50% off Wine Bottles at Beppe on Mondays

Summer Mondays will help you start off the week right - Beppe in Gramercy is having a 50% off all bottles of wines every Monday night during the summer.

The 100% Tuscan wine list offers a wide variety of Tuscan wines,  with options such as a Vernaccia De San Gimignano, originally $31, for $15.50, or a 2002 Solengo Argiano, originally $292, available for a steal at $146.

Located in the heart of Gramercy on on 22nd between Broadway and Park, Beppe offers traditional Tuscan cuisine with a seasonal menu incorporating only the freshest ingredients from the local green market. 

One way to make your Mondays a little better.

Beppe
45 East 22nd (Between Broadway and Park)
http://www.beppenyc.com/index.html

Casa Mono - Not your Neighborhood Tapas Bar

The first time I went to Casa Mono was right after it had just opened. It was crowded, service was choppy, and the food unpredictable.

Coming back this summer for the first time since - it was perfect.

The food was amazing, the crowds were more manageable, and the service was fine. I mean, what do you expect when you sit at the bar?

Not 5 star service, but a 5 star show - watching the cooks prepare my food is better than 5 star waiter service any day of the week.

At its heart, Casa Mono is a Catalan tapas bar - inspired by all regions in Spain. Part of the burgeoning Batali & Bastianich Restaurant Group, Casa Mono was conceptualized by one of Mario Batali's longtime apprentices, chef Andy Nusser.

The restaurant is a tiny box in Gramercy, located on Irving Place. Seating is limited, and you need a reservation if you want a table.

But I prefer sitting at the bar where I can watch the cooks whip up a frenzy of dishes - everything from Sweetbreads to Duck Egg with Mojama to one of my personal favorites - Skirt steak with onion mermelada. The steak is perfectly medium rare with a sauce that is tart, sweet and spicy at the same time. It is a rich treat for your taste buds.

Other favorites include the Seasonal Soft Shell Crab and the Housemade Chorizo with my favorite part - crispy manchego cheese.

The dishes are succulent, with a variety of smells, tastes and sensory delights which will transport you back to the cobblestone streets of Barcelona.

Until the dollar strengthens enough to go to Spain without breaking the bank...we have Casa Mono to bring us there night after night.



Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY
212-253-2773
http://www.casamononyc.com

Friend of a Farmer - Country Bumpkin Meets City Slicker

Friend of a Farmer is the brunch place of choice for yuppie Manhattanites who want to pretend they are back at the farm...even though they've probably never been anywhere more than 20 miles from the coast. Either coast.

Friend of a Farmer is located in a country house on Irving Place with two floors -you actually feel like you are eating at a B&B you might find upstate.

Serving up classic brunch food from eggs to pancakes brought sizzling in a cast-iron skillet, your stomach is guaranteed to be filled to the brim.

Omelettes are served with country potatoes - a favorite is the Country Omelette with bacon, cheddar and potatoes. Pancakes - I go with the Old Fashion Pumpkin Pancakes - a slight twist on your traditional pancake.

The chicken pot pie is also to die for - a perfectly flaky crust that is perfect for scooping up all the gooey goodness.

For the legions of skinny girls there with their hungover boyfriends, there is the requisite Smoked Salmon Platter or Granola.

While Friend of a Farmer is a good choice when you want some good country cooking, the wait for brunch on the weekends can be unbearable - especially on hot summer days and cold winter mornings. You wait in a line outside...catch my drift?

Tip - go in small groups, tables larger than 2 can be harder to come by and you might get angry seeing the twosomes continuously bypass you in line.

I know, life can be so unfair sometimes.

Friend of a Farmer
77 Irving Place, New York, NY
212-477-2188
http://www.friendofafarmernyc.com

71 Irving Place - Coffee + Gossiping = Perfect Afternoon Stop

71 Irving Place is a great place to go solo or with friends when you need an afternoon pick me up. Always crowded, the patrons range from the folksy artist, to the uber hip NYU students, to the ever present struggling actor, to professionals wanting to pretend they are too cool for Starbucks.

The coffee is fresh from Irving Farm located in upstate NY on the Hudson Valley. Better yet, the snacks give a new name to "cafe" food. The California Bagel - toasted with cream cheese, red onions, cucumbers and tomatoes bring me back to my Berkeley days. Other favorites include the Mediterranean sandwich and fresh quiches served up daily.

The ever present "cafe" sweet treats include Pain au chocolats from Balthazar, and cupcakes ranging from red velvet to Fauxtess treats. Yummmmm........

For non coffee drinkers, I favor the Arnold Palmer - Ice tea + Lemonade. The ice tea perfectly offsets the sweetness of the lemonade.

Best of all, the setting is a quaint coffeehouse located in one of the most "non NYC" areas - Gramercy Park. Walk down the steps and you feel transported away from the Starbucks and Coffee Beans of the world.

While it's not the best place for computer work (laptops not allowed during "crowded times"), there are some outlets available at the tables along the walls. Most however bring a good book and pretend to read while eavesdropping on neighboring conversations.

Anything from philosophical conversations about religion to investment deals being brokered, to the oft-struggling actor recounting his latest audition for an off-Broadway play.

When you find yourself wanting a quick break from the fast paced Manhattan life, stop in at 71 Irving Place to relax, read, and gossip about your neighbors. What's better than that?
(picture from www.irvingfarm.com)

71 Irving Place
71 Irving Place, New York, NY
212-995-5252
http://www.irvingfarm.com