The Charming Grand Tier Restaurant At The Metropolitan Opera Offers Phenomenal Sunday Brunch Service

The Metropolitan Opera House began offering brunch service at the Grand Tier Restaurant in December - don’t miss out on this amazing experience, which also includes a recital by a member of the Met’s acclaimed Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.

Crab Cake

The crab cake, made with lump crab meats, has crispy exterior and it topped with creamy, charred corn remoulade and micro greens. The crab cake sits on top of rich corn emulsion drizzled with basil oil.

Cauliflower Veloute

The rich, hearty cauliflower veloute is poured at table side over a bowl of crunchy croutons, microgreen, and fish roe. The veloute is the perfect way to warm your heart on a cold winter days.

Whipped Ricotta & Figs

Perfect for sharing, this item highlights creamy, whipped ricotta and figs topped with housemade duck prosciutto with Anson Mills farro, 12-year balsamic, and olive oil.

Classic Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon lovers, rejoice! The Classic Smoked Salmon plate features all the essential accoutrements (creme fraiche, egg yolk, egg whites, onions, radish, capers, radicchio) to highlight the thinly sliced, perfectly smoked pieces of salmon with housemade rye-sesame crisp.

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Made with Carnaroli rice, the Wild Mushroom Risotto is cooked in rich porcini broth with truffle butter, and topped with microgreens, pepper, and sprinkles of Taleggio cheese.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

A generous stack of fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes are topped with a dust of powdered sugar, huckleberry compote, and ricotta with lemon zest for the perfect sweet layer to your brunch.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

The dense and rich dark chocolate mousse with peanut nougatine in the center is served with salted caramel cream and candied peanuts.

Baked Alaska

Covered in smooth toasted meringue, the Baked Alaska is a double play between creamy vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet with angel food cake and lemon creme anglaise as the base.

Most Delicious West African + French Dishes From Ponty Bistro In NYC

Sick of the boring old pasta or hamburger? Then try Ponty Bistro, a restaurant that specializes in a fusion of West African and French cuisine in the heart of New York City.

1. Crispy Tuna

Wrapped in pickled ginger and cilantro, the Crispy Tuna is an absolutely mouthwatering dish that you must order. Perfect for sharing, this appetizer highlights fresh chunks of raw tuna with crispy skin. It is served on a bed of sweet soy-ginger vinaigrette with wasabi aioli and a hint of chili oil.

2. Soft Shell Crab

The lightly fried soft shell crab is topped with a bed of marinated olive oil and other vegetables like peas, onions, green bell pepper, and carrots. There are four pieces of asparagus to add a bit of extra crunchiness to the dish.

3. 5 Stars Seafood Risotto

The rich and creamy 5 Stars Seafood Risotto packs generous amount of fresh seafood, from the meaty lobster to juicy shrimp to plump scallops. The rice is cooked perfectly al dante, and the creamy, rich base of the sauce will make you want more of this delicious goodness.

4. Le Poulet Yassa

A traditional chicken dish from Senegal, Le Poulet Yassa features juicy, half-chicken in savory marinade with onions, bell peppers, and olives. The dish is served with a side of white rice to soak up all the delicious juice and sauce on the plate.

Ultimate Guide To Experiencing The Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Pearl In An Oyster

Spanning a total of 12 cities along the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is like a glistening pearl inside an oyster that has yet to be discovered. While each of these cities has its own unique characteristic - from the charming Bay St. Louis to the beachfront Biloxi - one thing about the Mississippi Gulf Coast remains consistent across all cities: its perfect blend of natural beauty with exhilarating activities and genuine Southern hospitality will make you want to visit the region over and over again.

How to Get to Mississippi Gulf Coast

Located between Mobile and New Orleans, Mississippi Gulf Coast can be best reached from the nearby Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, the hub for those traveling from afar. The airport serves three major airlines including American Airlines, Delta, and United with direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Houston. You can also take a scenic, 1-hour drive along the coast from New Orleans to the west or Mobile to the east.

Where to Stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Suite-style lodging at the South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites

Sonheim Photography

While there are several casinos and mega hotels lined up along Beach Blvd. in Biloxi, opt for the cozy yet spacious South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites for a suite-style, family-friendly lodging. As Biloxi’s only hotel located directly on the beach, this all-suite hotel offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of the gulf from the balcony where you can watch the sun rise or catch a sunset. Some suites are also equipped with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and other amenities to provide a feel of being at home.

What to Do on Mississippi Gulf Coast

Revive the rich history at Beauvoir

J.D.R. Hawkins

A former home of Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States of America, the beautifully restored Beauvoir is a majestic, 51-acre estate that features a rose garden, confederate soldiers’ cemetery, nature trails, and the Presidential Library. Revive the rich history of the American South by visiting the gulf-facing, National Historic Landmark where Jefferson Davis once wrote his memoirs.

Discover the coast from a new perspective withPaddles Up

Whether you are a newbie or an experienced paddle boarder, you can be at one with the water when you take a stand up paddle boarding or a yoga session with Paddles Up, which offers lessons, rentals, and retail in stand up paddle boards and accessories. Row out to the gentle gulf on a paddle board, where you can test your balance and strengthen your core, all the while discovering the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast from a whole new perspective.

Tour a craft brewery at Chandeleur Brewing Company

Started by twin brothers Cain and Cam Roberds, Chandeleur Brewing Companyoffers tour and tasting at its brewery located in downtown Gulfport. With the purchase of a ticket, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at craft brewing and sample delicious beers made using the freshest malted barley, hops, and local ingredients. Try a sample of Surfside Wheat Ale, which has an interesting flavor profile of spicy Germany hops and fresh pineapple juice, or Curlew’s Toasted Coconut Porter, which is infused with a touch of coconut.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Deer Island

Bask in the natural beauty of Mississippi Gulf Coast by taking a quick boat ride or kayaking toDeer Island, which is located just a quarter mile away from the shore. Boasting rich resources and wildlife with beautifully conserved walking trails managed by theDepartment of Marine Resources, Deer Island recently welcomed a new, 170-foot pier on its north side to expand public access to the island and to promote eco-tourism on Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Learn about the Sea Life at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum

With the mission of preserving the maritime history and heritage of Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and photographs that focus on the wealthy sea life in the region. The newly built, three-floor museum features an array of exhibits that ranges from charter boats to shrimping to net making, as well as valuable artifacts like the original Ship Island lighthouse lens and the U.S.S. Biloxi bell.

Get pampered at Senses Spa and Salon

IP Casino Resort

Rejuvenate your mind and body at Senses Spa and Salon at the IP Casino Resort in Biloxi. Indulge in spa treatments inspired by nature, including a full body massage based on traditional Swedish techniques of long strokes that soothe muscles and increase blood flow. Additionally, the spa offers a complete facial, manicure, and even a special treatment designed for men. You can also enjoy a relaxing sauna or work out at its state-of-the-art gym before your treatment.

Where to Dine on Mississippi Gulf Coast

Sweet and savory biscuits at The Greenhouse on Porter

The Greenhouse on Porter, a quaint cafe on the quiet west end of Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs, specializes in delectable, homemade biscuits (plain or sweet potato) with a rotating menu of special biscuits, such as onion biscuit roasted with cheddar and mushrooms or Louisiana strawberry biscuit with ricotta and citrus marmalade. Top it off with various fixin like pimento cheese, seasonal fruit jam, honey butter, or goat cheese fluff, and add a cup of pour over coffee for the perfect way to start your morning.

Innovative blend of cuisines at Corks & Cleaver

A Gulfport native, Chef David Dickensauge of Corks & Cleaver has worked at highly acclaimed restaurants across the country - from New York to Chicago to Miami - before packing his knives back to his roots to introduce the Deep South to his culinary ingenuity. Sourcing only the freshest ingredients, Corks & Cleaver highlights a creative menu with items that seamlessly fuses cuisines from around the world, including tuna poke over a bed of seaweed and edamame salad with kimchi puree and duck confit beignets with bok choy kimchi, smoked date marmalade, and cayenne powder sugar.

Seasonal menu with local ingredients at Vestige Restaurant

Featuring a constantly evolving menu that highlights local, seasonal ingredients,Vestige Restaurant in Ocean Springs serves modern American cuisine with a Southern flair. Start your meal with a couple small plates to share, including the tender, slow cooked pork cheeks over local rice risotto or house-made orecchiette pasta with garlic cream and parmigiano-reggiano. Highlights from the main course includes juicy, sous-vide pork chop with seasonal vegetables and pan-roasted fresh catch of the day with purple sweet potatoes.

Upscale dining in a historic house at Mary Mahoney’s

Located in the historic Old French House built in 1737, Mary Mahoney’s provides an upscale dining experience in one of the oldest homes in the U.S. Satisfy your hunger with the ultimate surf and turf menu of stuffed snapper, lobster, and filet mignon while enjoying the elegant ambiance of high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and open fireplaces. Don’t forget to leave room for Mary Mahoney’s famous bread pudding with rum sauce.

Island-style, patio dining with gulf view at Shaggy’s

With three locations across Mississippi Gulf Coast, Shaggy’s is a favorite spot among locals and tourists alike. This family-friendly, beachfront restaurant offers fresh seafood, burgers, and drinks on a colorful patio with a stunning view of the gulf. Enjoy shareable appetizers like fried green tomatoes topped with house-made remoulade and crab meat or blackened shrimp or a platter of boiled, cajun-spiced crawfish. Beach tacos with an assortment of seafood or meat selections like blackened mahi, fried oyster, or pulled pork enhance Shaggy’s lively, island ambiance.

Finger-licking, authentic Southern barbecue at Murky Waters BBQ

Get ready to use all 10 fingers while enjoying authentic, Southern barbecue at Murky Waters BBQ. Murky Waters smokes everything from tender brisket to fall-off-the-bones ribs for an ultimate BBQ experience. Try three different types of homemade BBQ sauces, including regular (sweet), spicy, and vinegar, and mix + match different sides like baked beans, fried okra, and sweet potato fries to create the perfect meal. The restaurant also hosts some of the south’s most renowned Blues musicians.

Lobster Risotto, Pumpkin Burrata, And Much More At Grand Bar, A NYC Restaurant Worth Multiple Visits

With so many restaurants in New York City, rarely do I make a second trip to the same restaurant. . However, I may have found a place that is worth second, third, or even fourth visit - Grand Bar at Soho Grand Hotel. 

Located on the second floor of this elegant boutique hotel in SoHo neighborhood, Grand Bar offers exceptional cocktails and delicious food in a classy yet comfortable atmosphere with marble top oak bar, rich wooden floors, and woven leather seating.

The food menu at Grand Bar highlights local, seasonal ingredients. For appetizer, the Burrata is an absolute must. Creamy, fist-sized burrata - topped with pickled red onion, sorel, and carrots with a sprinkle of chia - sits atop two pieces of kabocha pumpkin. There are cubes of root vegetables, such as butternut squash and roasted parsnips, as well as a swipe of deliciously smooth butternut squash puree, to add additional flavors and complexity to this beautiful appetizer.

Try the Lobster Risotto, an off-the-menu item, before it's gone. This surf and turf risotto features succulent lobster tail and moist sweetbreads, flavored in rich bone marrow broth. The arborio rice is cooked to perfection with right amount of texture and consistency. 

The Harvest Vegetable Fazzoletti also highlights everyone's favorite assortment of winter squash. Made with wide, "handkerchief" shape pasta that is extremely doughy and chewy, the dish consists of everything from cubes of butternut to thinly sliced delicata with crunchy pepita in rich, creamy sage brown butter sauce. 

Order a side of Sweet Potato Fries to share. While a little bit of seasoning would have elevated the flavor of the fries (perhaps a dash of salt would have done the magic!), the sweet potato fries were nonetheless a perfect complement to our entrees. The fries sliced just the right size to be crispy on the outside and still maintain the starchy texture on the inside.

An Exquisite Hotel Restaurant Experience at Rialto

I am usually not a fan of hotel restaurants just because the atmosphere tends to be touristy, but I really enjoyed my last dining experience at Rialto that I decided to check it out again.

Rialto has received quite a lot of recognition for its food. After being seated, we were served a basket full of different types of bread and rolls, including cheese & garlic sticks, focaccia lightly rubbed in herb and oil, sour dough baguette, and hearty craisin-filled dinner roll. 

Rialto's menu changes frequently by season because the restaurant's philosophy is serve food made with ingredients that are fresh at the time. This is a Rialto's take on charcuterie "plate" with parma prosciutto, fig, walnut pecorino bread, and a dollop of ricotta with olive oil.

The arugula pear salad had a spoonful of pomegranate seeds and crumbled bleu cheese. I love the bitter green taste of the arugula and the crunchiness of the pomegranate, but personally not a big fan of blue cheese (...or any cheese for that matter) because it stinks!

The Fisherman's Soup, which has rouille base (a sauce made of olive oil with breadcrumbs, garlic, saffron, and chili peppers) as well as Gruyere and basil oil. I didn't try it, but the person who ordered it only took a couple bites and that was it.

I decided to be adventurous and order something I have never had before: Crispy Sweetbreads. The name is definitely a misnomer because there is nothing "doughy" about sweetbreads. In fact, sweetbreads are the fatty pancreas of a calf. The fried sweetbreads were placed atop creamy parmesan risotto with raisins and pine nuts with sweet currants sauce at the bottom.

Had I not been concerned about my weight, I probably could have eaten this dish every single day. The arborio rice in the risotto was cooked perfectly--not too coarse or mushy--and the sweetness from the currant balanced the creamy risotto perfectly.

The highlight of the dish was definitely the sweetbreads. These glands were juicy in the inside, crispy on the outside. Whereas the meat of the fried chicken, for example, can sometimes taste a bit bland, the sweetbreads had so much flavor and texture.

The special of the day was the corn meal pasta with lamb. While I expected the dish to contain a rack of lamb on the side, the meat was actually chopped into pieces in the sauce.

The Whole Roasted Fish of the day was branzino, stuffed with wilted greens, local mushrooms, house-smoked bacon in mustard. I can never rack up enough courage to order a whole fish...how can you eat the poor thing when it's staring at you like that???

The next entree, Vermentino Chicken, had a HUGE serving! The dish had roasted breast and crispy confit thigh with pickled cherries and artichokes. They really should have a "warning sign" indicating that this dish can serve two people (especially since most people at Rialto enjoy a full 3- or 4-course meal)

For my main course, I decided to indulge myself with Colorado Lamb Two Ways. The entree had two racks of chestnut crusted lamb chops and apricot & rosemary stuffed leg with chanerelle mushrooms on the side. For someone who loves red meat, I asked for it to be cooked rare, of course.

I personally preferred the leg meat rather than the chop because it had more meat and less fat. I like steak when it's cooked rare, but next time I get lamb, perhaps I should ask for medium rare because it was a bit too red for my liking.

Underneath the lambs were medley of vegetables. Again, you can see how red the lamb chops are. Also the chops near the bones were very difficult to eat.

After a quite heavy meal of sweetbreads and lamb, we moved on to dessert. Given the fall season, a lot of selection had autumn favorites like apples and pumpkin. The Fried Apple Slices came with dulce de leche with spiced butternut squash gelato, cider sauce, and walnuts. Because I am not a fan of fried stuff, I didn't try this. Why would you ruin a perfectly delicious apples by frying them? Yikes.

I decided to opt for the "lightest" sounding entree--Saffron Pineapple Meringue with ginger ice cream and saffron gele. The freeze-dried pineapple was very sweet and crispy, while the meringue was light and airy. Given my love for butternut squash, I substituted the ginger ice cream for the squash gelato. It was a great decision indeed :)

This is the dessert I would have chosen if I could order it again. Visually, the Pistachio Pumpkin Semifreddo had an interesting shape. Inside the toasted meringue were pistachio cream and cake. The dish also came with spiced pumpkin shooter on the side (pictured above the plate).