2.20.2015

NYCRW: BUTTER midtown


RER 2.18.15
Sometimes texture trumps taste. Sometimes what lingers longest is how each morsel felt on the tongue, silencing what speaks volumes with pure pleasure and interest. Sometimes it’s the seduction of touch and feel that is more invigorating, and disconnect is what binds.
The New York City Restaurant Week menu at Butter Midtown displayed a treasure trove of textures and a flourish of welcomed color, like watercolors on a studded canvas. It was a journey of aesthetics and consistencies battling it out—dissonant, jarring, evocative, subtle and sensuous.
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On jade green ringed bread plates, fluffy golden parker house rolls, crusted with flaked sea salt, sat high and domed, only outshined by smooth rounds of sweet and herbed butter. Both bread and spread were sweet, but the crisp flaky outer layer of the roll and staccato of salt countered the airy insides and the creamy butter. Rougher slices of baguette with heavy singed crusts deserved the herb-studded variety, chewy and aromatic.
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A cube of chopped pale fluke was encircled by negative space and an emerald line chasing itself around the plate. The appetizer felt like an absence of color and life, only awakened by rich magenta blood orange pieces and thin slices of prickly green English cucumbers whose skin echoed the emerald ring. The raw fish and blood orange were cut to the same size, mimicking texture and slippery appeal, while the cucumber added an almost imperceptible crunch, varying the mood and tripping the tongue.
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Four plump ravioli, over-garnished, rested snugly in a shallow bowl; a tangle of toppings disguising the meat filled pockets and a pool of buttery sauces. The bowl’s rim, decorated with a red brown floral motif like at grandma’s, matched the julienne candy striped beets perfectly, again connecting plate to dish. The freshness of the beet was crisp like raw vegetable, but the buttered breadcrumbs crunched like oven-toasted happiness, while the pasta was soft, bursting with stringy tender meat. Bright green chile pesto added heat and a thick feeling in the mouth contradicting the garlicky sauce collecting at the bottom of the bowl.
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Again, a distracting decorated plate highlighted its contents, allowing dessert to visually blend in with its surroundings and transcend flavor. The springy slick custard of the crème caramel, glided through teeth, while the ruby red pomegranate seeds got stuck and stumbled. Crunchy almond brittle echoed the dance of the seeds, but it was the syrupy sweet kumquat rind that caused a stutter: stop, put down the fork, cut the candied peel and savor.
The experience was about texture— the way each element played with its compatriots and each layer added to the textual architecture of the dish, the way the mouth perceived moments and memorized them, the way texture can trump taste and produce something satiating and musical.
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2.18.15


2.16.2015

MangiaMore: red VELVET brownies


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Red Velvet Brownies—what could be more perfect for a Valentine’s Day sweet?! The deep red, moist, chewy, chocolaty insides and creamy, tangy sweet, thick layer of cream cheese frosting are the sultry melodies that lovebirds and sweethearts sing on Valentine’s Day. The colors are lovely creating a striking contrast of snow white and velvety red and a warmth emerges, delicate and decadent. And the flavors are redolent of the luscious southern cake, intoxicating like a love potion. Delicious.
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It was almost too easy to put these gems together, making this recipe from The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie particularly dangerous. All it takes is a good bit of butter, bitter cocoa, a smattering of red food coloring, flour, sugar and a flick of a whisk, and a pretty red batter comes together in an instant. The cream cheese frosting is an added bonus, really taking the red brownies to the next level, to red velvet dreams. We put flaked coconut on half of the brownies (the boy loves coconut!!), which added textures and another
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See what I mean? Dangerous…
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2.12.2015

hoboken's VALENTINE'S DAY hot spots: EZ Dating Coach x foodie ventures


Hoboken Gourment
Valentine’s Day is practically here. Somehow the most romantic holiday of the year always creeps up on us and we end up woefully unprepared. Some think that dining out or picking up store-bought gifts are played out, especially in this era of DIY and homegrown foodies, but there is something alluring about eating at great restaurant with the one you love.

I teamed up with Mike Goldstein, founder of EZ Dating Coach, to take some of the guessing out of picking a restaurant and tasty treats for your Valentine around Hoboken. EZ Dating Coach is a service offering advice and support in dating and communication.  
Check out our top picks for restaurants and edible gifts for this Valentine’s Day.

Mike: Cucharamama screams romance with its wood burning oven, quaint decor, and is perfect for Valentine’s Day because it only has about 10 tables so you will not be sharing the night with a huge crowd. I would suggest skipping full course meals and just order tapas. I like small plates for dates because they are a great way to share and taste a variety of dishes, while creating endless conversation points about the experience.

Hoboken Gourmet
foodie ventures: Hoboken Gourmet is a super sweet spot, wonderful for a Valentine’s Day dinner date. The space is small, resulting in an intimate meal with your valentine the focus. It still feels like a secret, as their dinner service is relatively new. The ambiance exudes just as much charm as the well-done comfort food. The entrees can be heavy, so perhaps for a sexy date, sharing a few of the starts, an entrée and a dessert will suffice. But don’t forget dessert!

Anthony David's Dining Room
Mike: Anthony David’s is high-end Italian food, offering great appetizers, but is also BYOB, which helps to keep the romantic evening on budget. The food is some of the best in Hoboken, while the restaurant also only has a few tables, which will allow for a more dreamy ambiance while still dining out.  
Margherita's
foodie ventures: There’s nothing trendy about Margherita’s, but in my opinion, it’s quintessential Hoboken—it’s Italian, family-owned, reasonably priced and straight to the point. It’s BYOB, so pick out a special or favorite libation. Go for the chicken parm and split it with your valentine (or not, if you’re like me and my valentine). Any of the cheesecakes are also totally worth it.

Teak
Mike: Teak specializes in sushi and also has great hot Japanese-inspired dishes. I would suggest sharing sushi when possible as it allows for conversation around the food.  What’s great about Teak is the ambiance. It’s sexy and elegant which hopefully translates to the patrons feeling the same way. Finally, sushi is always a good move on date night because it typically leaves people satisfied but not feeling bloated and unattractive. 
foodie ventures: If you really want to treat your date to a more luxurious classy experience, Dino & Harry’s or Amanda’s are great options. Dino & Harry’s is like a refined, more contemporary steakhouse. It is definitely an indulgence (think steak prices), but the food is pretty and tasty. Amanda’s is another old-guard restaurant in Hoboken. It is super romantic, comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. The food is exquisitely done and consistent.

Sweet
foodie ventures: There’s nothing sweeter on Valentine’s Day than a gift of a gaggle of mini cupcakes. Sweet is a great place to pick up some in really delectable flavors. They are really attractive and enticing, just a taste and not too much.

Mike: Lepore’s Chocolates has phenomenal chocolate, probably because its owners and staff are truly passionate about romance and of course their favorite sweet, chocolate.  They have an amazing assortment of chocolates that come pre-wrapped with a nice bag to present to your date.  Of course the presentation of chocolate is almost as important as how good the chocolate tastes, and I can assure you Lepore’s hits a home run on both fronts.

A&I Nutreats
foodie ventures: For the health nut in your life, A&I Nutreats sweet things are a must. These good-for-you goodies give the body a healthy boost and contain only natural ingredients. They can be purchased online, but in a pinch, found at a variety of locations in Hoboken.

 Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day y’all!
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2.12.15
Amanda's


2.11.2015

MangiaMore: VALENTINE'S DAY linzer cookies


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I live for the sappy holiday, Valentine’s Day. When I was younger it was about giving out sour sweet candy to my classmates as valentines or receiving candy grams during homeroom in high school. Now I love Valentine’s Day because it’s another excuse to bake something pink and red themed, eat candies till I fall over, and oh yeah, celebrate with the boo.
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I usually make him a treat as a tasty Valentine’s Day gift. Most times it’s poorly decorated red velvet cupcakes, but this year I wanted to try something different. So, I picked Linzer cookies because they are easily transformed into cutesy heart-shaped goodies with a pretty dusting of white powdered sugar and a pop of red jam.
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I used this recipe, and the cookies turned out adorable indeed. After rolling the textured dough, I quickly grew tired of keeping track of cookies (there’s that whole business of ones with windows and ones without to complete the sandwich). So I decided to finish with small hearts to create little sandwich cookies.  This was the best idea ever (well, yesterday when I made the cookies). The mini sandwiches are just as cute.
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These Linzer cookies are extremely flavorful, laced with tart lemon peel and spicy cinnamon and reinforced with aromatic roasted almonds. The apricot raspberry preserves I chose is sweet and tart, which works well with the not-too-sweet cookies. The cinnamon, however, was a little off-putting to me. Its sweet spiciness is delightful, but the amount the recipe called for might have been overkill. If I make these little guys again, I would definitely use less cinnamon.
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My valentine did get to taste the cookies early, and I am pretty sure he liked them. Maybe I will whip up something else before the big day. Any suggestions (preferably something heart-shaped, pink, red, or sweet)? What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?
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2.11.15
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