Desnuda Revisited
Posted on | July 26, 2011 | 4 Comments
Is it possible for a restaurant to do a complete u-turn? Can a leopard change it’s spots? Honestly, I would have answered no, but I’ve been proven wrong. After the debacle that was my first visit to Desnuda (recounted here), I reluctantly returned this weekend.
It was a Sunday, so the dollar oysters that had caused so much grief last time were on the menu. We got a seat at the end of the bar & ordered some beer along with 18 oysters. We weren’t told what type they were, so I assumed that they’d be Blue Points (which I’m not a big fan of). Luckily, they turned out to be Beausoleils from New Brunswick, Canada (I was able to find out quite a bit about the oysters using The Mermaid Inn‘s awesome Oysterpedia app).
Served on a bed of sea salt, it looked good, but perhaps my skills were lacking. I loved the briny saltwater taste of the oyster liquor (the residual liquid left in a shucked oyster), but quickly realized that most of this was the salt clinging to both my fingers & the shell of the oyster. There were 3 toppings served with the oysters; a simple mignonette, a relish of sorts (bland) & an insanely spicy 3rd option. The relish proved to be the most disappointing, but mixing the 1st & 3rd was sublime.
We powered through the oysters & decided to try one of the specials that sounded too good to miss. Sea Bass Ceviche ($20) seared to order. Basically small, thinly sliced, pieces of Sea Bass marinated in Kafir Lime rind, Soya Sauce & Ponzu Sauce, then hit with piping hot sesame seed oil (horribly blurry picture here) to sear the fish. I cannot put into words how good this dish was.
My only gripes are the chef’s lack of interest in engaging his customers (perhaps he remembered me from my 1st visit) & the size of the place. It’s absolutely tiny & you’ll find yourself shuffling to let people past to the bathroom. There is ridiculous ironwork under the bar (purely aesthetic) that’ll leave your knees scraped up like a Hunt’s Point hooker if anyone tries to pass by. The ceviches are overpriced to subsidize the $1 oysters, but Desnuda is still worth a visit (great beer selection). Just don’t expect warm service & legroom.
Desnuda: 122 East 7th St. between 1st Avenue & A
‘Tattoosday’ At Bondi Road
Posted on | July 24, 2011 | No Comments
Bondi Road, the Australian restaurant & LES cousin of The Sunburnt Cow has launched ‘Tattoosday’. Under the tagline; “show us your ink and we’ll buy you a drink!” you get a free drink on Tuesdays if you show the bartender your tattoo.
Bondi Road also features an Endless Raw Bar on Thursdays for $20 & a pretty impressive burger (Aussie-style, basically everything on it).
Bondi Road: 153 Rivington Street between Suffolk & Clinton
Image via Gothamist
Food News
Posted on | July 24, 2011 | No Comments
Northern Spy Food Co. launches weekday brunch. Via The Feast.
Fu Sushi gets the OK to reopen with 2 points, down from 99. Via EVGrieve.
Cowgirls Baking serves up Deep Fried Kool Aid. Via Foodspotting.
24 hour dining in the East Village. Via Nearsay.
Sidewalk aims to reopen on Aug. 5th. Via EVGrieve.
Got any news? email me (see ‘About Page’)!
Hill Country
Posted on | July 15, 2011 | 3 Comments
After the restaurant my sister selected for a lunch date turned out to be a complete disaster, I decided to take the reins & choose where we’d eat. After a few suggestions via Twitter, Hill Country in Chelsea got the nod. Once you enter the place, it’s almost as if you’ve been transported to Texas. Loads of dark wood, Texas Stars everywhere & the tantalizing smell of smoked meat lingering in the air. Read more
Tags: BBQ > Beef > Beer > Chelsea > Chicken > Outdoor Seating > Pork > Southern
East Village Underrepresented At Restaurant Week
Posted on | July 14, 2011 | No Comments
Restaurant Week (July 11th-24th, so technically not a week) is normally at time when I get giddy like a kid in a candy store, excited by all the possibilities of food I could otherwise not afford.
$24.07 gets you lunch & $35.00 will mean a full 3 course dinner, what’s not to love? So, looking at the Restaurant Week Website & choosing East Village as a neighborhood, you’ll probably be as angry as I am; 1 restaurant. I’ve never been to Apiary so I cannot comment on the quality of the food there (I have heard good things, however), but where are the rest of the East Village restaurants that I’ve come to love?
Ok, this is a bit of a rant, but I think that we should have more choice in the neighborhood. If you search the Lower East Side, Union Square & Noho areas, there are plenty of options. It’s not a far walk, so hopefully some of us in the East Village will enjoy the food there.
Just Sayin’.
Food News
Posted on | July 6, 2011 | No Comments
Bowery Bar unveils their takeout window & prepares for sidewalk seating. EVGrieve
Ray Deter, owner of d.b.a dies after being struck by a car while on his bicycle. NY Times
Fu Sushi is shut by DOH with a staggering 99 points, but re-opens regardless. NY Post
Big Gay Ice Cream on 7th St. gets an awning & is closer to opening.
Immaculate Infatuation gives a so-so review of The Beagle.
Prune goes on vacation. Nearsay
Got any news? email me (see ‘About Page’)!
Photo via EVGrieve
All You Can Eat Local Oysters
Posted on | June 29, 2011 | 2 Comments
Jimmy’s No. 43 on 7th Street will be hosting an all you can eat local oyster bash from 5-10pm this Thursday. They will be serving a wide range of both wild & farmed Long Island oysters including ‘Naked Cowboys’ provided by Blue Isle Oysters. Drinks cost extra, but you can enjoy any one of the 2 draught beers they have & the 20+ bottles they serve.
Tickets are $35 & available here.
Jimmy’s No. 43: 43 East 7th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenue.
Food News
Posted on | June 29, 2011 | No Comments
Hearth will be serving up mounds of pork on Tuesdays via Jennifer Adamo.
Back Forty offers crab boils on Tuesday via the Feast.
Big Gay Ice Cream Truck will open soon in the former Xoom Juice space on 7th St. via Village Voice.
Shelsky’s Smoked Fish in Carroll Gardens opens & gets reviews here, here & here. Russ & Daughters, watch your back! I know the owner personally, so if you’re in that neck of the woods, check the shop out.
NY Times reviews The Beagle.
Jimmy’s No. 43 will be serving all you can eat L.I. oysters on Thursday for $35.
Tags: Carroll Gardens > Crab Boil > East Village > Oysters > Pork > Raw Bar > Seafood > Smoked Fish
Taste Of Nolita Recap
Posted on | June 25, 2011 | 1 Comment
Last week I attended the Taste Of Nolita Food Festival (previously mentioned here) which ran from Wednesday til Friday & featured 7 restaurants & discounts at a few bars in Nolita. Luckily I had the chance to go, so I figure I’d let you know my thoughts on the event. Things kicked off at Asia Dog a cool looking, yet tiny, hot dog shop with a twist. Read more
Tags: Asian > Baked Goods > British > Dessert > French > Hot Dogs > Nolita > Sandwiches > Tacos > Tasting Tour
Taste of Nolita Food Festival
Posted on | June 20, 2011 | 1 Comment
Sort of like the Taste of 7th Street Food Festival that I’ve spoken about before, Scoop St. is bringing us a Nolita version. Honestly, I’ll admit that I don’t know that much about restaurants in the area, but it’s not too far from the East Village & the lineup does look sick. A mere $19 gets you food from 6 different restaurants. Read more