Saturday Splurge: Rucola (Brooklyn, NY)

Image courtesy of rucolabrooklyn.com

Adam and I went to Italy 2 years ago. Though we did Rome (like any good tourist should do), we found true vacation bliss in a little place called Cinque Terre, five tiny villages along the Italian Riviera. I've never been so smitten with a place in all my life (well, minus my study abroad trip to Fiji, where not much 'studying' went down). In addition to the sights and sounds of Italy, we, of course, were taken in by the food. The Italians are famous for it and there's definitely a reason. 

Though New York is chock full of Italians, it's not quite as easy to find a truly authentic Italian restaurant here that compares to the ones in Italy. So you can imagine my utter surprise when we stumbled upon Rucola in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. It's on a quiet, residential block and it's actually quite unassuming during the daytime. But at night, the place comes alive. For starters, the space is quite gorgeous. The ceiling is made of wood beams (reclaimed wood, I think?). Mason jar chandeliers hang from the ceilings. They've even found a way to make fancy lighting fixtures out of old meat grinders (you heard me right, meat grinders).

Adam started with an old-fashioned cocktail - the New Rider - a delicious combination of rye whisky, Maraschino liquer, ginger and sage. I was having a major hankering for red wine, so I kept it simple with a quartino of Malbec. And since it was date night, we decided to go all out by starting with the chef's selection of cheese, meat and vegetable antipasti. Though the cheese and meat were both spectacular (how could they not be?), the vegetable antipasti was our favorite part by a mile. The chef was generous, including marinated olives, pickled fennel, balsamic roasted beets and eggplant caponata. By the time we were done, I was beginning to get worried about tackling my entree.

Speaking of entrees, we both chose something hearty, to compliment the brisk fall evening. Adam chose the duck breast with wild rice, champagne grapes and romano beans, while I was in the mood for pasta. It was a tough decision because the night's special sounded particularly tempting, but I chose the strozzapreti, a delicious combination of summer squash, green garlic pesto and grana padano. Though we were already full, both dishes were so fantastic that we wiped them clean.

Image courtesy of rucolabrooklyn.com

Oh...and the brussel sprouts! How could I forget those little bites of heaven?!? They were served crispy, drizzled with maple and parsley and topped with thin-sliced apples. I might just be in love with a sprout. For real.

I realize the post is getting lengthy. I could keep going on and on about the food, but I think you'd be better served trying it out for yourself. Maybe tonight? Brunch next weekend?

...But don't wait too long. It would be a damn shame.


RUCOLA
190 Dean Street (at Bond Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.576.3209
www.rucolabrooklyn.com

Saturday Splurge: Stone Park Cafe (Brooklyn, NY)

Image courtesy of betweencourses.blogspot.com

Fair warning... I'm about to get a little intense. But such is my love for Stone Park Cafe in Park Slope. I know this would never ever happen, but if I was forced (at gunpoint) to pick one restaurant to eat at for the rest of my life (serious situation, I know), even under duress, I would have enough sense to scream 'Stone Park! Stone Park!'.

Every single time I eat here, I find it hard to stop eating. Or pay the check and leave the table, for that matter. Stone Park Cafe was born in 2004 when two friends Josh Foster and Josh Grinker (who grew up together in Park Slope) decided to go into business together to offer innovative, yet comforting, fare to the community they grew up in. Considering the class of its food, Stone Park could easily be pretentious, but instead, it's nothing short of warm and welcoming. I have always been greeted with a big smile - the kind of smile I'd expect when attending dinner at a friend's house. Now that's how I like it!

Stone Park prides itself on it's seasonal menu, with ingredients sourced from local farms. The menu is ever-changing, which is why it's clearly the best pick when forced to choose one restaurant for the rest of your waking life. I took my friend Marissa there this week for her final dinner out in New York City. She's hitting the road to San Francisco, so I figured it was my last attempt at convincing her to stay. The food was fantastic, but apparently she's still moving. Wait...where did I go wrong?

We both started with a smooth glass of pinot gris (we are self-professed winos after all), followed by an appetizer - the short rib slider. Just imagine a housemade potato roll topped with a thin layer of creamed spinach and a hearty slab of short rib, topped with a quail egg. I'm pretty sure I had dreams about it afterwards.

I have got to stop diving into my dishes and forgetting to snap a picture! This is becoming a problem!!

For our entrees, we both went the pasta route. It was rainy outside and a little Italian comfort food just felt like the right thing to do. Marissa ordered the swiss chard raviolini with seasonal mushrooms, sage and pine nuts and I cleaned my plate of squid ink tagliatelle - a beautiful bowl of chipotle pepper, gulf shrimp, pancetta and scallions. Some people say 'death by chocolate', but for me, it's 'death by squid ink'. Ridiculously good!

We should have stopped there, but the dessert menu was calling our name. Might as well make a night of it! We chose the Affogato, a beautiful combination of housemade caramel ice cream and hazelnut whipped cream, topped with espresso. We showed that dessert who was boss... and in record time, at that.

Dessert - Round 2

Our generous waiter than decided to send Marissa off to San Francisco the right way... he showed up with 2 glasses of dessert wine on the house AND wait for it! wait for it! a second dessert that he said we just HAD to try! You know what they say... when at Stone Park...

So, needless to say, we needed an ambulance to roll us out of there when we were done. That's how I would like to eat for the rest of my life! Thank God I chose Stone Park!

STONE PARK CAFE

324 Fifth Avenue (at 3rd Street)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718.369.0082

www.stoneparkcafe.com

Saturday Splurge: Great Jones Cafe (Manhattan, NY)

I don't know about you, but I work in an office flanked with fluorescent lighting. There's nothing I despise more in the world than fluorescent lighting. Let me tell you...between that and staring at the computer screen all day, I leave work aching to crawl into a dark hole - somewhere cozy and comfortable. Somewhere nondescript where I can sip a beer in peace and put the day's cares behind me.

Great Jones Cafe is that place for me.

There's nothing fancy about it, other than it's posh location in NoHo. It's barely even noticeable from the sidewalk. The outside is painted orange and there's an old screen door, reminiscent of the one my grandparent's had in Georgia. When you walk through the screen door, you find yourself in a room not much larger than your living room. There's a bar and a sprinkling of tables, and if you don't time it right, you just might be standing for your meal.

There's one menu for the whole establishment and you'll find it on the chalkboard on the back wall. The blackened catfish usually calls my name, but they have something for everybody, including Cajun staples such as jambalaya, gumbo and po'boys. Oh... and the wings! How could I forget the Creole wings?!! These things are hands down my absolute favorite wings in all of New York City, maybe in all the country. I'm not joking. They're the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. It's a heart attack on a plate, but if I've gotta go eventually, I'd prefer to go while chowing down on the best.

(These would also be my last meal request in prison, should I ever go, God forbid).

Great Jones Cafe is a staple in the city. It's been around as long as I have actually - since 1983! If you're in need of some comfort food, somewhere nondescript where you can enjoy your post-work freedom, Great Jones Cafe is your spot!

The place even has a jukebox. How can you say no to that?

GREAT JONES CAFE
54 Great Jones Street (between Lafayette and Bowery)
New York, NY 10012
212.674.9304
www.greatjones.com

Saturday Splurge: Buttermilk Channel (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)

Image courtesy of idsgn.org

It's not very often that I have absolutely NOTHING to say. I can strike up a lively conversation with a rock if I have to, but I'll tell you what...

...not here. The food is so sinfully good that I keep the conversation to a minimum.


If you haven't been to Buttermilk Channel, you have to go. Maybe find a discount plane ticket (no joke). Jay Z and Beyonce frequent this place, and I'm pretty sure they'd agree with my review. 

Buttermilk Channel is one of those restaurants that is warm and welcoming from the start. I almost felt like I was back South! It's modestly decorated, but the lighting gives it a warm glow, making it perfect for a date or any special night really. Hell, you should just go alone if the mood strikes!


I went with the girls this time and we all dove head first into the sweet ambrosia they laid before us... light fluffy popovers with a glazing of sweet honey. It was almost too good to be a starter! And did I mention it was free?!?


Next up were the BBQ Oysters. For the record, I don't like oysters. But let me tell you, I may have been converted! Hallelujah! Preach, Buttermilk!

Following the oysters, we shared the Summer Market Salad, a refreshing blend of cucumbers, nectarines, radishes, red onion, lively run goat feta (hehe...whatever that is) and lime vinaigrette. I just love it when healthy things are tasty things!

Now for the entrees... make sure you sit down for this.

I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken over cheddar waffles with savoy cabbage slaw and a maple syrup/balsamic reduction to drizzle over the top. Obviously, chicken and waffles are a staple in the South, but it's not very often you find that sort of thing in these parts! The cheddar thrown into the waffle was so yummy that I let my friends do all the talking while I sat there silently savoring every bite.

The beautiful Marissa Roy went with the Parsley-Crusted New England Hake over a warm bean salad with basil, pickled peppers and a green olive vinaigrette. Very healthy and flavorful choice! Maybe SHE should be writing the nutrition page.

Out-of-towner #1 Claire Kelly went for Caputo's Fresh Linguine, which was a glorious combination of sweet peas, pea leaves, spring onions, green garlic, fried egg and chili oil. Kudos to Claire for sharing!     ... At the end of the day, I would have stolen some bites either way.

Out-of-towner #2 and soon-to-be NYC resident Kristen Schloegel asked for a vegetarian menu, which they actually produced! Shocking! She went with the Roasted Market Vegetables, which was a beautiful combination of fresh summer vegetables, topped with a heaping pile of grilled asparagus drizzled in lemon oil and balsamic vinegar. Good call, girl!

After dinner, we were coerced into a dessert (only because every review of the restaurant mentioned it AND I am a sucker for pecans). We shared Doug's Pecan Pie Sundae. I can't even do this dessert justice by describing it, so I'm not even going to try.


If you aren't making a reservation right now, we just can't be friends. It's as simple as that.


Buttermilk Channel
524 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718.852.8490

Two very happy girls post-dinner.

P.S. Our shoddy iPhone pictures will never do this food justice. Forgive me, Buttermilk!