By the far the most amazing dining experience I’ve had in my life happened on the first night of my trip to Copenhagen. Four of my friends and I had booked a reservation at Kødbyens Fiskebar, an acclaimed seafood restaurant in the old meatpacking district of the city. After getting lost a few times on the way from the center to that area, we finally settled in to our seats and took in the impressively modern and cool atmosphere of the restaurant (which included a beautiful stainless steel square bar, a large aquarium, and concrete bathrooms that had ocean noises playing under the murmur of the restaurant’s patrons traveling through the heating ducts – cool stuff).

A long day of traveling, settling into our hostel, and napping in way-too-comfortable beds had almost ruined our appetites; we kind of just wanted to sleep through the night. But we definitely made the right decision by heading out. We started off with champagne and a shrimp-salad-esque appetizer. Small shrimp were tossed with hazelnuts and a tarragon-mayo-pesto and then topped with micro-greens and a crispy potato chip. It was absolutely phenomenal, and our petite bites tried to savor its flavor.

Hannah ordered the mussels (picture one, top right), which were steamed in apple cider and lots of herbs. I tired one, and they were absolutely delicious. The great bread that came out right after the appetizers was a great companion to the leftover broth. The rest of us ordered Kødbyens’ version of fish and chips – something crispy and straight-up delicious after a long day. I know, I know – it seems ludicrous that five people traveling from the UK (of all places) would order fish and chips at a foreign restaurant. But the truth is that, of the three or four times I’ve had fish and chips in London, I was never impressed. The quality is just never good; it’s passé. In Copenhagen, though, I was prepared to trust the quality of the fresh caught-that-day fish and its careful preparation.

Good thing I did: the fish and chips was – by far – the best I’ve had in my life. Two small filets of pollock (a more sustainable and under farmed version of cod or haddock, used especially in the UK and Northern Europe) were covered in panko and delicately fried; it was great. The fries, too, were expertly fried and tossed with a good amount of green herbs. They were crunchy outside, fluffy inside, and dusted with a ton of flavor. Finally, there was a side of raw remoulade – something that was almost a middle-point between cole slaw and tartar sauce. Whether eaten alone or with the fish, its raw, crunch, and fresh flavor added a lot of the dish.

Nearing the point of being stuffed, we decided to split one dessert. What was described on the menu – peanut butter mousse and chocolate gelato with raspberries in a cocoa pod – did nothing to describe how phenomenal the dish would be. When it arrived, our jaws dropped. Sitting in front of us was, indeed, a giant cocoa pod on top of a bed of coffee beans. But when opened up, the two haves had equally jaw-droppingly good desserts. The top was filled with this peanut butter mousse, which was caramelized like creme brûlée on top. And the bottom half was filled with liquid-nitrogen frozen raspberries, topped with a scoop of silky bittersweet chocolate gelato and a few more fresh raspberries. To sum it up: we wished we would had ordered another one, and would’ve had the kitchen not closed ten minutes before we ate it. Through its impressive presentation, flavor combinations, textures, and technique, it was a world-class dessert to end such a world-class meal.

Nothing since has really surpassed the quality of that meal, but that’s not to say we didn’t eat well for the rest of our time there. The next day, we visited the Carlsberg Brewery, did a lot of shopping and sight-seeing, and eventually had dinner at Kalaset.

Unlike the day before, we had worked up a large appetite after walking around so much. Earlier in the week, I had looked up Kalaset and, based on the great reviews, wanted to try it out. Conveniently, we were walking around wondering where to eat when we literally happened upon the restaurant’s doorstep.

A few steps down off the street, Kalaset’s half-underground setting – along with its antique, kitschy furniture, bar, and menus – creates a ridiculously cozy and vintage feel. We ended up ordering a few beers (Carlsberg, once again) and then decided on our food choices. I ordered a chicken cutlet sandwich on multigrain bread that was topped with bacon, peppers, pesto, mayo, tomatoes, red onions, and arugula. As expected, it was rich, filling, and succulent. Cooper ordered something similar, but with beef instead of chicken. His sandwich also came with a side of roasted potatoes and homemade tomato chutney (which was really complex and much more appreciate than one-note ketchup). And Liz, still craving a good breakfast, ordered blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. All of our selections were really good, and the comfortable and relaxed vibe of the restaurant coupled with the prompt service led to a really good dinner and a great last night in Copenhagen.

Check back soon for good eats in Berlin and Southeastern France!

With the way my schedule is set up at university, I’m placed in the same position as many adults are in a typical work day: we aren’t home all day, and the last thing we want to do at 8 PM is cook a lengthy homemade dinner – even if we love to cook. There’s always times, though, where I have an hour or two to cook (either the day before or much earlier in the day). Make-ahead meals like stews are always such a great option, but they’re usually ignored due to their traditionally boring flavors. But sometimes, certain recipes can change preconceptions about a dish – like this one from Epicurious. It’s ridiculously healthy, beautifully seasonal, and feels fresh even though it’s been cooked hours or days in advance. And, served over couscous, it makes for a wholesome dish that’s impossible not to enjoy.

For the Moroccan Stew:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1-2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp sweet or smoked paprika (I used smoked, but sweet would work fine too)
• 1/2 tsp each black pepper, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, ground ginger, & cayenne pepper
• pinch of saffron
• 1 cup of water
• 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes, drained (use a good brand, like Red Pack)
• juice of one lemon
• 3 cups of butternut squash, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 cups of peeled carrots, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons each of mint and cilantro

This past weekend, I travelled over to Paris to spend some time with my cousin and her family, who were staying just south of Montmartre. After the most stressful hour of my life (from 19:00 – 20:00 on Thursday, September 29th, which included sprinting around Holborn carrying a 30 pound non-rolling duffle bag, busting into my about-to-close school building to print out a missing boarding pass, making it to the check-in-point at St. Pancras with 47 seconds to spare, and rushing through security and border control in order to make my 20:02 train), I settled in on the Eurostar and prepared for the great weekend ahead of me.

Waking up on Friday morning was difficult. The previous night, after the hour from hell and its subsequent train ride, I had to wait in a taxi queue for over 45 minutes and then use my limited French skills to explain to a non-English-speaking taxi driver where the relatively unknown, boutique hotel was in a non-central part of town. But once I was up, any tiredness in me was quickly vanquished by an unbelievably delicious apricot croissant from Midoré, the spacious and bright café around the corner from our hotel. Throughout the weekend, Midoré became our go-to breakfast/brunch place; everything we tried (apple-filled pastry, butter-caramel eclair, cappuccino, hot chocolate, strawberry tart) was just so good, and so cheap.

From Midoré, Megan and I walked over to the Eiffel Tower while the rest of her family went to Disneyland Paris (fulfilling the request of my younger cousin Garrett). For the rest of the day, we utilized our hop-on hop-off boat pass and visited different sites along the Seine. Over the course of the day, we saw the Louvre, Notre Dame, le Jardin de Plants, and – at the place where we spent most our day, getting lost deep into the neighborhood’s streets – St. Germain.

While there were countless places we could’ve eaten, we ended up at Paul Maison de Qualité, an international chain that offers freshly-baked breads, pastries, and other lunch goods. Our sandwiches were just fine; mine consisted of ham, lettuce, and hard-boiled egg on a baguette — something light and cheap enough for lunch. The place we spent the most time and money was actually at Un Dimanche à Paris, a sleek and modern dessert shop in the winding alleyways of the left bank. After perusing about the entire store, we ordered a selection of macarons and white chocolate ice cream and sat outside.

The ice cream was fine, but a little too plain. The macarons, though, were amazing – especially the butter-caramel ones. Each bite was spectacular – a heavenly combination of airy macaron and the most intensely-flavored butter caramel filling. The other macarons had this impossibly-good flavor too – the coffee, hazelnut, and pistachio flavors so deeply intense. We walked back to the boat content.

By the end of the day, none of us had any energy left to search out an acclaimed restaurant in a different arrondissement. Instead, we walked to the sports-bar-restaurant on the corner of our street, Comptoir de l’Europe. We’d seen people eating outside almost every day, and the food had always looked pretty good. I ordered the parmentier de canard confit, which was comprised of a layer of duck confit, a layer of buttery mashed potatoes, a layer of cheese, and two slabs of bacon. This quintessentially French dish was unbelievable. Every bite was so succulent and rich; after a long day of walking, it was amazing – the French version of comfort food. My dessert – a crème caramel – was pretty good too, but nothing was as spectacular as the parmentier. A good end to day one.

On day two, we woke up and walked up to Montmartre. The views from the hill were spectacular (see: picture 1), but the town itself felt a little touristy and – especially on the main boulevards – tchotchke. On our way back, though, I realized that we were just a block away from A l’Etoile d’Or, the “best candy shop in Paris” (according to David Lebovitz). After searching it out, we walked into chocolate (and foodie) heaven. The small shop was teeming with all sorts of different chocolates, confectionery, and bonbons – lined up on the walls, on tables throughout the store, and behind the counter. In the matter of 15 minutes, I’d somehow amassed a purchase of 50 euros. Which isn’t that much considering the Bernachon chocolate bars (from the bean-to-bar chocolatier in Lyon, considered to be one of the very best) were over 10 euros each. I grabbed one filled with Kirsch-laden Sicilian pistachio paste, and another studded with caramelized hazelnuts. I also grabbed an assortment of bonbons from the counter, as well as a super small jar of pure hazelnut butter.

The only thing I have left is the hazelnut chocolate bar; I’m refusing to open it until a big occasion (like when term papers are all done). Everything else, though, is beyond exceptional; life-changing; a religious experience. I’m almost joking.

Au revoir, Paris!

The most convenient place for us to grab dinner when we get back home at night is probably My Old Dutch, a pancake house located within a few meters of our building. Expectedly, the pancakes they serve are more like crêpes than American pancakes – it’s simply a regional (well, international) difference. Aside from a small appetizers, sides, drinks, and desserts menu with both Dutch and typical offerings, the menu revolves around the savory and sweet pancakes. Along with the standard pancake menus, My Old Dutch offers a “create-your-own” option which, although usually more expensive, allows for all sorts of different combinations to be made. Another important fact: on Mondays, all pancakes – regardless of menu price – are offered for £5 at a basically-half-off price.

Naturally, a huge group of us end up there for dinner on Monday nights, unabashedly taking advantage of the discount. Even with the restaurant full, the service is always at least acceptable. And the atmosphere is great: it’s open, bright, clean, and spacious. Based on these factors, plus the quality of the food, My Old Dutch is best seen as a classy, upscale diner. And as for the food? It’s very, very good. Thin, giant-plate-sized pancakes are studded with your ingredients of choice and served with various toppings. While others in the group had bananas, caramel, Nutella, and other sweets in theirs, I opted for a “savory” pancake: the Amsterdammer. Mine was served with sautéed apples, maple syrup, and thick-cut bacon. The salty sweet combo was incredible; each bite was heavenly. And with the portions so huge, no one has ever left the restaurant unsatisfied.

Further down King’s Road, there’s a small quasi-chain cafe and gelateria named Ca’puccino. What initially caught my eye about this cafe – just one of many on our street – was its almost-sprawling outdoor seating and prominent gelato display in the front window. So, a few friends and I walked down one night after dinner and were immediately seated in the small but cozy cafe.

While we went for the gelato, we were equally impressed by the rest of the menu. Ca’puccino offers lunch fare like panini and soup, a huge selection of cakes and pastries, and a full drinks menu (espresso, blended shakes, and wine). Three of us ended up ordering gelato (mine with an espresso on the side) while Liz got a chocolate milkshake.

The espresso was textbook: pleasingly strong, not too bitter, and with a quality layer of crema on top. Liz’s milkshake was great too: super thick and and deeply chocolately – definitely on the bittersweet side. Our gelato was overall good, but ranged a bit depending on the flavor. It might have been a matter of freshness, but my chocolate gelato was a touch icy. The cappuccino and hazelnut gelato were, on the other hand, both extremely impressive. Both were silk-like in texture and strong in flavor. The cappuccino gelato in particular was superb; the flavor was similar to a coffee gelato, but with much more depth of flavor.

Overall, My Old Dutch and Ca’puccino have shown themselves to be consistently good choices for dinner and dessert in our neighborhood. Next: on to more savory options.

Toward the end of our day, a few of us grabbed lunch at a place we’d passed by on our walking tour: Garrick’s Head Pub. On a sign near the outdoor patio, they claimed to have the “best fish and chips in Bath” – a claim we didn’t verify on Urbanspoon, or Yelp, or anywhere – but it was a good thing we took them up on their word. Because it was an overcast day (see: pictures) and was threatening to downpour, we chose to sit inside. The interior of this pub was beautiful and cozy, with dark woods and dim but not-too-dark lighting. After a brief stint at the bar, our group of eight was seated in the main dining room of the pub.

Six of us ordered the fish and chips; the other two selections were simple bread and butter (obviously Ally wasn’t very hungry) and a savory cheese tart with a honey-glazed beet salad. While the bread and butter looked simple, it was impressive on quality: fresh sourdough bread was coupled with good butter and Maldon sea salt. And the tart was equally impressive (albeit in a more grandiose way). Filled with cheddar, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and spinach, it got rave reviews.

But we were clearly there for the fish and chips. Garrick’s Head receives fresh fish daily from Cornwall and this was evident. The fish was clearly fresh, flaky, and light and wasn’t weighed down by the chive-hinted batter at all. It was absolutely perfectly – not greasy or heavy, just light and crispy. Even the tartar sauce followed the same principles. Instead of a goopy store-bought mayonnaise mixture, this tartar sauce was composed of clearly homemade mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, and more herbs. The chips were amazing as well. They were triple-cooked; this method produced potato wedges that were crunchy but not burnt on the exterior, and fluffy like mashed potatoes on the interior. Clearly, this dish emphasized quality, not brute quantity. Too many places – especially on Fish Fry Friday in Buffalo – offer ridiculously sized portions of low-quality fish and fries. Instead, Garrick’s succeeded both conceptually and in execution.

We finished off the day with a bit more walking and a viewing of the gardens. Bath’s architecturally and historically impressive feats were a lot to take in! While I don’t think I’ll end up there again this semester, it was definitely a must-see, at least once. And the fish and chips didn’t hurt either.

Before our classes even started, though, we took a trip as a group to Oxford and spent a couple of days there. Aside from a few group seminars and a group dinner, I was able to mostly explore the city on my own.

While there, we stayed at Wadham College (the courtyard of which is pictured in the former photo). And, on the first day, we were given a tour of some of the colleges and buildings; it was amazing to see.

The first night, we went out to dinner at a restaurant called Brown’s. The restaurant was spacious, warm, and had a really interesting drink and food menu. Unfortunately, since we were in such a large group (30+), our selections were made well in advance off of a predetermined menu. I chose the Chicken Terrine as an appetizer, the Chicken Schnitzel as an entree, and the Sticky Toffee Pudding as a dessert. While the Schnitzel was pretty plain and average, the Terrine and Pudding were flavorful and interesting. The pudding in particular was by far my favorite; it was texturally moist and perfect and flavored with molasses and clotted cream. For what I would consider my first quintessentially British dish, it came across very favorably.

A more impressive experience definitely came during our second day in Oxford. After our first seminar, we headed over to the Great Hall (yes, the Great Hall) for lunch. With full table service, we were served fresh rolls and butter, baked chicken breasts with caponata, and creme brûlée – all in all, not a bad lunch! Enjoying these tasty dishes in such a beautiful setting was magical.

But as of now, we’re living on our own and, of course, that means that we’re cooking on our own – something that I’m loving. My friend Nadine – who is conveniently in the same kitchen as I am – also loves to cook and eat well. While many of our peers are eating out or eating poorly every night, we’ve been cooking up a storm. Just in the past week, we’ve made risotto with steak and scallops, sautéed chicken with roasted potatoes, composed salads, vegetable gratin, wraps, and a bunch of other things. By buying in bulk and collaborating with our two other kitchen-mates, we’re both saving money and eating really good (and healthy) food.

]]> http://cookinginwny.com/2011/09/03/arriving-in-london-oxford-trip/feed/ 0 Matt fishchips1 oxfordresidence oxfordgates oxfordbuilding1 oxfordentrance gardens countryside terrine schnitzel stickypudding greathall gratin potatoes steak http://cookinginwny.com/2011/08/19/lloyds-taco-truck/ http://cookinginwny.com/2011/08/19/lloyds-taco-truck/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:26:50 +0000 Matthew Luongo http://cookinginwny.com/?p=654 ]]> I know, I know. Everyone’s been talking about, following, eating, and reviewing Lloyd’s Taco Truck for what seems like years now. But, I have excuses! One: Lloyd almost always sets up for lunch at around 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM. During the school year (roughly 9 months out of the entire year), I’d be sitting in a classroom or in a cafeteria realizing that great tacos were just… a 20+ minute drive away. And that leads to two: even during the summer months, I don’t have access to a car until late afternoon; it seemed like getting up at 10 AM to hop on a bus for over an hour just to eat a taco was not worth it. Anyway, with a few days left in Buffalo, it was crunch time – I wanted to try Lloyd’s before I left. When I realized that my mom’s needing to be downtown for something a few mornings ago coincided with Lloyd’s decision to set up at Synacor near the waterfront, I immediately decided that I’d drag along my cousin and sister with me, and we’d all go down and get tacos for lunch.

After waiting in a short line, the four of us placed our order: two beef tacos, one chicken taco, two regular nachos, crazy corn, and a few drinks. For $15, we all received a quality yet cheap lunch that we took down to a few benches by the harbor to enjoy.

Least exciting were the regular nachos, ordered by my sister and cousin. Plain tasting nacho chips were drizzled with queso and red salsa; they were fine, but nothing extraordinary. I’m refraining from being too critical of these as I’ve repeatedly read that the tricked out nachos (served with a meat, onions, jalapeños, sour cream, etc.) are excellent; it’s hard to criticize regular nachos for being regular.

But I – at least – really came to try the tacos. I ordered two – one beef, one chicken – and was thoroughly impressed. Each taco was filled with meat, cabbage slaw, cheese, a choice of sauce (varying in spiciness), fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime; they’re also wrapped in double-layered corn tortillas which hold up very well to the fillings. I added a bit of Lloyd’s Rocket Sauce to mine (in the little cup) which was impressive in both taste and heat – I enjoyed the tacos much more with the rocket sauce on them. Overall, Lloyd’s tacos are the tastiest, freshest, and most authentic tacos in Buffalo, and far surpass mediocre taco-flinging establishments like Mighty Taco and ETS.

Another highlight: Lloyd’s crazy corn. It’s charred corn, dipped in garlic-chili butter, and drizzled with queso and a spicy sauce. The amount of flavor that exists in just one bite of the corn is phenomenal. It’s spicy, savory, fresh, hot – corn taken to another level.

Much to my dismay, I’m not going to be able to grab lunch at Lloyd’s until I return to Buffalo in December. But with rumors floating around of a second Lloyd’s truck, there’s definitely something to remain excited about. So, don’t wait as long as I did, and – if you haven’t already – grab some food at Lloyd’s as soon as you can!

Think Coffee: On our first day, we grabbed a quick breakfast / lunch at Think Coffee on Mercer St. in the Village before an afternoon of shopping in NoHo. In a word, Think Coffee can be described to Buffalonians as SPoT. It’s a quasi-chain with a few locations around downtown Manhattan, the vibe is artsy and eclectic, and the food and coffee are both above average.

We ordered a round of cold-brewed iced coffees; they were truly good – smooth and slightly acidic without any lurid bitterness. The food was good too: Dana’s prosciutto and tomato sandwich was the most impressive and loaded with flavor while the quiche Megan and I split was just average. Overall, we weren’t blown away by anything we had. The atmosphere was both comfortable and energetic though – this coffeehouse is mostly frequented by NYU students – and was a great way to the start the day.

Etcetera Etcetera: After we’d shopped for hours and spent a bit too much money, we took the yellow line back uptown and met Megan’s cousin for dinner in Hell’s Kitchen. I’d picked Etcetera Etcetera after doing a bit of reading online: it seemed like this was an upscale and innovative, modern-yet-authentic Italian restaurant – it was. We sat down in the modernly decorated dim dining room and, after perusing the menu for quite some time, decided on our entrees (some of which are entree sized at $20-ish, and others which are appetizer sized at $13).

What arrived first was a basket of delicious garlic bread soldiers with a really tasty olive tapenade. After that, our entrees came: Dana’s tagliatelle with mini lamb meatballs, oven dried tomatoes, arugula, and Pecorino Romano; Megan’s (vegetarian) gnocchi with grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red onions, crispy ricotta salata, and parsley; Kayla’s (gluten-free) risotto with roasted artichokes and smoked mozzarella; and my casoncelli alla bergamasca, or veal-raisin-amaretto ravioli in a sage and butter sauce, topped with crispy pancetta. As we ate, we came to the conclusion that these were some of the best pastas we’d ever had. Each homemade pasta paired beautifully with the chef’s choice of flavors. Mine in particular was outstanding – unabashedly rich and flavorful; without a doubt, it’s the best pasta dish I’ve had in my life.

The dinner never took a downturn. Our entrees were followed with complimentary biscotti and a chocolate crunch-type cookie and the dessert that we ordered, a pistachio semifreddo with blueberry sauce. It too was exemplary: the texture was velvety, the flavor was of pure pistachio, and the sauce was both tart and sweet – it complimented the semifreddo dome perfectly. As we walked out of the restaurant, we were all thoroughly impressed; we’d been hoping to have a dinner of such a high quality while in Manhattan and we’d certainly received it.

‘Snice: On day two, we headed down to the West Village and SoHo to – shocker – shop some more. But first, we recharged at ‘Snice, located in the heart of the West Village. It’s a truly vegan-friendly cafe (soy milk and agave nectar are standard; one must ask for half and half or sugar) with an incredibly relaxed and cozy atmosphere.

Dana’s strawberry smoothie was great due to its simplicity: berries and a bit of agave nectar mixed with a choice of soy milk or apple cider – she chose the cider. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my wrap – made with curried cauliflower, brown rice, chickpeas, and mango chutney – was warm and complex. It’s also one of the most inventive wraps I’ve seen: a welcome addition to usual cafe fare. And lastly, Megan ordered the more traditional brie, pear, and arugula sandwich – this one spread with a raspberry mustard. We left satisfied and healthy-feeling – two qualities that beckon a great day ahead.

A quick interjection: we did eat at home too! There’s a Whole Foods relatively close to Megan’s house and I made myself at home there. One (late) night, we had basil-pesto-filled mezzaluna pasta with tomato sauce when we got home. And, we had dinner at my friend Ricky’s aunt’s in the city one night. We enjoyed a wonderful chicken curry with ingredients bought earlier in the day from Chinatown.

Red Mango and Think Coffee: Following that dinner with Rick back uptown, we spent our second night in the East Village. After walking around for a bit, grabbing frozen yogurt from Red Mango, window shopping, and spending time in some neat bookstores, we settled down back at Think Coffee – this location right on Bowery, though. It must’ve been due to it being a Tuesday night, but the café wasn’t packed and we were able to spend an hour or two relaxing and chatting in the outdoor patio. In all, it was a great first half of the trip.

Quite frankly, this is the best risotto I’ve ever made. It’s built upon layers and layers of in-season flavors and is succulent without being heavy or rich-feeling. And, for the first time, I made this risotto using a tip from Cook’s Illustrated; the risotto technique is altered so as to reduce constant stirring but still retain that creamy-yet-separate nature that risotto should embody. The main flavors? Tomato, then basil, then lemon – each complimenting each other perfectly, but the emphasis is truly on these summer-fresh tomatoes. I used a combination of Roma, Sweet Cinderella, and some organic heirloom medley I found at Dash’s (only necessary because too many of the former two were already eaten plain). But really, any combination of tomatoes will work in this dish – as long as they’re flavorful; to make it simple, just go down the local farmers’ market and ask the grower which their favorite tomato is that week.

As for the making of the risotto, it’ s typical, really: sweat some onions with kosher salt, red pepper flakes, and oregano. Throw in some diced and seeded tomatoes (or, if using small cherry-type tomatoes, halve and thrown in), cover, and let steam for about ten minutes. Then, after the rice is added and toasted, things change a bit: instead of adding ridiculously small increments of stock and wine, a whopping three cups of stock are added – enough that the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom and thus doesn’t need to be constantly stirred. For all traditionalists (and to ensure proper texture), though, the risotto is finished with the classic “add and stir” method. Lastly, I left a significant amount of sliced tomato and basil chiffonade aside as a raw garnish. When mixed into the plated risotto, it adds a superbly fresh flavor to the dish and looks great as well.

 For the Tomato, Lemon, and Basil Risotto:

for about 6 main course servings; leftovers are great for risotto cakes

•  3 cups Aborio rice
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 large Vidalia or Spanish onion, diced finely
• 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock mixed with 6 cups of water, simmering
• 1 lb assorted tomatoes, seeded and diced
• ~20 basil leaves, sliced
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup parmigiano-reggiano or romano cheese, grated
• kosher salt
• crushed red pepper flakes
• dried oregano

1. In a large dutch oven or very large sauté pan, melt 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion, pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (to taste), and a large pinch of salt and oregano; then sweat for 5-7 minutes until translucent and softened.
2. Add all but 3/4 cup diced tomatoes, cover, and steam over lowest heat until tomatoes are very soft and have created a thin sauce.
3. Add the rice and 1/2 of the basil and stir for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
4. Add 4 cups of chicken stock and water mixture. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes, all while stirring occasionally but not constantly.
5. When thickened and nearly dry, add stock and water mixture in 1/2 cup increments until the rice is al dente.
6. Turn off the heat, and vigorously stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter and 1/2 cup of cheese. Then stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
7. Taste for seasoning; it may need more salt.
8. Plate in very hot (microwave for 1 minute or so) bowls and garnish with remaining sliced tomatoes and basil. Serve!

The two locations – while not identical – share a variety of similarities. Both are decorated with dark woods and mixed antique furniture, have display cases showing off different pastries, quiche, baked goods, etc., and carry an identical drink menu. Each location has cozy but ample seating and, most importantly during the summer months, outdoor tables and chairs. Even the service is the same across the board: it’s not excellent or perfect, but definitely not bad – it could just use a touch of fine tuning and speediness. The only real differences lie in the food menus: the Parkside location’s consists of solely crepes while the Grant St. one offers a more typical selection of breakfast and lunch foods.

Over my trips to the Parkside location, I’ve admittedly ordered the same thing (maybe too) many times: the Nutella crepes. Why? They’re simple, but amazing – and consistent. On my first time or two ordering these last Fall, the crepes were a little off; something was wrong either with the batter or the cooking execution. Ever since then, though, they’ve been flawless. Clearly, any kinks have been worked out. I’ve also tried the Afterglow crepe, which is filled with lemon curd and kiwi; it’s a refreshing option. Sweetness_7 also offers savory crepes, served with things like chicken breast, spinach, and béchamel. One of my favorites was actually a special that I haven’t seen offered again since I had it at the beginning of this year: it was essentially a pierogi crepe, filled with mashed potatoes, onions, and peppers. It was outstanding, and I’d definitely order it again.

No matter which location, Sweetness’ drink selection is impressive and authentic. I’ve tried their frappes (blended coffee milkshake), iced coffees, and espresso. The frappes are very good, much like those from Caffe Aroma, SPoT, or even Starbucks. They’re nothing extraordinary but certainly fine. Likewise, the iced coffee is strong and fresh – made interesting by options such as “American”, “Italian”, or “Vietnamese” which change the drink slightly; my favorite is the Vietnamese iced coffee which comes mixed with sweetened condensed milk. Most memorable is the espresso menu; my favorites are the “cubano” (espresso brewed with cane sugar) and the “romano” (espresso brewed with lemon zest). Each are beautifully potent with their personalities altered by the additions of the sugar or lemon zest. The cubano in particular is a great shot for any first-time espresso try-ers, as the sugar somewhat tames the potency of the espresso.

But before the Parkside location even existed, the food at Grant St. was raved about – especially the breakfast sandwich. When I finally went over there, it was only fitting that I should try it. As I watched the barista make my sandwich for me, I realized it was pretty simple: a sausage patty cooked on a panini press, an oven-toasted english muffin, two eggs cooked on the griddle, and a slice of tomato. In the end, it tasted exactly as expected; it wasn’t groundbreaking or truly innovative and memorable like my breakfast sandwich at Francois Payard Bakery in SoHo, but it was surely good – made the same way I’d made breakfast sandwiches before at home. The only thing that disappointed me? The hype surrounding the sandwich; at least, not after I’ve had such a better version of the same thing.

Our other selections fell in the very-good category as well. The cinnamon bun was large, fresh-tasting, and not cloying but with good cinnamon flavor. And the chocolate French toast – served with fresh whipped cream, berries, and pure maple syrup – was described as “amazing – easily one of the best French toasts I’ve had”.

Overall, the atmosphere at Sweetness_7 mimics the food: it’s inviting, cozy, and homey. Nearly everything about the two locations is very good, with some items – like the Nutella crepe – nearing perfection. And, it must be said that Sweetness_7 has become a cornerstone of its neighborhood: something that, in the end, might be even more important than the food it serves.