Terroir for Two :D

The partners of Hearth and Insieme have created a small wine bar. The new venue, located next door to Hearth, is called Terroir. This intimate, 24-seat wine bar is an adorable hole-in-the-wall on 12th St between 1st Ave and Ave A that beckons to one's inner wino. The wine list comes in a child's school binder adorned with some very adult graphics and verbage. Each page is dedicated to a story about a wine or selection of wines. Quotes from wine critics that fill the binder also line the wall on the bar's line of funky t-shirts, and the bathroom is stocked with stacks of wine publications and articles. They add new pages in the binder as they write new stories about all the aspects of the wines, the cultivation, history, people and the taste. The selection isn't vast, but they do describe them well and the service knows their selection of wine (which is always a plus). Prices are unfortunately less reasonable than you might hope, but at least the by-the-glass option lets you taste a few if you want-- and they do have a cheap happy hour between 5-6pm. The seating is great for two, since it's basically all comunal bar space. With a party larger than two, it will be very hard to get seats that aren't straight in one row, due to the fact that there are only 24 seats. Unless you aspire to have a permanent stiff neck from looking left or right to enjoy the company of your larger party, I recommend only bringing one other person to share this experience.

Terroir also has a delightful selection of bar snacks and small meals. The calamari salad offers an uncommon wrinkle in the form of smoked chickpeas, which blends with garlic, lemon, parsley and chili to create a delectable starter. It was surprising that this was a cold salad, since I ordered it expecting warm grilled calamari, but the calamari was perfectly tender despite the surprising chill. The veal & ricotta meatballs were served steaming in a cast iron skillet with a tasty but unremarkable tomato sauce. The meatballs were moist and flavorful, the ample cheese brought a delicious bite to the smoothness of the veal. The grilled radicchio, smoked mozzarella and red pepper panini was delicious, although the portion of grilled radicchio was somewhat lacking. In general, none of the servings are large, with the noticable exception of the Eggleston's Pork Blade Steak, which is larger then your head ;) This serving of pork is enormous, so I second the waitress' recommendation to add the Arugula salad on the side. The salad's parmesan and balsamic vinegar provide an almost mandatory respite from the relentless saltiness of the pork.

This a great little hidden spot for you and a "friend"...so if you want some vino and a snack (and don't mind a decent dent in your wallet), I suggest swinging by Terroir.

Craftsteaks' "Halfsteak"...is Half-Great.

So, I recently checked out the newly opened "Halfsteak", the recession-friendly front lounge/bar area of Craftsteak. Now, this isn't the same menu as Craftsteak, since everything here is $15 or less, and in order to achieve that they needed to create a new menu instead of serving you 1/10 of the food on there restaurant menu. Consider this menu more of a "tapas style" comfort food menu. The front lounge area offers a lively casual scene, and the bar is well stocked- with both liquor and cougars ;) The hostesses were genuinely friendly, unlike those found at most high-priced steakhouses. This is important, since Halfsteak doesn't take reservations. However, the bar area is large, so the wait can be made with a cocktail and without uncomfortably close proximity to other groups of expectant diners.

The menu offers snacks, leafy salads, small plates, sandwiches and "one pots". The theme of "half" things are illustrated throughout the menu with prices ranging from $3 1/2 to $14 1/2, even the drinks are cheaper and the beers are offered in 'half' pints at cost of $3 1/2. While the recession pricing is a welcome dynamic, the dogmatic obsession with the "half" gimmick is, dare I say, too clever by half!

My fellow foodie friends and I started the meal with the fried mac & cheese w/ tomato marmalade, sliders w/ blasamic onions and truffled pecorino, and the meatball, gnocchi and smoked mozzarella "half pot" (read: casserole). The fried mac & cheeese came as one large fried ball, good for two to share assuming you're having more to eat, and was warm and comforting as fried mac & cheese can be. If I had the option (and, more importantly, a personal trainer), I could have eaten many many more of those. We then delved into the sliders, which are an absolute must try. The balsamic onions and truffled pecorino make the burger savory and delicious, and the meat was moist and perfect. The onion/pecorino combo was so equisite that we found the side of ketchup truly bizaare. Whatever you do, don't ruin these delights with the boring taste of ketchup! The meatball gnocchi dish came then came out, which was more of a meatball dish topped with some tomato sauce, gnocchi and mozzerella. It was good, but nothing special. You could make this one at home...take a pass.

None of us left upset with our main dishes, but some stood out more than others. The actual "Halfsteak" is a small cut of steak with fries, for $14 1/2. It's not a large portion of steak, but the fries are plentiful. The steak was good, though nothing special. It was worth the $14 1/2 , but one wonders if the larger steak from the same kitchen is worth Craftsteak's $50 pricetag. I had the chicken & lobster pot pie, which should be really called the chicken pot pie, as the lobster is sparsely intermingled in the chicken and veggies. It had a nice puff pastry crust, and a smooth, rich creamy filling in a cast iron pot. The taste was rich and great, but was missing the chunks of veggies that I usually love in a true pot pie. The highlights of the main course were the two dishes ordered by the other two members of my party, the brisket, sauerkraut & provolone reuben and the Merguez sausage w/ feta, romaine, & grapefruit. The sandwich was hardly a reuben is the classic sense, but in this case experimentation is a very good thing. The brisket was lean but moist, and the light application of Russian dressing allowed the provolone flavor to shine through to mingle with the flavorful brisket. The rye bread was decadently toasted to a crispy sheen, though the entire concoction was best enjoyed without contemplating the amount of butter or fat that was surely required to impart such a crunch! The sausage exploded with spices and some serious heat, which was nicely complimented by the feta. The dish appeared rather small at presentation, but my friend reports that it was surprisingly filling.

This place is a great find for a nice dinner out with reasonable prices. The food is generally very good, with some standouts and some less memorable dishes. Just remember these are mostly small portions, so order generously or leave hungry.

Sushi Sen-Nin Hidden in Murray Hill

Well hidden on the deserted 33rd St block between Madison and Park Ave is one restaurant, a sushi restaurant, that has some of the freshest fish in the city. Sushi Sen-nin is busy but seemingly never packed, which allows you to walk in and get seated right away. If you find yourself waiting for your dinner companions, there is a small but tiny bar in the front. The entire waitstaff welcomes you as you walk in the door. The place has a simple decor with wood paneling everywhere and giant Japanese banners hanging on all the walls. The lengthy menu seems overwhelming and difficult to read, but once you've digested the expansive selection, you will be happy with whatever you order. Don't be alarmed by the exorbitant prices that you may see for the specialty rolls ($30-50), because these prices reflect not just the quality but the size. The specialty rolls are massive (each roll the size of my forearm!) and most are quite artistic.

If you do not want to share a bunch of rolls, I recommend moving to the "Matsu Ala Carte" section where for an extremely reasonable price ($20-25) you get a soup and an assortment of sashimi and sushi. Some of examples of the assortments are the Matsu Sushi, which is 5 pieces of sashimi and one spicy tuna roll or the Matsu Sashimi, which is an array of sliced sashimi. They also offer to add some Japanese spicy sauces to your sushi/sashimi, all of which are all very nice and bring a lot of flavor to each bite. However, if you don't like wasabi or anything related to that you can easily ask them for none. You can also opt for brown rice to keep things even healthier at no extra cost.

The fish is exceptional, fresh and melts in your mouth. The sashimi is delicately sliced. Everything is presented beautifully. This is truly a hidden gem, so don't let the word get out if you want to keep getting a seat!

Mmmmm Mmmm Mmm Mercadito (East Village, NYC)

Mercadito is a neighborhood gem whose name means "little market" in Spanish. Since I discovered the original location in the East Village, they have opened up several more locations; one across the street from the original and one in the West Village. This Mexican restaurant is a great local joint for a quick bite for two, or for a group dinner. The entrance is a wicker door that opens into a small restaurant, which is decorated like a small Mexican hut in the middle of the East Village. It has a great intimate feel up front, but they have a room downstairs that is great for groups.

There is a small, cramped bar ajoining the open kitchen. Seats are always at a premium, but the calesthenics are well worth the effort. The freshly mixed margaritas are fantastic, and the adventurous beer drinkers can try a cerveza "michelada" style, with lime, worcestershire, tabasco and salt. Tasty drinks lead straight into the tasty menu.

There is a vast variety of food to order, and most is designed for easy sharing. There are several varieties of freshly made guacamole, all of which are delicious. Ceviche also comes in several varieties. The selection of fish, acid and vegetable complements is quite diverse, so pick one that fits the mood and palate of your group. I suggest sticking with the Mixto, which has a great garlic-jalepeno sauce. Some of the others may be overwhelmed by the citrus but underwhelming in terms of overall flavor.

For the main course, my favorite approach is to order a bunch of the tacos, which are simply scrumptious. The two-bite tacos are made in small soft corn tortillas. Each serving contains four tacos, which makes them perfect for mixing, matching and sharing on a double date. The can't miss version is the shrimp taco (Cameron), which are covered in a roasted garlic and chipotle mojo sauce that is then topped with a slice of avocado. They're a perfect combination of taste, spice and texture. Many other types are also available, with proteins ranging from pork to steak to several types of fish. If late night dining fits your style, Mercadito offers a fantastic all-you-can-eat taco deal after 10pm several days per week.

The menu also offers a wide variety of entrees, including steak, chicken, whole snapper and stuffed relleno peppers. Several are excellent, but devote your first Mercadito experience to the tacos and save the other entrees for your second visit. And trust me- you will be making return visit!

Restaurant Week - ilili "Yes"

ilili, a must try. Its a Lebanese/Mediteranean restaurant that has a night club vibe to it. You walk into the restaurant through a non-descript curtained entranceway and enter a long hallway with the dim amber lighting and candles, which give the bar a dim, loungy feel. The high ceilings give the place a boisterous atmosphere, yet the warm candles give you the private dinning experience. The hostess and wait staff were extremely friendly and helpful, making sure that we are happy with the entire experience.

The prix fixe menu offered a wide selection of apps and the option to add some other meals for an incremental cost. The meal began with an assortment of appetizers. I chose Baba ghannouj, an eggplant and lebanese tahini dip with some warm pita bread on the side. The eggplant had a great smokey flavor to it. Falafel dumplings came with a tahini dipping sauce and were perfectly crisp on the outside and warm on the inside. The Calamari bi Kouzbara (one of my favorites) was calamari cooked in a cast iron skillet with white wine, cilantro, garlic and jalepeno. The calamari was tender, and the jalepeno gave the dish the perfect amount of heat. Even those afraid of spice can handle this dish, as the heat is tempered by the garlic and cliantro. The sauce was so good that it demanded to be sopped up with someleftover pita. My companion's Mekanek, lamb sausages cooked in a cast iron skillet with a lemon butter, were exotic, spicy and lean.

For my main dish, I tried the Sidon black cod on top of siya dieh rice (long grain rice) mixed in a tahini tajen sauce all topped with some peppers and onions. The cod was cooked as perfectly as fish could be. The tajen sauce was delicious, especially paired with some peppers and onions in a perfect spicy bite.

My companion had the beef kebabs, which consisted of skewers of marinated filet minon and shihito peppers paired with harissa pita. The filet mignon was tender, though it seemed closer to skirt steak than well-marbled filet. The peppers were perfectly blistered, bringing the modest spice of the shihitos bursting to the fore. Overall, the kebabs were excellent, though a diner dying for the taste of filet mignon might feel slightly misled.

By now, completely stuffed, a perfect finish to the meal was the homemade chocolate ice cream and the traditional Lebanese desert, Awaimat, which are small beignets tossed in a simple orange blossom syrup and some cut strawberries. The simple syrup was not too sweet, so it was perfect with the light, airy beignets. After experiencing what the prix fixe menu had to offer, I can't wait to go back and see what else I can dig into.

Restaurant Week - Country

COUNTRY (90 Madison Ave, NYC) : "No"

Walking into the candle lit cafe, you are greeted with friendly faces. With a limited menu to start with at the cafe, the restaurant week menu did not veer far from the normal menu. I started with a few appetizers, a celery and cauliflower panna cotta, sauteed shrimp with white beans and chorizo, and a mixed green salad. I was intrigued at first by the panna cotta's smooth consistency and subtle taste, but I was soon turned away by the odd aftertaste of cauliflower. The shrimp swam in the chorizo grease, leaving you to wonder if it should have been called shrimp-chorizo soup. Unfortunately, the mixed green salad was the highlight of the apps. I then was presented with the wild mushroom risotto. After eyeing the butternut squash risotto on the full menu, I thought they couldn't mess this one up. However the "soupiness" of the risotto left me very disappointed and thinking that I could have cooked a better one at home for half the price. In fact, the layer of oil that sat on the risotto had the unpleasant effect of recalling the chorizo-dominated shrimp. The meal ended with trying the luke warm chocolate lava cake with a side of coffee ice cream and the unchilled creme brulee. The highlights of the meal were the mixed green salad and the coffee ice cream, which leads me to suggest either don't do the restaurant week menu or don't go at all.....

Napa Valley - Terra

Terra is hidden in a brick faced building off a back road in St. Helena (Napa Valley), with warm lights eminating from the arched windows. It is a cozy single room with no more than 15 tables, with the simple and rustic decor of a small, gourmet B&B. The meal began with two appetizers; a hamachi tartare on rice cakes wrapped in seaweed and lobster ravioli. The delicate tartare melts in your mouth and is complemented perfectly by the crunch and texture of the rice cakes. The subtle and refreshing tastes of this appertizer was a great start to the evening. I then took a bite of warm, freshly-made lobster ravioli. The creamy sauce made me want to savor every bite (and then lick the sauce off the plate), and the pasta was perfectly cooked.

For the main course, I had broiled, sake-marinated Alaskan black cod and shrimp dumplings in a shiso broth. The cod was light and delicate. The handmade dumplings and shiso broth gave the entire meal a soothing warm soup feel to it. The shiso had a great soy flavor, which enhanced the flavors of the fish and the dumplings without overpowering them.

My companion had lamb chops on a bed of tomatoes and corn and carrots in a light tomato broth. The lamb was extremely tender, and we later learned that fresh lamb is a specialty of the region that is widely available in Napa and environs. Although the lamb was exactly medium rare, it seemed to have absorbed a bit too much of the broth, giving the entire dish a slight "deconstructed stew" feel. The dish was solid but not spectacular, and my companion identified the appetizers, not the entree, as the clear highlights of his meal.

Every bite of this meal was delicious. If you visit Napa Valley, do not leave without stopping by this place. Everything was very good or better, although the variability from "good" to "amazing" suggests tapping the staff for recommendations might be well worth your while if you find yourself at Terra.

Picturesque Pizza in Costa Rica

Imagine this....

Driving around late afternoon along the coast after a day of surfing and playing in ocean, starving for a quick bite on your way back to Hotel Luna Azul. Five minutes north of the hotel, you come across a small sign pointing down a path into the woods that say "Pizzeria". You have a flashback to 5th grade, and you recall Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken", and you decide to make a quick left turn down the path. Your four-wheel-drive vehicle barely fits on the "road", and you slowly descend down a narrow windy path. Fifteen minutes later, you start to worry that you this was a bad idea, but you push on since you don't know how to turn around. The sun is starting to set so you begin to ponder the feasibility of leaving in reverse. All of a sudden there is a clearing and you see two people hopping back onto their ATVs and realize there *is* something here. The pizzeria is in a hut on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Now, this fares 20x better than pizza hut ;) but for the standard New Yorker it may not beat your all time best pizza. But this thin crust pizza is solid, and the view alone makes the pizza and the beer seem like some of the world's best. If you have time and energy you can take the 30mins walk down the cliff side to the beach to watch the sunset, but I suggest sitting at one of the tree stump tables, munching on the thin crust pizza and sipping a nice cold beer while watching the sun set over the cliffs and bright blue ocean. A truly serene and peaceful moment. This place is a (well) hidden gem, and definitely worth the effort if you're in the area around sundown.

Hotel Luna Azul, Costa Rica

Over the hills and far away, to Luna Azul we go.

Hotel Luna Azul is located off the Pacific coast, nestled in the Ostional Wildlife Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula. This remote and cozy location is run by two Swiss owners, a zoologist and a homeopathic doctor. However, unbeknownst to most, one the owners is an amazing chef. Using the local markets and freshly caught ingredients, he provides a menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner- but only for the lucky guests staying in one of the property's 7 bungalows. The bungalows offer open showers and wide open terraces with total privacy, which open up to the surrounding nature preserve. You can watch howler monkeys climb from tree to tree, right ouside your room!

Each day started with a fresh breakfast with made-to-order eggs, accompanied by freshly cut local fruit and yogurt. After a day lounging in the sun by the serene pool, lunch consisted of made to order sandwiches and salads with freshly picked vegetables. When the urge to explore strikes, you can spend the day driving up and down the coast, visiting the gorgeous beaches of the Pacific coast. For these excursions, Luna Azul's excellent sandwiches are available to go. No matter where the day's travels take you, you would be well served to rush back to watch the sunset from the pool deck, with one of the most perfect margaritas in hand. An intimate dinner is served on the ajoining porch, with a new menu every night.

One night's fare consisted of a delicious dish of sauteed garlic shrimp over a bed of lightly buttered linguini, a perfect complement to a hard day of surfing. A meat option is available most nights. Although the chef prides himself in finding excellent meat by Costa Rican standards, choosy carnivores will find the local grass-fed beef falls somewhat short of American steakhouse standards. I'd stick to the seafood, which is as fresh as you'll ever find. On the other hand, if meat is a must, this was still some of the best we encountered in Costa Rica!

For our last meal, we were able to dine with the owners family as they arrived on our last nite, with a traditional Costa Rican dish, the Casado. The Casado was a dish that looked like a sampler plate, consisting of fresh sauteed vegetables, salad, rice, beans, perfectly cooked fish, braised chicken, and fried plantains. Although the menu for the human patrons is ever-changing, the myriad geckos that patrol the roof of the patio area feast on insects nightly, keeping the dining area almost entirely bug-free!

The perfect remote getaway..... without breaking the bank.