Places to eat – Nicci Carrera

July 29, 2013July 29, 2013 Nicci Food, New York, Travel

28 (food) reasons to love Manhattan

Welcome to new followers of this blog! Here is a re-post of a popular topic. Loyal readers, thanks for your indulgence as I work up an interesting new series called: “Inside the author’s mind.” And don’t worry, it’s not my mind we will be exploring. My interviewees for this creative-process exploration are a lot more interesting.

Trip dates: 9/15 – 10/13/12

Pushkin Brasserie (near Museum of Modern Art),

Add to Pushkin Brasserie ambiance this and a spiked cappuccino and you’ll recover from exhausting museum going:

Share these from Crumbs Bake Shop:

4_cu_blackbottom_cheesecake (1) — Blackbottom cheesecake cupcake

(upper west side, 97th/Columbus.)

cup_Grasshopper — Grasshopper (mint chocolate chip) to die for

“Wine-dark in a shallow lemon sea, pelted with capers, the curl of octopus ($16) looked messy and primeval, as if just plucked from the deep. It is the dish that a Greek restaurant lives or dies by, simple yet exacting. Tenderness should be victory enough. But the octopus at Boukiés had gone a step beyond, the flesh undoing itself, achieving a texture, at its core, close to nectar.” Ligaya Mishan, New York Times 9/21/12

Looked scary, tasted heavenly:

Day 6 GV Boukies 2 — Boukies (pronounced Boo KAY is) in Greenwich Village

For less money and a different though not lesser pleasure, a hot pretzel in Central Park:

Do you love cheese? There’s a name for that.

Day 6 GV Turophilia — Cheese shop in Greenwich Village

A choice of Schmears (upper west side, Broadway):

Oyster bar in Grand Central Station:

Spinach and kasha knishes from Yonah Shimmel’s Knishery on East Houston Street (lower east side):

Pastrami and corned beef sandwiches at Katz’s Deli (near Yonah’s, lower east side):

Tiny cupcake:

Day 19 013 H — Sugary Sweet Sunshine Bakery

Cappuccino in Tribeca:

Comfort food at The Eatery after a show (The Phantom of the Opera).

Days 16 012 sesame seed crackers — Sesame seed crackers and champagne

Days 16 018 sweet italian sausage risotto croquettes — Sweet italian sausage risotto croquettes

Days 16 019 grilled camembert — Grilled camembert

Days 16 021 meat loaf ravioli mac and jack — Meat loaf, ravioli and “Mac and Jack” (macaroni and cheese with grilled onions on top)

Elevation of a bagel:

Peruvian cuisine on the upper west side at Flor De Mayo (Broadway around 98th):

Days 20 21 085 A — Beef stew in a cilantro sauce with potatoes

Days 20 21 088 A — Roasted chicken and plaintains

Flor de Mayo — Aji Gallina Chicken with eggs on a bed of lettuce

Simple repast at The Boathouse (Central Park):

March 11, 2013 Nicci Local, Travel

Monday memories of Friday night, Santana Row, San Jose California

The night is young:

Half-yard beers at The Yardhouse:

Friends, waitress, food!

Spicy tuna “roll” (more like a torte):

Garlic noodles with shitake mushrooms (bottom) and kung pao calamari (top):

Shepherding the shepherds:

Simple and elegant:

The night ripens:

January 17, 2013January 19, 2013 Nicci Food, New York, Travel

28 (food) reasons to love Manhattan

Trip dates: 9/15 – 10/13/12

Pushkin Brasserie (near Museum of Modern Art),

Add to Pushkin Brasserie ambiance this and a spiked cappuccino and you’ll recover from exhausting museum going:

Share these from Crumbs Bake Shop:

(upper west side, 97th/Columbus.)

“Wine-dark in a shallow lemon sea, pelted with capers, the curl of octopus ($16) looked messy and primeval, as if just plucked from the deep. It is the dish that a Greek restaurant lives or dies by, simple yet exacting. Tenderness should be victory enough. But the octopus at Boukiés had gone a step beyond, the flesh undoing itself, achieving a texture, at its core, close to nectar.” Ligaya Mishan, New York Times 9/21/12

Looked scary, tasted heavenly:

For less money and a different though not lesser pleasure, a hot pretzel in Central Park:

Do you love cheese? There’s a name for that.

A choice of Schmears (upper west side, Broadway):

Oyster bar in Grand Central Station:

Spinach and kasha knishes from Yonah Shimmel’s Knishery on East Houston Street (lower east side):

Pastrami and corned beef sandwiches at Katz’s Deli (near Yonah’s, lower east side):

Tiny cupcake:

Cappuccino in Tribeca:

Comfort food at The Eatery after a show (The Phantom of the Opera).

Elevation of a bagel:

Peruvian cuisine on the upper west side at Flor De Mayo (Broadway around 98th):

Simple repast at The Boathouse (Central Park):

January 13, 2013January 12, 2013 Nicci Skiing

Achilles… toe? 8th day skiing, Squaw Valley

Arrive at 11 AM, park in furthest lot from the lifts:

Temps cold enough to allow snow to act as sign board:

First run, trees on Red Dog. Pep talk to self: It’s okay to be afraid as long as you keep your hands forward.

Second run, Siberia. Must pause for photos.

Too cold! Head to Solitude. Ahhh…

Time for lunch! Greek salad plus tasty brown ale at Fireside Pizza:

Back to Solitude for final runs.

Take transport lift over terrain park. Observe fun being had.

Mountain Run, what the crowded parking lot looks like on the slopes:

Achilles’ weak point was his heal. For me, it’s my toe after too many days pounding bumps:

But, no complaints. Don’t want to flunk retirement.

January 12, 2013January 12, 2013 Nicci Food, Skiing, Travel

5 ways to flunk retirement

Sit on the couch all day.
Sit on Facebook all day.
Go back to work.
Complain about your old bones (and other body parts).
Complain about frickin anything. (You’re retired. Shut up.)

This morning, bright and early (9:45), we fought our way through morning rush hour

to get on the Funitel at Squaw Valley

and finally to work.

Of course, we have to have a lunch break. All employees are entitled to that. Excellent fish and chips, stew, and beer at The Auld Dubliner in Squaw Valley: