Restaurant Review: Casa La Femme

Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of attending my friend Jessica's 21st birthday dinner. In honor of her daughter's newfound interest in Arabic language and culture, Jessica's mom decided to forgo the usual "birthday" restaurants and surprise her daughter at an Egyptian restaurant called Casa La Femme. Located just a block away from Hudson River Park at Pier 46 in the West Village, this beautiful space was not only luxurious, but also had some of the best food that I have tasted in a very long time. 

From the moment I walked in, I was immediately entranced by the decor. There were many similarities between this restaurant and many of the ones I had visited in Morocco, including carved moldings, mosaic tiles, and colorful carpets. I smiled inside, excited for the possibility of a memorable culinary experience. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. 

View from the lounge

The birthday girl was running a little bit late by the time I arrived, so I decided to relax and chat with her family at the bar. At their recommendation (not to mention that of our waiter, Ciprian), I ordered "The Lemonada," a sort of lemonade mojito. Having just turned 21 myself, I was curious to see what this drink tasted like, especially since I'm not very fond of the taste of alcohol. But to my surprise, it was delicious! Made of fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice, muddled mint, a simple syrup, Russian vodka, and topped off with champagne, the Lemonada tasted far more like a sweet summer refreshment than an "adult beverage." 

The Lemonada

I was making a mental note to remember the ingredients when Jessica arrived! She seemed very excited to see everyone, and once all of us were accounted for, we made our way to the table. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us our options right away. We could either order individually or through the $55.00 prix fixe menu, however, the decision had to be unanimous. Considering that we were given the option of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, we decided to order from the prix fixe menu. 

The first thing that came out was a warm flatbread and dip platter that we all shared. The dip trio consisted of a fava bean puree (fuul medames), hummus, and baba ganoush. I was familiar with the latter two and hesitant to try the fava bean puree, but surprisingly, it was the overwhelming favorite for all of us. Light, yet robust, and topped with spicy harissa, it was the perfect accompaniment to the flatbread. 

Mazzas Trio (l-r: baba ganoush, hummus, fava bean puree)

From there, we had the option of ordering individual appetizers. Jessica had the crab kofta, which was a sweeter, less dense version of the traditional crabcake. The kofta, although small, was very good. We all tried to guess the ingredients and ended up supposing that the "secret ingredient" that gave this appetizer its surprising sweetness and soft texture was either shrimp or lobster. Perhaps the world will never know. I, on the other hand, had the Ekhatboot Mashway, which consisted of grilled octopus slices under cherry tomatoes and arugula lettuce. Light, zesty and bursting with flavor, the salad was the perfect starter. 

Crab Kofta

Ekhatboot Mashway (Squid salad)

After that was the main course. It took us a long time to decide what to order, so Jessica and I decided to share our dishes with each other. She ordered the tagine Alexandria, a special that day, and I ordered the grilled branzino. The tagine was a bit different than I expected. "Tagines" are usually stews or braises, named after the terra cotta device in which they are cooked. In Morocco, where they can be bought on the side of the road as well as in the local shops, tagines are traditionally volcano-shaped. The shallow bottom dish holds the food and the large conical lid has a small hole at or near the top to release steam. But to my surprise, the tagine that this dish arrived in was completely different! Instead, the bottom dish was a deep container, reminiscent of a regular pot (although I am sure that the lid was still triangular). 

Tagine Alexandria

While I was initially disappointed that the tagine was shaped in that fashion, I quickly changed my mind when I saw what was in it. Huge prawns, potatoes, octopus rings, carrots, and more were swimming in a cumin spiked tomato-based sauce. Although it came with a side of Roz bil Saydeya (rice sauteed with caramelized onions), what I really wished for was more flatbread from earlier to sop up the leftover sauce. Although I was pretty full and had my own dish to eat, I was glad that Jessica offered to share her meal with me.

My meal was much more simple. "A whole grilled Branzino," our waiter explained over the music and finger-cymbals of the belly dancer (who had just arrived), was like "a Mediterranean sea bass." Perfectly cooked, sweet and meaty, seasoned simply and garnished with rosemary, it was a light and satisfying main course.

Whole Branzino

All in all, we were pretty pleased with the meal. But it wasn't over yet! The waiters brought out tiny rugelach-shaped pieces of baklava, which were delicately flavored and drizzled with honey, for the table, while the birthday girl had her own special dessert. I don't remember the name, but I could still see and taste it in my mind's eye: a singular round cake, crumbly and moist, with shredded coconut inside and scented with orange or rosewater and honey, this cake was absolutely worth eating slowly and savoring. 

The birthday girl and her birthday "cake."

Finally, the end of the meal had arrived. Everyone stood up, all smiles, glad that Mrs. Culler had chosen such a different location to host her daughter's birthday party. It was exotic and refreshing to have such an unexpected culinary adventure, and I know that every single person was content with the wonderful evening. I know that I was, and I will definitely return to Casa La Femme in the near future. 

Jessica and the belly dancer at Casa La Femme

Happy Summer Everyone (At least it seems like it)!

After a brutal winter and a short, yet still allergy inducing spring, it looks like summer is finally on its way. While summer may conjure up such images as swimming pools and beaches, baseball games, or steaming hot subway stations, I tend to anticipate summer more from a foodie/New York native's perspective. It is in this glorious season when the Coquito men (and women) and the Piragueros start selling their delicious icy treats, white vans and fruit stands start cropping up on the side of the roads, and finally (and perhaps most deliciously) summer produce starts its season.

(Delicious frozen piraguas. If you've never had one, you're missing out. Photo credit: Jordan Lee Rivera)

While summer produce may not seem as exciting as the aforementioned frozen delights, I have to admit that it is a topic that I am always enthusiastic about. Now I must confess: I did not inherit the family green thumb and I would much rather cook and eat vegetables than grow them. But nothing makes me more appreciative of nature and the beauty of creation than taking a bite out of a surprisingly sweet, sun ripened tomato picked right off the vine (In case I haven't said it, thanks Mom, for gardening).

The same is true for summer strawberries. I often tell whoever is in earshot that I would willingly and gladly fast from strawberries for the rest of the year, if only to experience their juicy goodness the way nature intended them to be. I've been disappointed with watery, tasteless strawberries far too many times from the fall through the spring to pretend that they do the job, anyway.

See! Look how beautiful they are. Amazing.

So tell me, what are some of your favorite summer foods (and why)?

Restaurant Review: Toast

Now that I've had my first DSLR for a few months, I've had the opportunity to shoot new recipes, ingredients, and food products. While I am stubbornly trying to use manual settings only, I also have to admit that the photo quality isn't that good. That said, I'm still learning, and if I waited until my photos were perfect before drafting a post, I wouldn't be able to share about one of the best meals I've had in months. Without further ado, here is my review of Toast.

(photo credit: user Kent P. via Yelp)

I actually went to Toast for the first time on the same day that I got my camera. Since I go to school in Harlem and my friend (the Seller) lives in the area, he suggested meeting up after work. It was the end of a long day and we were both famished, so he suggested meeting at a restaurant in the area called Toast. 

Located off 125th street and Broadway, Toast seemed like an interesting place to visit. When we entered under the funky food-themed sign into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the happy buzzing of the locals watching TV, admiring the artwork, and catching up with one another over drinks. The second that struck me (which, as a born and raised New Yorker, I don't always notice) was how diverse everyone was: the host who sat us had a thick vaguely Slavic accent that I couldn't quite place; when the kitchen doors swung open, I could faintly hear the cooks calling out to each other in Spanish, and the customers seemed to be demographically mixed. In one corner was a bald, regal-looking Black woman holding court, at the bar were a few Midwestern hipsters and a couple of suits from Midtown, and then you had us: two young Latino college kids.

Would our paths have crossed otherwise? I asked myself. Apart from being on the same train car, perhaps? But probably not. In any case, I took a second to appreciate that all of us were convened in a tiny Harlem restaurant for one simple thing: tasty food.

Once we were seated, I quickly scanned Yelp for recommendations, the majority of which lauded its brunch options. I, being a breakfast girl, was rather tempted until something else caught my eye: a stuffed lamb burger and fries. My stomach immediately growled. 

After we ordered our food, I asked my friend his impressions of the place. He replied that he used to come here more often, but for the appetizer more than the meals. He considered the food "decent," I think to temper my expectations in case I didn't end up liking what I ordered. By the time our food came, we were both hungry and ready to eat. I was pleasantly surprised with myself, considering that I had ordered something a bit out of the ordinary: a medium-well, feta stuffed lamb burger on a brioche bun with tzatziki sauce on the side and fries. I generally liked all of those things, except that I'm not a huge fan of feta in large amounts and find brioche buns boring and often ill-suited to the juiciness of a good burger, so I hoped that I didn't order the wrong thing. 

Pictured: Toast's stuffed lamb burger and fries.

 

As you can see from the pictures, I didn't remember to take pictures until after I started eating, nor did I even take the time to fiddle with my settings beforehand. But I can assure you, it was amazing. Juicy, well-seasoned, and filling, this lamb burger was the easily the highlight of my week. The tzatziki, offered on the side, was a cool and garlicky addition that definitely took the burger up a notch. 

I was definitely pleased with my order-- so much so, that I barely paid attention to the fries (a first for me). They were good, too, hot and thick-cut, which I prefer, but I enjoyed the burger so much that I honestly could have passed on them or ordered a salad instead. 

In the interest of experiencing great food, we decided to share; and my friend immediately expressed regret that he didn't order the same thing, despite liking his meal. I, on the other hand, loved his chicken penne pasta. It was simple and creamy, chock full of sun-dried tomato pesto, and finished with fresh parmesan and black pepper, I could have easily eaten an entire pot if it were offered to me. It was comfort in a bowl.

At the end of the evening, we were both pretty impressed with Toast. Great food, inexpensive prices, and a relaxed atmosphere make this place a new favorite in my book and one of Harlem's underrated gems. I definitely recommend it and look forward to going back next time I'm in the area. 

The Dawn of a New Era (aka: I Finally Got My Camera!)

Excuse the melodrama, but I'm really excited!

For those who are in school, like me, I want to tell you to keep holding on, for there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, my friends. It hasn't snowed in months, allergy season is kicking in, and it's rained for the last five days straight. You know what that means, don't you? Summer is finally on its way!

This especially makes me happy, because the change of seasons means that I will, God willing, have more time for this blog. Unfortunately, during the school season, I don't always have the time to write as many posts as I would like. But because yesterday was the last day of classes, I have a couple of days to unwind and work on a couple of passion projects before finals start, hence this new post.

For those who glossed over the title, I have met a major benchmark in the progress of this blog. Very shortly after my first post, I realized that a large part of being able to appreciate food is because it is aesthetically pleasing. Because blogs are meant to be taken in visually, it would be almost impossible to communicate my passion for food (in any form that may take), without adequate images. Since I did not have a camera, I had no means to do so, unless a friend helped me or I relied on stock images from the internet. But about three months ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a pre-owned Canon Rebel XT from a photographer friend.

While I'm still getting used to it, I have been able to use it to capture restaurant food, my own home cooking, and Morocco (all of which will definitely be covered in later posts). And while I am, by no means, a professional, I hope to improve as time goes on.

New Beginnings 2011

Hello All,

It's been almost a year since I've last blogged, which is completely unbelievable to me. When I started this blog, I had grandiose dreams of building something out of it, creating a recipe library, and a portfolio of restaurant reviews. While I've barely made a dent in that goal, the dream is still there. Thanks to a lot of encouragement from friends, teachers, colleagues, and a phenomenal guest speaker (Amanda Holt, founder of www.Shatterbox.com- Check it out!), I've been inspired again to run with "this food thing." 

So join me, critique me, and bear with me as I attempt to cover the best of the city. Whether it's homemade, restaurants, food festivals, profiles, (hopefully) food photography, etc... I want to capture it, experience it, and live it. 

Tuck in your napkins. The first course starts now.