Pizza Pizza

I've had some great pizza over the years, both in Italy and in the states. I've learned that no two pies are exactly alike. Florence has some of the best thin crusted pizzas but they're not the same as pizzas from Naples. Naples has the original, the absolute best pizza that I've ever had in my life. You can not beat the thin crust with homemade sauce and fresh bufala mozzarella with oregano... Simple yet delicious. My mouth is watering at the thought. The ingredients in all Italian pizzas are fresh and very often organic. The vegetable toppings pack a lot of flavor even before additional seasonings.
But that's not to say that I haven't found some wonderful pizza here in the U.S.A. Pizza here, however, is enormously different. The pies themselves are larger and the flavor and ingredient combinations are drastically different too. I think that American pizza, whether fast food, homemade or 5 star restaurant quality  is generally more adventurous in its flavor pairings than most anything you'll find abroad. No Italian would dream of pputting pineapple or chicken or barbeque sauce onto a pizza.
Italians, I find, don't use their imaginations as much when it comes to food. They are so richly steeped in tradition that they don't often have to think outside of the box to get fantastic flavors and dishes. Here in the U.S.S we don't have the same kind of tried and true traditional mentality. We are a melting pot, a stew of traditions and cultures. As a result, our food tradition (at least on the east cost) we are often willing to play with our food, to combine one tradition with another.  Pizza is delicious, so is BBQ, so let's combine them together and make a BBQ Chicken Pizza. Like Thai food? There are many places that will put Thai spicing and traditional ingredients onto a pizza. One tradition is not enough. We can combine and play and experiment until we have something new and delicious.
The original, the traditional will always be respected and will always have a place in our diets but it is fun to try the new and untested.  In places like NYC, the unique and new is a challenge, it is something to be tried and enjoyed.
When my family makes pizza at home, we use the traditions that Grams shared with us but we also like to play around with sasonings with the sauce and vegetables that with use.  Grams showed us the typical margherita and marinara pizzas. But after her long exposure to the United States, she came to appreciate stranger combinations and was willing to try some new things.
Pizza is probably one of my favorite foods and part of that is because it is such a versatile food. You can stick with the traditional or you can experiment with outlandish ingredients that somehow when combined and baked together, no longer seem so outlandish.  There is literally nothing to love about pizza.

Restaurant Review: Veniero's Pasticceria

Great Pastries down by St. Marks Place!

What can I say about Veniero Pasticceria? Delicious, just delicious...

soooo many gorgeous desserts!  this wasn't even half of them!

We ended our day of food at Veniero's and it was sooooo good! I didn't order my own dessert because I was so so so full but I got to try a bite of what everyone ordered and I'll definitely be back there again.  Right when we walked in, I was tempted by all of the desserts. They were beautiful and colorful... My mouth just watered and I wanted to order one of each... Except I was too full to move.

The prices were good and the atmosphere was great.  The main dining area had beautiful lighting with a gorgeous stain glass ceiling fixture.  It was reflected in the mirror that ran the length of the room and really added to the ambience. We had a great time goofing around and taking pictures of ourselves in the mirror, but we're only vaguely ridiculous.
I wound up only ordering hazelnut coffee, but it was freshly brewed and quite tasty.  Surprisingly, it wasn't quite hot enough, but it was still good.
The others ordered a plethora of desserts. The strawberry millefolgie was scrumptious. Its bavarian cream

The strawberry millefoglie, tea and Joanna's Passion

was light and delicate while the strawberry on top and inside was fresh and sweet. We also tried a dessert called Joanna's Passion. I was floored at how good it was.  It's yellow sponge cake soaked in coconut rum with layers of coconut cream and lemon curd. I'm not always a fan of lemon but this was light and fluffy and the rum wasn't overpowering. It was so smooth that I didn't entirely realize it was sponge cake! It was that good.
As per usual we also tried the Babà Rum, this time filled with cannoli cream. The pastry itself was light and fluffy with a dense, delicious cannoli cream. But it was SUPER rum filled! If you don't like rum, this is not the dessert for you. If you do, it's perfect!

Babà Rum with Cannoli cream and I don't remember the name of this other one.

Restaurant Review: Via della Pace

One of my favorite Italian Restaurants in NYC

When I came back from Florence the first time 6 years ago, I didn't know what to do. I love Italian food, but it's so hard to find Italian food in the States that tastes like Italian food in Italy. There's a difference in the quality and freshness of ingredients as well as preparation. Most Italian food (like any food that comes from a different country) has been Americanized. Over time the food shifts with availability of ingredients and also adjusts to the palates of the majority. 

At first, I found this adjustment quite difficult. I wanted bufala mozzarella that tasted like the mozzarella in Florence.  I wanted things to be the same when it wasn't possible.  It's just the nature of going someplace different.  

But over time I was able to find certain restaurants, certain delis, that, although not exactly the same, were soo close to the food I found while in Italy.  My friends that had studied abroad and I finally found some places that we could really say were true to the Italian spirit of food.  One of those places was Via della Pace in NYC. It's on the lower East Side right off of 2nd Avenue almost directly across from the Pommes Frites. 

My friend Suzie found it and we have used it often as a fantastic reunion spot.  All of the food that I've tried is amazing and quite good for the cost. It is not super expensive but delicious. The flavors are big and fresh while the service is quite lovely.  The waitstaff is friendly and quick to give advice on wine pairings. They'll even bring samples for you to try.  

It also has a great atmosphere inside. The lighting is low and the tables are relatively close together but comfortable. The moment you sit down, there is bread to eat. The waitstaff will also bring some amazing olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip into while you wait for your food.  It's really relaxed and it is very enjoyable to eat there. No one rushes you out  but the food is served relatively quickly and hot. 

Rigatoni del Pirata

This past Sunday I introduced some of my non Italian friends to this little restaurant and they were quite pleased with the result.  We each ordered something different and then tried one anothers' dishes.  Everything was really, really good.  

I ordered the Rigatoni del Pirata which is baked rigatoni with sausage, mushroom and mozzarella.  It was my absolute favorite thing of the night and probably my favorite thing that I've ever ordered there. It was fresh and a little creamy with a slightly woodsy flavoring from the spices. I paired it with a great light red wine (not too dry) from Montepulciano. 

Ravioli d'Aragosta alla Vodka

My other favorite of the night was the fantastic Ravioli D'Aragosta alla vodka which was an utterly delicious ravioli filled with lobster and creamy ricotta served in a beautiful vodka sauce with red caviar.  I think I might be developing a lobster addicition. I never used to like it but very slowly as I try these new dishes, I love it more and more. These ravioli were perfect. They weren't too heavy with the perfect balance of lobster and cheese. The vodka sauce was also great without being too heavy.  

Fusilli al Pesto del Cinque Terra

Another friend tried the pesto which was light and creamy and surprisingly not too heavy on the basil. The asparagus in that pasta also added a nice crunch and surprise to such a traditional dish. The other surprise dish of the night was the Fettucine Mamma-Nonna Munda which is one of the restaurants signature dishes. I had never tried it before but it was fantastic.  It's homemade fettucine with a meat sauce and it's served with sausage and pork ribs.  The sauce was great and the pork ribs practically fell off the bone. My friends ate it all up!  

Fettucine Mamma-Nonna Munda

We feasted and still had a reasonable bill at the end of the night. Via della Pace also has a great dessert menu but we were so full from a day of munching that we decided to hold off until we could have a nice long walk to burn some calories and make some room.  I do remember some of my friends absolutely LOVE the tiramisu.  And I know they have a wonderful collection of after dinner drinks like amaro, limoncello and grappa!  I'll definitely take my friends back again and make sure they have some space for dessert and espresso!

Restaurant Review: Artichoke Pizza

On 14th Street down by 2nd Avenue, a new friend introduced me to an amazing little hole in the wall pizzeria that I probably would have never noticed. Its name is Artichoke Pizza. Outside was crowded with people milling around eating large slices of thick pizza. There are benches scattered out by the restaurant itself but people were also simply sitting on stoops and eating.

Meanwhile, there was a consistent line out the door of the restaurant for people grabbing slices and pies to go. There was a small sit down area as well, but most seemed more interested in eating out in the sunlight. The interior seemed dark and eclectic but I was utterly charmed.
We sat outside and shared one GIANT piece of pizza.  When I say giant, I mean this was a HUGE slice of pizza.  And it was utterly delicious. We shared a slice of the pie the restaurant is named for. We got artichoke pizza which had the most delicious creamy cheese sauce. It was absolutely fantastic.  The artichoke wasn't bitter but beautifully cooked and I really did enjoy the lack of tomato sauce. I want another slice NOW.  Please and thank you.  The crust was thick and flaky, crisp on the bottom but still soft in the center.
I would also love to try the other pizzas because they looked equally delicious! Next time I'm down by Union Square I'll definitely be walking over!

Restaurant Review: Pommes Frites

The first time I tried Pommes Frites was when I was a senior at Sarah Lawrence College. We had gone into the city for a day of adventure and at the end of the night before hopping on the train back to campus we were feeling a bit peckish.  We discovered Pommes Frites and it is still one of my favorite places down by St. Mark's Place.  It is a small hole in the wall and I honestly didn't know what to expect when I first saw it.  It has 2 seats out front with a small table in front of a window and then the inside is dark and not very spacious however, the fries make it all worth it.

Pommes Frites only makes Belgian Style french fries and sauces to go along with them. If you are near 2nd Avenue and feeling like you need a small snack, I highly suggest you try Pommes Frites. The fries are always made right in front of you and there is a long list of sauces that you can try with them, from savory mayos, to spicy to sweet. One of my friends ordered the classic fries which came with ketchup, mayo and onion freshly chopped on top.  These were delicous but normally I like to order the side sauces because they have such a wonderful variety of choices. This time we tried 3 sauces. We got my absolute favorite which is the mango chutney mayo, which has a hint of spice to complement the sweetness of the mango. It is delicious and I could probably eat it by the bucketload... which would not be the smartest ideas but awesome nonetheless. We also tried an utterly fantastic wild mushroom mayo that had a kick of herbs to it (I'm thinking rosemary but I wasn't entirely certain) and the last that we tried was a roasted garlic mayo. Everytime I go, I try to try a couple of new or different flavors since there are so many great options. Every specialty sauce is a dollar unless you do the three flavor combination (which I highly recommend) which only costs $2.50.

The three awesome mayos we tried; top wild mushroom, right mango chutney and bottom garlic herb.

On Sunday, there were six of us snacking and we were able to share two small orders between all of us so the portions and pricing is really quite awesome. Had we been super hungry (or really, just trying not to spoil our appetites more than absolutely necessary) we could have easily shared 2 larges or 1 double portion for only a few dollars more.
I can't wait to get back and have more fries!

The Brooklyn Smorgasburg

Welcome to the Brooklyn Smorgasburg!

Mmmmm as I was saying in my last post the Brooklyn Smorgasburg was absolutely fantastic!  The Smorgasburg is every Saturday in Williamsburg and every Sunday in DUMBO from 11am to 6pm. It is free entry and there are vendors from all over New York with so much delicious looking food it's not even funny.  There were bbq vendors, different types of Asian foods, vegan foods, desserts, foods from different Latin American countries...
We were right under the Brooklyn Bridge and it was a great spot for a picnic meal with sun and a breeze on the grass.  It was crowded with people but there was a lot of space to occupy so we could still relax and not be too close to other groups of foodies.
I didn't try a lot of food (I wasn't super hungry yet). In fact, I really wish I had tried more but I can always go back next week! What I did eat was absolutely scrumptious and I honestly can't wait to have another serving or two or three!
I had salteñas for teh first time ever. They are a type of baked empanada typical of Bolivia and are a type of savory pastry filled with beef, pork or chicken (sometimes there are also vegetarian options) mixed in a sweet and sometimes spicy sauce. The filling is typically of a thick stew consistency and is served with hot sauce and cheese on the side.  As I was wandering around, I spotted them and knew I was going to have to try. The smell that was wafting over to me was utterly irresistable so I ordered one with beef inside. I found them at a booth called the Bolivian Llama Party which is also a restaurant in Brooklyn.  They were also serving freshly carbonated on the spot sodas in flavors like mango and lemon lime and lemonade rose and hibiscus blackberry. You could ask to try samples of the soda. I'm not usually a soda or carbonated drink kind of gal and these were absolutely fantastic and quite refreshing which was a nice contrast to the spice in the saltena. My favorite of the sodas was the Hibiscus blackberry and the Mango too was wonderful. I've never had anything quite like the saltena but it was a great blend of spicy and sweet and the beef was juicy and flavorful. There was an egg cooked perfectly inside the flaky crust as well.  I also got to try a bite of the pork saltena and it was also delicious although I preferred the beef.  Both were full of flavor and super moist. I would definitely recommend having a spoon handy because the inside can get a bit messy... but TOTALLY worth it!

Freshly made Salteñas served with spicy sauce and deliciously crumbly cheese

delicious pork buns

 My friends tried the lobster rolls and said they were delicious (in fact it was so good that the lobster roll didn't even make it tour picnic seating area because they ate it without sharing) as were the pork buns and barbeque. I had a bite of the barbeque pork and it was absolutely tender and wonderful. As a testament to that fact, the line was at least 30 people long and wrapped around the corner. I lazily waited for my friend to wait on the line but after having a small bite, I realized that the line was well worth it.
Next time I go there is a very long line of savory food that I still have to try. There was a Grilled cheese stand and a ramen stand and there were fish tacos.  I could have stayed there all day munching except we had other things to do in the city that day.

As we were leaving though, we decided to get some flavored shaved ice (made right in front of you and ice pops. There were some unique and refreshing flavors and I'm so glad I ordered mine before we went.  Super light and refreshing. I decided to get the rhubarb tarragon flavor because I've never seen the combination before. It was sweet without being too sweet.  A friend of mine tried the lemon mint and that was quite nice and refreshing as well.  Some other friends tried some of the ice pop flavors and they were incredible too.  You cannot go wrong with Peoples pops!  I will definitely try another flavor next time I go.

All in all, I highly recommend going to the Smorgasburg and trying some of the delicious treats. There were all sorts of things that looked amazing that I just couldn't get too like the s'mores pie and vegan ice cream... And so much more too... GOOOO!  You should definitely check it out and try EVERYTHING!