My dinner at Village Natural was months in the making with two friends I met through my volunteer work at God’s Love We Deliver. Fellow volunteer Andrew and I wanted to celebrate the promotion of GLWD employee Em but synching our schedules proved to be nearly impossible, until this week. Tuesday night we gathered in the Village to hang outside the four walls of GLWD  and enjoy a night of culinary epiphanies (on my end). With some dietary restrictions here and there Village Natural was chosen and I happily obliged. As someone who basically eats for a living, sometimes my body just begs for something healthy, and of course, Em is always on board to help me with that.

First off, this place is a West Village institution, it’s been there for 20+ years.  Just below the ground in a sort of English basement-like space, the restaurant plays made me feel….relaxed with quiet classical music, comfortable wooden booths, and a menagerie of different plants and gourds populating the space. A sweet old-school place that has a simple nice vibe.

This is the place to eat if you live a mostly plant-based diet, as the menu is all vegetarian and/or vegan. The menu is huge (like five pages) and has something for everyone….. enjoy meals in a variety of cuisines like Mexican, Italian, Chinese and American. Basically, you name it, they carry it.

With this whole gluten-free thing going on in my food space, I had limited options as many vegan and vegetarian diets feature grains chock full of gluten. So I went with the BBQ veggie riblets with mashed sweet potatoes and steamed greens. From the photo above it’s not too hard to see the size difference between the main and sides I was served. The veggie riblets paled in comparison tot he sides but I didn’t mind as the mashed sweet potatoes were outstanding (they had this great bite to them from the use of heavy pepper) and the steamed greens (a mix of celery, kale, broccoli and bok choy) made me a very happy eater.

I was skeptic prior to this meal (would I be hungry after? Would anything taste good?) but knew Em wouldn’t steer me wrong. I literally ate my thoughts/words as my meal was surprisingly good and satisfying. I will definitely go back (after my gluten-free trip is over) and check out the menu items I wanted to try but couldn’t. Post-meal I talked to my vegetarian friends and they all loved the place. More meat eaters should check this out for a little change of pace. For those not in the know, Village Natural is definitely under the radar, literally as it’s underground, but shouldn’t be….it’s a great spot to put some healthy food back into your body.

Village Natural

46 Greenwich Street (between Perry and Charles Streets)

Since I’m going gluten-free (till April 1st), I decided to try my hand at making some normally gluten-loaded favorites of mine  completely gluten-free (others include pizza, pie, a simple sandwich, etc)!!! After a lovely group meal at my friend Sarah’s a few weeks ago where the only thing I couldn’t eat were the pillowy soft gnocchi nuggets, I loaded up on potatoes, rice flour and eggs and tried my hand at making my first ever gnocchi! Pretty darn good if you ask me….but remember this is gfree so it’s a wee bit starchy

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups russet potatoes (peeled, cooked and riced)
• 2  cups rice flour (or any gluten-free flour)
• 1 1/2 eggs beaten

To Make:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil
• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and knead by hand until it forms a ball
• roll a piece out into a rope-like shape (approximately 1/2 inch wide) and about one foot long
• cut rope into 1/2 inch pieces and roll each top with a fork about 3/4 the way around
• add gnocchi to salted boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes
• gnocchi are very delicate so take care when moving and straining
• Serve with your favorite sauce (I served with a pesto sauce and tomatoes) and Enjoy!

Cobble Hill favorite Watty & Meg has so many things going for it….. the best music playlist I have ever heard in a restaurant, a jovial and sweet staff, killer brunch, a warm and cozy atmosphere, I just simply cannot stop with the praise for this place. When I heard they have a burger special every Monday night, well that just became the icing on top of the cake!

Enjoy a Burger (choice of Beef or Veggie), hand-cut fries and a Miller High Life for only $10 every Monday night from 5-10pm!

Watty & Meg

248 Court Street (at Kane)

Let me start off by saying that Li-Lac Chocolates is one of my favorite places in NYC.  No joke. I worked in the meatpacking district for two years and once a week I would stop by post-work and buy myself a piece of Li-Lac’s legendary fudge. Handmade the old-fashioned way and unchanged since 1923, their fudge is outstanding. Buttery and rich it reminds me of life’s little pleasures. There are many flavors available (chocolate walnut, maple walnut, coconut, mocha and milk chocolate), but I never stray from my favorite: peanut butter. Each piece is the half the size of an iPhone and costs a mere $2.50.

A West Village icon since 1923 (they moved from their original location on Christopher Street many many years ago), Li-lac has been making old-world chocolates using only the finest ingredients, time-honored techniques and has eschewed the use of any preservatives. Nearly every recipe they was created by their founder over 88 years ago. Three generations later and nothing has changed, passing the recipes and production methods from one family member (or regular customer) to another. A regular customer (Edward Bond) bought the place years ago from the original owners but the tradition of chocolate greatness remained unchanged leading many to believe it was still under the original families ownership. When I heard that they still make everything in small batches and by hand in copper kettles and on marble tables, well I became a lifelong fan.

Other than Andre’s Confiserie Suisse in Kansas City, it is truly the best chocolate I have ever tasted. Venture in at any time of the year and you will find dozens of custom chocolate molds for the holidays like eggs for easter and trees for christmas or molds like airplanes, cars, new york taxi cabs and the like just for fun. Their best mold however has to be the chocolate letters; they have every letter in the alphabet and come in milk, white and dark chocolate. They are always a crowd pleaser and a great gift!

As a family run, local business (they have outposts in Grand Central Terminal and in Brooklyn where all production is done) it’s almost natural that the customer service is friendly, genuine and helpful. I’ve gone in hoping to get a few hostess or birthday gifts and come out with a bounty of chocolate goodies! Nearly every time I do buy a large purchase I am given a piece of chocolate for free to take with me on the go. They don’t make places like this anymore, it’s truly a one-of-a kind gem in a city overrun with Starbucks, Duane Reade’s, Subways and Dunkin Donuts!

*image courtesy of Li-Lac Chocolates*

The fudge is my personal favorite but they offer so much more and every one is guaranteed to satisfy! Don’t miss out on the kiddie pops (solid chocolate pops on a stick: available in dark, milk and white chocolate), caramel and nut bars, french style cream rolls, all-american bars (marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers and covered with chocolate) and mello mints (mint fondant covered in chocolate), they are outstanding!

A trip to Li-Lac must be on your food to-do list whether you are a New Yorker or a tourist! My recommendation is to enjoy a relaxing lunch at one of the surrounding restaurants (Cafe Cluny, Philip Marie, or Bistro de la Gare) and then hit up Li-Lac for a sweet treat. You’re welcome

Li-Lac Chocolates

Three Locations: West Village, Grand Central Terminal and Sunset Park

In honor of my new Australian friends (who I spent Christmas with in Buenos Aires) and the fact that my parents are currently “down under”, I’m celebrating Australia Day this Thursday, January 26th!  

Since 1788 Australians have been celebrating the day Captain Arthur Philip landed in Port Jackson and claimed Australia for the British Empire. A very important part of the history of Australia this day remains the most inclusive celebration in Australia celebrating diversity and tolerance in Australian society and embracing multicultural Australia! 

Celebrate the Aussie in your life this Thursday at the wonderful Kingswood where they will be partying up with Australian music, beer and wine, and a bounty of down under favorites such as meat pies, barramundi, lamb,  pavlovas, and sticky toffee pudding!

Kingswood

121 West 10th Street (between Greenwich and Sixth Avenue)

Image via Wikipedia

This Tuesday, January 24th,  Eddie Huang (of BaoHaus and the awesome show Cheap Bites on The Cooking Channel) will serve up a  three-course family style feast of Taiwanese dishes for the Chinese New Year! Celebrate the year of the dragon with dishes like vermicelli and tofu casserole, spaghetti squash over sea cucumber and roast duck, sautéed clams over sticky rice and a steamed whole fish!

The dinner is $65 per person, with an optional all-you-can-drink beer, wine, or champagne combo for an additional $30. I was at Eddie’s Chinese New Year dinner at No. 7 last year and it was AWESOME! Hurry up and make a reservation as seating is limited….just email reservations@baohausnyc.com and wait for a confirmation!

LTO

171 East Broadway (between Rutgers and Jefferson Streets)

I moved to Prospect Heights nearly 9 months ago and in trying to find some great neighborhood eats one restaurant always came up….Tom’s on Washington Avenue.

Tom’s is a classic diner where the food, service and atmosphere is always consistent. The decor is kitschy (probably hasn’t changed since it opened 70 years ago), the menu covers nearly every  food item and the prices are super old school. It’s refreshing to have a place like Tom’s in a city where the great neighborhoods, stores and restaurants of the past are quickly disappearing. I mean for a girl who grew up on cherry limeades from Topsy’s in Kansas City I just cannot get over the fact that they still have a soda fountain from the 30′s where they pump out lime rickeys and egg creams!!!

Unlike many Brooklyn restaurants Tom’s is not stylish and it doesn’t tout its use of organic and local ingredients. But Tom’s is a real darn good dining experience. Whatever you do, get the pancakes (especially the lemon ricotta). They are some of the best I’ve ever eaten and have so many different options for you to choose from, satisfying every pancake lover.

There is a reason this place has a cult following; if you live in the neighborhood or close by and haven’t been here at least once then frankly you are doing your stomach an injustice. Now don’t go in expecting a culinary masterpiece or experience that will blow you away, but expect good quality food that hits the spot…every darn time. Serving only breakfast and lunch Tom’s is full of a bunch of neighborhood regulars and newbies, a microcosm representative of this whole city in its diversity.

A neighborhood favorite,  it would be best to go in expecting a wait as this place packs them in on the weekends. Your best bet is to go early but if you do encounter a long line, rest assured knowing that it is not uncommon to be offered little bites and drinks as you hang out and wait for a table (in fact every time I see a wait people are noshing in line).

If you want a fancy brunch, go somewhere else, but if you want to eat well then look no further than Tom’s Restaurant in Prospect Heights. With the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanical Garden just a few blocks away you should make a day out of eating at Tom’s….like now!

Tom’s Restaurant

782 Washington Avenue (between Sterling and St Johns Place)

****Cash only

At  the northern tip of Soho/Nolita lies Tacombi at Fonda Nolita, a classic Mexican taquería brought stateside from the beaches of Playa del Carmen. Escape from the cold and transport yourself to the beach in this lofty space filled with tropical plants, a surf shack and a retrofitted VW Bus. While there enjoy their newly created ”Cervesa Tempranera” (or early beer) special Monday-Friday from 3-6pm with $4 beers, $2 tasting tacos and mexican bar snacks! Arriba!

*check out their Chelsea Market location too (although this special doesn’t apply there)!

Tacombi at Fonda Nolita

267 Elizabeth Street (Between Prince and Houston Streets)

Feeling Cheesy??? Well walk north on 3rd Avenue from St. Marks and encounter a cheese store like no other.  East Village Cheese is a kind of blink and you’ll miss it spot (the windows are filled with hand-written paper signs detailing cheese specials and prices) that caters to the cheese lover in all of us. Open the door and you are bombarded by what I think is the equivalent of the “Willy Wonka” of Cheese shops! 

Never been, well there are a few things you must know…..

1) Bring the Benjamins….they are cash only. A few times I forgot and found myself running around the corner to the bank to get moolah for my purchase! 

2) This place sells cheese on the cheap… like dirt cheap and that’s because they sell cheese that is days away from expiring. So make sure to always check the expiration date of anything you buy. Some may freak out at that notion but I’ve never had any trouble with anything I’ve bought here and I’ve been a loyal customer for nearly 5 years.

3) Put your duke’s up! This place is beloved by thousands of people and rarely not packed to the gills full of cheeseheads.  Best to prepare yourself for a somewhat stressful experience where you may catch someone throwing elbows to get their hands on these stellar prices.

4) They serve pre-cut cheese in the front in refrigerated cases (where I usually spend my time) but if you want something from the counter you better know what you are asking for. They do not offer samples, the cheesemongers don’t have a very good knowledge of the cheese they are slicing, and there is a half pound minimum.

As I detail the above rules I realize that I may be deterring some from entering, some may feel overwhelmed or think it’s not worth it….. but please give EVC a shot. When quantity trumps quality and timing is everything, EVC is for you.  I once came out with three lbs of cheese for $12 for a party I was having that night.  

Simply put….their prices defy logic. I mean they’re practically giving the stuff away. When you don’t wanna shell out some serious dough at Murray’s or Whole Foods head to East Village Cheese.

 East Village Cheese

40 3rd Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets)

Every Monday I spend my night chopping vegetables in the kitchen at God’s Love We Deliver and every monday my fellow volunteers and I detail our latest restaurant recommendations and favorite eats around the city. And for two straight months one restaurant kept popping up… M Shanghai in Williamsburg. With so many people extolling their love for the juicy pork buns at M Shanghai I headed for Williamsburg with some girlfriends to see what all the fuss was about.

Now we all know I love me some dumplings but who knew that I could fall  in love with a dumpling made right in the heart of  Williamsburg? I pledged my allegiance to Nice Green Bo in Chinatown long ago but I gotta say…. M Shanghai gives them a run for their money!

Their juicy pork buns are technically soup dumplings and are composed of a tender wrapper encasing a rich, meaty broth and a plump nugget of pork.  These are absolutely some of the best dumplings I’ve had in the city by far. The price may be a little  steep (you get 6 for $6) but these soup dumplings can’t be beat!

Being Williamsburg and all this is nothing like my favorite Chinatown hole in the walls (it’s very cute and trendy) but the full bar and yummy yummy yummy soup dumplings made me warm up to the place! Once this whole “gluten-free” thing is over, I am going to make a bee-line for M Shanghai!

M Shanghai Bistro & Garden

292 Grand Street (between Roebling and Havemeyer)

It’s been two weeks since I returned from my trip to Buenos Aires and I’ve been inundated with requests to detail my culinary adventure down south!  Unfortunately I realized that a full re-cap would be way tooo long and thus decided to detail my absolute favorite meal and eating experience while in Argentina.

I began researching the best places to eat as soon as my ticket was booked. While pouring through nearly a hundred websites and books dedicated to the best of Argentina one stuck out the most….Casa Felix. Profiled in the NYTimes and the recipient of more praise than any other restaurant I had researched (well except for the famous La Cabrera restaurant), I was hell-bent on getting the chance to eat there.

One of Buenos Aires best kept secrets (not for long), this “closed-door” restaurant is housed in the beautiful home of Chef Diego Felix and photojournalist Sanra Ritten. Open only a few nights a week, this “anti-restaurant” fiercely protects its secrecy by only divulging its location a few days beforehand. Cash only, this pescatarian establishment is an anomaly in a country famous for its beef!

Originally I was placed on the waitlist for their Christmas Dinner and prayed to the culinary Gods that they would make my Christmas Wish come true. When we touched down in Argentina I opened my email account and surprise surprise! Christmas came early because David and I were granted two seats on the 25th!

After an absolutely insane taxi ride from our hotel in Recoleta (he drove about 75 mph and blew through every red light) we arrived at Casa Felix. From the moment you step foot in their house you are filled with this intensively creative vibe. The aura surrounding this place is just magical….they treat you like family from the get-go. We met our fellow diners in the back garden during the welcoming cocktail hour; 18 of our closest strangers which included a large family from Australia and coincidentally four other New Yorkers! Being Christmas and all we gathered around a large communal table and prepared for our five course Christmas feast!

Appetizer:

Portabello Mushroom Viteltone with Suico and Chili Infused Oil

Salad:

Sauteed Octopus with Potatoes Asadas, Lavender Chimichurri and Rosehip Ketchup

Intermezzo:

Melon Granita

Main Course:

Sand Perch Tamal over Vegetables and a Wild Mushroom Ragu

Dessert:

Pan Dulce with Sambayon Ice Cream and Grilled Figs

Paired with wine, each dish was better than the next. Flavors I had never tasted and ingredients I had never heard of before. With a large Italian population, Argentininian food has a slightly Italian bent to it. I tasted surprise and delight with every bite…. especially in the wonderful fish tamal wrapped in an edible leaf, pan dulce (a sort of bread pudding), and octopus salad.

Chef Diego is all about the ethos of slow food and has created dishes inspired by indigenous Argentinian ingredients. Before every course he detailed every single ingredient and where it came from (nearly every herb and vegetable they serve comes from their garden).  For nearly four hours we drank bottles of Argentine wine and ate fabulously with our new best friends trading stories of our Argentinian travels, the gloriousness of Brooklyn, and our individual life stories. Being my first Christmas away from my family I could not have asked for better company (funnily enough I was the only gentile) and the fabulous food and fantastic experience is forever seared into my memory. 

When visiting Buenos Aires Casa Felix must be at the top of your list!!! Sure you can dine at any number of restaurants in Buenos Aires but to be welcome into an Argentinian home and given the opportunity to dine just as they do….well that’s just priceless.

Casa Felix

Buenos Aires

Newly opened restaurant Kupersmith (in the old Clerkenwell pub space on LES) have a seriously dangerous brunch special going on every weekend! Enjoy brunch favorites, traditional and new, and wash them down with unlimited brunch drinks for just $25! Menu items includes a traditional English breakfast, cured norwegian salmon, eggs benedict, fish and chips,  toad in the hole and more!!!

I can’t think of a better way to nurse your hangover (or bring one) than by a drunk brunch at Kupersmith! So saddle up for some morning weekend fun and head down to the Lower East Side!

Kupersmith

49 Clinton Street (between Rivington and Stanton Streets)

January 1st brings a wave of New Year’s resolutions that will undoubtedly cease to exist a few days or weeks in so I waited a week and made mine on Sunday, January 8th. See, I wanted to sort out what I really wanted to work on, change, or amend and found that my recurring hope was to keep healthy and lose a few this year.

I basically eat for a living and when I tell people what I do the most common response is “wow you don’t look like a porker” or something to that effect! Even with all of the running I do, I find that it is a constant struggle to keep fit and eat like I do in this city. So I gave myself a goal…. to lose 15 lbs by March 31st. To do this I am mounting a campaign that includes daily exercise (at least 30 minutes a day) and the removal of a few things from my daily diet.

The most difficult restriction of my new diet will surely be my decision to go gluten-free until March 31st. For someone who loves nothing more than a fresh-baked baguette with a side of salted butter, this is going to be a challenge. Yesterday wasn’t too terrible, but I did wake up craving a bagel and cream cheese! But when I put my mind to something I do it (example: the nyc marathon I ran two months ago), and gosh darnit…I am going to do this! ***Full Disclsoure….It does help to know that I have support in my boyfriend who has been gluten-free for almost ten years (due to a gluten allergy) so at least I have him

My other diet no-nos? Well, my most beloved food item, dumplings, is going straight out the window as they are a) chock full of gluten and b) not the healthiest food item you can ingest. Others include limiting my alcohol intake and what I call “non-essential desserts,” which basically means I am going to be super critical of dessert menus asking myself whether or not I really need or want it!

So while I know many consider going “gluten-free” to be a trend or fad diet…you have to remember that celiac disease is real and that a wheat allergy is serious. So my quest may be superficial (trying to lose weight) but I am determined to keep this up! Besides, how AWESOME is my first dumpling going to be come April 1st!?

Wish Me Luck!

Last month I had the pleasure of dining at Fatta Cuckoo for the first time and let me tell you, this restaurant is amazeballs. Opened last January this place should not be under the radar! Chef Chris Mitchell has created a delightful menu featuring his take on the melting pot cuisine of New York City and I just can’t get enough!

You too can dine like a King at Fatta Cuckoo as they just launched a date night special every Tuesday from 6pm-closing. Enjoy a “generous date night” with their offering of a bottle of wine, a shared appetizer, two entrees and two desserts for just $35 per person! The menu includes such greats as succulent braised short rib dish that is amazing, a sweet and savory butternut squash risotto, a lemon pistachio cake that is to die for and a rich homemade tortoni!! So grab your loved one and head over to Fatta Cuckoo for a romantic (and affordable) date night!

Fatta Cuckoo

63 Clinton Street (between Rivington and Stanton Streets)

*image courtesy of finecooking.com*

Do you walk through the produce aisle and always wonder why the giant green banana looking fruits seem to be hidden away far from the bananas? Well, they may look like bananas (they are bananas big brother) but they are very very different.

For one they are super starchy, low in sugar, used mostly as a vegetable, and unsuitable for raw consumption (unlike bananas).  Very popular in Western Africa and Caribbean countries, they are super versatile. They can be chunked and cooked in soups or stews, sliced and fried, mashed like a potato, boiled or sautéed or baked. 

While working “the line” of my culinary school’s restaurant kitchen during my last month of school, we featured a sweet plantain dessert that was a play on the traditional bananas foster. Since then, I have frequently re-created that dish but in a much simpler way. Below please find my recipe for a sweet, healthy (plantains are rich in vitamin B6, potassium and increase immune function), and easy way to eat plantains for dessert!

Ingredients:

• 5-6 Plantains
• 1/4 cup melted salted butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 Tbsp cinnamon

To Make:

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
• Peel the plantains and cut 2 inch wide slices diagonally
• Toss with melted butter, honey and cinnamon
• Bake until browned, about 15 minutes
• Remove from oven, toss in a bowl, serve and enjoy!

New (well March 2010 new) restaurant Betel (pronounced like the insect beetle) in the West Village has a rocking cold weather special called Pig Out Mondays!  Every Monday, Chef Adam Woodfield serves up his succulently sweet black vinegar pork ribs with roasted sesame seeds for just $2.50 each and Pork Slap beers go for an additional $4!!!! This deal runs from 6pm until the ribs run out so rush out of work and pig out!

Betel

51 Grove Street (between Bleecker Street and 7th Avenue)

While trying to kill some time between meetings last week in the East Village I set off for Venieros Pastry Shop and Caffe on 11th Street. With literally hundreds of Italian treats to try from its difficult to choose just one! Since I used to live down the street I’ve tried nearly everything they offer, but it is their scrumptious, light and delicate Millefoligie that makes me weak in the knees. A simple dessert, a millefoligie consists of crisp sheets of puff pastry layered with decadently rich pastry cream doused with powdered sugar on top.

It’s terribly difficult to eat as if you have on nice clothes as the minute you bite into it you are awash in a dusting of powdered sugar. But I walk down the street proud to sport my powder badge of honor telling myself that everyone who sees me dig into each bite is envious of my tasty treat. Unfortunately I didn’t get far as it was gone before I even got halfway down the street!

Go out of your way to hit up Venieros… its worth every single calorie, every dry cleaning bill, every single step it takes you to get to the East Village!

Venieros Pastry Shop & Caffe

342 East 11th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenue)

As many of you prepare to enjoy a little downtime during the holidays, I too will be taking a break! For the next week and a half, I will be celebrating the holidays with my boyfriend in “The Paris of South America”…..Argentina!!!! We will be spending 9 glorious days eating, drinking, seeing, and doing literally everything we possibly can! 

I don’t leave till Sunday, so if you have any recommendations, please send them along!!!

Happy Holidays!!!!! xo

Two nights ago I had the pleasure of dining at Fatta Cuckoo with my good friends Sarah, James and Spiegs. In the interest of full disclosure we were invited to a tasting by the owner Leah Tinari and Chef Chris Mitchell but you all know that if I don’t love it…I don’t write about it! Smack dab in the middle of  bustling Clinton Street, Fatta Cuckoo is a stand out!

The restaurants name, “Fatta Cuckoo,”   was inspired by a phrase the owners Grandma used to say after a meal! They call it a small American menu but Chef Chris’s culinary influences come from far and wide. Even with a full restaurant, Chef Chris excitedly told us about every course and detail. So friendly and warm, he was genuinely happy to speak with us and gave us his undivided attention at every turn. And if there is one thing I am confident in saying… it is that in this industry a nice Chef is hard to find!  

The vibe of this place is undeniably enthralling. Yes its small and tight but the crowd is good-looking and the place has energy that pulsates throughout every person, plate and glass. The experience is so intimate and even with the tight space, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

But the food…. knowing that I had 9 courses ahead of me was a little intimidating but I went for it! We had small little bites but after seeing every plate pass by the kitchen I know you will be full after eating here. Chef Chris, a disciple of the April Bloomfield kitchen, buys local from Essex Street and Union Square and puts a premium on forging relationships with his vendors and fellow neighbors which I respect and admire!

The food isn’t fussy… and damn is it good. It’s simple and straightforward, cooked from the heart and cooked to absolute perfection.  We had a ton of food, and each dish was better than the last. Trying to isolate my favorite dish was nearly impossible as the fritters we started with were unbelievable and then the dessert platter we finished our meal with (made by Leah’s mom) was outstanding! How is that pistachio lemon cake not in every single coffee shop in the city… it’s so much better than the olive oil cakes you see in every display case!

With food this good the drinks gotta complement and not overwhelm the food. Well the cocktails, made by Christian, are unreal. He has created nearly a dozen different specialty cocktails and each are their own little spirit masterpiece. With 9 courses I was scared we would walk out sloshed with 9 different cocktails in us but Christian started us off slow with wine then gradually moved us to four other drinks…his signature fatta gimlet, barnstormer, orchard and housemade egg nog. I walked out full and happy thanks to both the food and drink pairings. I could go into every single inch of each dish we ate but a) you don’t have all day to read my gibberish and salivate over food porn and b) you just gotta trust me on this one… PLEASE!

Daily specials pop up here and there, Chef Chris changes the menu seasonally and we didn’t try the whole menu but hot damn… Fatta Cuckoo’s food is sinfully, spectacularly, ridiculously delightful. Take a peep at the food porn here….

Sweet Potato Fritters with Chili Lime Aioli

Black Bean Soup with Roasted Poblano Crema and Crispy Tortillas

Burrata over Roasted Tomato Sauce with Fried Egg and Chili Oil

Handmade Lobster Ravioli with Marechiaro Sauce with Lemon Zest, Chive and Olave

PEI Mussels in Thai Chili Tomato Broth with Cilantro and Toasted Baguette with Housemade Coconut Chili Butter

3 Chili Rubbed Pork Tenderloin over Sweet Potato Mash with Smokey Chili Sauce

Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Sage and Butternut Seed Oil

Braised Short Ribs over Sweet Potatoes

Dessert Sampler: Coconut Custard Pie, Pistachio Lemon Cake, Key Lime Pie, Homemade Tortoni, Cheesecake, and Homemade Egg Nog

You may not get to know the people of Fatta Cuckoo like we did, but I guarantee that you will be treated like one of their own when you enter. Fatta Cuckoo is worth every penny,  and you better dine here before everyone else discovers it!!! Run…Don’t Walk to Fatta Cuckoo!

Fatta Cuckoo

63 Clinton Street (between Rivington and Stanton Streets)