Casellula

401 West 52 Street

(between Ninth and Tenth Avenues)

www.casellula.com

Best cheese and wine bar in NYC!!!

Order your wine, and then just put the fate of your meal in the hands of Casellula’s fromager.

I normally would not order a white wine—as I tend to think reds accompany cheeses better—but decided to ask the server to recommend one since I didn’t wish to be sleepy or too full as it was just the start of my evening.

After listening to our preference for reds, but wanting to experiment with a white he recommended the Kabaj, a Rebula from Slovenia—a heavier white wine.

The “back” story of the winemaker appears on the back of the bottle.

As we had decided to go with a bottle that was not offered as a wine by the glass, we were unable to get a tasting before ordering. So we basically put our trust in the server’s opinion of what we would like.

And, boy, was I wrong in my assumption that white wines don’t go well with cheeses! First, the color of the wine was dazzling. Against the city lights, it glittered like copper gold or amber. And it tasted like marmalade!

Once the wine is selected, the fromager takes a sip and then comes up with the perfect cheese flight.

The selected cheeses are then presented beautifully, with condiments on the side. The condiments are what make the meal such a unique and special experience.

Helpful Hint: Combine the cheese with its accompanying condiment, and then have a sip of wine. Pure joy!!

Two of the cheeses were not even on the menu! I believe the first cheese from the top was a Brillat from France. Favorite was the Ardrahan (second from top)—a pasteurized cow from Cork, Ireland, described as “Stinky. Intense. Oozy.” on the menu. It was accompanied with a fig spread. The other identified cheese was the Beenleigh Blue (fourth from top)—a pasteurized sheep from Devon, England. It’s described as “Crumbly. Fruity. Vanilla notes.” The third cheese from the top was from Spain.

We then decided to have the fromager select two additional cheeses for us, since we were still not finished drinking our wine. Again, the cheese plate came with a lovely pairing of condiments—who would think a cheese would go well with a deep-fried orange slice?!?

Cannot recall the name of the top cheese (think it was from France), but the second cheese was Garrotxa—a pasteurized goat from Spain—described as “Earthy. Sweet. Nutty.” It came with dried, pineapple strips. And it was delicious.

 

We also had an order of chistorras. Hot and spicy!

As well as an order of campo secco salami, which was selected by the fromager. The salami was rather a disappointment as it seemed so banal after a meal of such delightful surprises.

 

Pros:

Service: Excellent and knowledgeable.

Wine and cheese list: Extensive. And as noted, they may even surprise you with cheeses not even listed on the menu.

 

Cons:

Opens at 5 p.m.

Restroom is rather small.

Final Thoughts

If you are a cheese-and-wine lover, go! It is an experience that cannot be missed.

Ajisen Ramen

136 West 28 Street

(between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)

www.ajisenusa.com

Have a craving for ramen, but on a budget? Ajisen Ramen hits the spot!

Ajisen Ramen is a popular Japan-based chain of ramen noodle restaurants that first opened in 1968 in Kyushu, Japan. The Chelsea location is a low-key restaurant, with low-key service.

 

Their logo is of a cute Asian girl holding a bowl of ramen, which is featured on their menu and their chopsticks!

 

 

Went for lunch, which can get pretty crowded so would recommend going early before the lunch crowd arrives after 1p.m.

 

Started with their steamed pork bun. Yummy! Not quite as good as the one I had at Ippudo (still my fave ramen noodle restaurant), but a close second. It is filled with pork belly, pickled cucumber, scallions, and peanut crunch with hoisin sauce.

 

I had their original Ajisen Ramen with sliced chachu, half a hard-boiled egg, scallions, bean sprouts, and their special Ajisen white broth. Known also as “White Soup,” the broth is made of pork bone that is slow-cooked until it becomes a milky-white color.  Tasty, and not too salty!

 

 

It also comes in a bowl that if one looks closely features their logo of the cute little Asian girl!!

My friend had the veggie ramen—a vegetarian soy sauce base soup with bean sprouts, carrots, cabbage, and shitake mushrooms.

 

On a cold winter’s day, the soups were perfect warm-ups!

Pros: Big bowl of ramen for under $10.

Cons: No alcohol. And would be hesitant to come for a late dinner as the neighborhood is not trafficked much once the sun sets.

Barn Joo

893 Broadway

(between 19th and 20th Streets)

www.barnjoo.com

Korean food meets gastropub!

Decor

GORGEOUS interiors. Spacious, yet warm and welcoming.

 

Beautiful herb garden facing front of the street.

 

“Scrolls” were also on the walls with proverbs and sayings.

There is also a spin-the-wheel game near the bar that you can spin to win a free glass of wine, fries, or chicken wings. Though I think you have to have made your reservation through a specific site in order to play.

 

The showstopper though was a four-paneled painting that reflected the four seasons. The figures in the panels actually moved and the painting changed to reflect each season. There were even sound effects of a bird chirping and a rainstorm. Fascinating to watch while waiting to be seated.

Staff was warm and friendly, or at least our server was. She was exceedingly sweet and helpful. I had shown up a bit early for my lunch reservation, so early in fact that they were still getting ready to open up. Instead of telling me to come back in a few minutes (as many other restaurants would and have done in the past), she kindly set up a place-setting for me while I went to freshen up in the ladies’ room. That alone, deserves a gold star for service.

Food

Decent-sized lunch specials.

 

I ordered the Flatiron Special of Spicy Pork Sliders with Gochujang-marinated sliced pork butt and scallion salad. A pickle came wrapped on the plate.

Sliders were flavorful and full of spicy goodness. But not too spicy.  Would order again and again!

It was accompanied with Barn Joo hand-cut fresh potato fries. The fries had this amazing chili taste, may have been flavored with the Gochujang. My friend and I could not stop eating it. Dip it into the mustard sauce that came on the side!

The special also came with a Barn Joo handmade soda. Lots of interesting choices from hibiscus and yuzu flavors, but I chose the Raspberry Lemonade. Loved the citrus taste and the fact that you can taste the fresh-mulled fruit. Perfect with the pork sliders.

All for $10! Not a bad deal at all!

My friend ordered the Tofu & Mushroom Bibimbap with cremini, shitake mushrooms and aromatic root vegetables, along with a small plate of banchan.

 

I had a taste and what made this bibimbap special was that it was made with vegetables freshly purchased from the Farmer’s Market (which was conveniently located a few blocks away at Union Square).

It also came with a soy bean paste soup.

I swear that my friend’s soup had many more mushrooms than mine, but the server had graciously given me a bowl as well (as my lunch did not come with a soup). I had to take a picture simply for the metal bowl that the soup arrived in.

For dessert we shared an order of the Gray & Soy Handmade Green Tea Mousse. It was refreshing, but I particularly liked the cookie crumbles.

 

As we exited the restaurant, we noticed a fan-like basket of goodies. In it were mints and Valentine’s Day chocolate hearts.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wine Escape

405 West 44 Street

(between Ninth and Tenth Avenues)

www.wineescapenyc.com

In search of a wine and cheese bar before or after going to the theater?

Wine Escape is the perfect destination spot! It’s a bit of a hideaway as it’s a long, narrow bar so it’s easy to miss if you’re not specifically looking for it.

Great if you’re looking for an intimate space to have catch-up conversations with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, or if you want a lesson on cheeses and wine!

I was under the mistaken notion that one must choose their cheese before a wine is selected. However, the wine must be chosen FIRST and then the cheeses.

The bartender was extremely helpful and will give you a tasting pour before you make a final drink decision. I was so indecisive over selecting a red, but he kindly gave me four (4?!?) tasting pours! And this was for a GLASS of wine—not a bottle. Exceedingly generous and patient, I must say.

I finally found the one! I chose a glass of the Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

It was non-tannic, and it had a smooth and long finish. Cool bottle! And it definitely made a splash! Excellent!!

Things went much easier for my friend as she wanted a sparkling wine. She chose the Gran Sara Brut Cava from Spain. Sparkly and festive!

 

 

 

Once our wines were selected, we were now ready to have our bartender/server recommend cheeses to accompany them. We went for Istara (a sheep’s milk cheese with a smooth texture and sweet flavor with hints of olive, hazelnut, and fig), Bayley Hazen Blue (a cow’s cheese with uniquely balanced flavors from buttered toast to licorice, chocolate, and hazelnuts), Fresh Pecorino (a sheep’s cheese with smooth texture, clean tangy flavor), and Midnight Moon (a combination of nuttiness with goat’s milk flavoring, a slight salty creaminess).

 

 The cheese plate was accompanied with a bowl of warm pita bread.

 

Wanting something warm, my friend also had an order of the Pierogi Polish Dumplings. Melted-cheesy goodness!

 

 

The Istara cheese was by far my favorite of the above cheeses. I liked that it had a complexity of flavors and went really well with my wine. I liked it so much that I requested an extra order of it!

Final Thoughts

Must-go if you are a wine-and-cheese fan!

And do request assistance from the super-knowledgeable staff!

 

5 Napkin Burger

630 Ninth Avenue

(between 44th and 45th Streets)

5napkinburger.com

If you love burgers, 5 Napkin Burger, is a must-try.

Had heard that the wait could be rather extensive, but when I went for brunch (around 11:30 a.m.) on a rainy Saturday in January, I was seated immediately at a large booth.

When I was given the menu, I was pleasantly surprised that it was rather eclectic. Of course, burgers were offered, but so were sushi rolls and tacos!

 

Starters

Chicken Noodle and Matzo Ball Soup: Being cold and hungry, my friend ordered a bowl of soup. It came with plate and the soup in what looked like a teapot. It was then poured onto the plate at the table. Perfect for a cold winter’s day!

 

Wasabi Deviled Eggs with siracha and crispy rice: Who would think of combining wasabi and eggs? Genius idea and it was delicious! And do eat the nori with the eggs.

Mains

Original 5 Napkin Burger: When in a burger joint, how can one not order a burger? I went with their trademarked original burger: 10-ounce fresh-ground beef, gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary aioli, on a soft white roll. And it of course was served with hand-cut fries. And I went with having it cooked medium rare as recommended. The burger was good and it is definitely filling if you’re hungry, but I could have done without the caramelized onions. The fries were very tasty—crispy and salted perfectly.

Classic Benedict: Another must-order dish for a Saturday brunch.

 

Drinks:

Probably the highlight of the day! The cocktail list was fun and extensive. We had many questions and the server was especially helpful and knowledgeable.

We went for the Blackberry Bellini with prosecco, fresh blackberry, and white peach puree and the Blackberry Ginger Margarita with el jimador blanco tequila, blackberry, fresh citrus, and a half-salted rim.

 

The Blackberry Ginger Margarita was wonderful. I tend not to like too many cocktails, but the ginger and the half-salted rim was a perfect combination. Perhaps, I subliminally just think that anything with ginger is good for you.

Final Thoughts:

Fun atmosphere! Would definitely go back to try other burgers and other cocktails! But do go early for brunch as by the time we left there was a wait-line at the door.

China Grill (Brunch)

60 W. 53rd Street

(between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas)

www.chinagrillmgt.com

Returned to China Grill for brunch on a snowy January before going to see the Magritte Exhibit at the MOMA.

Salad Duo

We chose the Crackling Calamari and Peking Duck. The calamari salad was especially good, because one could feel the “crackling” on the tongue.

Entrees

We chose the Pan Seared Spicy Tuna with avocado sashimi and Wakame seaweed salad and the Sake Marinated Drunken Chicken with Ponzu sauce, sweet crispy onions, and Asian slaw.

 

 

The spicy tuna was amazing. The tuna was fresh and I LOVE avocado. Anything with avocado would probably win me over.

The Drunken Chicken unfortunately was a disappointment. The chicken was so dry that I had difficulty swallowing some pieces. Luckily I had my glass of wine to help wash it down!

Speaking of which, we decided to go for a bottle of wine as opposed to trying their “free-flowing” brunch cocktails. If they had a bellini option, we might have went for their “free-flowing” brunch drink special, but instead we decided to go for a bottle of white wine. We chose the Austrian Singing Grüner Veltliner by Laurenz Und Sophie. Perfect pairing with the food as it was crisp and light.

 

As we arrived relatively early, we were able to appreciate the grandeur of the restaurant’s interior. From the large windows, which stretched from floor to ceiling:

To the grand, high ceilings:

 

 

To the lovely ladies’ room, which you attained by climbing a narrow staircase.

 

 

Pros:

Service: friendly and attentive, but not hovering.

Ambience: stunning and definitely somewhere to go for special occasions and for “civilized” dining. While we were there, a large group had a birthday party (which included very young children) right next to our table. Happily enough, we were not disturbed by them at all; probably due to the restaurant’s high ceilings, the sound was able to travel.

 

Cons:

Drunken Chicken: way too dry.

Drink special: not a good enough selection.

Price: a bit steep as brunches go, but the amount of food is generous for sharing.

P.S. The MOMA Magritte Exhibit was well worth the crowds. “This is not a pipe!”