Archive | March, 2010

Braised Cucumbers: Take 1

5 Mar

So I had read about FeistyFoodie’s love of braised cucumbers and fondly remembered this from the Julie & Julia movie, so when I finally saw cucumbers go on sale on Fresh Direct, I jumped at the chance to try it.  The cucumber I got was one of those “this is way too big to not make a crude joke about” types and I think I may have let it sit for too long… because my braised cucumbers were just an epic fail. (sad face)

They tasted like they were just soggy, old cucumbers.  GROSS!  Though I am blaming my veggie selection rather than just the recipe… for now.  I also failed to remove the seeds as I didn’t think this would have too much of an impact on the final result, but perhaps I was wrong.

I will try again!

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Tribeca Grill- 2010 Restaurant Week

3 Mar

My second (and unfortunately final) stop for NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2010 was Tribeca Grill (corner of Greenwich and Franklin) with the wonderful Carrie.  I had never been, and I was excited to see they had a very delicious sounding Restaurant Week Menu.

I had to go with the Chestnut soup (LOVE chestnuts!) and it was good, but not great. It just wasn’t chesnutty enough. 

Carrie went with a regular green salad.

Carrie also chose the black truffle cavatelli and was kind enough to give me a bite. It was delish!

I went with the red wine braised short rib that came with brussel sprouts, chanterelles, and pancetta.  It was quite tasty!

I tried to avoid eating TOO terribly and chose to spend my calorie budget on the short ribs rather than dessert… but I couldn’t just NOT get dessert.  So Carrie and I both chose to go with the gelato.  She chose the coffee.

I went with a fruit trio.  I think it was strawberry, banana, and something?  I’m not sure what.  It was good but far from the best I’ve had.

Overall, I think it was a decent restaurant week menu and I’m glad I got to try this, but I’m not sure if I’d be in any rush to go back.

Total Nom Points: 6.5 out of 10

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Angelo and Maxie’s- Restaurant Week 2010

1 Mar

After a lovely mani/pedi date with the incredible Lori, she recommended we visit Angelo and Maxie’s where not only was her friend, Carlotta, tending bar, but it was also Restaurant Week.  Even though I’m supposed to be on a diet, I figured I could make it work at a steak house with portion control.  Plus, I just need to enjoy SOME of Restaurant Week like I have in year’s past (Summer 2009 and Winter 2009).

In case you don’t know how restaurant week works, here is the menu from Angelo and Maxie’s (they all work similarly with a prix fixe of an app, entree, and dessert with lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35):

*****

RESTAURANT WEEK 2010 MENU

Sunday-Friday

January 25th-February 28th, 2010 

(excluding Saturdays and February 14th)

_____

First Course

Choice of:

Maxie’s House Salad

Angelo’s Caesar Salad

Soup of the Day

_____

Second Course

Choice of:

Grilled Filet Mignon (au poivre or béarnaise available)

Charbroiled New York Sirloin Steak

1 ½ pound Herb-Roasted Chicken

Broiled Salmon over Fresh Sautéed Vegetables

Marinated Roumanian Steak with Grilled Onions (dinner only)

Maxie’s Chopped Steak with Sautéed Onions (dinner only)

_____

Third Course

Choice of:

Cheesecake

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream

Fresh Fruit

_____

LUNCH:  $24.07

DINNER: $35.00 

*****

Lori and I both chose the caesar salad (per Carlotta’s recommendation) but only I went all in with the anchovies.  (Lori got them on the side but couldn’t bring herself to try one).  I LOVE salt, so I like anchovies, though only in small doses.

We also both chose the Filet, however, I went with mine sauceless (hoping to save some calories).


Lori chose au poivre.

For my dessert, I sucked it up and chose the fruit salad.  It was a sad moment in my life, but I knew I couldn’t have both the steak AND the cheesecake.

Or could I? Lori was gracious enough to give me a few bites. Thank GOODNESS I didn’t get this… it was so insanely good I never would have stopped eating it.

I love the take-home bags with all the cows.

We also each enjoyed a glass of the Malbec, again as recommended by our lovely bar tender Carlotta. It was a Carolores Del Sol and we both enjoyed it very much! Will have to be on the lookout for that little gem.

Overall, I thought our meal was great, and for $24 it’s hard to beat! The steak was cooked perfectly and, if you’re not slaving over a diet, you MUST try the cheesecake.  Holy cow!

Total Nom Points: 7 out of 10

Lori, a fellow food blogger (and lover), wrote about our experience here if you’d like to see her perspective on the same meal.

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