Wining and Dining

"How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?" Julia Child

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Great bread is hard to find. Moving from NYC to Hoboken wasn’t too much of a change- still lots of great restaurants, bars, pizza, etc… But moving from Hoboken to Long Island- not as easy- in the food department, that is. Old school Italian bakeries and delis are no longer every few blocks as they were in Hoboken. While I’ve been hunting for the best local pizza since I moved to GC, I’ve also been searching for some good Italian bread. Real, hand-made brick oven bread; not the kind you buy at the supermarket that tastes like Kleenex. So when a friend said Cardinale’s in Carle Place is the best bakery in Nassau County, I knew I would be visiting soon.

I made my way on a recent Sunday afternoon. Let me admit that I am usually turned off when I walk into a bakery and it doesn’t remind me of the benchmark for bread-baking greatness–Dom’s in Hoboken. Unlike Dom’s, Cardinale’s didn’t have an old cardboard box as a doormat, looked like it had been painted within the last 30 years and the owner didn’t great me with a short grunt between cigarette puffs (in fact, I was greeted by a rather cheery hello –guard up). In short, my original impression was that Cardinale’s was a little too “frilly” to be laser focused on the great art of bread-baking  (to be fair, I should add it is not as frilly as Buttercooky — in fact, Buttercooky actually has their own personalized Buttercooky doormat. Ugh).

I got past this original impression when the assorted aromas began dominating my thought process. The focaccia smelled great, looked great and tasted great. I went with the roasted red pepper and balsamic. The crumb cake was also a good choice, as were the Italian cookies. And the bread was… simply stated, molto buono. There were rows of big, crusty, brick oven-baked loaves that could not be resisted. I served the bread to some fellow bread lovers later at dinner and they also agreed- it was a very good loaf and the best we’ve found so far. The crust was particularly crispy and tasty. I would put that aspect of the bread up there with my all time favorites.

In sum, I recommend you get there and sample a loaf.  I can hardly wait until tomatoes are in season to enjoy this bread with some quality olive oil, basil, fresh “mutz” and red wine (in fact, I will probably not wait until tomatoes are in season).

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Super Bowl Sunday is almost here- Whaaazzzzup!

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Too bad the Giants and (Hoboken resident) Eli Manning didn’t make Super Bowl XLVIII, but we still get to cheer on the Broncos (seventh timers) and the Seahawks (second timers) and that’s enough reason to throw a fantastic Super Bowl Party.  Actually, as an American consumer, the commercials alone are reason enough to throw a party (“Whaaazzzzup!”). Click here for one of the all-time classics.

I think hosting a Super Bowl party is different than hosting any other party. Typical parties usually have a designated start and end time (alright, that last part may not be 100% true). But at Super Bowl parties, guests may come as early as pre-game (Fox pre-game kicks off at 2pm), which is often hours before kickoff (6:25pm ET), and they could stay until the post-game commentary. Since the game itself could potentially last up to 6 hours, your guests could be sitting on your couch for many, many hours.

As an alternative, you may want to consider hosting a “first half party”, which will enable guests to either stop in at another party for the second half or finish watching in their own homes. This could mean a reasonable bedtime if you have kids and no late night driving. But be sure not to miss the half time show. I definitely won’t since Bruno Mars is performing along with his signature Fedora and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (wait, that gives me a menu idea). And since this is quintessential American family entertainment, let’s hope for no [accidentally on purpose] wardrobe malfunctions this year.

Whatever the game plan of your party, your mission as host remains the same: to provide crowd-pleasing food in a fun atmosphere that will be conducive to the game-impacting superstitions (a little superstition never hurts) and touchdown dances that will be going on in your living room.

Here are a few tips if you’re throwing a Super Bowl party:

Decor. Super Bowl parties are not really about decorations but let’s face it, a simple string of lights or themed plates could set a fun mood. Or use an old football, helmet or trophy to add a little something something to the drinks table.
Set up a Convenient Food Station. Plan to have food, snacks and beverages at a convenient location for the entire duration of the event. You can utilize your coffee table, kitchen or dining room table. You may also want to have a pitcher of a pre-mixed drink available near the door as guests arrive because let’s face it, alcohol trumps decor in terms of setting a fun mood.

The Right Menu. What’s the real reason people go to Super Bowl parties? Food. For some people, the game is the main attraction but for most people, it’s the food. Lots and lots of delicious food. Be prepared to serve a variety- finger foods in the beginning- like dip platters, nachos, wings- and heavier foods as the game unfolds- think chili or burgers. Follow up with sweets and if they come in football shapes- all the better. Whatever foods you choose, the best plan for a Super Bowl Sunday menu is “Keep it simple and keep it coming.”

Adequate Seating. There will be a lot of sitting as well as eating on Sunday, so be certain to have enough seating for your guests. You may have to use extra folding chairs or bean bags (actually, we’re more in the exercise ball era) to accommodate, but make sure everyone is comfortable. It will likely be a long night- unless you’re hosting a first-half party. Either way, comfort is key.

And if all else fails… a working TV and beer is all you really need and there is nothing un-American about just opting for pizza delivery!

Where will you be watching the Super Bowl this year?



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Capo Ristorante- Delizioso!

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Whether you live in GC or not, you should know that there’s a centrally located Italian restaurant in Floral Park called Capo Ristorante (fyi- Capo is short for the owners last name). We dined here recently and really enjoyed our visit. The decor is tastefully done and it’s very cozy inside with lots of warm, earthy colors. There’s a huge wooden wine rack built into the back wall and a charming tin ceiling that adds a nice, old-school touch. 


Capo boasts a comprehensive menu and I was tempted by nearly everything on it. Tip #1: Go hungry because there’s a lot you will likely want to sample! The panini pages themselves took up half of the menu. There was a nice, reasonably priced wine selection to go with all of the mouth watering food choices. 


Onto our meal: I loved the lobster risotto. I had it as an appetizer and if I hadn’t already ordered my entree, I probably would have doubled down for my main course. We also ordered the brussel sprouts with prosciutto and garlic. It was just right. 

For entrees, I had chicken sorrentino- chicken topped with eggplant, prosciutto and mozzarella cheese. So delish. IMO, fresh mutz just can’t be beat. (oops- “mutz” is a throw back to my days in Hoboken where everyone lovingly refers to mozzarella as “mutz”.)  The balsamic marinated pork loin was also a good choice. It came with a very tasty lentil salad and caramelized cipollini onions. You haven’t had caramelized onions until you’ve had them with cipollinis. Even you onion-haters might be swayed! I hear the fried calamari and the chianti braised beef short ribs are tough to beat but that the panini are the hidden gem of this place. Needless to say, stay tuned for another Capo panini post- Which gives me a great idea for my Superbowl menu and leads me to… Tip #2: catered panini platters… yum. And yes, they do cater. 

Can’t forget my favorite course- dessert. We had thick biscotti and a sweet cannoli in a crisp outer shell. I don’t know about you but I can’t enjoy a cannoli if the shell doesn’t crunch. Of course, this was washed down with a frothy espresso. The owner was very personable and the staff was attentive but not annoyingly so.

Overall, a delectable meal in a cozy, neighborhood ambiance. Perfect for date night or a meal with some friends. Next time I’d like to try a panini with a glass of wine. I can already hear it calling my name. 

See you soon, Capo! Have you been? 

http://www.capofloralpark.com, 516-216-5177 



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Butter Makes it Better

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Some people have a sweet tooth and some have a savory tooth. Lucky (or not so lucky) for me, I have a serious sweet tooth. When I visited Buttercooky Bakery on Jericho Turnpike for the first time last weekend, I was very excited to try a variety of their sweets.


One of my go to desserts is always a cannoli. I chose the chocolate covered shell. Did I mention I had a sweet tooth? For some reason, I didn’t manage a picture of the cannoli… Let’s just say it was solid. However, if you’re into crumb cake or biscotti, I wouldn’t say Buttercooky is your first stop (more about that in another post). Can’t resist paraphrasing a Godfather quote to sum this up: “Leave the crumb cake and biscotti… Take the cannoli.” 
It seemed that people could not get enough of the cakes. They were coming in left and right to pick up cakes, order cakes, buy pre-made cakes and order wedding cakes. The pre-mades cakes in the cases looked fantastic, although I didn’t try them. At this point, my jeans were begging me to stop. Here are a few that are worth a return trip:

                          

I met a fellow GC customer at Buttercooky, who confessed to being a regular. He told me I couldn’t go wrong with the Grand Marnier Chocolate Mousse cake. I may have to come up with an occasion just to order this in the near future:

I spotted these on the way out and since Superbowl Sunday is coming up, you may want to order a few when you’re planning your menu:

Buttercooky’s cupcakes all looked picture-perfect. They would make a great addition to any party or shower. Who could resist these?

They also have a Manhasset location. But it’s time for a trip to the gym before I visit that one!

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NYE- Plans for Procrastinators

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Ahhh.. it’s that dreaded question again: What should we do on New Years Eve? If you’re like me, you wait for the last minute. And here we are, at the last minute for making New Years Eve plans. Well, InsideGardenCity has gotten the roundup on GC hotspots for you that still have availability for some bubbly fun. But the availability is limited so don’t procrastinate any longer, or you will definitely be left out in the cold!

BK Sweeney’s Uptown Grill. 636 Franklin Ave., GC. 516-746-3075. Openings still available for their early dinner seating. They will be serving their regular menu in addition to festive New Years Eve dinner specials. You are almost guaranteed a good time at their bar at midnight and after. They will provide noisemakers and complimentary champagne as the ball drops. Sounds like a fun time!

Walk St. 176 7th St., GC. 516-746-2592. They will be offering their regular menu with enhanced New Years Eve specials such as lobster and T-bone steak, plus complimentary champagne at midnight.

Polo Lounge in the Garden City Hotel is hosting a jazz trio starting at 9pm. 516-877-9385. Cost is $50 per person which includes two cocktails and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. They will provide noisemakers and a fun atmosphere while you watch the ball drop on their large HDTV screen. Reservations are not needed for this. 

Revel. 835 Franklin Ave., GC. 516-246-9111. They are boasting a 10 foot projector screen for the ball drop, DJ and champagne toast. They have dinner seatings available between 4:30 – 6:30 and 6:30 – 7:15. The earlier seating offers an alla carte menu and the latter offers a 3 course menu for $65 per person. 

Novita 860 Franklin Ave., GC 516-739-7660. Their festivities go from 9pm until 2am and include sit down dinner, open bar, dj, dancing and champagne toast. Cost: $125pp + tax/gratuity. Openings remain but don’t delay!

Where will you be for NYE? Make sure to drink responsibly and have fun! See you in 2014!


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Post-Christmas Week

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With Christmas 2014 behind us, I’ve discovered some less obvious holiday things that made me happy during this post-Christmas week. They are: 
1. Having a fridge filled with leftovers from Christmas dinner. 
2. Eating homemade rum cake for the first time. Yum!
3. Having extra down time to spend with my family & no schedules to follow! #Relaxation
4. Christmas cookies. Need I say more? 
5. Visits with family and friends who I don’t see often enough. 
There were also several non-holiday-esque things that made me happy during the post-Christmas week: 
1. Take out from Orchid- Always a treat. This time I tried the chicken lo mein. Did not disappoint. 
2. Rediscovering ice skating. Haven’t skated in years. A great time!
3. A sesame bagel from My Three Sons in GC. Surprisingly good. 
4. Continuing the hunt for best local pizza at Mama Theresa’s in GC Park. Tasty but the search continues. 
5. Realizing I can still do the hula hoop! Great exercise and so fun.
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Something’s Baking

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I love the smell of something baking in the oven. With Christmas now over, I realized that I’ve done more baking in these last few weeks than I probably have over the entire year. I somehow squeezed in the time for scratch baking cupcakes, cookies, cakes and brownies. The baking is still going on in my house during this post-Christmas week and will likely continue right up to New Years. Here are a few of my faves that filled my kitchen with fantastic aromas this holiday season:

chocolate chip pumpkin bread
almond biscotti
pumpkin cheesecake
chocolate cupcakes
almond crescents
hershey kiss blossoms
sugar cookies
chocolate biscotti 
pumpkin cookies
chocolate chip cookies- everyone’s all time favorite!


Of course, attending a cookie exchange party helps to add to your variety of baked goods without adding to your time spent in the kitchen. I came home from that party with a ton of delicious home-baked sweets. A big “Thanks” to whoever came up with the fantastic idea of exchanging holiday cookies. I’ll bet it was a busy (and obviously very smart) woman! 


What baked in your kitchen this holiday season?




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ORCHID- Go to it.

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If for no other reason than the comedy, go to Orchid on Franklin Ave, Garden City. As soon as you walk in, you’re looking at mirrored ceilings and bright red-carpeted stairs. The restaurant is in a basement space and it’s huge. When you get down the stairs, you’ll see an abundance of cheerful Chinese waiters dressed in tuxedos running around. The downstairs decor does not disappoint: plastic flowers everywhere, lots of red and gold, mirrors on the entire ceiling and on every empty wall space, and plenty of large glitzy chandeliers that are reminiscent of an Atlantic City casino. It seems that time froze at Orchid in terms of decor. And for some reason, there’s a large and very strange-looking stuffed animal creature that sits on top of the bar. The cheesy decor is all part of the charm. 
But the comedy stops here- they have an extensive menu and the food was great. It wasn’t typical greasy, Americanized Chinese food that I usually get. It was lighter and tastier. Waiters were friendly and funny and very attentive. There was a lively party going on in one of the other rooms and most of the customers dining that Friday night seemed like regulars. I can see why this place is called a GC institution- it delivers quality food with a dose of entertainment. I will definitely go back and this time bring the kids. They’ll love the bizarre creature on the bar. All part of the charm…

Mmmm… Beer

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A friend once told me that it’s worth a trip to Belgium just for the beer. I think you can say the same for Waterzooi on Franklin Ave in Garden City: The beer alone is a reason to go. But the food doesn’t take a backseat to the beer. Picture buckets of mussels, an extensive Belgium beer menu and great “frites” served with real mayo.

The restaurant looks like it belongs in the West Village. When you look up at the garage door hovering overhead, you could also be in the Meatpacking district. The ambiance was great- cool decor and lighting. If you’re looking for a place to wear your trendier NYC clothes in suburbia, add Waterzooi to your list.

As for the food, there were so many combinations of sauces and toppings for the mussels, it was a tough decision. The bouillabaisse style- topped with shrimp and lobster in tomato/crab broth- was delicious. Of course they were served with crusty bread for dipping (not quite Dom’s bread in Hoboken, but who cares when you’re dipping into yummy seafood broth with a delicious Belgium beer on the side?). I drank the Sophie, which had a slight citrus flavor and was very tasty. It paired well with the Waterzoii entree- jumbo shrimp, lobster, little neck clams, mussels, sweet corn and yukon golds in a creamy broth- which was fantastic. I look forward to trying the escargot, oysters, steaks, lobster mac and cheese, and Belgium waffles for dessert… so many interesting options on the menu, plus friendly service, cool ambiance, Belgium beers… I will definitely be back.