Category Archives: NEW YORK

Feb16

MORIMOTOS, CHELSEA, NYC

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

MORIMOTOS, CHELSEA, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Fit for: People Watching, Bar Scene, Notable Chef

Dishes not to miss: Creamy Crab Croquette, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Sushi, White Chocolate Panacotta

Masahru Morimoto’s imposing iron chef personality sure does translate into his restaurant.

His sprawling, modern, cavernous restaurant is quite magnificent. One of the most striking elements is the wall made of bottles filled with clear liquid, which has an interesting play of lights on it. There is a very funky bar area downstairs alongside some really cool bathrooms. Read the rest of this entry →

Feb14

Jane, Greenwich Village, NYC

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Jane, Greenwich Village, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½

Cost: $$$

I recommend: Mushroom Soup, Goat Cheese Flatbread, Seven Layer Chocolate Cake

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Feb12

Butter Restaurant, East Village, NYC

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Butter Restaurant, East Village, NYC

Food: ☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$$

Must try: Roasted Hudson valley Duck Confit

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Feb10

One if by Land Two if by Sea, West Village, NYC

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

One if by Land Two if by Sea, West Village, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$$

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Feb8

Taboon, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Taboon, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$$

Must try: Mint Lamb Kababs, Vegetarian Grill

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Feb6

Boulud Sud, West Side, NYC

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Boulud Sud, West Side, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Grapefruit coupe

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Feb3

Park Avenue Winter, Upper East Side, NYC

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Park Avenue Winter, Upper East Side, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$$

Must try: Seared Scallop “Sandwich”, Smoked Salmon & Beet Salad

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Feb1

Ai Fiori, Midtown, NYC

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Ai Fiori, Midtown, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Tagliatelle, Razza

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Jan30

JoJo, Upper East Side, New York City

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

JoJo, Upper East Side, New York City

Food: ☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½

Cost: $$$

Must try: Toasted Almond Ice-cream Bar

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Jan26

SHO Shaun Hergatt, Financial District, New York City

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

SHO Shaun Hergatt, Financial District, New York City

Food: ☆☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$$

Must try: Hand Made Cocoa Pappardelle , Warm Sticky Toffee Sponge 

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Jan24

Amma, Midtown East, New York City

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Amma, Midtown East, New York City

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Chicken Tikka Masala, Lal Maas

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Jan23

Osteria Morini, SoHo, New York City

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Osteria Morini, SoHo, New York City

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$

Must try: Salt Cod & Potato crostini, Zuppa Funghi

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Dec22

FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS PIE SHOP

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS PIE SHOP

Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆ ☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $

Dishes not to miss: Salted Caramel Pie, Chocolate Scone

“This must be where pies go when they die,” says a sign as you walk into Four and Twenty Blackbirds. I couldn’t agree with the sign more. Read the rest of this entry →

Dec19

The Doughnut Plant , Lower East Side, NYC

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

The Doughnut Plant , Lower East Side, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $

Dishes not to miss: Carrot Cake, Valrhona chocolate, Jelly filled, Raspberry

I was never a doughnut fan until I bit into one of Mark Isreal beauties at the Doughnut Plant.
Using recipes that were handed down from his grandfather, Isreal has gone from retailing his sweet treats out of a basement to owning two storefronts in New York City. He does nothing less than doughnut wizardry in these kitchens. Read the rest of this entry →

Dec12

Bruschetteria, Lower East Side , NYC

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Bruschetteria, Lower East Side , NYC

Food: ☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Dishes not to miss: Pork Meatball Panini , Deviled Eggs with basil pesto

The Bruschetteria is a tiny little eatery on the Lower East Side in New York City. It specializes in bruschetta, paninis and a smattering of other Italian fare. Read the rest of this entry →

Dec5

Luke’s Lobster, Upper West Side, NYC

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Luke’s Lobster, Upper West Side, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Dishes not to miss: Lobster Roll, Shrimp Roll, Crab Roll

Luke Holden is the grand master of the lobster roll.

Born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Luke grew up surrounded by the freshest of seafood as his father owned and ran a seafood processing company. Luke sources his seafood from the family business and that ensures using the best quality meats for his rolls. Read the rest of this entry →

Dec1

Totoya Restaurant

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Totoya Restaurant

Food: ☆☆

Service: ☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

I recommend: California Rolls. Rocky Mountain Roll

This non-descript, east side Japanese restaurant serves food that is a little better than mall sushi and less than the fabulousness that Manhattan has to offer. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov28

Taverna Kyclades, Astoria, NY

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Taverna Kyclades, Astoria, NY

Food: ☆☆☆ 1/2

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆ ½

Cost: $$$

Dishes not to miss: Pan-Fried Greek Cheese, Grilled Porgie and Drurade, Galaktoboureko

If you are craving Greek food, then there is no better neighborhood to hit than Astoria in Queens.

Amongst the teeming numbers of Greek restaurants, Chef-Owner Ardian Skenderi’s Taverna Kyclades seems to be one of the more popular spots, offering the freshest seafood at very affordable prices. At peak times the waits can be very long but the food is very worth it. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov24

Royal Tangra Masala, New Hyde Park, NY

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Royal Tangra Masala, New Hyde Park, NY

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆ ½

Cost: $$

Dishes not to miss: Hot and Sour Soup, Lollipop Chicken, Chili chicken/ Vegetable and the Manchurian sauce

Ever heard of Indian-Chinese Food?

It is a fiery version of Chinese cuisine, tailored to the Indian palate. It was developed by a small Chinese community over a century ago, in a place called Tangra in Kolkata, India. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov15

Fresh Fanatic Bakery by Chef Michael Allen

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Fresh Fanatic Bakery by Chef Michael Allen

I was invited to cover an exclusive tasting event showcasing the upcoming launch of The Fresh Fanatic Bakery by Chef Michael Allen. The event was held at the B3 Lounge at Body By Brooklyn, showcasing desserts by famed Pastry Chef Michael Allen and Thanksgiving accented foods catered by The Fresh Fanatic Market and Café. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov14

The Wright at the Guggenheim Museum, New York City

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

The Wright at the Guggenheim Museum, New York City

Food: ☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Dishes not to miss: Roasted Chicken

The Wright (named after Frank Lloyd) opened to the public at the Guggenheim Museum on December 11, 2009, where the Guggenheim Café used to be. This sleek, modern space was awarded the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for outstanding restaurant design. The striking feature of this bright room is the multicolored installation titled The Horizon by artist Liam Gillick. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov10

Crema, Chelsea, NYC

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Crema, Chelsea, NYC

Food: ☆☆☆ 1/2

Service: ☆☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆ ½

Cost: $$$

Fit for: Lunch Spot, Brunch, Dine At The Bar, Outdoor Dining

Dishes not to miss: Salsas de la casa, Quesos Flameados, Burrito de Atún

Chef Julieta Ballesteros, of Mexicana Mama fame, has traded up to Crema in Chelsea, where she serves upscale, refined Mexican cuisine.

This eatery is a place to try delightful combinations of carefully composed plates. Ballesteros has put a lot of thought into the creation of each dish. At Crema, one experiences combinations of Mexican flavors that are rare and very pleasing to the palate. Read the rest of this entry →

Nov7

Beard Papa’s

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Beard Papa’s

Beard Papa’s has perfected the art of mass-producing fabulous cream puffs without comprising on taste and quality. The Beard Papa’s empire began in Osaka, Japan in 1999 and has since expanded to over fifteen countries worldwide.

All their cooking is done right on the premises. They bake up crisp choux pastry shells, which have a filling of your choice, just as you order them.

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Nov4

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park: Food

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park: Food

Last night, I was invited to attend a media reception organized to celebrate the opening of The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park.

Every holiday season, Bryant Park is transformed into a vibrant hubbub of activity. This tree-lined space comes alive with twinkling lights, a skating rink and unique vendor booths. This holiday fair features more than 120 artisans and merchants selling one-of-a-kind merchandise that promises to make for exciting holiday gifts.

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Oct24

The Grub Street Food Festival at Hester Street Fair, New York City

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

The Grub Street Food Festival at Hester Street Fair, New York City

The Lower East Side was really hopping today with New York Magazines Grub Street Food Festival at the Hester Street Fair. This food festival offered up a smorgasbord of some 70-plus-food vendors who were selling everything from lobster rolls to lollipop cupcakes.

Along with all the great food there were some amazing vendors selling their merchandise. Of course my very favorite booth was Pages of My Life Journal , where we were selling our beautiful gratitude journals for women and children.

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