ABBOTEGA #NorthernItalian, #Restaurant

This is down the south-most part of the West Village.

After trying the Vietnamese influenced food stop at Varrick st., I bumped into this Northern Italian little restaurant.  I couldn't resist passing it up so I decided to stay for a small dessert.  Looking at the menu, it was described as a chocolate flan with white ganache. I was lead to believe it was like a cake with chocolate inside.  But to call it a flan is far fetched.  This is really a Jean George copy if his "lava cake" which is a light chocolate cake with liquid center.

At this restaurant, they decided to serve it over a white chocolate ganache with some sweet crumbled cookies like biscotti or maybe a meringue. Overall, it made the dessert too sweet for me.  It would have been better served with chantilly sauce or zabaglione.

The place has charm and the street is one of my favorite quiet neighborhoods in the city.

It has a local charm about to it which attracted me to stay.  Judging from the menu and the late lunch the staff was having, I plan to go back and try their lunch or dinner.  They serve Northern Italian  food and their prices for the main course seem reasonable.

This restaurant has several branches in Milan and their first in New York City. They said they soon will open one in Miami, Florida.

ABBOTTEGA

14 Bedford Street, New York, NY 

+1(212)675-9080

VIEN #vietnamesetakeout

The choice for main course aren't freshly cooked behind - waiting to be served / but it's a quick take out.  The other choice is need, tofu, vegetables and stewed looking pork.

It has a Vietnamese influence for sure!

Above are the choice of sauces they put on top of your dish at the end.

I like my Vietnamese Lime dressing or sauce as they call it which they squeeze on too of your order.

Garnishes are definitely a Vietnamese influence. Quite good.  Although the main choices does not look so appetizing. 

To get here, I took the E line and got off W4 St and walked past Bleeker and turned to Downing from Sixth Avenue to 220 Varick which is at the corner of Varick and Downing. Sts.

VIEN RESTAURANT

220 Varick St., New York, NY

(Between Downing and Carmine Streets)

11:30am to 6PM 1-212-255-8808

FRENCH CAFE - #LeMoulainCafe

My friend had mentioned to me that some people she knows who live in this neighborhood rave about this place.

I can see why.  They have wonderful pastries and a light lunch menu.  However, to me only the pastries are remarkable.

The usual croque Monsieur and croque Madame are again on the menu including the salad Nicoise.  Some other competition serve more than these items at their French cafés.

The ambience is nice:

The pastries look fine. Therefore, I had to veer out of the usual French choice. I picked their Vietnamese inspired sandwich baguette. It's just a sandwich.  Maybe I should have picked the small sandwiches in their glass case found upfront in the glass case instead.

But at least. The price was right.

When it came to the croissants, they were competitively priced. I hope the croissants I bought  pass the test tomorrow when I have it for breakfast.

It's a gem of am addition to the area. I don't think though if I will go out of my way to eat here when i can find things here at any French cafe in the city. The pastries are good but the lunch is average to me so far.

Here's the lunch menu:

Le Moulain Cafe

1349 York Avenue

New York, NY 10079

FRIED SHAD ( #fishrecipe )

First I coated my flounder fillet from with seasoned bread crumbs (mine was the New Orleans kind).

Fried it in olive oil. 

Then remove the fish and fry sliced onions (1/4 of medium size Vidalia onion) and 1/2 of sliced red pepper.

Pour in about 1/2 cup of white wine and clean pan. Let it boil to evaporate stirring the vegetables.  Season with about 1TB of paella seasoning and some fleur de sel or flakey salt.  Keep sautéing till a little limp - when cooked but still crispy, remove and pour over your fish.

Rice:  use left over rice.   Add more olive oil in same pan and crush a peeled garlic and sauté till golden brown.  Add the cooked left over rice.  Season with fleurand serve.  It will pickup the rest of the color from the pan.

Squeeze lemon and eat!
I loved it.
This is how I use the seasoning.

RUSS & DAUGHTERS CAFE #smokedsalmon

As a regular customer at their over 100 years old store in the Lower Eastside where I buy the best smoked salmon and herring available in the city, I remembered to stop by their new cafe a couple of blocks away south of their store.

It looks like a glamorous diner all sleek and clean.  The daughter recognized me and was pleased I stopped by to try.  I had her describe the items so I could decide what to order.

I am happy with their borscht. 

It is a little thick but really delicious.  No skimping in the ingredients used served with a light crisp pumpernickel or was it rye bread?

The green salad was very light with baby kale, frisée, capers and dill.  Very healthy!

I chose the hot and cold smoked salmon spread served with their homemade waffle potato fries.  This was excellent!  Very good a still reasonably priced.

As a dessert, I opted for the chocolate egg cream.  It was just a bit thicker than I wanted.  It was more like a milk shake.  But the bar tender was kind enough to add more seltzer when I wanted it watered down.

I want to go back again to try their fish chowder next time.

In case you like alcohol, yes they do serve wine and hard drinks too.  They also make their own non-alcoholic beverages - about 5 kinds.

RUSS & DAUGHTERS CAFE

127 Irchard St., New Yirk, NY 10002

(212) 475-4881

Hudson Food Court

No doubt this is a class act food court! And what a view!!

The collective stalls providing the food are some if my favorite go to places.  Hence, I am reviewing 2 of the food places I have never been to.

First is an obvious place because their restaurant is located in Long Island.

 

With the array of pizza that are wafer thin, I decided to try their Margharita to judge it from past versions.  My conclusion: 'Love it!

Next I went to Mjghty Quinn's - originally a BBQ place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn which later opened in East Village.  I have had brisket from several competitors in Manhattan so of course this is what I had to try!

For under $10 I get a good amount if juicy delectable brisket which passes my taste buds!  With it I asked for several of the pickled vegetables including peppers with it.  My brioche bread was separate to my request because I am staying away from a lot if carbs lately.

UMAMI Burger is also at Hudson Eats

It's just been a few days since they opened.  I heard that lunch time was very busy.  I am here at an odd high tea schedule and slowly the crowd js building up.

My take on this is it will be a successful food court.  And with the 911 Memorial nearby, it will be very crowded.  So try it now while there's less traffic.

I remember when I first blogged about the Plaza Food Court - and 3 years later, the place is a zoo.

I can't wait for Le District to open later this year.  It will be a version of EATALY in Flatiron area except it's French. 

HUDSON EATS

250 Vessey, New York, NY