Roadside Lunch

On our way back to Vero Beach from St. Augustine, we decided to drive the barrier islands as far as we could go before getting on I-95. We crossed over the Bridge of Lions from St. Augustine proper to Anastasia Island. The island, believed to have been a landing spot of Ponce De Leon, is absolutely beautiful. The white sandy beaches made me feel like I was in Bermuda!

Before we left our hotel, we asked the front desk clerk for a lunch recco as we headed back south to Vero. Without hesitation, he said we must try a place called Nula's that was located in camper that was "parked" in front of a surf shop. Anyone who knows the foodie chick knows that she isn't a fan of road food. Fear of being poisoned aside, I pulled up and went to the "counter" and ordered a spicy grouper soft taco (mom could not be convinced and just sat in the car wondering what her ten bucks was going to buy). I watched as these two very cute surfer dudes prepared my taco in a space the size of a shower stall. When one turned the other knew immediately and adjusted. It was fascinating. 5 minutes later, I had in my hot little hands a soft taco that was just calling my name. The taco itself was multi-layered but the ingredients stayed intact and didn't jiggle all over when I took a bite. Layer one was this delicious spicy refried bean concoction that was accented with fresh cilantro. The second layer was the freshest grouper that was perfectly cooked. The 3rd layer was a combo of lettuce and sharp cheddar cheese. The final layer, and what made this the best fish taco, was this creamy mayo spiked with chili. Delicious. I even managed to eat the taco in the drivers seat of my mom's car without getting one crumb anywhere. Sorry to all my readers for not snapping a picture of the taco. I ate it too fast!

Bottom Line: I can't tell you an exact address of Nula's but the camper sits right at the entrance to Anastasia Island state park. If you find yourself in these parts check Nula's and you won't be disappointed.

Next up: Experiment at home and my love poem to Texas.

Chicks on the Move: St Augustine, FL

I grew up in the GREAT state of Florida and remember sitting in 3rd grade learning about Ponce De Leon, the Seminole Indians, and Henry Flagler. While I did take in some of this history, I was much more focused on my teacher's feet. My teacher, Mrs. Jones, would slip out of her "work" shoes and put on her "I Dream of Jeannie" slippers in the classroom. What 9 year old wouldn't be amused by such a sight?! Needless to say, my recess was taken away fairly often since I couldn't stop the laughing when I saw the darn slippers. St. Augustine proved to be that refresher course in Florida history that I so desperately needed.

Where to stay: Bypass the Hilton and high priced beach hotels and head straight for the Casa Monica Hotel. Located directly in the old town center, this hotel was originally opened in 1888 by Henry Flagler but it was shuttered for decades until 1997 when a wealthy American businessman purchased and rehabbed the entire hotel. The hotel is 5 stories tall and features a lovely outdoor pool, updated gym, and a 5 star restaurant that was recently featured on The Food Network.

What to do: St. Augustine has 2 outlet centers that offer decent shopping (unless you have been to Woodbury Commons or Riverhead in NY then this will feel like amateur hour). While there weren't a ton of shops I liked, most were offering 60% off and the selection was pretty good (note: I am now doing Lean Cuisine for an extra 2 weeks to cover what I spent).

Aside from the shopping in St. Augustine, history is the attraction for this international tourist destination. The town was founded in 1565 and remains the oldest continuously occupied city in North America. St. Augustine is also the oldest port city in the USA. Betsy (a.k.a. Mom) and I started out walking from our centrally located hotel towards St. George's street where we came upon the old Spanish Gates and the oldest wooden schoolhouse in America (pic of Mom in front of school). St. George's is a pedestrian only street and is lined with shops, restaurants, and many historic homes.

The next tourist attraction we hit (and the reason everyone should come to St. Augustine) was the Castillo de San Marcos. Founded in 1695, the fort served as the northernmost outpost of Spain's vast New World empire (pic of Betsy on the top of the Castillo with the Matanzas Bay behind her). The walls of the Castillo are all original (1695 friends!!!) and made out of coquina rock that was cut & set by hand.

The last tourist stop we made was at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Lovely from a distance but I was feeling too cheap to pay the $9 buck admission fee to see it up close.

Where to eat: I was doubting myself about the restaurant I selected for our ONE dinner in St. Augustine. When we checked into the hotel the concierge told us how good their restaurant, 95 Cordova, was and how The Food Network recently did a profile on it. When I was doing my dinner research, I read their menu and wasn't impressed. I thought the dishes were ordinary and the prices were more like Manhattan and not Florida. 95 Cordova is cozy but very DARK and I was convinced my original choice was the better.

I picked a WONDERFUL restaurant called Collage. Located 2 blocks from the hotel (walking distance so we could have a few glasses of wine and not worry) on a historic street this restaurant was all that and more. We arrived just before a major downpour and were seated in a darling little dining room that wasn't too crowded. Mom and I started with a glass of champers to celebrate our little trip and then went right to the menu. I decided to start with the Crab & Wild Mushroom Cheesecake while Mom opted for the Curry Vegetable Soup. My cheesecake appetizer was moist, full of flavor, and just the right size. Mom's soup was very spicy. One spoonfull and I needed a Kleenex. Next, our server brought us warm homemade bread and a whole roasted garlic bulb with basil infused olive oil (two of my favs!) We both had their house salads with a vanilla bean vinaigrette that was so interesting I couldn't stop thinking about recreating it when I got home. For our entrees, I picked the Shrimp and Scallops All' Imperiale and Mom picked the Veal Orleans. My dish was one of the best pastas ever! Shrimp, Scallops, Sundried Tomatoes, and Artichokes tossed in a peach brandy and then finished with cream and served over linguine. Mom's Veal was sauteed with sherry and finished with a beurre blanc and then topped with 2 large shrimps and artichokes. Our plates were licked clean!

Dessert was not an option for us after this feast!

Handy links:
www.collagestaug.com
www.casamonica.com

Bottom Line: Check out St. Augustine if you find yourself in Northern Florida. I highly recommend both the Casa Monica Hotel and Collage.

3 weeks of Groceries or Gramercy Tavern?

Gramercy Tavern. For sure. Hands down. Even if this means I have to eat out of my freezer for a week...oh Lean Cuisine how I hate thee.

About 10 years ago (yes, I have been in NYC that long), my mom came to visit and asked me to make a resi at the best restaurant in town. I had no clue where to go. My idea of fine dining in the late 90's was Maryann's Mexican Cantina (all the UES locations have since closed). So, like anyone who needs to know something, I asked around. Everyone said either Gramercy Tavern or Union Square Cafe. One friend suggested I read something called Zagat (sadly, I did not know what this wonderful guide was back then). So, I picked Gramercy Tavern for one reason and one reason alone. A tavern meant colonial history, which I love, and I hoped a Ben Franklin look alike might be our server. In the end, Mom and I ended up having a lovely dinner but I was too young and too much of a brat to really appreciate the meal (that changes when you pay for it yourself).

2nd time around was an incredible dining experience! After checking-in with the host (they don't let anyone by without a full interrogation) I headed to the bar and had a glass of delicious Oregon Pinot ($12 bucks) while I awaited my 3 fabulous foodie friends. While at the bar I indulged in a bowl of the cumin sugar almonds that melted in my mouth. After all arrived, we tucked into our table and casually looked around for any celebs (nobody was there). Presented with leather bound menus, we all reviewed and decided to do the tasting menu--- a starter, an entree, and then a dessert for $86 bucks. 2 other tasting menus are available-one vegetarian and one chef's pick. Both looked really good but were north of $100 so we decided to be slightly conservative with our stomachs and wallets.

Our waitress could have passed for a young Sally Jessy Raphael. She had red glasses and the Sally hairdo. She was definitely an actress during the day judging by her body movements when we asked, "Beef or Pork"? Unlike my dinner mates who all ordered the Pork, I ordered the Sirloin two ways, grilled and then done short rib style. We finished our order by selecting a North Fork Sauvignon Blanc from Channing Daughters. Great wine for $38 bucks.

Starters: I had soft shell crabs with scallions and fingerling potatoes, Alicia had the black tagliatelle with chorizo, mussels, and calamari, and both Sarah and Martha had the lamb papardelle with olives and lemons. I cheated on my soft shells with a bite of the lamb pasta and wished I had ordered that instead! It was superb. To complement our starters, we were given the choice of rolls- olive or a ciabatta. My only complaint thus far was that they weren't warm and they were hard to chew.

Our entrees came soon after and the presentation was spot on. So much so that one server came back to my friend Alicia's dinner and moved the plate ever so slightly to make it perfect. My lovely sirloin rested on a bed of fresh summer peas that were so sweet and pretty I couldn't help but eat! My meat was v. juicy but not quite as juicy as the pork belly Sarah let me try. All 3 of my foodie friends ordered the pork which was prepared as both a rack of pork and also as the the pork belly. Both styles rested on heirloom cauliflower and some other kind of earthy veggie I can't even pronounce (kohlrabi). Judging by our immediate silence after our entrees came, I think we all agreed they were a hit.

Dessert was tough. Peanut butter or chocolate. What is a girl to do? I ordered the warm chocolate bread pudding that was beyond good. Sarah did a berry tart that was OK. Not enough custard to pull it all together. Martha and Alicia had the peanut butter semifreddo that gave them both sweet dreams that night. As a thank you for being such great diners, Sally Jessy gave us a free strawberry tart that was also delicious but not quite as good as my bread pudding or the peanut butter dream.

We all rolled out (literally) and Sarah and I climbed into our yellow chariot that took us uptown.

$150+ bucks later....Hello freezer, whatcha got in there?

Bottom line: Highly recommend. Go now with people you like (Dinner was 2 1/2 hours!) Feast like you haven't done before because you don't know when you will go back! The menu changes seasonally so one could justify 4 visits per year:) If the $86 bucks scares you, opt for the front tavern area where it is first come, first serve and the menu is al a carte. Both the tavern and main dining area are warm and inviting and if you let yourself dream a little, you might think you were at Hogwarts or somewhere else magical.

www.gramercytavern.com

Next Up: A restaurant called "Collage" located in the heart of historic St. Augustine, FL.

No Gossip at The Palace Gate

I happily admit it. The thought of sitting on the lovely outside terrace of The New York Palace hotel drinking a swish cocktail was enough to send me and my two friends there on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Secretly, we hoped Blake Lively would pop out in something fabulous and drama would ensue. No such luck. The closest we got to any gossip was asking our waitress for any insider scoop. She had nothin' for us but expensive drinks and an even more expensive snack menu. Ah, c'est la vie.

The Palace Gate recently opened in early June and is already a hit with the uber trendy NYC crowd. According to a certain foodie friend, if you want to get a seat for happy hour you MUST show up no later than 5:15 pm (note: they open at 4pm daily). For some of us, this is an impossibility so you can either send a friend to hold a table or do what we did and go on a Saturday. We decided to splurge and order very expensive drinks. I had a a nice $20 pinot noir from Oregon, while Nancy tried a Dark & Stormy (her fav), and Karin had a Pimms Cup. Both were also $20 bucks each. Since we had already ordered up $60 bucks worth of over priced cocktails, we decided to go for gold and try their truffle french fries. Served with a spicy garlic mayonnaise garnished with chives, we devoured along with the free grissini. At $12, we couldn't leave any fries untouched (note: the truffle fries are the cheapest snack on the menu).

I cautiously recommend The Palace Gate. This is the place you go for ONE drink after a fabulous dinner or to show off your city to visitors. If you don't like fries and you didn't come already fed, get a snack before you come and save some money!

http://www.giltnewyork.com/palace-gate-home.php

The Chick is Ready to Chirp

Welcome to The Foodie Chick! Read and bookmark me if you want...

1. Very frank food reviews on restaurants around the NYC ( special reports from NY, NJ and CT). No sugar coating here.

2. My constantly updated *short* list of best eats at the best prices in a very expensive city.

3. Restaurant recco's and foodie destinations around the globe. Upcoming trips include St. Augustine, Austin, Vero Beach, and London. Who wants a bad meal when traveling?

4. Where to buy ____ report. Who has the best selection, who has the best price, who has freshest stuff. You get it.

5. Special guest star reviews! Bakeries, restaurants, food shops, etc. All are up for a surprise visit from me and my fellow foodie friends.

If that doesn't convince you to follow me I don't know what else will;)

Big thanks to all my friends for nudging me to do this and serving as my creative consultants. You know who you are!

Next up: Gramercy Tavern. A long time favorite of many in NYC best characterized by the use of seasonal ingredients in a homey space. I will put the restaurant to the test this Thursday along with my dinner dates.