“I hate people who are not serious about meals. It is so shallow of them.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

For our 16 year Wedding Anniversary, the hubby and I wanted to treat ourselves to a French fine dining experience at Daniel’s in NYC. Owned by Chef Daniel Boulud, this French restaurant offers a contemporary, fresh twist on traditional recipes. It’s located at 60 East 65th Street (between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue), on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, in New York City.

Phenomenal White Cosmopolitan- Vodka, Elderflower, White Cranberry, Lime

From the second you walk in, the experience begins. The atmosphere here is cozy, romantic and elegant. After we were seated, we were greeted by our sommelier (she was so knowledgeable and friendly) and ordered some drinks. My “White Cosmo” cocktail was gorgeous and delightful, featuring a large round ice cube with an encased orchid. I felt like I was drinking a work of art! My husband ordered a non-alcoholic drink called “Spring in Corsica,” which was refreshing and not over the top sweet.

So before we commenced on our nine course adventure (we had the choice of the five course prix fixe or the nine course tasting menu. We went for the nine. Why not? 😁) We started with what I thought were palate starters. Omg, they were bite size fun in your mouth. From light and citrusy to salty and creamy… so many flavor profiles from these starters. So delicious and off to a great start! (Unfortunately I could not recall what the ingredients were. I was living in the moment😉)

Can’t forget the excellent selection of fresh breads: multigrain, garlic, olive, butter, sourdough, baguette. With amazing creamy sea salted butter!

The presentation for the first three courses were delicate and elegant. The taste on all three dishes was amazing! The Oxtail and Cheeks were delicious. I excepted an “earthy” taste, but far from it! It was creamy and savory. The Red Mullet had an amazing sear to it and well seasoned. The Wine Vinegar Emulsion I loved because I felt it enhanced this dish and balanced all the flavors. The white asparagus…cooked to perfection! I loved how it is was paired with the “Brie de Meaux,” (very popular gourmet cheese found in France … first time trying it!) which provided a rich, creamy, buttery flavor to this dish.

The courses keep coming! Four, Five, and Six were more filling, but ever so delicious! Loved the braised Kona Abalone (It is scientifically part of the Haliotis family of sea snails, a marine gastropod mollusk) and it was our first time trying it!  The abalone looked small, but sliced and put back into the shell with a nice crust on top. Every bite was sublime, especially with the caviar. The caviar added a nice saltiness to the dish and paired with the yuzu, provided lovely citrusy notes. The halibut dish was exquisite. It melted in your mouth! Loved the Curry Emulsion. It was not overpowering and it added a different dimension to the dish. The lamb was a decadent and delicious type of meat. Amazing flavor, not at all gamey and loved the way the spinach was cooked. I do want to note that if this dish was any bigger, I would not have been able to finish it. A tasty dish, but very heavy.

The Seventh course was cheese! (By this point, we were getting full, but were going to see this till the end!) They literally roll over an entire cheese cart and park it next to your table. You’ll be stuffed at this point, but if you love cheese as much as I do you will find room!

By this point we had reached the 9th course and beyond! The desserts were amazing! Loved the Mango Milk Jam Mousse. It was delicate, creamy, and not over the top sweet. Venezuelan dark chocolate mousse was lovely. The dark chocolate had a bitter taste (which I love) but paired with the lightly sweetened, velvety, airy Crème Légère it provided a beautiful balance to this dessert. Loved the edible chocolate paper. 😊 Loved the warm freshly baked Madeline cookies too!

The service is incredible from the moment you walk in until you leave. What made Daniel so great, was the experience that the staff created. Service was synchronized, warm, attentive to each individual’s need without being encroaching and never a prolonged wait between courses. Our sommelier was awesome! The presentation of each dish was carefully laid out and presented in a choreographed way. The 9 course Chef’s tasting menu was divine and every single dish was delicious. Ingredients harmoniously blended where each dish was equivalent to the next in unforgettable tastes. What a great culinary experience. It can be a pricey, but well worth it. Definitely a place you must experience at least once. I will definitely go back! Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

Chomping Chica

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”
― Erma Bombeck

Last month, a friend of mine invited me to come with her to the City for her birthday. We decided that we were going to see a taping of the Drew Barrymore Show! Before the show, we decided to have lunch at Bar Boulud. Perfect time to go here for lunch because it was Restaurant Week in NYC!

According to their website, Bar Boulud serves seasonal French fare, and award-winning wines that spotlight Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Bar Boulud is a casual bistro located across from Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. Bar Boulud is most directly inspired by the owner’s childhood in the countryside outside Lyon, France. With an emphasis on regional French wines and interpretations of classic home cooking, Bar Boulud invites diners to discover the deep, rustic roots of French gastronomy. Classics such as Coq au Vin and Trout Amandine share space with seasonal dishes that exemplify the best in local produce and bring a bit of the French countryside to New York.

We entered the restaurant, and we were immediately greeted by the host. We were then taken to our table and once settled, we were greeted warmly by our server. We asked about wine recommendations and pairings. He was very knowledgeable and he suggested the Mirabeau, which is a classic Rosé from Côtes de Provence in France. This particular wine was light and fresh tasting, with notes of strawberry, cherry, and raspberries. Combined, these flavors had an elegant balance, not over the top sweet.

I decided to try their Restaurant Week prefix menu. I ordered the Rancho Gordo Bean Salad as my appetizer. Very good! The beans were cooked to perfection… loved the parsley pesto. This dish was flavorful and I loved the ricotta. The ricotta definitely tied all the flavors together and added an element of creaminess to this dish.

I order their “Frenchie Burger”. Juicy and flavorful. The burger melted in your mouth and the cheese added a bite that tamed the richness of the confit pork belly. The fries were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I couldn’t stop eating the fries. All the components of this dish made every bite perfect and decadent!

Finally… dessert! LOL. We decided not to try the desserts on the prefix menu. However, because it was my friend’s birthday, they surprised her with dessert. We split the dessert because we were so full from what we ate. I’m not 100% sure what the dessert was called, but it was chocolate yumminess! It was smooth and not overally sweet. It also had a slight taste of coffee. What a sweet treat!

Overall, the food and service was impeccable! Our server was well-trained and knowledgeable, but also warm and helpful. (He knew that we loved the Mirabeau wine so he brought over the gin version and talked to us about it.) I would definitely want to go back for dinner and / or brunch. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

Chomping Chica

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”
― Ruth Reichl

Another gem that the hubby and I discovered while on our trip to Greece this past summer is the Taverna Kourites. This restaurant is located in the Tzermiado Village in Lasithi, on the beautiful island of Crete, Greece. We stopped here as a recommendation from our tour guide, Alexis Candia from Crete Tours, Snami Travel (if you ever want to visit Crete in Greece, Alexis knows is stuff!) We stopped here for a late lunch after exploring the beautiful island of Crete.

The hubby and I sat down and we were greeted by the owner right away. We first started with the Zucchini Blossoms (classic dish from Lasithi). I was blown away by the freshness and taste. They had a soft, tender texture and a slightly sweet flavor. When stuffed with the rice and herbs, it added a great element to this dish! I couldn’t stop eating them.

Entrees! All dishes were amazing! Local, Cretan beef… juicy and smelled incredible! It was so tender. The vegetables were cooked well and quite tasty. The lamb was very succulent! It came right off the bone. The Moussaka, which is Greece’s most popular, traditional dish, is such a comfort meal!  Delicious layers of tender eggplant, zucchini, and potato in a flavorful meat sauce, topped with creamy bechamel. Yum!!

The potatoes! Omg, they were delicious. They definitely taste different than back home. They had a sweet and creamy taste to them. Great quality and flavor. After all we ate, for dessert we had watermelon. The watermelon was sweet and refreshing, almost like nature’s sorbet. It was very refreshing!

This place was very welcoming and you can tell they make their food with love! All their vegetables, fruits, and meats that they use for their dishes are fresh and local. Service was quick and the food dishes came out one after the other! The owner, Manolis, was friendly and he definitely takes pride in his dishes and establishment. Highly recommend if you are on the island of Crete! Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

Chomping Chica

“Food, to a large extent, is what holds a society together, and eating is closely linked to deep spiritual experi­ences.” – P­eter Farb

New Year’s Eve 2024. It has been a tradition for my husband and I to go away for New Years. One of our favorite New Year’s getaways is traveling down South Jersey to Cape May! This year we decided to try Beach Plum Farm’s New Year’s Eve Farm to Table Dinner. Beach Plum Farm is located in West Cape May, N.J. Established in 2008 by owners Curtis Bashaw and Will Riccio, this working farm is open to the public.

Since 2008, Beach Plum Farm has grown to produce over 100 kinds of fruits and vegetables as well as chickens, eggs and Berkshire Hogs. The Farm provides produce and meats to local Cape May restaurants such as The Ebbitt Room (one of my faves, see a previous post on it), the Blue Pig Tavern, the Rusty Nail, the Boiler Room, and Louisa’s Café . 

I first wanted to mention the location. The ambiance was very cool – rustic and festive. Definitely getting the farm vibe! The staff was super friendly and hospitable. They provided a chill and laid back experience 😏 Loved the firepit! It added a nice touch to our beautiful and crisp evening!

Before we headed to our sit down dinner, we had a cocktail hour. Blown away! I did not expect the variety and abundance of it. Let’s start with the crabcakes. They were delicate in texture and flavorful. The sauce on top was creamy and added depth to these delectable treats. The Beef Tartare meat was very fresh, tender, and packed with flavor. The taste of the tartare was a perfect medley of sweet, savory, and acidity. The deviled eggs were creamy and tasty! The little crab puffs were airy and the crab had a creaminess to them. The Brisket, sitting on top of flatbread, was seasoned nicely with a slight smokey flavor. It was very tender! The shrimp and oysters were my personal favorites and I could not get over how fresh tasting they were! Fantastic Hors d’oeuvres overall!

The sit down dinner was such an awesome experience! From beginning to end, it was delicious and plentiful. Everything was very fresh! To start, the eggplant in the salad was crispy and tasted amazing. (the staff refused to give up their secret of how they cooked this eggplant to perfection 😂) The farmhouse chicken pate was next, served over a fresh baked brioche. While it was creamy and nicely seasoned, it was a bit heavy and “earthy.” It wasn’t my favorite dish of the night, and I wound up leaving a little of it. However, my husband, who was a bigger fan of the pate, ate his entire portion so pate people would like it! Next up were the scallops which had great flavor and just melted in my mouth. They had a wonderful, tasty sear on them. The roasted sweet potato had a sweet and creamy flavor profile to them, with just the right amount of saltiness. The bone-in pork loin… OMG it was amazing! The taste was salty, smokey and it felt I was eating a hunk of bacon. Dessert was “holiday” carrot cake. At this point, I was about to explode with all the food we ate, but I had to eat this cake. The icing was light and creamy with bursts of lime zest. The cake itself was moist, not too sweet with a good amount of carrot flavor. Wound up eating the whole cake and it was yummy.

Our Farm to Table experience was excellent! The food, was fabulous and abundant. My only complaint is that I wish I had a bigger stomach.🤣 I loved the variety of fresh ingredients and spices they used for this meal. You can definitely taste the love and passion in everything the prepared for this meal. I especially loved the family style sit down dinner. Having dinner with others was fun, because we had the opportunity to share a meal, meet some awesome people, and ring in the New Year in a very unique way. I would definitely do this again and recommend anyone to try this. Beach Plum Farm does the Farm to Table series throughout the year. Do keep in mind that the tickets are pricey. However for the amount of food, the quality of it, and the service, it was well worth it!

Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

Chomping Chica

“This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story to tell. It has a journey.” – Joel Salatin

This past summer, the hubby and I were blessed to go on a trip to Greece. We started our trip at the capital – Athens. While were there, we signed up for a cooking class with a Greek Native, Fotini Mastroianni. She runs “Cooking Experience with Fotini”. ?

Fotini and her husband opened their home to give us a fun cooking class. Right away, they put us to work! ? They were there to guide and instruct us on how to create a authentic Greek dinner. We started making the Tebelopita. Tebelopita is a traditional Greek pie. It is an easy pie to make from the area of Thessaly, which is located in central Greece. We then went on to prepare the Keftedakis, which is a meatball, cooked Greek style.

Next, we baked the Tebelopita in the oven. While that was baking, it was time to cook the meatballs! We also hand cut potatoes into fries and fried them as well! The smells coming out of that kitchen were amazing!

Dinner is served! In addition to our meal, we also prepared “Papoudia.” This is a salad from the Kimolos island in Greece. It is made of black eye peas, rice, spring onion, pepper, Greek olive oil, and Paximadia (Greek dried bread). For dessert, we had Greek yogurt with fresh rose petals. Omg – it was delicious and the smell was so aromatic!

Overall, what a great experience! My husband and I learned a lot. We definitely expanded our taste buds and have a new appreciation for Greek delicacies. Both Fotini and her husband were so sweet and knowledgeable. (I loved Fotini’s style of dinnerware!) Great food and great company. My hubby and I will definitely go back to them if we are lucky enough to return to Greece in the future. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“Humor keeps us alive. Humor and food. Don’t forget food. You can go a week without laughing.”
― Joss Whedon

A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I had tickets for the Tribeca Film Festival and we wanted to grab a bite to eat before. We decided to hit this spot. The Cookshop is an eatery that uses fresh and local ingredients. They use traditional methods, such as wood-fired ovens, to bring out the flavors of their natural food. This place is located in Chelsea, New York.

I would like to start with the Q Kola. I never had this type of soft drink before and I like it!

The flavors blend together into a sort of lightly sweetened sparkling tea. It’ll remind you of a cola, but it’s its own thing. I believe the high level of carbonation in the drink help carry these flavors around the palate for an overall enjoyable soda. The Bresaola was very good! A nice thin cut, not crazy salty, but enough to make it so flavorful. The Sarvecchio cheese added a nice dimension to the dish by providing a sweet and nutty flavor to the Bresaola. The Squash Piccata… oh my god, it was phenomenal! I felt the squash was cooked flawlessly. The taste was delicate and the flavor notes of the cheese, lemon, garlic and anchovy made this dish wonderful.

On to the entrees. The steak was was cooked perfectly (medium is my go to) and it had a nice char to it. It was juicy and seasoned very nicely. Loved the shoestring potatoes… could not get enough of them. My friend got the scallops. Both her and I are not big scallop fans, but she wanted to try them. They did not disappoint! They were cooked very well (not at all rubbery). They melted in your mouth and they had a sweetness to them.

Dessert was amazing! You taste the freshness of the cake. It was not overly sweet, and the flavors melded so well together. I loved the lemon curd on top, it added a citrusy element to the cake. It enhanced the flavors of this cake and made this an ideal dessert for the summer!

What a great experience! Love the concept of farm to table, and the food definitely portrayed that. Fresh, creative, and yummy! The staff was great; prompt attention was given to every detail. No need was left unmet… all offered with warm hospitality. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. He was helpful in giving us recommendations about the menu. Definitely stop by this place if you are in the area ? Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”
― Ruth Reichl

Anniversary dinner at Hell’s Kitchen! The hubby and I are obsessed with the show Hell’s Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay. So of course we go here. Hell’s Kitchen is a reality competition cooking show. The series is hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Each season, two teams of chefs compete for a job as head chef at a Ramsay property, while working in the kitchen of a restaurant set up in the television studio. This season was won by former restaurant owner Alex Belew, and he won a position as head chef at the Hell’s Kitchen in Atlantic City, NJ. This restaurant makes this Gordon Ramsay’s third restaurant in Caesar’s Entertainment. The restaurant design features a nod to both the red and blue teams featured on the show. The menu includes Chef Ramsay’s signature classics like Beef Wellington as well as using inspiration from the restaurant’s seaside locale… like seasonal menu items using locally-sourced, fresh ingredients and seafood delicacies.

Before I dive in on the food, I wanted to talk about my excitement of meeting the winner of this season’s Hell’s Kitchen, Alex Belew! When the hubby and I arrived to the restaurant, we were told that Alex was here by the hostess that sat us to our table. We asked our wonderful server (Jordan) if we can meet him. We sat and after we ordered our main entrees, Alex came to our table. (I’m not gonna lie, I totally fan-girled out) He was super nice and took the time to talk with us, hang out, and just chat about life and food. What a great experience and so happy he won!

Ok, now to talk about the food. First, we started with the drinks. Loved the drinks! My husband had a mocktail called “Meet your maker”. The drink consisted of maker’s mark bourbon (my husband had it without the bourbon and Domaine de canton), Domaine de canton, mint, apple, and strawberry. The taste was fruity and refreshing, but not overally sweet. My drink was the “King’s Coronation”. This drink is Stoli blueberry, lemon, blueberry, honey, and sage. It was a lovely drink and you can definitely taste the blueberry! Again, not too sweet… just the right amount. In addition, the restaurant gave us complimentary champagne because they knew it was our wedding anniversary ❤️.

Appetizers. Both out of this world with flavor! The tuna tartare was so fresh and flavorful! The mixture of the vinaigrette, spices, and the yuca chips made this dish enjoyable and light. The risotto was delicious and decadent. It was creamy, tasty and the squash added a nice touch to it. The lobster was tender, soft and buttery. So good!!!

Entrees. The rack of lamb was heavenly. It was cooked medium well (which I love, but you can request it any temperature of course). Great sear, tender, and tasty! The salmon… loved the crispy skin and it was cooked perfectly. The pairing of the lentils and beurre blanc with the salmon really harmonized the dish. The sides were great. The potato puree was creamy, a bit heavy, but delicious! The brussel sprouts were very good. Loved the cook on them and the fresno pepper added a nice spice!

Dessert we decided to do the strawberry shortcake. To me, the presentation looked like a deconstructed strawberry shortcake (all the elements of this cake are separated). The cake was moist and sweet. The strawberry ice-cream and the gelato were creamy, refreshing, and tasty. The whip cream was light, smooth, and definitely had that homemade taste. The strawberries were fresh and delish! All these components, when eaten together, made it delicious and light. However, not sure if because we were full from our meal, but we felt like it was a huge dessert with a lot going on.

Overall, a great experience at Hell’s Kitchen! Great food and ambiance! The staff was super friendly and I felt they went above and beyond. A special shout out to our server, Jordan, is definitely deserved. She knew the menu through and through… was friendly, professional, and just a great ambassador for the restaurant. Every member of the staff we met was incredibly professional and friendly. Keep in mind though, it is a bit pricey and you will drop some serious cash. However, it was well worth it and sometimes it is good to indulge?. I will definitely return. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

-Chomping Chica

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”
― Oscar Wild

Wednesday night for Broadway! A friend and I had tickets to see the Broadway show “New York, New York”, but we wanted to head out for dinner before the show. My friend suggested this place, “John’s Pizzeria of Times Square”.

First off, I want to mention the absolute beauty of the interior of this place. It was once an abandoned church … an old Gospel Tabernacle Church. When you are inside, you cannot help but stare at the beauty of the stained glass ceiling. I personally couldn’t stop staring at the ceiling. When you first enter, there are pictures of the before and after of this place … very cool.

First – Appetizers and drinks. My friend and I both ordered the “Matinee” drink, (love the Broadway theme drinks!) This drink is Strawberry Lemonade with Tito Vodka, pink lemonade, and muddled strawberries served on the rocks. Not bad, but I honestly have tasted better. The fried Calamari   with their homemade marinara sauce was next. Very good! Lightly breaded and seasoned very well! Not bland all and the breading did not fall apart. The calamari was tender and not at all rubbery. The sauce had a great taste and not at all heavy. I have to say this is one of the best calamari I ever had!

The pizza was also delicious! Exceptional thin crust, crispy with a nice char. Great toppings … the pepperoni had a nice kick and the onions were cooked well; not too burned or soggy. The sauce and cheese ratio was perfect! It also helps that the pizza is cooked in brick oven.? This pie was simple, but absolutely a show stopper in taste.

A great experience from the atmosphere to the food! No complaints! The staff was efficient and attentive. However, towards the end of our dinner, my friend and I felt a bit rushed when our server just dropped our check and did not offer dessert. However , I have to keep in mind that this place gets packed and at times and there is a long line out the door…so maybe our server was just trying to turn over the table quickly. By the time we were done, a wait had been forming. (we went early and it was during the week)

Overall, a very good experience and I certainly will be returning.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

–Virginia Woolf

The hubby and I headed down to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to enjoy some sun and be with family. The hubby was lucky enough to get us a reservation at Carbone, Miami… and these reservations are difficult to get! Carbone is an Italian-American restaurant created by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick. This dining venue pays homage to the great Italian-American eateries that existed in New York City in the middle of the 20th century.  They take traditional dishes like Chicken Scarpariello, Linguini Vongole, or Veal Parmigiana and elevate them to a new level. All their food is made fresh and in house.

For our starters, we received a complimentary bread basket. The basket consisted of tomato coated focaccia and garlic bread. They were so flavorful and soft! Paired well with the parmesan cheese chunks and salami as well the pickled cauliflower. What a great start and this was before we ordered our appetizers! They were outstanding… So fresh and tasty. My favorite was the Prosciutto and Mozzarella. It’s such a simple plate and an absolute home run. The flakey salt on the mozzarella, the presentation of them cutting the mozzarella and spreading it on the prosciutto was great. You have to love a show with your dinner… all about that presentation!

For dinner we decided to do family style and try various dishes like a pasta, chicken, pork, and more. Personally, the star was the pork chop with peppers and the spicy rigatoni vodka. The porkchop… wow! Sliced, topped with cherry peppers, juicy and melts in your mouth. It was cooked perfectly, with a slight pink center and a fantastic sear. The spicy rigatoni and vodka sauce is a signature dish for Carbone… I felt that their vodka sauce was a different take of what you are used to. It was creamy, pretty spicy, but in a good way. The pasta was al dente and there was just the right amount of sauce coating the pasta. I have to say it was “swoon worthy” and the whole table kept going for more. I did enjoy the chicken, but it was a tad dry. The sauce, however, was a wonderful combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same. We also had sides… potatoes Louie and Funghi Trifolati. Both were exploding with flavor and did what good sides should do… they actually enhanced the incredible entrees we were eating, adding to the overall experience.

Somehow… we’re not sure how… there was room for dessert! Their famous carrot cake is moist, not overly sweet, and the cream cheese frosting did not over power the cake itself. It allowed the cake itself to shine. The key lime sponge cake was a unique twist on a key lime pie. It was a way to change a very popular south Florida dish. It was not too rich nor too dense and the layers in between tasted like a key lime pie. Both desserts were a hit at our table. Of course, it doesn’t hurt finishing with a perfectly brewed cappuccino.

I have to mention the cocktails and our drinks definitely set the tone for our entire dining experience. The hubby ordered a mocktail (ginger fizz) and my drink was a classic Negroni (my first time with this type drink). Our drinks were excellent and thanks to our bartender, Abraham, for the recommendation and personalized service!

Overall, it was such a unique experience! From beginning to end, the food was plentiful and satisfying. The décor was classic, with a 50’s/60’s retro charm. They played music from that era, such as Ray Charles and Solomon Burke, which I totally love! (Spotify actually has a playlist title “Mario Carbone NYC” – check it out)

As for the staff, I don’t have enough words. They were amazing! They were courteous and gracious. They were friendly and were amazing with my niece Valentina! The entire team was definitely on top of their game.

I would highly recommend anyone to try Carbone Miami. They are pricey, but I feel they are worth it due to the quality of their dishes and personal attention from their staff. This is an experience in addition to a meal. The restaurant group has many locations. I would love to try the one in NYC (the original Carbone restaurant). Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!

Chomping Chica

“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.” -unknown

Happy New Year! Usually around the New Year, the hubby and I are away. This year we decided to stay local. Yet, we wanted to do something fun for

New Year’s. We decided to do a dinner cruise with Liberty Cruise. This experience consisted of a three-course dinner aboard a ship (the Manhattan II) with views of the NYC skyline. When the clock struck 12 for New Year’s, we enjoyed the NYC fireworks on the water.

First course: I had the Oysters. Right off the bat, they were very good! Loved the caviar and the ponzu! The Caviar added a nice salty and smoky flavor to the oysters. The ponzu sauce gave this dish a combo of sweet, salt, and a bit of a “zingy” flavor. The oysters were my favorite meal out of all the courses. I wanted more.? My hubby had the Foie Gras (I was very surprised that he ordered it… he typically stays away from it, lol). He liked it! He was big fan of the fruity flavors of the apple and pomegranate that were paired with the Foie Gras. However, we both agreed that we have tasted better Foie Gras in other places.

Second Course – I had the lobster tail. The lobster was flavorful. The lobster meat was tender and it melted in your mouth. The sweet potato was ok; nothing to rave about, but if paired with the Cajun butter…. yum! This dish had a beautiful presentation, but I was left hungry. The lobster was delish, but I had to work hard to get the meat out of its shell. My husband’s Ribeye, as you can see was bigger and more filling. The truffle mash potatoes were buttery and fluffy. They had the right amount of salt. The Ribeye did not hit a homerun. It was missing that delicious sear. It seemed chewy and too soft in texture. There was no body and the Ribeye seemed a bit blah.

Third and final course – I had the Mousse cake. The cake fell flat. It was too soft and the flavors were weak. The chocolate crust was not bad. The raspberry sauce was just “ok.” The hubby enjoyed his cheesecake. It was creamy and not overly sweet. The drizzle of pumpkin sauce had a nice flavor, but it was not needed, as it did not add anything to the cheesecake.

All in all, it was still a great experience. Would I do it again? I don’t think so, no. But I’m happy I did it because it was an experience. The views were spectacular and the energy was fun and happy. The food overall was not spectacular. Unfortunately, for the price the we paid, we expected a little more. Also, around New Year’s, they double their prices (keep that in mind, if you decide to do this). Also, knowing what I know now, I would shop around other cruise companies to see what they offer.

The wait staff was a friendly and energetic, but at times it was hard to get them. They seemed to be on the go and a little overwhelmed. We made sure to tip them as they were clearly running around and maybe a bit understaffed on a holiday. We were ok, but we heard other patrons complaining about the service. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away.

-Chomping Chica