muffintop's Profile
What's the best flavor of gelato at Ciao Bella?
Absolutely the maple gingersnap. I saw this posting and i felt like i had to spread the word. I haven't had it in over a year and i still have dreams about it. So delicious.
melon pan? (japanese pastry)
anyone know a good place to find fresh melon pan? It's a Japanese pastry that is essentially a roll of soft bread covered with a sugary icing, making it look somewhat like the exterior of a melon. any good japanese bakeries? I'd like to find one that hasn't been pre-packaged.
thanks.
Croissant Hankering
I'm not sure about the best traditional croissant, but I love the "pretzel" croissant at the City Bakery (18th st. off 5th ave) It's flakey, buttery and salty. delicious.
Best veg/vegan awards
I have to respectfully disagree. I LOVE candle 79 and the candle cafe. I just went to the candle cafe and had the chipotle tofu. so delicious. and the guacamole timbale at 79 is amazing. so is their seitan. And the marinated tofu sandwich at Angelica's is excellent.
I'm also a big fan of hangawi. Pure food & wine has some good things, but my favorites are the desserts.
I was disappointed by blossom, but their dessert was good. a surprising tofu cheesecake.
Counter.. decent, but not no. 1 splurge. no way. vegetarian fare in the city is way better than that.
Union Sq. Cafe, Eleven Madison, or Gramercy Tavern
My vote would be for eleven madison park. I recently went to union square cafe and found the food to be good, but nothing special.
Just noticed Giada... am I behind the times?
i have to say that I don't watch her shows regularly, but on the occasions that I have, her recipes have seemed rather simple and unimaginative (at least to warrant their own cooking show). But the food does generally look good... and she's pretty...
Dinner for 10 people on the Upper West Side
Carmine's on 90th and broadway is family-style italian. You need to go with a group since the portions are gigantic (and tasty). And the UWS location is a little less noisy & touristy than the one in times square (while still quite lively). I've had a few friends host birthday dinners there over the years. They generally don't take reservations, but I think they make an exception for large parties, so you should be in luck and be able to avoid a long wait.
http://www.carminesnyc.com/
best beet salad
It seems as though beet salads have become a fairly omnipresent menu option (no complaints from me), but it's hard to find a truly exceptional one. I recently went to Snack Taverna and had a PHEMOMENAL beet salad with fava beans,watercress, some lemony dressing and topped with toasted almonds. Are there others out there that I should try?
Midpriced, vegetarian-friendly dinner in manhattan?
I am in love with Candle Cafe & Candle 79, both in the 70's on the east side: http://www.candlecafe.com/. I've been to candle 79 a few times and everything is delicious (including a birthday dinner). Josie's is very good and I also like caravan of dreams.
Best of Manhattan
I think Craft is truly excellent. As is David Burke & Donatella. Jean-George is also quite tasty.
Best desserts in nyc
I'm looking for a place with an assortment of excellent desserts for my birthday this weekend. My mom's a pastry chef, so I'm a bit spoiled. That being said, I love classic and unconventional sweets alike. But I'm not a fan of creamy things (creme brulee, flan, rice pudding, etc.) All others welcome. Apple pie is a fav.
Any ideas? A few I've considered are Bolo, Balthazar & the Odeon.
Pinkberry frozen yogurt [moved from Manhattan board]
This is just the kind of yogurt I've been looking for (I like the icy-ness) but I feel like they're a bit stingy with the amount. I don't need a forty carrots-sized small, but I felt like I only got a taste (mine was hollow too). I'm hoping that the portions will get a bit bigger after being open a bit longer, because I'd like to make it a regular place, but I won't commit as is.
greek in the teens or 20's
I went there for lunch during restaurant week with some colleagues and everything was delicious- saganaki, skate, chicken, chocolate bread pudding. yum. Sometimes it's hard to gauge from special menus, but I would receommend it and am thinking of going back again soon.
