Anassa Taverna

For years a boring brasserie had been on the corner of 60th and 3rd that only received my business if I needed a quick bite before seeing a movie next door.  Thankfully, it has been replaced by Anassa Taverna, a Greek restaurant that doesn't take any arm twisting for a pre-movie meal.  Raychel and I rushed through our meal because we didn't want to miss any of "The Bling Ring" (love Sophia Coppola).

We may have eaten quickly, but not so fast that I missed how good the food was.  We split the anassa chips, fried zucchini and eggplant slices served with super thick tzaziki.  This dish is dependent on good tzaziki (done) and a kitchen that knows not to over-batter the chips (done).  Raych and I both got appetizers as our main course and after splitting the chips and munching on the complimentary bread and hummus it was the perfect size.  Raychel ordered the crab cake that had so little filler it fell apart at just a little pressure by her fork.  For some reason I was super in the mood for a salad, which is a good thing because I would have overlooked the romaine salad otherwise.  It doesn't sound like much, but this salad of shredded romaine with scallions, dill, olive oil, lemon, and shredded feta was great.  It was like the Greek version of a caesar and much larger than I expected.

Congrats, Anassa, you are a major step up from your predecessor.

Book Review: The Dinner

The tension is high when two brothers and their wives meet for dinner at a trendy, overpriced restaurant.  One is a snob who's focused only on showing off his wine skills while the other is negative, overly analytical, and finds something to criticize in even the smallest of gestures.  What seems to be a parody of sibling rivalry turns dark when the main course arrives.

As the meal progresses, the narrating brother, Paul, becomes more than mega critical.  He is erratic, unreliable, and his negativity is actually a deep anger that could combust at any moment.  Could this behavior have contributed to the horrifying behavior this quartet has met to discuss?

Why do they go through several courses before even discussing the violent act between their sons that brought them together?  What's more, why are they having this sit-down in such a public place at all?  Does anyone in this book have a moral compass?!  Great social commentary by Herman Koch.

4 out of 5 stars.

Pasta with Brie

I had seen some sort of pasta made with brie on Pinterest but never got around to trying it.  I'll put cheese in anything, especially pasta, but brie seemed like the one cheese that wouldn't work.  I kept putting it off until I found myself leaving work late and needing something I could whip up quickly.  The recipes I saw claimed this didn't need any cream or sauce so that meant one less ingredient and at least two fewer steps.  I figured even if it was bad, it would do the bare minimum of getting me fed, which was pretty much all I cared about at that point.

I was right on one part: it was so easy to prepare.  I was wrong when I thought it wouldn't taste that good without a sauce.  The brie becomes the sauce.  While the pasta boiled away (I recommend using bowties or some short pasta), I sauteed cremini mushrooms and zucchini with thyme.  Everything finished cooking at about the same time so I threw it in a bowl and then added brie that I had sliced into small squares in the hopes that it would start melting.  It did.  It melted into cheesy velvet.

3 on Thursday

Happy 4th of July, bloggies! Fingers crossed that the weather holds up so I can spend the day by the pool. If not, I'm still going to enjoy the time off work!

Bite is the best Canadian import since...it's the best Canadian import. The beauty company just set up a small shop in Manhattan where you can design your own lipstick. The whole process takes about ten minutes and costs $30. I consider that a steal when I realize my Chanel lipstick cost nearly that much and I didn't get to blend colors, add fragrance or choose glossiness. I had the specialist help me design a color that was deep but still summer appropriate with a berry base. It took her about two seconds to nail it. 

Johnny Harris is an old Savannah restaurant with plenty of history. My grandparents went there as children just like I did. That might sound sentimental but if you had their barbecue sauce you'd know there's reason behind this dreamy mentality. I was so happy to come home and find that my Mom had shipped me three bottles since you can't buy it up here.  

My first trip to Baton Rouge was a major success thanks to Patricia's eye for a good party. She always knew how to throw down in college and her wedding was the most extreme of any party she's ever thrown. Louisiana has a wedding style all their own, right down to the music. Everyone should experience at least one wedding on the bayou in their lifetime.  

Cones

Our seafood supper was just light enough for us to reserve room for either another drink or dessert.  Usually I go for the drink but it was a hot day and ice cream just sounded so perfect.  We happened to be right by Karina's favorite ice cream parlor, Cones, so we walked right in.  Karina was dead set on getting the corn.  I don't usually like to order the same thing as anyone else so I was going to get one of the many other available flavors.  Just to satisfy my curiosity, however, I asked for a taste test of the corn before moving on to my own flavor.  Nope, that was it.  No moving on.  I was getting the corn.  They sprinkle it with cinnamon and it makes all the difference.  The tiny bits of corn give it just a bit of texture and it's just...delicious.  I mean, it kinda changed my life.

Fish

Designing custom lipsticks can work up an appetite so after creating some custom shades, Karina and I headed to Fish for some supper.  I've walked by this West Village seafood spot plenty of times but never walked inside.  Why not?  Because seafood, particularly shellfish, is expensive when you're not in a place like Savannah.  All I had to do, however, was walk inside and see their daily special written on the board.  It would have been enough to hook me (that's a fishing reference, fyi).  For $8, you get 6 oysters or 6 clams and a glass of house wine or PBR.  A glass of wine alone would cost $8, as would 6 oysters.  This is a STEAL in the seafood world. 

We each started with the special and then shared an entrée for a perfectly sized meal.  We went with the fish and chips.  The cod was nice and flaky, piping hot, and perfectly battered.  And they were kind enough to split it for us before even bringing it to the table - points for service.

Book Review: The Last Girlfriend on Earth

Simon Rich's collection of short stories is a little off the wall.  Sure, it's about love (meeting, getting, and subsequently losing the girl), but these love stories are nontraditional, to say the least.  Take, for instance, a man who is lucky enough to get set up by his friends...with an actual troll.  Or when Sherlock Holmes just can't deduce that his girlfriend is a triflin ho.  Or the opening story that follows an entire relationship from the perspective of a condom.

The entire collection will take you a day to read, and I'll be surprised if most of them don't elicit at least a giggle.  If you're the kind of person who likes SNL digital shorts, you'll probably enjoy this.

3 out of 5 stars.