Pour, Mount Kisco - June 22, 2012

A lovely way to end an evening… 

We stopped at Pour in a very roundabout way of getting home. There were no seats at the bar (good for them, bad for us), so we took a perfect corner seat. We prefer to sit at the bar to chat with James and Anthony, but the selection and ambiance are perfect no matter when you sit. 

I opted for white to start and Chris went red. He had the Cuvee 12.5 and he always loves it. I had the Cuvee Gyotaku (that elicited an “interesting” from James who dubbed it a “French sushi wine”) and it popped as I sipped it. The table next to us ordered the chick pea bites (and they are always amazing and I highly recommend them, even though we didn’t go for them on this particular occasion). 

For round two, Chris went with the Syrocco, a Moroccan syrah, and I had the Cotes de Rhone Blanc at James’s suggestion. You should probably know that I often go for dealer’s choice when I am drinking, especially if I have the utmost faith in the guy behind the bar! To finish the evening, I went with the Dolcetto and Chris had the Cahors. The “old vines” treated Chris well and the Dolcetto was a nice finish. 

I do not have to gush over how happy we both were with our wines. Everything that is served here is great. Be honest and describe something that you normally enjoy and James will guide you through the wine list. Do not fear if you are not into wine – they are excellent mixologists, too; recently named the 2012 Best of Westchester Award winner for their "all-star whiskey lineup!"

I highly recommend visiting Pour if you are looking for a cozy environment of quiet conversation or a lively girls’ night, because it is so versatile that you can make the night your own. 

Wine by candlelight at Pour Mt. Kisco

www.pourmtkisco.com

Mount Kisco, NY

Saturday Quick Bites - June 23, 2012

It started off with a trip to the Hastings-on-Hudson Farmers’ Market to get a breakfast pizza. The Cookery’s mobile extension – DoughNation was there serving up treats. The pizza was perfectly cooked with duck sausage and an egg. I believe there were caramelized onions on it, which provided a bit of a sweet taste. It was so good and yes, a breakfast pizza.

Next stop was Brazen Fox (White Plains) for lunch. I ordered the goat cheese pear salad. There is nothing wrong with the salad; I just learned that I am not the biggest fan of goat cheese. I think a different cheese would’ve made it better for me. It was too creamy, but not like a burrata – it just left an odd texture in my mouth and I am not a fan of odd. The service was a bit shaky and I was disappointed since I go there very often and rarely have complaints.

Finally, dinner at Chez Giza…to start we made a fantastic arugula salad that had cucumbers, pickles, mushrooms, tomatoes, Romano cheese and prosciutto (thank you farmers’ market). It was a fantastic salad that turned into a dinner salad. The home prepared meal was so tasty and I look forward to utilizing more and more arugula this summer!

Arugula and prosciutto salad

Mulberry Street - June 22, 2012

So, a run of the mill experience…

Mulberry Street has a beautiful sign and has really added an aesthetic to the corner, but the appearance might be the strongest thing brought to the table here.

Okay, maybe that was harsh – the mozzarella and tomato was pretty good. It could certainly use some balsamic vinegar and fresh mozzarella, but it was fine. The wait staff was excellent and the hostess did a fantastic job at table management. The drinks were fine and if I were looking for a quick drink and (maybe) a snack, this would be great.

However, since we were hoping for good to great pizza in a local-ish area, this place fell short. The pizza was on par (or below) with my local pizzeria (big shout-out to Capri that rarely disappoints and provides a great bang for the buck). Throwing some jalapeño-esque peppers on a pizza with sweet sausage doesn’t make for hot and sweet – it makes for okay. I think additional mozzarella would helped the ricotta balance. The pasta was tasty, but seemed as though spaghetti was being passed off as bucatini (no center hole). Plus, onions are not a substitute for flavor.

If you are in the area and are just looking for a quick something, it can be an option (but there are many quick eats options all along Mamaroneck). If you are looking for something very special, keep looking. The food was average and one of the biggest pluses was the “family” style potential portions. Again, nice atmosphere (even though it got loud) and the wait staff were polite and attentive. The food is clearly playing to the family crowd by trying to please all, but in my opinion it can use an improvement.

I had high hopes and we shall see what happens here. In the meantime check out their happy hour, weekdays from 5pm to 8pm, which offers some great specials at the bar - $3 Beers, $4 Wines & $5 Mixed Drinks.

www.mulberrystreetwp.com/home

White Plains, NY

Guadalajara - June 4, 2012

Sometimes Mondays are actually Margarita Mondays!

So, off we go to Guadalajara. Honestly, this may have been one of my very best experiences at the restaurant. I do generally find it incredibly crowded, pretty loud and over-priced; however, this time the atmosphere was calm and quiet. Granted, the restaurant was empty, but I like it like this!

I was served a very cool flaming margarita (and I am not above admitting that I had a heck of a time putting the flame out). The food was average. I would like to see a spicy option on the menu. Chris asked for hot sauce for his food (burrito?) and it was great. It seemed like something homemade and I wish they sold it.

My drink was great and the food was average, but above average once the hot sauce was added. The service was impeccable. The atmosphere is very nice and we saw a birthday celebration that was pretty hilarious. Overall, it was a great time.

www.guadalajaramexny.com
Briarcliff Manor, NY

Lolita Mexican - June 2, 2012

I was thrilled to see that this tasty spot was now on opentable.com and that smaller parties were able to make reservations. I only hope that cb5 decides to make one of the river-towns their next home!

The hostess was pleasant, even if a bit uncomfortable and possibly confused. I wonder how many people flake on their reservations, but we try not to do that (she almost seemed surprised when we showed up). We were seated above the bar. My chair was even more rickety than usual, so I made a quick swap (and no one seemed to mind).

Any meal that begins with fantastically presented grapefruit granita and a shot of tequila sounds lovely to me! There are so many great drink choices, but we went for a mojito (Chris) and an eponymous margarita (me). The warm chips came with a few tasty salsas (that are more closely characterized as dips). All three are fantastic. I would be more detailed, but I don’t want to sway you in any particular direction. Our waiter was very attentive and I found him to be the right combination of knowledgeable and patient. His support team was very effective. Our plates were cleared, water glasses refilled, etc…in a very timely manner.

To start, we had the spinach and cheese quesadilla. Ever since the first time we had this tasty treat, it has never disappointed. The spinach is not over-powering and the cheese is a nice compliment. I like to put the hot, mango (red bottle) sauce on them.

For the main course, Chris had the carne asada and I had the garlic lime chicken. I am somewhat wary of chicken when I eat out (and I am told that I make this comment every time I eat chicken), but this was fantastic. The skin was even tasty. The accompanying side was well cooked and had absorbed some good flavors. Chris was also happy with his food. The carne asada is not as spicy as the pollo asada, which has a great flavor if you enjoy hot vinegar. The corn bread side was probably the highlight of the main meal, even though I enjoyed my food. It has such great flavor and would be worth the trip alone.

We didn’t have dessert on this trip. We tried their cupcakes once and they were okay (just okay), so we opted to wait for the cotton candy. The bill comes with little Lolita tattoos (and the aforementioned cotton candy in a green apple flavor).

As a side note, interestingly enough, I am often disappointed with the restroom. For such a funky place, it could certainly be better decorated. Putting chalk out for decorative purposes is nice, but much more could’ve been done to add to the ambiance.

Overall, I always enjoy Lolita (and it is not only because of the drinks). The hostesses are generally nice, even if they seemed a little bothered to be there. The waiters are excellent and seem as though they’d be best suited handing you screenplays, rather than plates. The place is not for you if you want a quite night. There is a bustling bar scene and you can often find large parties chatting it up in the dining room.

lolitamexican.com

Greenwich, CT 

Half Moon (Patio) - May 28, 2012

We opted for a stop at Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry on the way home from a Memorial Day happy hour. We walked up to the bar and were immediately seated, which was a bit unexpected yet totally welcomed.

Chris and I are aware that the “South Beach” menu is a bit different from the regular menu, but it would be fine for us. We ordered our drinks (mojito and cranberry rose) and after a few minutes were indulging in a drink, watching the sunset over the Hudson River.

To start, we opted for the mini pulled pork buns. Three rather tasty pulled pork “sliders” came out. For our main course, we both went for the Chipotle Caesar (Chris added chicken). The salads were very tasty and there was a good amount of chicken on the salad.

Half Moon is a great spot to go for a quick bite and a nice view while having a drink or two.

harvest2000.com/hmn
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Cooking Class at Don Coqui - May 23, 2012

So, a party of four enrolls for a cooking class at Don Coqui. After several schedule changes, they finally arrive at “Tapas, Sangria & Mojito Party!” Yes, this all began with an email and ended with a great night of fun and tasty food.

First, I will start with some advice…make sure you grab a snack in advance You actually cook what you are going to eat and that takes some time. Also, be prepared that things will not be perfect – you and your classmates are cooking here! Finally, remember that the drinks are unlimited and included, so enjoy.

After a short tutorial from Chef Jack (who is very charismatic and patient), you get assigned a task. Thankfully, we were not on team onion! After peeling and cutting, we noticed that some of the onion choppers were doing an interesting job, so Chris opted to assist. We heard all about Chef Jack's secrets and made a variety of foods.

After many, many drinks and some excellent chatting, it was time for food. We watched as the food was set out and salivated. (starving) The bacalaitos were very salty, but everything else was very good and tasty.

The drinks were great and the food was tasty. The whole experience is determined by the group you are with – as long as you are with people who will have fun, you’ll have fun. I am sure that this is something that I will be interested in doing again – this time, easy on the salt! (And, the best part was that we got the tickets for half off!)

Emmy, Lui and Dee at Don Coqui

www.doncoqui.com

Bar Taco - May 19, 2012

Is the weather nice? Yes. Would you like a drink? Yes. Let’s go to bartaco!

Okay, that might not be exactly how every bartaco related conversation goes, but it is certainly close. Whether you get to sit outside on the Byram River, or if you are surrounded by the nautically themed inside, you are sure to enjoy bartaco. How can you pass up the chance to be served by a small army of blue plaid wearers and dragonfly signaling cards?

The tacos are very tasty and there are not so common options, making the experience that much more fun. Granted, if you do not like raw onions, you should certainly note that on your card. (As for cards, that is how you order your food.) I personally like the beef and the spicy chorizo. Generally, at least one pork al pastor gets ordered for Chris and me, too. The chopped salad is flavorful, as are the quesadillas.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, go for the rice bowl. The rice and meat are flavorful and it is a bit heavier. All that said, no trip to bartaco would be complete without at least two orders of gorditas. The sauce they come with is beyond tasty and I only wish they sold it.

Okay, that was a bit about the food, but let’s shifts over to the drinks. A little while ago, Chris and I were lucky enough to take a tequila class where Gretchen Thomas walked you through a few of the drinks after providing background information. The bartaco margarita is fantastic. If you are lucky enough to sit at the bar, you can watch the formidable bar staff fresh pull the ingredients that go into the drinks. The azteca and rosita were both fine options.

Generally, Chris and I stick with mojitos (or margaritas for me). They strain their mojitos, but if you ask they will leave the mint in there for your enjoyment. Chris was a great bartender and he addressed us (aka the fourth wall), even when it got busy. We chatted about a variety of things as he pulled drinks and served up the tasty snacks!

Bartaco is a great spot for a snack, dinner, or drinks. The fresh ingredients make everything special. The atmosphere is fun, even though everyone takes their roles seriously. I would highly recommend, but it gets very crowded, especially when it is nice out!

www.bartaco.com
Port Chester, NY