twenty bucks more fun

Yesterday, I received an email: "Congratulations, you completed all qualifying transactions on your Card... Thank you for dining out three or more times during NYC Restaurant Week, now enjoy your $20 statement credit..." I can't even tell you how happy it made me. I'm obviously easily thrilled.

This past Restaurant Week (Winter 2012), American Express partnered with the city to offer a twenty dollar incentive to diners. It's true, I didn't have to participate; I could have very easily avoided dining out at the limited number of participating restaurants (like this one and this one), but I like free money as much as anyone... and it's tough to resist a three-course dinner for $35, sometimes with a signature cocktail included, at eateries that are otherwise out of my budget.

On Friday, February 10th, the very last day and meal of Restaurant Week, my roommate and I met a friend for a celebratory dinner at Maya. This modern Mexican cuisine & tequila bar is accurately self-described as "carefully crafted, yet bold flavored." To start, Catherine had a margarita, I had a glass of Syrah, Walter had a beer. Then, we ordered another round (margarita for me) and feasted:

[Entradas: Guacamole, Ensalada de Papaya, Empañada de Camarón]

[Entradas: Tostadas de Atún]

[Platos Fuertes: Crepas de Huitlacoche]

[Entrada as Puerto Fuerte: Tacos de Entraña]

[Postres: Churros (above), Chocoflan (below)]

Yes, it was quite the meal. And even though we didn't all abide by the Restaurant Week guidelines, it was still delicious and not at all astronomically expensive. Every now and again, splurges (both financially and nutritionally) are worth it. Especially when you walk away a month later with a whole twenty bucks ;).

simplicity in the west village

Hunger is effortless. I can always count on it to come around every four hours or so, giving me yet another opportunity to whip up a great meal. When I don't want to cook for myself, finding a place to enjoy a great meal in this city is a cinch, too. And Restaurant Week makes it all the easier (also known as affordable.)

[Crusty bread served with house-made hummus]

[Fresh Garden Vegetable Salad: market vegetables, herbs, aged sherry, olive oil]

[Ottomanelli Dry-Aged Filet Mignon: smoked bacon wrap, grilled vegetables, basil mashed, red wine reduction]

[Chocolate Cake "Brioche:" chocolate sauce, salted caramel sauce, marmalade, strawberry whipped cream]

If only for a few moments, this evening--an American meal and wine pairing (my first!) at 10 Downing Food & Wine with a forever friend--made life simple as well.

getting to know you

Happy Thursday, dears! Today's post is going to be a little different. In the summer of 2008, I revealed a couple of my little known quirks (here and here), but a little less than four years later, and I still don't think you realize how weird unique I am. Fortunately for us both, the 6 Weeks of Bliss Challenge prompted me to share "5 personal tidbits that may surprise my newest fans" and  Cait recently tagged me to share 7 Random Facts about myself. Let's get started. This is going to be fun...

1. I don't have a nickname. It's sad, really, because I wish I did. Nobody calls me "Lala" outside my home. In middle school, my friend Marisa called me "Dani," my friend Nicole called me "Donnie," and my friend Codie called me "Danielley." None of them caught on. In high school, my field hockey coach called me "Alvarez," but being as that is my last name, it doesn't really count. And, although ma souer took to calling me "Dela" (a combination of my initials--including my confirmation name, Lucia), nobody else (except for K, occasionally) does.

2. I am the queen of last minute packing, and with good reason; I find it sad to pack up a bag or suitcase too far in advance. Truth is, as much as I live to travel, I love home. I feel bad for my apartment or my parent's house if I pack up too soon... as if it were somehow disrespectful to be overly eager to stay elsewhere for a while. Totally bizarre, I know.

3. I firmly believe that real foodies appreciate olives. While in Europe, Elizabeth and I made it a point to order olives on each and every thing we ate dining out. Neither of us liked olives, but we were determined to change that by the end of the four months. Having olives with dishes and foods we otherwise really wanted made us acquire a taste for them, and today, I can proudly say I appreciate olives. I don't think there's ever been a more appropriate time to: boo-yah!

4. I have to wash my hands upon arriving at a restaurant. It's most likely a good thing, and definitely a sanitary habit, but I think it's rooted in OCD-ness. I literally always have to wash my hands upon arriving at a restaurant. And when you're, say, on a date with a boy, (or at least someone you don't know very well or haven't seen in a while,) it's probably rude to run to the restroom right away. Wouldn't you agree?

5. I've said this once before, but I strongly dislike most of the process of air traveling. You'd think that having done it so often, I'd feel otherwise. But I don't. It's so annoying to have to arrive early, stand on a long line to go through security, and then sit in an uncomfortable chair (and most likely pay for wi-fi) as you wait the hour or so until your plane begins boarding. Not to mention that I honestly always get a little nervous at the beginning of each flight.

6. I really, really want to go sailing. I made it my goal this summer to meet someone who could take me out on a sailboat. Well, that goal failed. Then, in San Francisco, I did meet someone who could take me out on his sailboat, and offered to do so. Trouble was, I didn't exactly feel comfortable sailing away from the unfamiliar west coast with a stranger. Plus, it looked like it was going to rain.

7. I haven't figured anything out. I mean that. I'm aware that I oftentimes seem "wise," that I'm constantly sharing romantic revelations, and career advice, and ways to live a little better, but that's only because I'm a thoughtful person (almost embarrassingly so) and this is my preferred space to share those deep thoughts of mine. Don't you ever think that someone knows exactly what they're doing. Nobody does, myself included. We all doubt ourselves sometimes! I believe we're all just trying our best, and hopefully learning along the way.

Fin. Now I'm supposed to continue this chain and tag seven more bloggers... but I'm not going to do that. Instead, I'm going to tell you that the delicious meal you see above was enjoyed at Lure Fishbar as per the occasion of a visit from my mom and her friend, the what-a-great-deal allure of Restaurant Week, and the esteemed recommendation of The Purple Passport. I'm also going to ask that you share one of your little known quirks, just so I don't feel like the only odd one. Please and thank you :).

city bites

Good morning all, happy Saturday! I slept in today (gasp) for the first time in a long time and am so excited to have a similarly laid back and rejuvenating weekend ahead :). This past week I had the unique opportunity to experience two of the city's finest restaurants for a fraction of the usual price... otherwise known as New York City Restaurant Week.
Restaurant Week is the perfect chance for myself and others to try out a restaurant that may usually be outside of budget, or test some new restaurant locations with less of a financial risk. Last weekend my best friend, K, and I had a great three-course lunch at Bar Stuzzichini.

Thursday night the boy and I went on an overdue date to the Rocking Horse Cafe, a casual/contemporary restaurant with innovative dishes, modern colors, and pre-Colombian works of art, all accented by the bold Mexican culture. The dark photos display the sleek ambience ;).

For some odd reason I wasn't that hungry so I just had a glass of Chilean CabSauv, a plate off of their regular menu, and relied completely on the boy to order the Restaurant Week special so that I could sample :). He began with a fantastic Watermelon Margarita.

Followed by a well-dressed salad with blue cheese, onions, tomato, and avocado. Yum!

But not enough to ruin my appetite for this beauty! For dinner I'd ordered a Burrito stuffed with grilled vegetables, watercress, avocado, a perfectly Mexican-spiced sauce and topped with pickled radishes.

Does that not sound amazing? Because trust me, it was :). I only made it through two though :(.

There was also a small bowl of black beans and basmati rice on the side which he and I split.

He had all this plus his main dish, the Carne Guisado, jalapeño braised brisket in a rich tomato-lime broth over garlic mashed potatoes. Not my thing but he enjoyed it and completely cleared his plate.

For dessert he chose the Napoleone de Platano, which consisted of layered cinnamon tortilla chips, whipped cream, banana, and a warm chocolate sauce. I very much enjoyed my two bites! My only complaint of our entire dining experience was that I felt rushed at the end when the waiter was trying to clear the table for new customers... other than that, a wonderful dinner.

To make up for it though we went to a nearby saloon for Guinness before going home. I usually go for light beers but there's something about this dark and creamy variety that is so comforting and dessert-like even. Although Guinness is much better in Ireland, there, I said it :). Have you every had a classic in it's country of origin? Isn't it the best? They were definitely the highlight of my travels!