Appetite for Ink

Delicious Deals

2010-05-26T13:50:00.009-04:00

found while running through the Eastside

Let me preface this post by confessing; I am not a runner. I am more of a seasonal walker who, at times, is inspired to pepper those walks with short outbursts of girlish, arm-flailing jogging. Nevertheless, on my last said outing, I windedly passed by two delicious deals I couldn't resist sharing.

While exiting the East River at 34th street, I passed by the insanely tasty El Parodor and was shocked to find that a three-course prixe fix lunch at the Mexico City inspired "roadhouse" would only set me back a flat $20. For those more interested in a liquid lunch, the bar is also offering $5 margaritas and half-priced appetizers from 3-6pm. With gourmet delights like a 24-ingredient mole chicken, mussles with cornbread, and warm cinnamon salsa; El Parodor gives a great reason to knock off the day a few hours early.

Moving downtown I stopped to steal a whiff of the sweet aromatic Indian-Americana fusion that is Tabla. After staring longingly, and likely creepily at the patron's plates on the cozy outdoor patio that overlooks Madison Square Park, I spotted the second deal of the day; the Tabla to-go lunch cart. This is probably the most flavorful and thoughtful street cart food one will find in the city. Offerings include tandori roasted chicken with mint chutney, and black peppered roasted lamb with pickled peppers. The best part -- all menu items are under $10!

Bon Appetit!

Celebrating Mistakes: Everything I know about launching an agency I learned in my first six weeks in business

2010-05-01T16:02:00.016-04:00

This week, we celebrated the arrival of our agency’s first schwag in the mail by taking a bite of humble pie and reminiscing on our favorite business blunders so far. Our top 5 Tim Gunn-inspired “make it work” mistakes are below.

1. We really heart Chuck Scarborough. Only an insider or incredibly observant viewer might have noticed that our client Chef Ryan Brown’s first TV interview was as amusing as his first print quote (more on that below). The anchor, David Ushery, was so engrossed in his guest, he had no idea the close-up of the gift certificate was actually made out (per our direction) to Chuck Scarborough, who had called in sick that evening.

2. "Limited edition business cards? You should really try VistaPrint.” At our first official media networking event as Cuttlefish Ink, we arrived without the specially designed and cut business cards we had proudly created. The last minute solution involved tearing out sample business cards from a sheet we had in our bag while standing at the bar. One of the “limited edition” cards made it to our new friend Zohar Adner, who after his teasing was done, ended up referring us to his amazing friend Kara of The Ted and Amy Supper Club.

3. At Cuttlefish Ink, English is optional. Because we’d decided Cuttlefish Ink would only partner with businesses we could personally stand behind, one of the first “dream clients” we’d identified was Itzocan, our favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. To our surprise after 3 years eating there, in the course of our first business meeting we found out the owner did not speak English (nor did we Spanish). Not to be deterred we agreed to conduct all correspondence and recipe exchanges in-person, facilitated by his amazing server Vicki, who translates. While we did have to turn down our first request for a Cinco de Mayo themed in-studio on "WNYW's Good Day Street Talk," the opportunity to get the word out about this gem is well worth the extra effort.

4. Reporters love chefs in the dark. During an interview for a feature about Earth day with Crain’s Business New York, Chef Ryan Brown casually mentioned he’d rather be writing a recipe than trying to figure out how the recently passed healthcare reform affects him. The reporter loved his disinterest so much, she quotes him in her story on the topic, inadvertently making his first ink with our agency “I’m completely in the dark.” The mention miraculously elicited a call from a BBC producer who requested a follow up interview.

5. That's how the cup crumbles. While she may be good at pitching and strategizing, Shira’s strengths have never been in her dexterity. When our new mugs with our logos arrived, she excitedly picked up the first box only to break two in her first 15 minutes around them. Only 70 left to go.

Cuttlefish Ink Mugs Have Arrived!

2010-04-29T15:24:00.004-04:00

The sweat and tears that go into starting a new PR agency has its moments -- and for us, one of them happend today when we saw our Cuttlefish Ink logo on our new agency mugs. We can't wait to thank our wonderful clients, Chef Ryan Brown of Choice Cooking Company, Chef Antonio Frontera, co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul Kids in the Kitchen," and Chef Fermin Bello of Itzocan Cafe for the opportunity to partner with such amazing businesses and people.
As we take our first sips, we're reflecting on some of our favorite moments in our first six weeks in business. Stay tuned for our top 5 to be posted tomorrow.

MediaBistro After Party: Pizza Bash, the New Pizza by the Slice in Union Square

2010-04-28T23:55:00.009-04:00

Yesterday at the MediaBistro women in media event at Underbar, we fell in love with the blueberry martini (thanks @jkeefe for the tip) and had a great time meeting new friends who accepted our hand-cut business cards. But all the sugar went straight to our hunger bones.

Just our luck - a new pizza by the slice opened in Union Square East - across the street from the W. We were a little skeptical when we walked in- not a customer in sight (The guys at Pizza Bash report that in the 3 months they've been open, "not everyone knows we're here yet"). The fact that our only choice for crust was whole wheat, only furthered the gut feeling.

However, we're pleased to report - if you like thin crust, this slice surpasses the "it's as good as whole wheat crust can be" bar.
Pizza Bash also features wholesome ingredients (we vegged out with broccoli &tomato). Plus, the slices are ginormous - even for the $3.50 price tag - & the loads of hot pepper, garlic salt and parmesan are thoughtfully scattered all along the community benches for easy access.

Is it just us or does Union Square totally have a health theme going? The farmer's market, Whole Foods, even Toastie's offers fast food with a nutritional kick.

Pizza Bash
42 Union Square East @ 17th Street

Go there if...You need a quick bite in Union Square.

Great for: Late night snack that offers the grease you need and a muted guilt if you go with the brown bread.

Not so great for: Anyone expecting gourmet. Pizza Bash is no Artichoke or Posto - this place is about convenience right in Union Square.

Giorgio's of Gramercy: Inventive Italian in a Warm Place

2010-04-26T00:32:00.005-04:00

Despite everything you read on this blog, we're actually creatures of habit, who when not given an assignment tend to draw back on the same favorite places- typically Virage, Itzocan and the occasional Murray's falafel.

Boy were we surprised when we made a bet on Georgio's of Gramercy.

The restaurant is so nestled into 22nd Street we almost walked by the door. The front bar had a somewhat divey feel on a Friday at 10, which surprised us after the person on the phone who assured us he had a table self-identified as a maître d'.

Our cozy table felt like a different restaurant, the service was fabulous & the menu was super inventive.

The enormous and juicy scallops on the chick pea & avocado salad we started with offered the perfect amount of refreshingness with what came next - the flavor-charged crab & charred tomato risotto & the monsterous beet ravioli with shrimp. How cool is that we could order half-orders of pasta and try so many things?

We were stuffed and reluctantly declined dessert - we would have gotten the frozen papaya souffle. This homemade chocolate marshmallow pictured above wasn't so lucky.

Thanks Giorgio's - we will definitely be back!

Giorgio's of Gramercy
27 East 21st St (between Park and Broadway)

Go there if...You're on a first date or are taking your your mom out to eat - this place is classy without being pretentious.

Great for...light meals - gourmet Italian you can order by the half-size...COOL! (Though the prix fix is a pretty good deal if you're bringing an appetite)

Not so great for...gluten intolerance (the good stuff involves pasta)

Floral Drinks in Dive Bars

2010-04-21T07:38:00.008-04:00

Edible floral cocktails may have been all the rage last summer but we think they're back. Yesterday after celebrating a fabulous birthday party for Luther Vandross thrown by the very fabulous Seveda Williams at BLVD, we headed over to Vig bar - where Chris the bartender made us this lovely drink.
We barely managed to finish it before running home to beat the expected doorman strike but can vouch that it's worthy of heading in to give it a try on a Tues or Thurs when we are told Chris, the inventor of this concoction, works the bar.

Our friend, Michelle Borboa over at SheKnows.com has collected some of this year's hot floral concoctions. Enjoy!

Deliciousnes in Rockafeller Center: Morell's

2010-04-15T23:50:00.013-04:00

Gearing up for our trip to the NBC headquarters for Chef Ryan Brown's segment on WNBC's New York Nonstop, we prepped at Dean & Delucca. But once it was time to celebrate we were ready for some booze and a few tasty treats. We were pleasantly surprised with Morell Wine Bar - which despite its location smack in Rockefeller, offered an amazing meal without the tourist prices you'd expect in this neighborhood.

So what does a chef eat over a vodka soda celebration drink? "Steak tartar," Ryan tells us - "I have to order it anytime I see it on the menu."
Once we got over the fear of the raw quail egg he expertly poured onto the raw steak and stirred into the horseradish, arugula Parmesan, & tuille blend, we had to admit it was fantastically delish. The pumpkin fritters while not as adventurous, were equally flavorful.

Congratulations to Choice Cooking Company for a fabulous first TV interview. Next up: Fox5's Good Day on May 6th.

Morell's Wine Bar
1 Rockefeller Plaza@ 49th St

Go there if...it's nice out side and you're craving a casual but foodie-worthy bite in Rockefeller Plaza

Great for... big meals or tapas - awesome menu.

Not so great for...drinking only - you won't be able to get seated outside.

One if By Land Plays With Our Mouths (amuse-bouche)

2010-04-14T20:46:00.086-04:00

Our friend Paul once told us he took a first date to One if By Land Two if By Sea in the West Village and ended up marrying her.

So when on the morning of our four-year anniversary, we were alerted to a fabulous discount on a 3-course at the most romantic restaurant in the city, we decided the time had come to try it for ourselves. We were not disappointed.

The nook of a restaurant on Barrow Street is a hidden gem behind a wooden door and despite the historic decor, the staff is super energetic and West Village-ish. We had an adorable corner window table looking out to a cozy nestle of a garden and were somehow transported away from a whirlwind week of non-stop activities to a magical place. Our favorite dish was the leak soup, compliments of the chef, which started us off with something rich and refreshing all at once. The "amuse-bouche" our waiter claimed, means "to play with your mouths."

Our meticulously designed appetizers could have easily passed for entrees and not thinking ahead, we gobbled most of them down. The soft shell crab was a little harder to eat than it sounds: We were instructed to eat all the outsides, which we tried, as well as the tomato chutney & cumin on the side. Our first taste of sqab proved to be one of those little birds that tastes like steak, but in a good way. By the time the real entrees - lobster ravioli and "pot au-feu" - arrived we were already stuffed & even with our appetites, inhaled only a fraction of our plates.

Nevertheless, it was the black forest composition and pineapple lavender that really did us in.

Even though we knew we wouldn't be back for a while - this is a once in a lifetime indulgence - we left wishing we'd purchased more of these deals to give as gifts for our friends' anniversaries.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea
17 Barrow Street (@7th Ave)

Go there if...if you are celebrating a truly special occasion - the decadence here is not for the casual diner. Make sure you have the time to take it all in without rushing.

Great for...anniversaries & entertaining grown-up hipster foodies who are too old for the East Village, too young for midtown.

Not so great for...solo dining or picking up (this is a romantic place, bring your own).

Last night of Passover: Unleavened Mexican at Yerba Buena

2010-04-06T14:38:00.007-04:00

By the seventh day of eating nothing leavened, we were maxed out on Matzoh recipes and were thrilled when our good friend Liz suggested checking out Yerba Buena's Passover menu - and boy were we pleased!

Because the matzoh ball soup we'd tried to pull off on our first seder night didn't work out so well, we started out with one of theirs -- balls were hard (the way they're supposed to be) and the broth tasted so fresh and homemade, it was like being at Safta's house. We couldn't help but finish the whole gigantic bowl - a bad idea as it was enough to fill up even our hungry bellies.

Nevertheless, we pushed out stomachs to ingest fish tacos - made with matzoh tortillas that were so delicious, we had our suspicions about just how safe-for-Passover they were. But we weren't asking any questions.

We couldn't help but try the guacamole with lox though we should have known it was more novelty than delicacy with a creepy tuna salad taste and consistency. However the cod ceviche was absolutely heavenly and the perfect end to the meal - refreshing, light and lovely.

By then our stiff margaritas had kicked in and our heads were spinning (we wish we had taken a photo of the ingenious giant ice cube keeping them cool without watering down the potency). Which could explain the trippy feeling in the very fabulous bathroom - it was like stepping out of the West Village and into Japan.

Pineapples & the mysterious "Alice in Wonderland-style" pineberry

2010-04-03T12:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday an oddly-shaped box was waiting at our door - it had the same colors of the packaging we receive every month when our fruit of the month from Harry & David - a lovely gift from Jackie when we moved into our new space - arrives. So far we've received packages of 4-6 pears, apples, oranges, grapefruit, peaches, always in a shoebox-shaped packaged. But this one was huge.
We tore it open and there it was -- a glorious PINEAPPLE!

Its flamboyant green leaves poked out of the delicate yet sturdy packaging. The last time we actually had a whole pineapple in the kitchen was ten, maybe 15 years ago. Its not that the enormous fruit (technically multiple fruit merged together, and perceived as one) isn't delicious - but we've always shyed away at the store. The pineapple afterall is a huge commitment -- too much fruit for a few people & requiring a serious knife to to cut open.

Photos of the pineberry solution after the jump.

The arrival became an excuse to swap out our planned glass of wine for a Jonnie Walker, soda and pineapple concoction. Whoa delish. And we have plenty left for the mahimahi we'll be cooking up tonight. Oh pineapple, we'd forgotten how very taste you are.

As we sipped our cocktails and caught up on the day's tweets, we were thrilled to learn that all the flavor with none of the inconvenience was on its way. Yup- fruit sex in the UK is producing white strawberry that taste like a pineapple! (via @ShutUpFoodies)

The Guardian cautions, this may be marketing hype and notes the "new fruit" originated in the 18th century - but it's news to us!

According to Slashfood, this spring we'll be able to buy the berry at a dollar an ounce. That means post-Passover we'll have no excuse not to invite friends over for pineapple pancakes with coconut flakes a-la-hot pineapple upside cake.

April Fool's prank ideas for foodies

2010-03-31T08:41:00.012-04:00

april fool's day dinner
Originally uploaded by wingedegg

Ever since Michelle reminded us that tomorrow is April Fool's when she posted her friend's "Deviled Eggs" made of pure white chocolate, the eight-year-olds inside of us have been trying to come up with our own Cuttlefish Ink office food pranks. Enjoy a few adult (and kid)-friendly ones we've come up with around the Web after the jump. What are your favorite April Fool's pranks?

Wormy Apple Using a small apple corer, cut a hole in the side of an apple and insert a gummy worm. This is a fun prank for kids who take their lunch to school - or bosses who send you out on errands. (Via Suite 101)

Nightmare Breakfast Put half a bowl of cereal and milk in the freezer the night before. In the morning, volunteer to prepare the breakfast for everybody and put more cereal and milk in the frozen bowl. Watch adults and children trying to eat it. (Via TheFoolsDay.com)

Kosher April Fool's It's a rare that April Fool's coincides with Passover - Fool someone into thinking they're cheating on Passover ~~with UDI'S Gluten-Free Breads. Terri Guss reports it tastes like "Normal" bread. (Via About.com).~~

UPDATE: We have been alerted that UDI's is actually still chametz. However, if you need to tempt someone, wouldn't it be easier with dessert anyway? Try this Haroset Cake with Zabaglione Sauce instead (via EatingWell.com).

Glass of Vinegar Bring your thirsty friend or family member a tall glass of vinegar with ice (hey it worked forhttp://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2009/04/01/culinary-april-fools-pranks-japes-and-larks/)

Eggs for Dessert Pour a half peach on some yogurt and serve it with eggs- or worse, serve meat loaf cupcakes with with cheesy mashed potato frosting - which we found a photo of on FlickR, above. Via iVillage

Partying at the Inner Cirlcle with descendants of Transfatsylvania

2010-03-28T13:04:00.028-04:00

upintheair
Originally uploaded by nycmayorsoffice

Last weekend, the healthiness of food in New York City was on stage so to speak as Mayor Mike Bloomberg was portrayed as a descendant of a line of vampires from "Transfatsylvania."

It was all happening at the Inner Circle Show - a tradition that began in 1923 of journalists roasting New York City mayors and other influencers via multi-act musical theatre satire. When our dear friend @francarpentier brought us to the dress rehearsal (and hooked up seats in the first two rows smack in the middle!), she described how in 2007, the show famously moved then Mayor Rudy Guliani to dress in drag.

This year, songs poked fun at Mayor B's ban on transfat and his more recent efforts aimed at reducing our salt intake. We were crying from laughter as an elegant Melissa Russo (co-anchor of WNBC's Saturday evening show) dressed in a white sequence ball gown and a salt shaker cap strapped on her head, alongside Andrew Siff (WNBC-TV reporter) as Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty, sang about wanting to eat what they want and argued that salt was necessary to keep the snow off the streets.
The song "Sodium" was to the tune of Elvis Costello's "Alison". Here's an excerpt from the chorus (1:06):

Sodium

He stole the flavor from our food

Sodium

And now we're screwed,

By this rich dude.

That's really rude.

He spoiled our food!

The Saturday night event was a black-tie dinner priced at $500 - $750 per person but the dress rehearsal we attended is actually free (though tickets are required) and attracts many of the movers and shakers who start lining up for a good seat three hours before the show. We were pleased to sit next to Laurie Griffith, food writer and contributor to Ten: All the Foods We Love among other projects, and to nosh on delicious desserts from Bonnie Tandy Leblang, who pens the nationally syndicated column, Supermarket Sampler and reviews culinary products for Bite of the Best following her stints with Parade, Better Homes & Gardens and ABC's "Good Morning America."

In all the excitement, we forgot to take any photos from the rehearsal, but are including one taken from Bloomberg's FlickR stream of the Saturday night show. Watch video here. Gothamist has a nice recap and describes the anticipation of the cast of Staten Island for fisting pumps with the Mayor.

The event, held at Midtown's New York Hilton, raises money for dozens of causes, such as the Coalition for the Homeless, the Museum of the City of New York and the American Heart Association.

Thank you, Fran, for another lovely time and the rare opportunity to see journalists turn the attention onto themselves. Our perspectives about the people with whom we collaborate on the issues and trends that affect our clients are forever evolved. And for the record- we love you Bloomberg!

Balaboosta - Israeli tapas in a warm place

2010-03-27T16:07:00.003-04:00

If Shira told her grandmothers in Israel she was preparing a home cooked meal for guests or making up a guest bedroom with clean sheets, she would say Shira was a "balaboosta" -meaning someone who was making my home cozy and welcoming. That's exactly the kind of atmosphere Einat Admony creates at her new restaurant in soho by the same name.

From the moment we spoke to a maître d' who called to confirm our reservation on Saturday, we felt welcome. Because the liquor license hadn't been taken care of he suggested we bring our own bottle of wine to enjoy.
We were greeted with a fabulous brushetta compliments of the chef and a friendly server who immediately brought us glasses, water and a giant smile, despite our being the last reservation of what was clearly a busy night.

The decor is simple, modern but warm. White bricks, somewhat open kitchen with window facing Brome. Cozy round booths and wooden tables created the atmosphere of what you'd expect to bfind in the home of a New York balaboosta - no tablecloths here.

Deciding to do sharable stuff rather than full-on entrees, we started with the fried olives with labne (pictured above)-- sounds weird but the warm crispy with the cool yogurt- and the elegant skewer sticks were a blast.

The only shock came in the bathroom, when we were attacked with the bright purple light of what felt like a tanning bed without the goggles.

Balaboosta
214 Mulberry St @ Spring

Go there if...your Israeli friend is visiting New York and you're a step above falafel.
Great for...light stuff
Not so great for...big groups - the biggest tables can comfortably sit 6.

Tina's Cuban Cuisine: Good for the wallet, the body and the soul

2010-03-25T12:14:00.014-04:00

While New York may be the most international city when it comes to the number of foreign-born people who share the space, when it comes to eating, the melting pot phenomenon has made authentic international cuisine sometimes hard to find. A little gem in an unlikely neighborhood - one block from the Empire State Building - with wholesome and fresh ingredients cooked up with incredible flavor and served in an impeccably clean establishment by warm staff is Tina's Cuban Cuisine on Madison between 33rd and 34th St. The portions are so enormous, you can share a $9 entree with a friend - or save half for the next day.

Once inside, the atmosphere is bare bones so we like to get our deliciousness to go. We opted for an enormous grilled chicken with black beans and yellow rice, masses of grilled tomatoes and onions on top, with the spicy green sauce Tina's is famous for. We always splurge the extra 50 cents to get two extra servings of the secret sauce. It's some kind of wonderful that tastes of avocado jalapeno and cilantro spiciness.
On our way out, we stopped at a deli to pick up a cucumber, tomato and lettuce we could throw in a bowl with some leftover feta in the fridge for a simple side salad.
Total cost for two meals: $15.02.

After spending beaucoup bucks wining and dining ourselves several days in a row, and in anticipation of spending more at Balaboosta this weekend, Tina's proved to be good for our wallets and delicious for our souls. Thank you Tina, whoever you are!!

Tina's Cuban Cuisine
179 Madison Ave @ 33rd Street

Go there if…you need a quick and hearty no-junk-food meal at an amazing price

Great for: Sudden hunger attacks (giant portions, no waiting here) delivery, authentic Cuban food fans

Not so great for: Atmosphere - this is a no nonsense place for getting in and getting out, vegetarians (only option is the $3 rice and bean plate which actually is very filling and a great deal)

Ethos on Third Ave: Satisfying the appetites of men with the diets of women

2010-03-24T08:39:00.014-04:00

For us, yesterday was one of those busy days that started at 6 a.m. & was so jam-packed with interviews and projects that when 6 p.m. hit, we had the appetites of men. But having indulged in the likes of burgers and two back-to-back brunches over the weekend, our bodies couldn’t afford a heavy meal.

With plenty of work left to accomplish for the evening we wanted to keep it close to our office and decided on Ethos in Murray Hill. We landed one of the cozy yet over-sized tables by the window, where there is plenty of room for lots of plates, as well as notepads. As we ordered, our authentically Greek waitress amused us when she argued that, “many women don’t like this wine” and disappeared to bring us a tasting.
Meanwhile, our big eyes wanted to order something from each section of the menu. Although the fish by the pound – so fresh you could walk over and pick your friend – sounded refreshing we landed on hummus to start, an enormously oversized Elliniki Salata (Greek salad) with large chunks of ingredients the way we like them and thalasina (shrimp, scallops, swordfish & veggies) on skewers. We also ordered the tsatziki on the side not realizing we were receiving a $6 plate of it.
As we gorged ourselves with wonderfulness and brainstormed ideas surrounding our Easter/Passover, Earth Day and Cinco de Mayo pitches, the restaurant filled up - even on a Tuesday. Go Ethos! But we were never made to feel rushed. In fact, a server brought us a complimentary dessert we decided was a Crème brûlée wrapped in phyllo dough (we failed to get the actual name of it).

Before rolling ourselves out the door, we stopped by the bathroom, which was the most psychedelic part of our day – an angled mirror makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another dimension. Thank you Ethos, for saving our days.

Ethos Greek Cuisine
495 Third Ave @ 33rd Street

Go there if…you want a nice sit-down Greek meal in Murray Hill

Great for: Fresh fish, big groups – Portions are generous enough to easily share and large tables accommodate plenty of plates

Not so great for: Faint-hearted animal lovers (be prepared to stare at the fish heads on your way to the bathroom)

Video Review of Hecho en Dumbo: Where the servers’ standard closing line is “Are you still hungry?”

2010-03-22T07:58:00.012-04:00

After hearing from @kludt that Hecho en Dumbo was a mob scene on Friday we decided to do brunch bright and early on Sunday morning. To our delight, the place was empty but for one two-top in the back.

The meat-packing-district-esque vibe in the new East Village location is very different from the DUMBO version that had the convertible outside area and live music at night. But some of that cozy coffee shop feel made its way into the city with adorable coffee mugs and plates, even if the décor feels a little contrived.

Check our our Video Review after the jump.

Our server was incredibly informed about the menu and made thoughtful suggestions plus our private pitcher of water was a nice touch.

We decided on three dishes to share, two of which we learned were unavailable as we were told we’d been handed the wrong menus. The alternatives we picked - Ensalada De Morada, De Rajas Con Crema and Alambre Con Queso - sounded almost as good.

Our first hint at a turning point came when we learned chips and salsa, in our minds a staple of any Mexican establishment, were unavailable (you must order the guacamole if you want chips). We would have overlooked the chips had the rest of our experience been different.

The red cabbage and carrot salad with pepitos that admittedly boasted a refreshing pop was the first to disappoint us in portion size – and lacked something to nibble on the side. We’d read online that portions were small but incorrectly figured the trade-off was spectacular flavor.

Our next dish arrived in the form of three lonely two-inch tortillas with (literally) a condiment-sized remekin filled with room-temperature pablano and chihuaha sauce on the side.

When our server repeated to us the same closing line we’d overheard him deliver to the two gentlemen who arrived before us, “Are you still hungry?” we lied, “No, we’re good” and asked for the check. Our anticipated brunch failed to deliver what we were craving the most – the warm essence of Mexican culture – both literally and figuratively.

After leaving $36 on the table (not including cocktails), we walked to our old favorite, Itzocan on East 9^th Street between 1^st and A. Our morning was saved by a newly expanded brunch menu – For half the price, we sat down to a warm meal exploding with the flavor and warmth we love about south-of-the-border cuisine wondering why we would ever stray from the best Mexican in the universe. You live, you learn.

Hecho en Dumbo

354 Bowery @ East 4th St

Go there if…you are looking for a beautiful and clean restroom (it’s clean, lovely and there are two guest chairs for friends)

Great for: Thirsty moments (all you can drink water on the table), suggesting a trendy, clean place in the East Village

Not so great for: Budget-conscious guests with an appetite; satisfying a craving for flavor

(Photo: Julie Mack, via NYMag)

Video Review: Ruby’s - Burgers so Delicious, Even a Vegetarian Couldn’t Resist a Bite

2010-03-21T16:06:00.018-04:00

Yesterday our solution to the conflict of gorgeous weather and a dire need for office furniture was resolved with a decision to walk what felt like the length of Manhattan to Seaport Village then hop onto the free water taxi to Ikea. Getting somewhat lost somewhere below Canal Street, the journey downtown turned into a two-hour walk in the sun. The serene boat ride was followed by the usual chaos of navigating the mega store, muscle-powered lugging of our findings back onto the water taxi, and finagling of a cab from Seaport with our belongings.

At 4 p.m. our stomachs alarmed us that the slice of pizza shared among three women was not cutting it. To quench our huge appetites, a friend suggested Ruby’s in Nolita – “supposedly the best burgers in New York” she said.

Check out our video review after the jump.

Our first impression of the ambience was very positive. The limited menu selection made picking our meals simple and the picnic-like communal seating on extra long benches started us off with a bonus effect of meeting someone cool. We shared our table with @stefanieh88, an intern at a soon-to-be-launched site called “InTheMo” (Get your minds out of the gutter, buddies – the Mo is actually short for “moment” and the site she explained will be a “Yelp with videos”). Hear Chrystal's take below. Full review after the jump.

Although a trip to the bathroom is not for the faint-at-heart (be prepared to step over an Alice in Wonderland type hole in the floor and inhale years of dust), the taste of the food makes it all worthwhile.

When our bubbly waitress arrived the two of us who faced an amazing three-panel painting of a cow sympathetically ordered the pumpkin and roasted vegetable salads. Both were refreshing, flavorful and humongous. In both salads, the pumpkin was cut in large chunks so it was hearty, like a vegetarian steak, but delicate and complex in flavor. Very pleased.

The third of us got the bronte burger with Swiss that was so succulent it felt like we’d been transported to a time when people didn’t care about fat content. The sandwich was minimalistic in toppings but the Ciabatta bread absorbed the burger’s juices so that the first bite was an old-fashioned, home cooking taste you wouldn’t find at a larger establishment.

We all moaned with delight at each of our entrees, tasting each other’s foods. To our amusement, our vegetarian friend even took a bite of the bronte. “I’ve tasted meat before, she explained, it always makes me sick. But this really is good.”

While waiting for the check, our bellies were too full for dessert. but we spotted Balaboosta across the street. (Update: @Grubstny posted pics & a menu). What a cool name for a restaurant - the word in Hebrew colloquially and roughly means “one who makes a cozy home” and the décor looked very inviting. Fortunately for us, it was closed so we could only peak inside in anticipation for the next fix - and leave with our bellies full of Ruby’s love to set up our Ikea treasures in the office.

Ruby’s Cafe

219 Mulberry @ Spring

Go there when…You’re hungry

Great for: Big appetite, solo dining, grease fixing with a kick

Not so great for: big groups (it’s a small place), clean freaks

I'm having a relationship with my pizza and leaving no carbs behind

2010-03-19T01:10:00.004-04:00

Having founded Cuttlefish Ink with the strong belief that if you can taste, you can live and love, we're pumped for the movie Eat Pray Love to come out - even if we do have to wait until August 13. Check out Julia Robert bringing to life the real-life experience of Elizabeth Gilbert who leaves her comfortable life and finds soul sustenance in her feasts here.

Celebrating St. Patty's with a Green Resolution

2010-03-17T23:58:00.008-04:00

Living and working in Manhattan is tremendous and relentless. With the excitement of the city that never sleeps are eight million of us crowded together in pollution and among rodents. Because the daily commute through midtown alone sometimes comes at the expense of our sanity, we city gals sustain ourselves with small luxuries. And in this economy, that often means the really small luxuries that make a real difference. So does opting for the extra .15 cents per pound for the organic bananas make the cut as an effective therapy for the daily grind?

A new book by Rodale Inc. CEO and Chairanm Maria Rodale argues YES. In the book, Rodale concludes that although organic food is often more expensive than conventional food, it pays in the form of reducing weight gain, hormone imbalance and even infertility.

Whether it's fact or fiction, we think any delicious and wholesome treat that might nourish our bodies and souls is woth a shot. While we aren’t giving up on deli salads or brunches at our favorite bistros, on this St. Patrick’s Day we’re making an oath to eat at least one organic green a week. Men’s Health has some great ideas that make it easy to do.

The Daily Grind: Can coffee help beat the work-day blues?

2010-03-16T17:27:00.001-04:00

Yes, says a recent survey published by The Boston Globe. The survey, which polled nearly 1000 professionals, found that free fresh coffee was among the top prized workplace perks. Access to a hot cup of joe in the office ranked right up there with flexible hours and casual attire days. In fact, nearly 40 percent of those asked would trade their end-of-year holiday bash for a daily cup. Keurig, who was responsible for the survey, chalks up the employee sentiment to the rising price of self-caffination -- costing Americans $440 per year for the workweek fix alone.

Here at Cuttlefish Ink, we believe wholeheartedly in the irresistible aroma of a freshly brewed roast. Nothing seems to jump start the creative process like a brainstorm with Mr. Coffee. What's percolating today? French roast with cardamom.

Bottom's up,
The Cuttlefish Team

photo thanks to the UK Telegraph

Dollars for diakon radish, dandilion and dates

2010-03-15T08:47:00.002-04:00

Ever since we've been reading about a study that paid moms to buy healthy food, we've been amusing ourselves by coming up with appropriate healthy snack alliterations to add to bucks for broccoli, cash for carrots. We want to hear yours in the comments!
The study found moms just spent the extra dough on sugary snacks. Which really makes us wonder -- did they ever try coupling the discounted dates with a nice easy recipe?

Hello delicious world!

2010-03-15T00:21:00.006-04:00

We may have lost an hour today, but we gained a new place to exchange ideas about food and media. Celebrate the first Spring-Forward of the decade with us with a sneak peak of our new website here (while we wait for Shai to move us to our permanent domain). While you're there, learn about how you can win stuff on Facebook and join the conversation on Twitter.