South Beach & Beyond

You gotta love Miami!

South Beach is full of blue skies, palm trees, white sand & PINK sidewalks!! The restaurants are fabulous!

Joe's Stone Crabs (several locations) and a landmark there is really great! Of course, due to the unusual cold weather in Florida, , sometimes the crab sticks to the shell, but they are still so delicious ! The "stuffers" are large clams, stuffed with even more clams filling and really great, as are the steaks, seafood dishes and sides- especially the roasted corn with sweet butter & cilantro- soooo good! Of course, I am a chocoholic, so Key lime pie would not be my first choice for dessert, , but it is their signature dessert so we did order a slice and it was fabulous- a thick, buttery graham cracker crust, a tart (not too tart) filling of mini key limes and mounds of real fresh whipped cream.

Smith & Wollensky- Also many locations, but the one on the pier in Miami is a beautiful location- overlooking the ocean watching all the walkers along the docks & pier, the bar scene is quite the "scene" and of course the steaks & lobsters!!! So many choices- not enough time!! OMG!! Desserts are also spectacular- the warm molten chocolate cake is mind blowing, and the trio of creme brulee'- not too shabby either.

The News Cafe- open 24 hours on Ocean drive, one block off Collins in Sobe- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & more, but my preference is breakfast- hundreds of items on the menu but the homemade granola, with yogurt & chock full of fresh fruits is wonderful to start the day!

Council Oaks- The Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood- my favorite place for steak in Florida- Huge Flintstone sized cowboy rib eyes, veal chops, filet mignon, sirloins, all available in 12, 16 or 24 oz. that are mouth watering tender. The appetizers are out of this world- The best oysters rockafeller, ever- and the Wedge salad-fantastic- a huge mound of chilled iceberg lettuce with homemade blue cheese dressing crisp bacon, vine ripened tomatoes & a shot of vodka with a gigantic olive on the side as a chaser- not bad! The sides are fantastic and so many of them. The sauces for the steaks- bearnaise , au poivre,, gorgonzola, just to name a few, are so good- its difficult to decide.

The wines are superb!!!!

Aqualina- A wonderful Family Style Italian restaurant in Hallandale, near the new & very beautiful Gulfstream Track/Casino and outdoor mall. This venue has all the standard home style dishes- veal voldestana- a veal chop, pounded thin, quite huge, topped with proscuitto and mozzeralla, veal sorrentino, with eggplant and fresh mozzeralla in a wonderful sauce with mushrooms many chicken dishes including "chicken aqualina" huge moist whole pieces of chicken on the bone with broccoli, red peppers, onions and sausage, baked clams, pastas galore, including a wonderful linguine with shrimp in a spicy red sauce, and of course, delicious tiramisu, mousse cake, ricotta cheesecake and gelato.

Pierre's

Any time I am out east, I MUST go to Pierre's in Bridgehampton.

A small cozy spot that feels like Paris, right on the main street, with a St Barth feel and French music.

I love the way Pierre greets all his guests as they enter. The menu changes often, with only the freshest ingredients and local produce.

I normally like to order the "specials, but sometimes, the menu items are hard to resist."

The fish dishes are all authentic & wonderful, including the Boulliabaiise, the Cod and the Red Snapper, just to name a few. The lamb is one of my favorites, but sometimes, I cave and have the lobster which is just fabulous! Every entree is accompanied with the seasonal vegetable of the day.

The onion soup is out of this world, as are the escargot, which come in the most heavenly garlic butter that is worth of a spoon!!! The salads are also quite "french" with frisee' lettuces, goat cheese, and delicious vinaigrettes.

Brunch is served on the weekends and he now offers an American breakfast during the week as well from 8-11AM.

Do go- even if you don't speak French!

GRAZIELLA's

I happen to watch CBS News alot, and Tony Tantillo is enjoyable, although I don't always agree with his choices of places he recommends. However, that said, Graziella's was one of his shows recently and it intrigued me, and after just going there, I have to say- GO!!!

Located in the Ft. Green section of Brooklyn, (not far from Brooklyn Heights) is this small pizzeria like restaurant. The brick oven pizza is outstanding- thin thin crust, with numerous choices, but the one Tony had talked about is the one I ordered- a thin crisp curst pizza, with sauce and mozzarella cheese, then topped with fresh peppery baby arugula and shaved parmesan reggiano. Stupendous!!! The grilled octopus was unbelievably delicious! Served whole, instead of sliced, and a drizzle of EVOO & fresh lemon- just fantastic.

The soup of the day was carrot & potato , which I tasted, and also the lentil, which is a daily stale- hearty & so good. The salad choices are plentiful,with the mediterranean tuna- italian tongol tuna served with sliced cherry tomatoes on toasted pita-like pizza triangles, with with a sprinkling of baby arugula as well. Excellent.

The pastas looked fabulous, including the special, which was black (squid ink pasta) with baby artichokes, mushrooms and shrimp in a light garlic & oil and also the veal or chicken sorrentino, which the people next to me had and raved!! Also, sounding great was the vegetable ravioli and the spinach rissotto .

Mind you , this was LUNCH time, so one can only imagine the dinner choices and specials!!

Worth the trip to Brooklyn!!! (and by the way, a VERY nice wine list, where the most expensive bottle was $56 . from Napa Valley and a great regional selection of reds, white & rose')

PIG HEAVEN

Well, I am taking back my statement from back in July about Asian Food.

There is another place that is exceptional- in NYC. Pig heaven. Located on Second ave. between 80 & 81st streets.- this place is wonderful.

Head & shoulders above ANY asian/chinese restaurant (with the exception of the higher end MUCH more pricey Phillippe (one of my favorites) or Shun Lee, Mr. Chow, etc .

This place is exceptional for both food for price.

The ribs are outstanding- meaty, juicy, tender & so very flavorful- you can get either a full or half rack, or an entire pig. The dumplings as most of the appetizers are fantastic- especially the steamed crystal shrimp and the shu mai. There are more than 25 choices of the BBQ Pork specials- in many variations, but for those who don't eat PORK, there are over 50 choices for you-"No PIG" menu including not just chicken beef and shrimp dishes, but Peking duck and many vegetarian dishes as well. The homestyle eggplant was beyond incredible- small tender baby purple eggplant, sauteed in a light brown sauce with garlic, and the chicken- cantonese roast chicken, offered small or large, with the most perfect crispy skin was, out of this world good!

There are 8 or 9 rice and noodles dishes as well as two dozen seafood dishes and then, for dessert, bread pudding, cheesecake, and apple pie, just to name a few. This place is not just PIG Heaven- its Asian food heaven!! Do go!!!

New Years Eve

After a bottle of champagne with some caviar to start the celebration at my home with some friends, off to Luigi Q- Plainview- Hicksville- Woodbury. Wherever it is considered, I consider this restaurant to be wonderful.

Last night, while enjoying a wonderful bottle of red wine with my first course of a salad of baby arugula with milky soft boratta mozzarella, then some angel hair with large shrimp, and then a grilled veal chop with mushrooms and thin slices of jalapeno peppers, I then had some cappucino with a lovely slice of Italian cheese cake and a glass of port. Then, off to visit some friends at two other very good but very crowded & noisy restaurants (& another glass of champagne)

This is when I realized why I never like to do the typical "New Years Eve" dinners- too crowded, too noisy , and the food is never as good as when you order it on your own- not a pre set. I enjoy a cozy celebration in a more intimate setting, I suppose.

Either way Happy New year to ALL!!!!

New Years Resolution

Ok I have been a bit lax on writing my nightly reviews but I was a bit under the weather.

So, that said, I must go back to XMAS Eve. I was at one of my favorite spots- SPADARO, in New Rochelle, for a traditional Christmas Eve Dinner- 7 course fish dinner. Spectacular! Normally, Rena just feeds you- no menu, a huge 14 course antipasto, 2 homemade pastas, fish, meat, salad, etc etc etc

Xmas Eve she brought out an octopus salad- cold marinated & even though this is one item I usually don't LOVE , I tasted it and it was incredibly delicious! OMG. Next, Mussels in a fabulous garlic infused olive oil with a hint of heat they were moist & tender. So good.

Then, Vongole clams in a light broth. Excellent & so flavorful.

Next, homemade large pillows of tortelloni, filled with salmon in a light cream sauce with fresh herbs, that just dissolved on the tongue. Then, cappellini in a spicy red sauce with jumbo shrimp.

next, what appeared to be a huge lobster tail, was actually a large perfectly grilled langostino

(a jumbo shrimp)

and then a cold crisp salad of fennel, radishes and celery. Really good and very refreshing.

All in all, an exception (as always) meal at one of my favorite spots!!!