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My Newest Project

So, I’m writing a book. And here’s the cover!

A month or so ago, I was approached by a mid-sized publisher to write a book about the food of Queens, where I live. It’s in guidebook format, so it will be a great way for locals and visitors alike to get to know the restaurant scene, specialty shops, artisanal food production, and more in the borough of Queens. There aren’t too many print publications like this when it comes to Queens, so I’m happy and honored to be working on this project.

I’ve been enjoying the writing immensely, and tasting all sorts of dishes from various cultures has been just fantastic. Queens has a lot of immigrants who bring their traditional food practices with them, which is a total bonus for someone like me that is interested in traditional foods from cultures other than my own.

Some of my favorite recent dishes came from Nepali restaurants – at the last one I was at there was a spicy potato dish called achar, which was flavored with fenugreek greens, sesame seeds, and lemon juice, and spices. It is simply amazing and I want to learn how to make it myself. I also recently discovered braso, a Filipino dessert consisting of  a sweet egg custard sandwiched between two thick layers of soft yet sturdy meringue. Just so good.

I’ve also enjoyed gathering with friends and sharing meals with them. It feels great to be able to share this experience with them, and I am so grateful for the time they are giving me.

I am sure I will write more about and certainly mention this project over the next few months. I look forward to sharing more news about the project as it progresses, too!

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Il Punto for Lunch

This week I mentioned the wonderful cheese goodness I had last week during my lunch at Il Punto, an Italian restaurant on 9th Ave in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Il Punto serves classic Italian dishes from the regions of Florence, Naples, Milan, Rome, Puglia, and beyond. It is a great place to get a solid and flavorful meal, prepared with care and attention, and beautifully presented. I found it to be a calm, soothing spot for a leisurely lunch with a new friend.

After our appetizers of caprese salad and burrata with figs and prosciutto, we were presented with a dish called Timballo. As one of Il Punto’s signature dishes, it was reminiscent of a round lasagna and was obviously al forno (from the oven) – it was baked and had a pleasant crust on it. Within there were wide sheets of pasta layered with béchamel, surrounded by a beautiful meat ragu reminiscent of a bolognese sauce. It was rich, savory, and smooth, and I loved it. I would absolutely order this again.

timballo at il punto
Timballo at Il Punto

My dining companion and I split this dish, but it could easily be split between four people, or eaten by one for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.

Continue reading “Il Punto for Lunch”

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New Leaf Cafe

new leaf cafe

Last month for Valentine’s Day, my guy suggested we celebrate with brunch at the New Leaf Cafe in Manhattan. New Leaf Cafe is the little restaurant in Fort Tryon Park near The Cloisters, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum dedicated to art and architecture of the Middle Ages. It’s a lovely setting.

The Cafe is managed by the New York Restoration Project, founded by Bette Midler in the mid-1990s. While cleaning up the park, she and her friends came upon this little stone building from the 1930s, and decided it would be good as a restaurant. Within a few years, the New Leaf Cafe opened for business.

I had been to the Cafe years ago and had happy memories of that time – strong coffee and delicious chocolate cherry bread pudding.  I had just enjoyed a walk through the park and a brief stop in the Cloisters, with my friend Jo and her young daughter.  We wanted a little something to eat, the place was crowded hardly at all.

cafe on the hill

For brunch, though, it was packed.  Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations for brunch, so it’s best to show up as early as possible and put your name on the list.  We got there at 11:45 a.m. and were told we’d have an hour wait.  Fortunately, it ended up only being a 30 minute wait.

What I didn’t know is that the New Leaf Cafe is a sort of locavore/farm-to-table restaurant, which thrilled me!  The meats, eggs, and dairy come from within 100 miles, and come from humanely-raised, pastured animals.  Most everything was organic.  And best of all, it was fantastically delicious.

I ordered two eggs served over smoked mozzarella and roasted tomatoes and sausages.  He ordered a burger made from grass-fed beef.  So, so good.  I didn’t take any pictures during our meal; it was more important to focus on the taste of the food, the beautiful surroundings, and each other.

The beautiful space contains simple lines, lots of wood, and it reminds me a little of a combination of the spaces at Greens in San Francisco (the openness) and Chez Panisse in Berkeley (the wood and lines). Our server was wonderful as well, being helpful when needed, an being attentive without overbearing. She smiled and laughed a lot, too.

They do take reservations for meals other than brunch, thank goodness.  Do yourself a favor and have a meal at the New Leaf Cafe.  It will be a delicious and beautiful experience.

New Leaf Cafe in greener times.

Photo Credit: (cc) Susan NYC via a Creative Commons license on flickr.

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Vesta

vesta

There is a lovely little restaurant in our neighborhood, called Vesta.  Their menu is “inspired by Italy”, and that inspiration yields real deliciousness.  I was there recently for Superbowl Sunday, and it turned out to be a great place to watch the game.

The special menu looked very tasty – meatballs, pizzas, sandwiches.   I asked Joe, one of the owners, about where they source their meats, because my goal this year is to eat meat that is pastured and sustainably/humanely raised and avoid CAFO or factory farmed meat.  It’s a real challenge – suffice it to say, I’ve eaten a lot of meatless meals when I’ve gone out.

Joe was so accommodating in telling me the details of their meat sources – and I’m happy to say, it’s good sourcing!  I ended up choosing the thin-thin pizza with Long Island duck, wild mushrooms, and goat cheese.  It was delicious.  One of the wines we had was also really interesting – it was an Italian white wine, whose grapes were recently rescued from the brink of extinction, and made into this lovely, minerally wine.  Talk about sustainability.

If you’re in Astoria, it’s worth a visit.

20101

Vesta Trattoria and Wine Bar
21-02 30th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
tel. 718-545-5550
http://vestavino.com/