A Cozy Italian Restaurant In Midtown Manhattan Serves Classic Italian Cuisine

At Mozzarella & Vino, diners can enjoy a menu that reflects the simplicity of authentic Italian ingredients.

Classic Tasting

The Classic Tasting of Buffalo mozzarella, buffalo provola, and burrata is the perfect sampler to try all the delicious mozzarella. Served with cherry tomatoes, the tasting features creamy, melt-in-your-mouth burrata, smoked cheese, and fresh mozzarella.

Seafood Salad

Featuring fresh calamari, mussels, and shrimp, the seafood salad is served over organic frisee and arugula with extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and parsley dressing.

Ravioli of the Day

The homemade ravioli of the day featured perfectly cooked and prepared ravioli stuffed with generous amount of creamy ricotta cheese in marinara sauce.

Lasagna of the Day

In between the layers of pasta is sweet pork sausage and mushroom in this savory, hearty oven-baked lasagna.

Slow Braised Lamb

Two pieces of tender, slow-braised lamb in red wine and organic vegetable sauce sits atop creamy mashed potatoes in this satisfying entree.

Tiramisu

The tiramisu is an absolute must. The dessert consists of layers of coffee-soaked cake and mascarpone cream topped with cocoa dust and served with a dollop of dark chocolate and white sauces.

Dark Chocolate and Almond Cake

Having the texture and density of brownie, the rich dark chocolate and almond cake with powder sugar on top is served with a scoop of creamy pistachio gelato.

Eat Your Way Through The Mission District, The Gourmet Ghetto Of San Francisco

Affectionately called the “Gourmet Ghetto,” San Francisco’s Mission District is home to some of the most popular restaurants, bakeries, and other famed food destinations in the city. Here is your ultimate guide to enjoying some of the best bites in the neighborhood!

Before You Begin…Do Your Research!

For newbies who are unfamiliar with the neighborhood, getting around Mission District can be a bit overwhelming. While searching for top restaurants on Google, Yelp, or TripAdvisor may yield some results, I would recommend participating in one of many walking food tours of the neighborhood to rely on the knowledge of the locals, to avoid tourist traps, and to experience Mission District at its fullest. My personal favorite, Avital Food Tours, is a comprehensive, 3-hour journey through Mission District’s top culinary spots with a chance to meet the chefs/owners, mingle with other foodies, and learn a bit of history and interesting facts about each destination. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite bites in Mission District.

Pork Belly Breakfast Taco from West of Pecos

Served on top of soft, warm flour tortilla, the Pork Belly Breakfast Taco from West of Pecos is topped with a thick piece of maple-glazed, caramelized pork belly, cheesy scrambled egg, pico de gallo, chipotle aioli, and a creamy slice of avocado with a sprinkle of shredded cheese. West of Pecos can accommodate those with dietary restrictions (i.e. gluten free, vegetarian, etc.). As an added bonus, if you are lucky, you might get a chance to meet Tyler MacNiven, the restaurant’s quirky, flamboyant owner who also won Season 9 of The Amazing Race!

A Flight of Cheese from Mission Cheese

Mission Cheese

You have probably been to a wine bar, but have you heard of a cheese bar? Mission Cheese has revolutionized the way we conceive cheese. This petite café serves in American artisan cheese, house-made charcuterie, and California beer and wine in a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Enjoy a wide selection of American cheese with charcuterie like pork pate or duck rillettes from the counter bar while sipping a glass of beer.

Quesadillas De Calabaza from Gracias Madre

As a cuisine that utilizes cheese as the main ingredient in many of its dishes, Mexican food is often not appropriate for vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant. But at the vegan Mexican restaurant, Gracias Madres, you can find tasty options that even meat lovers go crazy about. The vegan Quesadillas De Calabaza in homemade masa is stuffed with caramelized onion and butternut squash seasoned with cayenne pepper, and topped with a generous pour of cashew nacho cheese sauce and pumpkin seeds for the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream from Bi-Rite Creamery

The final stop of the culinary journey through Mission District is the much famed ice cream shop beloved locals and tourists alike. No matter the time of the day or the time of the season, you will find a long line of people outside Bi-Rite Creamery, waiting for a scoop of its rich, creamy ice cream. Made by hand in small batches, theSalted Caramel Ice Cream highlights intense, rich caramel flavor with a hint of salt.

A NYC Restaurant Designed After A Farmhouse Serves Delicious Farm-To-Table Cuisine

A farmhouse in the middle of Manhattan might appear out of the ordinary, but that’s exactly what Black Barn aims to do - from the rustic yet chic interior modeled after country barn houses in the Hamptons to the quality of its mouthwatering food that just begs for more. Black Barn, a farm-to-table restaurant located across from Madison Square Park, has been serving modern American cuisine since it open in September 2015.

Complimentary Bread Basket (FREE!)

The complimentary bread basket contained a selection of warm cheese rolls, crusty sourdough, and thin breadsticks. The breads were complemented by a ramekin filled with soft cube of butter, garlic cloves, and olive oil with a bit of vinegar.

Roasted Sweet Potato ($23)

A few minutes into nibbling on the breads, we received the first appetizer, Roasted Sweet Potatoes. This colorful assortment of vegetable dish included hen of the wood, lentils , pears, and roasted sweet potatoes rubbed with spices, which are all tossed in savory black truffle vinaigrette. The seasonal dish was accompanied by an amuse bouche of puff pastry filled with refreshing goat cheese.

Tarentaise Cheese Soufflé ($17)

Another highlight from the appetizer menu was Tarentaise Cheese Soufflé. Baked and served in a mini crock pot, the soufflé flaunted crusty, golden-brown top and fluffy, soft center that had been moistened by speck-chive cream. A spoon was an absolute necessity to scoop up all intense, rich cheese in the center.

Amish Chicken ($26)

While a chicken entree may be viewed as a bit common, if not plebeian, the Amish Chicken at Black Barn was anything but ordinary. The flavorful, juicy chicken with crispy skin laid beautifully atop a bed of ricotta gnocchi, winter vegetables, grapes, and a sprinkle of parmesan. The dish had a wide variety of textures - from the fluffiness of the gnocchi to the tenderness of the chicken.

Millbrook Venison Saddle ($38)

Cooked perfectly medium rare, the Millbrook Venison Saddle was another entree that delight my appetite. In addition to the tender slices of venison, the dish featured barbajuan - crispy tortelloni filled with shoulder meat - along with braised red cabbage, kale, and empire apple. The juxtaposition of sweetness from the apple and the savoriness of the meat was quite unique.

Apple Cider Doughnut ($11)

The Apple Cider Doughnut made me long for autumn. While small in size, these mini, dense doughnuts are powdered with plenty of sweet sugar and packed so much flavor. The bourbon eggnog dipping sauce on the side was better than any glaze I have had before.

Chocolate Soufflé ($11)

Finally, the Chocolate Soufflé, which took about 15 minutes to bake, was all worth the wait. Gently scoop the crispy top - dusted with powder sugar - with a tablespoon to pour the sweet vanilla sauce into the center. The warm cake blended perfectly with the rich vanilla sauce to create melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake that I will be dreaming about for months to come.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Bland Avocado Sandwich from Andala in Cambridge

Harvard students have the tendency to think that anywhere outside of Harvard Square is simply too far. This notion restricts many students to the "Harvard Bubble," preventing them from venturing into other parts of Cambridge/Boston. While spending a part of summer in Cambridge, I visited a couple of restaurants and cafes in Kendall Square and Central Square, including Andala Cafe. According to its website, Andala opened to serve as "a warm place where people can socialize in an environment that fosters intimate conversations."

In addition to coffee and tea, Andala offers Middle Eastern food. My friend and I decided to get a vegetarian dish and a meat dish and share them. The Chicken Khalili Sandwich ($8.95) is grilled chicken with jalapeno peppers in Jerusalem salad sauce, served in toasted Arabic bread. The dish came with hummus and some vegetable sticks on the side.

The Arabic bread looked like pita, but it was thinner with crunchier exterior. I wasn't sure whether to pick up the food and eat it like a sandwich or use utensils because the bread was too thin and everything inside sort of fell apart.

Inside the two thin slices of Arabic bread were grilled chicken, lots of jalapeno peppers, yogurt-like dressing, and basils.

The sandwich would have been...edible if there weren't jalapeno peppers because these were extremely spicy! I literally took a bite and couldn't eat it anymore. The spiciness from the peppers was definitely way too overpowering.

The Avocado Press Sandwich ($7.95) didn't have any description in the menu, so I had no idea what to expect except that there will be avocado inside. Like the chicken sandwich, it was served in Arabic bread, but it had potato salad on the side instead of hummus. The sandwich was sprinkled with basil on top.

Inside the sandwich were huge chunks of avocado, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, some sort of black bean puree sauce, and...lots of mozzarella cheese. I wish I had asked what was in there because the sandwich would have been perfect sans cheese.

The Avocado sandwich was a sharp contrast to the chicken sandwich because it tasted rather bland. Rotating a bite of the chicken sandwich and a bite of the avocado sandwich, therefore, was very complementary :)

Presentation Matters: Gnocchi and Duck Dish at Chez Henri

You would be immediately censured as being too shallow if you judged people based on their looks. But when it comes to food, I am a firm believer of the phrase that prettier food tastes better.

One such restaurant that focuses on the quality of presentation as well as the taste is Chez Henri, which offers a dynamic fusion of French and Cuban cuisine. Since it opened its door in 1994, Chez Henri has received wide acclaim in the culinary world, having won several Best of Boston awards like “Best French Restaurant,” “Best First Date Restaurant,” and “Best Fusion.”

Upon entering the restaurant, my dining partner and I were greeted by a hostess who seated us on a candle-lit table. Other than the fact that the dim lighting made it hard for me to read the menu, the ambiance radiated warmth and comfort.

We were munching on slices of French bread when the waiter brought our entrees. Despite my aversion to cheese, I decided to get the Seared Ricotta & Semolina Dumplings ($24) because I was craving the chewy texture of gnocchi. What surprised me the most about the dish was its stunning presentation. 

About a cup of gnocchi in the shape of mini marshmallows was placed on the center of a white rectangular plate over purplish red puree of roasted beet and carrot. A sautéed medley of glazed broccoli, cauliflowers, summer squash, and carrots was served on the side to satisfy my daily servings of vegetables. 

The lightly seared ricotta sprinkled on top added light crispiness to the doughy gnocchi.

My friend’s entrée, Pan Roasted Long Island Duck Breast ($28), didn’t disappoint either. On top of the rhubarb ginger gastrique, or caramelized sugar sauce deglzed with vinegar, laid pre-cut slices of medium rare duck breast that were juicy without being too tough. 

A bed of citrus salad on the side with poached pear offered a little crunch from the arugula, while the mashed sweet potato found a perfect medium in texture between runny and coarse.

Indeed, the presentation of food matters, but I think the food at Chez Henri would have tasted great even if I had been blindfolded.

Located on Shepard Street near the Quad, Chez Henri (http://chezhenri.com/) is open for dinner seven days a week and for Sunday brunch.

Nubar, a Hidden Gem in Harvard Square, and Molten Chocolate from Finale

For those of you who ask what my favorite restaurant is in the Square, I can answer you without hesitation: Nubar Restaurant in Sheraton Commander. Because Nubar is a little further out from the Square, a lot of people don't know about it, but this restaurant serves some amazing food!

First of all, the atmosphere of the restaurant is noteworthy. The restaurant has comfortable yet contemporary design. The dining room and bar/lounge are divided by a modern fireplace. The lighting in the restaurant reflects its warm, cozy environment. My first time at Nubar was definitely an unforgettable experience, both in terms of its food, service, and atmosphere, so I was very excited for my second time.

I don't normally eat pizza or sausage, but one item in the flatbread menu caught my eyes. I decided to try the Sweet Italian Sausage, Herbed Ricotta, and Spinach Flatbreads ($12). The flatbread was served on a long, rectangular plate and cut vertically into about seven pieces. Each piece had ample amount of mozzarella cheese  with chunky Italian sausages and bits of ricotta cheese and spinach tucked underneath. The flatbread was sprinkled with some basil. The dough was thin and crispy. The flatbread was perhaps in the oven for a little too long because top layer of the mozzarella cheese was slightly burnt.

This is Pat's Littleneck Clam Roast ($22), a dish I wish I had gotten! The round plate had handful of toasted angel hair pasta with bacon, zucchini ribbons, baby shrimp, littleneck clams, and garlic, and tossed with white wine and olive oil. My favorite part of this dish was definitely the toasted angel hair pasta because it had crunch texture. Definitely going for this dish the next time I come :)

The Pan Seared Diver Scallops ($25) had four plump scallops with a ragu of beech mushrooms and a succotash of sweet onions, corn, beans, and fresh herbs. Other than the fact that it was too salty, the scallops were pan-seared nicely with crispy outside and juicy inside.

For dessert, we went to Finale in Harvard Square for its signature Molten Chocolate ($9.95). This standout dessert is baked-to-order, so be willing to wait at least 15 or so minutes! The warm chocolate cake with a gooey center is served with a scoop of coffee gelato, topped with milk chocolate covered almonds and Valhona chocolate sauce.

Again, I am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I definitely enjoy a bite or two of this dessert. As you dig your spoon into the warm chocolate cake, the center oozes with chocolate sauce like a lava. My favorite part is definitely watching the sauce spilling over.

The balance between warm chocolate cake and cold coffee gelato is interesting. The almonds also add crunchy layer to this delectable dessert!

Dairy-Free, Cheeseless Affair at Dos Caminos in Midtown, NYC

As someone who is lactose-intolerant, I don't particularly enjoy Mexican cuisine, which tends to be heavy in its use of dairy like cheese and cream. That is why when I dine with a group who wants Mexican food, I usually browse through the menu to ensure that there is at least one item that doesn't use cheese. On a sunny Sunday morning, I went to Dos Caminos, a modern Mexican restaurant in Midtown East, New York City.

My eyes immediately averted from items like quesadillas and enchiladas. I decided to try the traditional Pollo Tacos ($16), served on warm, handmade corn tortillas with Mexican rice, refried beans, and a trio of salsas.

Unlike tacos from Taco Bells, which are packed with string-y, yellow "fake" cheese, traditional Mexican tacos do not have cheese. Instead, packed inside the warm corn tortillas were grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, pinto beans, chicken chicharron, and salsa suprema. I was a big fan of the marinated chicken because it was tender and juicy. The seasoning was slightly spicy. Chicken chicharron, or fried chicken rinds, oozed a lot of oil and fat to the bottom of the tortillas and made them soggy.

The dish on the left is Mexican Chopped Salad ($11.50), which includes grilled corn, poblano chiles, apples, pinto beans, green olives, tomato, onion, and anejo cheese with crispy tortillas on top and tossed with toasted cumin vinaigrette. The dish on the right is Carnitas Tacos ($16), packed with slow-roasted pork and green chile salsa.

The Carnitas Tacos didn't seem as greasy or oily as my Pollo tacos, but they also didn't appear as filling. The basil on top added a nice touch of flavor.

The Dos Caminos Chicken Cobb Salad ($14) was a colorful array of grilled chicken breast, tomato, avocado, corn, onion, queso fresco, and tortilla chips and tossed with cilantro-basil vinaigrette. Now that I reflect, all of the dishes could be made dairy-free if we skipped the cheese! Mexican cuisine is possible for lactose-intolerant people :)