Posts Tagged: goat cheese

Around NY / Restaurants — No Comments
3
Dec 09

Fort Defiance

Fort Defiance

Being a locavore is so trendy these days, so I walked into Fort Defiance in Red Hook feeling pretty good about the simple, chic traditional food I was about to consume.

Not to mention that I had just walked a little over a mile through a rather dark neighborhood to get there because my boyfriend told me it was “really close to the subway.” Yeah right. On top of the walk, I had not been feeling so good, and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw the small chalkboard sign on the restaurants corner.

The beautiful cherry interior garnished with bright colored prints on the chairs and tables echos the warm and genial service. The server was incredibly attentive and helpful. We ordered two of their signature home-made seltzer drinks–mine was a gingerade (spicy ginger and tart lemon is a PHENOM combo) and Nate ordered a Dark and Stormy. Our next course was a goat cheese salad with beets and a tomato bread soup with shaved parmesan, both fresh and full flavored with that juicy quality of just-picked vegetables. Our next course was chicken with balsamic braised brussel sprouts and whipped potatoes. Simple, but perfectly executed. The brussel sprouts were the best I’ve had this season, with a crispy glaze and perfectly tender inside leaves.

chocolate pudding 1

Of course, I couldn’t leave without dessert when I found out that their special was a chocolate pudding with fresh whipped cream. Chocolate pudding is a personal favorite of mine, and this particular dish was the perfect combination of dark chocolate and cream. Often times there is just too much milk in the pudding, but this pudding was dense with dark chocolate, and left the creaminess to the fresh whip on top. I would definitely go back if I’m in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn, and I would treck back to it as a destination if I knew they were serving the chocolate pudding again.

Overall: Great drinks, delicious, simple food. Warm and welcoming atmosphere.

365 Van Brunt Street (corner of Dikeman)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
347 453 6672

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Around NY / Restaurants — No Comments
12
Nov 09

Spain in Soho

Authentic cuisine is not difficult to come by in NYC, and Despaña, a small Spanish deli in the heart of Soho, is no different. In addition to their counter of perfectly cured meats, spreads, cheeses, oils and vinegars, the boutique offers a small seating area for eat-in tapas and bocadillos. The space has about 6 seats, and is perfect for a casual lunch with one or two friends. The bocadillos are their pride and joy, and yesterday we sampled a hot and cold from that section of their menu:

Chorizo Picante

Chorizo Picante

The chorizo picante was spicy, smoky, creamy and crispy. The bread was fresh and had a perfectly baked crust that made the first bite crunchy and savory. The peppers were not overwhelming, and added just enough kick to make the flavor profile a bit more intense. It is made with their own brand of chorizo, Mahon cheese, Piparras (Basque spicy guindilla peppers), tomatoes, and a dab of alioli sauce.

Despana 5

Despaña

The Despaña was our cold sandwich. Comprised of Serrano ham slices, creamy goat cheese from Murcia and a light tomato-garlic spread, the combination of the ham and goat cheese gave this sandwich a slightly pickled flavoring, that was slightly sour and very satisfying.

I would go back to Despaña for the simple, yet flavorful sandwiches that leave you feeling satisfied and re-energized without the food-coma-inducing heaviness that sometimes accompanies a cheese laden lunch. I would also return for their cured meats, which are diverse in kind and flavor.

Despaña is located at 408 Broome Street, NY, NY 10013. Sandwiches run at about $8.50, tapas at about $3.25 per item. Moderately expensive for anywhere else in the city, but about average for Soho.

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Around DC / Breakfast / Food / Restaurants — 1 Comment
12
May 09

Decadent Breakfast

bread-chocolate-banana-chocolate-french-toast

I begrudgingly woke up Sunday morning after five hours of sleep to a beautiful morning. What was even better was the prospect of a delicious breakfast from Bread & Chocolate, a small restaurant by 23rd and M streets. When we finally arrived and found a parking space, one look at the menu and I was completely at a loss. I wanted to order everything they offer for breakfast. Four or five types of french toast, omelets, eggs benedict (my FAVORITE) and regular egg dishes and more. 

The ambiance at Bread & Chocolate is European in it’s simplicity and attentive yet relaxed service. Their cafe list is impressive, and in addition to the food served at the restaurant, Bread & Chocolate also has a bakery counter where foods can be purchased to bring home. 

Because neither of us could decide on eggs or french toast, my roommate and I decided we would get one of each and split them. I ordered the Spinach and Goat Cheese Omelet and my roommate ordered the Chocolate and Banana French Toast. 

bread-chocolate-omletteThe food came out to us piping hot. The eggs in my omelet were not the best that I had ever had; they were a bit dry, but still fluffy. The spinach and goat cheese were delicious in the dish, but the cooks put all of the spinach and goat cheese in the middle of the omelet, so you had to eat your way in to get to the good stuff. 

The chocolate and banana french toast was made with cinnamon challah bread, fresh banana slices and dark chocolate ganache drizzled on top. It was heavenly. The bavarian cream on the side was good, but it was a bit rich for me for breakfast. 

At the end of the meal, I felt pleasantly full, and ready for a nap. I was surprised that the meal did not sit heavier in my stomach, but it was the perfect fuel-up breakfast, as well as a fantastic pre-nap meal. The prices were a little high, and it is not a place that I would trek to often. However I’m glad that I went, and I would recommend it as a place to go for breakfast, but only if you have someone who you can share food with, or you can easily choose between sweet and savory breakfasts.

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