Get Totally Baked - Legally!

Totally Baked - 8 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011

646.336.6118

N/W/R/4/5/6 Train to Union Square or F/V/L Train to 14th Street

Totally Baked is feeling happy, euphoric, amused to the point that you laugh for no reason and most importantly you feel full! Ummm please rewind? Full!? Isn't the effect usually the opposite? What kind of magic baking are they doing?

Ok, we can all get our minds out of the gutter because Totally Baked is not what you think--it's Manhattan's new baked potato bar, offering unique spins on the beloved starchy spud. My work colleague Harris and I lunched there today and we're still baked (um, I mean full).

And though TB's spudniks come at a premium, ($7 - $55) these are anything but your plain ol' taters.

Atmosphere and Service:

The vibe is cool and the decor is minimalistic. Upon stepping in, you're greeted by a saccharine staff. I've heard people actually complain about the niceness of the staff and I now know what they meant. It seems like the staff almost has to act that way or they'll be nixed from their baked potato ambassador-ness. And that's exactly where the problem lies--are they really that nice or are they being fake? Who knows and who cares. Although the staff can get annoying, you deal with them for less than 5 minutes, as this is not a table service kind of place.

Some noteworthy aspects of TB's decor are the Mr. Potato Head figurines at the register and the original Mr. Potato Head sketches on the walls. The counters have modern containers filled with chives, which I found clever and really nice to look at. The only thing that's a bit unfortunate is that TB doesn't have traditional tables--instead it seats customers at long counters with semi-uncomfortable stools sans back rests.

The Potatoes:

And this is the reason that I'll be coming back here and trying all of their 15 varieties of potatoes--they're phenomenal! The two that we sampled today were:

Pulled Pork (with pulled "pernil" or Puerto Rican pork and Mexican slaw) - This was my tater and I destroyed its core and its jacket. How could I not? The inside was oozing with flavor and the juices from the pork and the slaw melted the inside, giving it a mashed consistency. The pork itself was soft and succulent and tasted slightly charred from the grill. The slaw made this dish even better because it was crunchy and refreshing--the combination of the hot (pork) with the cold (slaw) was very pleasing to the palate. It was like a mini BBQ inside a potato--ingenious!

Buffalo Chicken (with spicy chicken, blue cheese, carrots and celery) - Can we say Monday night football on a plate? I know so many guys who are probably salivating at the sound of it. Although I didn't sample this dish, I was thoroughly impressed with its fixins--the pieces of chicken were generous and the blue cheese looked oooey-gooey. Harris liked it too and said "it definitely hit the spot." I'm happy to report that he also put his buffalo chicken spud to rest--skin and insides, nothing was spared.

Both potatoes came with a small and tasty side salad with a house dressing. The veggies were fresh and juicy, nice complements to the starch.

Cost:

As I mentioned, TB is not cheap but it will not break the bank either, except if you get the truffle butter potato for a whopping $55. The majority of potatoes range between $7-$10 and you could even make your own for $7. Dessert spuds are made with none other than the sweet potato ($7) and you'll also find this ingredient in their gelato, $4.50. Salads are available for $9-$11 but why get salad here?

I hope that I've convinced you to get totally bake-aked!

3 Mmmms

The 4-Foodies at Los Dados

Kimberly and I attended the 4-Foodies Mexican Madness event yesterday, held at Los Dados in the trendy Meatpacking District. And while I've been to this spot a couple of times already, I love the food so much that I wanted to experience it yet another way--through a private tasting.

About the 4-Foodies...
They're a networking group that organizes interesting foodie events throughout NYC. Each event has a unique theme and the past one was at the new restaurant Lunetta which now occupies the old Mayrose Diner space. Their gatherings aim to bring passionate foodies together, forge new relationships and allow New Yorkers experience great food at a fair price.

Los Dados:
A hip venue in the Meatpacking District, Los Dados is relatively new--and already gaining momentum. The decor is a combination of modern and traditional. You can find funky, goth chandeliers hanging from the ceiling alongside traditional Mexican folk art, such as the famous Dia de los Muertos depictions. The chef, Sue Torres while young is confident in her dishes and strives to constantly improve her culinary expertise. She visits Mexico yearly and stays with local cooks, picking up techniques that are later applied to the Los Dados kitchen.

Mexican Madness Menu:

Guacamole - Served with handmade corn tortilla chips, this is one of the better guacs I've had in the city. Creamy while still preserving some hearty avocado chunks, it was mild in flavor and unbelievably addicting. Our party of 4 pretty much finished the entire serving which came in a small-ish bowl.

BBQ Beef Mini Tacos - These were little shells of delight and were again mild in flavor, seasoned with pico de gallo and cheese. The serving size was bite-size which was nice for a quick mouth popper--I must've downed at least three. The beef was spectacular with a hint of sweetness--I'm suspecting Chef Sue threw in some brown sugar.

Coriander-Crusted Tuna Tostadas - While I usually don't eat raw tuna, I took a chance on these and am so glad that I did. They were a lovely combination of savory and sweet--savory from the guacamole and chips and sweet from the tuna and the charred serrano-pineapple salsa. Out of this world but unfortunately, I only scored two pieces.

Mini Roasted Organic Chicken Quesadillas - Again a beautiful and hearty combination of roasted chicken, paired with three cheeses and charred corn-tomato salsa. The salsa was glazed on top, which provided the perfect, creamy condiment. And unlike some quesadillas where the meat is dry, this one was super moist and packed with flavor.

Rice and Beans - Although this dish was simple, it was one of my favorites. The rice had nice texture and the beans were smooth but not overcooked. I paired it with some handmade corn tortilla chips, which I used in place of a fork and a spoon.

Churros - Mmmm, this is a beloved Mexican snack of mine and I only get it as a special treat. The great thing about the serving size was that like the tacos, it was bite size. Coated in cinnamon sugar, the churros were accompanied by two sauces--dulce de leche and dark Mexican chocolate. Being the chocoholic that I am, I went for the chocolate but then also mixed in the dulce de leche, which was excellent.

Overall Experience:
Very positive and we met a lot of nice new people. The event was fabulous for networking and meeting people with similar (culinary) interests--way to go 4-Foodies! My only complaint, which Kimberly also shared was that we wished there was more food. The food that was on the tables was scrumptious but we felt that we did not get our $50 worth. It's true that the evening also presented us with unlimited margaritas, but we would've been happier with more grub.

Another interesting highlight of the night was when Julianne Moore showed up with her husband and two children. Very cool--and we of course sneaked many glances her way.

Silver Swan - The Gold Standard

Silver Swan - 41 E. 20th Street, New York, NY 10003

212.254.3611

R/W or 6 Train to 23rd Street

Dan and I dined here on a fun double date with friends, Rikki and Greg. Swan was Rikki's suggestion and she discovered it the other week, being that its neighbor Mizu is one of her favorites. What caught Rikki's eye immediately was their extensive beer selection--it's a German restaurant after all. And being passionate beer freaks, we decided it was time to uncover this untapped spot.

Atmosphere:

Relaxing, cozy and warm are my words of choice for this place. I was in a hurry when coming here straight from work but my frenzy melted away when I stepped inside these friendly quarters. The colorful walls are cheery and the front of the house bar offers a nice welcome from the biting cold.

They sat us in the back where the atmosphere was even more chill. Cookbooks from all walks of life line the walls and are positioned conveniently at eye level. They're perfectly accessible to patrons and so inviting in fact that we picked up a couple and leafed through them. Overall, Swan does a great job of making you feel at home--we all lounged around as if we were sitting in our home kitchen.

Food:

The style of cuisine is of course German-American but aside from typical German dishes, they also have European staples such as Hungarian Goulash. The four of us all ordered different entrees and couldn't wait to swap forkfulls to experience a bit of everything.

We started out with two appetizers for the table--red beet salad and crispy potato pancakes. The guys immediately lunged for the pancakes while we women were content with our pickled beets, paired with pickled onions--a flavorful and healthy option. But of course we couldn't resist the potato pancakes, which were crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside. They were even better when enhanced by fresh sour cream and apple sauce--reminding me of my beloved Hanukkah snack.

Entrees were also spot on and it has to be said that the portions are very generous. I ordered the Hungarian Goulash and I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes slow-cooked beef. The meat was incredibly tender and the surrounding sauce was wonderfully potent and great for dipping bread. My sides included sweet red cabbage and dumplings which resemble the texture of gnocchi. They're actually called "nokedli" in Hungarian--what my grandmother calls them--or spatzle in German. But any way you put it, they're delicious and soak up the beef sauce perfectly.

The other big hit of the night was Dan's German Meatloaf--juicy and flavored by beef sauce and sides of mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and mushrooms. Rikki and Greg loved their dishes as well. Rikki got the Bratwurst and the coolest part of this were the tubes of different mustards for dipping. Greg was happy too because his Pot Roast came with a side of the beloved potato pancakes that were devoured in the beginning of our meal.

I'm not even sure how we managed to make room for dessert but we shared a Black Forrest Sunday. Also very delicious, it was topped with fresh whipped cream and decadent chocolate shavings. The only complaint was that you had to dig to the very bottom of the cup to get to the cherries and strawberries.

Last but not least, I cannot even begin to give the beer selection justice--it was that extensive. The beers come from all over Europe, including Germany, Holland, England, the Czech Republic and much more. I tried a British cider which was lovely, sweet and not too heavy.

Service and Cost:

The service here was just OK and my dining companions would agree. It took a while to take our orders and though our waiter was nice, he lacked personality. One strange thing was that although the Silver Swan is European, its waistaff lacks any trace of European heritage. And while our dishes arrived in good time, it took unnecessarily long to get our check and settle up.

The prices here are moderate for Manhattan--appetizers range from $5-$9.95 and entrees from $14.95-$24.95. They do offer a dinner special called the Complete Dinner which gets you an appetizer and an entree for $35--not bad. The beers are reasonable and you could get a large glass (14 oz) for just $8.

3 Mmmms

Mesa Grill - Southwest Meets Celebrity Chef

Mesa Grill - 102 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

212.807.7400

N/W/R/Q/4/5/6 Train to 14th Street Union Square

www.mesagrill.com

Mesa is just minutes away from work and I pass by it everyday. I've been here once for a wonderful, celebratory lunch but I've never tried dinner. Only hearing good things but unable to go on a casual night--it's expensive--I knew that restaurant week presented a perfect opportunity.

Atmosphere:

Your first thoughts when walking in are likely to be "how chic", "niiice place" or "trendy" rather than "rustic" or "Southwestern." It is a Bobby Flay restaurant after all so it's not surprising that it's ultra modern. The only Southwestern-ish touch is the seat upholstering with cowboys on wild horses, swinging lassos--kind of kitschy, kind of cool.

What I love most about the space at Mesa is exactly that, its spaciousness. The ceilings are incredibly high, the dining room flow broken by stunning pillars that feel larger than life. The lighting is funky yet subtle and the warm yellow tones on the walls are comforting.

The crowd that hangs here is young and professional. You'll see a lot of attractive women in smart clothes and men in suits. I know that people from work come here often and Mesa is a popular venue for business lunches and dinners.

Food:

I have only great things to say about the grub--it simply blew me away and my friends Kimberly and Michelle agreed. While the restaurant week menu was not too extensive, it offered wonderful options, which we were eager to try.

I started off with the black bean soup with cream, chile and guacamole. This was so yummy and really thick--it was a perfect way to melt away the winter chill. And even though the portion was large, I ate every last bit. One way that I enhanced the soup was by crumbling a black bean, corn muffin into it--the muffin was already on the table, served before our meal. Kimberly and Michelle both ordered the same app--the Fry Bread Taquitos. Wow! The fry bread was to die for but the jerk chicken that rested on it was even better. It came topped with crunchy cabbage slaw and sweet mango sauce. I think that I would definitely order this next time around.

We all ordered the Sixteen Spice Chicken for our entree, which came recommended by our waiter. And needless to say, we weren't disappointed. The meat was so juicy and flavored to perfection--although it had much spice, it was still gentle on the senses. But I think the best part of this dish was the side of cilantro mashed potatoes and the chunky mango salsa. The mashed were creamy and had a vibrant, herb taste that wasn't overpowering. It was fun to gather a nice forkful of the mashed and dip them into the mango salsa.

The sweet only got sweeter with our dessert selections. Kimberly and I ordered the banana rum bread pudding and Michelle got the vanilla crunch profiteroles. Oh my, was I happy! The bread was clearly a fresh banana loaf which melted in your mouth. The coolest part though was the topping of sour cream ice cream--a nice complement and I've never had anything like it. I highly recommend it! After all that eating, I didn't have it in me to try Michelle's dessert but she assured me that it was as delectable as it looked--and based on our whole experience here, I 100% believed her!

Service and Cost:

No complaints here. Our waiter was again, a little strange but did his job well. Our food came out quickly and the check situation was easy to handle.

Mesa stayed true to the restaurant week concept--$35 prix fix, no bull&*^%! And even though their menu didn't have the choices Molyvos had, the selections were smart and very representative of their regular dinner menu. Yay Mesa!

Molyvos - A Mediterranean Hideway in Midtown

Molyvos - 871 7th Avenue (at 55th Street), New York, NY 10019

212.582.7500

N/R/W/Q Train to 57th Street

www.molyvos.com

I heard good things about Molyvos from friends and from various user reviews. And although it's located in overwhelming Midtown, there's nothing mind-boggling about this warm and cozy spot.

Atmosphere:

As I mentioned, you feel completely removed from busy Midtown Manhattan as soon as you step into Molyvos. The lighting is soft and makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. It's also quite surprising just how large this place is--it extends back to what feels like a full street block.

The walls are colorful, cheery and decked with Mediterranean artifacts--beautiful clay pots, dishes and vases, oil lamps and pictures of Greece. It's all very charming and what I like about it is that it doesn't try to be too modern--like many other restaurants in Manhattan.

Food:

My friends and I chose our meals off the restaurant week menu--of course. It was great because there were lots of choices--the menu was nice and long. It bothers me when a place participates in restaurant week and then offers what feels like nothing.

We all got different appetizers and it was fun to try each other's food. The best one by far was Alexis'--the stuffed grape leaves. First off, it looked gorgeous and second, it tasted amazing. The arborio rice, tomato and garlic sauce really stood out--and the delicious pine nuts helped give it a nice crunch. Maya's giant baked white beans were also tasty and very different from the Greek appetizers I'm used to in Astoria. I especially liked the buttery breadcrumbs found on top! For my appetizer, I ordered the lentil soup with root veggies and pickled onions. The onions were by far my favorite part of this dish--they were incredibly sweet and refreshingly crunchy. And as I contentedly ate my soup, I looked forward to my next spoonful-- hoping for a pickled onion surprise.

My friends and I all ordered the same entree--grilled tile fish (it's a white, sweet fish), on a bed of braised veggies. The fish was wonderfully light and flaky. It also had a great crust, which was both crispy and a little spicy--and the bed of greens made for a nice and light side dish. We were happy with our order and while my friends were full, I finished my meal to the last bite--not because I felt I had to, but because I loved it so much.

We also got dessert as part of our prix-fix--and again, we ordered different options so we could try a variety. I liked all of them in different ways. Maya stuck to a traditional Greek dessert--yogurt with fruit and nuts. This was a great choice and the yogurt was silky, really enhanced by the fruit and nut topping. Alexis ordered semolina custard wrapped in phyllo dough, which was unbelievable. The custard was airy and the crispy phyllo texture provided a nice contrast. My choice of sweet sin was an almond vanilla cake with orange flavoring and cinnamonon cream. While I liked it, it seemed a little oily and I couldn't finish it. If I had to do it over again, I woud've gotten the Greek yogurt.

Service and Cost:

While our waiter was a little strange--he had a weird disposition--he was very efficient and knowledgeable. Our food came out quickly and everything that was supposed to be, was nice and hot. He also handled our complicated three-way check situation with grace. I know that my friends thought he was odd but I've seen a looot worse.

Cost-wise, you know what we're talking about--$35 prix-fix dinner. Something to be said though is that their restaurant week menu had select items where you had to pay extra. My friends and I didn't like this at all. Our mentality is "Why are you offering us a special and then adding $$$ on to it? What is the point of the prix-fix then!" Blah. Things are never what they seem.