NYC Babymoon

A peek into our New York City babymoon getaway the weekend before Christmas, where we stayed in a cozy Airbnb on West 10th Street with the prettiest aqua door. The West Village is infinitely charming by way of cobblestone streets, historic Federal style townhouses, underground jazz clubs, trendy bars and fantastic restaurants. Below, two of my favorite neighborhood meals. 

Barbuto (775 Washington Street) embodies the West Village's casual sophistication and cool neighborhood vibe. The elevated Italian comfort food is very good. We ate: insalata burrata ($16) red and green pears, walnut, oregano / pappardelle con bolognese ($26) veal and pork ragu, tomato, parmesan / gnocchi stagionale ($24) delicata squash, spinach, sage & hazelnut / crostata ($14) Bartlett pear & vanilla gelato / tiramisu ($11) ladyfingers, mascarpone & cocoa. 

Barbuto does not take reservations - which actually helped our cause as I hit so many dead ends with popular West Village spots. [Emphasis on popular, I simply researched who had the best reviews. I was booking a week in advance, in actuality you need about a month or two.] If you head to this chic Italian eatery I'd prepare to wait at the bar for 30 minutes until a cozy table for two opens up - preferably alongside the industrial garage doors to soak in the atmosphere both inside and out. 

Jeffrey's Grocery (172 Waverly Place) is a West Village restaurant and oyster bar with a stellar weekend brunch. As large windows bathe the understated nautical kisch in a serene Sunday morning light, I am once again enraptured by this neighborhood, reflecting on her endless eateries, bars and coffee shops tucked perfectly into every other street corner. We ate: Spinach-Artichoke Benedict ($20) poached eggs, hollandaise and home fries / Fried Egg Sandwich ($18) wilted spinach, gruyere, pickled peppers, english muffin, fries and lettuces. It was quite possibly one of the best egg sandwiches I have had in recent memory.  P.S. They've got a really good looking bloody mary menu; not to mention dinner, cocktail and late night menus; I wouldn't hesitate to check out Jeffery's at any point in your West Village stay.

We walked around a lot, seeing the traditional holiday touristy things; the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Macys windowfronts, Paddy Maguire's Ale House, the Flatiron building as we passed by. We met friends in Columbus Circle for drinks at Ascent Lounge on the 4th floor of the Time Warner Center. The elegant space was matched with gorgeous views of the circle and park, plus friendly bartenders who served Bob a perfect Manhattan. 

Of course there is quite a bit more to share before our departure from Grand Central. Stay tuned. 

Frenchie Wine Bistro

Bienvenue, Frenchie! To quote Boston Magazines top 25 new restaurants issue: every neighborhood in Paris has a Frenchie: an overachiever all day café that will serve you beyond-solid renditions of a dozen or so classics. 

True to it's name, this subterranean South End Bistro transcends you to the chic streets of Paris, France. The atmosphere isn't trying to hard. The neighborhood crowd is young and hip. All white pressed tin ceilings meet white exposed brick walls with a single white fluorescent sign that reads In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth.

While in the midst of wedding planning (the to do list that never ends) an impromptu date night book-ended by cocktails at The Beehive and beers at Anchovies was the prefect respite. Because it was -14 degrees outside we ordered everything of the hot side of the menu, which meant lots of rich dishes and subsequently lots of bread as a vessel for delicious bites of garlicky escargots, slippery foie gras and creamy goat cheese. 

Escargot Toast ($11) on grilled country bread, lavished with herbed garlic butter.
Foie Gras ($18) accompanied by candied quince and crunchy hazelnuts over brioche.
Goat Cheese a la plancha ($9) - grilled boucheron cheese is a wonderful thing, especially when paired with raw honey and a concord grape compote.
Beef Bourguignon ($19) with brussels sprouts + pearl onions takes comfort to another level. And yes, we needed another bread basket to swipe every drop of that earthy red wine mushroom sauce. 
Chocolate Croissant Pudding ($10) - flaky croissant layers are sandwiched between dense moka (espresso) flavored chocolate with a scoop of housemade vanilla ice cream. 

Frenchie spoils us in the wine department with 32 carefully selected by the glass (32!) I loved the Daniele Croquet Sancerre Rouge (Loire Valley, France) a delicate red that paired expertly with the food. Also - not sure I've ever had RED SANCERRE so that is noteworthy!

Their menu design is fun and playful, I was charmed by the little black and white illustrations and the fact that they don't take themselves to seriously. Lines like "what the fork is for dinner" and "voulez-vous cafe avec moi?" keep things light. The food, however, is taken very seriously and it is utterly fantastic! 

P.S. I got a macro lens for Christmas and this was my first time using it. Please excuse the blurry portions of the images. 

Frenchie Boston

560 Tremont St

Boston, MA 02118

Great Lakes Brewing Co. | CLE

The Cleveland crew and I kicked off a night of brewery hopping through the Ohio City neighborhood's Market District with award winning craft beer and hearty local fare at Great Lakes Brewing Company.  The evening begins with a pitcher of Dortmunder Gold, a smooth lager that strikes a balance between sweet malts and dry hops. What follows are terrific appetizers including Smoked Chicken Wings, Brewers Barley Pretzels and a Sausage Sampler Plate. The beer sampling continues, I was a fan of both the Burning River Pale Ale with assertive citrusy cascade hops and the Holy Moses White Ale, a limited release Belgian wit spiced with coriander, orange peel and chamomile. 

The Stilton Cheddar Ale Soup made with Dortmunder Gold is thick, smooth and ultra cheesy. It makes for a solid entrée alongside a lighter Roasted Red and Golden Beet Salad with bib lettuce, feta, fresh basil, olive oil and red wine vinegar. The Pretzel Chicken proves an inventive entrée with classic sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, relish and a Burning River Pale Ale Mustard Sauce. For dessert, the warm Raisin Bread Pudding and made-down-the-street small batch ice cream is a sweet ending paired with the Alberta Clipper Porter featuring notes of bittersweet chocolate and fresh raspberry.

We spent the rest the evening just up the street at Market Garden Brewery and later Nano Brew. Local owner and brew-master Sam McNutly leads our behind the scenes crawl, we sample a ton of his excellent beers and it makes for a really fun night out in Cleveland.

Great Lakes Brewing Company

2516 Market Ave

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

The Triple Treat | Del Frisco's Grille

Right now Del Frisco's Grille is offering an adult version of the classic burger-fries-milkshake combo, The Triple Treat. For only $20 it includes the Grille's Prime Cheeseburger, your choice of fries (original, sea salt parmesan or sweet potato) and their signature boozy milkshake. 

The double patties are a flavorful, juicy blend of USDA Prime short rib, brisket, and chuck topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and sloppy joe sauce on a brioche bun. The Adult Milkshake is a decadent blend of Nocello Walnut Liqueur, Crème de Cacao Chocolate Liqueur and vanilla ice cream. It is a great deal, and really does add up to quite the treat!

Should you be in the mood for a signature steak may I recommend the 8oz Filet Mignon ($34) with a side of Pan Braised Wild Mushrooms ($9). For a sweat treat of a different nature the Nutella Bread Pudding ($9) which comes with coffee ice cream and caramel sauce is divine.

Del Frisco's Grill is illuminated in warm red tones with sprawling black booths and uniform exposed beams. It's inviting, modern, stylish and makes for a fun evening out.

Locations in Massachusetts: 33 Boylston Street at The Street in Chestnut Hill (pictured) and 92 Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington.

*this dinner was complimentary, all opinions are my own*