) atop mixed field greens ($15). We followed that with their a tender and juicy Moroccan-spiced lamb burger ($19), cooked to medium, served with cornichons, a sliced tomato, thickly sliced onion and fries. With that, you get ketchup for dipping fries and harissa for spreading on the lamb. We sat at an outside table on 20th, each sipping a delicious cappuccino ($5) while yakking for hours as there were empty tables. [...]

By |2020-08-21T19:29:36-04:00August 26th, 2020|Big Apple Life|0 Comments
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Alfresco Dining COVID Phase 2 at La Palapa, East Village, NYC

We headed to St. Marks Place in the East Village for a south-of-the-border bite at La Palapa, my friend Barbara Sibley's place. Barbara has weathered many a crisis, staying open, caring for her staff and feeding others as so well told in the  Zagat article. She's one amazing lady! We, of course, began our meal at one of their outdoor tables with Margies ($13) and their guac, made to order, with house-made cumin-spiced corn chips ($15). That came with three salsas, one tastier than the next.  These included charred Serrano in pineapple vinegar, fresh tomatillo & jalapeño and roasted guajilllo with garlic. I'd make a special trip just for that! [...]

By |2020-08-21T19:11:07-04:00August 22nd, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Alfresco Dining, COVID Phase 2 at Rio Grande, Murray Hill

Met some friends at El Rio Grande for real alfresco dining just as Phase2 commenced. At the time we went, we were not allowed inside the restaurant to use the facilities. Not a great situation when drinking. That said, we were still thrilled to be outside and dining together. To access the menu on their site, we needed a phone to scan the QR code at the table. My friend, who had been going to the restaurant for decades, said the best thing was their Fajita Nachos (Large, $18.95)  topped with medium-rare steak.  One friend ordered sangria ($11), while we ordered Margies ($12.50).  While waiting for the main event, we [...]

By |2020-08-21T18:06:53-04:00August 7th, 2020|Big Apple Life|0 Comments
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COVID Phase 2: Takeout from Cousins Maine Lobster, Midtown South, NYC

Some friends and I met at Cousins Maine Lobster to get takeout dinner to bring to Madison Square Park to picnic.  Their lobsters are sourced only from Maine, from the "icy Downeast waters to the mid-coast" where owners Sabin Lomac, 39 and Jim Tselikis, 36 are from. They started the business with an LA food truck. Then, after an appearance on "Shark Tank" that gave them an investment from Barbara Corcoron, the franchise of the business took off. We each ordered the lobster roll Maine style ($17) with extra lobster (+$5), served chilled, with a teeny touch of mayo (Yes, only a soupçon!) on the heaping portion of crustacean served [...]

By |2020-08-01T19:18:32-04:00July 31st, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Birthday Love During COVID Quarantine

My son who lives abroad invited me to a virtual breakfast at 10 am on my birthday. Just before the scheduled time, my doorman announced a perishable delivery. I texted my son that I might be a few minutes late. At the desk, I found an Ess-a-Bagel bounty of bagels, cream cheese, whitefish salad, applesauce and warm potato pancakes that Bryan had arranged to arrive just before our call. When he and his wife answered Skype, the area behind the camera was afloat with balloons, and they were making a racket blowing on noisemakers! My 3 1/2-year-old granddaughter Deli was waiting patiently in front of a chocolate birthday cake that [...]

By |2020-07-22T18:15:29-04:00July 24th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|5 Comments
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COVID Phase 2: Dinner at Black Barn, No-Mad, NYC

After sheltering in place for what seemed like an eternity, New York City entered Phase 2 of reopening. To me — living alone — that allowance to dine alfresco was a game-changer that happened almost in conjunction with my birthday. So, I continued to celebrate meeting with friends now that I was allowed. As we were seated in the shade at a table at Black Barn at the northern border of Madison Square Park, we were each handed a single-use disposable paper menu. We sipped our cocktails — me, an Old Fashion, my dining partner, a Margarita; $12 during happy hour — as we looked over the menu. We started [...]

By |2020-07-19T12:19:59-04:00July 18th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|2 Comments
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Return to Donna Margherita, Upper East Side, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) After attending an event at Streicker Center, we walked across town to Second Avenue to return to Donna Margherita, a cozy Italian trattoria on Second Avenue where it was quiet enough to easily hear each other. That and service is quite attentive and friendly. Remembering their wonderful chewy crust pizzas, we ordered two: their namesake pizza — the Donna Margherita ($19) one with mozzarella, crushed San Marzano tomatoes and Pecorino cheese — and the Diavolo ($21) one that was supposed to come topped with spicy Italian sausage, not the pepperoni we were served. No complaints as the five us devoured them both. I'd recommend the Caesar [...]

By |2020-06-04T09:24:08-04:00June 19th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Pappardella, Upper West Side, NYC + The Nature of Color at AMNH

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) After attending "The Nature of Color" — a new interactive exhibition that lets visitors explore the role and power of color in the natural world, in human cultures and in our personal lives — at the American Museum of Natural History, we headed a couple of blocks away for lunch. There was a chill in the air so we opted to not dine on the outdoor terrace of Pappardella, a Tuscan restaurant with friendly attentive service. We were sharing a salad and panini.  Without asking the kitchen to split each dish, they did so and plated it before serving. So take note, the photos are of [...]

By |2020-06-22T09:52:42-04:00June 11th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Small French Cafe: Le Grainne Cafe, Chelsea, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) When looking for a small French or Italian cafe to dine, I discovered Le Grainne, a relaxed Parisian-style bistro on 9th Avenue and 21st Street in Chelsea with large corner windows where we were seated. Although we had very little room in this teeny restaurant, we were quite happy with having the additional window sill to place our belongings and the bread and butter once our entrees were served. Yup, that small tables. We sipped on our Sancerre Fouassier ($49) while catching up. I stared with a small salad ($6.50) with both of us ordering their poulet roti ($25). That' roasted dark meat (the thigh and [...]

By |2020-05-24T11:15:33-04:00May 20th, 2020|Big Apple Life|0 Comments
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A Return to Agern Restaurant and Bar, Grand Central Terminal, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) Recently met some Connecticut friends at Agern Restaurant and Bar the Michelin 1-star, New York Times 3-star season-driver Nordic Cuisine restaurant that's a tad hard to find in Grand Central Terminal. While waiting for them to arrive as they were waiting at the stage door of Beetlejuice for photo ops and signature, I sipped their "Stockholm on Seneca" ($19), a combination of McKenzie Bourbon and Svol Swedish Aquavit. Once they arrived and we had perused the menu — asking our helpful waiter to explain some of the unique dishes — we ordered the bitter salad as an appetizer to share. Meanwhile, we indulged in their warm [...]

By |2020-04-29T08:28:40-04:00May 14th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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A Burger at Oscar’s Place, West Village, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) After being on the road, I was so in the mood for a burger and fries! I walked over to Oscar's Place, a teeny about a 20-seat restaurant that does more take-out than eat in serving only beer and wine. I was the only patron the night I went,  a Monday evening. I mention that as on Monday beers are half price with an entree. My Belhaven Scottish ale ($4.50) was perfect to wash down my Oscar burger and fries. That's an 8-ounce burger on a bun spread with their special sauce and topped with lettuce, tomato, Applewood bacon and a choice of cheese (I chose [...]

By |2020-05-12T12:19:32-04:00May 8th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Gnocco, East Village, NYC + A Fine Line

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) Off we went to dinner at Gnocco, after seeing A Fine Line, the documentary that explores why less than seven percent of head chefs and restaurant owners are women when traditionally women have held a central role in the kitchen. It's a tribute to Val James from her daughter Joanna James with perspectives and experiences of Chef Dominique Crenn, Lidia Bastianich, April Bloomfield, Barbara Lynch and others. After the movie, we headed to the East Village to Gnocco, an Italian restaurant spotlighting Emilia-Romagna culinary traditions The restaurant will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in July. Gnocco has a unique electronic menu, allowing you to see each [...]

By |2020-04-26T09:22:34-04:00April 26th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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WOW: Growing Scallions

While sheltering in place in my NYC apartment, I began growing veggies.  That's a tad hyperbole. I only have tomatoes and cilantro beginning to sprout and now scallions, something I just learned. Cut the green tops off scallions, leaving the root end intact that you place into water, changing every day. In less than a week, the plant will re-grow tops. WOW! This photo is after one week.

By |2020-04-18T14:59:06-04:00April 25th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling, WOW|3 Comments
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Upscale Korean BBQ at Hyun, Near Koreatown, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) Hyun is an intimate, elegant Korean restaurant emphasizing barbecue with electric-grill tables for searing your Wagyu on cast iron on the edge of Koreatown. I was invited by their publicist. Oddly, they told me exactly what I could have, so if this review seems to be about the same items that other bloggers have shared — that's why. We were seated in our own private room with sliding slated doors so our server could see our progress. In the middle of the table was an induction burner that would be used to grill our Waygu beef. First, though, we started with their Chadol Jjim, steamed thinly [...]

By |2020-04-26T09:49:17-04:00April 23rd, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Roast Pork Tenderloin + Mise en Place; Juicing Lemons; Deglazing

Before starting this or any recipe, be sure to have all the ingredients on the counter. In French, this culinary phrase is mise en place meaning "set up" or everything in place. It's getting organized. Gather your ingredients, utensils and equipment and then pre-prep the ingredients (wash, peel, cut, chop, measure) before you begin. If you're missing something, you can figure out a substitute before you begin, not in the middle of cooking. Since you're heating the oven for the pork, might as well roast some veggies or potatoes at the same time. Check out: Crispy Fingerling Potatoes that can cook at the same temperature. QUESTIONS about this how to do [...]

By |2020-04-18T14:56:46-04:00April 21st, 2020|Entrees, Recipes, WOW|0 Comments
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Bar Bites at The Storehouse, Chelsea-Flatiron, NYC

(Written before COVID-19 quarantine) We decided to stop in The Storehouse for a nibble after our board meeting as it was on the same block. Convenient for sure, but a noisy hoppin' bar scene. Not exactly what we were looking for but it served the purpose. We sipped one of their "Undocumented Manhattans" ($15) — a blend of Blackbush Irish Whiskey, Carpano Antica (Italian vermouth), Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao and Angostura bitters — while waiting for our sliders.   We shared the three baked mini burgers topped with cheese sauce (I would have preferred cheese!) bacon and some sauce on potato buns that were crunch as the buns were toasted [...]

By |2020-04-03T12:18:41-04:00April 12th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Rambling|0 Comments
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Golden Portuguese Bean Soup + “Taste and adjust seasoning”

When living in Connecticut, I often had a soup party.  It was the way I found to serve a large crowd during winter. I'd have soup pots spread throughout the first floor kept warm on hot plates and on the stove. Each pot was surrounded by appropriate accouterments. Guests would have a mug to sample each of the soups. This Portuguese Bean Soup was always included. It's delicious and nutritious as its chockful of beta-carotene (vitamin A). And it's even better the next day. It's based on my recipe in “Beans” by me (Bonnie Tandy Leblang) and Joanne Hayes, Harmony, 1994. As in most soups, the quantities of fresh ingredients [...]

By |2020-04-18T14:43:25-04:00April 9th, 2020|Entrees, Recipes, WOW|2 Comments
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