his + hers blackened steaks w/ smokey blue cheese




blackened steaks w/ smokey blue cheese

 

treat yourself to a little weeknight steakhouse dinner. go on, you deserve it (and if you stay away from the bread, you can make yourself feel better by noting that you're eating gluten-free : ) all you need is a cast iron skillet, two good quality beef loin fillets and a spicy red wine.

grilled tequila-lime scallops



tequila-lime scallops





























i wanted to close the long memorial day weekend with something light but flavorful.  these scallops served with a spicy yellow pepper sauce did the trick.  the spicy sauce is one that's been tradition in jack's family for i'm sure, much longer than i've been around. luckily though, my sister-in-law shared the recipe with me; you'll love the vibrant color and extra kick it gives. grab the tequila and heat up the fire!

betto



betto


hands down, my favorite feature at betto is the way they deliver your wine when you've ordered by the glass.  betto has an extensive list so you've got plenty of options as well.  after you've picked your poison, they bring the bottle to your table (no matter how many different types of wine your table has selected) and let you try a sip before they pour your glass.  they wait for you to smell it, swish it around, the whole thing! i've yet to experience a restaurant that would do this sort of thing.  and it's no big deal if you don't like it, they genuinely want you to enjoy your wine, i loved it! sure you get this kind of treatment when you sit at a bar but we were so pleased with the somelier's service, it really elevated the dining experience.
we started with a few of the crostini and and one of the specials, the bufala mozzerella.  the presentation was rustic and the flavors were earthy and rich.  my favorite crostini was the basil pesto with the house made ricotta coming in a close second.
after we lingered over our appetizers (with no pressure to place a dinner order, another thing i loved) we opted for a few small plates to share and one big, impressive, deep fried rabbit. the short ribs and broccoli rabe papardelle were really nice but the rabbit, whew, it was light, juicy, crispy goodness. i hesitated over my first bite but quickly got over my inhibitions.  trust me, you will too!
definitely make your way over to betto.  it's relaxed, the service is excellent and the food is perfect whether you're looking for a light snack or you want to bite into a whole animal. the communal table's great for those looking for a little socialization as well.  two thumbs up~

wythe hotel

cocktails on top of wythe hotel



wythe hotel

 
lucky for us, we can see manhattan from a new vantage point now. wythe hotel was converted from an old factory building into what i'd consider to be williamsburg's premier spot for cocktails. we had berry park and juliette but nothing compares to the view on top of the wythe. they did a classic feeling glass box extension on top of the existing 1901 factory and the old roof now serves as a hip, relaxed hangout.

you enter the hotel on the corner of wythe and north 11th. the restaurant is on your right hand side; i first noticed the gorgeous lofted ceilings and vintage vibe. pass the restaurant though and keep walking to get up to the bar. you'll be greeted by a real deal door girl before you're allowed up. she had a warm smile though and made the experience feel almost exclusive. when you step out of the elevator, you immediately see the bright skyline ahead of you. they did the walls of the space in a rich, steely blue lacquered finish and mirrors were layered on top so the view is the focus no matter where you happen to be standing. the view's not the only attractive draw, the bartenders could have passed for calvin klein models... these guys mix up a mean cocktail though, our harvey wallbanger's were spot on. we hung out and had a couple of rounds and then made our way over to betto for dinner afterwards. the rooftop was the perfect spot to start our night, definitely pop in and check it out~

summer salmon

summer salmon over kale, roasted in parchment

for anyone who lives in a small space and has seared a piece of fish on their stovetop knows even the aroma of a spectacular fillet isn't something you want to linger.  try this; wrap your fish in parchment and let the oven do the work.  you'll get a deliciously tender piece of fish and you can infuse it with whatever flavors you like.  i went for thyme, ginger, greens, fennel and a little lemon zest.  click below for the recipe~

cookin' low n' slow

<>

his + hers slow cooked pulled pork

who doesn't love a pulled pork sandwich?  i definitely do but i wanted to incorporate something somewhat healthy as well.  hence, the his + hers version.  for jack, i served up a hearty portion sandwiched between a sesame roll with a little kale salad on top.  for me, kale was the heart of the dish and i garnished it with some of the shredded goodness.  i did a cornbread side, chock full of bacon and scallions (right, so this isn't the healthiest of sides but it's sooo good.  treat yourself to one slice and then be sure to share the leftovers). and being a cincinnati girl, i had to use none other than ribs king montgomery inn barbeque sauce.  this stuff is the real deal, hands down my favorite bbq sauce on the market. it's thick, has a hint of sweetness and big, bold flavor. 

spicey spaghetti squash

spicy spaghetti squash

does it look like one of scott conant's little spaghetti nests?  yeah, i guess that's a bit of a stretch...  while i wouldn't compare my spaghetti squash recipe to scarpetta's, it's full of flavor and easy on your waistline.  nonna's spicy sauce (i picked it up at the gourmet guild) gives this dish a kick and some added capers and kalamata olives give further depth and complexity. the recipe is simple, you just need to be patient and give the squash enough time to roast~

il paiolo



osteria il paiolo



happy mother's day to all moms reading my blog!  and a very special happy mother's day to my own mom who graciously edits my posts : )  you're the best mom~
this year my husband and i spent some quality time with his family on mother's day and took them to il paiolo for brunch.  il paiolo's an authentic northern italian restaurant that's known for their scratch-made pasta and recently added outdoor seating area.  on a nice afternoon, there's nothing better than sipping a glass of wine and watching the foot traffic march up and down north 6th street.
i love the colors, texture and depth of flavors in the dishes here.  we started with a few beet and goat cheese salads. the goat cheese was rich and velvety and the arugula was peppery and fresh.  we followed that up with calamari for the table.  the batter was deliciously light and crispy.  we then ordered an array of entrees and after tasting a few, i'd say my favorite was the parpadelle with puttanesca sauce.  i didn't mention the bloody mary's yet so i have to go back to that one... i'm a little fussy when it comes to these because i like them spicey but i'm not a huge horseradish fan.  il paiolo makes one of the best bloody's i've had in a long time.  it's spicy yet smooth and has an addicting salt & pepper rimmed glass. mmm, perfect for a sunday brunch!
there aren't too many white table cloth places in williamsburg so if you're looking for a polished kind of spot for a family dinner, date or a girls night out, il paiolo is perfect.  alex, the owner, and his wife are always around and take great care of  their patrons.  il paiolo's a little gem that luckily found it's home just a few blocks away from our apartment. be sure to check it out.
http://www.ilpaiolonyc.com/

smorgasburg

i heart smorgasburg

smorgasburg

i guess manhattan could see the big heart drawn in the sky saturday morning as well but for some reason, i felt like it was meant for brooklyn...  we had a particularly late night on friday and were in need of some serious hangover food the next morning.  lucky for us, smorgasburg sets up  in our backyard so we didn't have far to go.  the open market accommodates about 100 established purveyors and food entrepreneurs from new york's own pool of local talent.  they sell both packaged and prepared food and you'll also find some specialty kitchenware booths. 
moving along, our first stop was porchetta. you can't go wrong with fennel and spice laced pork stuffed into a crispy, buttered roll.  after that had a few minutes to settle, we went over to hop on line at the red hook lobster pound.  the maine lobster roll did the trick.  big hunks of fresh lobster mixed in with a little mayo on a buttered slab of bread turned my morning around quickly. once i had taken care of the savory and salty part, i just needed to satiate the sweet.  a fresh baked donut from dough was the perfect finish.
there are plenty of other scratch-made options to choose from so i'm definitely looking forward to next weekend when i can sample some more. more info on smorgasburg here.

ramps



ramps & roasted garlic




my neighbor enlightened me (thank you, leon) this week and shared with me one of his favorite ingredients; ramps. we fixed a healthy meal with relatively few ingredients in under a half hour.  i had never cooked with ramps before but fell in love with the vibrant color in the stems and pure white bulbs at the base of the stalk.  ramp season is short lived so when you see them, pick 'em up and incorporate them into your favorite dish. this garlicky tasting member of the onion family is actually classified as a wild leek so we treated it as such.  we sauteed them with mushrooms, olive oil, a little chicken stock and pulled the dish together with some brown rice pasta and roasted garlic. 

d.o.c. wine bar



d.o.c. wine bar


this past friday we went to d.o.c. for a second time since we moved to the neighborhood.  we were with a large group of friends so we got to taste a number of different things and assorted bottles of wine were sampled throughout the evening.  if you're looking for an extensive wine list, d.o.c. is the place to go. i couldn't pronounce many of the titles but i liked that there was a nice 'by the glass,' selection and the servers were very helpful in directing you to their favorites.
the outside of the restaurant is pretty unassuming but once you're inside, the warm, intimate atmosphere wraps itself around you.  they were great about accommodating a large group but this place screams date night to me. it's cozy, the lights are dimmed and the majority of the menu is perfect for sharing (boyfriends and husbands, take note). the decor is an eclectic mix that feels slightly moroccan but you notice the italian influence once you have a look at the menu.  i'd say heavy apps and dessert would be the best way to approach a meal here. do a mix of cheeses, a little charcuterie, a toasted panini and finish up with their signature tiramisu.  they also have a few small tables outside so on a nice night you can relax and people watch while sipping a cool italian white. 
http://www.docwinebar.com/ 
 

remembering the creative legacy of maurice sendak...
although not food related, great article below about the life and work of native brooklynite, maurice sendak

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669723/remembering-the-creative-legacy-of-maurice-sendak-in-his-own-words

nola style cheesecake

[made in brooklyn]

nola style cheesecake

last october, jack and i walked down the aisle and said our 'i do's,' in one of the south's most fascinating cities, new orleans.  we had a three day party with our closest friends and family and took in all the sights, sounds, off-the-wall cocktails and culinary specialties nola had to offer.  this past weekend, friends of ours that had celebrated with us threw a dinner party and made one of their favorite dishes from a recipe they had picked up on that trip.  my job was dessert.  i wanted something that embodied nola's signature flavors and also wanted to marry in some local ingredients too.  i decided to top my grandma lou's cheesecake recipe with pralines, a little lemon zest and serve some fresh whipped cream on the side. instead of using dark corn syrup to make my pralines, i used our own duchess county's crown maple syrup.  the maple syrup made a deliciously glossy glaze. trust me, a few bites of this rich and decadent dessert are all you need~