Ramen Spots = Yum-Yum

No.1 Mu Ramen

Mu has now become my favorite place to get Ramen. It is by far the best place I have gone to in NYC for ramen. The place is nicely situated in Long Island City off the Vernon-Jackson stop on the 7. It's great because it's on the way home for me from work. First of all, the interior of this place is amazing. It has bar seating and then a long decorative wood table that seats about 20 people communally. They have benches on the side for people waiting and hooks on the walls for all of your stuff.

The Ramen: Miso, Shoyu (MY FAV), Mu Ramen are all fantastic. The broth, noodles and ingredients are all cooked to perfection. They really care about their food and also presentation. Make sure to get the soft boiled egg to go with your Ramen! They Sous Vide it to get it to perfection.

Apps: Tebasaki Gyoza (Fried Chicken Foie Gras) is great if you like Foie Gras. If you don't, skip it. The breading on the chicken and the flavor is spot on, but the texture of the Foie Gras can throw you off. I personally do not Foie Gras, but it was great to try it once. The Okonomiyaki is DELICIOUS. It might sounds not so appetizing, but it so flavorful.

Get there when it opens or prepare to wait a LONG LONG time. But it's so worth it!

No. 2 Hide-Chan Ramen



Hideto Kawahara, a ramen chef based in the Hakata region of Fukuoka, Japan, oversees the steaming bowls at this midtown noodle shop. At Hide-Chan, Kawahara focuses on tonkotsu (pork) broth—a luscious, meaty soup, more cloudy than creamy. The best way to taste it is in the ma-yu ramen, with earthy, crunchy kikuragemushrooms, a sheet of briny nori, raw scallions and bean sprouts, plus bits of carbonized garlic that lend a deep, charred flavor to the soup. There’s also a less sweat-inducing option—chewy chilled noodles, served with a side of spicy, sesame-oil-flavored soba broth for dipping—and worthy add-ons like mini pork gyoza, bound in translucent wrappers and crisped on one side.

Best Italian Restaurants in NYC Part II

NO. 3 Becco

Loved this place - what a rare gem - delicious food at a very reasonable price.  Right on restaurant row on 46th close to 9th. We had reservations on OpenTable for a Sunday night dinner - and were seated within a few minutes. Tables for 2 are crunched together but that seems standard for New York.  

They have a full page wine list of bottles for $29 dollars - with lots of interesting Italian wines. It allowed us to try something new without feeling uneasy about spending 60-90 dollars on a bottle of something you aren't sure you'd love.

I had the pasta special - a huge plate of Caesar salad (on the spicy side - yum) followed by all-you-can-eat pastas - they bring 3 homemade pastas around in piping hot serving dishes. My friend had the ribeye - and said it was one of most flavorful he's ever had.  We will definitely go back to this place in NY.

Best Italian Restaurants in NYC Part I

NO. 1 Marea

Meaning “tide” in Italian, Marea redefines the seascape of high-end Italian cuisine. Chef Michael White and his culinary team invite you to savor their fresh interpretation of coastal seafood.

 Marea’s menu reads like a map of the sea. Guests can chart their own course with selections devoted to crudo, oysters, antipasti and Chef White’s award-winning hand-made pastas. The menu also includes composed fish dishes, whole fish preparations and a selection of meat and side dishes to round out the extensive offerings. The kitchen is helmed daily by Chef di Cucina Lauren DeSteno. The wine list, managed by Beverage Director Francesco Grosso, features a significant selection of wines that pair perfectly with the bounty of the sea. With over 750 selections, half of the wine list is dedicated to European whites, which complement the fresh fish and seafood.

 The elements that Chef White became known for – superb cuisine, seamless service, and award-winning wine programs, all in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, rendezvous together as the tide rolls in on Central Park South. Marea is the recipient of two Michelin stars, the 2010 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, three stars from The New York Times, was named Best New Restaurant by Bon Appetit, Esquire, and GQ Magazines and was also named NYC’s Best Italian Restaurant by Zagat. 

NO. 2 Maialino

Absolutely outstanding from start to finish. Came with a large party as part of a 48 hour birthday celebration so was able to experience a wide selection from the menu. Cocktails were all excellent so we were off to a great start. The pasta dishes we split as appetizers were all excellent with the Cacio e Pepe and the pasta with suckling pig being particularly good. The charred octopus was also excellent and the prosciutto may be the best I have ever eaten, with incredible flavor and texture. The sweetbreads special was also amazing.

For main dishes, the suckling pig was too die for with the skin of the pig crisped perfectly, crowning succulent, juicy meat. There also was strong acclaim for the halibut as well as the pasta with lobster.

Desserts were just as strong with an excellent selection of homemade gelato, a light as air tiramisu,  and a cherry cream thing that were all scrumptious.
Service was excellent. The wait staff was friendly and very welcoming making the great food even more delightful.  The sommelier was quite  knowledgeable about the outstanding wine list and after a lengthy discussion (and her asking to see my Delectable profile to see what I liked to drink), we "settled" on a 2007 Felsina Reserve Chianti that was excellent and the 2001 Altesino Brunello. Capped off the night with an excellent selection of grappa.

Definitely a dinner to remember as part of the weekend birthday spectacular. Will also be coming back when next in NY.

Great Places for Afternoon Tea in NYC Part II

NO. 3 Alice's Tea Cup

This place is absolutely adorable! Everything was perfect. The tea, the food, the whimsical decor and the friendly employees all helped make our experience very memorable.

We did afternoon tea for three. We had the choice to pick four scones, three teas, two sandwiches and a fancy dessert to go with our cookies. We picked the lavender earl grey, the fancy earl grey and the peach flower for our teas. We loved them! The peach flower was our favorite though. For our scones, we picked two lemon-blueberry, a pumpkin and a chocolate salted caramel. We loved the lemon-blueberry and the chocolate s.c. was the most decadent scone we ever had! All delicious! For our sandwiches we picked the chicken breast and the egg salad. Both sandwiches were good but we enjoyed the egg salad a little more. The chicken breast was a little bland but I enjoyed the goat cheese and apples on it! And for our fancy dessert we picked chocolate mousse. Hands down, the best mousse I've ever had! Boy it was good!

The afternoon tea is served on beautiful three tiered plates. We had a great time enjoying our tea here. The prices are fairly reasonable as well. I can't wait to come back!

NO.4 Bosie Tea Parlor

Located on Morton, just south of bustling Bleecker Street in West Village, Bosie Tea Parlor beckons city-dwellers with its atmosphere of serenity and just enough energy. Here you’ll find a selection of over 100 hand-sourced and blended fine loose leaf teas developed by our resident Tea Master Kiley Holliday, along with world-class pastry and macarons hand-crafted by our third-generation French Pasty Chef, Damien Herrgott.

Beyond the unparalleled teas, pastries, and macarons, Bosie also offers a select savory menu using only the freshest ingredients, carefully sourced and largely organic. We offer Lunch Monday through Friday, a weekend Brunch, as well as Tea Service and Dinner seven days a week. Bosie also has a select Wine and Beer list, carefully chosen to pair beautifully with all of our sweet and savory menu items.

An ideal setting for morning and afternoon tea, Bosie is also a top destination for special occasions like bridal and baby showers, engagement parties, and birthdays.

Not plastered in pink and frills, Bosie is a tea parlor that men enjoy just as much as women.We invite you to explore our website, read our menus, and of course, come in and meet us. At Bosie you can enjoy our sweet and savory selection in house or for take-away, and our teas are also available for retail sale.

Great Places for Afternoon Tea in NYC Part I

NO. 1 Palm Court at The Plaza

The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel is the one place most people think of when they think of afternoon tea in New York City. The Palm Court showcases classic American savory menus from morning to evening, while Despont has brought the grand feeling of Central Park indoors, creating an ambience that feels warm, private and glamorous. Bespoke furnishings provide a relaxed, yet elegant setting well-suited for either a professional breakfast meeting or an evening of cocktails crafted by mixologist Brian Van Flandern. Afternoon Tea truly shines with custom tableware and china, a tea list with worldly depth, and of course, a bit of Eloise too. Pastry Chef Matthew Lambie creates unique dessert experiences that effortlessly combine both classic and modern elements, while staying true to the Palm Court grandeur. This elegant room marked with its stained glass dome and impressive height adds a touch of old New York to a very polished and modern sense of hospitality.

No. 2 Tea & Sympathy

Tea time and brunch. Two things I can do all day and everyday. This place is flabbergasting. I came here to do tea time with my friends and to get that real authentic British experience. I've lived in London and have family there so my tea time expectations are sometimes high. This place is quaint and small but the tea is amazing! I had a black tea which was a mix of earl grey and English breakfast, which was genius! The actual sandwiches and scones with my oh so favorite clotted cream was no nonsense. The sandwiches were thick and filling. My friends had the black currant tea which was so crisp and delicious. They have Ribena Black currant, which we both had iced! Talk about throwback to my London days. The owner nicely placed a store right next door where you can shop for all your Favorite goodies. I left with a bag of the black currant tea. Thank you T&S for bringing London to the village!

Thai Villa NYC

Thai villa - A new generation Thai Food

Wish me luck writing this blog as Thai Villa has left me absolutely speechless! 

I'll start with what first caught our eyes... the decor! This really must be what Heaven looks like! Honestly, I don't think any description I can give can possibly do it any justice so you just have to see it for yourself. 

Before I get to the food, I must point out how nice their menu is. It opens somewhat like a cute diary and the pages are never ending! Be prepared to do a lot of reading because their extensive menu offers so much *soooooo* much, not kidding. And once you think you know what you want, you suddenly find something else that looks appealing (and this pattern goes on for about 10 minutes straight until you find the strength to close the menu and just order). Everything on their menu sounds really good... so good luck making a final decision -- it's not easy! 

The food. OMG, the food!!!! So beautiful. So fresh. So tasty. They gave my friend and I these complimentary bites which incorporated a mini ball of meat (chicken or beef?), pineapple, and peppers -- wow! The combination of sweet and spicy is just too good for words. Then our orders came in... We shared an amazing appetizer that had chicken wrapped in leaves (very interesting, fun and delicious)! For entrées, I had the Chilean Sea Bass (I didn't want to add to the countless videos of this dish on Yelp so please check other reviews if you want to see the action) and my friend had the Crab Fried Rice (delicious!). 
I will definitely be back to try their desserts! We had a few drinks too but the lychee martinis were our favorite. 

The service was great! The food was amazing (taste AND presentation)! And the decor is breathtaking! How anyone can give this place less than 5 stars is beyond me?

Let Brunch Wake YOU Up Part III

NO.6 Freemans

The main reason I like Freemans is it chic environment. Of interesting is that Freemans is at the end of Freenmans Alley which is a uniquely narrow alley of Rivington Street. The restaurant itself is decorated with rustic touches, lots of taxidermy and other sort of Colonial-era touched that make it a fun spot to wait away a couple of hours enjoying a good meal. Egg Skillet is my favorite. It is filled with bacon, cheese, spinach and some tomato sauce. This is the place you must have a try for brunch.

NO.7 Buvette

The Buvette is opened in early 2011. The chef is inspired by the European tradition that honor a history of craft and design where each detail evokes a sense of story, place and delight. Buvette includes part restaurant, part bar and part café. It is a light filled space for an early morning espresso pr a long lunch for shared dishes, even a spot for a night digestif.  The dishes are different among morning, afternoon and evening. Go there and try everything!

NO. 9 Sarabeth’s

The first time I know this brunch spot is from Gossip Girl. Ladies in upper east side always talk about Sarabeth’s. Today, Sarabeth and her husband, Bill Levine, operate a 15,000 square foot jam manufacturing facility and a 4400 square foot wholesale bakery, café and retail shop in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market. Under her direction there are presently 16 successful Sarabeth’s restaurants throughout the world; 10 in the United States, 4 in Japan, 1 in South Korea, 1 in Taiwan. Scheduled to open in 2017 are Sarabeth’s restaurants in Nagoya, Dubai and a second location in Taiwan. And it has a extended type of menu-breakfast, lunch, brunch, late lunch, dinner, dessert, wine and cocktails.

Whether you go for hangover on Saturday night, to go for brunch as the beginning of your day is never a wrong choice.