Italian

Events / Italian / nyc — No Comments
28
Oct 11

Forcella: Authentic Neapolitan Pizza in NY

As a New Yorker, I believe one of your primary jobs is to know what “good” pizza tastes like. With all the options in the city, ranging from $1.00 slices to $18 personal pizza pies, where can you get that well-made delicious Neapolitan thin crust? Forcella with their new outpost in Manhattan, has provided this island with authentic Italian pizza worth digging your teeth into.

The main chef, Giulio Adriani, has honed his craft in making pizza in Naples, Italy and brought his skills to Williamsburg, and now Manhattan on 338 Bowery near Bond St.  Welcoming smells of freshly baked pizza pervade the restaurant as I entered, with their mosaic-oven that bakes up to 1000 degrees and churned out multiple pizza pies at once. I immediately eyed a pizza pie sitting on the counter.

Boy was this slice of margherita good; the thin crust was a perfect thickness and had a slight chewy texture, and the tomato sauce was sweet and tart, combined with their in-house fresh mozzarella and slightly charred basil made this pizza delectable and extremely enjoyable to eat.

Pictured above is their Montanara pizza, its dough was flash-fried for a slightly more puffy crust, and then baked in the oven again with mozzarella and sauce. Even though I didn’t get a chance to sample this, I am looking forward to revisiting and trying it out.

Forcella also offered a number of different antipastis, like the bruchetta with artichoke and tomato pictured above, and unique desserts – mainly their Pizza Alla Nutella, a pizza stuffed with Nutella and almonds. Delish!

Even though we may have a lot of pizzerias in Manhattan, Forcella is definitely a place to check out; their authentic Neapolitan pizzas and flash-fried pizzas will have you coming back for more.

Forcella
334 Bowery (at Bond St.)
(212) 466-3300
@forcellanyc


				

				
				

			


				
		

				Italian / nyc —   No Comments

			    9
Jun 11 
				
Ciano: Italian in the Flatiron


				

					
Italian food has become a way of life for me – the pastas, the tomatoes, fresh mozzarellas, and olive oils – make my mouth water and I’m always looking for great Italian restaurants. Ciano, the newest restaurant from the chef and sommelier of Cru (which is now closed), has gotten rave reviews with their home-made pastas and reasonable wine prices. They emphasize that all the ingredients are from “farm to table” which reflects their seasonal, fresh ingredients.


We started off with the rock shrimp polpette, which surprisingly wasn’t anything to remember. It was tender and light.


Those who love pate would love this crostini. On top of this grilled bread is whipped chicken liver with balasmic, making it light and easy to pop into your mouth.


Roasted veal meatballs with white polenta, herbs, and truffle pecorino. The meatballs were tender and well seasoned, so I definitely enjoyed it.


We ended up getting our own pastas which I was particularly excited about. Shown above is their pappardelle with duck bolognese, oregano, and pecorino di noce. The pappardelle was freshly made and al dente, and with the bolognese made it a very hearty dish.


To end it all, we shared the honey crisp apple napoleon served with caramel custard, apple cider, and tahitian vanilla gelato. This was delicious and definitely memorable. I found that the different textures of the napoleon (crunchy and thick) along with the ice cream (cold, smooth) worked very well together.


All in all, Ciano is a restaurant I would go back to particularly to try their other pastas and desserts!


Ciano

45 E 22nd St. (near Broadway)

New York, NY

(212) 982-8422

				

				
				

			


				
		

				dessert / dinner / Italian / nyc —   3 Comments

			    18
Jan 11 
				
Spasso: Satisfying Italian


				

					
Spasso is the newly opened restaurant by Craig Wallen, who has cooked at Lupa and Convivio, and Bobby Wehane of Choptank. Urban Daddy’s feature on Spasso caught my eye:


“Inside, you’ll find all the required trappings of a proper dinner for two. A table lit with candles. A menu full of homemade pastas. And a marble-topped bar stocked with the city’s most formidable sparkling wine collection.”


It definitely sounded like a place to try out, perhaps for future date recommendations (oh yes I am making a list). As a start of the new year, I have started a foodie group and this was the first restaurant outing. Being that we’re all easy-going and curious foodies, many appetizers were ordered to share.


This picture is the eggplant arancini with whipped housemade ricotta and roasted tomato. The inside eggplant with ricotta provided the creaminess which worked well with crispy exterior. Plus this wasn’t oily at all and that made it easy to pop these beauties into your mouth.


Charred octopus with cucumbers, yogurt, mint is shown above. They did a good job cooking the octopus; it was not too soft and not too hard. The cucumbers, yogurt, and mint provided refreshing flavors which created a light appetizer to start off the meal.


This is their housemade Stracciatella cheese served with olio nuovo and grilled bread. I would have to say this dish was the highlight of all the appetizers. The cheese was very light and perfectly stretched out, separated into strands so you can spread it onto the grilled bread. DELICIOUS. I couldn’t get enough and even grabbed the table bread to eat more of this cheese.


Above is the Orecchiette with rock shrimp, crab, and breadcrumbs. The texture of the pasta was very interesting and well-done; the breadcrumbs gave the dish a nice crunch along with the al dente orecchiette. This pasta was also pretty light in comparison to what the my fellow foodies ordered, which helped in making it easier to finish eating all the orecchiette.


Their coconut panna cotta with pineapple and lychee was pretty average and a relatively safe dessert to create and serve. The selection of desserts wasn’t very extensive and seemed like an after-thought, but at least they were enjoyable.


Spasso is a solid Italian restaurant in the midst of a lot other comfort Italian restaurants. It is NOT a date restaurant nor a quiet place, rather it is a place for smaller parties and casual diners. They have a nice selection of starters and pastas cooked in an open kitchen that can be seen in the back. It is a place I would go to again and look to eating more of that delicious homemade Stracciatella cheese.


Spasso

551 Hudson St

New York, NY 10014

(212) 858-3838

				

				
				

			


				
		

				Fusion / Italian / Japanese / Recipe —   No Comments

			    2
Jun 10 
				
My Attempt at Spaghetti Mentaiko (Spicy Cod Roe)


				

					


After trying a bunch of versions of spaghetti mentaiko, I decided to try making my own!  My cooking skills were put to the test.  I’m glad to say that I created something that actually tasted really good. In fact, I am bold enough to say that it is better than or at least comparable to the spaghetti mentaiko I have had in the city.


So what is the secret? Being that it is a pretty simple dish, it is about finding the perfect combination of your ingredients.


Serves 2 people


1/2 box of spaghetti

2 sacks of spicy cod roe (mentaiko)

1 Tablespoon of butter

1-1/2 Tablespoons of Japanese mayonnaise

1/4 sheet of Nori (dried seaweed), cut into thin strips


1. Start boiling water for your spaghetti in a pot, add salt to the water

2. In a bowl, cut the casings of each mentaiko and gently scrape / squeeze out the spicy roe

3. Add the mayonnaise to the spicy roe, mix thoroughly until mixture is a pale orange

4. Once the water is boiled, add the spaghetti and cook until al dente

5. Drain the pasta and toss with the butter until nicely coated

6. Incorporate the spicy roe mixture with the pasta

7. Top with strips of nori right before serving


Happy cooking! Let me know if you use this and enjoy the recipe!



				

				
				

			


				
		

				dinner / Italian / Japanese / nyc —   5 Comments

			    23
Apr 10 
				
Quest to Finding Manhattan’s Best Spicy Roe Pasta


				

					


Spicy roe spaghetti, also known as Spaghetti Mentaiko, is a popular and easy-to-make Japanese dish typically comprised of spicy roe, butter, Japanese mayonnaise, spaghetti, and nori for garnish. Many Japanese restaurants serve this inexpensive pasta so it became a mission for me to find the best spicy roe pasta in Manhattan. I decided to pick three places – Basta Pasta, Riki, and Tomi. In my mind the two important characteristics of this dish were the noodles and the spicy roe sauce.


First Round: Basta Pasta






They call it Spaghetti con Uova di Pesce ($15), topped with shiso. The spaghetti was cooked very well; it was al dente which provided a great chewy texture to the entire dish. However, I felt that the sauce itself was not as creamy or flavorful as I would have liked in a Spaghetti Mentaiko dish. The fish roe seemed to be similar to those on your sushi rolls, and doesn’t flavor the pasta as much as it needs.


Second Round: Riki




As an unassuming item within a large assortment of foods on the menu, their version of the Spaghetti with Spicy Cod Roe ($8.50) had a good mix of cream to roe ratio. The roe seemed to have absorbed some cream to give it a fatty, rich flavor. However the noodles were a different story. I wouldn’t call what they used spaghetti by any means, but more like Chinese oil noodles. In any case, Riki’s version is something I am willing to return for, but probably not my first choice.


Third Round: Tomi




Last, but not the least, is Tomi’s version of Spaghetti Mentaiko (price unknown). From what I heard, Tomi has the best spicy roe pasta but I wanted to see and experience that for myself. This unassuming Japanese whiskey bar does serve food, this dish being one of their selections. It is surprising how good food can come out of bars; oftentimes, the most secluded ones are the hidden gems. In this case, that proves to be true. Their spaghetti was actually spaghetti – though not as al dente as Basta Pasta’s – but is comparable. Then the spicy roe sauce was very enjoyable. It had a good amount of that unami flavor in combination with the thick texture and richness of the cream. My final rating is 8.5 / 10.0. I definitely intend on going back again to eat this, and have some quality whiskey on the side.


—

Addresses:

 Basta Pasta

37 West 17th Street

New York, NY 10011

(212) 366-0888


Riki

141 East 45th Street

New York, NY 10017

(212) 986-1109‎


Tomi NY

239 East 53rd Street

New York, NY 10022

(646) 497-1254‎

				

				
				

			


				
		

				Italian / lunch / nyc —   5 Comments

			    22
Mar 10 
				
Convivio: Taste of Italy with their Lunch Prix Fix


				

					


Being a person who longs for eating handmade al dente pastas and delicate yet fragrant sauces, I am on a search for real authentic Italian food similar to what I ate in Italy. I am not sure what places in NYC can provide me this quality of Italian food (so maybe someone can provide me some recommendations), but I am going to go through NY Mag’s Two for Eight, Notable Italian restaurants. The first one on the list to try is Convivio.


It is located at 45 Tutor City Place and as a veteran New Yorker, I didn’t know where that was. Turns out that it is on a small street nestled within Midtown East, right across from the United Nations. At first, I mistakenly go into an apartment building with the same address, and the doorman tells me the restaurant is right next door. I finally make it through the rain and get into the restaurant, which is nicely decorated with warm yet clean furniture: a large mirror, simple and beautiful floral arrangements, and a red velvet seats line the wall. The wait staff is friendly and professional, informing us of the prix fix menu that is two courses for $28, and its conditions:



1. You can choose two courses, either an appetizer + pasta, pasta + pasta, or appetizer + entrée.

2. You cannot have two entrees.

3. Any additional course is $12.



Their pasta portions are sizable for a girl like me, but probably not enough for a boy with a hefty appetite. I ordered an appetizer called Polpettine, tomato braised meatballs and a ricotta salada, since I have been on a quest to find the “perfect meatball” (but that’s meant as a whole other post altogether).






Their meatballs were tender and juicy, but a little salty for my taste. I liked the tomato sauce that came with it because it helped cut the salt and provided a tart and sweet flavor to the meatballs.






Then came the pasta – Pappardelle al Nero di Seppia, which is their squid ink pasta with seppia (cuttlefish), mussels, and swordfish polpettine. The pasta was al dente and the seafood, nicely cooked, provided the unami flavor to the pasta. The swordfish polpettine reminds me of Chinese seafood cake because of its similarity in texture and shape, so that made the dish even tastier and fun to eat.



I walked out feeling not too full or hungry, perfectly satisfied with the lunch. Convivio comes close to what I experienced in Italy, more so than other Italian restaurants that I have encountered in NYC. My intention is to go back for dinner to see how their full menu compares to lunch. As for now, Convivio has given me a small taste of Italy, which is all I can ask for.

				

				
				

			


				
		

				dessert / dinner / French / Italian / nyc / restaurant week —   No Comments

			    12
Jul 08 
				
Just in Time to Reminisce about Winter Restaurant Week…


				

					
Yes, you read the title correctly. I’m going to write about Winter Restaurant Week. I know, I know, summer restaurant week is just around the corner but I think it’s good to note that there are both GOOD and BAD experiences associated with dining during this promotion. Not to mention I can’t afford to eat at half these places, so at least I can pretend that I can afford it by participating in restaurant weeks.


Don’t hate. I am a true food-enthusiast. I’m just not able to allocate my disposable income to eating at great restaurant establishments.


Perry St.

176 Perry St.

New York, NY 10014


My friend, Joanne, and I went to enjoy some fine dining at Perry St., one of Jean-George’s restaurants. It’s located all the way by the west side which overlooks Hudson River, in a real quiet area. The exterior of the restaurant looked so sleek, I think we both hesitated before entering. Oh yes, I made sure I looked presentable versus wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.


After being seated, we were seated (not by a corner mind you!) and they were very nice. They knew we were there for restaurant week, but didn’t look down upon that at all. Joanne and I ordered completely different things for each course, which was perfect since we could taste each other’s dishes.


They started us out with an amuse bouche to start out our meal. They served a watermelon soup, which was surprisingly good. I remember it having a very unique distinct taste…and I finished it all.


My appetizer is homemade mozzarella topped with basil, olive oil, and some fruit…(sorry it’s been a while since I ate there) It was real good. The mozzarella was light and all the flavors worked together well. Yummmm.


My main entree featured salmon with arugula and topped with crisps. The salmon was done well, not too dry and moist in the middle. Definitely enjoyed the texture and flavors of this dish.


And for dessert…

And to end off the great meal, White Chocolate and Meringue with Yuzu sorbet and mint. It was really good! Nice and light, and the sorbet with the meringue simply melted in my mouth. Oh how I love dessert…


Conclusion: Overall, I had a great experience there. No one was snobby, very accommodating, and had good American Nouveau food. I would say that it’s a great place to take a date as well. Dim lighting, beautifully-plated food, and awesome company. What more can you ask from a meal?


Montebello

120 E. 56th St.

New York, NY 10022


I came here with co-workers, and found out that they normally have a prix fix menu so it wasn’t anything special. It felt like a typical Midtown-italian restaurant…had a relatively homey feel, but there were enough suits in there to make you feel like you should start whipping out some business cards. Oh corporate america…


This was their seasonal soup. Nothing extraordinary.


This dish was their Pollo Portobello Chicken breast in a portobello mushroom sauce with white wine. It was good, but I couldn’t finish the whole piece of chicken breast.


The dessert - Ricotta/Mascarpone Cheese Cake. Light and sweet. A good way to end dinner.


Conclusion: I’m just glad that I had a nice get-together with my co-workers. I wasn’t dazzled by the food overall, but it’s hard to do italian real well in my opinion. If you plan on having decent, okay-italian food you can try out Montebello, though I would personally skip out on it.


As for the upcoming restaurant week, I’m looking forward to eating good food…or at least going to restaurants that I probably can’t afford normally. =)

				

				
				

			


				
		

				Chinese / dinner / drinks / Italian / Japanese / Long Island / nyc / snack —   No Comments

			    5
Jul 06 
				
The July 4th Weekend


				

					
Yay for Independence Day! I got to go home to Long Island and chill with some friends throughout the weekend. I gotta say, it’s way relaxing just laying on my couch, watching tv, and letting my brain rot away. haha. This also meant that I got to eat for “free” – eating good Taiwanese cooking at home and mommy paying for the bill at restaurants.


As usual, I’m going to highlight some of my wonderful meals during this past weekend. However, please note that there are NO typical July 4th foods on this list – NO hot dogs, burgers, ribs, potato salad…so it’s actually not a very patriotic entry. haha.


On Friday, I was craving some Japanese food and went to the St. Marks area. My friend and I ended up at this restaurant called “Go” (St. Marks betwn. 2nd and 3rd Ave.), which is open from 5pm to 4 am. Yes, this is certainly a place for late night eaters. I had my typical Okonomiyaki:




If you’re wondering what the heck this is, Wikipedia does a good job in describing what is in it, etc. etc.


Afterwards we ventured to Saint’s Alp (betwn. 10th and 11th on 3rd Ave.). Now, if you go to NYU you should definitely know this place. But for those who don’t, it’s a popular tea spot near campus that recently changed their menu but has relatively cheap drinks and small Taiwanese eats. Yum Yum. One of my favorite drinks is Black Sesame Shake. It’s SOOOO good.




Oh man. Just looking at it makes me drool…so if you like black sesame, this is definitely the drink for you.


Being that one of my awesome friends moved into an apartment in the West Village, we went around the area and decided to go to Sapore (55 Greenwich Ave, on 7th Ave). It’s relatively cheap for Italian food, and they had a nice area to sit outside. I actually didn’t get their pasta, but a panini with proscuitto, mozzarella, basil, tomato:




It came with fries and a small “salad” (basically a few greens) on the side. Pretty good, though I had a hard time eating it as a sandwich. As a result, I resorted to the fork and knife. It was nice just being able to sit outside and enjoy the city…


Since I went home this past weekend, I got a chance to eat at lovely local restaurants. My family and I had a craving for some Italian food and drove to La Piazza (Plainview NY 11803). They’re known for their pizza but I just got their Penne Pomodoro with meatballs:




It was pretty good. The leftovers are still in my fridge though. As you can see, it was a nice sunny day outside. I didn’t even have to do anything to this photo to make it bright. Yay for summer!


All in all, a great break from work. I can’t wait to go home again this upcoming weekend. Fun times!