by | Jan 28, 2008 | Home | 0 comments

We spent a knockout birthday dinner at the very new, very accomplished limon.jpgLimoncello (503 Water Street, on the site of the former Bella Napoli). Thanks to chef Giovanni di Maio, every course was solid — as satisfying as it was beautiful. From creamy buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil, to tender mezzaluna ravioli, natural filet mignon and a classic veal marsala, we were thrilled to have this dining room back in its glory.

The place was packed and every dish looked fabulous.

The secret dessert weapon is a frozen cream parfait utterly saturated with the tangy, sweet limoncello liqueur.

Open for lunch and dinner, grazie tanto.

Chocolate for Grown-ups

Chocolate for Grown-ups

by | Jan 27, 2008 | Home | 0 comments

Maybe it was the understated crimson wrapper. Maybe it was the elegant matte finish. Maybe it was the prospect of chocnoir.jpgdark chocolate inflected with something dramatically different. Whatever it was about that bar of Café-Tasse artisenal chocolate I saw at Shoppers, I went for it.

Belgian chocolate noir – and here’s the intriguing bit – laced with Szechuan peppercorn. My my.

This was truly something wonderful – a loveletter to my mouth. The effect went like this. Creamy with a pepper crunch, the sensation was distinctly basso profundo, haunted with the descriptively elusive edge of exotic peppercorns. An improbable sequence of experiences – texturally and flavorwise – unfolding with a delightful persistence of synergy. Like a hot dream that continues long after you’re awake.

Sophisticated chocolate – $3.99 for 3 ounces — and something to remember on Valentine’s Day.

Dream Ticket – A Modest Proposal

by | Jan 27, 2008 | Home | 0 comments

What’s wrong with a Clinton/Obama ticket, with Hillary on top?
The O man gets down with 8 years of solid, on-the-job training – and then slides on into the Oval Office right after that…..

Last night’s debate looked a lot like prom night courtship behavior to me. If these two join up then both of them win – and most of all, the nation wins against a Republican choice who would keep us in Iraq till kingdom come.

Rare Tipple

Rare Tipple

by | Jan 23, 2008 | Home, Wine | 0 comments

It was Capricorn Birthday night at the Ideal Restaurant, and I joined a small band of otherbv.jpg January birthday boys and girls for the super dooper Prime Rib dinner — free to patrons with birthdays in that month. Do I need to tell you that the place was packed to the rafters with celebrants brandishing balloons and sparklers?

Amazing slabs of rare, rare, rare prime rib, served with mashed potatoes and sauteed veggies. I was impressed. But even MORE impressive was the flavor of a 1977 BV Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, opened by one of my party just for this occasion. Yes, that’s a 30-year-old wine, and it was still full of smooth spice, mouth-filling tones of cherries and varietal fruit and tons of tannin. Just kidding about the tannin, since the ability to age was due to using up most of the mighty cab’s tannic properties.

It was a seriously fine old wine and a tribute to the BV legend. Thanks Gary!