June 2010 Archives

NYC Summer Restaurant Week is July 12 - 25.  Start making reservations now so you don't lose out!   Lunch prix fixe is $24.07 and dinner $35.


Some restaurants are participating for only lunch or dinner, but most are offering both.  You can preview selected menus at the NYC Go website and link to reservations on Open Table.  Many top restaurants are participating like: Aureole, Cafe Boulud, Del Posto, Jo Jo, Le Cirque, Nobu, etc. etc.  Also a lot of neighborhood spots.

Tribeca Grill is having a Clambake/Wine Dinner on Wednesday July 28th.  It's $75 for a family style feast with lots of great seafood and wine!  Here's a peak at the menu:


Yummy, yum, yum!!  Call 212-941-3900 for reservations.

I have been meaning to get to Luke's on the Upper East Side (242 E. 81st St. betw. 2nd & 3rd) ever since I read about them in New York Magazine a while ago.  Well, I finally made it yesterday.  They are located in the former Etats-Unis space, but it has been transformed into a Fish Shack.  The lobster roll is $14, or you can get a it with a drink, chips and a pickle for $16 (both + tax).  What interested me the most about this place is that I love lobster, but I HATE mayonaise, and almost everyone mixes the two - but here you can keep your lobster pristine (no mayo or butter!) if desired, or have it with just butter and/or lemon, and spices.  I tried it with lemon and spices... wow, I have to say they don't chintz you on lobster!  I was really impressed with the amount of lobster and gorgeous huge hunks of claw meat. (the claw is my favorite part)  The roll is nothing special, just your basic toasted hot dog roll, I didn't even eat it.  I just ate the lobster out of it with a fork, heaven!!

This is the picture from their website and yes, it really does look like that!



They even deliver, with a $20 minimum.  Check out the full menu here including soups, crab claws and crab and shrimp rolls. I hope they're successful, it's a great addition to the Upper East Side!

I'm going to stay on the topic of truffles today... another great and (relatively) inexpensive way to get truffle flavor is with a truffle oil!  I found a good size container at Home Goods of all places for $12 recently!  (and no, it was even expired or anything!)  You can get the same kind at Amazon (La Tourangelle Infused White Truffle Oil, 2 for $26.15), their price is very good too, it's 23% off the regular price.  The oil base is grapeseed oil, which is a very healthy type of oil.



A nice way to use it is to mix up an easy vinaigrette:

1 1/2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon white truffle oil, or to taste
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

Toss it with mesclun greens. Dress up your salad a bit if you feel like it by adding some fresh fig cut into pieces and a little bit of gogonzola dolce!

I LOVE truffles, but of course they are so expensive, it's a rare treat. Well, here's a pretty inexpensive way to bring truffles into your life: Truffle Salt!

Williams-Sonoma Truffle & Salt, 3.5 oz. jar, $28. It is sea salt blended with a generous amount of Italy's fresh black summer truffles from Abruzzi.  It has received 4.8 stars out of 5 from Williams-Sonoma reviewers.  I would put this on basically anything savory!  Vegis, popcorn, scrambled eggs, omelets, salads.... Yum!