Site Announcement: Back at it!

So Dee has gone back to work, and the blogging died down a bit, but not to worry more is slated to come.  We are working on a new batch of reviews, please check out the updated recent eats to see some of the backlog.

In the meantime a few good links to check out:

• Westchester Magazine's Best New Restaurants 2012, by Julie Sexton
• Behind the scenes at Tarry Lodge, by Patrice Costa
• The weekly notes from the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room, by Michael Malone
• Recent review of our fav Bar Taco at westchesterfoodie.com

Hoping to get some new  reviews up soon.

Enjoy the Dee-licious Eats!

Italian Kitchen - August 13, 2012

Sometimes you are not sure what you want to eat, but you are clear that you want a new place. Chris and I decided to try Italian Kitchen. Be warned, that you have to be on the lookout for it, because the storefront itself is small; however, the restaurant is rather deep.

We were greeted and seated by the hostess even though we didn’t have reservations. I believe if I were going to go back, I would make reservations (easy enough – they’re on open table). The waiter made a wine recommendation to Chris and I appreciated that it wasn’t the most expensive wine on the list. It was a nice sign that the recommendation was on taste, not bill. The oil had a good, rich flavor and you were given a single piece of bread, as opposed to a basket.

Frito Misto

I liked that there were a variety of wine appropriate glasses being used, it added to the atmosphere. I did not see the back of the restaurant, but for a Monday night, there was a good crowd. We started off with the Frito Misto and I would not recommend it. Honestly, there was nothing necessarily wrong with the flavors, but it did not contribute to the enjoyment of the meal. The foods were well fried, but needed the sauces, which were very tasty. On a return trip, I would go with the Arancini instead.

Pasta and Pizza

We opted for the Robiola Cheese with Speck and Arugula pizza. It is a square pizza and could work as an appetizer. The cheese was very creamy and tasty. I would highly recommend this pizza. We both enjoyed it. Be warned that there are onions on it, so if you don’t care for onions, speak up. Next, we went for the Cavatelli con Amatriciania, which was a special for the evening. The pasta is home-made and was very flavorful. The sauce had a good amount of spice, as you would hope. Be warned that the menu online does not match the menu in the restaurant. I am not sure if this is because of a “soft opening”, so if the full line up is online and they pick and choose in the restaurant.

For dessert, we tried the panna cotta with blueberry compote. Since there were two of us, they served a “double” portion. I wish this had been explained on the frontend, because I am not a huge dessert eater and just a spoonful would have been a fine close to the meal.

Overall, the food was good and the Italian Kitchen is a great addition to Ardsley. The waiter (yes, only one) seemed a bit overwhelmed at points with eight tables going at once. The meal was a solid first experience and we would probably go again. The fact that you can do online reservations is probably the best part – the sheer ease of the experience.

www.ik-ny.com
Ardsley, NY

Quick Bites - Brazen Fox and Pour Mt. Kisco

Quick Bites (and Drinks)

Brazen Fox – Although a large part of the reason I was there were the mai tais, the food is pretty decent. We started with the Korean BBQ Tacos. Neither of us had ever had them and we did enjoy them thoroughly. Granted, there was a terribly long wait for them. The manager did come by and apologize, which was nice. Chris had the Chipotle Chicken wrap and I had the Buffalo Chicken wrap. They were tasty. They have many weekday specials and are worth the look.

Pour, Mt. Kisco – So, we stopped in for a quick nightcap. After a few glasses of well-chosen wine, James treated us to a taste of the Greenhook Ginsmiths Beach Plum gin. This stuff is absolutely fantastic. As I have said so many times before, do not get scared by the menu, just let them know what types of mainstream things you like and James will find what you want. I suggest getting a plum Collins, as I know I will when I return.

The Cookery - Brunch, August 12, 2012

I am not sure if there are any more positive words I can express towards The Cookery, but the word “food-gasm” was used several times during brunch.  For $24 per person, you can enjoy a 3 course brunch with a complimentary mimosa, bellini or bloody mary. 

Upon entering the restaurant, we were told we could sit where we wanted.  We opted for a two-person table in the dining room.  We had our water and bread with oil in a timely manner.  The restaurant was not crowded, but we were certainly a little early, since it got progressively more crowded as our brunch lingered. 

I started with the mozzarella because, even though there are several things I would like to try, I cannot resist.  The grilled bread was very tasty and complemented the fresh mozzarella and oil well.  Chris went for the buttery, salty potatoes and they were piping hot and flavorful.  The cheese balanced well with the salt. 

Cookery Mozzarella

Buttery Potatoes

For the entrée course, I went with the eggs in purgatory.  I am not a huge pomodoro fan, but this sauce was excellent.  The garlic truly came through, but not in an over-powering way.  The polenta served as a perfect base, absorbing the flavors of the provolone and the pomodoro.  Chris had the crisp heritage pork.  As with my meal, the polenta was a great base and the meal went well.  Everything was very tasty.

For dessert, I had the chocolate polenta (I am such a creature of habit) and Chris had the bread pudding.  Both of us had a taste and Chris had a cup of coffee.  The service was top notch, as always.  The meal was solid and extremely well-paced.  I highly recommend The Cookery, whether you are going to go for dinner or brunch.    

www.thecookeryrestaurant.com

Dobbs Ferry, NY

La Bella Havana, August 3, 2012

Two Words – Unlimited Mojitos!  

La Bella Havana has a fantastic offer on Fridays and it is worth it.  I know, I know, as thought we needed another reason to celebrate a Friday?!?  Keep in mind that I would recommend reservations.  The restaurant may not seem super busy, but they do their best to maximize their small space and it is a very popular place with the popularity only growing.  From 4-6pm, you can get unlimited mojitos, an appetizer and an entrée for only $25.  (Yes, you read that correctly.)

You are greeted by a hostess who seated us quickly.  The waiter came to our table and was very nice.  The back-staff was prompt with water refills (and I appreciate that with how great the mojitos are.)  We both started with classic mojitos that tasted great.  The black bean spread and the plantain chips are a nice starter while looking at the limited Friday menu.  We've eaten here before and the quality was not lessened for the deal, neither were the portions.  For our appetizers, I had the Chorizo Salteado and Chris had the Empanadas.  They both arrived hot and were very flavorful.  The chorizo comes with a wooden utensil to eat it.  For our meals, I went with the Ropa Vieja and Chris had the Vaca Frita.  We were both very happy with our meals.  The shredded skirt steak was perfectly cooked (juicy, hot).  The vaca frita was very tasty and the mojo onions were the perfect accompaniment.  The rice and beans are very tasty.  I want to stress that all the food was hot when it arrived to the table and the flavors were fantastic.  

The mojitos are very tasty.  What I enjoyed was that I was allowed to try a variety of the flavors.  Sometimes places commit you to your first choice, but not LBH.  They also have a variety of contests and deals, so you should check their website for details.  Finally, if you’re just looking for a drink, happy hour is from 4 – 7pm and includes ½ price drink deals.

Overall, this is my number one choice for Cuban fare in Westchester.  Plus, it is easy to find.  A drawback is the parking situation, but be patient, Yonkers will eventually end the construction making this concern a moot point.

www.labellahavana.com

Yonkers, NY

Quick Bites - Havana Central - July 26, 2012

Pros – The empanadas are very tasty (I highly recommend the beef). The happy hour deals are honored in the restaurant. The mojitos are tasty; however, they can be inconsistent.

Cons – The food, even when good, is served warm, not hot. Everything could use a better heating (or possibly re-heating).

Atmosphere – We find the chairs a bit uncomfortable when sitting in the front area. We were able to sit at a booth and that was fine. The chairs on the inside are different and that is a potential positive.

havanacentral.com
Yonkers, NY

Barcelona - Muddled Drink Class - July 24, 2012

Before I even begin to write about our fantastic experience in the “Cocktail Classroom,” I want to send a shout out to Summer Street in Stamford, CT. This little stretch of road is home to so many restaurants that are worth a look. Fortunately, to entertain ourselves before class, we could grab gorditas and mojitos at bartaco right next door.

The class was held in a private room. Gretchen Thomas was her usual great combination of charisma and knowledge. The first cocktail demo was Caipirinha (made in the classic style). The class was interactive – having three volunteers work on each drink. The Aye Cukarumba was very crisp tasting, as long as you like the taste of cucumber. It was a refreshing second drink. We closed with the Hot Dahlia. The habanero-infused tequila added so much spice that it was an interesting close to the night. The drink was spicy and flavorful.

Aye Cukarumba

Chef Scott Quis took us on a tour of Brazil/Portugal with the food accompaniments. The Conch Ceviche was very tasty. Honestly, I added a bit of salt, but that was my personal preference. The Marinated Shrimp was excellent. I liked the flavor, since I like cilantro. The Churrasquinho was extremely tender and flavorful. The Tapioca Olinda was an amazing surprise. I was not expecting a chorizo/cheese final course. This was fantastic. The cough was very tasty and the filling was cooked perfectly. It also paired well with the spicy Hot Dahlia! It is important to note that some of the courses are shared with your neighbors.

Overall, I would highly recommend the class. Gretchen is extremely knowledgeable and gives the class an opportunity to ask questions. The bar staff (at the actual bar and Olivia in the room) were helpful and exhibited skill. The food was very tasty and the cocktails gave us an opportunity to explore flavors that we wouldn't normally opt for at the restaurant.

www.barcelonawinebar.com/stamford.htm

Stamford, CT