Misi Visited October 2018 4 Forks

Misi  329 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11249

Ahh Misi.  So much controversy over this place.  It's by the same people as Lilia  so obviously this means getting a reservation here is also impossible.  I don't understand how certain places just consistently no have openings and/or only have 11pm slots available.  You basically have to log on to Resy as soon as they open up their reservation slots and book right away.  You thought you were buying tickets to see Radiohead, not get a table at an Italian restaurant. 

But the good news is that I liked this place much better than Lilia.  I don't know what it is about that place but I just could never get on the bandwagon like everyone else.  Don't get me wrong, it's not bad but people obsess over it.  So I was going in with slightly low expectations here and if I had to go through a painful reservation process, I would much rather do it for a table here instead. 

Lav and I went for her birthday and we started with the roasted tomatoes with chili and the charred peppers for appetizers.  The peppers were not what I was expecting at all.  While the menu did say that it was served with ricotta, what it doesn't mention is that it's served separately with a plate of way too crusty bread topped with almost foam like ricotta and then you get a plate of peppers.  I wasn't really sure how to eat it - I guess you put the peppers on the bread?  In any case, it was good, just very unexpected presentation.

But the stars of the show here are the pasta dishes.  It's so freakin hard to narrow it down but I ultimately went with the pork fettuccine but honestly after seeing all the other pasta dishes other tables were getting, I don't think I could have gone wrong with any other of the dishes.  The pasta was simply fantastic - perfectly al dente and really enjoyable. 

They are also known for their gelato so we got the chocolate one and while it's not like the ones I had in Italy, it was pretty damn good. 

Overall, I would say skip the appetizers so that you can leave room for most pastas and dessert.  It's definitely a step up from Lilia in my opinion but others probably feel differently.

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Oxomoco Visited October 2018 4 Forks

Oxomoco  128 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222

Oxomoco has been part of the trend of super hot restaurants popping up in Greenpoint.  I've always loved Greenpoint but it's certainly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the dining scene.  I had been wanting to try this place out and met up with Paige there on a random weekday night.  It was packed but luckily we were still able to get a table there without much of a wait. 

The menu is high end but still relatable Mexican food.  Of course as with any Mexican meal, we had to get the guacamole ($15) - which by the way, when the hell did guacamole become so crazy expensive?? Thanks Trump.  Every time I get guacamole I feel the same way, it's good but never feels any better than the kind I can make at home myself.  But it just feels wrong to be eating Mexican food without smashed up avocados.  The tacos are the main stars here and we got the shrimp, pork cheek and barbacoa (you can get them in twos or threes ($15-$24) - since we were getting so many we opted for the two's version, which I think is the better way to go if you want some variety).  They were all excellent - the meats moist and juicy and all served with really fresh ingredients and salsa.  The tortillas tasted like the homemade ones I got in Mexico City and made with blue corn.   No sour cream or rice and beans to be found here (although don't get me wrong, I love them on the right kind of Mexican food).

It's no wonder this place is so popular.  I should also give a shout out to their cocktail list - my Paloma was excellent.  While Greenpoint isn't always the easiest place to get to, it's places like this that show why it's a great food destination to check out. 

Photo Credit:  Yelp

James Hook and Co Visited 9/28/2018 4 Forks

James Hook and Co  15-17 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02110

I was in Boston for a partner event and of course you can't go to Boston without getting a lobster roll.  It was a bit challenging because I was really only there for 24 hours and most of the time I was at a partner sponsored event so there wasn't much time to skip out to eat.  But Farzana and I managed to squeeze in 1 lobster roll in the morning before our 12pm flight.  Yes,  I had lobster at 10am but it was definitely worth it. 

We calculated that if we made it to James Hook right when it opened at 10am and ordered right away, we could still make it to the airport in time for our flight.  If I had more time (and if it wasn't before lunch time),  I would definitely have stayed longer and ordered a lot more food.  It's not really a restaurant but more of a seafood market that serves up a few eat-in dishes.  I could spend all day eating lobster, shrimp, chowder, clams and everything else they had there but I was on a mission for the lobster roll.  It's $20 and it's extremely  simple - huge chunks of lobster lightly dressed with mayo and nothing else.  It's served in a hot dog bun - not a potato bun which I docked .5 fork for (personal preference) but overall it was a really solid and tasty roll.   You could definitely taste the fresh lobster meat and it was a good mix of tail and claw. 

When we started to leave at 11am, it was already starting to get busy.  For this price point and for the other variety of food, I could definitely see myself coming here fairly often if I lived in the area. 

Photo Credit:  Yelp

1 Week in Amsterdam 9/15-9/22/2018 Part 2 3-4 Forks

Kantjil and de Tijger    Spuistraat 291-293, 1012 VS Amsterdam                                               3 Forks

One thing I didn't really realize about Amsterdam before I started going for work was the plethora of Indonesian restaurants.  It's not the type of SE Asian cuisine that you see a lot of globally - it's usually more Thai or Vietnamese.  But since it used to be a Dutch colony it all makes sense now.  I haven't really eaten Indonesian food since I was in Bali but there's only so much Dutch food I can take.

I hadn't seen Vik in a really long time and through the power of social media I found out he was in Amsterdam at the same time.  We picked a local Indonesian place that was near my office and met up for lunch.  We split the lunch Rijsttafel - which is basically a sampling of a bunch of different small dishes for 2 people (17 euros each).  It's a great deal and it allows you to sample a little bit of everything.  It included white rice, chicken satay with peanut sauce, beef cooked in a "spicy" coconut sauce, green beans in black sauce, steamed vegetables with "spicy" peanut sauce and shrimp crackers.  I put the word spicy in quotations because none of it was spicy at all.  Most of the food was simple but tasty but we both commented on how it could have used more flavoring and heat to it.  I wasn't sure if they dumbed it down for us or if it was not spicy in general but it was definitely missing something to it.

While there wasn't anything specifically to complain about the food, it reminded me of why Indonesian food isn't the most popular.   It just doesn't pack the same flavor punch as the other SE Asian cuisines but if you're tired of meat and fries, it's worth checking out while you're in Amsterdam.

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Restaurant de Utrechtsedwarstafel   Utrechtsedwarsstraat 107-109 1017 WD Amsterdam      3.5 Forks

Yes, that is quite the Dutch restaurant name.  I feel kind of bad that all my reviews lately have been pretty lukewarm but that's kind of the way things have been in Amsterdam food-wise this 2nd go round.  While I love the city and think it has a lot to offer, only on very rare instances have I been absolutely blown away by the food here.  Most of my experiences on this 2nd trip were honestly adequate at best. 

We came here for a partner dinner and we pretty much took up the entire space.  It's quite cozy and seemed like it was family run - the owner clearly took a lot of pride in the food and wine. 

It was a pre-fixe meal given how many people there were, so I didn't get to choose my meal but most of dishes that came out were dishes that I probably would have ordered anyways:  duck rillette (quite good and the best part of the meal),  sliced tuna steak with beefsteak tomatoes (well balanced) and veal cheeks with kale (cheeks were too thinly sliced).   The food itself wasn't bad but what was not great and brought the rating down was the wine.   I felt so bad because the owner was clearly super proud of his collection and brought out this one red that was just so funky that none of us could put it down. My client, who isn't shy about things, made a clear icky face while drinking it.  They ended the meal with a meringue dessert that was a good palate cleanser but also not anything super creative.

This place is definitely a bit more local and off the beaten path, which I totally appreciate.  Maybe it's all these pre-fix meals I've been having with large groups that skews the experience but it's still didn't feel up to the level of food I am normally used to in NYC.

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Tujuh Maret  Utrechtsestraat 73, 1017 VJ Amsterdam                                                                 4 Forks

This isn't a normal place I would give 4 forks too but I feel like I've been super harsh lately and needed to give some love.  Comparing this place to the other Indonesian restaurant, I definitely enjoyed this meal more.   

We walked in right at noon and the place was just being set up for the lunch hour.  There was literally one man doing everything - and when I say everything I mean everything.  From taking the chairs down, to taking our order, cooking the food and then finally serving us.  It was kind of crazy and as much as we complained about the slow service, it was very understandable.  A few people actually did walk out because they couldn't take it.  But once we finally ordered, the food came out relatively quickly.  I got a hard boiled egg in a sweet soy sauce as an appetizer, split the shrimp skewers that came with the same sweet sauce and then got as my entree chicken in a coconut sauce with green beans and fried noodles.  Similar to the other Indonesian restaurant, the dish was too mild but it still had better flavor to it, which is why I'm not going to ding it as much.  It honestly felt like I was eating in someone's living room (in a good way) and it was just nice to eat some white rice and Asian food for a change.

Photo Credit: Yelp

1 Week in Amsterdam 9/15-9/22/2018 Part 1 3.5-4 Forks

Omelegg Nieuwebrugsteeg 24, 1012 AH Amsterdam                                                              3.5 Forks

Another work week means another week back in Amsterdam (there are definitely worse places to be).  I had heard about this place from co-workers and didn't get to try it out last time, so I figured I would make a pit stop this go around.  It's exactly what you would expect from a place called Omelegg - it's a cute cozy brunch spot serving mostly students and young folks.  Also as you would expect, the menu is pretty focused on eggs.  It's actually a pretty impressive and extensive menu of omelets (some combinations I've never heard of before) and if you like breakfast food, this is definitely the place to go.

I kept it simple and got the Popeye with egg whites.  Not surprisingly, this was filled with spinach, mushroom, onion, farmer's cheese and oregano (7.95 euros).  All the ingredients were sauteed nicely, especially the onions.  It was served with toast and a small salad.  The food was totally fine and comforting.  It's a cute place to have breakfast and the service was surprisingly fast for Amsterdam.  If you're in the mood for a good old fashion egg breakfast, I would definitely recommend this place but it's also not going to be a life changing meal by any stretch. 

Restaurant Red   Keizersgracht 594, 1017 EN Amsterdam                                                          4 Forks

Do you like steak? Do you like lobster? Do you like french fries?  Who doesn't?  You can get all of this at Restaurant Red for a very reasonable price.  

This place was also recommended by one of the managers on my team - she said it's one of her go-to's in Amsterdam because it's near the office and in budget.  The prices are all very reasonable with a steak costing 22 euros, lobster for 30 euros or you can get both for 36 euros (you don't get a full lobster with the surf and turf - just half).  That's pretty much all they have on the menu except for a few small starters like steak tartare and caviar.  I felt like it was my duty to get the surf and turf but at the price point I wasn't expecting much.  The steak was surprisingly good - very juicy and nicely cooked.  It was a bit on the small side but enough for 1.  The lobster was only half and it was kind of skinny - with the claw being pretty non-existent.  Maine lobster this was not.  I actually don't like it when they cut the lobster length wise because you don't get the same feel from the tail that way.  The dish also comes with steak fries (my favorite part of Dutch meals) in case you're still hungry.  They were a bit dry, so I had to dunk them in mayo to keep them moist. 

The atmosphere is super dark and sexy and with the jet lag were were all about to fall asleep in our food.  But if you can stay awake, it's worth checking out if you're in the mood for meat and seafood. 

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Zuivere Koffie  Utrechtsestraat 39, 1017 VH Amsterdam                                                            4 Forks

This is one of those reviews where if I had written about it after my first experience I would have given it 3 forks.  But after having been there a few times afterwards, I've started to warm up to this place.  You just never know when you are going to catch a restaurant at a bad moment. 

So my first experience was bad only because of the super rude service - which I later learned is really just the Dutch way.  I know they are direct which I like in the business world but in cases like in the service industry, I prefer for them to be more warm and fuzzy.  I had ordered the 2 fried eggs on toast with roast beef (it's really prosciutto) and arugula but instead the waitress brought out another dish with fried eggs on it - it was fine, just not what I had ordered.  I told her that wasn't what I ordered and she was extremely adamant that I was wrong.  WTF? How did I not know what I ordered? After going back and forth unnecessarily several times, she brought me my food but I was so annoyed. Luckily, the food was quite delicious.  It's 2 perfectly fried eggs with cheese, thin slices of prosciutto and some salad on top.  The eggs were beautiful - they were these dark orange yolks and looked very organic/farm to table instead of the bright yellow yolks you see at home sometimes.   The orange juice there is also amazing - it's the freshest juice I've ever had.  You feel as if you're drinking 3 whole fresh oranges.

There's also a super cute cafe cat that hangs around the front tables.  She's super cute until she starts to step all over you and your food but if you nudge her away, she will generally comply. 

I've been here several times afterwards and while the service is still super slow, I've had different waitresses there each time and they're all been much nicer.  It's a convenient place for breakfast in the city centre if you're hotel doesn't serve it and it's one of the few places that opens before 9am, so you're able to get a good meal in and still get to the office at a reasonable hour. 

Photo Credit:  Yelp

48 Hours in Varenna, Italy Visited 9/7-9/9/2018 3.5-4 Forks

Osteria Quarto Pass  Via XX Settembre 20, 23829 Varenna, Italy                                            3.5 Forks

If you've never been to Lake Como before, I can't high recommend it enough.  It is one of the most beautiful places I've been to in the world.  In terms of sheer natural beauty, there is nothing more spectacular than a view of the gorgeous lake on a clear sunny day where you can see across to the other cute towns.  Simply stunning.   I recommend staying away from the madness of Bellagio (way too many tourists and was my least favorite part of the region) and stay somewhere slightly less crowded like Varenna.  It was perfect there - a few shops and restaurants but overall super quiet.  The best part is that the train station is located in town, so it's easy to get back to Milan from here.

The only downside to Lake Como is that I would say the food scene is not as great as it is in other parts of Italy.  Let's face it, you're coming here for the scenery and not the food.  That being said, the food is decent, just not spectacular.  We went to this local joint our first night in Varenna as it was recommended by our Airbnb host.  It's a quaint neighborhood restaurant with a few local specials.  Every restaurant in town boasts about their "lake fish" entrees - I believe it's literally fish they pluck from the lake.   I'll be honest and as someone who loves fish, lake fish isn't the tastiest. 

I started off with a basic beef tartare - it's was pretty good except there weren't any capers or raw egg with it.  It was very plain and simple but good enough.  Next I got the mixed grill of lake fish - it was a variety of different grilled fish fillets prepared a few different ways.  None of it was really mind blowing.  Kinney got the fish pasta and it is actually wasn't very good - I have never really been a huge fan of mixing fish and pasta but this one just had that extra fishy taste to it.  Others at the table got the special ravioli with ricotta cheese, which I was told was pretty good.  So while I would usually tell people to get the local delicacies, I'd maybe steer people away from the lake fish and stick with the pastas in Lake Como.  As with everything in Lake Como, prices are a bit higher than in other cities because of the high influx of tourists.  Total bill: $344 for 6 people with tax, tip and wine

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Hotel Restaurant Azalea   Via Portici S. Pietro, 1, 22019 Tremezzo CO, Italy                         3.5 Forks

The best thing about Lake Como is the ability to hop around the lake and visit a bunch of gorgeous villas.  I now know why so many people get married here and why George Clooney has a house here.  We decided to take a boat ride to the town of Tremezzo to visit one of the villas and then stopped by this place for a leisurely late lunch. 

There aren't a ton of places to eat in this area so when we spotted an outdoor restaurant with a lake view we were sold.  It's attached to a mid-scale hotel, so we weren't expecting great food.  It was just nice to sit outside and enjoy the scenery.  I was feeling like I needed something healthy so I got the shrimp salad but then for an entree all they really had were pastas and pizzas, so I went for the 4 cheese pizza.  I actually hadn't gotten pizza on this entire trip so I felt like it was ok to finally get it.  The shrimp salad felt like it was defrosted frozen shrimp and it came with strawberries and balsamic vinegar which was kind of a weird combination but it strangely worked for me.  The pizza was actually really tasty - nice thin crust and it was super super cheesy.   Yumm! Everyone else also got some kind of pizza and Will got the rabbit which he said was really good. 

The service was a bit off - although there was only 1 guy there so I did feel bad.  Several people came after us and even sat down with menus but then he told them that there was no more food? or that the kitchen was closed?  Either way, we got there in the knick of time.  Again, similar to our meal the night before, the food wasn't some culinary wonder but it did hit the spot after a long day wandering around the lake.  Total bill:  $186 for 6 people with tax, tip and wine

Photo Credit:  Discovercomo.com 

Hosteria del Platano  Via Statale 29, 23829 Fiumelatte, Italy                                                      4 Forks

This was the most surprising restaurant of the trip.  It was our last meal of the trip (sob!) and I'm not really sure how we even found this place but it was a bit of a hike outside of Varenna.  While it was beautiful to watch the sunset while we walked along the road, it was along the highway and it wasn't really the safest of walks but if you're in a group, it's not too bad.

The restaurant is in this random place off the road, not near anything.  We walked in and it felt kind of weird - there weren't a ton of people there and it didn't have this cute cozy feeling that we had in a lot of other places and at first glance the menu was less than inspiring.  But this is where looks can be deceiving because the food was excellent.   The clientele is definitely much more local and there wasn't a single American tourist in sight which is always a good sign (although there might have beens some European ones around). 

We started with a vegetable puff pastry, sort of like a spanakopita, that was a nice palate starter.  We then had the fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta which was sadly kind of meh - it didn't have a ton of flavor to it.  Luckily the main entrees made up for the lack luster appetizers.  Despite proclaiming I was sick of pasta, I split the deer ragu pasta and it was fantastic.   The pasta was perfectly al dente and the deer was not gamey tasting at all.  For my other main, I got a beef fillet and it was perfectly pink and tasted fantastic as well.  In the end, you can never go wrong with a pasta and meat dish, even if they aren't the most creative of dishes.  The dessert here was also shockingly delicious.  We got a refreshing mango and blueberry gelato - two very unusual flavors but really good at the same time.   The cream brulee was also a nice end of the meal - a good glazed top and creamy sweet inside. 

The service was painfully slow but it was just 2 women managing the entire restaurant and they were incredibly nice and sweet to us, so it was hard to be mad at them.   While it wasn't a fancy blinged out way to end the trip, it was all about being with friends in a cozy environment that made it a great night and fitting way to end our trip.  Total bill: $342 for 6 people with tax and tip

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

48 Hours in Bologna Visited 9/4-9/6/2018 4-5 Forks

Salumeria Simoni   Via Pescherie Vecchie 3B, 40124 Bologna, Italy                                       4.5 Forks

Bologna is one of my most favorite cities in Italy - it's slightly off the beaten path from all the touristy places but is hands down the culinary capital of the country in my book.  The food there is second to none and way more affordable.  I was here in 2016 and fell in love with the city and was excited to be back even if it was just for a short stint. 

As soon as we got off the train, we made a beeline for this salumeria.  It's right in the center of town along with a bunch of other salumeria.  I was really bummed last time I was here to not have gone to one, so I made it my priority to check one out this time. 

If you like cheese, meat and Lambrusco, you will be in heaven.  We got the Board Royale (18 euros) and also a bunch of other side meats and cheeses along with a bunch of freshly baked focaccia bread.  As you can see from the picture, the food did not disappoint.  The meats were sliced thinly and cured to perfection.  The cheese were a combination of sharp hard cheeses and some stinky blue served with jam.  I could eat this all day long.  Plus the waiter was super sweet and really nice - it made for a really enjoyable lunch. 

The only downside of a place that only serves charcuterie and cheese boards is that you have to eat a lot of it to get full (which we did) and sometimes it is also nice to have some greens (they do have a small salad but it's really not enough).  This is a great place for lunch or an afternoon snack but probably not for dinner.   Another plus to this place is that it's shockingly affordable for the amount of food we ate.  Total bill: $66 for 5 people and tax and tip

Cremeria Funivia  Piazza Cavour 1D, 40124 Bologna, Italy                                                        5 Forks

I can't even begin to explain how amazing this place is.  Hands down the best gelato of the whole trip.  I usually wouldn't review a gelato place but (A) it's Italy, so I feel like it's my duty to report on amazing gelato places and (B) this place is beyond anything I've had before.  Even our adorable Airbnb host, who barely spoke any English, she pulled out a map and circled this place immediately and said it was a must visit.  We managed to squeeze it in twice in 2 days and would have gone a 3rd time if we could have. 

There is always a line but it moves fast.  It's a mix of locals and tourists jamming up the place but everyone has these really big smiles on their faces when they are there.   All the flavors are super natural but still creative.  The first time I went I got a granita, which is basically like a slushie or Italian ice.  I got the grapefruit and lemon ice and it was amazing.  Super refreshing and very tart - I can see how this is the perfect snack on a hot summer day.  

The next time we went, I stuck with gelato and got the yogurt flavor mixed with the dark chocolate flavor.  OMG, mind blowing.  The consistency was nice and thick, like a soft serve and the yogurt was super tart but cut perfectly with the chocolate.  The chocolate tasted exactly like chocolate pudding.  I was craving this so badly the next day but we didn't have time for it.  I swear, there is crack in it or something that is super addictive as I couldn't get it out of my mind all day.  If you are in Bologna this place is an absolute must visit.  

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Da Cesari  Via dè Carbonesi 8, 40123 Bologna, Italy                                                                  4 Forks

Most of the team was exhausted and full from lunch and a gelato run but Aarti and I decided to live it up and still go out to dinner.  I mean, it's almost a sin to be in Italy and not be eating 3 full meals a day.  We checked out this place near our Airbnb and it was adorable.  Super traditional place with really sweet waiters. 

We started with a green salad, which at 5 euros we felt was a bit overpriced for what it was.  But the pasta experience made up for it.  The famous dish in Bologna besides bolognese is the tortellini in brodo.  I hadn't had it last time I was in Bologna, so I felt like it was my duty to get it here.  If you're not starving, it's the perfect pasta dish for you.  The beef broth was light but flavorful and the small pieces of tortellini were stuffed to perfection.  Perfect bites of pasta with ham, mortadella, parm and nutmeg encased in a soft pasta shell.  Aarti got the pumpkin ravioli which was a sweet and buttery delight.  The menu had so many other amazing sounding dishes but we just couldn't bring ourselves to eat anymore.  While the food, wine and service were great, it was a tad bit more expensive than most of the places we went to in Italy (but still super cheap compared to NYC prices).  Total bill $66 for 2 people with tax and tip

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Da Nello  Via Monte Grappa 2, 40100 Bologna, Italy                                                                  4 Forks

We spent most of this day on this epic Italian food tour, complete with a parmesan cheese factory tour, parma ham factor tour and balsamic vinegar tour and topped with a 3 hour lunch on a Tuscan hill top.  So we clearly weren't starving for dinner.  But again, when in Italy, you have to take advantage.  Nat had gone here the night before with a friend and had such a good meal that she wanted to go again. 

Since I had eaten my body weight in cheese, meat and pasta for lunch, I kept it very light and got the barley soup and the roast beef carpaccio.  I know it sounds like kind of a lame and a weird combination but it was all really very good.  I felt like I had to get off the pasta bandwagon for a bit but the soup was very hearty and carb-y but in a different way.  The carpaccio was lovely - thinly sliced and served simply with a squeeze of lemon and salt/pepper.  Nat got the porcini risotto which was excellent.  The mushrooms were meaty and earthy in flavor. 

The service was a bit gruff but in the end they were nice enough.  It felt like a pretty local place as it was filled mostly with Italians and you could tell that the waitstaff didn't love speaking in English, but I can't really blame them for that.  Total bill:  $136 for 3 people with tax and tip

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Day Trip to Siena, Italy Visited 9/3/2018 4 Forks

Osteria Le Logge  Via del Porrione 33, 53100 Siena, Italy

Two words:  Justin Timberlake.   We took a spontaneous day trip to Siena (2 hours by bus from Florence) and decided to grab lunch when we arrived.  It was almost 2pm so we were frantically googling lunch places that were still open and I had read about this place on some food blog that sounded good, so we made a mad sprint to the restaurant....and who the hell is in front of us also trying to get a table for lunch but JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE with his equally beautiful wife, Jessica Biel.  We (meaning Nat, Aarti and I) were completely fan girling out while Will and Kinney could have cared less. 

They originally were going to sit outside but I guess their bodyguard didn't feel too comfortable about it and  they were quickly ushered indoors.  We decided to still sit outside but I had to make a few "bathroom breaks" to see what we going on inside.  I've had several celebrity sightings in my life, but this was a pretty epic one and in such a random place. 

It was pretty hard to concentrate on our food but I'll try to do my best to remember.  Will and I split a pasta that was topped with pancetta and onions which was pretty tasty and then for my main course I got the beef cheek with mashed potato.  The cheek was nicely cooked and very soft and tender on the palate.  It was a little heavy for an afternoon meal but still a solid dish.  Nat and Kinney got a light pesto pasta topped with lobster, Aarti got a sweet pumpkin tortellini in a light broth and Will got the rabbit.   Everyone was mostly pleased with their food but again, we were super distracted by everything that was going on.  Eventually a paparazzi guy showed up and started taking pictures and a few of us ended up in the background and foreground of some shots.  We're famous!

The waiters were super nice and seemed like they didn't really know what was going on (I wasn't sure if it was an act or if they really didn't know who JT was).  It was a lovely overall experience and if it's good enough for JT and Jessica, how could it not be good enough for us?  A quick shout out about Siena as well - it's a lovely and beautiful town and definitely worth a visit if you're spending extra days in Florence.  Total bill: $258 for 5 people with tax and tip

24 Hours in Milan, Italy Visited 8/31-9/1/2018 3 - 4 Forks

La Locanda del Gatto Rosso  Via Foscolo 3, 20121 Milan, Italy                                                 3 Forks

Ahh, Italy.  How I love thee.  It's truly one of the world's most fantastic places.  While I try to visit a new country every year, I've been to Italy at least 5 times now and it never gets old.  One of the best things about it is the food - you would be super hard press to have a bad meal there.   Now that Emirates flies direct to Milan and they often have great deals (our tickets only cost $500 RT with tax), it's even easier and cheaper to get there. 

To celebrate our birthdays this year, a bunch of us decided to go indulge in a 10 day Northern Italy vacation.  We flew to Milan an then went to Florence, Bologna, and Lake Como with a few side trips along the way.  I've been to Milan, Florence and Bologna before but most of my friends haven't, but it was more about spending time with good friends than seeing a new city for me. 

Since we flew into Milan, we figured we'd stay one night there to get adjusted.  As with my previous entries, Milan as a city itself is a bit meh.  It's a big city that doesn't have the charm of a typical Italian city.   If you're short on time, just spend the night, go see the Duomo and get the heck out of dodge. 

The main sight is the Duomo and there is a super high end shopping gallery right next to it with a few restaurants.  We were exhausted and picked the first place we saw.  If you have time, don't eat in the Galleria because it's full of tourists.  We ended at this place since it was really the only place that had room for 5 people at the time.  The menu is pretty standard Italian food - we split the caprese for the table and I got the fettuccine ragu as a main.  The caprese was meh - it was kind of dry and the tomatoes could have been redder and juicier.  As for my pasta, since it was a ragu, I expected it to be a red sauce type dish but instead it had no real sauce to speak of with only bits of pork.  The pasta itself was good and I enjoyed the porcini mushrooms on there.  Everyone else had a similar mediocre feeling about their food but none the less, it wasn't a terrible meal, it just didn't feel super authentic.  Total bill:  185 euros for 5 people with tax and tip

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Antica Trattoria della Pesca  Via Pasubio 10 20154 Milan Italy                                                  4 Forks

After walking around the city for a little bit, we headed back to our Airbnb and collapsed from jet lag.  So much so that we missed our 8pm dinner reservation.  Opps.  So we had to pivot and Aarti found this other place (I think it was recommended by our hosts) where apparently Ho Chi Min once lived?  Weird. 

Unlike our lunch place, this restaurant seemed much more local and authentic.  It's a bit of a walk and in an area that's not in a touristy spot but when we pulled up, so did another group of Americans (although they were with an Italian guide so it didn't feel like a place that was a crazy tourist spot).  The inside was very rustic and and cozy - it just felt like a place where you would go with friends and enjoy a long leisurely meal.  We were put in this random room in the back that seemed weird but it was totally fine.  We all split a plate of prosciutto to start, Nat got the rigatoni, I got the veal cutlet, Aarti got the risotto and Kinney/Will got the cabbage wrapped veal with saffron rice.  The prosciutto was amazing - thinly sliced and full of salty goodness.  My veal cutlet was lightly breaded and served simply with a squeeze of lemon.  It was great - not too oily or fried and despite it looking like a huge serving, it was thin enough that it wasn't too much food.  Aarti's risotto was a veggie based and was way to salty which was the big bummer of the night.  The shining star was Nat's rigatoni - it was very similar to the crazy delicious version at Carbone but without the spice.  We were all super jealous of her order and probably would have all gotten it if that wouldn't have been weird.  Another huge star of the show was this amazing reserve wine that we got.   None of us are real wine snobs but one of Aarti's co-workers told her that if we ever see wine on the menu that's "reserva" get it.  They weren't wrong - this was an fantastic smooth red that we all loved. 

Overall, it was a super satisfying way to start our Italian adventures with so much more to come.  Total bill:  $281 USD for 5 people with tax and tip

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Ho Foods Visited 8/19/2018 4 Forks

Ho Foods  110 E 7th St., New York, NY 10009

The big trend these days in New York is the boom of Chinese noodle shops - specifically the Taiwanese beef noodle soup variety.  I've has this multiple times in Taiwan and when it's done right, it's spicy, flavorful and all kinds of deliciousness.  I met up with my friend Lily on a random Sunday night and the place was jammed.  Granted there are only 8 seats in the entire place but I always expect Sundays to be a slow night.  I guess this is what happens when you live in New York, there is never a slow night.  The wait was almost an hour, which is a bit annoying when you factor in that they pretty much only sell 1 dish, so it should be a pretty easy decision for most people. 

We finally sit down at 8:30pm (which is not super late) and they have already run out of the pork belly side dish and apple cider drink.  That's kind of annoying - clearly they need to plan their inventory a bit better.  As I mentioned, the place pretty much only has beef noodle soup on the menu - you can add the level of spiciness to it, extra meat or tendon for extra.  I got it with the wide noodle and rich and spicy broth ($14.50 + $2.50 for the rich and spicy).  They did still have the soft tofu side dish ($8) left which was fabulous - it was super rich, creamy and covered in bonito flakes and a century egg.  As for the noodle dish, it was pretty damn authentic.  The cuts of beef were tender and the broth was super flavorful and pretty spot on.  It's a classic comfort food dish.

My only complaint about this experience would be that it's a bit overpriced ($17 for a bowl of noodle soup) and that they ran out of the pork belly side and only drink option pretty early on in the evening.  That being said, I would still come back and it's definitely the kind of place where you can come alone on rainy night and feel wrapped in its comforting essence.  Total bill:  $27/pp with tax and tip

Photo Credit:  Yelp

72 Hours in Seattle/Bellevue Part 2, Visited 8/9-8/12/2018 3.5-4 Forks

Mamnoon  1508 Melrose Ave., Seattle, WA 98122                                                                     4 Forks

I was able to stay a bit longer in Seattle to see some other friends over the weekend, which was great.  My friend Anthony suggested a delicious Middle Eastern place in a fairly cool looking part of the city (no idea what it was called) on a Friday night.  Definitely make a reservation in advance, especially if it's the weekend because this place was jam packed.

It's been a while since I was there so I apologize if my review/memory is a bit hazy but I know we got the triple dips which came with incredibly addictive soft pita, kefi, fried cauliflower, a large mixed grill plate and a fish stew that came with salmon.  It was all fantastic and super flavorful.  I remember the mixed grill having a lot of different kinds of meats to it and the stew being quite unique (who has stew with salmon - I probably wouldn't have it again but it was worth trying)?   But the star of the show was the famous fried cauliflower - it was covered in a tzatziki-like sauce and really played with the flavors in your mouth.

As I've said before in the past, Middle Eastern food is often an overlooked ethnic cuisine but it's really quite satisfying and with the exception of the pita, pretty healthy for you too!  $73/pp with tax, tip and drinks

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Duke's Seafood and Chowder 500 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 212, Bellevue, WA 98004              3.5 Forks

When you get to my age, most of your friends are not only married but they have kids (often times several), and they don't really live in the city anymore.  Which is totally fine - sometimes being in a more suburban pace is nice.  I was staying with my good friend Neera and she lives about 20 mins outside of Seattle in a very picturesque suburb called Issaquah.  It's actually much closer to Bellevue than it is to downtown Seattle, so with the two girls, it was easier to grab food near there instead. 

We went to Duke's which is standard family restaurant found inside a shopping mall.  As you can tell from it's name, it's focused primarily on seafood and chowder which was great.  They have tons of different chowders to choose from:  traditional clam chowder, Northwest seafood chowder, lobster chowder, chicken and corn chowder, or a veggie one if you really don't eat seafood.  It almost makes you feel like you're in Boston.  I couldn't decide so I got the chowder sampler (triple dinghy - $10) and opted for the clam, seafood and lobster options.  They were pretty small in size but it was a nice concept so that you can try all 3 options.  I was feeling like I needed to be healthy again, so I opted for the seafood salad here as well ($20).  This one was also huge and came with scallops, prawns, avocado, feta, bail, lemon, and olive oil and it was super finely chopped.  It definitely wasn't as good as the one at Elliott's and it was way too heavily dressed.  It also didn't have quite the variety of seafood that I would have liked.  I don't remember even finishing it but it was probably more because of the amount of food than anything else.  

I did want to highlight that the waitress was super sweet and really great with the kids (again this is what happens when you go to a restaurant in the suburbs).  It was a great place to take a family because of the booths and they have a kid friendly menu.  The rest of the adult menu is also huge and frankly super overwhelming because there's literally every kind of seafood you can think of and then they put it all together in various combo dishes too.  If you love seafood, you'll definitely find something good here and even if you don't, they tons of other options too (even for vegetarians).  Total bill:  $242 for 3 adults, 2 kids with tip and tax

Photo Credit:  Yelp

72 Hours in Seattle/Bellevue Part 1, Visited 8/9-8/12/2018 3.5-4 Forks

Sushi Kudasai  10900 NE 4th St., Ste 270, Bellevue, WA 98004                                             3.5 Forks

I was excited to spend some time in the Pacific Northwest - I was in the Seattle/Bellevue area for work to visit the West team and then I tacked on a few extra days to hang out with Neera.  Shockingly, I had never been to Seattle before and I had heard the food scene it pretty good there, so I was excited to see what it was all about. 

I took the first flight out and needed some lunch before heading to the office.  I figured the fish and hence sushi should be pretty good, I looked for a place that was near the office/hotel I was staying at.  This place popped up as a 5 min walk from my hotel and it looked to be a popular lunch time spot for the Bellevue crowd.  It's a walk-up counter sushi place, so it's very informal and casual.  You order and pick up your food and then take it to a table.  They got a a pretty extensive line up of rolls and poke bowls.  I decided to try out the ichi roll  ($7) and a creamy poke bowl ($14).  The ichi roll was a tuna, spicy tuna, avocado and cucumber roll.  It was huge and way to big to eat in one bite.  The tuna was also too mashed up so I kind of left like I was eating bad tuna - even though it tasted totally fine.  The poke bowl was pretty tasty and had all of my favorite things to put in a poke bowl - tuna, salmon, crabmeat, seaweed salad, cucumber, avocado, scallion, ginger and masago.  The "creamy" sauce was ponzu sauce, spicy mayo and sesame oil, but it was a bit too heavy on the mayo part for my taste.  It was on a bed of salad and rice.  

Looking back, I would have been fine without the roll for lunch but I felt like I had to try it out.  It was definitely full by lunch time - there were people from Expedia, Microsoft and other tech companies in the area.  It definitely felt like a mini-SF scene with everyone looking like they walked off the set of "Silicon Valley".   Total bill:  $21 with tip and tax

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Elliott's Oyster House 1201 Alaskan Way Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98101                                       4 Forks

Everyone has been asking me how I like my new job so far and the answer is that I like it!  One of the reasons is because of the great people there.  It's always fun to be surrounded by like-minded folks who share your interests and luckily the one thing we all love is food!  The West team took me out to the Pier in Seattle and we all gorged on pretty delicious seafood (I mean, when in Rome right?).  

We started with a bunch of fantastic West Coast oysters and the celebration platter (chilled dungeness crab, more oysters, snow crab claws, and a variety of sauce - $90) while I got the white clam chowder ($5)  to start as well.  I got suckered into also getting the crab cakes because it was made with dungeness crab ($18) but to be honest, it wasn't that great as it had too much filler (when will I learn?!?!).  For my main, I had the seafood salad ($26) which I know is a bit unusual for me but I remember last time I was at a team dinner in NYC and I really wanted the seafood salad but got a lame steak sandwich instead and I really regretted that decision.  I figured if I was going to get seafood salad anywhere, it should be Seattle.  And you know what?  It was pretty damn good.  It was a huge portion, so I definitely felt full and it was full of shrimp, scallop, crab corn relish, avocado, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, mixed greens and a dijon-shallot vinaigrette sauce.  Not only did I enjoy it but it was pretty healthy too. 

The one negative to our meal was that the service was beyond painful.  It was so slow and we had to wave people down constantly.  I know it's a busy restaurant in a pretty touristy spot, but it really was ridiculous.  Someone else picked up the bill so I'm not sure how much the total bill was but I thought the prices were fairly reasonable for the quality and amount of seafood.  

Photo Credit:  Yelp

Din Tai Fung 700 Bellevue Way NE #280, Bellevue, WA 98004                                                4 Forks

Din Tai Fung has a pretty huge cult following and I know that in the past I kind of poo-poo'd it when I was in Taiwan but the truth is that it's pretty damn good.  I'm not sure it deserves the insane devotion that most people give it but if you're looking for a consistently solid, tasty Chinese food place, this is a winner.  Luckily for the Bellevue team, there is a location right across the street from them and it gets super packed at lunch time. 

We had to lie and say we had a smaller group of people just so we could get a booth and squeeze in about 8 people into it.  We pretty much ordered the entire menu:  every kind of soup dumpling, delicious green beans (I know it sounds lame to love green beans but there were amazing), spinach, shrimp shu mai, fried rice with pork, spicy wontons, and steam buns.  It looked like we had never eaten before judging by the amount of food we ordered.  But we devoured all of it.  The best part of the whole meal is that nothing is really that expensive - I think the most expensive thing on the menu is $12 or $13.  The joys of Chinese food. 

I'll admit that I really love the meal and wished that there was one in NYC but I can only imagine the shitshow it would be if there was one.  There aren't that many locations in the US and they are all on the West Coast, so for that reason alone, it's definitely worth a visit unless you'll be in Asia anytime soon. 

Photo Credit: Yelp