Italianese

There's a moment of confusion for people who step into Basta Pasta without knowing the restaurant's concept. Here Japanese and Italian cuisine cross-pollinate, creating a unique menu: Linguine with fresh sea urchin & basil in pink sauce... Spaghetti with tobiko (flying fish roe) and shiso (japanese basil)... Unlikely combinations that make it hard to get a table any night of the week.

We had the Spaghetti with parmigiano reggiano & prosciutto, served table-side from a half wheel of parmesan cheese (!) and Cavatappi with Shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce. Two dishes that were Italian in flavor but undoubtedly Japanese in presentation.

When it Raines, it Pours

We must have passed Raines Law Room hundreds of times, but we didn't notice this subterranean speakeasy until our friends Max & Joanna pointed it out to us. It's a place you'd expect to come with an attitude, but we experienced nothing close to pretension.

After ringing the unmarked doorbell, the host quietly greeted us and ushered us to a semi-private alcove which we had reserved. The waitress told us she would remain scarce so as not to interrupt our conversation, but if we needed service to pull the chain on the wall. How utterly civilized. Even the menu was something to treasure-- a worn red leather album with gold photo corners and vintage type. I sipped on the French Affair while Ronak enjoyed the somewhat stronger Philadelphia Story.

The Beat

To me, life's best relationships have always carried a rhythm. The hum of your favorite teacher. The sound of your mother fiddling around the house. Flipping the pages of an exciting book. Well, the rhythm of our relationship has always been food... and on this special night, we were enchanted by the BEAT of the Tabla. (Tabla is the word for Indian drum)

Tabla is a Danny Meyer-owned restaurant just a block from our apartment, with the brilliant Floyd Cardoz as chef. The waitress characterized the meal as seasonal ingredients using Indian spices and French cooking techniques. A perfect fit for me and Sara.

This was a truly notable meal. We shared everything, starting with the Five Onion Soup, a tangy broth with a delicious light spice to whet the palate. For the main course, we had the Fawa Crispy Skate with Peekytoe Crab Biryani (!!) and the Goan Beet Salad. The skate was perfectly prepared with a Fawa breading that gave it great texture and glimmer. The beet salad had crispy bacalao chips (salted cod) with an intense saltiness that heightened all the flavors. For dessert, we ordered the Mango Ice Cream Sundae, which is something I will never forget. Topped with mascarpone, meringue 'kisses', hazelnuts and crumble, the mango ice cream was perfectly creamy and not too sweet.

As we were leaving the the restaurant, we noted that the 80's decor seemed a bit out of place. It was then that Sara noticed a bin full of huge pomegranates and joked about swiping one... when the busboy told us "its all yours, go ahead and take it! We are closing in a month anyway."

.... and so we left this amazing meal with a bittersweet ending. Another new favorite soon to be gone... yet, we are so glad we had our chance to experience it and will try to go one more time before its gone, even if just for dessert.

Our New Stumping Ground

As an alternative to the numerous Starbucks in the city we decided to check out Stumptown Coffee last weekend. It's located in the Ace Hotel just a short stroll from our apartment. Originating in Portland, the Stumptown brand has thankfully made it's way to NYC, bringing along its charm and its beans.

It was particularly brisk last Saturday, so even though the line was long we were happy to step into this cozy cafe just to escape the cold. Stumptown has a 1940's vibe, with baristas wearing vests and newsies-style caps. Once we realized that we could be served from the hotel lobby we parked ourselves there, shed our coats, and absorbed the mid-century atmosphere. The coffee was rich and smooth and we agreed that once we're out of Peet's, Stumptown will become our new home staple.

Savoring the Salt

For our 1 year anniversary I signed Ron and myself up for a cooking class at the Institute of Culinary Education. We took the Savor the Salt class which focuses on dishes that use salt in a variety of cooking techniques. Chef Renée Marton explained to us the history of salt and brought in salts from various regions for us to taste. The truffle-infused salt was by far our favorite. Eleven of us were divided into teams and had the opportunity to cook Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemons, Spiced-Salt Rubbed Rib Eye Steak, Whole Red Snapper Baked in a Salt Crust and the reason I chose this class... Caramel Ice Cream topped with flaky pink Australian sea salt in homemade tuiles. Ron was especially hands on in making the ice cream. Hmm, I wonder why?

Shake Shack Attack

Shake Shack is our infamous neighbor who is always too busy to hang out. We've been yearning to chill there for a while now, but the line that's usually wrapped around the south end of Madison Square Park always keeps us walkin on by. On the prelude to Summer's Eve (Memorial Day dinner to be exact), we decided to go for it... and you know what, the line wasn't bad at all. In less than 15 minutes we were ordering our food. Luck was on our side.

We ordered the shake shack burger, New York dog, french fries and vanilla shake, all for $16, which anyone in New York would consider a real bargain for quality food.

The burger was well prepared and tender, with cheese melted to perfection. The fries were crinkle cut, which we normally hate because of the soggyness factor, but surprisingly, these fries were crispy even after an hour. The shake was like a slowly melting scoop of ice cream with a hint of salt. Needless to say, we passed out soon after eating. A perfect way to end Spring and bring in Summer...

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...