At Last...

The first time we pursed lips about Buttermilk Channel, it was a hot day in July. Jessica recommended it to Sara, then we went to the website and immediately the aesthetics won us over. And just like that, it was an addition to our list...

But no matter how hard we tried, our visit to Buttermilk Channel, in the heart of Boerum Hill in Brooklyn, kept missing us. Eventually, it slipped to the back of our subconscious. And with that, my chance arrived.... The opportunity for a surprise. I wanted Sara to enjoy the first meal of her 29th year with her family and a few friends. And the surprise worked out wonderfully...

A table for 14 in the bustling restaurant seemed chaotic, but when the bloody marys arrived, the chaos faded. The bloody marys were absolutely perfect, an impeccable production of fresh tomato, spicy horseradish and vodka, with a sour pickle. They served it four ways (one with an oyster on top). You cannot find a better Bloody Mary in NYC.

The Eggs Huntington was a nice variation from Eggs Benedict, but ended slightly dry. The scramble dishes were unique and well formulated, but the star of the menu was the Pecan Pie French Toast! With this dish, we were touring golden straits of bourbon molasses syrup and homemade cream, adorned with bits of toasted pecan, rafting around mountains of challah.

Almost like a foreshadowing for the future, Sara started her 29th year surrounded by love, and on a trip she never expected...

I-Ron Chef

The first time I met Chef Morimoto, there was no mistaking that he was a true artist. While we were meant to discuss a business venture in Bangkok, all he did was focus on his love for Thai food and the elements that could be infused for Japanese-Thai melodies. This was my first clue that his awareness of art in cuisine was unparalleled and his success was well deserved.

Over the last few years, Morimoto Restaurant has become my mecca for dependable high quality, high-end Japanese-fusion cuisine. As we started to take in the contemporary decor and backlit glow, the meal was introduced to us by Chef Morimoto himself. It was a warm greeting between two old acquaintances, that sent all the right signals to the rest of the staff...










































Fortunately, we sat the Sushi bar and enjoyed watching Chef's apprentices at work, carefully slicing and preparing fresh cuts of aquarian delicacies. The seared scallop appetizer was topped with spicy tokyo scallion, revving our engines for the main course. It was cruise control with the sashimi tasting, each piece delicate as flower petals with a negitoro roll that melted in our mouths (favorite roll to date) to create a gorgeous landscape. The DIY Ishi Yaki Buri Bop was served, then finished by the waiter who sizzled yellowtail strips on the edges of a hot clay pot, and mixed rice with egg and soy. A steamy treat to warm the soul. Finally, the molten chocolate birthday cake was served with green tea ice cream over red beans and garnished with coconut gelee cubes. This meal was true art delivered by a skilled master.... a beautiful feast to kick off Sara's birthday festivities.

Kind Buds

This Mari Vanna is not your ordinary outdoor variety. The new restaurant on 20th street between Park and Broadway is adorned with relics of old Russia, from rustic hanging chandeliers, to porcelain statuettes and weathered wooden fixtures. The service and Russian accents immediately embrace you, as the setting nearly stamps your passport. Its hugs and double-kisses all around, in a brand new "old world" establishment that we hope lasts long enough to match its antiquity. The TV screen plays old Russian footage while the low electronic music sets a festive but slightly Brighton Beach aura. My old friend Dmitry joined us, guiding us the way with his Russian fluency while our new Russian friend, Elle, soon arrived. The restaurant feels like a hidden Moscow hangout, complete with the underworld cache.

Yet, we started out with a cliche: of course, vodka. We ordered the horseradish and watermelon shots, but the flavors were overpowered by the pungent vodka. The dishes were a real treat. The classic Russian herring, served on crisp toast with dill and potatoes, was a nice kickoff. The potato and meat pierogies were flufffy buttery buns with a hearty middle, our favorite of the night...

We nibbled on some beet salad and steamed dumplings to complete the full flavor. The meal ended with a delicious strawberry smetannik (thanks Dave, for pronouncing that one...), and of course, a few more vodka shots. It was a nice tasting of flavors, perhaps not a complete meal, but the dishes were authentic and the atmosphere was charming. And with that, we finished the full rotation and passed Mari Vanna to the left hand side...

La Boca Loca

The first day I hung out with Sara, she told me all about her trip to Argentina with Kari. She walked me through the aesthetics, the culture, the sights, the coffee, and of course, the food. To her, it felt like a European metropolis but with third world prices and a Latin groove. That day, and those descriptive words, all i could think was "ay, mamacita... tell me more"

Much like her trip, our experience at Industria Argentina in tribeca was legendary in its own right. When you walk into this place, you feel you've arrived in Latin America. The wood accents, artistic montages, deep hues and muted glow transports you, while the Argentinean music and Tribeca crowd strums your senses. Everything about this place is home grown - from the floors to the ceiling, its all imported from A-tina. We had the 4 four course pre-fixe, with wine pairings for the steal of $55 each... The meal started with scallops on a bed of seasoned tomatoes and pesto roulade, next up a lamb stew served in a baby sugar pumpkin, followed by hand carved steak and potatoes. Each of the 3 glasses of wine was a variation Malbec, perfectly selected to highlight the tones of each dish. By the third course, our taste buds were on a raft in the middle of the Atlantic, right off the coast of Uruguay... and out of no where, we hit a brick wall... dessert! The candied pumpkin dish was a syrupy concoction, drenched in thick sugary sweetness. A bit too much for us...

Overall, our trip to Greenwich St in Tribeca felt like a getaway to Buenos Aires, but without the cheesy "La Boca" district... definitely makes you wanna say "Ay, Mamacita... tell me more"

Zeus' French Toast!

If the Greek gods were eating breakfast after a rough night of celestial galavanting... THIS is what they'd eat. Food for thunderbolts & lightning rods indeed. The concoction is inspired by Martha, but designed by Sara.... a double layer of challah bread, stuffed with bananas, chopped walnuts and a brown sugar sauce... crunchy, sweet, soft, and savory all at once.

To me, this is a cure-all dynamo to soothe away all pains and make any Sunday morning feel like Saturday all over again...

Funkmaster Flexin' Schwarzenegger

In our last trip to Flex Mussels, we saw Al Roker sitting at the bar with his wife. Now, as you can guess, Al really knows his food. Immediately, we figured we must be doing something right...

As you look around the restaurant, the expressions say it all. Every few seconds you hear the "pop" of metallic pots being opened by waiters, as steamy aromas of regional broth seep out & fog up your glasses. The restaurant feels like Martha's Vineyard meets Manhattan. The service is nice and attentive, and the mussels are fresh... So far, in two visits, we've tried the Maine, San Daniele, Italiano and the Spaniard (always with fries)... each represents a broth with a set of different regional selections... the maine has lobster, the san daniele has proscuitto, the spaniard has chorizo... you get it. The meal is completed with freshly made donuts, filled with creamy choices like salted caramel, praline and chocolate.

Its basically the kind of place you go with your best friends, roll up your sleeves and pull an Al Roker!