dingaling's Profile
East Village 1st date drinks
Angelshare on 9th and 3rd is always a good bet.
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Angel's Share
8 Stuyvesant St, New York, NY 10003
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Al covo was excellent. I really admire the restaurant for their food and wine ethics. I think they are members of Italy slow food. They don't use animal fats or butter but try to let the natural flavor of the ingredients come through. They have local and bio dynamic or organic wines. Everything was great. For starters My wife ordered the seafood appetizer which was so fresh and full of things that we had not even had before. I am still trying to figure out how they have such tender octopus. I ordered the sea bream tartare. So fresh and so clean. One of the best ever.
Entrees we had the special sole filletnand the tuna sandwich. Which was not a sandwich but layers of tuna and eggplant laid up like a towering sandwich. With almost like a sweet miso sauce. It was great. Their cheese plate was great and desserts were great. Some of the more expensive meals on our whole trip was in Venice but still cheap by NYC and Tokyo standards. And very good food
Our last night in italy was in Milan. These 3 hour drives leave very little time for planning and it's my own fault for not planning earlier. The concierge recommended a place called il coriandola. It was good but also expensive and I bet all the concierge send their guests there. Had an excellent fried shrimp. The server called it Italian tempura. I was skeptical but they were big lightly fried and nicely battered huge portion of fried shrimp and my wife ordered an octopus salad that was also a very generous portion and very very good. My wife was craving one last carbonara. But it wasn't on the menu but they were nice enough to make it for us anyway. It was good but came out way too salty even before the Parmesan. I got a braised beef in red wine sauce that was really nice. Not the best braised beef I've ever had but the sauce was good and it came with a really good polenta and i usually don't like polenta that much. But my 1 1/2 year old liked the polenta a lot also.
So that pretty much recaps our almost 2 week journey of semi northern Italy. I think we had some surprises and some disappointments but in all a great eating expedition. Will probably try to hit southern Italy next time around
Hope all this info will help someone!
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Please don't get me wrong board. We didn't have a bad experience at la gensola. It was ok and just not what we expected our first night in Italy. It wasn't bad.
Thank you sernoff for the advice. It will be well heeded if I can continue to get wifi here. It's a bit sporadic. We got into our hotel kind of late. And Al Covo was fully booked so we resorted to the hotel restaurant called La terrazza. It was the most shi shi Fu Fu restaurant that we have been to the whole trip and the most expensive but still cheap by Tokyo standards. We ordered tuna tartare and fried zucchini blossoms to start. And they were both fantastic. The tuna was very fresh.
We followed that up with a grilled turbo and grilled sea bass. Both again were very fresh and light and well prepared. They had great desserts here but we scarfed it down because we had a very sleepy baby.
We have reservations for tonight at Al Covo
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Al Covo
Campiello della Pescaria,Castello 3968, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Day 6 and we were on our way to firenze
First we stopped off at a winery in the area. We tried the day before but many were closed by Friday afternoon. This one was one of the few tha was open on a Saturday. I know this is not food related but I have to write down what a nice experience we had at Felsina winery. This totally changed our impression of Chianti. The owners daughter greeted us and showed us around and gave us a nice tasting. Their grapes are along the tailed of chianti and border the Sangiovese and that is why they describe their chiantis to be different.
So for lunch we stopped at another local trattoria in beredenga. I think the name was Quei 2. It was hard to read but we had a really nice pici in tomato sauce and a parpadelle with wild pig. They were very solid and tasted very fresh.
We got into Firenze and tried to get a reservation for Cibreo which came highly recommended by the daughter ofthe winery because she was originally from Firenze. But it was closed for the holidays. So we were really close walking distance to Due G.
A really great no frills simple meal. awesome chicken liver crostini. Followed by a really great risotto and i ordered fried chicken, vegetables and brain. What a combination. I love fried chicken and have to try it in every country I go to. I figured the brain was sweetbread and I like fried sweetbread. The dish was fattening but great. Really good juicy tender fried chicken and it seems like they only give you the meaty drumstick area. The fried veg was a good assortment of blossoms, eggplant, onions and green peppers. And the sweetbread was solid. We really liked it there also and it seems our food experience outside of Rome only seemed to get better.
The next day we were to meet up at the piazza del republica for a tour guide group and had lunch at the restaurant where we were supposed to meet. The name was something gubbe and I had a really nice pizza there much better than the other ones I tried. My wife had a nicely done light vongole. Fresh and clean tasting.
For dinner we tried to get a reservation for Ora D'aria but it was closed also on a Sunday. We later passed by it on our tour and it was indeed closed and we saw all the write-ups and awards that were posted outside it's window and knew we missed a nice place.
So after the tour and walking around for a bit we passed by this Chinese restaurant named Mandarina. This was also recommended to us by our winery friend. She said it was the best Chinese in Firenze. It was open and we were quite frankly a little italianed out. I figured I could be the first to write about a Chinese place in Italy. (maybe)
Very good hot and sour soup even for a chinamans standards. Not sour enough but my wife liked it. We got sizzling beef with onions, it was really good and they used green onions. A Thai fish, the sauce could have been better because it didn't taste Thai to us at all. You know sweet and sour and spicy but the fish was fried very nicely although it was a small fish. And eggplant Chinese style which is one of our favorite dishes and which I often cook at home. It was pretty good also. All followed by 3 bowls of rice. Haha. It was definitely comfort food for us and we were very satisfied. It was soooooo cheap too. All that food and a large bottle of beer and water for 38. The cheapest dinner had in Italy so far. Always count on Chinese food to be cheap anywhre you go.
On to the next city of Venice.
Will report when I get wifi there.
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Cibreo
Via Andrea del Verrocchio, 8/r, 50122, Florence, Tuscany 50122, IT
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Sorry but haven't been able to find steady Wifi for the past couple of days.
So day 4 we were on our way to Siena.
We stayed at the villa curina resort in a town called castelnuovo beradenga near Siena and ate at their restaurant that evening. I believe it's called il convito du curina
It's a beautiful resort type place and you get served by the owner himself who speaks Italian/french/English and is a connoisseur of champagne. The food was great and his wines were fantastic and all very local Tuscan. We started with a sort of vegetable souffle style app and a Parmesan pudding type dish. The parm pudding was really good. We split a tagiatele fungi and that was the best pasta I had in Italy so far. For meat I had a special wild pig dish in a cherry sauce where they picked the cherries from the tree outside. And my wife went with the beef tartare. They were both executed very well and the tartare was approved by the French family at the next table. I always feel that beef tartare is kind of tough to do as an entree.
Day 5 in Siena
For lunch we went into town in Siena
We saw these benches kind of built onto a hill and thought it would be interesting to eat at that restaurant. It was called permalico. We just had a kind of shrimp salad with this green dressing that we have never had before and a pici in like a pesto with nuts. Both were solid. I really liked the texture of pici and reminded me of thick shanghainese noodles. And another better pasta than I had in Rome.
For dinner, we were recommended to go to a local restaurant in beredenga called Bengodi.
It was an excellent suggestion. We loved everything there. Crostini and their antipasto. We had the most inexpensive tagiatelle in truffle sauce pasta ever. It was really really good.
I then followed up with a 1 kg T bone steak. I mean that's about 36 ounces. It was incredible. I got my meat fix for weeks. Living in japan, you seldom get to eat that much meat anymore. My wife had a pork in a balsamic sauce that she really liked but I didn't even get to try because I was so busy with my T bone. This restaurant had outdoor seating kind of in the middle of this little town square and that night they happened to have some kind of summer night festival where they had live music and some kind of feast across the piazza. It was a really nice atmosphere with kids running around and our server was ver friendly. Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed that meal together. Probably best meal in Italy so far. I highly recommend this place.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Well you would always get rice. But I totally understand, it's a cultural difference. I'm just saying that for me, it would have made the meal better.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
I totally understand that. It would have been too heavy for fish.
But I could have sworn I read in the past to have to try those two pastas. Perhaps I got all my information jumbled up. But I read so much about carbonara and amtriciana that on our first night. I just had to have it.
I love carbonara. it just wasnt that good there but yeah I'm glad he steered me to the tripe.
I need to tell future readers if you want the fish at la gensola. You need to order a lighter primi.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Thanks for the insight and yeah your right. That's what this board is here for and usually people post what a Certain restaurant is known for and what you should order or shouldn't order. But I wanted to order the fish at la gensola and he talked us out of it. I guess I could have easily told him no but usually I try to listen to the server. In the past and in other countries I have relied heavily on chowhounderd and they usually never lead me wrong.
Thanks again. We will see how the rest ofthe trip pans out. Off to sienna tomorrow. Wish us luck.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Thanks for the reply and the heads up.
That's so funny because since I didn't ask the first night, I figured I would ask at l'asino d'oro. But the waiter jus quickly said no and then walked away and I was left feeling like an idiot. I used to be in hospitality. I understand, not every server is going to be engaging or charming.
It's just funny how things are sometimes.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Day 3
Went to the Vatican today and it started pouring, so we ducked into a pizzeria nearby where the outside dining in the rain was jam packed. And the inside was pretty full probably from the rain. I think the name of it was osteria lilla or something likethat We figured it's got to be ok. Horrible seafood salad. But at least it was fresh seafood and we had no stomach problems afterwards. The worst lasagna I have ever seen or tasted. I mean seriously I make a meaner lasagna and I'm Chinese. And a pizza Napoli that was horrible. It was undercooked so badly. I left like a quarter of it behind and I never leave food behind. A complete tourist trap. Well shame on me.
So we got our reservation at campana for the evening.
Good solid Italian. I still can't get over how cheap the wine is. But once again our dining room was full of foreigners. We started with fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with mozzarella that was really good. Fried really well and with a lit of good cheese. Then we split the fettucine with porcini mushrooms and was probably the best pasta I have had out of all 3 of my meals here. For secondi my wife ordered the lamb chops even though she swore off eating baby animals because of the birth of our daughter. But that was only because the restaurant showed us the regular menu but that we couldn't order off of it. So only the daily specials were offered fo the evening. And the choices were pretty slim but ranged from a lot of veal and lamb or brain and offal. I went for the sweetbread because it's hard to get in japan. Her chops were bread and done very well. Very tender and tasty. They pounded the heck out of it. My sweetbreads grilled nicely on a bed of rocket salad was good but it's a lot of just sweetbread. I wish I had some pasta to go with it. Or some kind of sauce. But that's just me being American.
But then my wife and I always argue the point that isn't it more important that I enjoy the meal the way I like it or more important to have it the way the restaurant intends it to be. I mean I'm not talking about putting salt and pepper or ketchup on food at a 4 or 5 star restaurant but food you are familiar with at a regular restaurant?
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
Well it's not like I just pick a few names and pick randomly. I figured we had 3 nights here in Rome. I checked the board extensively before the trip and based on certain criteria, I made my choices. I think I know what good food tastes like no matter the region, culture or ethnicity. I love to eat and I think I can determine what tastes good to me. So growing up in NYC with Italian friends and Italian friends moms who cook and now tasting all the michelin starred Italian restaurants (not that it really means anything) I'm jus tryingto drive home the fact that they do Italian pretty damn well in japan. I was pretty disappointed with Rome. Please read day 3.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
I know. I kind of got an ear full from my wife for not asking him for the specials or recommendations but I had just read so much about carbonara and amatriciana from all the other chowhounds, that I figured it was the right thing to order. I just think we went in there with too high of expectations.
Thanks again.
Italy 2011 progress report. Rome/Sienna/Florence/Venice/Milan
First night in Rome we went to la gensola.
It was nice. They let us in with a baby but seemed to put us in a room with all the tourists.
the server was charming and warm. We got a nice bottle of Italian red on his recommendation.
We ordered cerviche and pulpo. Both were great. But then we ordered the carbonara and amatriciana. And the server convinced us not to order the fish because of the primos that we ordered. So we shared the tripe.
The pastas were good and solid but not what I would imagine having my first time in Italy. I currently live in japn and so admire their ability to copy and Perfect other cultures food. I have seriously had better pasta in japan than the carbOnara and amatriciana there. The tripe with mint was amazing. Never have I had such soft and tender and non gamey tripe.
I was not very used to their canoli. The crust was not very much to my liking
2nd night thanks to Katieparla (big shout out). We went to l'asino d'oro
It's really tough to call this an Italian restaurant. I would say they are very modern.
Super child friendly. We started with a nice bottle of white. When I saw the price asked the server if that was by the glass. He looked at me funny and said it was for the bottle. The price was 11euro. WOW!
that has got to be the cheapest bottle of wine that I have ver gotten at a restaurant. And it was a good win at that. It was a Satrico if I remember correctly. We ordered a herring tiramisu and a chicken salad. Which seem very unconventional and mOdern. They were both very interesting and very good
We went on to a duck liver Fettuccine that was fantastic.
Followed by sweet and sour ribs and wild pig in a chocolate sauce. I am originally from NYC and currently livn in Tokyo. And I believe I would have had an one of thes dishes at a trendy restaurant from those cities. I won't take anything away from the taste because they were exceptional. But if I was going inthere expecting classical italian fare, I would be surprised. I think some people may feel apprehensive to his menu.
We loved it and the price was amazing.
Well on to day 3
We expect to make a reservation for campana tomorrow.
Will post tomorrow
Hokkaido Sapporo
Next night we went to kani hon ke. Or original kani house.
7 traditional floors of nothing but crab.
It's very traditional settings and you get your own tatami room.
The first floor shows you a pool of live crabs. The crabs were good and the price was about how much a crab meal would cost and the experience is definitely prett cool.
Hokkaido Sapporo
Had a great meal last night around suskino called hachikyo Ofkuro store which means mother store because That is their numbering system.
Great place. Great atmosphere Great seafood. Awesome uni.
Amazing philosophy.
We made a reservation and got to the restaurant on the 2n floor of a backstreet building. Fearing the worst but we were the first ones at the Place.
The owner or president of the group was awesome. Supposedly he is a fisherman and lived in Laos. He is really into being green and protecting the environment and not wasting any kind of food. They have this special ikuradon where upon presentation he comes out to speak to all the guests. Then they will shovel ikura until you say stop. But if you can't finish it, you have to donate to this box that I think donates to an environmental charity.
He was really cool and sincere and the staff is warm.
The freshest seafood I will probably have.
Highly recommend for a great time and great food.
A really nice find
Hokkaido Sapporo
Thanks man. She had me salivating on my iPhone. But it doesn't sound very child friendly.
We have yet to have our little girl sit on a counter.
Dim Sum Restaurants in Yokohama?
My wife grew up Here and has been to them and I think lohotoi were her parents favorite. But just seems so shi shi fu fu and old school Japanese Chinese to me. Not sure if you understand. But I am just reluctant to go.
is there good hot pizza by the slice in Tokyo?
Like I said in other posts which others here tend to disagree. Costco has a decent and CHEAP slice. Haha
Restaurant tips for Hokkaido in summer?
Wow, I just posted the same question. We are headed there this weekend.
Guess I'll just read the answers here.
Top Japanese restaurants in Tokyo
There's this little place we love near shirokane name au gamin du tokio. I think that's how it's spelled. You may want to take a look at it. Really good food. Not that hard on the wallet.
Hokkaido Sapporo
hey board;
A lot of people have probably done this before but I figure I'd try again.
You can refer me to older posts if you like.
Mom has been in town and now we are heading up to Hokkaido this weekend
Any recs for good food? My wife has been before but it's my first time and I figure I would try to be proactive. We are traveling with a 1 year old and two moms. (should be fun for me) j/k. I am actuly used to it by now.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Dim Sum Restaurants in Yokohama?
Just sayin... I did say it was 1,000 cheaper and a whole different class. But if you have been living here a while and craving it, it'll do just fine. I was just back in HK recently and nothing here comes close but like I said before youcant really compare. Different is different.
I would have said the one at the westin was better than chinaroom
I guess I'll have to make a reservation at sense to find out for myself. Will probably report back by Christmas.
Dim Sum Restaurants in Yokohama?
I always found a 5 dollar pork bun to be ridiculous. But it is humongous and you know what? After living here now for a few years. You learn to just eat it.
Dim Sum Restaurants in Yokohama?
I'm a chinese American that has been living in Tokyo for the past 3 years. I am still searching for that definitive dim sum restaurant in Yokohama. We were just there this weekend taking my mom there who is visiting from NYC. She lived here 30 years ago and is still disappointed by the Chinese food here. I have slowly become accustomed to whatever I can find here.
I don't think that it's fair to compare anymore. Japanese Chinese is just different, no better or worse. Like everything else the Japanese do, they like to perfect things. But it is also the Chinese living here who adjust their cooking to Japanese tastes and you simply cannot find the same ingredients here. I find the portions smaller here of course but the ingredients are fresher and top notch because the Chinese restaurants in the rest of the world can be pretty sketchy with what they use.
So on to what I do like:
Fukueimon is the all you can eat dim sum that we pretty much trust and go to when we are there. Because they are solid and have the main favorites and it's a good price. They have chicken feet which is not easy to come by.
In Tokyo
I really liked the Chinese dimsum at the westin. I don't know the name of the restaurant but it's expensive and really exquisite. The flavor is good. Definitely high end dim sum
The Chinese dim sum all you can eat deal at Roppongi hills. Next to oak door.
The one upstairs. It's good dim sum. For 5,000 per person consider it a deal. Because the atmosphere is nice and the service is always great
You can go 1 thou cheaper and go Downstairs to the hong kong tea room. 4,000
All you can eat and it's more regular and rowdy but the food is still solid. Just weird picking off a picture menu. But good way to load up on dim sum when you have that craving.
We also had dim sum once at the Nikki hotel in Daiba. That was pretty good too for around the same price but it was a la carte.
That's pretty much been my Chinese dim sum experience her in japan
If anyone has been to Sense. Ive heard a lot about it and want to go but it is booked for months.
And I am still in search of this Chinese buffet that was on Japanese tv once but don't know where and don't know the name. All I know is there is a baldwin piano store right next to it. If anyone has a clue, please let me know.
[Should I travel to Japan?] Food industries in Tokyo - business as usual?
French and American embassies are asking their citizens to leave the country and for tourists not to go. We are looking to leave. Probably not a good idea for you to come here until It hopefully settles down with more concrete outcome.
Food boredom
Will check it out. What is czech food like? Kinda like Russian and eastern European? Borscht, stroganoff etc?
Thanks
Food boredom
never thought I'd say this but getting kind off bored of the food in Tokyo now.
I'm not talking about arm and a leg high end restaurant action, but more like lazy sunday evening fare or busy week fri night takeout or delivery.
We have a new addition to the family and am always looking for new and child friendly options.
I'm sure a lot of you know what I mean when I say the dining experience is not the same anymore
If anyone knows any new or interesting food places or takeout/delivery joints. Please feel free to suggest
We live in setagaya and can travel to mostly anywhere
I just want some comfort food on certain nights.
Keep Eating
