Tag Archives: becco

Top 10 Noms of 2009

31 Dec

What is a New Year without a Top 10?  I have been blogging for exactly 325 days and have enjoyed every moment of it.  I love food… and I’m so happy that I have some very faithful readers who have joined me on this journey (THANK YOU!). With that said, here is my top 10 Noms from 2009:

10) Disney World stands out in my mind for a very memorable eating trip in 2009.  The dinner we had at Marrakash comes up often and I still can’t remember ever having a better sundae than the Ghiradelli one I had at Downtown Disney.

9) When Mike and I took the Culinary Walking Tour of Greenwich Village, we didn’t really know what to expect. It wound up being great for both food (we have gone back to these places a few times since then) and history. 

8) I actually wound up going to Becco twice this year (Becco 1 and Becco 2).  They are awesome for having an unlimited pasta tasting from their three pastas of the day and a pretty extensive wine list for under $25.  But their Osso Bucco is what dreams are made of.

7) Every time I go to Koi it is amazing.  It’s one of the very, very few restaurants I can go to over and over again (even multiple times in the same week).  The crispy rice is amazing and I credit the Miso Glazed Cod with having started me eating fish for the first time.

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6) The short ribs at Charles were great (well… I thought so until I had #2 on this list). We first sampled them at a nice fund-raising food festival and then I won a gift certificate by bidding $60 for a $75 gift certiciate.  The braised lamb shank was exceptional and highly recommended.

5) Quality Meats had been recommended to me time and time again.  While the steak was great, but not my favorite, the corn creme brulee was so good that I dream about it.

4) Eating at Montenapo, especially on someone else’s dime so we could order multiple courses without guilt (well, except waistline guilt), was a HUGE treat.  It’s brand new and in the middle of an area that is known to wimp out on food.  The Osso Bucco was the best I’ve ever had (even though I just had a taste of someone else’s) and the desserts were sensational.  There wasn’t a bad bite in the entire meal. 

3) I have loved Keens Steakhouse since the first time I tried it, however, the bar is especially amazing and I’m so glad Lori joined me for my first time.  That potato and steak was heavenly and more restaurants should make merengue… especially if it’s that good!

2) The number two slot goes to a yet to be blogged about meal at Bottega (Michael Chiarello’s restaurant in Napa Valley).  Why was it so good? You’ll just have to read the blog to find out!

1) My birthday dinner at WD-50 was epic. It is hands down the best meal I’ve ever had.  We went whole hog and got the full tasting menu.  Each dish was a new adventure… and not just because it looked cool.  There were such wonderful flavors in everything and I really loved this place.  #1 for the year… probably lifetime #1 to date.

Runners up:

Happy New Year Nommers!

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Back to Becco

4 Nov

I’m a big fan of Becco (46th between 8th and 9th) and was there just a few months ago. Mike had never been, so after another full day of packing, we indulged yet again.

Their breadsticks are more like cracksticks. I can never stop eating them.

All entrees and the pasta special come with a caesar salad. Since this means almost everyone eats it, it should be a very good caesar. And it is. Mike reasoned that they must use anchovies in their dressing. It’s especially delicious.

Mike took my recommendation and ordered the Osso Bucco, but decided to add on the pasta tasting for $9 (not a bad deal!) I really wanted the pasta, however, I ran into the same problem as last time where they put red pepper flakes in everything. BOOO. I got to try the pumpkin raviolis from Mike, however, and they were tasty. He seemed to enjoy the others as well.


I went with the rack of lamb this time. It was good, but I found myself really missing that Osso Bucco. It is just so good. (Thankfully my boyfriend is a very good sharer)

We were way too stuff for dessert, but the meal was really, really good. Becco is consistently good, and their pasta tasting and $25 wine list really make it a great destination on Restaurant Row. If you’re going to a show, make a reservation and go to Becco first.

Total Nom Points (no change from last time): 8 out of 10

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Bye Byes at Becco

20 Jul

Saying goodbye to a friend leaving NYC is never easy, however, it becomes just a tad bit better when done over good food.  I joined Emily (a new friend from Israel) and her friends at Becco, a great place on Restaurant Row (46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), to say goodbye as she leaves us for Atlanta.

Becco is famous for two things: a large $25/bottle wine list and their endless pasta tasting.  The $25 wine list is always a good way to go with enough selection on there to make just about anyone happy.  The endless pasta provides their 3 pastas of the day in… you guessed it… endless quantities.  The lunch price for this is $17.95 and dinner is $22.95 and both include salad or antipasto.

I was very excited for the pasta tasting, however, upon consultation with the manager it appears the chef likes to put red pepper flakes “in everything” so I was up a creek.  I ordered the Osso Bucco instead, however, and I was NOT dissapointed.  Fabulously tender and some of the best (and most) marrow I’ve ever had.

I managed to grab a picture of one of the pastas on my neighbors plate.

This osso bucco had a side of farrotto with fresh peas and fava beans (it was like a whole grain risotto and something I definitely want to try cooking with!).

Total Nom Points: 8 out of 10

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