Tag: delicious

Gnocco Celebrates 20 Years of Classic Italian Cooking in the East Village

Post author By Dan Metz
Post date March 6, 2020

At the heart of the East Village is a gastrointestinal treasure in true New York fashion. For the last 20 years, Gnocco has served fine Emilia-Romagna food from pizza and pasta to their namesake Gnocco. The dishes are old-school, nostalgic recreations of the owner’s childhood favorites back in Modena, Italy. Now, after 20 years, Gnocco has modernized, adding vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, as well as intuitive touchscreen tablet menus for all guests. But the passion for the authentic hasn’t changed.

The best place to see the heart of Gnocco is in its namesake dish. For the uninitiated, Gnocco is a street food made of fried, flaky dough puffs and served with a plate of Italian cold cuts. It is a sweet, simple appetizer that Owner/Executive Chef Gian Luca Giovanetti explains was a favorite snack for Italian grandparents to give grandkids. In Italy, gnocco pulls double duty: it can be a snack, but also a delicious dessert treat if you put powdered sugar on it instead of cold cuts.

Gnocco–the food and the place–is the definition of delicious simplicity. It is unpretentious, warm, and quintessentially Italian. The restaurant follows suit: There are no tablecloths, no stuffy outfits for waiters. And the waiters take that spirit to heart: our sweater-wearing waiter sat down with us to lovingly explain his favorite dishes and to point out the long list of can’t miss dishes we just had to try. And it was all authentic–the recommendations and the food itself. If they did not make it at home in Modena, you won’t see it here: no spaghetti and meatballs or fettuccine alfredo. Don’t worry: you won’t miss them.

The front of the restaurant is small–a narrow hallway of a place with modern art and a few plants. If you are looking for light food and drinks at the bar, it is perfect. But head to the back and you get the real treat: a glass-roofed garden with more expansive seating and natural lighting. The walls are covered in greenery and decorated with a classical Italian feel. When the sun goes down, the lights go on, keeping with the garden atmosphere without any of the cold. Pro tip: this is also where they keep a healthy-sided wine rack.

When we sat down, Giovanetti told us that Gnocco had a “dish for every day of the week,” but that was not quite true. There was a dish for every day of this week and for two weeks after that. Rather than a traditional cardstock menu, or the plastic-cased menu booklets, Gnocco’s menu comes on a tablet. Scroll down the list, or click on each dish for a gorgeous picture and description. Plus, every single menu item comes with a wine recommendation.

And the food was excellent. If this is what everyone in Giovanetti’s hometown was cooking, I would be surprised if anyone who grew up there wouldn’t want to be a chef. Gnocco’s pizzas are delicious, thin-crust delicacies unlike anything else you are getting in NYC. A couple of them are recognizable as something you’d see in a pizza shop. Most are something else entirely. My favorite was the Tartufata: Fresh mozzarella, truffle sauce, mushrooms, and speck. It was savory and decadent, with the truffle sauce infusing flavor without overwhelming the taste. This might be one of the best pizzas you will get in the city, and one of the most unconventional.

Their pasta dishes are likewise dedications to Northern Italian cooking traditions. Remember, we’re not talking spaghetti. Every shape, every sauce, is unique and delicious. The Maccheroni al Torchio is a house favorite: Homemade whole wheat Maccheroni pasta with braised parma prosciutto, arugula, and a light touch of cream. It is a little heavy, but it is packed with flavor, mixing sweet with the savory of the prosciutto. If you are looking for something sweeter, check out their Pumpkin Ravioli Ragout, with a slightly sweet butternut squash filling mixed with Parmigiano-Reggiano, nutmeg, and Amaretti cookies. It is very nearly a dessert.

For 20 years, Gnocco has blended a home kitchen taste and feel with fine-dining flavors and wine selection. Whether you are looking for brunch, lunch, dinner, or just drinks, Gnocco is ready with some of the best, most authentic Italian in New York.

LOCATION: 337 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10009

WEBSITE: www.gnocco.com

PHONE: 212-677-1913

INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: @gnoccony

HOURS:

Monday -Thursday: 11am – 11pm

Friday: 11am-12am; Saturday: 11:30am-12am; Sunday: 11:30am-11pm

Brunch: Saturday & Sunday: 11:30am-4:45pm

Delivery & Take Out: Delivery and pickups are available through the restaurant as well as GrubHub, Seamless, SliceLife, DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, Delivery.com and they have their own delivery platform on the website powered by 9fold.

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Tags 20 years, anniversary, authentic, Dan Metz, Date night, delicious, Emilia-Romagna, Family, food, gnocco, italian, Italy, Modena, Restaurant, review, upscale

Dining Featured Hotels Living NYC Travel

A Rocking Good Time at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Post author By Dan Metz
Post date January 6, 2020

They say that Rock n Roll is a lifestyle–a way of life. You can build cities out of it. And while Tampa, Florida wasn’t built on Rock n Roll, Tampa’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is. And with the completion of their expansion, Tampa, Florida, is finally ready for you to rock and roll all night and party every day.

So what would you need to live the rock star life? Glitz, glamour, and opulence. And Hard Rock is filled with it. Bright lights fill the gambling floors, offering every kind of game for every price point. Swim through the sea of lights, and you’ll find a restaurant, a venue, or recreational experience. Want a stack of pancakes? Fresh sashimi? A perfectly marbled steak? Or maybe you want to grab a drink and watch live music? It’s all there.

And live music is everywhere. Hard Rock Tampa features multiple stages, ranging in size from hundreds to more than a thousand. Their largest stage holds 1500 people and hosts internationally-renowned singers, comedians, and performers. Between all of their locations, you are guaranteed a show, with more as you get closer to the weekends.

If you are just there to relax, you’re also covered there. A beautiful pool ringed with cabanas, and a long poolside bar forms the center of the hotel and casino. Stop by for a swim, or a full day lounging in the sun. Finished with your tan? Hang out at the bar and watch a game over drinks. Just to the side of the pool, explore Hard Rock’s ‘Rock Spa & Salon,’ where you can treat your body and spirit with their brand new 26,000 sq ft facility. Enjoy a massage, a therapeutic facial, or a workout class in Hard Rock’s state-of-the-art fitness center. Hey–even rock stars need time to relax.

And the food. I mentioned it earlier, but it is worth mentioning again. Restaurants range from casual and cool, like the Hard Rock Cafe, to the stately, with Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. Both, by the way, feature live music. Whatever food you want, they’ve got it. A special shout-out to Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, and their supreme cuts of meat–I even follow their Executive Butcher on Instagram just to see the latest cuts. But don’t miss out on your chance to try out all 13 of their dining locations.

Council Oak Hard Rock — Council Oak Steaks & Seafood

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa takes its Rock n Roll soul to heart. Its vast collection of memorabilia, its multiple venues, its delicious food, is all a celebration of our urge to cut loose, indulge, and treat yourself in ways that you can’t at home. If you want to rock and roll all night, Hard Rock is always open.

If you’re interested, check out www.seminolehardrocktampa.com and subscribe to Downtown Magazine to read more in-depth coverage in our Spring issue.

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Tags Casino, Dan Metz, delicious, dining, Florida, gamble, gambling, Hard Rock, hotel, meat, Party, poker, Pool, resort, Rock & Roll, rock n roll, seminole, slots, snow bird, spa, tampa, vacation

Dining Featured Restaurants

Mizu Sushi Dishes Fresh Fish

Post author By Dan Metz
Post date December 20, 2019

Mizu, a sushi spot in flatiron, is unpretentious. The dining area is simple, with plenty of tables and a tasteful yet simple aesthetic. Just enough to remind you that you’re here for sushi. In fact, the only standout feature of the restaurant–physically, at least–is their sushi bar, with stool seating and a window where you can see the fish. This focus will be a theme throughout the experience. Mizo understands that no amount of flash or finery can compete with a focus on the essentials.

The chefs at Mizu purchase their fish fresh every morning, as well as scallops, shrimp, and sea urchins on a seasonal basis. Their food is always made-to-order. If you want takeout, we were told, you might have to wait for as long as 20 minutes once you arrive–they don’t like to leave food waiting.

This dedication to freshness and quality at Mizu permeates the menu. Every dish which presents itself fish-forward is full and flavorful. The presentation is stylish but, again, never to the point of distraction. For starters, try the yellowtail carpaccio or the white tuna truffle. The yellowtail comes with jalapeno and yuzu dressing and has a fruity flavor, which is complemented perfectly by the spice. The white tuna truffle is milder and sweeter–it is a don’t-miss for fans of truffle oil.

When you get to the sushi, start with the Flatiron roll: spicy crunchy salmon topped with salmon, avocado, and ikura. It is a delicious example of Mizu’s fish-first sushi at its best. The salmon topping focuses the flavor with the sweet, spice, and crunch, letting them enhance the natural flavor. We ended our meal on the Jurassic roll, another of our favorites. The miso sauce topping the white tuna roll gave it a sweeter, almost dessert-like flavor which we loved.

Mizu says that they don’t compromise on their fish, and Downtown believes it. Try as we might, we weren’t able to taste every roll they have to offer. But we haven’t given up. We’ll be back soon–plus, we heard something about a happy hour. We hope to see you there.

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Tags cheap, Dan Metz, Date night, deal, delicious, dining, Downtown, flatiron, food, midtown, Price, review, sushi

Dining Featured

A Must-Try for Coffee Lovers

Post author By Addison Franz
Post date June 13, 2019

By Addison Franz

If you haven’t already heard, For Five Coffee opened up their newest location at 1 Liberty Plaza on Thursday, June 6th in place of what used to be a Starbucks. Beautiful decor and a relaxed atmosphere are the only fitting complements for such rich, flavorful coffee.

Our Downtown team tried both the Gotham Mocha and the Iced Matcha with lavender. Our tastebuds were dazzled by the smoothness of the Mocha and equally refreshed by the sweet mixture of the matcha and lavender.

To make things sweeter, the barristers are as great of conversationalists as they are masters of getting your drink of choice brewed to perfection.

Cofounders Tom Tsiplakos and Stefanos Vouvoudakis joined us as we enjoyed our luxury coffee experience. The two childhood best friends started as suppliers for restaurants and other coffee franchises but eventually opened their first cafe in 2016 in the middle of Times Square. Since the two are both New Yorkers, it is only fitting that their micro-roasting facility is located nearby in Queens.

For Five Coffee aims to make each of their cafes a staple in its community. Each specialty cafe is intended to represent its founders’ “New York background, their love for quality coffee, and their understanding that it’s not just the coffee, but where you drink it that matters.”

Check out the new 1 Liberty Plaza location today!

Tags atmosphere, coffee, delicious, flavor, For Five Coffee, lavender, matcha, mocha, rich, Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos

Dining

A Taste of Italy at Ristorante Rafele

Post author By Mike Hammer
Post date July 23, 2014

Ristorante Rafele was recently certified by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce as an authentic Italian Restaurant serving genuine Italian fare in New York City. To celebrate this honorable distinction, Rafele’s hosted members from the Italy-American Chamber of Commerce, unveiling a new menu entitled “Calabria”, in reverence of the traditional dishes of the Italian South.

Sourcing its ingredients fresh from local farms and Italian imports, Rafele’s is known for clean, palpable food. New Yorkers have long been proud to recognize the true Italian flair of Ristorante Rafele and its credible cuisine, and it’s gratifying to see the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce recognize it too.

The Calabria menu showcases the following delicious dishes:

Aperitivo:

– Crostini Misti: eggplant and mushrooms (coluccio and soons), chicken liver and anchovies, cannellini beans tuna and red tropea onions

Appetizer:

– Eggplant parmigiana with smoked mozzarella

Pastas:

– Spaghetti with mixed seafood and breadcrumbs

– Filei (coluccio and soons) with sundry tomatoes, peperoncino calabrese, nduja and caciocavallo calabrese

Entree:

– Swordfish with caponata calabrese

Dessert:

– Figs, amaretti ricotta cheese cake

– Maya Prejibisz

– Photography by Joseph Amella Jr.

Columnist and author Suzanne Corso, DOWNTOWN’s CEO, Grace A. Capobianco and Italian chef Raffaele Ronca

Tags authentic, cuisine, delicious, dine, fine Italian ingredients, food, fresh, genuine, italian, Italy, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, local farms, NYC eats, Rafele, rafele ristorante, Restaurant, taste, west village

Dining

The Finest French Pastries at Canelé by Céline

Post author By Mike Hammer
Post date July 22, 2014

Photo from Paul Wax

When it comes to food in Lower Manhattan, you can find countless eateries on nearly every street of the busy and bustling city. Everything from small coffee shops, upscale restaurants, and your favorite chain bakeries always provides a variety to choose from. Nearly anything you might crave at any time of the day can be found Downtown, but one of New York’s true hidden gems can only be found above 23rd Street: Canelé by Céline.

Located exclusively in its Upper East Side location, Canelé by Céline is the only boutique in Manhattan with mini French pastries that will bring your taste buds right to the heart of France in a single bite.

Your palette is first greeted by the pastry’s caramelized crust, and it slowly gives way to the moist custard-like center. The soft texture of the tenderly elegant and sophisticated canelé combined with the rich flavor of Céline’s final creations will keep you wanting more with each bite.

Photo from Paul Wax

Céline’s canelés have an authentic French Taste that can’t be found in any other Manhattan eatery. As the only shop catered specifically to canelés and French financiers, Canelé by Céline’s feature many different variations of the delicate treat.

“Even in France they don’t really play with the different flavors,” Céline said when asked about what makes her boutique different from other canelé locations in Manhattan. “The most common one is vanilla base with rum, and I thought it would be nice to add more variety, especially when you have one product.”

Both sweet and savory flavors can be found on the daily menu with choices that are strictly unique to the boutique; from the most popular vanilla and dark chocolate pastries, to the savory Parmesan cheese and basil pesto canelés. Céline’s wide array of flavors almost always run out by the end of each day. It’s hard to refrain after you’ve had just one, and there’s no question why after you’ve indulged in Céline’s perfect creations.

“When you have one of the mini canelés, you want to try another flavor,” Céline continued.

Aside from the vanilla and dark chocolate flavors, the caramel and pistachio seem to be two of the other most popular pastries at the Upper East Side boutique. July’s flavor of the month, raspberry, also seems to be doing so well that they are considering placing it on the shop’s permanent menu. However, Céline’s personal favorites are the pistachio and lemon.

Photo from Paul Wax

When asked about a flavor for Downtown, Céline recommends both sweet and savory, noting the difference that having a combination really makes. She recommends the caramel and raspberry for sweet, and the black truffle for savory.

“That’ll be the one people will love,” Céline said.

Canelé by Céline is one of Manhattan’s best hidden gems. When a little Upper East Side shop became available just seven months ago, Céline took the opportunity right away. Ever since then, she’s experimented with all types of new flavors and she continues to try new ones when they come to mind. Although her pastries can only be found at her 82nd Street boutique and in select hotels, she is looking to expand her reach and open another shop further down the island.

“I’d love to go Downtown,” Céline said. “I’d love to be in SoHo or TriBeCa.”

Lower Manhattan will hopefully be home to a new Canelé by Céline boutique in the next few years. The aroma of the freshly baked mini French pastries will be enough to lure you in and keep you coming back for more. Canelé by Céline is one not to miss.

– Sarah Santos

Photo from Paul Wax