frankie & johnny's

franky & johnny's

can you say lobster purse? yes, that's right. wonton wrappers stuffed with lobster, marscarpone cheese and truffle oil. this was one of those bites that makes your eyes roll to the back of your head; it was so delicious and fresh! the rest of the details for this meal are on the travel page, toggle over and have a look~

gwynnett st.

gwynnett st.

when you peruse the menu, don't try to decipher what your dish is going to look or taste like. that's what's most fun about this restaurant. you probably won't be able to tell what flavors make up your meal, you'll just know that it's delicious and unlike anything you've experienced. love, love the interesting combinations here and laid back atmosphere.

gwynnett st. lives on an unassuming block near the graham stop in williamsburg. from the outside, you'd think you were just walking into a cozy, tucked away restaurant but what awaits inside is pure culinary deliciousness. after you order a fancy cocktail or bottle of wine, get your meal started with the whiskey bread. it kind of reminds me of the warm scratch-made biscuits my grandmother used to make but this bread has subtle hints of whiskey and comes with creamy butter to slather on top.  maybe you should get two orders, just to be safe...

next we did mushrooms and the autumn roots appetizer. both looked incredibly simple when they arrived at the table but had layers of flavor that seemed to get more interesting the further in we dove.

i ordered the trout for my entree. it was tender and delicious but the duck that a friend of mine ordered was the star of the show. it was perfectly cooked and served atop pureed vegetables of which i can't say that i even know how to pronounce. 

dessert was a whole process in itself. again, what arrived at the table seemed relatively simple but the flavor combinations were surprising and well thought out. paired with a finger of fernet, dessert may have been my favorite part of the meal.

at gwynnett st. you can walk in and select anything off the menu and have a truly unique dining experience. be sure to make reservations though, after esquire named this place one of the best new restaurants of 2012, tables became even trickier to come by. 

cacciatore au vin

cacciatore au vin

i found a chicken cacciatore recipe i wanted to try and realized that adding wine and reducing the sauce at the end of the cooking process made the sauce extra delicious.  hence, the lengthy title. this dish is great reheated the next day but don't be surprised if there are no leftovers : )

fabbrica

fabbrica

in their own words, fabbrica's concept is, 'embodied in a cuisine that combines the creativity of contemporary culinary sensibilities with the powerful draw of classic italian dishes. what i loved was the modern menu and industrial ambiance. a common theme we've seen lately are restaurateurs throwing back to the 20's and 30's and creating a vintage vibe. owner alberto baudo has gone in the complete opposite direction though. he maintained the high, loft like ceilings and raw flooring to evoke the feeling of a factory, (paying homage to williamburg's historical context) and he made it sexy and modern. large scale artwork covers the walls, aluminum wired light fixtures hang from the ceiling and hip indie tunes flutter through the air.

the space is divided by a grand floor to ceiling wine storage piece and a large, u-shaped bar with seating for 20 or so. plenty of room to gather with friends or grab a quick drink after hopping off the ferry. you'll also notice standing height tables between the bar and dining room.  they serve as a great place to chat with friends or say hello to fellow neighbors. the bar and community tables are casual, comfortable and have a great view of the open kitchen.

now to the food (after perusing the menu with a glass of sparkly prosseco in hand). we started with fabbrica's version of fresh burrata and their parmesan creme brulee. the burrata was served with seasoned crostini and savory roasted eggplant. the burrata was delicious but the parmesan creme brulee was like nothing i've had before. it was incredibly rich and creamy and was served on toasted flatbreads. next, we did a salmon dish and pasta with prosciutto. the salmon had that crispy texture around the edges and tender center. the pasta was the essence of italian comfort food to me. it was cheesy and full of flavor. if that weren't enough, we finished with a luscious tiramisu, topped with chocolate ganache.

we absolutely loved our first meal here and are looking forward to checking it out for early morning coffee and house-made pastries. stroll over and check it out, the guys at fabbrica have created a truly unique experience on the waterfront. 

la esquina mexican casserole

la esquina mexican casserole

yes, i said casserole but don't be nervous! there's no 'cream of,' anything in here. just keep reading-
it was sunday night and i was in one of those moods where i wanted to use up everything in the fridge so i could start fresh. what to do with all of the leftover salsa from la esquina?? make mexican casserole : ) the bones of this recipe came from a paula deen cookbook but don't worry, i left the butter out!