Courtyard Greenwich Hotel / Locanda Verde, NYC
Valentines day is quickly approaching, which for some means scrambling to get roses, chocolates & candy and for others means getting the last reservation at the “it” romantic restaurant. We [by which we mean DH] really don’t rejoice in this hallmark holiday but we thought it was a great opportunity to list our favorite picks for romantic restaurants. Included are also top picks from some of our favorite foodie friends.
DH & CA:
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns Tarrytown, NY One of our FAVORITE restaurants ever! World-renowned chef Dan Barber makes everything from what he farms on Blue Hill Farm.
- Il Buco NYC Northern Italian specialties served in a cosy & intimate atmosphere. Most of the sublime and delicate dishes are from organic or local farmers which is why the menu changes daily. Our standout favorite is the raw Tuscan black kale caesar in anchovy vinaigrette with croutons and Reggiano parmesan
- Jewel Bako 239 E. 5th St, NY, NY The best omakase and freshest sushi we’ve ever had – complex, authentic, and delicious. A small serene room made even more delightful by Jack the owner’s incredible hospitality
- Four Seasons Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey The most incredible courtyard setting to have dinner beneath the walls of a former palace, with views of the Bosphorus on the roof-top terrace, best use of Turkish recipes by an Italian chef, second most incredible Molten chocolate cake, best pistachio ice cream EVER
- Silenus Barcelona, Spain Our first date on a leafy side street in Barcelona, great food, great wine, discreet service.
Our very fashionable darling friend Carolyn:
- Mas Farmhouse NYC Is extremely romantic for a tete-a-tete!!
- Pastis NYC Eating oysters & champagne after a night of dancing with your honey is also so romantic!
- Smith & Mills NYC Housed in a beautiful old carriage house this is still my favorite spot for drinks
- The one, Siem Reap, Cambodia The “Cambodian bbq” for 2 (a mixed grill dish – never has river snake been so sexy) served in your private, rose petal-strewn roof deck over the streets of Siem Reap in Cambodia, by the staff at The One hotel.
Our uptown glam gal Paulina:
- Casa Tua South Beach, Miami is sleek, chic & has a beautiful garden
- El Bulli, Sevilla, Spain Simply stunning!
Our favorite jet-setter Lou:
- Locanda Verde NYC The outdoor terrace is lovely & so is the food
- Megu NYC The 2nd floor booth at Megu is pretty sexy!
- The Galley Beach Natucket MA, Gorgeous sunsets, beautiful views, great food!
- Les maisons de Baumaniere, Les Baux de Provence, France Sumptuous food and beautiful surroundings!
- The Fat Duck, United Kingdom, Just love this restaurant: the incredible food, wine & setting make this an unforgettable experience
Our downtown foodie, Cathy:
- The little owl NYC Wonderful tiny american bistro with a gorgeous antique stamped & gold painted ceiling!
- Raouls NYC The original French bistro in Soho, has a great bohemian atmosphere so if you can’t make it to Paris come here instead!
- Peasant NYC Rustic Italian that features superb open-fire cooking, but it’s the downstairs candle lit cave that’s the real romantic draw here
Our resident chef/entrepreneur Kimmy:
- Pierre du Calvet (Les Filles du Roy), Montreal, CA Set in a romantic inn whose dining room is renowned for its fine classic French & Quebec cuisine
- Il Cortile, Montreal, CA Has a beautiful hidden outdoor courtyard that makes a summer meal memorable!
- Le Club Chasse et Peche, Montreal, CA The crowd is trendy, the service friendly and the interior moody, dark and surreal
- Barroco, Montreal, CA Has a cosy warm dinning room, relaxed atmosphere and boasts an impressive wine list & delicious food
- The Ritz, Paris France Its Paris, it’s the Ritz, what’s not to love!
Our new to the city girlfriend Amelie:
- Gandhi, Montreal, CA If Indian doesn’t strike you as very romantic, that’s because you haven’t eaten at the chic, refined and alluring Gandhi restaurant!
- August, NYC, Located in the heart of the West Village the regional European food is lovely but the real draw is the beautiful heated atrium & wood-fired oven
- Roc, NYC Sorrento cuisine in a romantic Tribeca corner that’s beautifully lit with gracious service
- Cafe Olivier, Lisbon, Portugal Wonderful tasting menu, trendy decor with a delicate touch of Marie-Antoinette makes this somewhere we could spend hours
- Comme a la maison, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Amazing food in a peaceful and serene environment & the desserts are extraordinary!
We are very proud to be part of Food 52 Editor’s pick — for Week 33 for the chocolate cake contest. Our delicious Gateau Mami, one of our favorite family recipes was part of the top picks! Check out the recipe here
If you want to know more about Food52 this is what it’s about:
About food52
We met five years ago, when Amanda was looking for someone to help her with a dauntingly large cookbook she was writing for the New York Times. After testing more than 1200 recipes together, eating countless dinners at 11 pm, and doing all the necessary research and proofreading and dishwashing, we’ve finished the book, which will be out in 2010 (published by W.W. Norton).
Food52 grew out of an insight we had while working on the book: the best recipes come from home cooks. If you think about it, home cooks are practical and inventive and these qualities lead to great recipes. At food52, we recognize talented home cooks by giving them a place to show off their work, a place where cooks of all kinds come to be inspired and engaged in lively conversation. To begin, we’re creating the first online community cookbook and curated recipe database. As food52’s editors, we help vet the recipes, we write about food and cooking every day, and we’ll soon offer a selection of the best artisanal foods and kitchen products in the country.
We love spending time in the kitchen, and we believe that memorable cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or precious. It’s about discovering that frying an egg in olive oil over high heat gives the white a great crackly texture, that slashing the legs of a chicken before roasting allows the dark and white meat to cook evenly, that maple syrup adds not only sweetness but depth to an otherwise ho-hum vinaigrette.
Most cooking sites and blogs take a top-down approach, telling you what to cook and failing to give you a sense of the people and creative process behind the recipes. We don’t want to be yet another site that insists on dumbing down recipes to make them “quick” and “easy” — so we won’t.
We think cooking is really important — especially now. Over the past decade, many studies and books have shown that children from families who eat together do better in school, that eating “whole” foods is healthier, that eating sustainably will save the environment. But no one has pointed out that the only way to achieve all this in a comprehensive, lasting way is for people to cook.
After overindulging in January it was time to give our digestion system a break. This spread is prefect for a “food hangover” & a wonderful way to clean up your system without it feeling like a chore. It’s a great way to have a delicious and healthful meal that’s meat-free (which ties in nicely with Meat Free Mondays & Goop’s latest newsletter) and still feel satiated. That being said, who says you can’t “indulged” with a little chocolate dessert, the one listed is one of our favorite “no-guilt” cakes.
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This is an impossibly delicious dish from one of the winners of Food52. It’s easy, its healthy, high in protein & fiber!
Kitchen sink salad with Vietnamese dressing
It’s sweet, its sour, its crunchy & satisfying
Silky spread that can either be a side dish or a spread on rye crips
Bozena’s incredible zucchini soup
Velvety, creamy and decadent, who would know it’s so healthy?
A luscious chocolate cake that’s guilt-free!
A moist chocolate cake that’s healthy too? It’s not only a luscious cake but its wheat-free and has very little added fat. The trick is lots of patience: 90 minutes in the oven and 20 minutes resting time. Pair it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to add a little decadence!
Serves 6 to 8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 1h 30
- 1 3/4 cups egg whites or 8 egg whites
- 1/2 cup of cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons of agave nectar
- 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
- 2 oz dark chocolate, chopped finely
- 1/3 cup dried figs, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup prunes, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup gluten free bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 225F. Grease an 8″ springform pan, line with parchment paper & flour the side of the pan, shake off the excess.
Beat the egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, beating until the sugar is dissolved between additions. Add the agave nectar 1 tablespoon at a time.
Fold in the cocoa powder followed by the dark chocolate, the figs, the prunes & the breadcrumbs. Pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the cake is set and pulls away from the edges of the pan.
Cool in the oven with the door ajar for 20 to 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with cocoa powder. Serve in slices with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for a little extra indulgence!
Ventana Inn restaurant
Its a new year and we’ve kicked it off by eating out a lot. Here is what we liked (and what we didn’t) in January.
Woo Lae Oak Modern Korean in Soho with great prix-fixe lunches & very handsome waiters.
Craft Bar Great bar (as the name would indicate) for a casual weeknight bite in the Flatiron district. Highlights include: Shaved fennel, hot cherry pepper and pecorino & salt cod croquettes, piquillo pepper & capers
Evvia (Palo Alto, CA) who’s sister restaurant to Kokkari in San Francisco, serves delicious, mouth-watering Mediterranean food in an informal setting with very friendly service, one of our best meals on the West Coast. Highlights include: Warm roasted beets with greek yogurt & braised lamb shank
Ventana Inn (California) The menu uses local, sustainable ingredients from California’s Central Coast to create memorable dishes but its the modern design that is the real winner here!
Big Sur Bakery (California) This little cottage off of highway #1 may look like a shack but everything that comes out of its kitchen is exquisite! Delicious quiches, ricotta filled croissants & homemade jams
1550 Hyde (San Francisco, CA) Quaint seasonal Californian wine bar & restaurant in Russian Hill that has absurdly affordable prix fixe menus & wine flights. Book early as it gets full very quickly! Highlights include: little gem lettuce, escarole, ruby grapefruit, fennel, herbs and creme fraiche & the warm ginger cake with whipped cream, pomegranates & spiced persimmon sauce
SPQR (San Francisco, CA) A Roman trattoria in Pacific Highs that uses the best local ingredients (can you spot a trend here!)- Don’t be fooled by the relaxed environment it’s always packed and hard to get a reservation, you’re best bet is to come for brunch, which is just as tasty! Highlights include: fritto misto of rock cod & vegetables, maccheroni with braised dug ragu & cavolo nero
Cookshop Tucked away in West Chelsea is one of the cities first forays into “locavorism” with local product & seasonal ingredients. The portions are generous & the decor is shabby chic meets diner! Highlights include: Hudson Valley rabbit duo & the roasted Vermont leg of lamb
Maialino The hot new Roman trattoria (another notable restaurant trend for 2010!) in the Gramercy Park Hotel does not disappoint; it’s a polished version of Morandi with an upbeat vibe, attentive service & great food. Only hickup: the desserts aren’t up to par. Highlights include: Insalada Misticanza & Coda alla Vaccinara
Sho Shaun Hergatt Discreet but bold cuisine, top-notch service & sleek design defines this gem which is unexpectedly on the 2nd floor of the new Setai building. This is where to take your date on a special night. Note: they have a great prix fixe lunch ($30). Highlights include: “Petuna Farms” ocean trout tartare, hibiscus & acacia honey glazed long island duck & butterscotch parfait
BLT Fish Located in a beautiful townhouse on 17th street, the first floor is a fish shack (no, really!) and the top floor is the elegant dining room with glass ceiling. Highlights include: sea salt crusted New Zealand pink snapper, hen of the woods mushrooms & toffee pudding with kumquat confit and orange sorbet
Locanda Verde Very enjoyable Italian trattoria which is always bustling but excels at brunch & desserts. Must tries are the maple budino – it’s like going to maple heaven; the toffee date cake & the always delicious lemon tart
What we weren’t impressed with:
Lure We used to love their “happy hour” with $1 oysters and great margaritas, but sadly the oysters were terrible & so was the service
Kelley & Ping Pan Asian cuisine in Soho, is overhyped & over priced!
The Village Pub Sure the food is delicious (and pricey) but it doesn’t make up for the terrible service, which made us want to leave before dessert (that says a lot!)
This is a great “kitchen sink” salad for the days you need a very healthy meal! It mixes Mediterranean, South East Asian & Mexican flavors. To make it a more substantial main dish add grilled chicken breast, sautéed shrimp or tofu.
Serves 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
- 1 heart of romaine salad, chopped into 2″ pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, halved, quartered and cut into 2 inch pieces (drizzled with lemon juice not to brown)
- 1/2 english cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup of sprouts
- 6 large radishes, washed & thinly sliced
- 1 small bok choy, rough bottoms discarded, stems cut into 1/3″ bias pieces
- 1/2 cup of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup of mint, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup of tamari almonds or dry roasted almonds, roughly chopped
- 1 red grapefruit, peel trimmed, cut in between the membranes to free the grapefruit segments
- 1/2 pomegranate, seeded
Toss the romaine, the bell pepper, the avocado, the cucumber, the sprouts, the radishes, the bok choy, the herbs together and coat with enough dressing (recipe below). Serve in individual bowls and top with pomegranate, grapefruit segments & toasted almonds.
Vietnamese-inspired dressing
- 1/3 cup of lime juice
- 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 cup of sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons of agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons of finely diced red onion
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
Mix everything together. There should be enough for 2 salads.
Despite a number of high-profile restaurant closings last year, 2010 is off to a bright start when it comes to openings. Zagat has put together a comprehensive list of the most eagerly anticipated spots in New York City. Below are our picks for 2010!
Hotel Dining Is So Hot Right Now
BLT Grill: When the new W hotel opens its doors Downtown later this year, it will house the latest creation from Laurent Tourondel’s BLT empire (123 Washington St.).
Jour et Nuit: The Smyth Tribeca gets its own restaurant this spring when Frederick Lesort (of the two shuttered Frederick’s) opens this French bistro. Despite the name though, it won’t be open 24 hours (85 W. Broadway; 212-587-7000).
Má Pêche: David Chang’s first foray into Midtown, this French-Vietnamese is already serving lunch (and hotel guests) in temporary digs in the Chambers hotel’s lobby. At some point in the first quarter of the year, the actual restaurant should open with more selections, more seats and, presumably, dinner (15 W. 56th St).
The Mark Restaurant: Jean-Georges Vongerichten is aiming to open this 146-seat restaurant, designed by Jacques Grange, in the Mark Hotel mid-February. Menu details are still being hammered out (25 E. 77th St.; 212-606-3030).
Mondrian: Top Chef Sam Talbot heads to the city after a summer in Montauk at this seafooder in the upcoming Mondrian hotel. Unfortunately, the opening date is still “up in the air” (150 Lafayette St.).
Big Names, New Spaces
Brush Stroke: If all goes as planned, this much-delayed Japanese from David Bouley in the former Secession space will open at some point in 2010 (30 Hudson St.) – But we’re not holding our breath!
Colicchio & Sons: Tom Colicchio replaces his erstwhile Craftsteak later this month with this American focusing on improvisation, small-batch fare and farm-fresh ingredients (85 10th Ave.; 212-400-6699).
Eataly: Scheduled to open this summer, this 32,000-sq.-ft. leviathan from Mario Batali and Lidia and Joe Bastianich will include an Italian food market, a wine shop and a rooftop beer garden (200 Fifth Ave.).
Pulino’s: The latest from restaurateur Keith McNally (Pastis, Minetta Tavern) is a pizza joint on the corner of the Bowery and Houston with a hot young chef, Nate Appleman (ex SF’s SPQR), manning the kitchen. Last slated for December ‘09, it’s currently rumored to be making its debut in the next few months, though this being McNally, it’ll open when it opens (282 Bowery).
Reboots, Sequels and Spin-Offs
Annisa: After a fire destroyed her popular restaurant, chef Anita Lo has rebuilt it with a projected opening of mid-February (13 Barrow St.; 212-741-6699).
Recette: Chef Jesse Schenker is bringing this former Harlem private dining space to the Village, where he’ll serve New American food made with French technique when it opens this week (212-414-3000; 328 W. 12th St.).
Tamarind Tribeca: The trendy Flatiron Indian heads further Downtown later this month with a mammoth two-story, 11,000-sq.-ft. outpost in the former Sporting Club space (99 Hudson St.).
Terroir Tribeca: The popular East Village wine bar is also headed to TriBeCa, where a second outpost will open in the spring (24 Harrison St.).
And That’s Not All!
RedFarm: Focusing on unusual dim sum – think saffron soup dumplings and Peking duck sliders – this restaurant from chef Joe Ng (Chinatown Brasserie) is opening in the coming months (529 Hudson St.).
Villa Pacri: The owners of Bagatelle have taken over the former Merkato 55 space, though what exactly they have planned – and when it will open – is still a bit of a mystery (55-59 Gansevoort St.).
