Yogurt Gelato
by Celia Cheng
July 28th, 2008
GROM
233 Bleecker St
@ Carmine St
212-206-1738
$$
Grom, the Turin-based Italian gelato shop, made waves when it opened its first store abroad, on the Upper West Side. At $5.15 for a single scoop, it’s rather pricey, but fans swear that this is the best gelato ever. They’re doing so well that they opened a second store in Greenwich Village, taking over the old Joe’s Pizza spot on the corner of Carmine and Bleecker. And I must confess, I’ll go out of my way just to get my yogurt gelato on a cone. Made from all natural ingredients sourced worldwide for the highest quality, Grom’s gelato and sorbet are delightful to experience. You might ask why yogurt gelato when there’s a dearth of fro-yo shops that keep popping up around the City. But it’s the texture of the gelato that makes it so special. This is no frozen yogurt.
Posted in Dessert , Ice Cream , Italian , West Village
Three Salad Combination
by Celia Cheng
June 18th, 2008
BONSIGNOUR
35 Jane St
@ 8th Ave
212-229-9700
$$
During the summer I gravitate towards salads and the three-salad combo at Bonsignour is a delightful option for lunch or snack. The choice of three homemade salads over a bed of mixed greens is now $11.95. I remember a time when it was $6.95, but that dates me. Even with inflation, it’s totally worth it. Classic salads like the curried chicken, beets vinaigrette, potato, or couscous with feta, in addition to daily specials, are the reason I keep going back. Besides the variety, they’re healthy and delicious. It’s hard to categorize Bonsignour, as it’s more than a deli but not quite a restaurant. In any event, it’s a West Village institution.
Posted in American , Salad , West Village
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New England Clam Chowder
by Celia Cheng
June 18th, 2008
PEARL OYSTER BAR
18 Cornelia St
(W 4th & Bleecker St)
212-691-8211
$$
Posted in American , Seafood , Soup , West Village
Soft Shell Crab Summer Roll
by Celia Cheng
May 27th, 2008
CAFÉ ASEAN
117 W 10th St
(6th & Greenwich Ave)
212-633-0348
$
The soft shell crab summer roll is a special on Café Asean’s menu that shouldn’t be missed. A great variation on the traditional Vietnamese summer roll, the deep-fried soft shell crab is an amazing substitute for shrimp. Arugula adds a refreshing and pungent kick while the mango strikes a sweet contrast. The cucumber is crisp and the avocado — well, that just makes everything taste good. All these goodies wrapped in rice paper make a light and cool summer dish. And don’t forget the kaffir lime and jalapeño chili sauce that’s made in house. It’s spicy but a must-add!
Posted in American , Seafood , Vietnamese , West Village
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Speculoos Cookies
by Celia Cheng
September 19th, 2007
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN
100 Grand St
(Mercer & Greene St)
212-625-9009
more locations
$$
The Belgian bakery-café chain Le Pain Quotidien seems to be continuously opening new stores around the globe, with thirteen locations in New York City alone. In my book, LPQ’s speculoos cookies — Belgian spice cookies — are reason enough for world domination. I love these smooth, flat cookies with sliced almonds because the subtle hint of cinnamon and fresh lemon linger on your palate long after the cookies are gone. The texture of the cookie is hard but refined as it’s made with pastry flour. Each bite starts with a light, crisp crunch, and ends with your hand reaching for another.
Posted in Belgian , Chelsea , Cookies , Midtown West , SoHo , Sweets , UES , Union Square , UWS , West Village
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