Monday at noon. Marlow & Sons is a lovely spot for a meal. Walk through the shop in the front to the dining area, and you feel as if you have left the city. This is a charming, sweet, calm, little restaurant serving well crafted food.
The market salad is a generous plate of assorted, crisp greens, ever so slightly under-cooked hard boiled egg quarters, red onions, toasted bread crumbs served with a dressing that changes daily. The salad is lightly dressed, unlike salads served in so many places, both high and low, where the greens are drowning.
Today's house made ham (actually from Marlow & Daughters' butcher shop down the street) and cheese sandwich has sliced summer squash inside and is dressed with a grainy mustard. This toasted sandwich is served on fabulous dark bread studded with sunflower seeds. It also comes with fresh, crisp salad greens, lightly dressed.
The Italiano sandwich was packed with Italian meats--prosciutto, salami, mortadella, presumably all from Marlow & Daughters--and cheeses. It was served on a fresh, crusty roll that was not a baguette, but certainly not your average hero roll either. Again, a bit of salad greens rounded out your plate.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
LIC Treasure: Le Tournesol
Why do you have to travel to LIC to dine at a "neighborhood" French restaurant?
My esteemed French teacher, Fanny, lived in Queens, and highly recommended Le Tournesol, while we sat in its sister establishment, simply called "Wine Bar."
Le Tournesol is a wonderful neighborhood French restaurant where the menu is reminiscent of a type of French restaurant that you can find all over France, and that you used to be able to find in Manhattan. Appetizers range from French Onion soup to Frisée Aux Lardons with Poached Egg, to house made Terrine de Fois Gras. This is the type of place where Celeri Remoulade might accompany an entree. The Steak Frites is a hanger steak served either "au poivre" or "a la Béarnaise." Boundaries are not being pushed. Simple and fresh ingredients are being lovingly prepared in the "French" way.
We started with two specials, the Crabmeat Salad with Avocados and Tomatoes, and the Seared Scallops with Grapes and Beet Sauce. For entrees, we enjoyed the Truite Amandine which was seared in butter; and the Saturday night special, a Duck Ballotine. A whole duck breast is boned, stuffed with chicken liver and swiss chard, roasted and a generous slice is served with orange sauce, baby turnips and Pommes Anna. For dessert we had a slice of Bread Pudding with raisins sitting in Crème Anglaise; and Iles Flottants, a delicious slice of soft meringue "floating" in a pool of that delicious Crème Anglaise. (I have not seen Iles Flottants on a French restaurant menu, in the city, in ages, not with all the experimental and sometimes complicated desserts that dominate so many dessert menus.)
The waitstaff of 4 is quite attentive with a total of 48 guests now that outdoor tables are available. This wonderful neighborhood restaurant is good enough to make you want to move to LIC., and to become a "regular."
My esteemed French teacher, Fanny, lived in Queens, and highly recommended Le Tournesol, while we sat in its sister establishment, simply called "Wine Bar."
Le Tournesol is a wonderful neighborhood French restaurant where the menu is reminiscent of a type of French restaurant that you can find all over France, and that you used to be able to find in Manhattan. Appetizers range from French Onion soup to Frisée Aux Lardons with Poached Egg, to house made Terrine de Fois Gras. This is the type of place where Celeri Remoulade might accompany an entree. The Steak Frites is a hanger steak served either "au poivre" or "a la Béarnaise." Boundaries are not being pushed. Simple and fresh ingredients are being lovingly prepared in the "French" way.
We started with two specials, the Crabmeat Salad with Avocados and Tomatoes, and the Seared Scallops with Grapes and Beet Sauce. For entrees, we enjoyed the Truite Amandine which was seared in butter; and the Saturday night special, a Duck Ballotine. A whole duck breast is boned, stuffed with chicken liver and swiss chard, roasted and a generous slice is served with orange sauce, baby turnips and Pommes Anna. For dessert we had a slice of Bread Pudding with raisins sitting in Crème Anglaise; and Iles Flottants, a delicious slice of soft meringue "floating" in a pool of that delicious Crème Anglaise. (I have not seen Iles Flottants on a French restaurant menu, in the city, in ages, not with all the experimental and sometimes complicated desserts that dominate so many dessert menus.)
The waitstaff of 4 is quite attentive with a total of 48 guests now that outdoor tables are available. This wonderful neighborhood restaurant is good enough to make you want to move to LIC., and to become a "regular."
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Snack Taverna
This is a wonderful little Greek restaurant in the Village. It is warm and inviting. The food is delicious and imaginative, and prepared with care. The staff is efficient and friendly without overdoing it.
The Saganaki (pan seared Kefalotyri Cheese) is a "Small Dish", and a wonderful way to start a meal. It was a perfect complement to the Greek Sauvignon Blanc. The Saganaki is served with lemon and, not too spicy, "spicy tomato relish." The crunchiness of the cheese was a treat.
The Octopus with Gigante Beans and Garlic "Meze" would have been bland, if not for the unexpected sprigs of cilantro.
The small Greek Salad was a lightly dressed bowl of fresh tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, kalamata olives and a generous slab of barrel aged Greek feta cheese, sprinkled with a little fresh thyme.
The small Roasted Red Beet and Butter Bean Salad was served on a bed of watercress, with toasted almonds, and topped with a dollop of garlicky Skordalia made with Yukon Gold potatoes, peasant bread and garlic.
Snack Taverna's "small" salads are really quite generous in size. The "large" salads came in serving bowls. I cannot imagine being able to eat a "large" salad by myself, especially after having at least one Meze and one "Small Plate" beforehand. As it was, we only had room for dessert. And what tasty desserts they were.
A generous serving of Greek yoghurt with thyme honey sat on a round of walnut cake in a pool of fresh blueberry crumble (?). A Greek goat's milk yoghurt custard had a surprising, but delicious texture, and was stopped by sliced, toasted almonds and accompanied by figs. Not a morsel was left.
The Saganaki (pan seared Kefalotyri Cheese) is a "Small Dish", and a wonderful way to start a meal. It was a perfect complement to the Greek Sauvignon Blanc. The Saganaki is served with lemon and, not too spicy, "spicy tomato relish." The crunchiness of the cheese was a treat.
The Octopus with Gigante Beans and Garlic "Meze" would have been bland, if not for the unexpected sprigs of cilantro.
The small Greek Salad was a lightly dressed bowl of fresh tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, kalamata olives and a generous slab of barrel aged Greek feta cheese, sprinkled with a little fresh thyme.
The small Roasted Red Beet and Butter Bean Salad was served on a bed of watercress, with toasted almonds, and topped with a dollop of garlicky Skordalia made with Yukon Gold potatoes, peasant bread and garlic.
Snack Taverna's "small" salads are really quite generous in size. The "large" salads came in serving bowls. I cannot imagine being able to eat a "large" salad by myself, especially after having at least one Meze and one "Small Plate" beforehand. As it was, we only had room for dessert. And what tasty desserts they were.
A generous serving of Greek yoghurt with thyme honey sat on a round of walnut cake in a pool of fresh blueberry crumble (?). A Greek goat's milk yoghurt custard had a surprising, but delicious texture, and was stopped by sliced, toasted almonds and accompanied by figs. Not a morsel was left.
A Near Miss
Today I witnessed an almost tragedy.
Mother with three children. Two in a double stroller, one child in front of the other. The third child is walking alongside the stroller.
Crossing an intersection where 3 lanes of traffic have stopped for a red light.
Flashing lights and a blaring siren from a police car approaching the intersection in the parking lane.
Mother stops just as the police car reaches the crosswalk.
The child sitting in the front seat of the stroller hops out, and misses being hit by the police car by a foot.
NO CHILD RIDING IN A STROLLER IS MATURE ENOUGH TO DECIDE WHETHER HE/SHE SHOULD BE STRAPPED IN.
Mother with three children. Two in a double stroller, one child in front of the other. The third child is walking alongside the stroller.
Crossing an intersection where 3 lanes of traffic have stopped for a red light.
Flashing lights and a blaring siren from a police car approaching the intersection in the parking lane.
Mother stops just as the police car reaches the crosswalk.
The child sitting in the front seat of the stroller hops out, and misses being hit by the police car by a foot.
NO CHILD RIDING IN A STROLLER IS MATURE ENOUGH TO DECIDE WHETHER HE/SHE SHOULD BE STRAPPED IN.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Summer in the City, Part II, Walking "Around" Manhattan
Today, we started a journey to circumnavigate the island of Manhattan, staying along the water as much as possible. The focus was not the skyline, but what was going on along the waterfront itself.
We started at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and headed East along the water. We passed the ferry terminal to Governor's Island, and saw three helicopters land on the East River Heliport at Pier 6.
At Old Slip and South Street, we spotted the NYC Police Museum, who even knew it was there?
At the foot of Wall Street, a huge line snaked under the FDR. People were waiting to board the Seastreak for the 30 minute ride to the beaches of Sandy Hook, NJ. Judging by the length of the line, and hearing the moans when the crowd was told you had to buy tickets to board the ship, a mid-week trip to Sandy Hook is best. Sharing Pier 11 with the Seastreak are the Water Taxis to Brooklyn. The crowds kept us from discovering Cheng's installation at the pier's tip. Another time.
The South Street Seaport Museum Ships are found at Piers 15, 16 and 17. The former Rouse retail complex at Pier Pavilion 17 is anchored on the ground floor by Johnny Rockets, and on the second floor by Pizzeria Uno. Haven't a clue or a care about what retail stores can be found inside. This is tourist heaven with street vendors selling the latest "hot" sunglasses, handbags and other assorted knickknacks.
On South Street I spotted several loading bays with signs for some farmers' market stallworths--Migliori's farm, the pickle people, Granddaisy's Bakery, etc. However, I was not curious enough to interrupt my journey North to stop and find out if there is indeed a covered farmers' market in one of the old fishmongers' buildings. Maybe another time.
Strolling along under the FDR, dodging bike riders and joggers, I tried to stay as close to the water as possible. However, there is construction and maintenance going on, but it does not keep you away from the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge.
As always, the Brooklyn Bridge was compelling, even from underneath, on the Manhattan side. What is it about this bridge that just speaks to me? It seems both delicate and solid at the same time. The details are a delight to behold, whether observing them from below, or while crossing it on foot.
Continuing our walk North, we discovered the Two Bridges neighborhood. A little known waterfront neighborhood between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. It shares the underside of the FDR with a curious collection of old cars--Thunderbirds, Buicks, Chevy's, all of the 1960's vintage. Why are they there? Who is guarding them? Why isn't someone taking better care of them?
We passed fisherfolk and a few people doing Tai Chi. Not unexpected since Chinatown is due West of this neighborhood. Close to the foot of the Manhattan Bridge was a baseball field, with restrooms and the name "Verizon Fields." Does this belong to Verizon, to the City; is it part of a public school? No matter, it was empty. Not a soul using it on such a glorious day.
If you are alert, you will catch a glimpse of McKim, Mead & White's Gouverneur Hospital, an old City hospital with tiers of curved verandas.
Between the Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge, you are reminded that this is both a working waterfront and a recreational area. After you past the Sanitation Department's complex, you come upon the East River Park Amphitheater and a derelict City owned Environmental Education Center. There are tennis courts, softball diamonds, and baseball fields with lights sharing space with soccer pitches.
Part 1 of this journey ended at East Houston/FDR interchange, where we dodged two lanes of traffic to leave the waterfront.
We started at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and headed East along the water. We passed the ferry terminal to Governor's Island, and saw three helicopters land on the East River Heliport at Pier 6.
At Old Slip and South Street, we spotted the NYC Police Museum, who even knew it was there?
At the foot of Wall Street, a huge line snaked under the FDR. People were waiting to board the Seastreak for the 30 minute ride to the beaches of Sandy Hook, NJ. Judging by the length of the line, and hearing the moans when the crowd was told you had to buy tickets to board the ship, a mid-week trip to Sandy Hook is best. Sharing Pier 11 with the Seastreak are the Water Taxis to Brooklyn. The crowds kept us from discovering Cheng's installation at the pier's tip. Another time.
The South Street Seaport Museum Ships are found at Piers 15, 16 and 17. The former Rouse retail complex at Pier Pavilion 17 is anchored on the ground floor by Johnny Rockets, and on the second floor by Pizzeria Uno. Haven't a clue or a care about what retail stores can be found inside. This is tourist heaven with street vendors selling the latest "hot" sunglasses, handbags and other assorted knickknacks.
On South Street I spotted several loading bays with signs for some farmers' market stallworths--Migliori's farm, the pickle people, Granddaisy's Bakery, etc. However, I was not curious enough to interrupt my journey North to stop and find out if there is indeed a covered farmers' market in one of the old fishmongers' buildings. Maybe another time.
Strolling along under the FDR, dodging bike riders and joggers, I tried to stay as close to the water as possible. However, there is construction and maintenance going on, but it does not keep you away from the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge.
As always, the Brooklyn Bridge was compelling, even from underneath, on the Manhattan side. What is it about this bridge that just speaks to me? It seems both delicate and solid at the same time. The details are a delight to behold, whether observing them from below, or while crossing it on foot.
Continuing our walk North, we discovered the Two Bridges neighborhood. A little known waterfront neighborhood between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. It shares the underside of the FDR with a curious collection of old cars--Thunderbirds, Buicks, Chevy's, all of the 1960's vintage. Why are they there? Who is guarding them? Why isn't someone taking better care of them?
We passed fisherfolk and a few people doing Tai Chi. Not unexpected since Chinatown is due West of this neighborhood. Close to the foot of the Manhattan Bridge was a baseball field, with restrooms and the name "Verizon Fields." Does this belong to Verizon, to the City; is it part of a public school? No matter, it was empty. Not a soul using it on such a glorious day.
If you are alert, you will catch a glimpse of McKim, Mead & White's Gouverneur Hospital, an old City hospital with tiers of curved verandas.
Between the Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge, you are reminded that this is both a working waterfront and a recreational area. After you past the Sanitation Department's complex, you come upon the East River Park Amphitheater and a derelict City owned Environmental Education Center. There are tennis courts, softball diamonds, and baseball fields with lights sharing space with soccer pitches.
Part 1 of this journey ended at East Houston/FDR interchange, where we dodged two lanes of traffic to leave the waterfront.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
