Alas, if you're single on V-Day this year, you can still look at the glass "half full."  How?  Make this dreaded holiday all about you.  Treat yourself to a 12-hour sweets binge/bender - using my guide, below - with the notion that you'll get back on track tomorrow.   

~

Alterna-dates / dating outside of the box

*Are you looking for an alternative to the traditional "dinner and drinks" Valentine's eve?  Head over to Milk & Cookies Bakery where, for just $30/couple, you will partake in an intimate baking experience by creating your own cookies!  Enjoy an hour of cookie creation with 1 pint of vanilla dough, a tray of mix-ins, and two drinks from the espresso bar!  They bake them and you take them home!  Call 212-243-1640 to make your reservation today!

*Still in the beginning stages of a relationship and unsure of her every culinary like and dislike?  Choose the best Valentine's Day restaurant based on your date's astrological sign!  Stop rolling your eyes, all of you horoscope haters, there is some truth to this!  I viewed my own sun sign, plus those of some of my exes and, it's pretty legit!  So after you have an incredible, "oh my gosh, how did you know that I would love this kind of place?" meal, you can thank me and the Huffington Post come February 15th.  

PS:  Make sure to check out this list of restaurants who are offering Valentine's specials and snag a reservation here!

Photo: Huffington PostBaked

*For the girl who's watching her waistline:  Miniature Meringue Kisses, Magnolia Bakery

*For the NYC-based Francophile:  The gift box of 6 macarons + Laduree-brand pink champagne, Laduree

*For the sassy Southern belle:  Conversation Hearts Petit Fours, Duane Park Patisserie

*Cupcakes take the cake!  Here are some Valentine's Day varieties from some of my favorite cupcakeries in town:

• SPRINKLES XOX BOX
• GEORGETOWN CUPCAKES (OPENING IN SOHO ON 2/11!)

Single-and-ready-to-mingle and/or the broken-hearted hater

*Get wasted with other singles and, just maybe, find a date in time for V-Day!  New York's largest singles anti-Valentine's Day party - Saturday, 2/11 - Stitch NYC

*Zagat's list of "10 Restaurants/Bars Where You Can Meet Your Type"

*What you should be drinking on Valentine's Day, based on your status and mood

Cheers! I'll drink to him!~

Hate it or love it, V-Day is rapidly approaching.  Personally, the color red is blinding my eyes right now - I cringe every time I walk in to the drug store and happen upon the card and candy aisle - couples *everywhere* are making me want to run my nails down a chalkboard - and I can hardly wait until February 15th.  There, I said it:  I HATE Valentine's Day.  And, whether you're on my side or the lovey-dovey other, I hope that my list will lead you in the right and most delicious direction for your personal situation.

~~~

xoxo (blech) and until we eat again...

The Lunch Belle 

There are many perks about being a food blogger.  But, if I had to choose, I'd have to say that getting invited to incredible events, restaurant previews, and tastings would be numero uno. 

Last night, I was sent to a restaurant preview party in my own neck of the woods:  The Hummus & Pita Co.  This isn't your typical "fast casual" Mediterranean, folks.  Think an "assembly line," of sorts, a-la-Chipotle, where you build your own dish from the following delectable ingredients:  handmade regular/whole wheat pita and laffa breads (laffa is a flatbread) baked fresh in the tandoori oven, in-house taboon-roasted meats, falafel, original and flavored hummus varieties, bourekas (my personal favorite), gyro, shawarma, schnitzel, 23 different salads, soups, and handmade desserts!  Additionally, there are 6 types of domestic and international (think Morocco, Greece, and Israel) beers available.  Whew! 

With all of these decisions, there's still one more that guests need to make:  dine-in or take-out?  Should one choose to stay put, they will certainly enjoy viewing the culinary acrobatics behind the glass enclosed open kitchen.  Natural stone walls and eco-conscious design elements create a warm and inviting atmosphere.  Oh, and did I mention that there's *free* Wifi?

And, now...the fun part!  Please enjoy my captioned photo collage, below:

Tandoori ovenSpit-roasted gyro and shawarma

Seasoned pita crisps!Warm, freshly-baked pita breadHalf and half: (left) pita bread, (right) laffa flatbreadHummus love!Assorted hummus varietiesAssorted veggiesHerbed carrotsChopped Israeli saladI had a fantastically delicious evening at The Hummus & Pita Co.  From the lovely space to the incredibly fresh, handmade food, I am confident that this single operation on 6th Avenue will soon become a multi-location franchise.  As far as fast-casual Mediterranean goes, there's nothing on the landscape quite like it in terms of space, variety, ingredients, and a commitment to making and baking and roasting everything in-house/from scratch.  I'm so thrilled to be able to tell you all, with enthusiasm, to get over to The Hummus & Pita Co. and experience this delicious concept for yourselves!

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle     

For $35/person (or $50, if you opt for a glass of Veuve Clicquot), afternoon tea at BG - Bergdorf Goodman's gorgeous 7th floor restaurant - includes:  your choice of one Dammann Freres teas, freshly-baked scones (fruit preserves & Devonshire cream), a variety of petit fours, and an assortment of tea sandwiches and savory tartlets.

Perfect for:  girlfriends, mothers and daughters, ladies who lunch, tourists in-the-know, homesick Brits, the fashion-forward male

Check out the rest of my pictures from this meal here!

~

A cozy, eccentric, and boozy brunch at Calyer ~ Make a Saturday or Sunday out of boutique'ing (boutique shopping) in charming Greenpoint, Brooklyn!  And when you've worked up an appetite, head over to Calyer for brunch.

Situated in a cozy space that evokes "apres-ski," take comfort in the restaurant's eclectic food and drink menus.  During brunch, most items on each menu are $10 and under!  What a welcome relief from Manhattan! 

I recommend:  roasted beets salad, hangar steak & eggs w/ tostones, and the wickedly delicious "La Bebida de los Dioses" cocktail:  tequila, lime, maple syrup, chili, and xocolatl mole bitters.

Perfect for:  duos, foodies, small groups, cocktail snobs, quality dining on a budget   

Check out the rest of my pictures from this meal here!

~

"M & I Mexican Monday's" at Goat Town ~ When I got wind that Julie Farias, Goat Town chef and San Antonio native, was serving up a special "Mexican Monday" menu for homesick Texas expats citywide, I knew I had to get over there ASAP.  So I recruited two of my favorite El Pasoans to come along for the ride.

Is this NOT the best thing you've ever seen??On Monday night's only, Goat Town, a farm-to-table American restaurant, gives diners the option to order from an additional menu, chock-full of Tex-Mex favorites.  Think:  puffy tacos stuffed with spicy braised lengua, American cheese enchiladas smothered with chile con carne and even more cheese, and a barbacoa salad. 

Mmmm...cheese enchiladas!While we enjoyed the savory portion of our Tex-Mex feast, it was the dessert we shared - located on Goat Town's everyday menu, thank god - that was worth writing home about.  Served in an old fashioned malt glass, the "Goat Town Ice Cream Sundae" was a sweet and salty concoction of salted cajeta ice cream, pretzels, caramel cakes, caramel sauce & whipped cream.  It would be fair to say that this is Manhattan's most delicious dessert.  Easily.  It will change your life, folks.  This sundae is capable of mending relationships, creating world peace, and making everything better - if only for the short, but sweet, amount of time that you get to savor it.  And best of all?  It's available EVERY DAY, not just on Monday's. 

This sundae will change your life.Perfect for:  homesick Texans, duos, foodies, small groups, date night

Check out the rest of my pictures from this meal here!

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

Hosted by: Hearst Magazines and Social Media Week

Location: Art & Culture Content Hub at Hearst Magazines, NYC

Thursday, February 16 at 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Can you write a cookie recipe in 140 characters or less? Give it a shot: Everyone attending this panel discussion will have a chance to enter a Twitter-length recipe. Audience members will get to taste and vote on the best cookies of the bunch. The winner will go home with $250 and a gift bag from Food Network Magazine! The event kicks off with a live debate about the role of social media in the home kitchen: Can we trust recipes and tips from Twitter and Facebook or are traditional outlets still the most reliable sources?

To enter: Register for the event and use #SMWbake and tweet your cookie recipe for our judges! Deadline to submit recipes is February 10^th, 2012.

Speakers:

• Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan Founding Editor, Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn
• Katherine Alford Vice President, Test Kitchen, Food Network
• Kelsey Nixon, Kelsey's Essentials, Cooking Channel
• Kat Kinsman, Managing Editor, CNN Eatocracy

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

I find Restaurant Week to be a lame rip-off that totally dumbs down the participating restaurants' food.  For a $35 prix fixe dinner, there's a strong chance that you will not be offered the establishment's signature item(s).  And I guarantee that you will end up spending more on a Restaurant Week meal versus ordering a-la-carte.  Don't let that $35 price tag fool you...

With all of that being said, I went against my own advice upon dining at EN.  That's right, folks, I succumbed to Restaurant Week.  <<shudder>>  Why?  Here goes:

• The starter course on the Restaurant Week menu was EN's homemade tofu and, according to everyone, it was a dish that I *had* to try.
• The main course on the Restaurant Week menu listed "lobster tempura."  I LOVE lobster tempura.
• I wanted to order everything on the a-la-carte menu...and was afraid that I would actually do so.  I had to be stopped.
• My dining companion preferred the Restaurant Week menu to the a-la-carte menu.  

From the address, I didn't put two and two together that EN is situated in one of my favorite neighborhoods - hovering on the border of the West Village and Tribeca.  There are so many fantastic places, within walking distance, to go for post-dinner cocktails!  Think:  Hudson Clearwater, Little Branch, Employees Only...just to name a few.

Although I arrived just minutes prior to Michelle, I made my way over to the bar to sample one of EN's highly-recommended shochu-based cocktails. 

As I plopped on to a stool, I couldn't help but dive right in to the tranquil aura and modern, sophisticated space surrounding me.  Spatially, especially by NYC standards, EN is very expansive.  The restaurant is comprised of various dining areas and private nooks that are divided by paneled glass walls reaching up to the mile-high ceiling.  Larger-than-life paned windows frame the perimeter of the space.

Breathing a sigh of calm, I asked one of the bar tenders to recommend a shochu-based cocktail - to which I ordered the "Ginger":  homemade ginger ale, rice shochu, lime juice, and soda.  A couple of delicious sips in, Michelle arrived. 

Once I closed my tab at the bar, the two of us formally checked in with the hostess and were promptly led to our table.

Photo: EN's interior space, courtesy of the restaurantUpon sitting, we were presented with cocktail, a-la-carte, and Restaurant Week dinner menus, in addition to chilled towels to wipe the "city" off of our hands.  How lovely and sophisticated! 

Our empty glasses quickly became filled with ice-cold water as our adorable Japanese waiter inquired about additional beverages.  Michelle followed my lead and ordered a "Ginger," while I decided to switch things up and try the "Seppun":  shiso leaf, grapefruit and yuzu juices, shochu.

As satisfied as I was with the "Ginger," the "Seppun" knocked my socks off.  The contrast of the muddled shiso leaf with the two citrus fruits was pure magic.  Sweet, sour, and herbaceous notes sung the most lovely chord, leaving me wondering if the shochu had ever been added in the first place.  After one more round, however, there was no doubt that the Seppun was one highly addictive and very deceptive cocktail (I could not taste the alcohol...but after two, I certainly felt it.).  In other words, it was perfect.

It didn't take Michelle and I long to know that we wanted to go the - gasp - Restaurant Week (menu) route.  Hell, it had me at lobster tempura, after all.

The first course to arrive was the Handmade Tofu.  Now, had I not read so many wonderful things about this dish, there is no way in hell that I would have EVER ordered it for myself.  To me, tofu has always seemed like a tasteless, gelatinous mess that is eerily formed in to a perfectly bite-sized square.  And it's white.  And it has human facial-like pores.  And it wiggles.  No thanks. 

However, what was presented before Michelle and me was the farthest thing from a stark-white square.  No, this was custard-like.  Hand scooped!  In the shape of a cloud.  Surrounded by a shallow pool of "wari joyu," a sweet/salty blend of soy sauce and fish broth, and topped with a light dusting of green onions.  

"Is this really tofu?"  I asked Michelle.  "I mean, it tastes more like a savory custard.  It's actually really good!"  Believe it or not, folks, I cleaned my "box" (see picture below).

First Restaurant Week, now tofu?  This certainly was making for a big night. 

We didn't have to wait more than 5-minutes for our next course, the O-Banzai, which is the chef's selection of two Kyoto-style appetizers, to arrive.  This was my least favorite portion of the meal, as we were presented - albeit beautifully presented - with two bowls of rather bland Japanese "mountain" vegetables.  Although hard to distinguish, I believe that one contained mushrooms and the other, some type of green bean.  Yawn.

As perfectly-paced as the prior two were, our entree course arrived within 10-minutes of our completion, if you will, of the vegetables. 

A bright red, halved lobster carcass was presented next to tempura-battered chunks of its own meat.  A single green pepper plus a small mountain of wasabi and yuzu salts accompanied.  As barbaric as all of that may sound, it made for quite an artful display.  All but a couple of chunks of the lobster yielded fresh-tasting meat; unfortunately, the pieces which came from the tip of the claw were very fishy and mushy. 

On a separate plate came flower-shaped onigiri, which was laced with sesame seeds and some sort of green.  Since we felt the need to dip, drizzle, and dunk, Michelle asked for a side of soy sauce.  In addition, a bowl of miso soup accompanied, though I couldn't tell you what it tasted like.  I hate the stuff.  

The final course to arrive was a single, perfect scoop of black sesame ice cream.  Unfortunately, I did not snap a picture of dessert, though I can tell you that it was fantastic.  Black sesame anything reminds me of Hong Kong, which conjures up very happy and delicious memories.  This particular flavor of ice cream tastes similar to peanut butter, with a texture almost like cookies n' cream, due to the sesame nibs.  It's truly one of my favorites.

To conclude:  what can I say?  I mean, I walked away from EN having done two things I swore I'd either never do again, or never attempt.  Ever.  The Restaurant Week experience was just as I thought it would be in terms of price, but with a menu that actually featured a signature dish.  In this case, the tofu.  Something I swore off until last night.  

With the exception of a couple of food-related misses (the vegetable course and some of the fishier pieces of lobster), I enjoyed every aspect of my experience at the beautiful and tranquil EN.  I look forward to returning, first and foremost, for that oustanding "Seppun" cocktail and, second, to try the a-la-carte menu.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle 

What:  Konstantino Jewelry Giveaway from Voskos Greek Yogurt

When:  begins today, 2/1, through Tuesday, 2/7 (winner announced on 2/8)

Where:  Voskos Facebook Page

Voskos Greek Yogurt, deliciously creamy and America’s first nationally-distributed Greek Yogurt brand, is partnering up with Generales & Generales Fine Jewellers, to give away a beautiful pair of Konstantino earrings via a Facebook sweepstakes. Entrants can register for the piece, valued at $775, on the Voskos Facebook Page.  

The sweepstakes will run from February 1st, 2012 until February 7th, 2012. It is open to United States residents 18 and older, and void where prohibited. The winner will be picked at random and will be announced the morning of February 8th, 2012. The earrings will be shipped express, just in time to be a unique, beautiful Valentine’s Day gift!

Perfect for you or for a special someone, the earrings are handcrafted in sterling silver with 18 karat gold accents in an intricate Byzantine design. They feature a round cabochon pink tourmaline center and a pearl drop.

How GORGEOUS are these?

Good luck!  And, as Kevin Lee, my newest obsession from the RHOBH, would say, "Bling Bling Bling Bling Bling Shi Shi Shi, Dahling!"

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

If you're anything like me, then you're starting to get a little nervous about Sunday's big game.  Not because you're particularly worried about who will win - duh, obviously I'm a Giants fan - but because a) none of your friends are having a party this year and b) you're a bit squeamish about watching the game - with hundreds of others - at a random bar.  Luckily, I came across this delicious and very helpful list + map of 2-dozen spots to watch the 'Bowl and eat some damn good food while you're at it:  Grub Street's top 24 spots to watch - and eat! - the Super Bowl.

You're welcome in advance...

~~~

Until we eat again...Go Giants!

The Lunch Belle

Being that my Meetup group, the NY Mexican Food Lovers, had not yet traveled outside of Manhattan for our monthly brunch, I decided that it was high time to cross the East River. 

Mesa Coyoacan, a Mexican restaurant in Williamsburg (Brooklyn), had been on my "must try" list for a number of months.  My interest in this establishment was especially piqued after having read that the kitchen used grass-fed and organic meats, all while staying true to authentic recipes.  And I don't know about you, but after watching one too many documentaries - ahem, Food Inc. - I'd prefer, if I'm going to indulge in animal protein, that it was humanely raised/fed and antibiotic-free.  Just sayin'...

MC (Mesa Coyoacan) is conveniently located just steps away from the Graham Avenue subway stop.  Once inside the long, narrow space, you will find yourself transported south of the border.  Think:  wrought iron, unfinished woods, hand-painted tiles, and Mother Mary figurines/art surrounded by twinkling votive candles.

Although Menupages states that MC doesn't open until noon, we (Rob, Shawna, and myself) found the front door unlocked and a couple of tables occupied at a quarter 'til.  Interesting.

We were warmly greeted and seated by a hipsterly waiter-cum-host-cum-busboy-cum bar tender.  Once settled, we received beverage and brunch menus.

Before the young, multi-hat-wearing fellow could get away, we made sure to inquire - and order - one of MC's tequila-based or mezcal-based margaritas.  While Shawna went with mezcal/pineapple and Rob, the jalapeno-infused tequila/strawberry, I chose to go slightly more traditional:  tequila base with lime and hibiscus (or, "Jamaica," in Spanish).

While I would have preferred it to be sweeter, my margarita had no lack of robust flavor.  It was almost perfect.

Since RSVP's for our monthly brunches can be a bit unreliable, the three of us chose to numb our stomach pangs with an order of tostados, guacamole, and the salsa sampler while waiting for the remaining attendees.

I was pleased to find - and taste - that the tostados were handmade.  Salty, crunchy, pillowy, and perfectly able to withstand a heavy dollop of just-smashed guacamole without splitting in half.  Priceless.  And, speaking of guacamole, the chunky, green dip was laced with chopped tomatoes, white onions, cilantro, and just enough salt to accentuate every ingredient.

I'm not sure which of the two accompaniments my tostados saw more of, the guac or the salsa sampler.  The latter included a bowl of each:  salsa verde, habanero, mole, and ranchero.  I will say, though, that out of the four, the ranchero blend was my favorite. 

As if all of the above weren't enough, the three of us chose to split an order of grilled fish tacos.  It was decided that, upon receiving the tacos, we would then place our entree orders.  Whew!

Handmade, 3" corn tortillas were delicately topped with grilled tilapia and a house-made pickled slaw.  Lime quarters accompanied.

After a spritz of lime, we each took our first bite.  I was pleased to find that the fish was incredibly fresh and very well-seasoned, and I loved how the tangy and crunchy slaw added both texture and bite.  What a delightful and healthy option/alternative to the stereotypically greasy, nutrient deficient taco!

I wasn't sure how much more food and drink I could handle...until I was presented with my entree plate of green cheese enchiladas.

Surrounded by a moat of creamy salsa verde (not sure how it was so creamy...maybe the sauce was made with sour cream?) stood three tightly rolled, Oaxaca cheese-topped and stuffed enchiladas.  A dollop of black refried beans, pierced by two tostados, nestled up against one corner of the artfully-presented plate.

Since Oaxaca cheese isn't the easiest to melt, I wasn't sure whether my fork would cut in to a cold, solid piece (of cheese) but, fortunately, it was warm and ooey-gooey.  Success!

To conclude:  despite a couple of service issues (due to the fact that our poor waiter soon became stretched too thin), the three of us really enjoyed our meal, margaritas, and experience at MC.  Plus, what's better than a boozy Mexican brunch on a Saturday afternoon, anyways?  Nothing.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

So it's no surprise that, once again, I found myself unbuckle-your-belt full after Meghan's annual December holiday brunch.  Later that afternoon when I got home - barely able to breathe, thank you very much - I Googled "Pioneer Woman."  And, sure enough, I was directed to a fabulous website chock-full of unique, Southern-centric recipes and outstanding photography, among other topics.  I must have perused through her glossy photos and recipes for hours!   

With Christmas and Hanukkah nearing, my mom asked me to come up with a dessert for our Christmas dinner.  She was planning on serving Mexican food, and we both agreed that pecan or pumpkin pie didn't sound very compatible with tamales.  So, after scouring The Pioneer Woman for some ideas, I came across a recipe called "Dump Cake."  I'm sorry, but how can you not be just a little bit curious about a dessert recipe with the word "dump" in it?  Stop pretending like you're so polite. 

Giddy with excitement, I phoned my mom and told her that I had finally found our perfect dessert.  She asked me to read off the ingredients so she could add them to her grocery shopping list.  "Cherry pie filling - crushed pineapple - yellow or white cake mix - and butter," I said.  "OK, what else?  Hurry, I'm busy," she replied.  When I told her that these four items made up the entirety of the Dump Cake, she erupted with laughter.  So did I.

~

Recipe:  Dump Cake recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Photo: The Pioneer WomanIngredients

• 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
• 1 can (15 oz.) crushed pineapple, liquid drained
• 1 box (18 oz.) yellow cake mix
• 1.5 sticks butter, sliced
• Vanilla bean ice cream (optional)

In a 13x9" baking dish, dump cherry pie filling and liquid-drained crushed pineapple.  Stir together.  Dump cake mix on top of fruit filling, and spread evenly.  Top with sliced butter, distributed evenly (as seen below).

Dump Cake: pre-bakeBake at 350-degrees for 45 minutes-1 hour, or until topping is a rich, golden brown.  Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream! 

*12 servings

~

Dump Cake review:  this was a HUGE hit with my entire family - even with my father, who is not a "dessert" person.  Even with my uber-healthy sister, who fills up on kale shakes and salmon jerky. 

The fruit filling is not overly sweet and the topping...oh, the topping!  Who could have imagined the incredibly delicious outcome of cake mix + butter?  Seriously, this is the easiest, cheapest, tastiest, and naughtiest dessert recipe out there.

Make. This. Now.  Trust me, you'll thank me later.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle

As much as I try to fight it, the truth is, I love anything fried.  So, you can imagine my excitement and fascination upon reading about the recent opening of Forcella Bowery, a pizzeria which specializes in, you guessed it, *fried* pies. 

On a recent sleepy and hungover Sunday, I rounded up two hungry girlfriends to accompany me to Forcella.  You know, the kind of Sunday where you need to wear sunglasses indoors because a) you're too tired to apply mascara, and b) everything is just too bright and it hurts to squint.  Needless to say, I had high hopes that some fried pizza would aid in my state of "hot mess."

I'm not sure what I had imagined the interior of Forcella to look like, but the actual space resembled nothing of your stereotypical pizzeria (red/white checkered tablecloths covered with crumbs - fake vased flowers - linoleum floor tiles).  Instead, think:  restored copper ceiling tiles + exposed brick walls/overhead piping, old and new school crystal chandeliers, bar and table/chair seating, and - the focal point - a tiled, massive wood-burning pizza oven.  

Picture it:  Sunday - 12:30pm - East Village/Lower East Side neighborhood.  Do you have a visual now?  There was not a soul in sight.  Not on the streets - not in the shops - not in Forcella.  The three of us girls must have had the entire restaurant to ourselves for a good 45-minutes/hour. 

After we were seated at our table of choice, we received menus and a much-needed round of waters.

With some guidance from our incredibly charming Italian waiter, we ordered the following items and split them 3-ways:

1pc Arancino, 1pc Crocchetta

Crocchetta (pictured on the left): smoked mozzarella cheese and perfectly-seasoned smashed potatoes were rolled in to the shape of a plump cigar and deep-fried. 

Arancino (pictured on the right):  Arborio rice, cooked to a precise al-dente, was blended with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese before being hand-formed in to a tight, dill pickle-sized mound and deep-fried.  Of the two antipasti, this was my favorite.

Meatball (note:  I don't see this on the regular menu, so it may have been a special)

Seriously, have you ever seen anything sexier?  Come on!

This gorgeous, ample 'ball - although a tad overcooked - was delicious and unique, in that it contained pine nuts!  And, while the nuts created a bit of texture, we didn't find that they added anything/much in terms of flavor.  

Calzone

Smoked mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, plus salty soppressata (ham) were enveloped by pizza dough and folded in to the shape of an American football.  Baked with the perfect amount of charring from the wood-burning oven and finished with a smudge of tomato sauce, this calzone proved absolutely delightful. 

"Montanara" pizza

The "Montanara" pizza, pictured above, is what put Forcella on the map.  It's the reason that my friends and I made the long, hungover journey down south.  And, while I have no clue what the word "Montanara" means, all I was told (via blogs and websites) was that I had to order it.

Rolled-out pizza dough is flash fried, topped (our version consisted of handmade tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves), and then baked in the wood-burning oven.  This is definitely the type of pizza slice that you should eat with a knife/fork, as it's not as sturdy as a non-fried pie.  And trust me on this one, folks, I'm a traditionalist who prefers to eat pizza with my hands.  Just as god intended.  Not with a pair of damn utensils!  But the Montanara is a true exception.  Your fabulous white blouse will thank you for it.

There is something so deliciously taboo about pillowy soft, fried dough (donuts, sopapillas, beignets, poori) - especially when it's combined with savory ingredients.  Every bite of this pie was robust (tomato sauce and basil), salty (mozzarella), buttery, and warm.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed my meal at Forcella, until a very odd young family sat down in front of us.  I won't go in to detail, but I'll just say that I grudgingly wasn't able to finish the last 1/4 of my Montanara slice.  Aside from that episode, the three of us found the food to be reasonably priced and portioned, flavorful and, quite possibly, the cure for a brutal hangover.

~~~

Until we eat again,

The Lunch Belle