Taco Tuesday – Taqueria Ramirez

If you are local, unless you’ve been living under a rock, or Staten Island, you probably heard of Taqueria Ramirez by now. The Greenpoint jewel has quickly become NYC’s taco mecca, with people making the pilgrimage from far and wide. The Los Tacos of the locals if you will. The place is so busy that if the line doesnt snake around the block, you might as well get on it. Like the infamous Cronut, this is why it took me years to finally try it. One of the perks of living in options galore NYC. FOMO is easy to avoid.

But on the first spring-like day of the year I figured it’s time. We got there 10 minutes prior to opening and the line already reached the corner. Its that uncomfortable moment where you are the one blocking the crosswalk for a few good minutes. Sorry 5 year old on a tiny pink bike. You need to go around me and risk death. I got more important business to take care of.

Taqueria Ramirez opened during the pandemic (Sep 21) by Greenpoint residents who grew up in CDMX. Its a small mystery that in a city of over 300,000 Mexicans, many of which in the food business, it took this long. But once you dive into the preparation and the technique, you begin to understand why. Perhaps for the same reasons you cant get a NYC style bagel outside of NYC. Spoiler alert: Its not the water.

The result was pretty much what I expected. Best Mexico City style tacos I’ve had outside of Mexico City, but not exactly Mexico City quality. We tried three of the six tacos they offer. I regretted not ordering a 4th as soon as I placed my order. What was I not thinking. I’m finally here. But three turned out to be plenty and quite filling.

As good as it was, the Suadero, a cut of beef and preparation very rarely seen in NYC was probably my least favorite. The Pastor was solid, and plentiful. It’s not exactly as flavor packed as what you find in CDMX but enjoyable nonetheless. The Longaniza was the most distinct tasting of the three. Its chorizo on crack. I’d gladly order all three again.

The place is tiny, and finding an open seat is like finding a Palapa in Aruba after 6 am. But since people are not staying long (around 10-15 minutes), and with some seating areas outside (no tables) everyone manages. The popularity makes the entire experience a bit hectic. But it was fun watching the crew of 5 at work.

One handles the Pastor (a meat “Trompo” that trumps every trompo I’ve seen), one in charge of the Tortillas (a bit on the greasy side), and you got the “punisher” that puts the final touches with his torch. Another in charge of the traffic, and one of the register. A well-oiled machine, making something out of nothing. And the area is nice enough to explore to make a half a day out of it. Go!

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Tasty Tours – Eating With Ryan

Yep, I took a food tour in NYC. Something I havent done since I took a relatively mediocre Free Tour by Foot tour of East Village. Free Tours and food dont really go well together in NYC, even if free means very cheap ($1-$2 each item). But generally for me, taking a food tour in NYC always felt like an experienced auto mechanic getting oil change lessons. Probably boring, but I may learn a thing or two.

Well, I actually did. I learned a few things about Washington Square Park, and even Taylor Swift, among other tidbits I never picked up in the almost 40 years of living here. For a while I thought a Swifty was a cleaning supply. I just figured it would be something fun to do with my daughter. Playing tourist in my own town, and someone else feeding me for a change, I must say it felt good. The element of surprise, coupled with some of the tastiest snacks in the area, and a fun guide to boot.

Tasty Tours is a newish tour operator started by a young enthusiastic fella named Ryan. As with any food tour, you have to have the right personality for it. The reviews suggested it, and I’m happy to confirm. Ryan is easy going, funny, and just the right guy you want to spend a few hours with. As a tour guide you feel obligated to share your knowledge, often ignoring the risk of overdoing it. But Ryan got the formula right. Just the right amount of history, trivia, customer engagement, and even the proper amount of food.

Although Ryan doesnt mind me sharing the food we ate, I rather not. I think the lack of any preconceptions and the element of surprise is part of the fun. But if you want to know, you can easily find that info on his site. Its a nice mix of classics that you may already know about and some less known spots. I can tell you that out of the 6 stops, only one of them I probably wont return, and at least two of them I’d like to return very soon. I’m sharing one food picture, but I wont tell what it is. You’ll need to guess 😉

One thing I miss the most from my guide days is that moment right after a good tour. I felt that after this one. As I told Ryan, its unfortunately the bad ones that will stick out and become most memorable, as you are also in the mercy of the people you meet. Food tours is an experience at its core. Dont take one strictly because someone you know told you to take one. Take one if you want to meet a local and other travelers, learn a thing or two about the area you are visiting, and eat tasty food in the process. Come to think of it, who wouldn’t want that.

https://www.tastytoursnyc.com

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Anguilla – How to Gain 7 Pounds in 7 Days

One of my most popular posts and a lot of fun to update over the years was a similar title for TCI, where I offer a 7 day eating itinerary. Granted I havent updated that in over 5 years (blame Anguilla). Although this is the same concept, I will focus on my favorite 4 dinners and 4 lunches and will give suggestions on the rest of the week. While my three visits so far dont give me the same amount of expertise as the over 20 in TCI, I think I got a pretty good handle on things in tiny and delicious Anguilla.

7 Lunches

Sunshine Shack – A no brainer and not exactly a secret. It is a lot more popular these days than on our first visit. Still, this is a shack in its core, not a full blown restaurant. You’ll just need to wait a bit for the food. Get the frozen BBC (Banana Baileys Coconut) to start which will fill you up like an appetizer, to make that wait a lot less painful, and fun). There are only a few items on the menu. I prefer the chicken and ribs combo over the expensive lobster.

Blanchards Beach Shack – Another popular shack, but very different than SS. This is more of a full crew cross between a Caribbean shack and American fast casual. You got multiple windows for orders, pickup and drinks. Even in slower months expect lines to order and waits for the food (you get a buzzer). But its worth it for the crafty salads and sandwiches. Try the Jerk Burger.

Johnno’s – This pick might surprise the hardcore Anguilla fans. By day, a very low key, rustic joint, overlooking beautiful Sandy Ground. By night, well, I wouldnt know. I’ve only been during the day, and each time I got the quintessential Anguillan treatment, including fresh, well cooked food. And a strong rum punch to boot. Sunday is funday with live music. In a way Johnno’s reminds me of Flamingo’s in TCI. Try the steamed snapper with Fungi, and/or Shrimpi Scampi, as long as you forget everything you know about shrimp scampi.

Vincy – I’ve already written about Vincy. The restaurant is one of the newer kids on the block, but the talented Vincy the owner has been around. The view overlooking Sandy Ground adds to the atmosphere at lunch, and the food is not too shabby. Vincy keeps things relatively simple with the ingredient driven menu. Try the shrimp tacos and grilled snapper with lemon sauce.

The rest

Falcon Nest – Another casual shack/bar with a full menu of goodies. Try the seafood pasta

Trattoria Tramonto – Good place to hang out on a gorgeous beach. Try the Vongole

Tasty’s – Solid local cuisine for lunch or dinner. Try the seafood salad

7 Dinners

Jacala – One of my favorite restaurants in the entire Caribbean. Even now, without the Jac half (retired), hospitality and cooking at the highest level. Some like it for lunch, overlooking beautiful Meads Bay, but I think this is the type of meal that should be experienced at night. Its French at its core, utilizing local ingredients with the expertise of a seasoned master (the “Ala” part). Try the tuna tartare, the stupendous chicken, and grilled crayfish.

Hibernia – Another absolute must. You can pretty much copy and paste everything I said about Jacala above, except that its a very different place. A French and Asian mashup pioneer, opened before it even became a thing in Paris (today you can find them in almost every corner). And the museum-like environment and view is a major bonus. While I’m listing it for dinner, I think everyone should try to experience Hibernia for lunch at least once. Try the Foie Gras, smoked fish trio, any of the fish dishes, and homemade rum raisin ice cream

Straw Hat – Although not exactly new to us, its a new addition to the rotation. In fact I think we’ll make it our early first night meal from now on. It has just the right kind of “Welcome to Anguilla” thing going. You got the view of Meads Bay beach, great frozen drinks (BBC!), and expertly cooked food with a clever mix of local and eclectic items. Try the flatbread, goat curry, and snapper.

Blanchards – A 25 year old legend and one of the most popular spots on the island. I admit it took me a few trips to finally try it, as the menu looked a bit too New Yorkish for me. But I get it now. Just like its beach shack, a well-oiled machine by an exceptionally friendly and capable crew. Try the jerk chicken, and do not leave the island without trying the famous Cracked Coconut. Although the Bread pudding isnt too shabby either.

The rest:

Mango’s – Some of the island’s best and freshest seafood

Artisan – Solid Neapolitan pizza

E’s Oven – Popular with locals. Try the Pumpkin soup, goat curry, skip the steak

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Anton’s – A Classic in the Making

I dont know why I havent written a post on Anton’s before. Well, I sort of know. I may have added it to the world famous Z-List (I was told by people from various countries) before Anton’s even opened. You see, I’ve been following Nick Anderer ever since I met him at a Gabriele Bonci / Katie Parla pizza event in Brooklyn years ago. He called the police on me twice but eventually just got used to it. Another rehashed joke. I know. I’ll be here all week, try the veal. 

Like Anton’s itself, Anderer’s resume reads like an homage to the classics. Tabla (under the great late Floyd Cardoz), Babbo, Gramercy Tavern, Maialino, Marta. I recall sitting at the Marta counter, watching him throw out pie after pie that looked perfectly fine to my lazy eye, but not perfect enough to him. But it was Martina, Marta’s baby sister where I began to understand his trendsetting ways. Martina was unlike any pizzeria we have, but NYC was just not ready for her yet. Great, now I have the Bonci TV show in my head, most likely for the rest of the day.

Partnered with beverage director and life partner Natalie Johnson, Anton’s is Anderer’s first. The duo not only bringing in a wealth of expertise, but managed to put together an all-star team that includes Otto’s long timer legend Dennis Mullally, among other capable hands. After five years that included a painful pandemic, its now a well oiled machine that’s consistently booked. Though it feels more like the prototypical village neighborhood corner Italian. I’ve seen it referred to as European, but I dont recall seeing Borscht on the menu. He does make killer Pelmeni, but he calls them “Ravioli”.

Has this happened to you? You buy a nice stinky Camembert in France, eat it in the hotel with a fresh baguette, and a nice Vouvray with your spouse, and before you know it you find yourself wondering outside with your PJ’s looking for the nearest garbage can at 2 am. Even when secured in the fridge, the stench can take over the room. Its the Durian of cheese. At Anton’s, two waiters were holding their breath while I was smelling the Camembert from different angles. No smell that I could detect. This was a mild one, but that creaminess, along with that Cherry Gastrique and baguette, a killer combination. A new must.

The Pâté Grand-mère and the Smoked Whitefish Salad are the old musts. My oldest said it was like breakfast at grandmas. I agreed but only because I didnt want to kill the moment. No grandma I know ever served me a whitefish salad like this. Another winner this time was a refreshing salad of winter citrus, fennel, pistachios.

The pasta course at Anton’s is why you need to bring friends. The Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli is one of the classics, though I skipped it this time to try others. The well balanced Fettuccine with Mutton Ragù is Rezdora-esque and our new favorite of the bunch. The Angel Hair Francese takes me to my happy place. Staten Island. Where I’m munching on baked clams at a random red sauce Italian. To me its the pasta version of baked clams rather than the intended Chicken. Not a bad thing. Bucatini Baczynsky, another classic from day one, was the weakest link this time, but its more of a testament to the others.

If there’s one more thing I learned from the Maialino and Marta days is trust the chickens. At Anton’s, the half bird is on the simple side, but just the right crisp and quite satisfying. You know its good when you keep reaching for it on a very full stomach and with plenty of high quality steak left. The expertly cooked Strip Steak Lorenz is another day one item. Pair it with the Spinach a la Noialles. Hmm, maybe its more European than I thought.

Another big plus at Anton’s is the well rounded wine list, including the offerings by the glass. Finish with the Apple Crisp a la Mode and/or Bourbon Pecan Pie, though I’m suspecting you cant go wrong with any of them. Anton’s has all the ingredients for a classic in the making. Go!

Anton’s
570 Hudson St (West Village)
Recommended Dishes: Camembert, Pate, Whitefish Salad, Ravioli, Fettuccine with Mutton Ragù, Angel Hair Francese, chicken, steak, spinach, Pecan Pie, Apple Crisp

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Vincy {Anguilla} – Moving Up

Literally and figuratively. I had a hard time coming up with the next post idea. I should be writing about our excellent meals at Blanchards or Straw Hat. But I want to write about a new discovery where we only had three dishes, and one was a Caesar salad! Hence, not a marathon post, but short, fresh and simple, like the Vincy menu. Well, except maybe the short part.

Chef Vincia “Vincy” Hughes moved her newish restaurant from Sandy Ground to a location towering right above Sandy Ground. Like a factory manager getting a promotion and a new office overlooking the factory. While some of the details of the view are not particularly pleasing, the view as a whole is mesmerizing. If you close one eye you are staring at the Croatian coastline. If you close both, you will eventually fall asleep. Not recommended during lunch at Vincy.

A pleasant roomy patio with a view, with exceptional food and smiles to match. In genuine Anguilla fashion, a staff that exhibits a level of hospitality that I dont even experience in NYC, not alone in other Caribbean islands. What is it about Anguilla? I dont usually pay much attention to service, but this was hard not to notice. People seem to love what they do and genuinely happy to meet you. 

Like many chefs in Anguilla, Vincy’s resume includes some of the top high end resorts on the island. Unlike so many, Vincy opted to showcase her skills the best way she can, at her own pace and place. And unlike so many, she often comes out to say hello. Chefs have a tough job, but that connection makes a difference. And besides it gave me the opportunity to confirm that I ordered correctly despite the sweet aroma of a goat curry she’s been cooking the last hour. The plan of having it at E’s Oven down the road later that day gave me comfort.

That aforementioned Caesar was a solid as they come, and an indication of things to come. The older we get the more we appreciate a good Caesar, and we are getting very close to know how to spell it without looking. The blackened shrimp tacos were superb. Wonderful warm tortillas, slaw, tomato. Loaded, but nothing overpowering the perfectly cooked shrimp.

But the one dish that persuaded me to leave my lounge chair and drive the 15 minutes (the equivalent of 90 in NYC) was a grilled whole snapper with lemon butter. It did not disappoint. She keeps it fresh and simple, and if the ingredients are not top notch she aint serving it. Adding the dish and the place to our growing Anguilla rotation. Although the rest of the menu reads like the Anguilla food hall of fame, and I would like to try every single dish. 

Did I mention the view? That’s why I recommend a nice longish lunch, over dinner. And if the furniture look familiar, some of it is from this place. This is the beginning of a beautiful, hopefully long relationship.  

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The Staten Island Survival Guide – 2024 Update

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This is Rendezvous Bay (Part Deux)

You know what they say. Once you are able to spell it without googling, you are halfway there. I’m not exactly sure who says it, or know what it means (sounds more like a Yogi Berra quote). But when it comes to certain places with difficult spellings, it rings true. It took me years to finally learn how to spell Rendezvous Bay without looking. Roughly 5 years for “Rendezvous”, and a couple of months for “Bay”. I’m now officially a fan.

Coincidentally I almost misspelled “Deux” here. For a blog with the tagline “Dining Well, Spelling Pourly”, maybe I should let some of these spellings stay. But I cant screw up the title for search purposes. 

Part Deux was more of the same. Same hotel (Rendezvous Bay Hotel), same beach, same beach shacks, same healing powers. The healing powers were especially important as both stays were right after hardships. We’ve been around, especially in this part of the world. I cant think of another beach or place that can better improve your spiritual health. We needed this. 

For city slickers, it can be a religious experience. Until you turn right one day and see a 60+ male wearing a Borat style black thong, and you are stuck with this image for half of the trip. Thats the price you pay when dealing with empty beaches. You are in the mercy of those interrupting the tranquility. Would it kill him to lie on his back just once. On second thought, strike that. Its not a prettier picture.

When the Sunshine Shack is open, you’ll find roughly 90% of the people on this beach there. It evolved from a simple beach shack to one of the most popular simple beach shacks in the Caribbean. Its the Caribbean version of the original Shake Shack. Waits for food can be painful at times so bring your patience, and order a frozen BBC (Baily’s, Banana, Coconut) to fill you up while you wait. Stick to chicken and ribs, as the lobster isnt the best value

There’s not a whole lot I can write that I didnt before, so I’ll just leave you with the original post. More food for thought to come. Just like with the previous installment, its weird to write about some beach at these crazy times. But we can all use a distraction sometimes.

This is Rendezvous Bay – Part 1

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Back to Hibernia {Anguilla}

The triumphant post pandemic return to one of my favorite restaurants in the world.  This time for dinner.  Although we’ll be doing dinners only most likely at this point, you all need to experience this place for lunch.  It’s an experience, even if yo are not the biggest fan of this kind of food.  Though knowing many of my readers personally, chances of you not loving this menu is remote. Not too often we encounter a menu where we want to try every single dish.   

Its an ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ kinda menu, with some ingredient change but the menu stays the course overall.  We usually start and end the same way.  Foie Gras, smoked fish, with the brilliant rum raisin ice cream with aged rum for the finish.  This time we felt a little naughty and added some prunes with chocolate (looks like we had it before).  This is probably the only time we eat prunes other than.. you know….

Original and rest of the post

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Don Peppe – Legend Still Going Strong

Every time I’m invited to an event at Don Peppe, I huff, and puff and bitch all the way there. Its too far, its too old, its past its prime, I think I have a rash and it could get nasty any minute. No shortage of excuses. I just dont like to travel too far for old school Italian. But every single time I go there, I’m not only reminded how good it is, but I’m also reminded that we dont really have anything like it.

Even with a party of 10 on a Saturday night, no reservations allowed (I dont think). And even with a very full house, and standing room only in the oversized waiting room, we got our table in no time. People travel here from all parts of the city, often well over an hour to get a chance to experience this legend. In fact, its one of the only reasons to get to the JFK area other than JFK. Well, except the casino or if you are on your way to long island as I once did with my daughters. Introducing them to Don Peppe was like taking them to a Goodfellas movie set.

New York Times

Don Peppe is family style at its core. Families, and large groups have been coming here since 1968. Its Carmine’s for locals if you will, though arguably much better food. At this isolated location, you better be good to make it all those years. The only issue, and its not a small one with a large group, is what to order, and how much of it. Your eyes are often bigger than your stomach. And as much as you want to be at the mercy of the trusted waiter, our shrinking stomachs may not always agree with his assessment.

I think more than half of the people come here strictly for the Vongole. Spaghetti with clam sauce is individually plated table side, and reliably addictive. When the waiter took the order and dictated the amount we need, my friend mistakenly told him that he doesnt believe every one of us wants it. The waiter corrected the silly goose with a show of hands. 

Earlier on, the baked clams and simple house salads were winners. The salad is individually plated as well. We also often like to order Shrimp Fra Diovolo as an app. Fresh, plump, and plenty of heat for old school Italian. Though its beyond time for us to try some of the other Shrimp dishes that I suspect are even better. The only app I would skip is the mozz-tomato-peppers combo.

The zesty, buttery “Francese” like chicken was spot on. Same with the perfectly flaky, delicious Sole. But the one main that people often go nuts about here is the Veal Don Peppe. Breaded veal cutlets covered with tomatoes, peppers and onions. Its a crowd pleaser even on crowded stomachs. 

And just when the food coma starts to kick in, we still rarely miss dessert here. From the Tiramisu, Tartufo, and Sorbetto, its hard to go wrong here. While the prices have increased over the years, the fine house red is still fairly affordable. Not the most touristy location, but you wont find a more fitting “welcome to NYC” when arriving to JFK. Go!     

      

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Top 10 Things We Ate in Paris

Final Paris post. It wasnt a flawless eating trip by any stretch. In between all that brilliance we had a few hiccups (I’m looking at you Eunoé), but we were quite happy with the final result. The food scene in Paris is a lot more interesting than 10-20 years ago, when old school Bistros were just Bistros, and proper Asian and other ethnic food was almost nonexistent. All this means with some careful researching you can create quite the varied food itinerary. Although personally I was mainly focused on food that’s not part of my diet back at home.

Escargot at L’Aubergeade

I’ve already written about this hidden gem in the 12th. Very popular with locals. In fact we were one of few that were not given hugs by the owner (reflected in my Yelp review!) who was running around as if there were two of him. Well, until we realized there were in fact two, twins. I could have picked pretty much any dish from this meal, but the addictive Escargot stood out for us. Just the right amount of butter and garlic, just like we like them.

“Tomato” at Granite

Tom Meyer’s Granite is a welcomed retreat from the mad scramble Louvre nearby. A 10+ dish feast for all senses. I dont take detailed notes anywhere, but if I did here, it would read like a novel. There were too many hits to mention, but the Tomato dish was the most memorable one. Of course it was not just a tomato, but a “welcome to a Michelin star in Paris tomato”. A flavor symphony with each morsel.

Sweetbread at Parcelles

A local gem that became a tourist darling once the NYT and other publications took note. Its one of the hottest tables in Paris these days. While all dishes were great especially one particular Calf’s head carpaccio, the Sweetbread is the reason to come. Whether you like sweetbread is almost irrelevant. With that mashed potato, dark veal jus and capers, its a spoonful of pure bliss. They only make about 10-15 of them, so some call to reserve it for dinner. 

Jambon Beurre at Le Petite Vendome

A sandwich legend among the Guccis and the Louis in the area. Sandwiches available at the bar or takeout, and they are simply sensational. We shared a classic, and one with quality black pepper and goat cheese. Just my kind of old school at a price of less than half of some of the other notables. Nice atmosphere, music, and fun, happy waiters even when they get super busy. Best to arrive right after lunchtime if you can, when the pesky tourists disperse.

Argentinian Entrecôte at Blanca  

The fact that we had this a day after our visit to the famed Paul Bert is everything you need to know. Superb quality meat cooked to med-rare perfection. I hesitated to put anything on it because it was so flavor packed but after trying it I happily poured the homemade vinegary chimichurri and black pepper. Its a tiny place so reserve ahead. Music on Wednesdays as of this writing. 

Whiting at Perception

The best and fun way to take advantage of the Paris Michelin culture is try to find the places that are on the cusp of stardom. Perception in the 9th is one of many Asian inspired contemporary neo Bistros, led by a talented Korean chef. While I could have easily picked the stuffed cabbage (ratatouille moment for Mrs Z), or BBQ pork cooked three ways, the beautiful, delicate whiting was unlike anything I ever had.

Cassoulet at La Forge (5th)

When I was younger, and had a head full of dazzling hair, my favorite French dish was the Cassoulet. When I saw it on menus I would stop reading the rest of it. That’s why I was setting myself up for disappointment at La Forge, even though its one of their specialties. Its so often not the same as you remember. Needless to say it was as glorious as I was hoping and then some. Although the duck confit at this Southwestern old-timer was equally as good. One of our favorite meals.

Profiteroles at Grande Brasserie

While I’ve eaten my fair share of Profiteroles during my young life, I never imagined that it would make this list. Between the size, and the flavors of this monster, its just about the best Profiteroles we ever had. Not surprising considering Grande Brasserie is one of the more reliable traditional Brasseries in the center. And the attractive, well lit room is a major bonus for us young boomers. 

Cheese at Paroles de Fromagers

The plan, to eat a great amount of cheese while in Paris was a big fail. All the popular stores were brimming with tourists, and the rest of the time my stomach was brimming with other food. But I saved room for the cheese and wine class at Paroles de Fromagers where it was not only educational, but some of the tastiest Cheese I ever had. Époisses, Saint-Nectaire, Roquefort Carles just to name a few. 

Pastries at Cyril Lignac

Even though they didnt quite look like this when we ate them at the airport. The Equinox, Citron, and Kouign-Amann, all outstanding in that order. I dont usually get excited by looks, but these were the most hypnotic pastries I’v ever seen, with the flavors to match. And they open at 7 am (at least the one on Paul Bert). I mean nothing opens this early in Paris

Bon Appétit 

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