Rincon Criolla

...is located at 40-09 Junction Blvd. in NYC's Borough of Queens in Corona. This cuban restaurant is over 30 years old and the interior looks like it has not been updated. They still allow patrons to smoke inside!

I tried the cubano sandwich (a deal for $5) - ham, sliced pork, cheese and pickles on a roll - pressed to perfection!

Becco

This was the first restaurant by Lidia Bastianich. It is located on Restaurant Row in NYC's Theatre District at 355 West 46th Street and is still quite popular especially for pre-theatre diners.

They have a daily pasta special prix-fixe menu. For $22.95 your choice of Caeser salad or antipasto and all you can eat servings of 3 types of pasta.

"J" and I had the antipasto (grilled vegetables and seafood) and the pastas were: linguini with jumbo lump crab meat and toasted panko crumbs,

farfalle with fresh tomatoes and basil, and Garboon Ravioli with browned butter and fresh corn.

The linguine was my favorite.

We each also had a ginger ale ($3/glass), "J" had a cappucino ($5.50) and we shared an apple streudel with cinnamon ice cream ($7.50). It was a very long slice and I can only imagine how large the entire streudel must be.

Cafe Zaiya

It was another satisfying Zaiya Meal for $4.99 (including choice of beverage and tax). The cafe is located in NYC's Midtown on Sixth Avenue across from Bryant Park.

Today's lunch was steamed salmon, rice, broccoli, carrot, tofu and pickled veggies.

Bouchon Bakery

...is located in the Shops at Columbus Circle in NYC's Midtown.

I tried a Banana Cream Puff ($4.75) which is banana cream inside a profiterole. Delicious!

Homemade Cookies

Thanks L for sending me these homemade Momofuku Compost Cookies!

Flat Bagel

...I had never tried a "flat bagel" so I tried this sesame version with butter ($1 + tax) from the Food Exchange in NYC's Garment District at 1400 Broadway.

Pretty good if you don't want all the heaviness of a regular bagel.

Markt

...is located at 676 Sixth Avenue in NYC's Chelsea.

"A" and I shared a bottle of Lindeman's Framboise -raspberry flavored ($15), the daily special appetizer of sliced filet with tomatoes and micro greens ($16) and macaroni gratin ($16) - a delicious little casserole of mac n cheese.

And we shared the Dame Blanche ($7) - vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and whipped cream; and the warm Chocolate Tart with pistachio ice cream ($10) - a warm molten chocolate cake. Delish!

Torrisi

"J" and I braved the crowds for the no reservation $50/pp prix fixe dinner at Torrisi. This unassuming old fashion Italian deli located in NYC's SoHo at 250 Mulberry Street turns into a foodie haven for dinner.

At 5:45 the hostess appears with clipboard in hand and we sign up for a table starting at 6pm.

At 6pm the doors are open and we are promptly seated.

The daily dinner menu is written on the large blackboard. The menu includes 4 antipasti, 1 pasta, 1 entree (your choice) and house dessert.

We both start with a glass of Oregon white wine ($9/each) served in small water glasses - old school style!

ANTIPASTI:
Warm Mozzarella, Da Vero Olive Oil, Milk Thistle Cream - creamy mozzerella served with garlic bread
Frank's Salami Bread, Baccala, Cured Lemon - buttery and with just enough saltiness

Veal Sweetbreads Nha Trang - very rich, buttery and could have been foie gras it was so rich, with a little sweet and sour tanginess
Spaghetti Alla Osvaldo - spaghetti squash with freshly grated cheese

MAIN:
Skate Francese - good, but not as interesting as the antipasti
Devil Chicken, Evans Farm Yogurt - very juicy and a little spicy

Before dessert we were served mini paper cups of lemon sorbet to "cleanse" our palates.

DESSERT:
House Pastries - pizzette cannolis, tricolor, mini cream puffs, mini cheesecake tarts with chocolate graham cracker crust, butter cookies with cherry and hazelnut filling

The entire meal was excellent and very filling. The service was also very good.

Although the space is small and it was easy to eavesdrop on the neighboring conversations this is a great place for dinner.

Dee's

"C", "P" and I had dinner at Dee's located at 107-23 Metropolitan Avenue in NYC's borough of Queens in Forest Hills.

It was a large, airy space with a brick oven for pizzas.

We shared the Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($12) served with fresh baked focaccia bread. The dip was not cheesey enough for me, but the bread was very good.

"C" had the Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Ravioli ($17) in sun dried tomato pasta with roasted red pepper sauce, "P" had the Argentine Style Skirt Steak ($24) served with fries and vegetables and I had the Linguini by the Sea ($15) - sauteed shrimp, calamari and mussels in a spicy plum tomato sauce.

The food was good - very pedestrian meals.

For dessert we shared a toasted almond tiramisu ($7) which was excellent.

City Bakery

On this visit to City Bakery located in NYC's Flatiron District on West 18th Street I had a Bacon maple biscuit - $3.50 and Non alchololic sangria made with hibiscus juice - $3.

Sushi A Go Go

...is located on NYC's Upper West Side at 1900 Broadway.

"A" had the Sushi Broadway $17 - 2 tuna, 1 salmon, 1 yellowtail, 1 whitefish, 1 shrimp, 1 ikura and 1 california roll.

I had the Sashimi Columbus $18 - 3 tuna, 3 salmon, 3 yellowtail and 3 whitefish.

The fish was fresh and tender, but the portions a little small.