Did you see me in the NY Post?

Did you see me in last Sunday's NY Post?  I was interviewed after having personally used the Merrill Lynch "Face Retirement" app...

Photo: NY PostWhy the look of shock, you ask?  Because, after having uploaded my current profile picture in to the app, another photo appeared, revealing what I will look like at the ripe age of retirement (65-ish).  Woof!  Guess like it's time to start saving a couple of bucks back each month for BOTOX injections and a face lift!

Click here to read the full article in Sunday's NY Post!

Click here to see what you'll look like at retirement!

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

Tacombi: Heaven for fish taco aficionados

Today is March 19th and, despite the fact that we're ONE day away from "spring," the weather in NYC is anything but.  And, look, if it were just snowing and not sleeting/raining, I wouldn't be in such a foul mood.  But toting this heavy umbrella around town in my fugly rain boots - and parka - and ear muffs - and gloves - is wreaking havoc on my mood.  And my waistline.  Because all I want to do is stay indoors and hibernate with comfort food and highly caloric beverages.  Sorry, El Bloombito.

Speaking of comfort food, I cannot stop thinking about these incredible 'crispy fish' tacos that I had a few weekends ago at Tacombi.  And just how desperately I wish that the restaurant delivered to my office!  Especially on a cold and wet day like today.  Argh.

A life-alteringly-delicious fish tacoThe picture, above, does not do my beloved 'crispy fish' tacos any justice.  Trust me on that.  Served atop a fresh, 3"x3" corn tortilla are two hunks of batter-fried white fish that are drizzled with homemade spicy mayo.  The taco is finished with a small mound of crunchy, pickled red cabbage.  This is, hands down, NYC's best fish taco.  Period.  End of story.

Taco samplerDuring our visit to Tacombi, Robin and I sampled an assortment of other taco varieties, as well - everything from pork belly with chicharrones to corn/poblano/huitlacohe.  But it was the 'crispy fish' that, truly, tugged at our heart strings.

Another item that I thoroughly enjoyed was the ceviche, which was accompanied by house-made tostados.  Served atop a bed of smashed avocado were citrus and heat-flecked chunks of incredibly fresh fish (I believe it was red snapper that day).  Dynamite!

CevicheAnd to wash it all down?  Sangria, of course.  *Tacombi does not have a liquor license.  Just wine and beer for now. 

SangriaI can hardly wait for the warm days to come when I can just bike over to Tacombi for a lunch pickup.  Did I mention that I plan to start biking to work?  In the meantime, I'll just have to get my Tacombi fix on nights or weekends. 

Warehouse chicBut at least the restaurant's actual space is super fun.  And funky.  And enormous.  Plus, I can get out of there with a full belly and a tipsy stagger without breaking the bank.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle 

The Big Cheesy: I've got two FREE tickets with your name on them!

Are you:

• A self-professed grilled cheese-o-holic?
• In NYC this coming weekend?
• Feeling lucky?

If so, I've got two FREE tickets for you and your lucky "plus one" to attend Saturday and Sunday's *already sold out* grilled cheese competition, The Big Cheesy.  Can you fathom a better scenario than wandering from station to station, sampling grilled cheese sandwiches?  And, after you've stuffed yourself like a sausage, your vote counts towards deciding who will reign as "People's Champs Award" for the best grilled cheese sandwich in NYC.  Cool, eh?  (Participants include:  Melt Shop, Murray's Cheese Bar, 'wichcraft, Lucy's Whey, Keith Klein's Milk Truck, Say Cheese UWS, Sons of Essex, and Sixpoint Brewery.)

Winner winner, grilled cheese dinner!  Send me an email (Lindsay@TheLunchBelle.com) detailing your favorite grilled cheese sandwich in NYC - including where I can get it - and, tomorrow at 3pm EST, I will choose a winner based on how much your description makes my mouth water!  Good luck!

Photo: Openhouse Gallery~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

Update on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 3:01PM by The Lady Who Lunches

...and we have a winner, folks!  Congratulations, Danielle, for making my mouth water the most with your incredible description of your favorite Milk Truck sammie:

The food truck: A roving culinary carnival. A masterful amalgamation of artistry and delicacy. Creation. Perfection.

"A grilled cheese sandwich is a simple thing," but Milk Truck grilled cheese is anything but. Each handcrafted sammie is a storied work of art, every bite more savory than the next.

I am drawn to the simplistic beauty of the Milk Truck Classic, the perfect blend of toasty bread and gooey cheese. Aged Wisconsin gruyere and cultured butter meet on Levain pullman bread from Balthazar, melting into each other in a way that can only be described as miraculous. 

While the Classic can easily stand on its own, I like to add some spicy pickles to the mix for some extra spunk. Three thin slices find their home inside this crisp beauty, and add indescribable flavor to each bite. 

In the summer of 2012 I chased the Milk Truck around NYC in search of grilled cheese heaven. On July 15th I finally met my love in the World Financial Center food truck lot, and we have been inseparable ever since. 

I hope you and your lucky guest enjoy two free tickets to this weekend's sold out grilled cheese competition, The Big Cheesy!  Congratulations!!

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

Greece, by way of Tribeca, at Thalassa

• Restaurant  Thalassa
• Cuisine  Greek
• Location  179 Franklin Street, Manhattan
• Phone  212-941-7661
• Directions  Hopstop
• Atmosphere  multi-level, casual chic, open, tranquil
  
• Attire  smart/business casual
• Ideal for  1x1, group dining, private events, business meals
• Price  Expensive
• 

Look, I get invited to my fair share of tastings and events, in addition to getting pitched more random products than you could ever imagine.  I take my time and read through each and every public relations email proposal but, 9 times out of 10, I'm not interested.  Or maybe "ain't nobody got time for that" is a better way to describe what may come off as a sheer diss.  There are not enough hours in my day to write about all of the amazing restaurants and products that I want to pen, let alone what I get pitched.  So, you can only imagine how "right now" or tantalizing something has to be and/or be described to capture my interest.  And my time.

Thalassa, a 10-year old Greek in Tribeca, has been on my long list of "restaurants to try" for years.  And, now that I work in the neighborhood, Susan's media tasting invitation could not have come at a more perfect time.

Set within a historic building on Franklin Street stands the multi-level dining, wining, and events destination.  Thalassa boasts a climate-controlled wine and cheese cave, housing more than 12,000 bottles.  And, aesthetically, the interior space - or, shall I say spaces - is stunning:  Exposed-brick walls, ceilings reaching heavenly heights, grand floral arrangements and vase displays, sailboat sails used as dramatic drapery...

Above pictures courtesy of ThalassaJust beyond the bar area stands a vast display of fresh seafood and vegetables on ice.

Since I was already a couple of cocktails in (I met some friends at Weather Up prior to dinner.), I chose to forgo ordering a beverage at the beginning of the meal and, instead, opted for the pre-set wine pairing.

Upon being seated, our table was promptly dressed with a basket of warm pita and sliced breads, olive oil, assorted pitted olives, and hummus.

An amuse bouche followed shortly thereafter:  A vegetarian fritter of some sort, perhaps lentil or chickpea, crowned with creamy yogurt and snipped green onions. 

An array of six dishes made up our bountiful appetizer course:  Zucchini-Eggplant Chips, Octapodi, Tartare Trio, Pikilia, Maine Diver Sea Scallops, and Arugula (salad).

Zucchini-Eggplant Chips

Thinly-sliced ribbons of eggplant and zucchini were enveloped by a crunchy, tempura-like batter and interlaced with creamy tzatziki.  Cubes of deep fried saganaki cheese moated the perfectly-constructed "stack" of heaven.

Octapodi

"I don't eat octopus," I politely responded, upon being offered the octopodi.  "But thanks, anyways."  After receiving a fair amount of peer preassure, jabs, and insistence that "Greek-prepared octopus is different," I gave in and took a damn bite.  Then another.  Followed by three or four more.  The texture of the meat was firm, yet incredibly tender at the same time, if that even makes any sense.  Does it?  There were no creepy-looking tentacles that locked themselves on to my tongue, ravaging the inside of my mouth.  I guess that's just what I had always feared would happen. 

The simply-grilled Portuguese octopus was accompanied by micro greens and a zesty, citrus aioli.      

Tartare Trio

Ice cream-like scoops of sushi-grade dorado, tuna, and European sea bass were presented as a perfectly-packaged trio, served atop marinated vegetables and crowned with either taramaosalata, tzatziki, or garlic/almond mousse.  Each tartare was finished with a drizzle of fragrant truffle oil.

Pikilia

Warm pita points and Greek dips go together like peas and carrots.  Don't they?  The world "pikilia" means "variety" in Greek.  And that's exactly what this appetizer was - a variety of four dips.  While I found a few to be too firm and cold, flavor-wise, they were all delightful and robust.

Maine Diver Sea Scallops

Fresh, jumbo scallops were delicately wrapped in "kataifi," or shredded phyllo dough, and baked with sheep's milk butter before being presented atop a drizzled kalamata olive/balsamic reduction.  The dish was chopped with a colorful "salsa" of tomatoes and green onions.

This was, hands down, one of the most creative - and perfectly-executed - dishes that I've had in recent memory.  The crunchy, baked kataifi played so well, texturally, against the supple flesh of the scallops.  Bravo and worth a trip to Thalassa, alone! 

Arugula (salad)

Judging by the menu, "Arugula" is the closest salad option that fits both the description (on the menu) and the actual ingredients on the plate.  Well, with the exception of the arugula leaves, of course!  Because if you look at the picture, above, there is no arugula in sight!  That didn't bother me too much, as I find that lettuce is boring and just gets in the way of everything.

Encircled by a moat of sliced, ruby-red beets was a mountain of (some sort of) a creamy, voluptuous dip that was tented by rectangular "logs" of batter-fried saganaki cheese.

For our entree course, our server presented the table with a whole, grilled branzino, before vanishing - with plate - back to the kitchen.  Upon his return, each of us received a plate topped with branzino filet, greens, and a halved lemon.

Branzino

The typing paper white-hued filet was finished with a quick - and buttery - pan sear and topped with capers.  The flesh was so creamy, clean, and fresh, with a flavor evoking a subtle taste of the briny ocean.  I ate every last bite.  

For dessert, an array of four plates made up our final course:  Baklava, Ekmek, Mastiha Panna Cotta, Valrhona Molten Chocolate Cake.

Baklava

Of the four desserts, this was my personal favorite: Cylindrically-shaped baklava was beautifully presented and paired with berries and coffee ice cream.  I found the latter to be a random afterthought, as "coffee" flavor would not have been my first pick for the ice cream accompaniment.

Ekmek

Encircled by a dark chocolate shell was a blend of Kaitaifi, phyllo dough "noodles," cream and pistachios.  Mixed berries and a scoop of pistachio ice cream accompanied.

Mastiha Panna Cotta

Delicate and subtly-scented with masthiha (sap from an evergreen bush), the panna cotta was topped with caramelized pears and accompanied with mixed dark berries. 

Valrhona Molten Chocolate Cake

While I'd never "throw a molten chocolate cake out of bed," it's certainly not a dessert that I have particular respect for or a desire to order.  Outside of a Jean-Georges establishment, that is.  I mean, even frickin' Chili's has a frickin "molten chocolate cake" on their menu.  Sigh.  What iced the cake for me, no pun intended, was the fact that, yet again, this dessert was paired with boring coffee ice cream.  Yawn. 

...

To conclude 

From its incredibly tranquil and urbanely heaven-like space, to the fresh and delicious food plus bountiful drink, Thalassa is a Tribeca winner.  Now that I work in the immediate area, I will not hesitate to return for cocktails and snacks, in addition to considering the space for a private event.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

The Weekly Eater: 2/24 - 3/03

What I loved and/or really stood out last week  (2/24 - 3/03)

...

The 'Mushroom Mac' at Elbow Room  Located street-level at Brooklyn's brand-spankin' new Barclays Center is a mac and cheese-centric, fast casual joint that goes by the name of Elbow Room.  Cute, eh?  Aside from the interior-facing window that opens to serve hungry guests during events at Barclays Center, Elbow Room is also accessible from the street.  Which is how my friend, Carol, and I entered. 

Elbow Room: Sunday's specialsBefore even reading the menu, the first thing I noticed was that Elbow Room carried Baked Cheetos.  A favorite snack of mine that is nearly impossible to find!  Anywho, after buying four bags, Carol and I decided to sample the following mac 'n cheeses:  Old School Mac, Mushroom Mac, Chicken Tinga Mac, Jamaican Jerk Mac, Vegan Queso Fundido Mac, Meatball Parmesan Mac, and BLT Mac.  What?  We were hungry!

Mac overload!While all of the versions we sampled were delicious, my favorite of the bunch was the 'Mushroom Mac,' which was composed of:  Crimini 'shrooms, spinach, gruyere, and topped with a mound of crispy shallots.

Mushroom MacNext time you find yourself at/in the vicinity of the Barclays Center, stop by Elbow Room!

...

My BFF got engaged!  Nuff' said.  No, actually, I'll say one more thing:  Dibs on planning the bachelorette party!

She's getting married!...

The Fuel Bar at Barry's Bootcamp  I withheld sampling the smoothies from The Fuel Bar for as long as I possibly could.  Why?  Because, personally, I think smoothies suck.  That was, until one morning, post-workout, I found myself famished.  Confident that I would not last much longer on "empty," I ordered the most appetizing-sounding smoothie on the menu.  'Simply Peanut Butter' only had about four ingredients and, even more importantly, rang in at under 250-calories.  I figured, how bad could it possibly be?  Turns out, not bad at all.  Not even in the least.  Think more along the lines of addictively delicious, satisfying, and filling.  Now, after having sampled a variety of smoothie flavors, I've found myself oddly craving them multiple times per week.  So much so, that even if I'm working out elsewhere, I will still make my way over to The Fuel Bar post-workout just to get my smoothie on.   

...

Korean pancakes at Bann  I've really been on a Korean food kick lately.  And one dish, in particular, has completely stolen my heart:  Korean savory pancakes.  Served as a single "cake" in a circular iron skillet, this buttery, scallion and kimchi-flecked masterpiece is cut in to individual slices that always seem to be gobbled up within seconds. 

Bann's Korean pancake...

The pastrami Rueben (sandwich) at Katz's Deli  What's better than Katz's pastrami?  How about Katz's pastrami smothered with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and sandwiched between two pieces of rye bread?  Yes please!

Katz's Deli: Pastrami Rueben...

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy, and snow-free weekend!

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle 

South Beach Wine & Food Fest, 2013

For those of you who have been around for a while, you know that every February, my friend, Emily, and I shed our winter-weather gear and head to Miami for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.  It's a weekend that I look forward to all year long.  Why?  Because, aside from the obvious (my passion for food and wine), there's just something about Miami Beach that works for me.  Clicks.  Does it.  I often say that it is the "perfect beach city," as the sea water is warm and the prettiest hue of turquoise blue - there's a strong Latin culture and flair - an abundance of fabulous shopping - world-class night life and dining - and some of the best looking people on the planet.  Oh, and temperatures in February range anywhere from 75 to 85 degrees (Fahrenheit). 

Where does the time go?  Seriously, I'm having some issues coming to grips with the fact that my 3-day food and sun-soaked weekend has passed.  However, I'm already looking in to hotel reservations for 2014!  The dates for next year's Festival, by the way, are 2/20-2/23.  So, in the meantime, please enjoy my recap from yet another fabulous visit to Miami.

...

Thursday, 2/21

Just call me your personal "travel martyr."  Why?  Because I thought that I was saving a bundle by flying in to Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami.  And, technically, I was.  Until I saw my bill for the 45-minute cab ride to the hotel.  $80, folks!  Pre-tip.

This year, Emily and I decided to stay at the Fountainebleau, which is located next door to Eden Roc, where we stayed last year.  We wanted to try something different and, after having checked out Fountainebleau's hot pool scene last year, decided that we'd be better positioned to meet men.  And famous chefs. 

After checking in, the first thing Emily and I did was head down to the pools/beach.  We did not want to miss a minute of sunshine!

Fountainebleau lobbyFountainebleau's many poolsCheers! Nothing like a poolside frozen margarita to officially kick off a holiday weekend!...and fresh fruit-infused ice water when you need a break from that frozen cocktail.Prior to our 8pm dinner reservation, Emily, Josh, and I headed to the W hotel's outdoor lounge, Grove, to meet my friend, Tammi, for a cocktail.  Oh, how I wish we could have stayed there all night!  Legit, Grove was one of the coolest outdoor cocktail venues I've ever been to.  In the world.  This, fellow travelers, is a Miami *must.*

For dinner, we met up with Yasmin and Mike at Quinn's.  The five of us were seated at a prime outdoor table overlooking famous Ocean Drive. 

Per our adorable Cuban waiter's advice, I whetted my palate with a muddled-watermelon mojito. It was outstanding!The bread basket was absolutely fabulous, namely because of the freshly-baked popover, which was paired with strawberry butter. (I ate three of them over the course of the eve.)I live for stone crab claws, and this piece was the single best claw that I've had, to date!This Caribbean-inspired red snapper entree was listed on Quinn's menu as being one of their house specialties. Josh and I decided to split the dish and, while we agreed that the fish was fresh and well-seasoned, its accompaniments - grilled plantains, squash, black beans - reminded us of "conference food." Lukewarm, gummy, flavorless, and incredibly "1990s."This was the best key lime pie that, I believe, I've ever had. The tart curd/filling was not frozen - the graham-cracker crust was still a bit crunchy - and I loved the raspberry drizzle.After dinner, Emily headed to one of the Festival events, while I retired to our hotel room.

...

Friday, 2/22

Because chaise lounges are such a hot commodity, I ran down to the pool before 9am (!!!) to snag two for Emily and me.  The effort!  Then, I grabbed my goggles and went for a dip in the beautiful ocean...

When I got out, I almost stepped on this...

Portuguese "man o' war"Upon my return to the pool area, I noticed a film crew and learned that Telemundo was shooting a chef's demonstration with Richard Sandoval! 

Richard Sandoval for TelemundoAs if a famous chef and a near-jelly fish-bite weren't exciting enough, the lunch I ordered, poolside, was *actually* really delicious.  Who'd have thought?  Grilled mahi-mahi fish tacos came drizzled with cilantro crema and were accompanied by cole slaw and a fantastic salsa.  Bam!

Poolside at the Fountainebleau: Grilled fish tacos, cole slaw, salsa After putting a serious dent in my new beach read, Why Men Love Bitches, I delved in to a little retail therapy and scored a gorgeous pair of Valentino riding boots for 50% off! 

What's a vacation w/o a sassy beach read?"You had me at 50% off." My new Valentino riding boots...Post-shopping, I met Alex and Chef Cesare Casella for a cocktail in the lobby of the hotel.

Me, Cesare Casella, and AlexMy first event of the weekend was the Amstel Light Burger Bash, which kicked off at 7:30pm on the beach at the Ritz-Carlton.    

My official media pass!Me and EmilyEntry to the 'BashFolks waiting on line for burgersChef Laurent Tourondel (right)!Look who else came out! GUY FIERI!Burgers.  Burgers.  And more BURGERS!  I was in hog heaven (or, should I say "beef heaven")...

This was, by far, one of the most delicious nights I've had in recent memory.  My favorite burger of the thirty-four was from Miami's own Burger & Beer Joint.  The "Susie Q" was composed of:  Aged sharp cheddar, smoked applewood bacon, tomato jam and spicy mayo on a brioche bun.  Crispy dill pickles and buttermilk ranch (dressing) accompanied.

My favorite burger: Burger & Beer Joint's "Susie Q"...

Saturday, 2/23

As per usual, I was up early and headed down to the pool to grab chaise lounges.  This morning, however, I had to snag 8 chairs instead of just 2.  Since Emily had befriended 4 new people and invited Yasmin and Mike to join us, I literally had to place a piece of random collateral - sunscreen bottles, water bottle, magazines - on an entire row of chairs.  Once everyone slowly started to arrive, I decided that it was time to crack open the 40oz. can of malt liquor that Emily's friend brought for me in a paper bag.  Remember, dear readers:  I put the "ass" in "class."

Damn right. This is some good stuff, believe it or not!At around 1pm, I headed back to our room to change out of my swimsuit and wander over to my next Festival event:  Whole Foods Grand Tasting Village.  Held beach-side on the sand was a literal "tent village," consisting of cooking demos, book signings, and a massive grand tasting.  While the sights were lovely and impressive, and the talent lineup was fantastic, I found the event, itself, uncomfortably crowded and hot.  I only lasted about 20-minutes, from entry to exit.  :( 

Entry to the Whole Foods Grand Tasting Village

Cooking demoChef Aaron Sanchez's cooking demoInside the preassure cooker/grand tentA bunch of tastings that, sadly, I did not sample because I was so uncomfortable...Something I did get to try, however, was a Mama's Guava Bar.  Guava, if you did not know, if my favorite fruit, and I adored these chewy bars laced with the stuff.  I don't know who "Mama" is, but I totally wanted to hug her.   

Mama's Guava BarsLike I said further above, I got the hell out of that grand tent as soon as I possibly could.  Famished, since I had not sampled much of the food, I went back to my hotel and noshed on a spicy tuna roll.

Blade at the Fountainebleau: Spicy tuna rollAfter a fabulous afternoon nap in my comfy hotel bed (I know, life is really hard), Em and I got ready and joined two of our new friends (who we met at the pool) for dinner at local favorite, Pubbelly.  Although the restaurant does not take reservations, we scored an awesome outdoor table without having to wait more than a minute!  Unfortunately, I did not have my fancy camera on me that night, so that explains the lack of photos.  Plus, I'm too embarrassed to share the shiteous shots that I actually snapped of the meal with my iPhone.  So, instead, I will just give a brief, jealousy-inducing synopsis of what we enjoyed:

• Sour Patch Kid (cocktail):  Sake, pickled pineapple, chili flakes
• Stone Crab claws
• Croquetas:  Chorizo, roasted apple aioli
• BBQ Pork Wings:  Smoked teriyaki, picked grapes slaw, bacon
• Eggplant Fries:  Housemade ketchup
• Shortrib & Corn dumplings:  Black truffle, corn soy, shiso, parmigiano
• Kimchee Fried Rice:  Porkbelly & pineapple

I would wholeheartedly recommend Pubbelly to anyone looking to try multiple, eclectic plates that are packed full of flavor and creativity.  We absolutely loved our experience!

For a night cap, the four of us headed to the uber chic and trendy SLS Hotel, where I realized that, never in my entire life, had I been surrounded by more sexy, breathtakingly gorgeous human beings.  Seriously.  Ladies:  If you want your man to *not* pay you any attention and check out other girls all night, take him here!!  On that note, the public facilities at this hotel, bars and restaurants, are no place to step foot within if you're having a "fat day" or a "bad hair day."  Trust me, you will only feel much worse!

...

On Sunday morning, I caught another flight out of Fort Lauderdale and headed home.  Although I was sad to leave another outstanding weekend in Miami, I was looking forward to seeing my pup, Lucy, who turned 1 the day prior.  A belated-birthday celebration was in order!

Thanks for this, D Pet Hotels!~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle