River Cafe: Fine Dining in Every Way!

I have wanted to go to the River Cafe (1 Water St., Brooklyn, NY) for years! I always thought this would be a great place for a small intimate wedding because of how beautiful the setting and the grounds are. It is so beautiful and romantic! I was sad when it was ruined by Hurricane Sandy and was closed for a very long time. Finally, this year, for my birthday, my fiancé (now Husband) promised to take me there since it was fully booked when we tried to make reservations for Valentine's Day there.

Beautiful Gardens Leading up to The River Cafe

There are beautiful gardens that lead up to the River Cafe that are a great place for photos before and after dinner. Also great for wedding photography!

Beautiful Flowers on the Table

As we were sat in the dining room, I noticed the beautiful display of flowers on our table. They were so elegant and added such a nice touch to the already fancy and classy ambiance that River Cafe has. 

Lamp Brings Old Fashion Charm to the Table

The lamps on each table added a whole new level of elegance and charm to the restaurant. I felt like I was taken back to the days of Titanic where the world was a much more wholesome place. 

Beautiful View of the Hudson and Manhattan 

The views at River Cafe are breathtaking! Even from our table we could see panoramic views of lower Manhattan. Because the main restaurant portion of River Cafe is set on a barge with no obstacles in the way, the diners are given the best view.

River Cafe Fine China

Even the fine china that they used was exquisite. The dishes had their name imprinted on them with a gorgeous green rim, and were absolutely stunning.

Debossed River Cafe Napkin

Even the napkins were personalized with the River Cafe logo on them! This place did not cut any corners anywhere. Everything they displayed, everything they did, and everything they said was perfect in all the right ways. It was formal, but not stuffy. It really made Ben and I feel extremely happy to be dining there, and made us even more excited about what would come out of the kitchen! We were already impressed in just the finer details of the ambiance and setting! 

My Fiancé in His Jacket :)

One of the things that Ben did not love about the idea of coming to the River Cafe is that he was required to wear a sports jacket. We are a pretty casual couple (him more than me), but sometimes it is exciting to have an excuse to dress up and go all out! This place certainly felt special and I didn't mind the dress code because it made the experience that much more special! I would do it every night if I could afford it :)

Amuse Bouche

The amuse bouche was simple, but so tasty! It was gazpacho accompanied by a melon medallion with shaved feta and mint on top. Since it was the end of May, this was a perfect summertime treat! It was refreshing and tangy as gazpacho should be. The feta was sprinkled lightly on the plate, and not really a main part of the amuse bouche, but definitely helped add come creaminess to the otherwise very refreshing flavors.

Crunchy Roll

The bread was served by a waitress coming around and serving one roll at a time based on patron selection. Based on the type of place the River Cafe is, Ben and I were very surprised that the bread wasn't warm and fresh out of the oven. It was more of a cold crunchy baguette style roll. It was still very tasty, but not as fresh as all the food we had all night.

Our Beautiful Table

The menu at River Cafe for dinner is fixed pricing for $120. It includes an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert per person. There is also an option for a six course chef's tasting menu for $150. We decided based on the options we would do the regular fixed pricing menu because there were certain dishes and appetizers we could not live without and wanted to guarantee that we would get them! Also, what we were served in the three courses was more than enough food that it didn't warrant spending an additional $30 per person to have 3 additional courses. Also, Ben and I share all our food, we didn't need to have the same 6 courses each, when we can share 4 different items together at larger portions than the tasting menu.

Wild Shrimp -
"Oscar Style" Pacific Blue Shrimp, King Crabmeat, white asparagus, citrus Maltaise sauce

The Wild Shrimp appetizer was highly suggested by our waiter. When we asked him to compare it to the special of the day, which was oysters done two ways, he said we should definitely order the shrimp, and I am so glad we did! It was served "Oscar Style," which is topped with asparagus, crab, and Maltaise sauce. The shrimp were large and meaty and acted as a great base to soak up the extra citrusy Maltaise sauce. The crab meat added so much flavor to this dish and was an extra added bonus to a shrimp dish. The white asparagus was very unique to this dish; since it was the first time I had had asparagus that was white. It was lighter in flavor than green asparagus and kept the dish very light and summery.

Octopus -
Char-grilled Portuguese octopus, warm Yukon potatoes, radish, fresh herb chimichurri sauce

The Octopus appetizer was delicious! The octopus was char-grilled with the edges being nice and crispy, while the inside was meaty and tender. The octopus pieces were served atop Yukon potato slices with fresh radishes and a light chimichurri sauce. The octopus was so flavorful that it didn't need to be dipped into the chimichurri sauce, which was great because we got to save the sauce for all the vegetables on the plate! The vegetables went very well with the chimichurri sauce and added a delicious herbal tangy flavor to each bite.

Lobster- Poached Nova Scotia lobster, squid ink cavatelli pasta, lobster infused marinara, lobster claw and spinach gratin

The Lobster entree was to die for! This dish was the item on the menu I was most excited for, and which I could not have lived without. I think I may have died and gone to heaven when I took a bite of this dish. It was much for filling than it appeared in size, and it was so full of flavor that each bite was worth a million. It was served in the most unique way I have ever seen lobster served where the tail and the claw of the lobster were served in two very different preparations. The lobster tail was served over squid ink cavatelli pasta with lobster infused marinara, while the claw was cut up and prepared spinach gratin style and stuffed back inside part of the lobster shell. The lobster tail was so meaty and fresh, while the lobster claw was creamy and cheesy. I loved being able to taste both styles and compare them.  I really enjoyed the top layer of the lobster spinach gratin because it was nice and crispy. The squid ink cavatelli pasta was homemade, most likely by hand, cooked perfectly and great for soaking up the lobster infused marinara, which had a nice slightly spicy but sweet and tangy flavor!

Lamb - Colorado rack of lamb, grilled Merguez sausage, fondant potatoes, mint and mustard seed glaze

The Lamb entree was an equally as impressive dish. The portion of this dish was huge with 2 slices of lamb with 2 ribs each which were extra meaty and tender. The lamb was cooked to perfection with a beautiful pink center. It was oozing with flavor and was so moist. The lamb was served atop a portion of fondant potatoes, which were extra crispy on the edges and nice and soft in the center. The mint sauce on the dish was extra light and added a hint of freshness to the otherwise very savory dish :)

Milk Chocolate Soufflé  - toasted marshmallow, Tahitian vanilla bean ice milk

The milk chocolate shuffle was extra gooey and creamy as can be! It was light and fluffy and reminded me of a s'more! The cream on the side was definitely homemade, whipped in-house! However, I wouldn't have minded if the dish was a touch more chocolatey, since it was milk chocolate versus dark chocolate! Although, I can't complain, because it was pretty amazing!

Milk Chocolate Soufflé  -
 toasted marshmallow, Tahitian vanilla bean ice milk

Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge -
milk chocolate Marquise, raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, crisp meringue, dark chocolate glaze

The Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge was the highlight of the desserts! It was beautiful, rich, and amazing! It was almost too beautiful to eat! This dessert was ultra chocolatey! I loved that there was ice cream, sorbet, and meringue to satisfy my sweet tooth, and also my need for textural interest, with there being creamy and crunchy textures! I also loved the sweet and tartness of the raspberry paired with the richness of the chocolate and the creaminess of the ice cream!

Chocolates and Treats on the House

After an amazing meal and amazing desserts, we were given an assortment of chocolates on the house to end our night! What a sweet ending :) 

The Entrance and Exit to the restaurant since its on a barge. Very Nautical! Couldn't resist acting like tourists! 

Beautiful Flowers all over the lobby

Nautical Decorations in the Lobby

The Driveway

Me, at the end of the night, a very happy girl! 

Petaluma: UES Italian Restaurant with an Updated Image!

After walking by Petaluma (1356 1st Ave., New York, NY) for years on the Upper East Side, I finally decided to try it after it underwent a year of renovations. Something about the new menu and the promotions on the board outside drew me in and made me want to finally try this neighborhood spot. It was definitely catering to a younger clientele than it had previously. 

The $35 All You Can Drink brunch deal was too good to pass up. As soon as my friend and I sat down, we were greeted by a very friendly waitress. She advised us that the unlimited brunch not only included unlimited mimosa, bellinis, and bloody marys for two hours, but that they also had a limited supply of unlimited sangria as well. This was music to our ears! We both decided to start with the sangria to take advantage of it while it was in supply. 

The sangria was very refreshing and STRONG! After just one glass I felt it. This certainly didn't keep me from ordering another round or two of this delicious drink! 

Breakfast Pizza - Bacon, sausage, cheddar, farm egg cream

For brunch, my friend and I shared two entrees. There were so many amazing options on the menu that we couldn't just commit to one. The Breakfast Pizza was a real winner! The crust was crunchy and baked to perfection in the restaurant's pizza oven. The pie was covered in delicious mozzarella cheese with bacon, sausage, farm egg cream, and a touch of cheddar. Every bite was worth it. Nothing was left at the end! This pizza gave me a hint into how good dinner-time pizzas would be when I return!

Cast Iron Eggs Benedict - gnocchi alla Romana, baked hollandaise, packed eggs with bacon added 

The Cast Iron Eggs Benedict was a really unique approach on eggs Benedict. I wasn't sure what to expect, but knew that it came highly recommended from the waitress. I love when a waitress or waiter actually has an opinion on the menu and has tasted the food! The poached eggs sat atop a unique patty, which was called gnocchi alla Romana. It was similar to a polenta cake and was a great combination with the poached eggs. The hollandaise sauce was baked right into the egg, which made the egg extremely flavorful and moist, but not as messy as a normal eggs benedict. We opted to add bacon to this dish, and it was a great choice because it added that savory meaty flavor that every egg dish needs! MMMM!!!

Since I dined here for brunch, I haven't stopped raving to everyone about it. I have wanted to return for brunch for some time, but have been way to busy :( I did go for happy hour one night, and it was chill and relaxing at the bar, with great cocktails and small bites! Definitely not a place to be missed!

Buvette: Popular West Village Brunchin'

My girls and I were in the mood to try something new for brunch and venture to a neighborhood that we don't normally brunch in. We decided to check out Buvette (42 Grove St., New York, NY), which is located in the West Village. It is a cute French Cafe with some outdoor seating that is known for its major lines at brunch and wait times. Also, they don't take reservations! Make sure you go early if you are going to check it out! We were seated in about 40 minutes.

Bike Full of Corks outside

Tiniest, Cutest Menu!

When we were finally shown to our table, we were sat in a tiny corner table, where normally a restaurant would put 2 people, but we were 3, and let's just say, it was nice and snuggly!
The menu we were given was adorable because it was tiny in size. Maybe this restaurant specializes in small things since our table was so tiny??

The Brunch Menu

The menu was pretty straightforward and didn't give many details. I tend to like to find out from the waitress their thoughts on the selections and ask a few questions. Our waitress was extremely unhelpful and basically repeated back to me what the menu said. So much for answering my questions?! When I couldn't decide between the Croque Madame and the Croque Forestier and wanted to combine some of the ingredients into my own kind of Croque for one of those "best of both worlds" experiences, the waitress basically told me no substitutions. Nowhere on the menu did it state this. I also don't understand what is so difficult about adding mushrooms to the Croque Madame, or adding ham to the Croque Forestier?! I guess Buvette doesn't cater to their customer's wishes and serves what they want instead!
I ended up ordering the Croque Madame because it was the more savory choice out of the two, but would have loved to enjoy a few mushrooms added to it!

Cafe American

The Cafe American was perfection. It was much better than your standard coffee at brunch. It was darker, richer, and stronger. It also had that frothy layer that only freshly made black coffees have when made correctly. It was almost like espresso. I loved it!

Bloody Marys

The Bloody Marys we ordered were good and spicy but I regretted ordering them after seeing other tables with Kir Royals, a much lighter drink selection. The Bloody Marys were on the thicker side with horseradish pieces floating around which made drinking with a straw more difficult. This drink was almost a full meal!

Mousse de Foie de Canard - Duck liver mousse

The Mousse de Foie de Canard, which we ordered for the table to share before the meal, came out with the meal instead. We were so disappointed in this, since we were sitting for a minimum of 30 minutes waiting for our food, and wondering where our starter was. When we asked the waitress to check on the mousse and mentioned how we really wanted it ahead of our meals, she returned to the table with our meals and the mousse. How disappointing! To add to the frustration, you could tell that the mousse was prepared in advance because of how the fat was congealed on top of the mousse. Based on it being ready ahead of time, it would have been at our table immediately! On a positive note, the mousse was tasty, rich, and creamy. It spread very nicely on the toasted that accompanied it, and a perfect item for sharing. Although, none of us liked the fat layer on top, and could have done without it.

Les Croque Madam

The Croque Madame was delicious! The bread was toasted perfectly for extra added crunch and topped with a heaping amount of gruyere, a sunny side up egg, and ham! I think there was definitely more than enough room to add mushrooms to this dish though...
I loved how some parts of the gruyere cheese were burnt, since I do love entrees like this a tad on the well done side. The sunny side up egg yolk added the needed moisture to the toasted bread.
My only complaint for this dish was that it came to the table on a saucer plate. It was very difficult to maneuver cutting it without pieces of it falling onto the table. My other friends who also ordered one of the Croques on the menu were served with a slightly larger plate than mine, which made things a little easier. I think Buvette may need to update their place setting inventory a little and get some real plates. Additionally, it is a little surprising that the Croque did not come with anything on the side like vegetables or potatoes. It was served all alone on a tiny plate.

Kir Royal

When we finished our Bloody Marys we decided to order another round of drinks, but switch to Kir Royals! This was definitely a good decision because it added some sweetness to the end of the meal and also was a much more refreshing pairing to our meals. These Kir Royals were probably one of the best ones that I have had. They were made with all the right proportions of Champagne and Creme de Cassis.

Chocolate Crepes

For dessert we decided to order chocolate crepes for the table. Luckily they came three in an order, which was perfect for the three of us sharing! These crepes were small and just the right amount to finish a meal with a taste of sweetness. The chocolate was melted and gooey and so rich! The outer layer was thin, doughy, but crunchy all at once, and made to perfection! Buvette definitely excels in dessert!
All in all, my experience at Buvette was mixed. It was a cute place with delicious food, but definitely lacked in the customer service category. I would still consider returning for brunch, but perhaps dinner time may be less chaotic, where the waitress may be a little more flexible and helpful. I am interested to see how their dinner menu is, since I am sure it tastes lovely. I can say that Buvette definitely would be a place to take a date for crepes!

Le District : My plane ticket to Paris!

The new French Market called Le District (200 Vesey St., New York, NY) in Battery Park City is a nice addition to the neighborhood. Its concept is very similar to that of Eataly in Flatiron, which is an Italian market having groceries, restaurants, bakeries, and more. Le District is still working out its kinks, but it proved to be a great concept, that was very enjoyable and delicious!

My fiancé and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon, and most of it was open, except for the grocery area where you can buy fresh vegetables. I think that part is only open on weekdays. I am not sure why it is closed on weekends, but maybe eventually it will all be open. 

We were fortunate enough to find seating at Le Comptoir, which means the counter. This area was a wine bar area where they have charcuterie, cheeses, steak frites, etc. This wine bar area was very busy with every seat taken. We were helped by Wellington, who was extremely helpful and pretty knowledgeable on the cheese and meats that were being served that day. The wine selection was not huge, but decently varied in style.

Yummy Baguette Roll - Fresh out of the oven!

To start, we were given a baguette roll while we waited for our meat and cheese plates. They were fresh out of the oven, and perfectly crunch on the outside and soft on the inside like a baguette should be! Definitely delicious!

Meat Plate 

The meat plate came with 4 types of meat that were hand selected by the staff for the day. My fiancé and I were very happy with the variety and quality of meats on this plate. My favorite was the salami, because of the texture and flavor. It was crispy on the edges and moist in the center. It had such a sharp flavor. Give me some more salami!!  MMM!

Cheese Plate

The cheese plate was my favorite! The odd thing about the cheese plate was most of the cheeses were not from France. One would expect the products at a French market to originate in France, but many of the cheeses were from Wisconsin. I guess at least they are coming from the cheese capital of the US! There was a very generous portion of each cheese so neither my fiancé nor I were left unsatisfied. The plate came with 1 hard cheese, 2 semi soft cheeses, and 1 soft cheese, which was a perfect variation for snacking. The blue cheese was one of my favorites on the plate! It was so good, that my fiancé even liked it and he hates blue cheese. Our other favorite was the goat cheese.

My cute fiancé sitting at the bar style seating

After we finished dining at Le Comptoir we went to the cheese counter with Le District and bought the goat cheese and blue cheese to bring home to enjoy later! What we really liked about the set up at Le District, is after you are done trying things at different counters, you can then go to the cheese counter and buy what you tasted. The cheese counter and the meat counters both have the cheeses and meats of the day ready to be cut and bought to take home. This ease of shopping after experiencing is convenient, but expensive because we liked everything we ate! :(
We definitely will be returning to Le District in the fall once we return from our honeymoon and things slow down! It's the perfect spot to stop at on a Sunday Funday with your significant other! 

La Sirene: Delicious French Food in an intimate, cozy setting!

Hi foodie followers and friends! I wanted to apologize for my hiatus from writing, as I have been overwhelmed with wedding planning and trying to eat healthy! I recently went to this amazing French restaurant that was romantic and quaint, but also jam packed with flavor. La Sirene (558 Broome St., New York, NY) is located on a quiet street in Hudson Square. The menu offers a wide variety of French delicacies and new ways of preparing traditional fare in a more modern flavor. 

La Sirene offers an extensive wine list, while also welcomes guests to BYOB (one bottle of wine per couple for a $10 corkage fee). You can enjoy your favorite wine alongside a very impressive meal! 

I went here with a group of people, and we all tried each others' dishes, which allowed me to taste many items on the menu :) 

Sautéed Baby Octopus with Garlic, Parsley, Olive Oil, Tomato, and Mushroom

The sautéed baby octopus appetizer sounded amazing on paper, and was even better in conception! It was served warm with a very good amount of octopus pieces that were cooked and seasoned perfectly. This dish had so many mushrooms in it, that perhaps for most people could be overboard, but I loved it! Since my fiancee, who is allergic to mushrooms was not there,  this was my opportune time to enjoy in a colossal amount of mushrooms. The sauce that this dish sat in was nice and light and full of the garlic flavor. I definitely soaked it all up at the end with bread. If I didn't have bread, I may have considered drinking it!

Roasted Escargots in the Shell with Butter and Garlic Sauce

The escargot was served in the shell on a plate with butter and garlic. I can't remember the last time I had escargot in the shell, versus served in the pool of garlic and butter sauce that is standard at most restaurants. I hate to say it, I kind of prefer it without the shells, but  I did not dislike this dish. I love sauce, dips, and garlic, so the other way is more to my liking! The rest of my friends at the table did prefer it served this way with the shell, and liked that the snail was not overly covered in garlic sauce and that you could taste the snail's flavor more. I guess everyone has their preference!

Mussels Creoles (Appetizer Portion)

The mussels served Creoles style were amazing! These mussels had the most unique flavor of any mussels I have had, and were packed with flavor. The sauce tasted like a dream and had all senses of sweet, spicy, savory, and creamy. The sausage pieces that were served with the mussels were an extremely welcome surprise and were very plentiful. The appetizer portion was very large and my friend could not finish it all! She had to ask for a lot of help from me, which I gladly gave :)

Seared Filet Mignon Topped with Foie Gras (Pate Style), Shallots, Port, and Red Wine Truffles Sauce 

The Seared Filet Mignon topped with Foie Gras was by far my favorite dish at the table, and luckily was mine :) The foie gras was extremely creamy and rich and probably one of the best foie gras that I have had! The combination of the foie gras with the steak and the red wine truffle sauce was so divine and heavenly! I had never seen this type of combination before on a menu, and it was exceptional. On top of the foie gras sat a piece of black truffle, which was a nice surprise to this dish and made this dish a home run in every category! The only negative I could mention is that it was a tad bit overcooked, and could have been served a little more pink in the center, but otherwise exceptional!

Frenched Rack of Lamb with White Wine Rosemary and Truffle au Jus

The rack of lamb was cooked perfectly and very tender. The meat was seasoned perfectly and served over a white wine rosemary truffle sauce, which was nice and light and perfect for dipping! The portion of this dish was very good, and perhaps a great one to share around the table!

Cassoulet Toulouse's Style (Signature of the House) 
Cannellini Beans, Carrots, Tomato, Garlic Duck Confit, Slab Bacon and Pork Sausage all braised with Noble Duck Fat, White Stock and Foie Gras Jus

I only had one bite of the cassoulet, but from what I could tell, it was hearty and full of flavor. I loved the crunchy top coating, which kind of reminded me of macaroni and cheese in texture. The bacon and pork sausage were a nice addition to this dish and added so much savory delciousness! This is definitely a man's kind of meal (on a cold winter night) because of the size and heaviness, but definitely delicious!

Rabbit Stew with Wild Mushrooms, White Wine, Carrots, and Herbs

The rabbit stew I didn't taste, but at least here is a preview of what it looks like! All I know is that everyone who tasted it enjoyed it.

Side of Four Vegetables for the Table  (accompanies every dish)

We received two long plates of vegetables for the table to share, that accompany every dish. The assortment on these platters was nice and also healthy. There was one vegetable I am unsure of what it was, but it was tasty. The other vegetables were squash, green beans, and pureed carrot. I appreciated how these were displayed, almost as if it was a vegetable tasting menu!

Dark Lava Chocolate Cake and Homemade Coconut Sherbet 

Dessert in a French restaurant cannot be missed since the French definitely know their pastries and their chocolate! I had to order the Dark Lava chocolate cake because that is always my favorite dessert on every menu! This one was one of the best I have ever had because of its richness, airiness, and also its decadent fudgey center! The coconut sherbet that was served alongside this added some freshness to the plate since the rest of the dessert was warm and rich! The whipped cream side was amazing and light and was definitely made in house!

The gooey inside of the Dark Lava Cake...MMMM!!!

Tartelette aux Fraises
Short crust, fine pastry cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream

The Tartelette aux fraises was more refreshing and sweet, but not my favorite kind of dessert since I tend to lean towards chocolate desserts. The crust was crunchy and soft all at once, with flavorful cream and tart strawberries on top of it. I know that everyone enjoyed this one.

Choux Chantilly
Choux puff pastry stuffed with home light vanilla whipped cream and sugar

The Choux Chantilly was delicious and super creamy, but not my type of dessert either. In my opinion, this dessert needed some type of chocolate element to it. But according to Chantilly lovers, this one was is one of the best! So not to be missed, if this is your thing.

Big Profiteroles
Puff Pastry with Ice cream, chocolate syrup, and hazelnuts

The Big Profiteroles were huge! This dessert was definitely a sharable one and reminded me of an ice cream sundae, but on crack! The puff pastry "sliders" that surrounded the ice cream were nice and soft, and soaked up the chocolate syrup that was extremely rich and plentiful. The hazelnuts added a nice crunch and saltiness to the dessert, and all in all was a great combo of sweet, rich, and refreshing!
I definitely would love to return to La Sirene, and just found out that they are participating in NYC French Restaurant week, which is coming up in a week from July 13-July 19th. I know I was just there, but I may return sooner than later!

In case anyone is interested in checking out the NYC French Restaurant week, here is a link:
http://www.opentable.com/s/promolist?metroId=8&promoid=616&ref=10558

I will be back soon for more blogging now that most of the wedding stuff is out of the way and I can get back to work!