The Palm Tribeca- Lobstah!

Tags

anniversary, dinner, lobster, NYC, tribeca

Well, look who decided to share.

I will admit that in the last few months, when B and I are about to sit down to a dinner at a nice restaurant, he sighs with the “you’re not really going to take photos of your food here, are you?” face and I quickly snap shut my phone case like I was only checking the time. It’s not just B, though. There are restaurants that outright ban photo taking. And as a blogger for fun, stopping for a second to actually eat my meal without remembering the photo op, has been fun as well. I have even noticed service has changed- I never stopped to think of how my constant photo taking effected the folks serving me my dinner.

I won’t completely stop taking photos all together but when the photos come, they will be more specialer (that’s a word because I say so).

Back when I worked in Lower Manhattan, I had a hankering for lobster. I was on the internet searching and searching for a place to have a lobster dinner that wasn’t a shack or bar. It was, after all, my 2 year anniversary with B- our last anniversary before we become Mr. and Mrs. While complaining about the lack of lobster establishments to choose from (other than Red Lobster), my mother had suggested I go to the Palm.

The Palm, which has several locations in NY and several more all over the country, was having a special at the time. A 4 lb lobster, 2 appetizers and a side for $99; to make it a 5lber, add $20. We went to the Palm Tribeca which was in a convenient location for the both of us to get to. We got there at 6pm on a Friday and dinner service was definitely starting to pick up.

We both decided that we were greedy bastards and the 4 lb lobster to share just wouldn’t be enough… so we got the 5 lb. And a 3rd appetizer. And a bottle of champagne.

 

We aren’t wealthy by any means but we do enjoy going on a dinner to splurge or treat ourselves. It’s our monthly ritual. So when we chatted up our server about champagnes (because anniversary!) he talked us into getting the more expensive bottle that was on sale if we joined their club.

So we joined.

We couldn’t resist. They said something about a free lobster on your birthday!!!

 

Our new thing, or should I say Brent’s new thing is Caesar salads before the main course. We ordered our Caesar salads but he added an order of calamari because we were so hungry and its calamari! Both were delicious. The dressing on the Caesar, just thinking about it, makes my mouth water. So creamy and tangy. The calamari was crisp and delicious.

 

The server came over shortly after our appetizer plates were cleared to drape lobster bibs over us. Such service! And when the MONSTER lobster came out in pieces, they shelled that bad boy right in front of us. A little awkward, I will admit BUT the young man assisting us was quite the conversationalist once we started to pull some teeth (Where are you from? How do you like working here?) Once our lobster was completely shelled, we went in.

In hinsdsight, the 4lb lobster was MORE than enough especially after all the starters and the heavy goat cheese and chive mashed potatoes (omg SOOO good), and even as we spooned the last of the mashed potatoes into our mouths and swallowed the last drops of the champagne I couldn’t believe my ears when we both agreed to order dessert.

One dessert. The coffee and donuts special. A brown paper bag filled with cinnamon sugar dusted donut holes with a chocolate and raspberry dipping sauce. And a cup of coffee

Fat assness. We ate all of it and considered walking home. We walked for 20 minutes after. We still were disgustingly full.

Now that we are members, I can’t wait to go back! I’d definitely skip the salad though.

Just kidding. I’d do it all over again! (but maybe skip lunch?)

Valentine’s Day 2014

Tags

Crab Cake, lobster, Lobster Tail, Valentine's Day

So now that I am officially a grown woman, in a grown relationship, BR and I opted to stay in for Valentine’s Day this year.

Oh, right, Valentine’s day was over a month ago.

Yiikes!

Despite my complete disregard for agenda’s and time management, I am going to proceed to share our Valentine’s Day lineup.

One thing I have grown tired of is crowds. I have never loved crowds actually but my tolerance seems to be getting lower and lower. So when Valentine’s Day fell on Friday, BR and I looked at each other and decided to have a night in and have dinner on another night of the week.

I had the menu all planned with BR when suddenly, BR emailed me telling me he had a late meeting. And then the grocery provider emailed me to tell me they couldn’t fulfill my dinner order… until 8pm!

Must. Not. Cry.

I jet out of work early to accommodate my new, EARLY, dinner delivery slot. I prepped our lobster tails, crab cakes, and scrubbed the potatoes while the cupcakes reached room temperature.

I anxiously waited for BR to come home so we could feast and Binge Watch House of Cards (!!!!).

And when he walked in with roses, cold champagne and chocolates, every tiny thing that went wrong earlier in the day seemed so distant and forgotten…

and then we went IN on those lobsters!

We stood up until 4 AM watching House of Cards that night.

Valentine ’s Day Success!

…Except the cupcakes kinda sucked.

Steamed Lobster with Green Beans and Roasted Potatoes

Tags

dinner, healthy, lobster, shellfish, steamer

I have had a dining table for close to 5 years. I have had dinner at said dining table only a handful of times. A travesty really. I found a beautiful table on the IKEA website all those years ago and made a note to one day treat my first apartment to a dining table; at $250- it felt like quite a chunk of change. Later that day, while on craigslist, i found the same exact table for $75. The table was in pristine condition and I almost felt guilty taking the table off of the young man’s hands. But the dining table collected dust. Even after i moved back to Brooklyn.

BR and I normally dine in front of the television on snack trays. And I hadn’t considered our dining habits when I purchased two fancy schmancy lobsters for dinner. Eating lobster on a snack tray?

No.

It was simple. I pulled out the table from its corner in the apartment. Cleaned it off and created a dining environment worthy of the lobster. Sun Soaked. Clean. Inviting.

Steaming fresh lobster in my basket steamer for 20 minutes and placing each 1.5 lb lobster on a plate with family style servings of sauteed garlick green beans and pan roasted fingerling potatoes.

We sat down to eat. We gave thanks for our food and as we were about to dig in realized we lacked the tools to gracefully remove the lobster shell from the sweet flesh.

So, there went the whole dining in a civilized fashion. I fetched the kitchen shears and we proceeded to rip, cut, and slurp the meat out of our lobster shells while abandoning the forks near our plates to eat green beans and potatoes with our bare hands.

….and we regret nothing.

A delicious treat and a fantastic use of my dining table.

I’d like to say its in frequent rotation now that we have pulled it away from its corner.

I would like to say that. But I’m afraid my snack trays will get jealous.

Ristorante Aglio

Tags

carpaccio, dinner, fine dining, flourless chocolate cake, foie gras, gelato, lamb, lobster, spinach

Just a short walking distance from my office, lays a place with no name out front. The only signage is on the sidewalk listing the evening specials.  If you peek inside, you’ll see an inviting and warm atmosphere just waiting for you to partake of it.

Ristorante Aglio. The Italian restaurant that offers a lovely variety of creatively presented dishes and brilliantly mixed cocktails. The name suggests everything is garlic, however, from their website, the garlic notes are not overpowering in their dishes.

After work last night, my mother met me in front of Ristorante Aglio at the start of dinner service. They had literally just lit the last candle on the table as we entered the establishment. Immediately I fell in love with the dark furniture and creamy tan walls. It was dimly lit and felt very inviting.

I immediately thought this was incredibly romantic and with Valentine’s Day looming around the corner, it makes the perfect setting for your hot date.

We were given some Rosemary Pizza Bianca to nibble on with a very rich olive oil that had a very faint bit of heat to it, almost unnoticeable.

Having glanced at the menu before hand, I had an idea of what I was going to order… however, because I am terrible at making decisions with so many choices, I began to question my original choices. My mom needed little coaching as she picked out her choices and when our waiter approached we were ready to order.

Since it was a ladies’ night out, Mother-Daughter style, we ordered a cocktail. We both chose the Sylvia which is  a tall refreshing cocktail of Belvedere, Ginger Skyy, Saint Germain, Mint, Cucumber slices, muddled ginger, ginger ale and agave. It was delicious and very refreshing.

For our starters, Mom got the Foie Gras and Sweet potato. Reading the menu “Foie Gras with sautéed sweet potato, drizzled with Marsala wine sauce” she said it sounded fantastic. And I squealed inside because my mother once turned her nose up at Foie Gras some years ago and I was elated thinking she had a change of heart. Upon the presenting of the dish, her eyes filled with horror as she whispered across the table “Is this LIVER?”

When I confirmed, her disappointment was apparent and I offered her my own dish as I love Foie Gras. But, being the good sport that she is, she tried the Foie Gras. Turns out, it wasn’t as horrific as mom thought it would be. Of course, I had a few bites of hers and enjoyed it; I was just happy she was open to trying something new.

“I didn’t raise you on this food… where did your palate come from?”  

My Uncle, perhaps?

I ordered the Kanpachi Carpaccio which is a thinly sliced raw fish served with sliced endive, dill, black olives, Sardinian olive oil, and lemon vinaigrette. The dish was beautifully presented and the flavors were spot on. It made a great dish to whet my appetite for the next course. It was full of flavor but light and refreshing.

For our entrée, mom was ecstatic when she saw the lamb chops. They are one of her favorites. Growing up, mom used to make lamb chops about once per week… and I just about got sick of them. I had a bite and let her eat the rest. The lamb was rich and succulent, cooked medium upon the Chef’s recommendation.

She ordered a side of creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes to complete her dish.

I seized the opportunity of having lobster. Grilled lobster with fennel! I haven’t had lobster in such a long time due to the heavy saturation of butter that some chefs use to prepare it. For me, the combination does not agree with me and I get very ill. However, seeing that the lobster offered at Aglio was simply grilled and nothing more, I happily ordered it. In its simplest preparation, the lobster was sweet and cooked perfectly.  It came cut up for me to make my time shucking easier and I couldn’t have been more grateful.

(i forgot my camera and took a crappy cell phone pic… but wanted to show, despite its blurriness)

To accompany my lobster, I ordered the garlic spinach.  Fresh and whole spinach leaves lightly sautéed with garlic and oil. A fantastic side!

Over my excitement over dessert, I neglected to take a photo! However, I can report that my flourless chocolate cake was dense and chocolately! It was a great end to such a wonderful meal. My mother, feeling quite full from her dinner ordered a scoop of their hazelnut Gelato which she happily consumed.

The service here is spot on! While leaving the restaurant my mother, who takes pride in respect and courteousy, was impressed by the “impeccable service” and I take after my momma, so i would have to agree! Fantastic service.  (And the restroom was reminiscent of a day spa with heated seats and a bidet!)

Overall, my experience at Ristorante Aglio was a wonderful one! With it being so close to the office, it makes a great venue to celebrate events over lunch with colleagues and even as a romantic backdrop for a fancy date in TriBeCa.

If you and your love are looking for a special night this Valentine’s Day, Ristorante Aglio will be offering a 5 course dinner for $68 per person. Check out their website and make a reservation!