MiSS LILY'S FAVOURITE CAKES.

Those of you that know me know how OBSESSED I have become with juices from Melvin's Juice Box. Well I FINALLY got the chance to head next door and try out Miss Lily's Favourite Cakes - a vibin', laid-back Jamaican restaurant on Houston Street.

I started off with a drink at the bar - for a Jamaican restaurant, there is a surprising amount of SOJU and SAKE on the cocktail menu. I ordered the Pressure Drop - a smooth blend of sake, fresh lime juice, and kaffir lime leaves.

We started with the Ackee Dip and Plantain Chips - ackee is the NATIONAL FRUIT OF JAMAICA, MON! The chilled dip had an incredibly light flavor that was neither offensive nor entirely memorable. I cannot really describe to you what ackee tastes like.

The Curried Lobster Jaquitos (Jamaican-style mini tacos) were absolutely delicious! Soft wrappers filled with nicely flavored chunks of lobster.

We also ordered the Jerk Grilled Corn with toasted coconut - ok, you know how much I love Mexican Corn covered in cheese?? Well, this is damn close contender!!!! The sweetness of the corn is enhanced by the sweetness from the toasted coconut flakes!! YUM.

I ordered the Steamed Fish entree - a filet of branzino with okra, peppers, and carrots. This dish came with rice and beans!

We also ordered a side of Callaloo to share - a leafy vegetable of the Caribbean which is simmered down to a stew. Very tasty.

I couldn't go to Miss Lily's Favourite Cakes without trying a slice of cake!!!! The cake of the day was a COCONUT CAKE - MMMMMMMM. We tore into this fluffy, moist slice as if we hadn't just eaten an entire Jamaican meal. Lovely.

We also ordered a Grape Nuts flavored ice cream!!! Yes, as in Grape Nuts the cereal!!! We were obsessed - it literally tasted like a mushy, soggy, yet slightly crunchy version of the cereal in milk! Very much in love.

Had nothing to complain about during my meal at Miss Lily's - the vibe is casual and chill, the food is excellent, and the drinks are delicious. Cannot wait to come back for more.

EMPELLON COCINA.

After my first "encounter" with Alex Stupak; Empellon, his first taqueria; and the hate mail I received from readers of Eater, I have been a little wary of this chef and his seemingly ready access to the right PR and media. Empellon was named one of the 10 Best New Restaurants of 2011 by NY Mag, despite my decree that Empellon would be dead within 6 months.

I decided to give Stupak another chance after:

1. I spoke to Chef Naxci Gaxiola at Pulqueria (one of my favorite Mexican restaurants) - and he told me he respected Stupak for his creativity and ingenuity as a chef.

and 2. Stupak opened up Empellon Cocino in East Village earlier this month.

OK, Stupak, a chance at redemption it is.

I entered the restaurant and immediately surveyed the floor plan. Bar at the front, not to overspill into the dining area. Check. Spacious (enough) table layout for ease of serving and customer comfort. Check. Loud music pulsing through the space. Un-check. OK, Stupak, learning from your mistakes. I like it.

On to the food. I will start off the blog by saying the food was SO much more enjoyable and unique at Empellon Cocina.

We started with the Guacamole with Pistachios and Masa Crisps for the table. The masa crisps were these wonderful corn-based tortillas that had a wonderful crunchy density. I have never had pistachios inside guacamole before, and it was absolutely delicious!!! Added a wonderful texture and saltiness.

I also noticed Sikil Pak as one of the salsa options on the menu - I fell in LOVE with sikil pak at Pulqueria and wanted to try Stupak's take on it. It was not nearly as delicious as the Pulqueria version - the sikil pak at Empellon Cocina was a lot more watered down and didn't have the same textural integrity.

Next up was the King Crab with Parsnip Juice, Crab Flan, and Smoked Cashew Salsa. I was enamaored by a lot of Stupak's unique ingredient combinations. The presentation was absolutely stunning.

Hamachi with Walnut Puree, Poblano Chile, and Pomegrante Infused Apple. While I notice and appreciate Stupak's infusion of nuts in his menu, I think this one may have gone a little awry. There was noting noticeably delicious about this dish.

Avocado with Spicy Grains, Sunchokes, and Hazelnut Dressing. Again, with the nuts! The hazelnut dressing, however, did register a nice flavor. I did, however, enjoy all the different textures playing around at the bottom of the bowl. Had I not already stuffed my face with the equivalent of 3 avocados from the guacamole, I might have been a little more enthusiastic about this dish.

At this point, we were already EXTREMELY full - but we still had one more dish on the way!! The Melted Tertilla Cheese with Lobtser, Tomato Frito, and Kol (Yucatan-style white sauce) Queso!!! SWEET JESUS was this delicious!!! The cheese was divine and there was this lovely sweet hint of honey deep within the dish. YUM YUM YUM. My dining partner and I had both wished this queso dish had come out first.

Empellon Cocina has shown Stupak's major growth and maturity as a chef and restauranteur since Empellon. I look forward to many more delicious meals there!!

THE MASALA WALA.

A new Indian street food-inspired restaurant opened up in Lower East Side - The Masala Wala! Make sure to make reservations in advance, because we ended up having to go watch the Knicks game at Nice Guy Eddie's across the street for over an hour before we were finally seated.

The Pani Puri (hollow puri stuffed with chili, potato, onion, and chickpeas filled with tamarind and spice water) was nothing compared to the pani puri I had in Bangladesh - so I was a little disappointed. It was served cold, which I found to be strange.

The Samosa Chat - crusty pastries stuffed with potatoes and green peas covered with a spicy chutney - was delicious.

Basmati rice and naan bread came out for the table.

For my entree, I ordered the Malai Kofta - vegetable balls in a creamy almond sauce - the sauce was absolutely delicious! Slightly sweet, slightly nutty. Everyone kept sticking their naan bread all up in it!!!!

I have never seen these little Indian vegetarian meatballs before, but I found them to be fantastic!!! I think the Meatball Shop might want to consider a collaboration...

Make your way over to The Masala Wala for some South Indian street favorites!!!

NORTH END GRILL.

If you head down to Battery Park City, you will notice that Danny Meyer has essentially begun to take over the Southern tip of Manhattan. From Shake Shack to Blue Smoke, and now his newly opened North End Grill - Danny Meyer is making sure everyone in BPC is well-fed and happy.

The North End Grill was hopping on a Thursday night - for a new restaurant, I was happy to see the broad range of clientele this restaurant produced. From young and hip to older, Gramercy Tavern/Union Square Cafe types, this restaurant catered to us all.

The cocktail menu is decked out with interesting concoctions. I ordered the Kachumber Kooler - a refreshingly spicy blend of gin, cucumber, cilantro, green chiles, and lime. This drink had a lot of substance to it and I loved the extra heat from the chile!!!

We started with a few appetizers - a portion of their menu is EGG-BASED...which I absolutely LOVE because I ADORE EGGS IN (ALMOST) ANY FORM. The Soft Scrambled Eggs with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms and Grilled Bread was delightful. The mushrooms enhanced the flavor of the eggs well and the softness of the egg contrasted nicely with the crunch of the bread.

Another egg-based appetizer was the Tuna Tartare with Fried Quail Egg and Crispy Shallots. The saltiness from the egg helped to flavor the tuna.

I can never say no to ricotta cheese. The Roasted Beets with Orange Ricotta and Grilled Bread was lovely - the smooth, soft ricotta spread nicely over the bread and the beets added the perfect earthy freshness to the dish.

For our main course - we shared the Nova Scotia Lobster with Tropea Shallots and Lemon Butter. We absolutely loved this preparation and we were very happy with the way the lobster was prepared - soft, succulent, and flavored with a light sauce.

We also ordered a side of the Hashed Brussels Sprouts and Lentils - which sounds a lot more exciting than it actually was. Oh well - more vegetables never hurt anyone.

The desserts were fantastic. Although our meal was absolutely delicious, the desserts definitely stole the show at the end of the evening.

The Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ginger Ice Cream (and an extra scoop of Salted Caramel Ice Cream) was honestly divine. I have not experienced such a moist cake in a very long time - absolutely drenched in delicious, sugary toffee and spiked by the surprisingly welcome ginger flavor.

The Butterscotch Pot de Creme with Chocolate Streusel and Single "Maltmallows" was fantastic. It was fun discovering the puddle of BUTTERSCOTCH hiding beneath the smooth pudding. The chocolate crumbles added the perfect amount of texture.

We very much enjoyed our meal at North End Grill - the menu was catered for a diner like myself: someone who loves 1. eggs 2. seafood and 3. awesome desserts. Once again, Danny Meyer gets it right. Look forward to more visits to North End Grill in the future.

VIKTOR & SPOILS.

"Secret Mexican restaurants with no signs" should become one of my interests on Facebook. I happened upon Viktor & Spoils yesterday, a new taqueria and tequila bar at the Hotel on Rivington. The entrance is covertly covered by strips of Mexican bills and, OF COURSE, no restaurant signage. #OBSESSED After providing my name to two bouncers at the door, I was escorted into the hip Mexican abyss. 

I happened to dine at Viktor & Spoils on the same night they were hosting a Fashion Week event - the place was pumping. Mexican soda step-and-repeat?? #gotem

2-man mariachi band and dancer? #gotem

I ordered a Paloma - which is what I have officially dubbed the "Mexican Greyhound." A fun concoction of Herradura Reposada Tequila, Mexican Grapefruit Soda, lime, and a dash of sea salt. With one sip, my half-Mexican pal smiled and reminisced, "It reminds me of my grandfather.

And then it was time to dive into the food!!! The menu is limited to a few appetizers, tacos, taquitos, and nachos.

Our first platter of tacos and taquitos came out! The items pictured on the left of the tray were the Roasted Poblano & Corn Tacos with chihuahua cheese, radish, and cabbage. Delicious.

A close up of the Spicy Scallop Taquito - topped with dynamite sauce, tobiko, and fresh avocado. This was definitely one of my favorites of the evening!!!

The Tuna Poke Taquito - served with avocado, radish, and sesame-onion sauce. Not quite as exciting but still good.

We then proceeded to order the remainder of the taquito offerings off the menu. On the left, the Elote Corn & Lobster Taquito - a warm, cheesy mixture of charred corn, lime mayo, chili de arbol cotija cheese, and fresh lobster. MMM. We also really liked the Hamachi Crunch Taquito - flavored with yuzu dressing, pickled jalapeno, and cilantro.

When my cousin finally arrived at the dinner table, we got to try a bit of the El Classico Nachos he ordered!!! OMGGGGGG - this DEFINITELY fulfilled the nacho craving I had developed since the super bowl!!!!! A humongous, crisp and creamy pile of corn tortilla chips, chihuahua cheese, oaxacan string cheese, cotija cheese, pickled jalapeno, mexican crema, blackbeans, guacamole, and charred tomato salsa. This platter of nachos will continue to haunt me throughout the remainder of my adulthood - must. order. again.

At the end of our meal, a few plates of Churros were placed at nearby tables (for the party). I couldn't help but snatch one and dipped it into the Dulce de Leche dipping sauce. Also available was Red Chili Chocolate and Mango-Habanero Dipping Sauces. We found the churros to be delightfully moist and softer than your run-of-the-mill churro. #APPROVED.

Very much enjoyed my fun meal at Viktor & Spoils - definitely a fun place to grab a post-work apertif, a casual meal of luxury tacos, and/or cocktails made with Mexican spirits!

TAKA TAKA: TAKE 2.

OK, so I will admit - Taka Taka didn't captivate me at first. I didn't really recommend it to people - out of fear that people would no longer consider me a "foodie." Mexican sushi?!!?! 'Tis not authentic!! But on my second visit to Taka Taka, I put my fears aside - and let myself REALLY judge the place.

I deemed that...

1. the sushi off the conveyor belt is never that exciting.

and 

2. the following dishes CHANGED MY LIFE:

Exhibit A: CRISPY RICE CAKES - crispy rice bites topped with spicy tuna tartar, sliced avocado, and masago. Since my last visit, this little dish has been revamped to LA-STYLE PERFECTION!!!! OMG we ordered a second serving as soon as we finished the first plate!!

Exhibit B: HAMACHI SUSHI BOMBS - OMG OMG OMG. I literally cannot stop thinking about these little spheres of happiness. A sushi rice ball topped with hamachi and wasabi mayo - there is a certain WARMTH that exudes from each little bite. The wasabi in the mayo adds just enough heat to ever so lightly cook the fish. The textures and flavors absolutely hit the spot. At first we ordered the Tuna Sushi Bomb and the Hamachi Sushi Bomb - and soon thereafter, asked for TWO MORE ORDERS of Hamachi Sushi Bombs. If I was rich, I would order send everyone a gift of a pyramid of Hamachi Sushi Bombs. They are fantastic, I assure you.

It is pretty rare that a restaurant wins me over on the second try. I am glad I gave Taka Taka a second chance...I cannot wait to go back and fulfill my sushi bomb craving.

DELL'ANIMA.

There's nothing more satisfying than a late night dinner of pasta and vino in the West Village after a trying day. dell'anima is a popular Italian bistro that is consistently filled with a crowd. Even though we arrived after 9:30pm on a Wednesday evening, we were still relegated to seats at the bar! But a smooth gulp of Savuto's Odoardi made me simmer down.

 

We started off with the Roasted Red Peppers Bruschette - I like the concept of bruschette served at dell'anima. Rather than being pre-smeared on fluffy, toasty bread - the diner self-applies his/her desired amount of puree of roasted red peppers, smoked almonds, and pecorino romano.

The side of Brussel Sprouts with red onion, smoked pumpkin seeds, and dried cherries was fantastic! The combination of smokey and sweet flavors was different and certainly notable.

We ordered two different plates of pasta to share - the first being the Garganelli with fresh hedgehog mushrooms, shallots, rosemary, and parmigiano reggiano.

The other dish was the Cappellacci with roasted cauliflower, sage, walnuts, and ricotto. I have to say - I was not very impressed with the pasta dishes at dell'anima! The flavors were all a bit...queer. And the consistency and textures of the pasta did not impress me.

The dessert was really lovely - I don't quite remember what it was, but it was a sort of panna cotta served with a passion fruit sorbet. And topped with a crystallized piece of black sesame. Delightful.

I would return for the intimate ambience and some light snacks - but will pass on the main courses. It is not often that something smothered in cheese cannot win me over.

ILILI.

It's that dastardly time of the year again - RESTAURANT WEEK has hit New York City and the crowds are going wild. But you all know how I typically feel about Restaurant Week - yawn.

But I was actually quite surprised by my Restaurant Week meal at ilili this past week!

They started off the night by coming around with a tasting pour of their Beirut Sunburn!! Eeeks - I forgot how much I do not really love Bourbon!

WARNING: SORRY FOR THE HORRIBLE PICTURES - THEY WERE ALL TAKEN ON MY IPHONE. As I am reading the Steve Jobs biography, all I can think is - URGH. COULDN'T YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A CAMERA INSIDE THE IPHONE SUITABLE FOR FOODIES BY NOW!??!!?!?! IDIOTS. At least that's what Steve Jobs might have said had he been a foodie who cared as much about photography as he did about being a fruitarian.

I ordered the Lebanese American - which tasted pretty much exactly like a mojito - I'm not complaining.

We got to choose not only one but TWO appetizers as a part of our Restaurant Week offerings - sweetness!

I went with the Tuna Belly, served with avocado puree, barberry chutney, radish, and beet...

...and also the Arnabeet Mekle - roasted cauliflower, red finger chili, and mint atop a bed of labne tahini! We were all shocked by the huge portions that they gave us - the tuna belly was decent but I definitely preferred the cauliflower dish!! It proved especially useful when they presented a basket of warm, poofy pita bread for the table to enjoy.

I also got to try a falafel off of my pal's appetizer - this bugger definitely had a unique mixture of spices within it, which makes it stand out against any normal falafel from a street car.

For my entree, a $5 supplement afforded me the Steamed Tile Fish dish - served with almond milk, fermented aleppo peppers, salsify, apple, and pea shoots. It was a very light dish that was slightly annoying to eat. Salsify is like...an annoyingly thin strand of leafy green that is nearly impossible to chew or bite into.

For desserts, my pal sitting next to me and I ordered the Labne Cheesecake and ilili Candy Bar!!! Both definitely brought giddy smiles to our faces.

For a restaurant week experience, this certainly wasn't a bad one. Although the location and the atmosphere are a bit pedestrian, I'd be willing to come back again for a full-priced meal.