Taste of the South

Rhode Trip

While in Newport, RI a couple of years ago we tried out The Mooring restaurant. We reveled in their seafood laden menu and their house specialty: the 'bag-o-donuts,' a bag of deep fried shrimp and lobster fritters. Yum.

Fish 'n Chips

We had our obligatory English meal of fish 'n chips at Golden Union Fish Bar, just around the corner from Liberty on Poland Street. Freshly battered and cooked to order, the fish was crispy and golden just as their name promises.

Catch of the Day

After two days of pure relaxation in Turks & Caicos we were up for a little adventure. We signed up for a guided tour and set out for snorkeling and conch-diving with the sea breeze on our faces and Bob Marley strumming from the speakers. A flock of seagulls followed our boat, knowing we would lead them to the fish.

After spending most of the day in the water, we made our last stop at Iguana Island. We kicked back with a couple of local beers and watched how to extract conch from its shell. Pretty unappetizing, but with some tomatoes, peppers and Caribbean hot sauce the conch was surprisingly delicious.

As Happy as Clams

Since last May, Ronak and I have talked about recreating the meal we had at Esca on our 1 year anniversary: Linguine with briny clams, hot red pepper and pancetta. A few nights ago we finally did, using Chef David Pasternack's cookbook, Young Man & the Sea, as our bible. It seemed appropriate to go to Eataly for the main ingredients, since Pasternack has his hand in the produce selection (and his cookbook sits perched on the fish counter there).

Despite the hub of the lunch-time crowd, the fish monger gave us his full attention and explained the difference between mahogany and little neck clams-- The recipe called for either, but since the two types of clams are so different in size we had trouble deciding. In the end we went with mahogany-- a good choice! The clams were delicious and succulent, though it was the smokiness of the pancetta and heat from the peppers that left us with the most memorable taste in our mouths... once again.

Esca- One Year!

For 12 months, our footsteps have moved closely in sync with flavorful bites as our lives dance together. Always together, and always hungry..... of course.

It was fitting that exactly a year after we met at a food tasting, after a year of amazing food adventures (and other adventures too), after a year of romantic, sense-seizing moments... we celebrated the anniversary of our first meeting at my favorite restaurant in NYC... Esca.

I've been filling Sara's ears with tales of this place for a year... the restaurant's quaint airy feeling brings you deep into Southern Italy. Not only does it have the best wine selection in the city, this place has some of the best seafood & pasta dishes imaginable.

The meal started with an outstanding crudo tasting. Two flights of three tastes each. The crudo is basically sashimi, Italian style. Wonderful cuts of fish, marinated in lemon juice, a touch of olive oil... seasoned with sea salt... in other words, absolute perfection. The pasta dish we shared was linguine with clams and pancetta, and it may have been the best pasta dish either of has ever tried. The waiter warned us that it may be "too briny" or salty due to the ocean elements involved in the dish, which made us even more excited. The mixture of dried chili with al dente linguine left us feeling like we were overlooking the Mediterranean ocean. We complimented the meal with a beautiful bottle of Elena Walsh and finished it off with run raisin fritters filled with orange zabaglione, cappuccinos and a strong vintage grappa.

While Sara was in the restroom before leaving, I quickly snagged the chef's cookbook and had him sign it for her - a little impromptu surprise waiting for her to top off our evening. Our three hour trip to Southern Italy during this special evening filled our eyes with wonder, our hearts with delight, our stomachs with satisfaction and our dreams of many many more exciting food adventures to follow in the future.

Mermaid Inn-lusion

For months, we anticipated our eventual visit to the Mermaid Inn. But the restaurant, named after the mysterious siren of the sea, kept alluding us. There were several occasions we tried to call in for a last minute reservation, and repeatedly got denied. We even tried walking in a few times. The last time we tried, our get together with friends at the Mermaid Inn on the Upper West Side got canceled. Finally, after the long await, we got our chance.

Upon entry, the restaurant is charming and exciting. The tables are bustling, the east village crowd is eclectic and the aromas fill the space. The oceanic themes are well formulated throughout. When the food arrived, however, we were slightly disappointed. Not sure if it was all the hype, but the dishes just didn't seem as special as we had expected given the space and atmosphere. Sara ordered our favorite (the skate), which was broiled, crispy and flavorful, and I got the dorado, which was over prepared and complex, as well as slightly dry. Nice dishes, but again, nothing spectacular. The restaurant also offers no dessert menu, which doesn't work for me. Everyone gets the same complimentary chocolate pudding with a tuft of whipped cream. Creamy and fun, but certainly nothing special about it. But the prices were reasonable and Sara enjoyed her skate.





This place is special for the experience. This was highlighted at the end when we got this unique fortune fish. Its a thin plastic cutout that you hold in your hand and see how it reacts. I got the moving head (indeed, for being jealous of Sara's skate)... and she got the moving head and tail, which reminded me of what these restaurant experiences are all about. Sure, the food can be win or lose. But its the experience & the love that matters most.. so in that sense, the night was perfect.

Kiss, Kiss, Madame....

Sometimes in New York, you just get lucky. Anyone that lives in the city has had their moments, searching Menupages, looking for "what to eat" tonight. The fridge is empty, the evening has escaped from us, we want something not too expensive, but delicious. And often, as New Yorkers, we choose something that we've regretted. Fortunately for Sara and I, we got very lucky this time!

Le Pescadeux is on Thompson Street between Prince and Spring. Its a place you've walked by a hundred times but never noticed. The sign outside looks like this business card. The restaurant is spacious, but has a warm and inviting feel. Deep blue velvet curtains, minimalist decoration and candles.

The food was incredible. The first thing that was us over was the warm bread and French butter topped with Hawaiian sea salt. Then, we got started with the frisee salad and mussels, which were perfectly stewed in a pot with chorizo and tomatoes. For the main course, they gave us a 1/2 portion of two fish dishes. Perfect for us, as we love to try a bit of everything. We got to try the pike, dorado, octopus and cod... and since we always share our plates, we each got to try all four things. Amazing feast!

As we headed out, the owner/head of the restaurant took Sara's hand and kissed it twice, inviting us back to their restaurant "any time", and telling us about the live jazz they have on Wednesdays. All of the staff followed suit and thanked us profusely. We left feeling full, buzzed, and well... loved.

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!