Saturday, February 26, 2005
Sweets News
Here are your Sweets News items for February 26, 2005:
Mary's Dairy has opened up a new branch at 158 1st Avenue. In addition to super-premium ice cream, the store is now offering Valrhona-coated fruits, pretzels, marshmallows and graham crackers.
Cha-An, a Japanese "tea & sweets" house, has opened at 230 East 9th Street. Try the green-tea truffles and black sesame creme brulee!
Tarallucci E Vino, the authentic Italian pastry and sandwich shop at 163 First Avenue, is now selling boxed MarieBelle truffles.
And finally, if you think The Gates look good enough to eat, Two Little Red Hens is paying homage to the exhibit by serving up cupcakes with "saffron-colored" icing. (Sunday is the last day to enjoy them!)
Monday, February 21, 2005
La Palapa Rockola
Walking through the West Village on a cold, windy day, I craved some hearty fare. My plan was to head down to No. 26 for a big sandwich on ciabatta, but I happened to notice La Palapa Rockola on the way. It had somehow slipped my mind that the popular East Village Mexican had opened a 6th Avenue outpost.
My stomach growled. The restaurant manager saw me peering intensely into the restaurant window and opened the door. "Why don't you come inside, it's cold out there." That bit of hospitality (and the promise of rice and beans) was enough to change my plans. Happily, I sat down to a cup of Moka D'Oro and looked over the menu.
The specials included an enticing roasted corn soup. On the regular menu were tortas (Mexican sandwiches), assorted quesadillas and tacos stuffed with such goodies as chile-rubbed pork and char-grilled marinated skirt steak, large entrees like enchiladas and shrimp in garlic sauce, and even a 3-course meal that ended with one's choice of Mexican chocolate pudding or flan.
I had a feeling that I'd be eating quite a lot, so I decided not to fill up on the hand-cut tortilla chips. I started with the soup, which was a delicious, creamy puree of sweet roasted corn with a mound of huitlacoche (corn mushrooms) and tangy sour cream floating on top. The hearty soup was almost a meal in itself.
Never one to stop at soup, however, I also ordered a poblano chile quesadilla and a side of beans and rice. Although La Palapa Rockola serves its quesadillas in flour tortillas, my request for a corn tortilla was cheerfully accommodated. The slightly crisp tortilla, cut in quarters, was chock-full of melted cheese and spicy peppers. I dipped it in salsa verde and pico de gallo. The refried black beans were sprinkled with melted queso anejo, and the tomato rice was fragrant with saffron. I was certainly glad I'd stopped in!
La Palapa Rockola: 359 6th Ave., (212) 243-6870.
My stomach growled. The restaurant manager saw me peering intensely into the restaurant window and opened the door. "Why don't you come inside, it's cold out there." That bit of hospitality (and the promise of rice and beans) was enough to change my plans. Happily, I sat down to a cup of Moka D'Oro and looked over the menu.
The specials included an enticing roasted corn soup. On the regular menu were tortas (Mexican sandwiches), assorted quesadillas and tacos stuffed with such goodies as chile-rubbed pork and char-grilled marinated skirt steak, large entrees like enchiladas and shrimp in garlic sauce, and even a 3-course meal that ended with one's choice of Mexican chocolate pudding or flan.
I had a feeling that I'd be eating quite a lot, so I decided not to fill up on the hand-cut tortilla chips. I started with the soup, which was a delicious, creamy puree of sweet roasted corn with a mound of huitlacoche (corn mushrooms) and tangy sour cream floating on top. The hearty soup was almost a meal in itself.
Never one to stop at soup, however, I also ordered a poblano chile quesadilla and a side of beans and rice. Although La Palapa Rockola serves its quesadillas in flour tortillas, my request for a corn tortilla was cheerfully accommodated. The slightly crisp tortilla, cut in quarters, was chock-full of melted cheese and spicy peppers. I dipped it in salsa verde and pico de gallo. The refried black beans were sprinkled with melted queso anejo, and the tomato rice was fragrant with saffron. I was certainly glad I'd stopped in!
La Palapa Rockola: 359 6th Ave., (212) 243-6870.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Chocolate And Lavender
Lavender is known for its calming properties. According to a University of Miami study, just three minutes of lavender aromatherapy left participants feeling more relaxed. But if all you have is one minute, I'd suggest picking up a chocolate-lavender Tranquility bar. I found this Belgian chocolate bar at Zeytuna's downtown, and felt wonderful after just one bite!
New Tree USA chocolate bars are sold at several NYC gourmet groceries, including Zeytuna: 99 William St., (212) 742-2436, and A.L. Bazzini.
New Tree USA chocolate bars are sold at several NYC gourmet groceries, including Zeytuna: 99 William St., (212) 742-2436, and A.L. Bazzini.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Sarabeth's East
Pardon me a moment while I wipe the chocolate pudding off of my computer keyboard. As I type this, I'm spooning out every last chocolate shaving, mound of whipped cream and smidgen of chocolate custard from a glass jar (courtesy of Sarabeth's East). I made out like a bandit today at the famous bakery-restaurant, bringing home some chocolate cherry bread, brownies, chocolate souffle cake (do you sense a theme here?) and the above-mentioned pudding.
Honestly, I didn't intend to come away with so many goodies. My original intention was to indulge my rediscovered appetite for breakfast. I was already familiar with Sarabeth's excellent, naturally-thickened preserves, and I'd fantasized about spreading the strawberry-peach jam on a fresh hot scone.
I was amazed at the line of people waiting when I arrived around 1 p.m. (Sarabeth's only takes dinner reservations.) However, I had plenty of entertainment looking at the display case full of baked goods.
The wait was only ten minutes. Soon, after making that age-old decision between sweet and savory, I was enjoying a delightful breakfast. A scrumptious cherry-shallot dressing livened up some mixed greens. White truffle oil added an earthy complexity to a potato leek spinach soup. Three-pepper home fries were nicely browned, although the peppers and onions arrived in a heap over the potatoes (I prefer them interspersed). The smoked salmon eggs Benedict consisted of two Hollandaise-glazed jumbo eggs, which sat happily atop two homemade cornmeal-dusted English muffins amid a garnish of diced sweet red peppers and scallions. Raisin scones, which weren't served warmed, were nevertheless buttery and delicious. I slathered them with the strawberry-peach preserves.
The hearty meal held me until now, hence my voracious chocolate pudding consumption. Excuse me while I enjoy the last bite!
Sarabeth's (East) 1295 Madison Ave., (212) 410-7335. There are also locations at 423 Amsterdam Ave. and 945 Madison Ave., as well as a bakery at Chelsea Market.
Honestly, I didn't intend to come away with so many goodies. My original intention was to indulge my rediscovered appetite for breakfast. I was already familiar with Sarabeth's excellent, naturally-thickened preserves, and I'd fantasized about spreading the strawberry-peach jam on a fresh hot scone.
I was amazed at the line of people waiting when I arrived around 1 p.m. (Sarabeth's only takes dinner reservations.) However, I had plenty of entertainment looking at the display case full of baked goods.
The wait was only ten minutes. Soon, after making that age-old decision between sweet and savory, I was enjoying a delightful breakfast. A scrumptious cherry-shallot dressing livened up some mixed greens. White truffle oil added an earthy complexity to a potato leek spinach soup. Three-pepper home fries were nicely browned, although the peppers and onions arrived in a heap over the potatoes (I prefer them interspersed). The smoked salmon eggs Benedict consisted of two Hollandaise-glazed jumbo eggs, which sat happily atop two homemade cornmeal-dusted English muffins amid a garnish of diced sweet red peppers and scallions. Raisin scones, which weren't served warmed, were nevertheless buttery and delicious. I slathered them with the strawberry-peach preserves.
The hearty meal held me until now, hence my voracious chocolate pudding consumption. Excuse me while I enjoy the last bite!
Sarabeth's (East) 1295 Madison Ave., (212) 410-7335. There are also locations at 423 Amsterdam Ave. and 945 Madison Ave., as well as a bakery at Chelsea Market.
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