Terroir - Bar bites and tapas enough to fill you up

Last night I finally went to Terroir for dinner.  I'd been meaning to go for a while, but somehow never made it down there until I was reminded of it while reading Wylie Dufresne's New York Diet in Grub Street, where he mentioned dropping by for their Summer of Riesling.

Right now - reislings are $6 bucks before 6pm.  That is if you can make it that early!  I unfortunately didn't.  But even at $9 bucks, it's not so bad.

Terroir is located on 12th between 1st Ave. and Ave A - it's a tiny spot seating only 30 or so, but at 8pm on a Saturday night it wasn't too hard to get a seat.  A long communal bar gives it a nice neighborly feel and ambiance.

Now I usually am really wary of tapas places because the dishes are too small and the bill usually ends up much higher than you expect.

At Terroir we were able to get full for around $35/person.  Not terrible for tapas.

We ordered the lamb and sage fried meatballs.  I am really sensitive to the "lamb" taste, but these were delicious.  Especially the outside crust.  I could have just sit there and eaten the fried outside.  But that probably wouldn't be too good for me, haha.

Onto the fava bean and pecorino salad.  This was wonderful.  I love fava beans and it's not so easy to find them, The pecorino added just the right amount of tang and bitterness.

For our "main dish" we ordered the roasted pork panini.  The pork was not as soft as I usually expect and sliced a little too thickly for the panini bread. We added a side of black cabbage and sausage bruschetta, which was nice, but after so much meat I kind of wish I went with the server's suggestion of tomato and egg.  For my pork fixing I'd probably stick to Porchetta.

Finally we rounded out the meal with the house specialty of veal and ricotta meatballs The meatballs were a nice hearty dish with a tomato sauce.  Kind of reminded me of what I'd imagine as "grandma's meatballs."  Maybe they should rename the dish to that?

Next time I suppose!  Overall, I'd recommend Terroir as a casual dinner spot.  Would probably be a good date spot as I kind of do like the communal tables to break the ice a little bit.  It just seems friendlier and less intense than regular restaurant seating.

Just don't sit too close to the speaker or you won't be able to hear anything your date says!

Terroir
413 East 12th St. (Between 1st Ave. and Ave. A)
No phone

Sweet Revenge - A bake shop with an edge

Given all of the recent press I have been hearing about the West Village's Sweet Revenge, my expectations for their treats was pretty high.

A slightly rock'n'roll type of sweet and savory cafe, their specialties are cupcake and beer pairings.

Somewhat the antithesis of good ole fashioned Magnolia...

On a recent trip I stopped in to grab one of their artisan cupcakes.

After asking what the favorites were - I was told Crimson & Cream - a raspberry red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, and Bird of Paradise - a lime cake with a mango buttercream.

I think because I liked the name so much I went with the Birds of Paradise.

I took it to go - and I really appreciate this - they had little plastic containers for each cupcake.

No mess no fuss like what usually happens to the cupcakes I take out from other shops in flimsy bags or paper boxes...

The cake was nice and moist - with a taste and texture more like pound cake with lime zest.

The frosting was thick and rich - with a little more tang than I'm used to.  Super sweet and tangy, the cupcake, while delicious did require something with more base to offset it.

A large glass of milk would do it...or better yet, maybe that's why they pair beer with cupcakes!  It actually makes sense!

Sweet Revenge
62 Carmine St. (Between Bedford and 7th Ave)
212-242-2240

Signature Tuesdays at Vintage Irving - Begins July 28

A deal to look forward to after NYC restaurant week - Vintage Irving is launching an interactive tasting program every Tuesday this summer from 7pm to 9pm beginning July 28th.

$25 bucks will get you a menu of 2-3 courses and cocktail pairings of highly seasonal, local fare presented by chef Jason Bunin who will also lead an interactive and educational discussion on the food and preparation.

The series will take place on a weekly basis, each week with a new original menu of a selection of sweet and savory offerings.

The first menu on July 28th will feature options such as artisan blue cheese with homemade quince paste, duck prosciutto and drunken goat cheese bathed in Rioja, and a Truffled Honey Ricotta Cheese, each presented on freshly baked baguettes with wine pairings.

Vintage Irving
118A East 15th Street (At Irving)
212-677-6300

Alcoholic Popsicles @ Counter

Hop on over to Counter for a trio of alcohol infused popsicles to cool down after work.

$6 gets you all 3 - Blueberry Lemon Verbena Vodka pop, a Raspberry Prosecco pop, and a Strawberry Mint Rum Daiquiri pop.

Wow - given People's Pops are $3.50 per pop without the alcohol, this sounds like a good deal!


Counter
105 1st Ave. (between 6th and 7th St)
212-982-5870

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

Deal for tomorrow! - 20 wine tastes for $20 at Vintage Irving

Via Eater's DealFeed - Tomorrow at 7pm Vintage Irving is doing a 20 wine taste for $20.  Great chance for a crash course on wine pairings so you can impress your weekend date!


Vintage Irving
118 East 15th at Irving Place
212-677-6300
http://www.vintageirvingny.com/

Father's Day Gift - $59 Wine class at NYC Wine Company

If you are as clueless about wine as me, you'll appreciate today's Groupon - $59 for a wine class at NYC Wine Company - that's up to a $95 value.


NYC Wine Company has a class for every level of wine connoisseur, from beginners like me to advanced.
Each class includes a plated selection of different cheeses to enhance your experience. Classes include:

• Wine 101
• Regional Wine Explorations
• 20 Wines, 10 Cheeses, 1 Night
• Great Cheap Wines

There's no limit on how many Groupons you can buy today and since they don't expire until 6/11/2010 stock up on gifts and stocking stuffers for the rest of the year!

NYC Wine Company
167 West 23rd (Between 6th and 7th ave)
212-647-1879
http://www.nycwineclass.com/index.php

Kyotofu - Japanese Dessert + Sake Bar

Having lived in Hell's Kitchen for 4 years, I was always on the lookout for new restaurants. Witnessing the "culinary renaissance" from 2003-2007 on 9th avenue was quite an experience.

It seemed as though everyday there would be a new restaurant or bar popping up around the corner. Some would last only a couple of months, others seemed destined to stay.

Kyotofu thankfully seems to be falling into the latter category. After opening in 2006- 3 years later they are still going strong. Opened by an ex-JP Morgan investment banker, Kyotofu looks very similar to Chikalicious downtown.

That's not a coincidence. The owner hired the same architects as the famed east village dessert bar to create a similar ambiance - simple, elegant...and most of all a feeling of "fresh and so clean."

White space abounds the tiny space - and it is tiny. On a Friday night, plan on waits exceeding 30-40 minutes if you want a spot inside, or better yet just grab a seat at the window counter for some awesome people watching. That's more my style.

I started off my meal with a "Japanese soda" - you know, the sodas with the marble inside? Somewhat of a throwback to childhood days...

Desserts are a mix between fanciful and simple. Signature desserts include their sweet tofu and the black sesame tofu. While they may appear exotic to the western taste buds - these are traditional desserts easily found down in Chinatown for a fraction of the price.



No matter, they are served exquisitely in "riedel" type glasses - and afterall, aren't we paying a premium to have it here and not in Chinatown? I'm okay with that.

The soymilk soft ice cream sundae was a delight - chocolate and vanilla swirl with a kuromitsu whipped cream, mixed berry compote and matcha mochi.

Kyotofu also serves a light appetizer menu including a japanese panko crusted mac'n'cheese and "pigs in a duvet" - berkshire pork sausage wrapped in a puff pastry.

Kyotofu also has a bakery serving up award-winning cupcakes- specialty being a chocolate souffle cupcake, homemade cookies, brownies and macaroons.

Kyotofu is reasonably priced, but they get you on the alcohol - doesn't everyone? A bountiful list of sakes and cocktails can easily push the check for two to north of $80.

Overall - I'd say Kyotofu is a fair alternative to Chikalicious if you live in the Hell's Kitchen area. But east villagers - stay downtown - the soft serve Vanilla Bean sundae at Chikalicious Dessert Club outshines any option at Kyotofu.

Kyotofu
705 9th Ave. New York, NY
212-974-6012
http://www.kyotofu-nyc.com

Otto - How To Stay Trendy During A Recession

Otto - While Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich standby Otto has always been great...In tough economic times like these, I tend to appreciate its true value proposition even more.

And given the crowds on a recent Saturday night, I'm not the only one trying to save a little more these days. My boyfriend and I arrived at 5:45pm thinking we were early and sure to beat the crowds...

Little did we know that "beating" the crowds is not possible at Otto on a Saturday night.

We were given our ticket and told the wait would be 45 minutes! Resigned, we joined fellow diners in the packed bar area to settle in for the wait.

As we looked around I was continually surprised by the mixed crowd at Otto - on one hand you have the young, trendy 20-30 something former investment bankers and their girlfriends who have been forced to trade down from Babbo to Otto...

While at the same time you are just as likely see 3 generations of families bouncing babies on the tables at the bar...(and changing diapers in the already tiny 2 stall bathroom).

Looking around, we decided it would be more fun to just have our dinner at the bar - I usually love eating at the bar as I find it to be a more social experience. After spending 10 minutes hovering and stalking a twosome at the end of the bar we realized there was a separate wait for the bar.

Big Tip: If you are a deuce and want a shorter wait than the dining room (which I think seems more appropriate for a family affair) - dine at the bar...BUT make sure you tell the bartender you would like a seat.

Otherwise you could be like the older couple stalking our table and wait forever...only to be scolded by the bartender for not telling him you wanted a seat...not fun.

As for the grub - A large variety of antipasti for $4 bucks a pop - a variety of veggies from "Cauliflower alla Siciliana" to "Brussel Sprouts con Vin Cotto" whets your appetite.

Be sure to try the Bruschetta of the day - large pieces of bread smothered with the vegetable of the day - ours was delicious "lillies" sauteed with a spicy peppery finish that gave it just the right amount of heat.

Pizzas and Pastas range from $9 to $14, and just one pizza and one pasta was enough to fill the two of us.

For pasta I am always a fan of Spaghetti alla Carbonara, creamy with pancetta, pepper, egg - thick, served al dente.

Another good choice is the Rigatoni Con Stracotto - pork shoulder (mmmmm) + tomato and basil.

As for pizza I am always partial to the classics like Margherita D.O.P - tomato, bufala mozzarella and basil or the Pepperoni - tomato, spicy salami, cacio and mozzarella. The pizzas are thin and crispy - perfect as an entree or to share as an appetizer depending on how hungry you are.

Finish the meal off with one of the unique desserts. A must try for the adventurous - Olive Oil Copetta - olive oil gelato, concord grape sorbet, candied clementines, lime curd and fennel brittle. I know it sounds weird and frankly unappealing - but the mixture of sweet, tart and tangy is certainly unique. It is worth a try - you may love it or you may hate it...but either way aren't you curious?

Another favorite is the Tangerine Parfait - this flavor combination of coconut creme, tangerine sorbet, candied pineapples, passion fruit granita and a flicker of pomegranate is a sure thing. Sweet and refreshingly crisp.

Oh- and I'm not a big drinker, but the wine list is amazingly long with plenty of choices by the glass - plus the glasses are served with mini carafes - more like 2 glasses per selection.

I along with most other ladies love the classic Blood Orange Bellini - While it's no Cipriani Bellini, at $8 bucks it's one of the most reasonable bellinis in town.

Until times get better, fat chance finding me at Babbo or Del Posto.

I'll be sitting right here at the bar at Otto.
(picture from NY Mag)

Otto Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011
212-995-9559
http://www.ottopizzeria.com

Clo - A Wine Bar for Techies

Opened only for about 2 months now, Clo is a new wine tasting bar located on the 4th floor at the Time Warner Center

It has a nouveau concept - a self service wine tasting bar, where you purchase by the taste...

Sandwiched between the likes of Per Se and Bar Masa, Clo is certainly in good company. The wine bar is located in an open aired area on the 4th floor, with a smart looking white bar running down the middle of the area. The bar has seating for around 10 people - and for this place, you need a seat - that is where the magic happens.

Each seat at the bar has a touch screen navigation tool that lets you search for different wines by price, region, white/red/rose, etc. Reminiscent of the iPhone, the bar will register the slightest of touch, letting you scroll through the various wines offered. Each wine has an info page that has some notes on the particular wine and its "location" at the bar, i.e. where that wine is located at the bar. (All the wines are encased around the bar)

After choosing a wine to taste - you go to the location, insert your "Clo" card and then press the tap and a taste (about half a glass) will pour into your glass.

Clo offers two options - a prepaid card - you can add any amount to a Clo card - perfect for gifting, or you can just give them your credit card and run it like a normal bar tab.

Be careful though - that tab can easily run up, as tastes range from $4 all the way to a sky high $98 for a wine dated back to 1896. Remember, prices are per taste, not per glass...double it and you get the per glass price.

In a couple months Clo will open an accompanying wine shop downstairs where they can use the information on your Clo card to have the wines you tried ready for you to purchase in a jiffy.

Clo is a new and interesting concept utilizing the best that technology has to offer. While there may be some kinks to iron out as there is a fair amount of consumer education necessary...the idea is a good one - A great way to taste some very expensive wines without committing to the bottle.

Open from late afternoon to evening, Clo is a great way to unwind after a long day at the office or a fun place to take a date when you want to impress.

Clo
Time Warner Center, 60 Columbus Circle
4th Floor, New York NY 10019
212-823-9898
www.clowines.com