Culinary Adventure Weekend
This weekend I tried one new restaurant, one new bakery, and discoverd the BEST chocolate I've ever had in my life. In between shoving my mouth with hearty, delicious food I went to the gym and slept. My idea of a perfect two days.
Friday night, I headed over to Pisticci, at 125 La Salle Street. This little trattoria is practically right around the corner from my apartment, but I'd never ventured inside. Part of the reason, is that I'm practically addicted to the rigatoni with eggplant from Max's Soha, which is also right around the corner from me. And I cook a fair amount of Italian food myself. I only realized the extent of my Italian food obsession after the consulate contacted me and offered me honorary citizenship.
Pisticci reminded me of the little restaurants in Florence--with small, wooden tables and candlelight. I had the homeade fettucini with mushrooms (excellent) and the tiramisu(not to be missed).
After a beautifull walk in Central Park on Saturday, I headed to the Buttercup Bake Shop at 72nd and Amsterdam. The shop is filled with every variety of cake--red velvet, chocolate cup cake, yellow sheet cake--but I had heard a rumor that the banana pudding was to-die-for. It didn't disappoint. Filled with custard and vanilla wafers, the creamy concoction was the perfect mid-afternoon snack. My only criticism was the presentation--they scooped it into a take-away coffee cup! I would have preferred it in a glass icecream cup or bowl.
The culinary highlight of the weekend was a sampler I received from Vosges. I nibbled on the tiny, scrumptious truffles during the Oscars. So far, I've had the Mexican vanilla, and the rose champagne--both were fantastic. I have seven left and am hoping they'll last the week!
Friday night, I headed over to Pisticci, at 125 La Salle Street. This little trattoria is practically right around the corner from my apartment, but I'd never ventured inside. Part of the reason, is that I'm practically addicted to the rigatoni with eggplant from Max's Soha, which is also right around the corner from me. And I cook a fair amount of Italian food myself. I only realized the extent of my Italian food obsession after the consulate contacted me and offered me honorary citizenship.
Pisticci reminded me of the little restaurants in Florence--with small, wooden tables and candlelight. I had the homeade fettucini with mushrooms (excellent) and the tiramisu(not to be missed).
After a beautifull walk in Central Park on Saturday, I headed to the Buttercup Bake Shop at 72nd and Amsterdam. The shop is filled with every variety of cake--red velvet, chocolate cup cake, yellow sheet cake--but I had heard a rumor that the banana pudding was to-die-for. It didn't disappoint. Filled with custard and vanilla wafers, the creamy concoction was the perfect mid-afternoon snack. My only criticism was the presentation--they scooped it into a take-away coffee cup! I would have preferred it in a glass icecream cup or bowl.
The culinary highlight of the weekend was a sampler I received from Vosges. I nibbled on the tiny, scrumptious truffles during the Oscars. So far, I've had the Mexican vanilla, and the rose champagne--both were fantastic. I have seven left and am hoping they'll last the week!
posted by Amy Ettinger at 9:52 AM
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