New Site Saturday: TV Food Maps

Ok, so I am a total foodie.  I love to eat, I love going out to eat, and I love to talk about anything involving food.  So one of my 'Things to do in 2011' is to explore new restaurants.  Sure, it's great to have your favorites, but in a city that has such an abundance of culinary delights one must branch out.  In addition to my beloved NYmag.com restaurant reviews, I find it really interesting to check out places recommended on cooking/food porn shows (basically, everything on the Food Network). TVFoodMaps.com lists out the restaurant recommendations from 14 different shows ranging from Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations to the anti-Anthony Bourdain--Rachel Ray's $40 a Day.  Sort by city and state or by your favorite show.  You can even type in your upcoming road trip (say from San Francisco to Chicago), and they tell you where to stop and nosh along the way.  So, stop furiously scribbling down notes during The Best Thing I Ever Ate and enjoy!  It's all here.

Fleak Out at the Brooklyn Flea

Do you ever finally get around to doing something or going somewhere and think, "Why wasn't I doing this years ago?"  That is exactly how I feel about the Brooklyn Flea.  The 25th Street Garage flea market in Chelsea (which is for the most part way overpriced for the junk they peddle) doesn't hold a candle to the Flea, in my opinion.  While that market is like a garage sale on crack, the Brooklyn Flea houses some of the coolest little makers of treasures imaginable as well as the furnitury, vintagy, oldy stuff you expect.  Easy to get to by way of Manhattan, the flea is held every Saturday and Sunday in varying locations throughout the year: inside Skylight 1 Hansen in the winter and Dumbo, Williamsburg, and Fort Greene during warmer months.  And, be sure to come hungry because there are six or so vendors serving up delectable delights from artisan grilled cheeses, porchetta sandwiches, lobster rolls, to tacos.  Best weekend afternoon ever!

BrooklynFlea.com  

Lovely light!

Bits and bobs

Help!  I'm trapped in a terrarium!

Pendants made of typewriter keys

Images by Barbara K.

Restaurant, Broadway, and Off-Broadway Week Coming Up!

All the steals and deals Weeks are coming up! 

Broadway Week

When:  January 24th - February 10th

The Deal:  2-for-1 tickets to some of Broadway's hottest shows including American Idiot, Billy Elliot, The Addams Family, Chicago, The Lion King and so many more. 

Off-Broadway Week

When: January 24th - February 13th

The Deal: 2-for-1 tickets to off-Broadway shows AND 2-for-1 drinks after the show.  Off-Broadway only has to do with how many seats are in the theater...not with how great a show is.  Snap up tickets to over 30 shows including Nora Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore and The Fantasticks.

 Restaurant Week

When: January 24th - February 6th

The Deal:  Lunch - $24.07, Dinner - $35. This is the best deal in town with top restaurants offering an uber-reasonable fixed price menu.  Granted you may feel they are trying to turn your table, or you may not get the most perfect service in the world but who cares?!  You just had a three course dinner for $35 at a fabulous restaurant.  Deal.

So find a friend, a date, or even an enemy (gotta keep 'em closer) and stay true to your New Year's resolution to see more shows and eat more great food in 2011.

To book tickets or reserve tables go to nycgo.com.

Trader Joe's Chelsea Opens Today!

West Siders rejoice!  Trader Joe's is opening today in half of the old Barnes & Nobel on 6th Avenue at 21st Street.  Finally, this may alleviate some of the crowds in the 14th Street location (waiting in line to enter a grocery store is never worth the money you will save once you finally get in there)....or it will just open itself up to a whole new clientele who did not find it worth their while to go cross-town for cheap groceries.  Regardless, those of us on the F-M line are lucky dogs in my book.  Woo hoo!

PS - The chili mango slices are my absolute favorite. 

Image by Barbara K.

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 4

Ok, onto the fourth, and last, day of my little bro's visit.  The humidity was high, the allergies were awakened, and we were running on fumes.  What's a brother and sister duo to do?

- Back to Murray's Bagels for breakfast.  I usually don't take guests to the same place twice, however, my brother loves bagels, and we had to attempt maple walnut raisin cream cheese again.  Had my brother wanted something more savory, eggy, or pancakey, I would have gone to La Bonbonniere on 8th Ave. near 12th Street in the West Village.  

- Now we got to the 'touristy' part of the trip.  We got off the F train at Bryant Park (42nd Street) and wandered around, made our way up 5th Ave. to Rockefeller Center, laughed at people waiting in line to shop at Abercrombie, then headed to The Plaza to sit and chill by the fountain.  I recommend doing these things before noon on a Sunday after which it turns into a mob scene of out-of-towners.

- What's a hot, sweaty pair to do next? Head to Central Park: Lounge in the Sheep's Meadow, take pictures, and just sit on a bench and chill out.  At that point we had hit a wall--no more outside, no more walking.

- Let's go to the movies!  Be sure to take the bus somewhere during your stay: you get to see the neighborhoods transition and don't just pop out of the earth in an entirely new place like one does on the subway.  I think a great movie theater is Quad Cinema.  It's in the heart of Greenwich Village and is a total gem.  This way you can see a movie and not feel guilty you spent 2 hours inside.  It is a vintage movie house from before the time of stadium seating, Dolby surround sound, giant screens, and 3-D.

- Dinner at Westville, one of my favorite places.  Great sandwiches, salads, sides, etc.  YUMMM!  Delicious and laid-back, it is perfect for a Sunday night.

- Head to Hudson River Park for a post-dinner walk and to escape the heat.  Go out to the end of a pier;  it is 10 degrees cooler and will most likely have a view of the Statue of Liberty.

- Magnolia Bakery cupcake time.  My bro got two cupcakes, I had two iced molasses cookies, we shared a milk, all was right in the world.

- Heading back to the apt. we strolled through Washington Square Park and found the piano man playing in the middle of the fountain (of course it was turned off).  This guy is truly amazing.  He wheels around an upright piano and plays in the park during random times.  I've seen him weeknights, weekends, day, and night.  We sat for a solid hour and just listened to him play everything from The Postal Service, to The Beatles, to classical music.  Pure heaven.

- Bed time and to EWR in the A.M. 

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 3

It's Saturday....but it feels like Sunday because of not going to work on Friday.  Don't you just love that feeling?  We were so tired from all the walking and Yankee-ing the night before that we ended up sleeping until 11am.  No problem---we are on vacation!  Saturday took us through a complete fest of gluttony: an entire day of delectable delights. I am most likely 10 pounds heavier from i, so thank goodness for all the walking we did this past weekend!

- Roll out of bed around 11 and get out the door by 12:30.  In hindsight this was perfect because there is no way we could have fit in breakfast on top of all the food we ate throughout the day.

- I discovered tickets to the Tastes of the East Village on thedealist.com.  This is a great site for locals and visitors alike.  It is dedicated to deals on great stuff to do in NYC: yoga classes, eating events, boat cruise around Manhattan, etc.  If you are visiting NYC, sign up for their email about two months out and see if anything hits your inbox that tickles your fancy.  Back to the food tour: We went to five restaurants in the East Village, got a tasting of their signature dish at each one, explored the neighborhood, and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible.  

- Between restaurants 4 (cupcake and macaroon at Chicklicious) and 5 (sandwich at Baogette) we needed a breather and went to Washington Square Park to people watch, listen to live jazz, and veg.

- After our sandwich at Baogette it was back to the apt for a quick nap and on to dinner at Cucina di Pesce (glutton!) on E. 4th Street.  I had a friend in from London, so I had to soldier on and continue to nosh.

- Then it was on to Whiskey Ward on the Lower East Side for a friend's birthday (just a quick hello, happy birthday, hugs, muah muah).  Back to the apartment and off to dreamland.

Tomorrow: Batteries dwindling and heat/humidity rising!

My bro eating a lobster roll.  Originally uploaded by B. Kratus.

Dining Deal: Late Night Roman Menu @ Lupa

Buongiourno!  I love going to my old favorite restaurants--the ones I visited when I first moved to the city--and rediscovering that I still love them after a few year's reprieve.  One of the restaurants that fall into this category is Lupa on Thompson Street.  I went last Thursday with a friend for a bit of late-night dining (late for a school night, of course) to celebrate spring and vino and treat myself to an amazing meal.  We showed up around 10:15 and had roughly a 10-minute wait.  For any of you who know Lupa, it is packed.  Always. And, lucky us---we arrived just in time to have their Late Night Roman Menu.  From 10:30-Midnight on Sunday through Thursday you get three courses with wine for $26.  Yes.  No joke.  Pick from four starters, four pasta entrees, two desserts and either red or white wine.  This is one of the best deals in New York City for nighttime dining.  Really, I am getting hungry right now just thinking about it.  My pasta dish was likely the best pasta I have ever had, and the desserts were just to die for.  So be bad:  Stay up late on a school night, eat too much right before going to bed, and enjoy it!

The Deal:

Lupa - Late Night Roman Menu

170 Thompson between Houston and Bleecker

Three courses with wine: $26.00

Sunday - Thursday

10:30-Midnight

Image courtesy of luparestaurant.com

S-C Guide to the Ultimate Dinner Party...with a Little Help from GQ

Sometimes I am totally blown away by things I find in GQ, and I immediately think 'why the hell don't I find articles like this in women's magazines?'  This goes for everything from how to brew amazing iced coffee at home to my newest fav: Everything You Need to Know to Entertain at Home with Style and Ease.  Of course, my apartment can hold all of 6 people and is basically standing room only, so that is not going to work out.  However, my bestie just moved into a new place that is screaming for some adult entertainment (dinner party....not naked dancing people).  GQ gives you 26 guidelines to be the ultimate host, but I think I can condense that down to 10.  Full the full list click here.

For the Host:

1. Keep the menu simple: pre-dinner nibbles, main, side and/or salad, and dessert.  No one is expecting a 7-course tasting menu, and it's even better if you can do something like pasta or anything braised.   Your place will smell amazing, and you just need to assemble ingredients or pull it out of the oven and voila!

2. One word on pre-dinner nibbles: Simplicity.  Good olives, cheese, crusty bread, tapenade/hummus/dip, or roasted nuts.  Done.  I even think a bowl of really good potato chips would be amazing.

3. Clean as you cook.  Perception is reality: if the kitchen looks calm and orderly, your guests will automatically be at ease.  Everything will seem under control...even if it isn't.

4.  Make it luxe with lighting and fresh flowers and not those awful pre-mixed bouquets.  Stick with one type of flower for a chic look and something unscented like tulips.   Luckily in NYC you can find a good assortment at most delis.  Also, you can pick up a dimmer extension cord for $15 if you don't have your lamps on dimmers.

5.  Get an ice bucket ready for white wine, champers, and sparkling water.  Nothing says party like an ice bucket, and this keeps guests from having to run to the kitchen to get a refill.

6. Have the music going and unscented candles lit before your guests arrive.  If your party is four hours, make the playlist for six.  And, DO NOT have the television on (unless you are watching the Super Bowl).  Instant party killer. 

7. Immediately get a drink in your guests' hand and make a few introductions if they don't know each other....especially if you have to duck back in the kitchen to finish anything.

8.  Refill, refill, refill--never let a guest's glass go empty.  Enlist someone to help you with this.  This also prevents people from counting how many drinks they have had, and we all know more drinks means more fun.

9. Go back to basics for dessert like you did with the nibbles:  Fresh baked cookies, really good ice cream with toppings, fresh seasonal fruit with creme fraiche or whipped cream (not whipped topping).  Yum.

10.  Don't hide out in the kitchen all night!  Your guests are all there to socialize with you.  Get as much done as you can beforehand, don't be afraid to enlist a guest or two to help you a bit, have a cocktail, and enjoy yourself!

For the Guests:

If you want to be invited back, you need to be a good dinner party guest:

1. Arrive no more than 15-30 minutes late.  You are being served dinner, people are hungry, and you are an ass if they have to wait on you.

2. Never show up empty handed - a bottle of wine or a bag of ice are my two fav party bring-alongs.

3. Don't touch the music.  You are a guest, not a DJ. And if you are a DJ volunteer to do the playlist prior to the party.

4. Don't stay too long.  No one likes the person who can't get the hint that the night is over.  You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.  Make sure you are out of there by midnight.

5. Send a thank you note or email.  It is a huge pain in the ass to have people over so thank your host.

Breakfast at La Bonbonniere

I will say the one huge upside to having a gaggle of your friends out of town at once is found time.  Not that you ever lost it, but I always find having a bit of 'me' time is utterly amazing. I love to go exploring, try new places (instead of the old, worn out favs) and experience the sheer selfish joy of doing whatever the hell I want to do whenever the hell I want to do it.  Case in point:  I adore waking up early-ish on the weekends.  The city is just a completely different place before 11am.  They say it's the little things that make life wonderful, and I couldn't agree more.  Going out for breakfast is something I rarely treat myself to, but should definitely do so more often.  I woke up craving pancakes, and I knew just the place I wanted to test out.   I have walked past La Bonbonniere on 8th Ave. in the West Village a million times and have had a love affair from afar with the little diner.  After scoping out the farmer's market across the street on Hudson, I picked out a stool at the bar (my fav place to sit and watch the action) and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast...this is most likely the best $6.75 I will spend all week. 

Photos by B. Kratus

NYC Restaurant Week is ON

I am going to claim complete ignorance here...I know Restaurant Week is happening from Jan 25th-Feb 7th, but I have never participated with the vigor or unending appetite as some of my friends. I know people who literally make a resie every night to nosh on $35 3-course dinners at some of the finest eateries in NYC. I have mixed feelings though...isn't this like gourmet gluttony? Wouldn't one rather spread out these amazing meals instead of concentrating them into a back to back food orgy? Of course, the really hot tables in town don't feel the need to participate (ie Minetta Tavern which I am dying to go to), but there are quite a few places I have had my eye on that would definitely be worth a whirl.

Thoughts on Restaurant Week? Not worth the hype or something you really look forward to? Good experiences, bad experiences?

Click here see the full list of participating restaurants and to reserve a table.

Balthazar on a Budget

Balthazar is my Tiffany's. Nothing bad can ever happen to a person at Balthazar--via Holly Golightly. I had brunch there for the first time last weekend (shocking, I know, since I love bistro food more than a fat French child loves a chocolate croissant), and I experienced some of the best eggs Benedict I have tasted outside of The Wolsely in London (I am convinced it is the English muffins made in England that make the difference).

No cheap affair, I will hardly be enjoying this splurge on a regular basis. But, I have discovered a way to get my French fix and a fraction of the cost. The answer is Balthazar Bakery just next door. I love to stop in on a weekend morning to pick up a croissant and coffee (I am not into coffee but love it from Balthazar, strangely). The pastries and breads from the bakery are pure heaven. The croissants are like lace and you can not go wrong with any of the sweet morning treats or savory sandwiches and soups they offer. When the weather is nice there is a little bench to sit, enjoy, and people watch the euros go to the main restaurant for brunch. Never have I seen so many Hermes belt buckles or chic Europeans at 10am on a Saturday.

BUT, my favorite time is to stop by after work when the bakery goods are on deep discount. Last week I popped in just after 7pm and walked out with two croissants for $2.70 (normally $2.75). It's a great treat after a long day to have a bit of fancy deliciousness accompany le diner.

Bon Appetit mes amis!

Balthazar Restaurant &
Balthazar Bakery
80 Spring Street btwn. Broadway and Crosby

50 Gifts Under $50: Food and Drink (#31-40)

Here we are for day #4: Food and Drink. I dedicate this category to my dad who always asks for gifts you can eat or drink. They are really the best types of gifts because they are more like experiences since they are consumed and something you can enjoy with loved ones. That is, unless you like to drink whole bottles of wine by yourself....which in case you should probably get some help.

Remember the rules:

• It can cost no more than $50 before sales tax.
• It must be something fairly luxe and fall into the category of an item that the recipient may wish to have but out of practicality would never spend their own money on.
• It must be relatively easy to find (either online, national retailers, or adequate substitutes are available).
• Finally, it has to be something I would love to receive or would personally give to a friend or family member. I would never recommend something I wouldn't pony up for myself.

Here are my 10 favorite gifts under $50 to eat or drink. Enjoy!

• 

I was accidentally given this bottle when I thought I had ordered a pino grigio at Le Bilboquet, and it has turned into one of my favorite wines.
La Crema Pino Noir two bottle set - $50


I feel like Marie Antoinette when I eat these: so lovely and decadent.
Kee's Chocolates French Macaroons on Thompson St. - $2.45 each for large, $7 for a wonderful mixed bag of small macaroons in amazing flavors.


The perfect way to add elegance for dinner in with your honey or make a night spent at home feel special.
Reidel Grape Pino Glasses - $49 for set of two


For the friend with the sweet tooth who abhors Swiss Miss.
Norman Love Black Sipping Chocolate - $20


Definitely for the pickle connoisseur. Ever since the pickle festival I have been obsessed. Spicy is the way to go if you love serious heat + salt + crunch.
McClure's Pickles - $12 per jar


Everyone should have a bottle of bubbly chilling in the fridge for a special occasion...or to just celebrate Fridays...or when Vogue has arrived (I actually did that once, and yes, it was fabulous).
Veuve Cliquot half-bottle champagne- $30


Sweet + salt is the ultimate flavor combo. The sea salt and chocolate really set the taste buds off and is perfect when you don't know if the person loves sweet or savory. This is something completely indulgent and not expensive.
Vosges Barcelona Bar - $8


Leave the plates plain white (food look gross on colored plates), and have fun with graphic prints on the cups.
Bo Concept Cups - $10 each


Once again, satisfies sweet and savory. Bacon peanut brittle fo the ultimate bacon lover.
Sir Francis Bacon Peanut Brittle - $16


My favorite glassware of all time: sophisticated, modeled after products way more expensive, and perfect to move away from the dreaded plastic cups...a huge "no" in chicness.
Marta Barware - $2.50 each


Day 1 - For Her
Day 2 - For Home
Day 3 - Mixed Bag

Charlie the Tuna: Revisited

I have become sort of a cooking/gourmet food nut over the past year. I think it is because I can always rationalize the purchase of food (one has to eat, right) and, it is much cheaper to jaunt off on my own culinary adventures than to pay a restaurant to do it for me.

I normally bring my lunch to work since eating out for lunch every day is a monstrous waste of money. But, I still want something a little less pedestrian than PB&J (though I do love it on occasion with the honey roasted peanut butter from Whole Foods). My newest indulgence is tuna fish. I am in no way, shape, or form referring to the Chicken of the Sea or Starkist variety. I am talking about Italian canned tuna packed in olive oil. Seriously, it will change the way you think about tuna sandwiches. The taste is so spectacular and exponentially better than the other stuff that it seems adulterous to add mustard, mayo, or even bread. I do a quick drain and eat it straight up. Yes, it is more expensive than the regular, but it is like comparing Kraft Singles to a deliciously aged cheese from a cave in France....life is too short to eat crap. Out of all the lunchtime school cafeteria staples, the tuna sandwich finally gets its just desserts. This is a mini splurge I can completely get behind.

Head to the LES for Pickle Day!

Looking for something to do on this lovely Sunday that is free and involves food? Today is your lucky day! Head to the Lower East Side this afternoon for the 9th annual International Pickle Day. I went last year and ate about 8 pickles (got my pickle fix for the year), felt like I was going to vom, and I have been looking forward to this year's event ever since. Don't think you are going to stick to the cucumber variety at this festival either; they have pickled fruits (the grapes are amazing), pickled fish, and just about anything else that can be brined in a jar. There was even a trio singing songs about pickles! These people are obsessed in a way you can only love. So, thank God (since it is the Lord's Day and all) that we have beautiful weather, and come enjoy the pickle bonanza!

2009 International Pickle Day
Sunday, October 4th
Broome btwn Essex and Ludlow
11:30 - 4pm

PS - On Orchard St. people will be strutting their Pickle Day costumes....can't wait to see this!

Top Ramen

The air is crisp with fall, and that normally brings two things to town: wonderful new fall clothes and illness. I have picked up the latter and am revisiting an old college friend for lunch today: ramen noodles. When I graduated from school I said I would never eat ramen again, but alas, I have succumbed to the siren's song of easy, quick, hot, and noodley. It gets even better when you boil the water in your electric teakettle: Ramen in all of 3 mintues. I have probably consumed my entire sodium allotment for the week, but this delicious downward migration on the food chain has made me feel millions better.

Forget the Left-Overs and Head to Paris Commune

Let me tell you, by the time Wednesday rolls around I am ready to relinquish my Betty Draper apron, have a stiff cocktail, and take myself out for a dinner I didn't have to prepare in my kitchen/living room (a.k.a. the great room). This is where Paris Commune comes in. They have amazing specials each weeknight that make you feel truly pampered for the price of a fancy panini. Paris Commune is this great neighborhood spot in the West Village that has been around for 30 years. It is standard, yet delicious, French bistro fare that makes your mouth just water on chilly fall nights (hello, French onion soup). Great atmosphere, wonderful people watching, and a glorious meal is enough to help you get through the rest of the week.

Monday - $12.95 Steak Frites: To celebrate their 30th birthday, it's the same price as in 1979.

Tuesday - 50% off all bottles of wine when you have dinner. That means you can get two for the price of one for all you lushes out there.

Wednesday - $12.95 catch of the day. I'd say it's a catch alright. Pun completely intended.

Thursday - $12.95 Poulet Frites: The best on this side of the Left Bank

Also, don't forget 5:30-6:30 2 for 1 happy hour. If you are going to drink on school nights, please don't be sad and drink alone. Misery loves company. Haha.

Paris Commune
99 Bank St. near Greenwich Street
www.pariscommune.net

The Minimalist: Mark Bittman

I discovered the genius of Mark Bittman when he was on the PBS show "Spain...On the Road Again" (yep, I'm a huge nerd who likes PBS) with Mario Batali, Gwyneth, and some Spanish actress who looked a little like Penelope Cruz. And, I am not going to lie....I have a ginormous food porn completely inappropriate crush on him. Maybe it's that he's a man who can cook, maybe it's the glasses that I am a sucker for, or maybe I love that he doesn't treat cooking like rocket science like most other chefs do. Simple, fresh, and few ingredients make the most delicious meals, and cooking at home is much cheaper than going out to eat or ordering in (and it really impresses dates and dinner parties alike). He breaks down cooking into simple steps where you can really do no wrong, and I love his 101 lists like 101 salads or 101 summer meals in 10 minutes. I am currently working my way through both.

So, forget cereal, toast, or a dinner of hummus and crackers (which I subsided on for about 6 months last year), and fire up the stove and get thee to the grocery store. Below are my favorite links to get you started. I'm a hungry woman who loves food...give me a break.

Mark's blog on the New York Times, Bitten

The Minimalist - short videos on how to prepare delicious food. I could watch these for hours.

101 Simple Salads for the Season

101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less

Dueling Cheap Eats List in NYC

Shall I bring my sword or my dueling pistols? The question should have been asked to New York Magazine and Time Out New York; each with its own version of the best Cheap Eats in NYC which came out last week.

New York Magazine has tellingly taken the high-brow road (under $25) with sandwiches from Le Cirque and a few sit-down options I am definitely going to try out, like Sorella. However, the list was annoyingly overcrowded by an entire section dedicated to New York pizzerias. Sorry. Boring. As an antidote to Time Out New York's magical $10 price point, they decided upon the 10 best dishes under $10 (all of which are now on my list to try). Porchetta and Pho Sure are already on my roster of cheap go-to's.

Time Out New York's list was geared toward the unemployed, super broke, or incredibly cheap. Eats for under an astonishing low $10....which is like saying under $5 in any other part of the country. Although I dread the cluttered interface of their website, the $10 price tag was just too tempting to not take a peek...ok, and to make a few printouts to stash in my desk drawer and kitchen cupboard.

New York Magazine's Cheap Eats List 2009

Time Out New York's Cheap Eats List 2009

Best Bargain Dining in NYC (S. of 30th St)

Whether you are visiting or a local, these places rank tops on my list of NYC restaurants below 30th Street for great food at a reasonable price.

You can really get taken for a ride as restaurants go, and I have heard way too many friends visiting from out of town describe less than stellar dining experiences when left to their own devices (well, it was right by our hotel..blah, blah). News flash---If you look around and all the patrons seem like they hail from Kansas (sorry, Kansasites) get the hell out of there. Only eat in neighborhoods where people actually live (nothing with the word midtown or financial in it), and don't even think about going to Chili's or Red Lobster.

For those of us living in NYC on a budget who also use our ovens for storage (busted!...you know you have shoes, books or winter clothes in there!), these restaurants are the perfect spots to grab dinner with friends...and most do takeout too.

Pepe Giallo on 10th Ave. at 26th St. - Charming little Italian place with cheap, yet delicious, pasta entrees. Ask to sit in the back garden: it's the best spot in the place. Only one CC per check so bring your cash if you are with a group.

Le Grainne on 9th Ave. at 21st St - French Bistro food for much less than Balthazar or Pastis. Salads are perfectly dressed, and I just love the croque monsieur. Avoid the line at Magnolia and jump across the street to Billy's Bakery to grab something sweet apres dinner.

Tomoe Sushi on Thompson between Bleecker and Houston (only open for dinner). The fact that there is a line out the door every night speaks volumes. Get there early or late or expect to wait....haha that rhymed. Ridiculously fresh sushi at a great price. Only accepts Amex or cash.

Cubana Cafe on Thompson St. between Prince St. and Spring St. I love this basement restaurant. Great food, fun latin music, and a perfect atmosphere to get the night started. Be sure to order a side of the roasted corn...so delish. Cash only.

Olive's on Prince St. at Greene St. Great to stop in and grab a sandwich and lemonade. Lovely little take out lunch place.

12 Chairs on MacDougal at King St. - Love this place for lunchy-brunchy-breakfasty things.

Finally, for Sunday dinner go to Extra Virgin on West 4th Street for the spaghetti and meatball special. It is $20 and enough to fill up two people. Don't miss out on the pistachio crusted goat cheese salad too...my favorite in the city!

Am I missing your favorite place?? Leave a comment below and let me know!---haha more rhyming. :-)