Beecher's Handmade Cheese

Cheese is one of the great loves in my life and I came across Beecher's during one of my random restaurant searches. Beecher's makes its own cheeses in its Cheese kitchen, has a cheese cellar downstairs, and also a restaurant (the cellar). I was delighted when T told me that she was going to have her birthday dinner there since it was on my to try list already! 

The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable and our server was super sweet and helpful. The food was also very yummy and I would definitely love to return and try more of the cheeses. Photos are a tad blurry since I tried to be speedy with my phototaking since there were many hungry mouths waiting to dig in. Highlights included the burrata with hazelnuts and chocolate and the sausage mac n cheese! 

Beecher's Handmade Cheese

900 Broadway (Between 19th and 20th)

Flatiron

New York

NY 10003

Betony

Betony is a modern American restaurant that is overseen by the former executive sous chef of Eleven Madison Park. N treated me to a delicious dinner here and I enjoyed the food here a lot. Service was a bit unsatisfactory as our server took forever to tend to us and while I don't think he meant to be rude, his tone was a little off-putting at times. Apart from that, everyone else was very polite and friendly.

Note: Please excuse the terrible lighting here! I did not use my usual trick of using the iphone torch for lighting :)

"Lobster Roll" - Crème Fraîche, Parsley 
I was very curious about the name of this dish and asked our waiter whether he would recommend it. He gave us the usual "highly recommended" and while it was good, I would not think that it was a must order. I enjoyed how it was delicately made and it also had good flavors, but there was nothing too special about it. 

Foie Gras Bonbons - Cashew, Black Pepper
Mmmm this was absolutely delicious! I love foie gras and the addition of cashews was just genius. I could probably eat an entire mountain of these if I could.

Foie Gras - Hot
The menu did not mention that the foie came with pork belly so this addition was a bit of a surprise. The pork belly was also a strange pairing with foie and I did not really enjoy them together. The broth was quite flavorful and I enjoyed the addition of the scallion oil but I would not order this dish again. 

Grilled Short Rib - Mustard, Onion
The short rib was cooked perfectly and incredibly tender. The mashed potatoes that came with it was also luxuriously smooth and rich. I would like it though if they gave us a little more onions as it was teeny tiny as you can see on the plate. 

Poached Lobster - Turnip, Burgundy Truffle
N got this dish and he seemed to enjoy my short rib a lot more. This dish was beautifully prepared and was more on the sweet side but I thought it was quite delicious. It may taste a bit strange to some as it was quite sweet and buttery but I thought it went well with the lobster. But I can see how it may be a bit too sweet as a main course. I thought the addition of turnips was also not ideal but the freshness of the lobster, the sweetness of the sauce, and the earthiness of the truffle was very lovely. 

I really enjoyed my meal at Betony and I would be happy to return! While there were some small critiques on the dishes, overall the food is creative and executed very well. 

Betony

41 W 57th Street

New York 

NY 10019

Toro - NYC

For those who have been reading my blog for a while, you may remember my post about Toro, one of, if not the most, popular tapas place in Boston. You can find the old post here if you are interested. Now Toro is also opened in NYC and it is already becoming difficult to score a reservation at this new hot spot!

The atmosphere very interesting and cool - I suppose you would describe it as industrial chic? Our server was just the best and so very accommodating and friendly. The drinks were also very enjoyable and we had a great dining experience. The menu is veryyyy extensive so it does take a while to decide what you want but apart from some small critique we enjoyed everything that we ordered.

Erizos Con Caviar - Caviar, Sea Urchin and Quail Egg Spoon with Iberico Jamon 
This was a spoonful of decadence. At first I was unsure whether this would be as good as it sounds but it sure was! It was absolutely indulgent and all the flavors actually went very well together. A definite must try if you are here! 

Patatas Bravas - Fried Potatoes with Aioli and Spicy Tomato Sauce
A perfectly executed classic tapas. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and seasoned well. The serving was much too large however and we were only able to eat about half of the potatoes. 

Navajas - Razor Clams with Piquillo Pepper, Garlic and Lemon
While this was visually stunning, the razor clams were a bit chewy. The flavors were bright and interesting though.

Croquettas De Jamon Y Cabeza - Ham‎ and Pigs Head Fritters
These croquettes had a very distinguished porky flavor which I loved. However it was slightly too salty. 

Maiz Asado con Alioli y Queso Cotilja - Grilled Corn with Alioli, Lime, Espelette and Aged Cheese 
Another popular tapas dish. This was delicious and I loved how it was absolutely smothered with the sauce. 

Filete - Marinated Skirt Steak with Cabrales Blue Cheese Butter 
This was definitely one of the highlights of the meal. The steak was melt in your mouth tender, juicy, and super flavorful. I loveddd the blue cheese butter and only wished that we were given more of it. 

Pulpo - Galician Octopus with Potatoes and Charred onions
The tentacles were nicely grilled but the body of the octopus was a bit mushy and just did not appeal to me. 

Chocolate Cremeaux with Olive Oil Gelato, Sea Salt and Coffee Crumble  
This was the perfect sweet ending to our meal. The chocolate creameaux was incredibly decadent and rich amd the olive oil gelato was creamy and sweet. The coffee crumble also added the needed crunch to this delicious dessert.

Jamon Serrano - Premium Cured Spanish Ham 

While it was very good, I am also looking forward to try other tapas restaurants before coming again. 

Toro

85 10th Avenue (Between Avenue of the Americans and 5th Avenue)

Chelsea

New York

NY 10011

Dinner Lab - Chef Jose DeJesus

Dinner Lab is a super interesting concept that aims to give up and coming chefs an opportunity to design their own menu and also allows diners to experience a different type of dining experience. Dinner Lab hosts dinner events at interesting locations around the city and members are able to bring guests to the dinners that strike their fancy. W used to work there and is also a member so I've been lucky enough to try out a number of Dinner Lab dinners. The price is usually around $65 or higher with around 4 courses and unlimited drinks (say whatttt?). This is my third Dinner Lab meal and easily the most delicious. I have yet to post the first two events but I will definitely do so soon!

The chef is able to design their own menu and give a small talk at the beginning of the meal to introduce themselves and their food. Apart from wine, there is always a signature drink with each meal. All diners are given a comment card where you can write in your thoughts and reviews on each dish, you can also give a score on taste and creativity.

Coriander Crusted Crab Cake - Moroccan Tomato and Roasted Pepper, Harissa Lime Aioli 
This was a wonderful dish to start the meal with. The crab cake had large chunks of crab meat and the spices were extremely interesting and had a great fiery kick to it. I really enjoyed the roasted cauliflower and the roasted red pepper added a nice sweet note to the dish. It was also very visually appealing. 

Butternut Squash and Duck Confit Ravioli - Red Spice Walnut, Pickled Jalapeño, Buerre Noisette
Another great dish! The butternut squash was very sweet and delicious and its softness and creaminess went perfectly with the crunchy and decadent duck confit on top. However, the pickled jalapeño added a strangely sour element to the dish that I did not care for. 

Pan Seared Bronzino - Parmesan Polenta, Avocado Salsa Verde, Beet Foam, Balsamic
The Bronzino was perfectly cooked with a lovely crispy skin. The beet foam looked super pretty against the cream and white tones of the dish. Unfortunately, the parmesan polenta was a tad too thick. 

Hoisin Glazed Pork Belly - Scallion Jasmine Rice, Baby Bok Choy Tempura, Sesame and Ginger Vinaigrette 
This was probably the least successful dish of the night. The skin looked very crispy and delicious but was actually very chewy. The meat was also not cooked long enough and was quite tough. If this was cooked until tender and the skin was crispy it would be fantastic. While the textural aspects of this dish did not work, the flavors were there and I also enjoyed the idea of the tempura bak choy.

Chocolate Coquito Tres Leches - Toasted Coconut, Chocolate Creme Chantilly, Ganache
This dessert was delicious but I did not think it was too creative. 

I really love the concept of Dinner Lab and I will definitely be attending more meals in the future! 

Be Electric Studios

1298 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn

NY 11237

Sakagura

Sakagura is known for its vast collection of sake but unfortunately that was not what W and I were going for today. I spied that they had a uni soba and clearly I had to go eat it right away so I met up with W after my SoulCycle class. The menu claims that only 7 servings of this dish is served per day so being the keener that I am I wanted to eat it even more haha. Atmosphere was cute and service was also very polite and friendly. The lack of reception (free wifi for 30 minutes) was annoying though.

Tsukune
While this was not what we were expecting (we thought it would be the yakitori style), I thought this was really yummy. It made me think of the Chinese lion head meatball. It was super tender and the sauce was packed with sweetness and umami. 

Trio of Sashimi
Meh this was subpar. The slices were very thin and the selection was expected. Would not order again. 

Uni Soba 
MMMMMM this was heavenly. It was the absolute perfect post workout meal. The soba had a great texture and the uni was very fresh and sweet. I loved the addition of the shiso leaf and the crunchy tempura bits. The broth also had the sweet flavor of the uni. I happily slurped this entire dish down. 

We did not have a reservation and had to wait for a little bit, but nothing crazy. I really enjoyed my meal here and would definitely come again!

Sakagura 

211 E 43rd Street

New York

NY 10017 

Delicassen

Delicassen aims to provide delicious comfort food with a twist. The menu is filled with lots of interesting and scrumptious sounding items and I decided to come here with K when she visited! They have have a vast selection of mac n cheese but we did not try them this time. I haven't seen K in ages since she's been slaving away in med school and we had a great meal! Service was very friendly and professional, the atmosphere was also very warm and inviting. However, I felt that it was a tad expensive for the food that we had. It came to over $70 per person and we each had a cocktail, shared an appetizer and a side of fries, and each had a main. While $70 is a pretty standard price for dinner in NYC, I felt that the food was a bit too casual for this price and we also did not have wine which I usually do for dinner which would justify a higher price point.

Duck Duck Goose Dumplings - Smoked Duck Breast, Duck Confit, Foie Gras, Cherry Chutney, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, Almonds 
This dish was creative and I really enjoyed the combination of flavors. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the filling was very rich and flavorful. This richness was balanced by the tanginess of the cherry and the crispy freshness of the frisée on top. The crunchiness of the almonds took this dish to the next level. 

Diver Sea Scallops and Prosciutto Scotch Egg - Maitake Mushrooms, Roasted Butternut Squash, Brown Butter Sage Sauce 
This was an incredibly rich and earthy dish. The scallops were seared perfectly and the mushrooms had an intense depth of flavor. I loved the sweetness of the butternut squash. However I felt that the addition of the scotch egg was a little peculiar. While this was delicious, it was a little bit too heavy and a dash of something acidic or fresh greens would really help offset that. 

Special of the Day - Grilled Prawns with Bone Marrow Risotto
The shrimp was roasted very well and the risotto was also very decadent as you could probably guess! I guess we just went all out with the heavy dishes tonight! Once again it was very good, but definitely a stick to your ribs kind of meal. 

Parmesan Truffle Fries 
Mmmm this are always a favorite and Delicassen's rendition did not disappoint. They also serve it with mayonnaise which made me a very happy girl. 

Overall my dining experience here was enjoyable, however like many of the other places I visit in NYC, there were not any mind-blowing moments that warrant a speedy 2nd visit. If you are looking to decadent comfort food that with an interesting twist, I would recommend you visit here!

Delicassen

54 Prince Street

New York

NY 10012 

Thanksgiving!

We cooked up a feast this year! W and I arrived at D and K's new apartment around 1 and transformed their apartment into a Thanksgiving wonderland and also did such a great job fitting everything the oven. I really loved making all this food for friends and I will definitely be celebrating Thanksgiving even when I am back in Hong Kong. The menu this year is as follows:

1. Turkey
2. Pot roast
3. Cranberry sauce
4. Gravy
5. Sausage and sage stuffing
6. Corn pudding
7. Mashed potatoes
8. Mashed sweet potatoes 
9. Corn spoonbread 
10. Spinach artichoke dip
11. Cheesy garlic bread
12. Maple syrup and bacon brussel sprouts
13. Cheddar broccoli casserole

Annnd for dessert!

1. Blueberry crumble + vanilla ice cream
2. Apple crumble
3. Pumpkin pie 
4. 2 chocolate cakes
5. Chocolate tart 
6. Pumpkin cake 

And we also made rum punch and mulled wine for drinks!

Everything was absolutely delicious and I was in the perfect food coma after. I also got home with lots of yummy leftovers. It was such a lovely Thanksgiving and I am a happy happy girl.

We decided to go all out with costumes :)  

The perfect plate. It was amazingggg 

But there is always room for dessert

Haven't play beer pong in such a long time! 

Party planning committee! Great job guys!