By Ari, on January 15th, 2012%
For those who don’t know, New Yorker’s take brunch very seriously. Every Sunday people crawl out of bed, whether they’re hungover or not, to let the best chefs in the country ease their pain and tempt their palates. If you work in a restaurant kitchen, Sunday mornings from 10 am (or really 8 am when you begin prep) till 4 pm is a time to be scared. A time to panic, and pray to whomever you believe in (the food gods, of course) for an easy morning. Pray that the tickets don’t get backed up. That the line chef standing next to you doesn’t flop his first order of omelets or pancakes.
For the rest of us — the civilians — all we have to do is cross our fingers that the front of house staff doesn’t run out of coffee.
The majority of people who brunch fall into one of two categories:
(1) Those who had a low key evening the night before. These people are able to get up in time to stand in line outside the restaurant (currently in 15 degree weather) 20 minutes before the doors open to ensure themselves a table.
or…
(2) Those who had an epic night to remember (which sadly, they don’t remember) and are forced out of bed around 1 pm by their significant other because, let’s face it… if he or she doesn’t eat immediately, you’ll never hear the end of it.
I would say 99.9% of the time, John and I fall into the former.
Shocking, I know.
Our recent meal at Mile End, a Montreal-style Jewish delicatessen in Brooklyn, reminded me why I love brunch: when it’s prepared well, it can be the perfect start to your day.
The menu is a dream come true: not only do they have traditional breakfast fare (eggs, hash, bacon, etc.), but they’re also serving up all the Jewish deli classics a girl could want (latkes, chopped liver, lox, whitefish salad, brisket).
When you walk into Mile End, you have the option of sitting at the counter (with a direct view of the chefs as they cook — yes, please!) or at one of the smaller, family-style picnic tables in the room. We sat at the bar and chatted with the chefs a little as they worked. Everything here is homemade and fresh, from the twice-fried french fries, to the chopped liver and smoked brisket.
My decision was easy: the mont royal.
Potato and chive latke, lox, and a dollop of creme fraiche.
Heaven. Everything was seasoned well, presented simply, and absolutely delicious. The best part? Neither the lox nor the latkes were greasy. I could eat this every day. Continue reading Mile End
By Ari, on November 3rd, 2011%
Last night we enjoyed our first quick meal at BARK, a small, nouveau hot dog joint in Brooklyn. (My plan for cooking during the week sometimes falls through when “I don’t feel like it” rolls around.”)
The NY Times says they’re closing in on the gap between “artisan chic and fast food.” That’s a pretty accurate description of what you can expect here. They serve quality food (from local farmer’s, no less!) in an environment that feels hip and trendy.
The menu is a mix of classic dogs with new, innovative ideas.
John had the classic “Bark” dog — sweet pepper relish, mustard, and onion (left) — while I veered off and tried the veggie dog — chickpeas with roasted mushrooms and a garlic aioli (right).
 Continue reading BARK
By Ari, on September 16th, 2011%
For those wondering if we’re ever going to move, the answer is “no.” We’ve been looking at apartments (both online and in-person), but nothing has given us that we-want-to-move-right-now feeling.
Regarding Queens, we like Forest Hills — a lot — but it would make for a pretty long commute.
Astoria is great, but I’m not sure that young crowd is the vibe we’re going for.
In Brooklyn, I adore Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope, but I’d like to be able to move into a bigger apartment and feed my husband and dog every now and again. (Yes, it’s that pricey.)
And then there’s Manhattan. Would I die to live on the UWS or UES? Yes, probably. But we need more space for less money than those neighborhoods are asking. Also, moving to Manhattan would indisputably mean selling my car. Sad.
I don’t consider places like Soho or Noho viable living options for us. We’re just not those types of people.
Midtown? Nope. Financial District? Not happening. Harlem or the Bronx? I think I’d rather not.
Hi, I’m the pickiest person ever. Continue reading Pies ‘n’ Thighs
By Ari, on May 9th, 2011%
We don’t go out for brunch very often. When we do, it is frequently just to the diner around the corner from our apartment (who doesn’t love a good diner?). Recently, however, we decided to give Marc Forgione a chance. I’d looked at the menu a few times in the past and always thought everything sounded wonderful. Then there’s the fact that the chef, Marc Forgione, is the most recent “Iron Chef.” Should have been a very memorable meal for us. Continue reading Marc Forgione
By Ari, on April 28th, 2011%
There’s this fantastic little neighborhood gem, danny brown, that we just can’t get enough of. It has easily become our favorite restaurant in Queens; it simply does not disappoint. Continue reading Danny Brown
By Ari, on April 19th, 2011%
Brilliant name for a restaurant, right?
I had hoped dining at the newest addition to Sunnyside would bear a close resemblance to our highly enjoyable meals at Traif, but sadly, I’m not rushing back.
Continue reading Salt & Fat
By Ari, on February 16th, 2011%
Steak and cake.
Hangar steak, hen of the woods mushrooms, creamed spinach, and red wine reduction. Continue reading Valentine’s Day
By Ari, on February 4th, 2011%
By Ari, on January 12th, 2011%
Some rules are meant to be broken, right? At Traif, a nine-month-old restaurant in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, chef and co-owner Jason Marcus does just that. Turns out my man Jason and I have a few things in common: (1) we’re both Jewish; (2) we share a love for bacon and shellfish.
For those who don’t know, “traif” is Hebrew for non-kosher foods. This restaurant is a celebration of all things traif, and I’ve got to say – I want more. Continue reading Traif
By Ari, on October 6th, 2010%
Eating healthy is something I struggle with daily. I live in the greatest city in the world, surrounded by the best food in the world (and everything else, too), and am constantly tempted to pick up something delicious.. and fattening. When I get home from a long day at work, ordering in sounds like a fantastic idea. Then I think about how terrible things like pizza, cream-based curries, and Korean fried chicken can be (yum!)… and I make some scrambled eggs or a hot dog instead.
This is why I adore Seasons 52. They’ve taken dining out and made it more accessible for the health conscious. Specifically, their entire menu is 475 calories or less. Impressive, right?
Sure, you could go to Seasons 52, order an entrée and call it a day — a healthy day — but where’s the fun in that? I mean, the whole point of a “lower calorie” restaurant is that you feel less guilty about eating more food. Continue reading Seasons 52
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