A City Smörgåsbord

One of my favorite things to write about is food, which makes me a very lucky girl indeed because one of my favorite things to do is eat. I've had the pleasure of frequenting a few noteworthy bars/restaurants lately and I'd like to share two of them with you, dear reader.

I live on the Upper East Side - Yorkville to be exact - but it's not often that my friends and I venture north of 93rd Street when we're enjoying a night out on the town. Recently, I happened to read an endearing review in Time Out New York of a semi-new bar/foodie spot on 97th and Park called Earl's Beer & Cheese. Immediately upon reading the magic words Beer and Cheese I had no choice but to check this place out. It was lauded as a really great find for craft beer and artisanal cheese-lovers who reside on the UES (or anyone who doesn't mind heading way up town). As it happens, most places that fall within those parameters are found downtown or even in Brooklyn. While I love venturing to the LES or over the bridge to an outer borough, it's cool to know I can have a great beer and an even greater cheese spread a few blocks away from my apartment. Last weekend, Lindsey and I made our way north of 96th Street to Earl's. My verdict: understated and fantastic. The narrow space is furnished with a few wooden benches and tables that lend a rustic feel. After scanning the menu, beer and/or cheese orders are placed at small bar in the rear. We both ordered Bronx Pale Ales - wanting to keep it local - and a Beer-Cheese, which we thought was going to be a cheese platter, but ended up being something much, much better.

Beer-Cheese at Earl's Beer & Cheese. Music to my ears.

As you can see, the Beer-Cheese came in a old-school plastic basket and turned out to be a heavenly spread made with cheddar cheese and house lager, meant to be generously piled onto the most gloriously buttered bread. Perfection. Understandably, the napkin I ate off of was basically translucent after having held this cheesy, buttery bread; but my arteries let it slide. The place also had really fun artwork hanging on the walls. I will definitely be going back.

This past Friday, I took the N train to Park Slope, where my friend Monique brought me to a few of her favorite hangouts. One of them was a quaint restaurant that specializes in organic, sustainable and locally-sourced food, called Rose Water. To start, we shared a really fresh calamari and citrus salad. For my main dish, I had baked polenta with goat cheese, mushrooms and spinach. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I love cheese. This was SUCH a delicious take on a baked, cheesy dish that it is absolutely something I hope to try again. It was definitely rich, but paired with the mushrooms and spinach, the overly glutenous feeling I normally feel after housing a carb and cheese-heavy dish wasn't too overbearing. On a sad side note, Monique's iPhone, which happened to store a great picture of this polenta dish, was stolen at a bar in Carroll Gardens later in the evening. While I'm sure this picture is the last thing Monique is sad to have lost, I felt compelled to explain that this picture you are about to see is not of the actual polenta dish I ate that evening. What would I do without Google images?

Baked Polenta at Rose Water

So there you have it, two spots - one on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the other in Brooklyn's ever-popular neighborhood of Park Slope - that I recommend scoping out. When you're feeling the need for a cold glass of craft beer and a chunk of cheese, take the 6 train up to Earl's Beer & Cheese. When you're in the mood for simple, organic or local fare, take the R train to Union Street and savor the goods at Rose Water.

As always, happy eating and drinking!

The General Turns 26

This year, my friend Roe's birthday falls on Good Friday, so last night me and the gals decided to celebrate a little early. However, there was one small problem: a monsoon decided to unleash its wrath on Manhattan at precisely the exact moment we commenced our evening of fun. Umbrellas were flailing, our feet were soaked and our coiffed hair was in disarray. By the time Lins, Roe and I met at the subway, we looked liked we had swam to 86th street. We stifled our dissapointment in mother nature, and headed to Dos Caminos in the Meatpacking District. We don't hang out in this uber swanky neighborhood often, so we were ready to take it on.

As soon as we sat down, our informative waiter recommended a potent margarita made with double distilled blue agave tequila, which we ordered: stat. And just when a mouthwatering lava bowl of guacamole graced our presence, Jesse joined us for the birthday fiesta. I think the guacamole I ate last night at Dos Caminos was the BEST guac I have ever eaten. The chunks of fresh tomato, zesty lime juice and creamy avocados create this incredible dip that tortillas were born to be eaten with. (At one point my excitement over the guacamole was so intense that I almost inadvertently stabbed Lindsey with my fork. I sometimes have a problem holding on to my cutlery.)

We all ordered the Mexican Chopped salad, made with chiles, crisp apples, beans, green olives, cheese, tomatoes and crispy tortillas tossed in a savory vinaigrette. Mmm mmm good! Mexico City Style Quesadillas and Sweet Potato Fries rounded out our lip-smaking meal. Everything about Dos Caminos, from the warm lighting and rustic atmosphere to the sip-to-the-last-drop margaritas and palate pleasing Mexican food, equal a delicious experience.

Even more delicious was the fact that directly below us was 675 Bar. In times of turbulent weather, the less walking the better. We moseyed on down to the bar and this is where things got interesting. Since we were coming directly from the restaurant above, we got a private escort, head of security style. Now, this guy was an absolute hoot, sporting jeans, a hoodie and an arm cast - not exactly intimidating. Suprisingly, what he lacked in uniform he made up for with enthusiasm. In one breath he told us to "follow me," "now wait right here," "get in line against the wall - single file!" "show me your wrist!" "YOU NEED A STAMP!" ect, etc. It was hysterical, we weren't sure if we were getting admitted into a prison ward or what.

Most bars in the Meatpacking District take clubbing very seriously, but this basement dwelling has more than meets the eye. The theme of 675 appears to be The Retro Home. It reminded me of That 70's Show with wood panelling and Ikea-esque furniture. The even cooler thing was that along the stone wall perimeter are these inconspicuous rooms. In a previous life this space must have been a wine cellar or distillery of some sort. Our "room" had a TV, plaid couches and lounge chairs, cabinets and a (broken) foosball table. We graciously took on the role of letting curious foosball enthusiasts know that sadly, the ball was stuck inside the table. (Side Note: It turns out, one curious foosball enthusiast used to work at Roe's law firm. Small subterranean world indeed.) We tried a few cocktails, one being the April Affair. No Bueno. The mixture of cucumber vodka and blueberry liquor left a curious aftertaste that did not require a follow up. Our last drink, The Moustache, was a refreshingly bubbly combo of Proseco and St. Germain.

That facial hair-inspired cocktail served as the finale to our night on the town. In a funny twist, the rain we dreaded all night ended up leading us to an interesting bar beneath Dos Caminos. Roe's birthday was a success, deluge or not. The four of us gals are going to Tennessee in two weeks, which will ensure a plethora to write about. Great times with great friends and a laugh factor that tips the scales into the red zone. So, with that being said, I encourage you all to travel to Hudson Street and go south of the border at Dos Caminos and south of the street for 675 Bar.