DnA: The building blocks of food and love.

Press 195 - Rockville Centre, Long Island

2011-08-15T15:42:00.011-04:00

22 North Park Ave

Rockville Centre Long Island

516.536.1950

Consider this a makeup review for Press 195 in Rockville Centre. My first visit to this restaurant, was when it had first opened at this location. To make a long story short, it did not go well. I had complained about my experience, and a $25 gift certificate was sent my way in order to be more impressed by Press 195 the second time around. I certainly appreciated the quick response from the management, and decided that tonight was the night.

We strolled in on Saturday night when most R.V.C spots are hopping, press's vibe bordered on de-pressing. We were seated immediately in the back where only a few other tables were occupied. Our waitress, Amanda (perhaps an indication that this meal would be amazing) greeted us in an enthusiastic manner, which was much appreciated.

This restaurant in particular is where we spent our first Valentine's Day. We were anxious to see what changes had been made, to to transition from Gabrielle's Brasserie & Wine Bar into panini mania. The set up was exactly the same as far as the tables were concerned, but they had added almost a stain glass tile on half of the ceiling of the restaurant. It gave off a rustic vibe with high tables in the front of the venue, and an outside garden for those who want to eye gaze under the sunset =) It's a casual scene where the servers wear black t-shirts and jeans.

After our 4 games of bowling, by the way since we are also about sharing our love, we took advantage of the 99 cent games which are offered in r.v.c from 2pm-6pm Monday through Friday. Scoring a 105, my all time high, I was starving!

With nothing on the table to hold us off, we ordered the guacamole, which interestingly enough is called the veggie salsa when you look over your bill later on. Shortly after, a large basket of warm chips headed our way with two tiny condiment sized plastic cups. On one side, we have the guac and on the other end you will find their salsa. The guac left little to be desired as it was brown (add some lime juice people come on). It definitely didn't seem like homemade guacamole. It was alright, as was the salsa, a bit on the spicy side, but overall this starter didn't cross the finish line for us. We were left with a mostly filled basket of chips which had pieces of fresh wilted parsley and julienned carrots sprinkled on top. Are you confused too? Join the club. However, if you should want more guacamole or salsa, feel free to ask, as our attentive bus boy informed us that the cups are that small to make the dish look pretty, but you can have as much as you want.

Our panini's came out, along with our belgian fries while we were still munching on our chips. Personally I think there is a reason it's called a starter, and I'd like to finish it before my meal comes out......

First off, our paninis were hot.hot.hot! Allowing my panini to cool off, I decided to munch on a french fry which was calling my name in it's mini fryer styled basket! Meh, they were alright, I had higher expectations since on the menu they appeared to have quite an ego explaining "double cooked for the ultimate fry, try them once and you'll be hooked." Well, I wasn't, so calm yourself.....

I ordered the #15, out of the 40 panini options, that you have to choose from. Ranging from $9-10 dollars. I'm easily swayed when it comes to goat cheese, which is why the portabella panini with baby arugula, goat cheese and a garlic & olive spread seemed like a no brainer. However my panini also underwhelmed me this time around....again. The portabella was tough, and the arugulas bitterness border lined on burnt, which overpowered the whole taste of the panini. As always there wasn't enough goat cheese, and the garlic & olive spread didn't stand out at all for me.

Dino ordered the number 9. This had roast pork, monterey jack cheese, onions, jalapenos and a roasted garlic spread. The roast pork was pretty dry, but the roasted garlic spread was tasty. Dino said he could spread that on anything and it would make it taste better. This was a decent sandwich for you roast pork lovers, but if you don't like onions, do not get them on this sandwich. It seemed to overpower all the flavors. The roasted garlic spread and the kick of the jalapenos really made this sandwich work. All the panini's also came with a side of cucumber salad. Nothing special in our books.

To each his own they say and in this case, I think that this will be our final try of Press 195. There are lots of choices which may tempt you, and some will argue that these are the best paninis ever! I have to disagree as I am a true fan of Paninis and Bikinis in Long Beach, but I was willing to give another town a chance. For us the meal didn't hit a high note, and I don't think we will be returning.

As always, Extra Love...even if it was a little tough this time

DnA

Cafe Formaggio Carle Place, NY

2011-08-11T14:02:00.012-04:00

Cafe Formaggio
307 Old Country Rd, Carle Place, NY 11514
TEL: 516-333-1718

Two Italians, a Filipino, and a Hawaiian walk into an Italian restaurant...

This may sound like the opening to a joke, but there was nothing funny about Cafe Formaggio in
Carle Place, New York. Growing up, I frequently ate at Spago which was the previous
restaurant at this location. It was a delicious family style Italian restaurant, which
received two thumbs up from this girl! Perhaps it was the attachment to the old
establishment, or the fact that the parking lot only has valet, either way it has taken us
over a year to eat there. This week’s goal was to find a delicious Italian restaurant, so
that chains like Olive Garden can stop making money off of insulting dishes, and a real
home cooked spot can benefit for a change..........Let’s dig in.....

After valet parking our car, we were greeted by two young girls who were the
hostesses. We were unable to be seated because the other “two-some” of our “foursome”
(Let’s keep it PG people) were running fashionably late. When our table was ready our
friends were still on there way, but one of the girls showed us to our table saying, “I
don’t want you to have to wait again for another table.” I was pleased by her kindness in
accommodating us because rarely can you be seated without your full party.

Shortly after being seated, our waiter greeted us. and then....HALLELUJAH! A bread basket was placed in front of us filled with garlic knots, focaccia and mini pizzas. It also came with a side dish of olives, homemade hummus, and chunks of Parmesan cheese! Oh how I love my
Italian heritage!

The menu reads like a book. Seriously, I think that every Italian dish ever created
was on it, so be prepared to feel slightly overwhelmed. Order yourself a fun frozen cocktail or a glass of wine to make the process a bit easier.

A common cuisine misconception is that Italian food easy to make, but I completely disagree with that philosophy. In fact, I am never satisfied with Italian food because in my mind no one
makes it better than Mommy!

Did Cafe Formaggio fill our tummies with satisfaction? Relax everyone; let’s
break it down for you starting with some appetizers. Your usual antipasto, fried zucchini,
and mozzarella are on there, but meatball sliders in a puff pastry, what?!?! Four mini meatballs rolled our way, and boy was I delighted! The meatball itself was great; it had excellent flavor with perfect consistency, and a beautifully red traditional sauce! The puff pastry bun was also a hit, put it together and what do you got, meaty-ball-boppity-boo! Just don’t make the same mistake that my friend Jess did by attempting to cut the slider in half.....I know and she’s a pastry chef! Leave it whole and enjoy two delightful bites!

The calamari arrabiata came out, and it was tossed in hot cherry peppers with a roasted garlic and marinara sauce. The deep fried calamari was swimming in the delicious sauce, while the peppers gave it the right amount of kick. I would definitely recommend this classic dish with a bit of a spin. Make sure you have more than 2 people eating this appetizer. It was quite filling, but delicious!
Off to a promising start with a scrumptious meatball and a tasty traditional marina
sauce we were excited about the main course. For me, I stuck with pasta ordering the
ravioli alla verde: fresh homemade ravioli in a spinach cream sauce. Upon first glance, I
was slightly frightened by the green eggs and ham color of the sauce, but the old saying
holds true, Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover. The ravioli was awesome and fresh, and if
they weren’t, well then kudos for fooling me. They were cooked perfectly in a full of
flavor sauce. I am quite a fan of spinach, but this increased my love of the vegetable
with it’s depth of savory goodness.

All pasta dishes range from $15-$25 which in my mind will never be fully justified. Solely because I know how inexpensive pasta is, BUT with the enormous serving sizes that they provide you with you will feel less jipped.

The other Italian ordered the chicken rolladue; A chicken breast stuffed with
ricotta spinach topped with melted mozzarella on a bed of mashed potatoes in a madeira
wine sauce. The chicken was juicy and delectable with a tasty spinach stuffing. The
sauce, which resembled a marsala sauce, was on point as well. This was a very
successful dish which was enhanced by a classic mashed potato side. After all, isn’t
everything better when mashed potatoes are on the plate?

The Hawaiian went up against the Veal Osso Bucco: Veal Shank served over
Italian risotto with a demi glaze sauce. The shank was super tender, and sat right on top of the risotto, allowing all its flavors to soak right into the risotto with the peas and carrots. The shank even came with marrow in bone, served with a little fork to make it easier to eat the delectable goodness. It was a little bit of a pricier dish, but if you want your shake for your shank, try it out!

Dino the Filipino tried the veal parmigiana. Here’s hoping I don’t have to explain
what parmigiana is to our readers, am I right? This dish can easily be unpleasant
when eaten out, but this was just like grandmas! Tender slices of veal came out, which you couldn't even tell, as it was smothered in mozzarella and pomodoro sauce. Along side was a mixture of vegetables and some roasted potatoes. This was your classic veal parm dish, although Dino said he would rather have had it with some pasta instead. The vegetables seemed out of place, and the potatoes needed some ketchup, not pomodoro sauce. Nonetheless, it certainly filled his belly.

The meal ended on a high note, as our stomachs were too full to attempt the
dessert menu. With the usual options of cheesecake, tiramisu or cannoli there weren’t
any items worth unbuttoning our pants for (so to speak).

The decor leaves little to be desired, and it could use a face lift. I’d say it’s going for a Tuscan feel, but the dreary drapes and curtains surrounding the space created a boring vibe overall. If Jeffery Lewis from Flipping Out walked in there, he wouldn’t be impressed that’s for sure.

We loved the staff as they were both friendly and attentive. My water glass
always remained full, and our table was quickly cleared. An applause to you, Cafe
Formaggio for satisfying not one but two stubborn Italian stomachs! Oh and the
Hawaiian and Filipino were also pleased =) DnA Approved! If the prices were a bit
lower, we’d be regulars, but with entrees in the $17-$25 range, I think we’ll still be
having Sunday dinner at home with an occasional bite at Cafe Formaggio.

Ciao For Now,

With Extra Love,

DnA

Quick Hello!

2011-08-07T13:09:00.003-04:00

Hello There To fellow bloggers & our loving readers,

I hope you are all having a marvelous Sunday! We are hoping for some feedback on an idea that we have, so let us know what you think. We know you are reading, we just don't know who "you" are so feel free to let us know your thoughts about anything & everything!

We are tossing around an idea of creating a business card referring to our restaurant review blog. My thought is after we have paid our bill, we will place a business card in the checkbook that reads something along the lines of, "You've been blogged, check out our review at dnafoods.blogspot.com" What do you think? It can't hurt right? We have received some great feedback, and our blog has been mentioned on other sites reviewing certain restaurants. Perhaps this would be a good way to spread the food and love. Have an awesome day, keep eating, loving & reading!!! Expect a review of Cafe Formaggio in Carle Place later this week!

Extra Love,

DnA

9 Restaurant NYC

2011-08-03T14:39:00.014-04:00

9 Restaurant
800 9th Ave New York City

Some call it Thirsty Thursday, we prefer Tasty Thursday. Why waste time on drinks, when you can explore an inventive spin on American cuisine at 9 restaurant in New York City? Finding a tasty spot before heading to the theatre is no easy task, but as always we were up for the challenge. Now it seems that ninth avenue is not short on restaurants with the number nine in the name so make sure you are at the right spot.

Upon entering 9, we were seated immediately, and we were greeted by our friendly waitress. We were accompanied by some of our family, which made us a group of seven. The restaurant was mostly empty, and we were seated by the door. As it was a beautiful city night, the doors and windows were all wide open. A few members of our party were a bit warm, so we had asked if it would be possible to lower the air conditioning in the restaurant. A few moments later, the manager approached us and abruptly stated, is there a problem? We quickly asked him, and he intelligently stated, “Well you’re seated by the doors which are open and it’s a warm night.” My god I think he’s got it; an attitude that is.....thanks for nothing!

The menu had several intriguing dishes, in particular the crowd was memorized by the description of the crab mac & cheese. It arrived in a small casserole dish which looked and smelled amazing! It was super cheesy, and just had the right amount of crab meat. It was a delicious start!

While waiting for our meal with no bread basket AGAIN to keep my mouth busy, I decided to ask a few questions about the chef. I had recently read a small blurb about the restaurant, comparing the chef to other well known masterminds like Todd English, and I became intrigued to learn more. The waitress’s response was, “Oh his name is.......oh my goodness I can’t think of his last name right now.” Akward! As she went to fellow servers for assistance, they were also speechless. Perhaps I am being harsh, but how embarrassing; I feel that everyone should be knowledgeable when it comes to where they are working, especially when a person’s reputation is on the line.

Here-comes-the-food (sorry we have been to numerous weddings lately). Now onto the entree, my eyes were immediately drawn to the chicken & dumplings dish mostly because that’s not a meal that you see or eat very often! We will also have the cod, short ribs, and 3 orders of the lobster cavetelli please.
I allowed my mind to wander while waiting, and I pictured a deep bowl with fluffy dumplings in it, and while that was not what arrived, this dish was a new spin on an old classic. With the skin still intact, the chicken was sliced into thick rounds accompanied by a side of sautéed kale, and four dumplings. The chicken was juicy, and the skin was a crispy golden brown, but the center had dark lines which were unappealing to me. After trying each component separately, I enjoyed it all. Personally, I feel that the perfect bite is the only way to take on this dish. The dumplings had a similar appearance to a pot sticker, and they were quite flavorful. Kale is definitely an acquired green, as it is very bitter, but the cooking of it really complimented this side.

Every dish was beautiful, especially Dino’s short ribs. Two tender pieces of short ribs sat on top of whipped mashed potatoes, and each bite made you want some more. I highly recommend this dish for the meat lovers. You will not be disappointed!

The lobster cavatelli was served just right. Big portions with lots of delicious cod and lobster pieces!

The cod was cooked to perfection. It came with some assorted vegetables which included some baby bok choy! We recommend this dish if your in the mood for some fish! No complaints here.

The staff couldn’t help but notice that we were taking pictures of the food, and a few moments later we were given a 9 shot glass! We’ll take it, our first free gift woo-hoo go DnA! Okay so it looked a bit cloudy & possibly used, but it’s the thought that counts.

We all wanted something sweet after our comfort food meal, and we indulged in the mini ice cream cones, maple doughnuts with white chocolate drizzle, and the peanut butter chocolate bar. Four mini cones came out each a different flavor including orange, caramel, white chocolate, and vanilla & chocolate swirl. Can you say adorable? I wish that I had my own mini cone maker, and all of those flavored ice creams would be a great bonus, they were delish!

From refreshing to parched, the peanut butter candy bar was also yummy, however it did not win over the crowd. It was extremely rich without any cut from that chocolate peanut butter power.

Time to dive into doughnuts! They had unbelievable flavor, they were a bit dense but so satisfying. Did I mention they were still warm? The ice cream on the side offered the perfect balance.

Our experience at 9 had it’s ups and downs but the food spoke for itself. It was delicious, inventive, visually appealing, and extremely filling. While the pricing is on the higher end expect to spend $20 plus each for all entrees, but it will be worth it. I know I was a bit hard on the staff, but I will say overall, they were very friendly and they even added a few jokes here and there. The vibe of the restaurant has a hip feel with the graffiti wall art, all it needs is the crowd to really finish the atmosphere. Go check it out for yourself!

With extra love!

dna

Rare Bar & Grill Full Review

2011-07-28T10:51:00.020-04:00

Rare Bar & Grill
152 West 26th Street (between 6th & 7th Aves.)
Rooftop Bar

What better way to spend the hottest day of the summer thus far than to head into the city for a tasty meal? While most were searching for relief in their air conditioned homes on Friday night, Dino & I felt the need to go toward the heat, into the hot streets of the city. As we took the escalator up from penn station, our stomachs were growling, and our heads quickly began to perspire. The heat wave that hit us as we walked, made us feel some sympathy for what our meal goes through being cooked in the oven. We quickly strolled to our destination, taking a sigh of relief when we opened up the doors at Rare Bar & Grill at Chelsea.

Upon first sight, don’t be intimidated by the building next door which is under construction. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when I realized that was not where we would be eating that night. For a minute there it seemed to be pretty touchy. After walking in, we were greeted separately by two hostess’s who were very accommodating. The bar was packed, and when I saw two seats open up we got all over that. Treating ourselves to a few drinks at a city price of $12 a pop, you get what you pay for. The bar area was loud but hopping, and it was fun to chat a bit before we were escorted to our table. We took the staircase down to the restaurant, and we were seated at a long table which had a side of chairs and a booth side. We had a party of ten, and I can tell you that each diner was starving. I don’t think that we could read the menu quick enough, or come to a conclusion of how we would order the appetizers as fast as possible. Our starvation wasn’t helped at all as there was no bread basket or pickings of any kind. You all know how I love a good bread basket, so this was a tad disappointing. Our waitress was sort of like the last person in gym class, yeah we will take her, but we wouldn’t have picked her originally. I can use part of the restaurants name in saying that she RAREly cracked a smile or showed emotion of any kind. There wasn’t much interaction, but she did her job in bringing the food to the table.

Back to the food!

For the appetizer round we ordered not one, but two french fry baskets to be served at each end of the table, fried calamari, spinach & artichoke dip, and of course frickles!

Okay I’ll start with the frickles, huh? A frickle is a fried pickle, as it was explained on the menu which in it of itself won me over! The frickle on the other hand wasn’t outstanding. First off, the platter it came on seemed half empty, and I found myself really searching for the pickle, as the frickle, appeared to mostly be the fried dough surrounding it. I did enjoy the dipping sauce which was some kind of herby goodness.

The spinach and artichoke dip was a crowd-pleaser (when is it not?). It was piping hot, there was a great balance of flavor, and the colorful chips added a fun visual.

Now the best part for last, the french fries! The basket consisted of waffle fries, thin fries, and sweet potato fries. Did I mention the dipping sauces??? There was your ketchup, chili ketchup, chipotle aoili, bbq sauce, and yes a honey maple dip. Combine a sweet potato fry with a dip of the maple sauce, and that’s just about all I needed for the entire meal. It was so delicious! That by far wins the dip competition, which I just decided needed to happen, congratulations to you mr. honey maple sauce! You win the appetizer round above everything else.

There were other options and salads offered for appetizer, but we decided to forgo the chicken noodle soup, as the thought of it made us sweat even more. All and all, I’d say we were a little too satisfied because our entrees were about to approach and we had all stuffed our faces rather quickly.

The good part of going to dinner with ten people, is that we have 8 more dishes to critic for you, the bad part is that not all of the eaters were thrilled with what rare had produced. I felt the name of the restaurant made it clear that you should probably order a burger, which is exactly what I did. I ordered the artisanal burger, which is decided each week by the chef. That night, it was a burger with smoked muenster cheese, roasted red peppers, onions, and bacon. It was also accompanied with a small side salad. The burger looked appetizing, and I adored that each piece of meat had a toothpick in it with the temperature that you ordered. My burger was delicious, but again the name holds true my burger was RARE not medium as I had ordered it. The burger itself, did not have much seasoning, but the toppings certainly did it justice. It was a large burger, and I was stuffed after only a few bites. The salad might as well have not been on the plate as it had no flavor, and I couldn’t even tell you what it was supposed to taste like.

Dino ordered the 14oz New york strip steak. It was served with chive mashed potatoes and some asparagus. He loves his steaks medium well, but came a little too well done. That's what he gets for ordering it medium-well in a place called Rare. But seriously, who orders steaks medium-well? Nothing much to rave about the strip. Stick with a burger.

Other guests ordered hamburgers with the same overall feeling as me, they enjoyed it, but were not blown out of the water. Our one buddy who ordered the turkey burger thought it was good, and he loved the horseradish mayonnaise which it was topped with. I know all of you are dying to know how the lobster burger was, and I’m saddened to have to be the one to tell you that the two ladies who ordered it were disappointed. It was dry, bland, and crunchy from being fried. While it was a nice size and there was a good amount of lobster present, the execution failed immensely.

I enjoyed the feel of the restaurant, which was noisy but not too loud, it had great energy, and I thought the high ceilings and decor complimented the space. There was also a strong barbed wire theme happening, any takers on why? Yes you guessed it to represent the cows, slightly morbid but clever at the same time.

Our meal concluded with a surprise dessert which was sent for my birthday. This was a sweet ending because we were all too stuffed to actually order dessert. For future reference the desserts are massive and they need to be shared. We saw two girls order separate desserts and one of them literally looked like she was going to cry thinking she had to eat it alone. We all took a spoon full of the chocolate chip bread budding...rich enough for you? It certainly was for us, it tasted like the world’s darkest chocolate and had we not continued on with our cocktails I would have asked for a class of milk. I’d pass on dessert as it wasn’t thrilling.

Overall, in addition to being able to cool off for awhile, the restaurant was satisfactory. The food was good, not great, but i would recommend it for large groups as well as for a good burger. All our friends seemed satisfied. But was it the food or the fact that they were celebrating me turning a year older? You make the final decision =)

As a fun addition they also have a rooftop bar which was a blast! There is no bottle service or admission fee, and the view is spectacular. It was a bit toasty, but I’d imagine most nights are not 100 plus degrees! Heads up to the gentlemen there is a dress code....girls aren’t we lucky that our gender is enough to get us right in?

Rare Bar & Grill: dna approved.

Extra Love,

Amanda & Dino

Rare Bar & Grill is located in the New York Fashion District, and opened along with the Hilton hotel in may 2010

Chelsea Market: Crepes!

2011-07-27T21:41:00.002-04:00

Bar Suzette Chelsea Market: 425 W 15th St, NYC

The Crepes are fantastic!!!! Nutella, Banana, Strawberry crepe, yes please! They have a vast number of crepes from savory to sweet you can’t go wrong. Yum, I want one right now. They are handed to you perfectly folded to accompany you on your walk through the streets of NYC.

Pop Burger NYC

2011-07-27T21:38:00.003-04:00

Three NYC Locations

Yes I admit I initially only went because I saw it on an episode of Betthany Ever After BUT it was worth it. I’d describe it as a slightly pricier fast food joint ranging around $9 for sliders. The sliders are delicious as are the fries, and they serve other items with names like the gobble gobble (yes you guessed it the turkey burger) or the invisible burger ( veggie burger). It’s a great spot for people watching in the city, and you can also stroll into the lounge for a sit down meal. Did I mention after leaving this spot we literally walked into Guy Fieri?????

Cafeteria NYC

2011-07-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

Cafeteria
119 7th Avenue

Stop reading immediately, leave your desk, and head to Chelsea right now. This 24 hour, hipster hot spot has great vibes, service, and food. While obsessed with their breakfast, I stick to what I know is amazing--like the lemon ricotta pancakes and the croissant french toast.

The menu also includes mac & cheese spring rolls (WHAT?) and a large variety of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and main dishes. Quite frankly there isn’t enough time to cover the whole menu but it is intriguing to know I can keep going back without ordering the same meal.....if only those lemon ricotta pancakes didn’t melt in your mouth!

David Burke Townhouse

2011-07-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

David Burke Townhouse
133 East 61st Street Park and Lexington Avenues

I love everything about this restaurant. From the elegant trendy artistic feel that both of the dining rooms possess, to the innovative food you can’t go wrong. Did I mention they offer a lunch and dinner prix fixe, and a $35 brunch every Sunday? Everything on the menu screams out to you, and it is difficult to choose just one item from each course.
I had to try the Tuna and Salmon tartares which were accompanied with three delicious dipping sauces. It was absolutely delightful, and my palette favored the spicy mayonnaise. The handmade cavetelli surrounded by mushroom goodness was out of this world, as was the hanger steak and egg dish.
We opted to try the famous cheesecake lollipop tree which was a $8 supplement that we shared. It had several perfectly made lollipops some dipped in dark chocolate, strawberry topped with crushed nuts. In one word...YUM! We can’t wait to go back.

Fig & Olive NYC

2011-07-27T10:06:00.000-04:00

Three NYC Locations

I’ve been looking forward to tackling this spot for awhile, and New York City’s Restaurant Week seemed like the perfect opportunity. We went to the Fifth avenue location for the pre-fix dinner costing $35 for a three course meal. Right off the bat, the staff was inattentive leaving us at the bar waiting for the upstairs restaurant to open. They told us to sit down, and neglected to tell us to go upstairs where the hostess would seat us. It’s your typical small, too close for comfortable NYC seating, so get ready to see what your neighbors are eating. We sat by the window, and our waiter was very friendly and helpful.

Living up to part of the name they started us with 3 types of olive oil and a focaccia bread. We had both the tuna tartare and the zucchini carpaccio, both appetizers were delicious! I loved the carpaccio, thinly sliced zucchini drizzled with o.o (olive oil) topped with pine nuts and parmesan shavings. The appetizer round won the meal for me, as the halibut over lemon thyme pesto with orecchiette pasta was enjoyable, the portion of fish was small and overcooked. The dessert round was underwhelming with an uninvented shortbread cookie topped with a berry mixture, and a chocolate mousse which was overly rich and sweet. The pricing is on the higher end which is why I’d recommend the pre-fix.

Save $10 dollars by going to lunch!!

Burgers & Cupcakes NYC

2011-07-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Burgers & Cupcakes
458 9th Ave (36th St. & 9th Ave.)

The name says it all, how could you possibly go wrong?? All burgers are under $8, and they are delicious. Try the veggie filled veggie burger or build your own hamburger the skies the limit! Then finish your meal off with a red velvet cupcake or perhaps a mint chocolate chip cupcake? raspberry bavarian cupcake? You decide a quick affordable bite in a laid back environment. Did I mention the drinks are provided in a mason jar?

Baked By Melissa

2011-07-26T21:36:00.000-04:00

Baked By Melissa
Three NYC Locations

Let’s just say, you are shopping in the fashion district, and you can use a little something sweet to hold you over until your next meal. Literally walk up to the store front Baked by Melissa, where you order mini cupcakes at a drive through window and go on your merry way! I can’t lie to you, this bite size treat is a little much but hey it’s a dollar! We ordered six: my favorite was the peanut butter and jelly while Dino enjoyed the tie dye cupcake. Some of the cupcakes may not be life changing but for one bite they certainly satisfy your sweet tooth!

been a while!

2010-12-21T15:29:00.002-05:00

Wow, sorry for the lack of new posts for the 3 readers we possibly have. Haven't been able to update this site, although i really want to! This new years I am going to devote a little more time to sharing our experiences with all those who are interested! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-Dino

Lugo Caffe NYC

2010-05-14T17:50:00.024-04:00

Lugo Caffe
One Penn Plaza, NYC

Waiting on the platform at Valley Stream station we couldn't help but notice this young girl wearing a white see through shirt accompanied by some barely there booty shorts. I realized that we had something in common. We were both starving. She was starved for attention, and we were starving for some delicious NYC cuisine.

Our mission for the day was finding a quick bite to eat around Madison Square Garden. Midtown Manhattan is not really known for its culinary aspects; instead it is mostly filled with quick food joints that fill you up, cost more than they should, and leave you wishing you'd gone somewhere else. With all the flow of people and the hustle and bustle of tourists in this area, you'd think there'd be more quick and delicious restaurants. There very well may be, but finding a place with the right balance of taste, affordability, and atmosphere are shadowed by stores and souvenir shops. Since Mcdonalds and Chipotle don't fit in my pallet, we were determined to find all of you a delicious meal in an area of great convenience.

After a quick walk around, we noticed a place across MSG with tables and red umbrellas called Lugo. It didn't seem that busy (it was about 730 on a saturday), so with a quick look at the menu we decided that this was the place. Greeted and seated immediately, the first thing that stood out was that this was a very big restaurant. Huge windows lined the walls and the natural lighting added a warm feeling to this place. There was a neat wine wall in the center, and random spaces filled with bottles of olive oil, bouques of fresh pasta and artichokes.

Ah yes, the menu. It was also used as our placemats.

Lugo's menu had a wide selection of wine and the food choices were laid out in a standard Italian Restaurant format. They offer classic cheeses and cured meats in the Salumeria section, an Assaggini section which you can pick from a few small portioned appetizers, pizza, a hot and cold assortment of appetizers, pasta, basic side dishes and numerous main courses.

I started with a spiked pink lemonade special, which was a perfect balance of sweetness and sour with a nice kick. Dino decided to try a spice blended Italian Lager called Nuova Mattina. Nice and thick, you can really taste the coriander.

After devouring the bread basket, we were on to our appetizer special. Italian style edamame. Cooked with parmesan, garlic and olive oil, this classic East Asian pod of baby soybeans was transformed into a delicious italian snack! If you see this on the specials menu, get it! This not too filling starter was delicious and bursting with flavor.

As soon as we licked off the last of the edamame's, our food came. Now, we didn't go for a main course or anything too filling because we had a long night of partying ahead of us in the City. So we opted for the meatball pizza and the caesar salad, which we both split. We also got a side of Zucchini Fritti. The pizza was a thin crust, just perfect enough to support the meatballs, ricotta, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes and caramelized onions. The pizza could serve as an appetizer for a larger group, but it was perfect for the two of us. The meatballs were seasoned wonderfully, and the addition of the onions added tons of flavor. Highly recommended, whether as an appetizer or a course. Our side of Caesar salad had layers of uncut romaine lettuce, with parmigiano and anchovy-lemon dressing tucked in between, with croutons dressing the outskirts of the plate. So for you Caesar salad fans, this is one for the tasting! The side of Zucchini Fritti was a perfect addition. While it was breaded and fried to a golden crisp, it did not taste oily and the integrity of the zucchini was still in tact. It came with a parmesan based sauce, which Dino dipped everything in.

So all in all, Lugo was a great find in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. If you don't want to splurge on any mixed drinks or beers, this is a very affordable location for a quick delicious bite to eat. The staff was very friendly, and our waiter was very attentive. It looks like this place would get busy during happy hour and the after work crowd (since it is right across from Penn Station), but there is plenty of space and also accommodates outside dining. If you are in the area looking for a good sit-down place, check it out!

DNA APPROVED!

With Extra Love
Amanda and Dino

GrillFire in Long Beach, New York

2010-05-02T19:50:00.002-04:00

It started out as your typical Saturday, working wishing you were sleeping in, and just counting down the minutes until it was time to head home. On this particular day, neither one of us thought that GrillFire in Long Beach would be the first stop on our DnA journey. We arrived at the restaurant and were seated promptly at a table towards the back. Being a professional people watcher, I couldn’t help but notice the couple next to us starring throughout our meal. Who do they think they are? Not to mention they both ordered the exact same food.

DnA tip #1: NEVER ORDER THE SAME FOOD

half the fun is eating off each other’s plates!

While waiting for our waiter/waitress to arrive my favorite(Amanda) part of the meal arrived: the bread basket! I was easily impressed when instead of bread I saw two warm soft pretzels with mustard. The meal had started on a high note for sure. While looking through the American style menu of burgers, sandwiches, and entrees of fish, beef, and chicken we were satisfied with the selection. While both of us were famished, it was clear an appetizer was needed. My brother Andrew insisted that if we went there, we had to try the Japanese peanuts (edamame with chili oil & garlic) However, I saw Ginger-Vegetable Pot Stickers and Dino was like a deer in headlights for the Buttermilk Dipped Onion Rings with a blue cheese fondue a.k.a onion rings. I gave him the final decisions, and shortly after our basket of onion rings arrived. Or did they? At first glance, they looked like doughnuts and upon first bite I was unsure whether to add powdered sugar or salt. This is a typical case of the dish not being able to live up to the name. The onions were quite raw, and 4 large rings were taken away by the waiter instead of being eaten by us.

Next, the entree, meatloaf wellington with cheddar mashed potatoes & mushrooms wrapped in a thin crust for Dino & the veggie burger for me. While Dino’s meatloaf looked like a giant eggroll over a bed of mashed potatoes topped with crispy onion rings, mine was simple a big burger and an adorable basket with fries. Dino thought the meatloaf was savory, and kept warm by the thin crust however the crust was hard, and impractical taking away from the main event: the meatloaf. I saw nor tasted cheddar in these mashed potatoes, but let’s be honest, it’s pretty difficult to mess up that side. The onion rings, unlike the appetizer tasted as they should. My veggie burger satisfying, but the bun was definitely too large. I debunned it, and ate the patty on it’s own. The fries had little seasoning, and great crunch! All worked for me =) The service was confusing to say the least, we were unsure who our waiter was and there was little interaction.

Our meal ended with a complementary serving of pink cotton candy! This did earn some points pink being my favorite color, and both of us having a sweet tooth. We skipped dessert, which was a good idea according to one of our field correspondents Meghan who said she wasn’t impressed by the s’more or the brownie sundae. Overall we’d say Grillfire is a step up from Friday’s, nothing special but a quite reasonably priced bite.

With extra love,

Amanda

Share the food n love!

2010-05-02T12:40:00.005-04:00

Hello, cyberspace and welcome to DnA! I for one can say I am excited about this new journey that Dino and I have decided to embark on. We are going to fill you in on the best of the best, and the worst of the worst, to help you join in on the deliciousness that we have experienced while avoiding the disasters. In order to expand the restaurant locations discussed, while avoiding expanding our pant size, we are welcoming various field correspondents to share their dining experiences as well. Feel free to share your opinions with us and comment people! The more the merrier, there is always room at our dinner table for you =) One last note, while we will be primarily discussing food, we are also going to share the love. This will include the many adventures that we take, filling you in on the fun that we have, in hopes that you will share the love with someone you know! Till then, spread the love & go eat something.

As Dino said, stay tuned for our first official blog!

With extra love,

Amanda

First Entry!

2010-05-02T11:29:00.000-04:00

So, while eating at Grillfire last night in Long Beach, we just had the silliest idea of starting a blog. A place where everyone could read about our adventures of traveling, eating delicious foods, and just having plain ol' fun.

There's still a lot of work to do on this blog, places to go, and things to eat. I hope this takes off haha. I'd be completely satisfied if everyone left here feeling a little happier and a little hungrier!

SPANO get me my graphics!

Stay Tuned!
Dino