Wagamama

Years ago during my first trip to Manchester England, I came across Wagamama at the PrintWorks.  I was drawn to menu for the resemblance to another restaurant in NYC called Republic.  (Love the red star in their logo.)  Wagamama's menu was full of delicious sounding Asian dishes ranging from big bowls of ramen to pan fried udon noodles to sauteed rice dishes.  For reasons beyond me now we did not eat at Wagamama while in England but I never forgot about it.  We recently went to Boston and came across a Wagamama in the Prudential Center and decided to try it out for lunch.  The seating is communal but we were there early so we had our own benches along the windows which provided interesting people watching views in the Prudential Center .  In true Mr.K & H0B0wife fashion we ordered more food than necessary (hey at least it was cheap this time) so we ended up ordering 2 appetizers, 2 entree dishes and a side of Japanese pickles (loved pickled daikon).  The food all lived up to the 'hype' (my own brain imagining how good it was going to be) so it is My Weekly Fav Restaurant.  The food was all served quickly but that is the restaurants style so it was not an issue.  Each dish was artfully plated (which is always a bonus but especially when the dishes are under $14).

Appetizers:

chili calamari - Crispy squid seasoned with sea salt and shichimi. served with a sweet chili, garlic and cilantro sauce 

chicken lettuce wraps - Grilled chicken with a rich and tangy sauce, served with crisp lettuce to wrap

Entrees:

chili ramen - Spicy broth and ramen noodles topped with grilled steak or chicken breast, fresh chilies, red onion, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallion and a wedge of lime

ginger chicken udon - Teppan-fried udon noodles with chicken marinated in ginger, garlic and lemongrass. served with snow peas, red onion, bean sprouts, chili, egg and scallion. garnished with pickled red ginger and cilantro

If you happen to live in or near Boston (hi to all of my friends in Salem, MA) or are planning a trip to Boston consider Wagamama for a quick, cheap and tasty meal!

Cucharamama

A few years ago I tried Peruvian corn for the first time at Sushi Samba in NYC and I loved the texture and playfulness of the oversized corn kernels.  Ever since whenever I find a restaurant that features Peruvian corn on their menu I am instantly intrigued.  Hoboken has several South American -esque restaurants and today we went to Cucharamama for an authentic South American dinner... my Weekly Fav Restaurant. 

The restaurant cooks a lot of their specialties in a wood burning oven which offers a very appealing crispness to the plates.  We shared two apps and each ordered an entree.  All of dishes were delicious and unique (perfect for a Wednesday night).  Both the shrimp skewer appetizer and the chicken entree are served with peruvian corn!

Jalea de Calamares con Ají de Rocoto - Crunchy Peruvian-Style Calamari, Rocoto and Tamarillo Sauce
Anticucho de Camarones con Sarza - Peruvian-Style Skewered Marinated Shrimp, Arequipa’s Corn and Queso Blanco Relish

Pechuga de Pollo Asado al Horno de Leña en Salsa de Calabaza y Mango con Boronía - Boneless Chicken Breast in Peruvian Adobo Roasted in our Wood-Burning Oven, Pumpkin and Mango Sauce, Ripe Plantain and Eggplant Puree
Churrasco (entraña) con Chimichurri - Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak, Chimichurri Sauce, Potatoes with Tomatoes and Cheese Sauce

 

South American paintings and sculptures are featured throughout the restaurant which makes the entire experience feel authentic.  There is also a long bar in the front area with large vases featuring sticks, flowers and elephant leaves (love elephant leaves).  For those who attended my wedding or seen any pics you know that I love stick / flower centerpieces so I love this type of decor.  The front entrance sets the mood for an enticing dinner with the rustic column and distressed blue paint surrounding the door.

Zylo

A few years ago a W Hotel opened in Hoboken making it our first and only hotel (not to shabby)!  The hotel has a wonderful outdoor patio bar which is open from early spring to late fall (thanks to several large heat lamps).  During the last Hudson Restaurant week we decided to finally try the Hotels main restaurant Zylo on a Sunday evening.  When we arrived we were surprised to find out that they offer a weekly Sunday Supper special (4 courses served family style for $25 per person).  For the past week we have been trying to be healthy and not spend a lot of money eating out (healthy food is easy for us.. not spending a lot of money on eating out not so much).  We had plans to meet another couple at Zylo tonight but when they could not make it we decided to still go out tonight.  Our dinner was just as good as we remembered it from last time so Zylo is this my Weekly Fav Restaurant. 

Our four courses:

CAESAR SALAD - garlic croutons, shaved parmesan cheese

SPAGHETTI POMODORO - heirloom pomodoro, parmigiano reggiano, basil

PESCADO MISTO - saffron lobster broth, bronzino, clams, shrimp, mussels, fried calamari, crostini

BOMBOLINI - brioche donuts, trio of passion fruit, chocolate, coconut rum sauces

I am now very tempted to try to replicate the Caesar salad and the spaghetti at home (I will leave the seafood dish to Zylo as it was divine but there is no chance of making that one at home).  We ordered the salad with the dressing on the side which allowed us to really understand the salad components.. romaine lettuce with plenty of salt, pepper and shaved Parmesan cheese.  The spaghetti was cooked very al dente with a flavorful but simple sauce.  As for the dessert we are being healthy so we only ate a few of the donuts but I loved the sauces so I ate them with a fork!  Oh and if you don't know about Hoboken it is directly across from Manhattan and the W Hotel and Zylo restaurant have a direct view!

W Boston Hotel

Mr.K and I love to get away for mini-vacations so we recently took a trip to Boston.  We booked our hotel on a Thursday and drove up on Saturday for one night at the W Boston Hotel.  The hotel is centrally located near the Boston Common, Newbury Street and Beacon Hill.  We have not stayed at a lot of W Hotels but wanted something trendy and fun for the weekend and that is exactly what we got.   The room was small but was full of clean lines and subtle colors!  There were plenty of unique aspects of the room (including a screen print wall separating the bathroom and the bedroom). 

We had lunch at the hotels signature restaurant Market a Jean Georges restaurant.  This was our second Jean Georges restaurant (Mr.K took me to Nougatine in NYC for my birthday last year).  Market is my Weekly Fav Restaurant!

I ordered the B.A.L.T on Multi Grain Bread (Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce and Tomato) and a Fresh Ginger Ale Soda.  Mr.K ordered the MARKET Cheeseburger... both were served with french fries.  Mr.K said his burger was one of the best burgers ever had (this is a strong statement considering the number of burgers Mr.K has tried in his life).  We were stuffed but took a look at the dessert menu .. they had a warm chocolate cake (one of my favorite desserts).  I had to try it (when we went to Nougatine we did not order dessert as Mr.K had ordered a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cake for my birthday cake).  It was delicious.. the chocolate center oozed out and was simply one of the best warm chocolate cakes I have ever had.

We had a few issues during our stay at the hotel so we just found out that we are going to get a free night at the hotel in a WOW suite!  

Asia de Cuba at Morgans Hotel

Mr.K and I met with our tax accountant this past week and we had planned to just get a low key dinner in NYC afterwards but while waiting for the accountant we decided that a low key dinner was not in our future.  We were playing with our iPhones and both came across the prix fixe menu at Asia de Cuba.. after realizing we were looking at the same menu we had to book it (love Opentable).  A few hours later we were at Asia de Cuba (this week's fav restaurant) enjoying a wonderful meal. Neither of us thought to take any pics (I think we were in shock from our meeting with the tax accountant) so I borrowed a few images from the Asia de Cuba website.  

http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/images/phocagallery/adc_ny_01.jpg

The restaurant serves family style and recommends two appetizers, one entree and a side dish. 

We both love miso black cod so we quickly veered away from the prix fixe menu!  Our choices:

• CALAMARI SALAD ‘ASIA DE CUBA' - CRISPY CALAMARI WITH CHAYOTE, HEARTS OF PALM, BANANA, CASHEWS, CHICORY, AND RADICCHIO, SESAME ORANGE DRESSING (Minus the bananas as I really dont like them)
• LOBSTER SHIITAKE POTSTICKER - WATERCRESS CHERRY TOMATO SALAD, VANILLA RHUM AND LOBSTER CORAL SAUCES
• MISO CURED ALASKAN BLACK COD - CUBAN BLACK BEAN AND EDAMAME SALAD, TEMPURA SHISITO PEPPERS
• THAI COCONUT STICKY RICE

Everything we ordered was delicious .. I am a huge fan of coconut sticky rice steamed in banana leaf and this side dish was amazing.  We actually brought the leftover sticky rice home and ate it the following night along with grilled chicken salad!

 Calamari Salad

http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/images/phocagallery/gallery_adc_food04.jpg

Miso Black Cod

http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/images/phocagallery/gallery_adc_food05.jpg

Right before we left I realized I forgot to take any photos so here are a few.



Mr.K and I have also been to the Asia de Cuba at the Mondrian Hotel in South Beach and the food was just as amazing.  So if you get a chance to visit NYC or South Beach check out this restaurant.. if not for dinner at least a drink at the bar. 

Chinese Surf & Turf

This week's Weekly Fav Restaurant is Mr. Chow Tribeca.  Mr.K proposed 3 years ago and I love to celebrate anniversaries so we ventured to Mr. Chow Tribeca to celebrate the past 3 years.

We have been to Mr. Chow Tribeca three times and would definitely go again.  The restaurant is on the corner of Hudson Street and N. Moore Street which is near plenty of interesting bars and restaurants.  The space is modern, open and has plenty of clean lines. 

The food is served family style which is perfect for us as we love to share our food.  We began with Mr. Chow Noodles and Salt and Pepper Calamari followed by Ma Mignon (thinly sliced very tender beef filet) and lobster cooked in a delicious sauce (a perfect Chinese Surf & Turf dinner).  The entrees were served with lightly fried rice and sauteed beans.  Mr.K drank a glass of Veuve Cliquot Champage and a few TsingTao beers.  We skipped dessert as we could not eat another morsel.

If you find yourself in Tribeca and have a need for upscale modern Chinese food check out Mr. Chow Tribeca.  If you fancy a drink (or two) after dinner head over to Bubble Lounge for a glass of bubbly.

My Weekly Fav Restaurant

Mr.K and I love to go out for dinner... we go out way more than we should but we both work long hours and the idea of cooking every night is daunting.  When we first started dating we would have every meal out... (it made sense as we never wanted to have food at our own houses because who know where we would be that week).  Once we moved in together we started to get better and cook at home.  However, we still love a nice meal out once in a while (ok ok more than once in a while).  So starting this week I will post once a week about my favorite restaurant from the previous week. 

We recently visited Newport, RI for a short get-away and had dinner at Fluke Wine Bar and Kitchen.  This was our third time to eat at Fluke as we try to get to Newport once every year or two.  Fluke has a great setting.. it is upstairs in a small building and it over looks an area near the water.  They offered a small bread basket served with a garlic oil spread.  I am not a fan of garlic but the bread was quite nice.  We ordered the Chicken Empanada small plate which was accompanied by a tomatillo sauce.  The empanada crust was nice and flaky and the sauce was delicious.. it was really good on the bread!  We then ordered two large plates.. after a lot of contemplating I went with the Wild Mushroom Risotto and Mr.K went with a Hangar Steak with a Red Wine Mustard Sauce, Crispy Fingerling Potatoes, Romesco sauce.  I am always hesitant to order Risotto in restaurants as it tends to be not cooked properly (too hard, to mushy, to dry, to wet) but I had ordered risotto years ago at Fluke and it was great so I went with it.  I definitely made the right decision.. it was cooked wonderfully and had an excellent assortment of mushrooms.  Mr.K also really enjoyed the steak.  We always share our food at restaurants and both agreed that each others choices were very nice.  Mr.K drank beer and I chose a Ginger Lemon Spritzer drink (once I added sugar it was really nice).  I always want to look at the dessert menu even though I rarely order dessert.  They had cookies and biscottis so we asked for them to go.  This was the only course I was not satisfied with.. there were no cookies in my box. Just sunflower seed brittle (which was nice but not a cookie) and a few very dry flavorless biscottis.  Overall I would definitely recommend Fluke if you find yourself in Newport (just skip the dessert).

We did not have our camera with us at dinner so here is a pic taken from there restaurant website.


Main Dining Room at Fluke.. we had the table closest to the camera.