By Doshka Harvey

On a recent hot summer day here in NYC, I sauntered over to The Meatball Shop on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  I'd been hearing much talk about this place and thought it fitting to scope out this eatery that might challenge all grandmas and mothers who make homemade meatballs.

Needless to say, I was left quite impressed by this cozy restaurant jointly owned by Chef Daniel Holzman and Manager Michael Chernow.

They serve 5 types of meatballs:  classic beef, spicy pork, chicken, vegetable, and a weekly special.

Patrons can opt to have their balls with an array of sides ranging from the obvious spaghetti to polenta, mashed potatoes, white beans, market salad, and steamed broccoli just to mention a few.

There are also sandwiches and on my visit I chose the BBLT ($8): ball, bacon, lettuce, tomato.

A delicious and mouthwatering treat, one can taste each individual component of the sandwich as one bites into it:  the well seasoned ball, the fresh lettuce and tomatoes, the savory bacon and well baked focaccia bread.  All these flavors then meld and for a glorious moment one is left questioning, 'Do I stick with team grandma or switch to team Meatball Shop?'  Sorry grandma!!! 

The BBLT is available as the summer special.  It is accompanied by a simple salad of arugula and apples.  And, I must say, this is the most refreshing salad I've had in quite a long time in my adventures eating out.  Chef Daniel, I want to know your secret to that dressing.

Let me add that I also got a thirst quenching watermelon lemonade (flavors vary), on the house, with my BBLT.  For this I have to thank Daily Candy since I am a DC reader and I found out this bit via their site.  A freebie is always good, especially when you live in NYC and must live as a foodie-bugetista.

The Meatball Shop - 84 Stanton Street (between Allen and Orchard on the Lower East Side), Tel. (212) 982-8895

Images © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 - Feature Story

Having a refreshing drink in the summer time - such as a tall glass of iced tea - is one of the simple yet great joys of the season to cool one down.  Wouldn't you welcome a tea that could not only cool you down during the dog days, but also quench your thirst all year 'round?  Well, such a beverage does exist and it comes from New Leaf Brands.

New Leaf is undoubtedly taking the drink industry by storm with their real teas consisting of four categories of teas with 13 flavors, as well as their 4 deliciously distinctive lemonades.

White Tea:  Honeydew, strawberry.

Green Tea:  Ginseng & Honey, mango, plum.

Blue Tea:  Lemon, peach, raspberry, diet lemon, diet peach.

Black Tea:  Lime & Mint, sweet tea, unsweetened.

Lemonades:  The Tiger, strawberry, homemade, blackberry.

The discerning consumer would be happy to know that this product is not only great tasting, but also made with natural fruit flavors, 100% pure organic cane sugar and no HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).

Founded in 2004 on a shoestring budget, New Leaf is considered "the official beverage of taste."  At the NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 we had the great opportunity to chat with Founder & CEO Eric Skae about his growing company.

(Note:  We do apologize that the audio is not perfect, however, we promise to make it better next time.  FYI - I actually had the peach flavor in my hand at the end of the video.  Thanks for watching!)

For more information about New Leaf teas visit:  www.newleafbrands.com

Images courtesy of Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications

By Doshka Harvey

NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 - Discovery #4

We are not sure how we missed Lehi Valley's Golden Caramel Corn Nuggets before, however, we are aware of them now and want you to know about them too.

Flavors:  There is only one - caramel.

Reason for liking:  Nuggets never tasted so finger lickin' good.  Have a handful and you too will be easily addicted.  Try not to be!  Trust us, it's impossible!

Cleverness:  They are sweet and crunchy, while still remaining light and fluffy.  Add a bit of milk to these scrumptious corn puffs and you'll have the perfect tasting bowl of cereal.  Move over Kellogg's Corn Pops!

Image from Lehi Valley

By Doshka Harvey

NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 - Discovery #3

There are many makers of shortbread; however, Willow McGrain's Heritage Shortbread is an absolute delight.

It's the perfect buttery treat to nibble on its own or alongside a hot cup of tea.

Flavors:  Original and original dipped in dark chocolate.

Reason for liking:  Though this shortbread is made in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, it is made in the tradition with "natural ingredients that [Willow McGrain's] grandmother used in Scotland." 

Cleverness:  With slight bits of sugar atop each square biscuit, Heritage Shortbread could easily give the world known Walkers brand a run for their money.

For more information on Heritage Shortbread visit:  http://www.heritageshortbread.com

Image from Heritage Shortbread.  Photography by Jamie Smentkowski 

By Doshka Harvey

NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 - Discovery #2

Plantains are amazing!  They are a staple in Latin cuisine and make a great accompaniment to any mouthwatering dish one can think of.

One of the simplest ways to cook a plantain is to slice it, fry, season with salt and pepper and enjoy.  Turbana has taken this ability to the next level with their 6 flavors of plantain chips and they taste awesome!

Flavors:  Plain, chili, lime, chili lime, garlic, sweet.

Reason for liking:  Tasty, no trans fat, 0% cholesterol.   

Cleverness:  6 simple flavors.  Nothing over the top.  All the flavors will impress, however, one can still taste the essence of the plantain itself, which is key. The standout flavor for us has got to be the lime - you get that bit of salty and tangy all at once which makes your tongue want to dance. 

For more information on Turbana Plantain Chips visit: http://www.platanicious.com/

Scan by ladydoshka.com 

By Doshka Harvey

NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show 2010 - Discovery #1

When we recently attended the NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC we saw many interesting food items and some stood out more than others.  One of the delicious snacks we discovered was for kids - a group of applesauce from Gogo Squeez.

Flavors:  Apple apple, apple strawberry, apple cinnamon, apple peach, apple banana.

Reason for liking:  No added sugar, gluten and dairy free, no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Cleverness:  The applesauce is presented in squeezable pouches (hence the name Gogo Squeez) that one can carry with them while on the go.  This is perfect, especially when it comes to providing healthy snacks to kids while out and about.

For more information on GoGo Squeez visit: http://www.materne.us

Image © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

The 2010 NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show had a great start on Sunday, June 27th here in New York City.

There have been a great number of delicacies to see, sample and talk about.  And, even some interesting fun bits.  For instance:

Check out this wicked cool Mona Lisa located at Jelly Belly booth created entirely from jelly beans.  Now that is a work of art!  Not to mention, patience.

Ever wondered about pasta, how small can it get?  Well, here is the smallest pasta I've ever seen, here displayed by one of the Italian pasta brands at the show.  Who knew pasta could be cute!

What can top a photo opportunity with Clem from New Leaf Brands, dressed as one of the company's Defenders of Taste?  What a great sport!  Stay tuned for my exclusive onsite interview with Founder & CEO of New Leaf, Eric Skae.

By Doska Harvey

What a refreshing delight I had today at Hiroko's Place, a Japanese tea/coffeehouse, located in Soho.  While the cafe does serve food, I was specifically there to sample the Green Tea Parfait ($8.50), which I've heard friends rave about.  And, what can I say?  They truly do have reason to be raving.  Take a look at this beauty!

While I mention in the video that the parfait consists of strawberries, apples, sweet red beans and whipped cream, let me add that there are also cubed pieces of cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon which lend to a very complimentary taste.  Oh, let me not forget, the bits of Corn Flakes placed at the bottom of the glass create a sweet crunch at the end.  How clever is that?  I love it!

Hiroko's Place - 75 Thompson Street (between Spring and Broome Streets in Soho),        Tel. (212) 625-1303

Images © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

The summer 2010 NASFT Fancy Food Show will take place in New York City from June 27-29 at the Jacob K. Javits Center.  It is a chance for those in the specialty food and beverage industry (be it locally or from around to world) to showcase what they have to offer ranging from chocolates, teas and coffee, cheeses, ethnic and organic products, just to name a few.

LadyDoshka will be covering the event, so stay tuned as we bring you some of our delicious finds.  Can't wait!

 Images courtesy of NASFT

By Doshka Harvey

I am sure that most people are familiar with what Pocky sticks are by now, but for those who are not, they are these Japanese biscuit like snacks (made by Japanese food company Glico) that come in the form of long sticks.  They are delicious and can be found in flavors such as chocolate, almond and strawberry as well as an array of other interesting flavors (i.e. melon, coffee, banana, etc.).

One can normally find Pocky sticks in Asian supermarkets or specialty food shops that carry international foods and in some stores such as Target and Wal-Mart.  One just has to keep an eye out for them.

I am currently totally feeling the Coconut Pocky sticks I've discovered.  I had no clue there was a coconut flavor!  They are soooo good!  The biscuit stick is covered in chocolate, and then covered in bits of coconut.  How yum is that?  Very yum!  These are a must try.

A box usually contains 14 sticks and retails anywhere from $1.99-$3.99 depending on where you buy it.  To give you an idea of what a box looks like, here is a scan.  Yes, I scanned my Pocky sticks just to share this foodie goodness with you my readers.

Enjoy!

By Doshka Harvey

Back in February I attended the New York Wine Expo and made a great discovery. No, it was not an amazing bottle of pinot noir, merlot or riesling, but instead, tasty, delicious and mouth watering cheesesticks from the John WM Macy CheeseSticks company.

I am so hooked on these snacks; I must share their yummy goodness with my readers. 

They are so good Oprah and Wendy Williams should be talking about them, and if they are not, then they are really missing out.

Based in Elmwood, NJ  CheeseSticks creates their crunchy snacks from sheets of fresh sourdough, shredded aged cheese and seasonings, before cutting and twisting them into their signature shape and baking them twice.

One can eat the sticks as they are or pair them with wine, use them to accompany appetizers or add them to one's favorite recipes.  They are that good!  Some flavours include Original Cheddar, Dijon Swiss, Tuscan Swiss, Romano Garlic and Melting Parmesan.

In addition to CheeseSticks, there are also CheeseCrisps.  These are the bite-sized squared versions of the cheesesticks, which make perfect servings at cocktail parties.  Flavours consist of Sesame Gruyere, Rosemary Cheddar, Smoked Jalapeno and Cheddar & Asiago, just to name a few.

For the person with a sweet tooth, SweetSticks are another must have item created by the John WM Macy company.  There is Java Cinnamon and Dutch Chocolate, but hopefully this will change in future to include a potential third - Raspberry SweetSticks.

A good thing to mention about the CheeseSticks products is that they are all natural and have no trans fats as mentioned on their website. 

Costs: Three pack, $10.99; Six pack, $18.99; 12 pack, $35.99

Find CheeseSticks at your local grocery store or for more convenient shopping buy online at: www.cheesesticks.com

Image courtesy of John WM Macy CheeseSticks

By Doshka Harvey

Tanuki Tavern is a gem in the Meatpacking District of New York City and it might appear that most foodies are not as aware of it as they should be.  It is located at the Hotel Gansevoort and instead of focusing on dinner only the self described 'Japanese gastropub and sushi bar,' now serves lunch with a number of delightful small affordable plates to choose from.

Plates of choice:

Veggie Rolls $6 (half a roll of 4 pieces), $10 (whole roll of 8 pieces)

These rolls were exquisitely presented with wasabi and slices of ginger on the side.  With every bite there was a crunch while biting into the veggies which demonstrated their freshness.  Put together with asparagus, cucumber & scallion topped with roasted sweet peppers, avocado & truffle oil this dish is worth having.  One thing I do wish, however, is that they would create a separate sauce to dip the rolls in instead of just regular soy sauce at the table. 

Tebayaki $7 (6 wings)

While many places like to have wings as one of the small dishes or finger foods on their menu, this is not one that Tanuki Tavern should keep around.  Their grilled citrus salted chicken wings were not that impressive and were a bit under done for my taste.  This was one to doggie bag and I did just that, bringing the remaining 5 wings home for a little more extra cooking.  On top of that, though I was there for lunch, I was charged the dinner price of $9 for my wings, instead of $7.  I must admit I should have noticed it myself before leaving the restaurant, but I didn't.  Needless to say, the wings were a definite miss on all fronts and I'll be sticking to Hooters for wings from now on.

Tori Dango $7 (3 meatballs)

The absolute hit of the day was the Tori Dango - chicken meatballs in rice crust with spicy ponzu sauce.  I'm usually not a fan of meatballs that are not made with beef, but I decided to try something new.  I'm glad I did. These have got to be the best chicken meatballs in the entire world - tasty and juicy. The rice covers the meatballs perfectly and crisply.  First one bites into the layer of rice to get to the meatballs and when you do, it's like heaven.  Adding some ponzu (Japanese citrus based sauce which contains soy sauce with several other spices) takes it all to another level.  These are definitely worth ordering a few plates of.

Overall, my Tanuki Tavern experience was a good one.  The ambience is welcoming and comforting.  I definitely plan to go back and suggest that you give them a try.

Tanuki Tavern at Hotel Gansevoort - 18 Ninth Ave. (entrance at 13th Street),                     Tel. (212) 660-6766, http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/restaurants-and-bars/tanuki-tavern

All images © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

In NYC there is an abundance of great restaurants and lounges to experience - Lea (located under the east walkway of The Hemsley Building) is a quaint and comfortable place to saunter into for the enjoyment of a full meal or, if you prefer, cocktails along with an array of appetizers.   

While this restaurant/wine bar/lounge can appeal to everyone, it is usually packed with after work suits from around the area.  This is actually not a bad thing if you are single female in search of a potential mate.  There seems to be good stock here.  But, enough about that, let's focus on the food.

Cocktail of choice:  The Geisha $12

This was a nice drink to have and went well with appetizers, though I must say mine was  slightly on the strong side.   Ingredients consisted of Amaretto di Saronno, Stoli citrus, sake, muddled lemon and sugar.

Appetizers of choice:

Brazilian Pasteis $6 (small serving)

When I last visited Lea their pasteis were $7 for a small with 3-4 pieces, however, it seems they have changed their pricing a bit.  A small serving is now $6 and a large $11, according to their website.  Pasteis are basically deep fried dough filled with chicken, corn and palmito (palmito is another name for heart of palm).  They are crispy and delicious.  I highly recommend trying these.

Chicken Satay $6 (small serving)

Previously $8 for a small serving, one can now savor six pieces for $6 ($11 for a larger serving).  Sometimes chicken satay can be so bland depending on where one goes, but not at Lea.  Their chicken satay is well seasoned.  No blandness here.  You can't go wrong with this one.  Don't forget to dip into their creamy peanut sauce.

Eel Avocado & Cucumber Role $5 (6 pieces) and Alaska Role $5 (6 pieces)

Pieces of sushi are so beautiful and colorful to look at.  They are akin to works of art to be appreciated and better yet once eaten.  Delightful presentation!

Lea NYC - 230 Park Ave.(btw 45th and 46th St.), Tel. (212) 922-1546, www.leanyc.com

All images © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

The best pizza in New York has got to be Joe's Pizza on Carmine St. in Manhattan.

It may not be a sit down joint and the space is smallish, however, their slices are always consistent in taste and quality.  And, at $2.50 a slice, you really can't go wrong! 

Yeah, there are some pizza places that will offer $1 per slice, but you better believe that you will get your $2.50s worth at Joe's.

If you don't want to take my word for it, just stop by and see some of the celebrity pictures on the wall - Jay Leno, Neil Patrick Harris, Leonardo DiCaprio and Seann William Scott just to name a few.  If Joe's can be my and their pit stop, you might want to consider making it yours as well.

Joe's Pizza - 7 Carmine St. @ Bleecker St., (212) 366-1185/(212) 255-3916 www.joespizza.com 

 All images © 2010 Doshka Harvey

By Doshka Harvey

The 3rd Annual New York Wine Expo will be taking place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center beginning February 26th-28th.  Whether you are a wine lover, a wine newbie or just plain wine curious, this is a chance to experience an array of Italian, German, Australian and South American bottles.  Also, at the expo there will be selections from New York, Oregon, California and French wine makers.

Don't miss your chance to swish, swish, swish.

For more information and tickets, go to www.newyorkwineexpo.com

Images courtesy of G.S. Schwartz & Co.

By Doshka Harvey

Can I just say that I am going gaga for Popchips?  What are Popchips?  Well, if you don't know, they are these all natural potato chips that are not fried or baked at all.  Wait for it...they are popped and they are spectacular!

I discovered them this evening and I am so enamored, I could not wait to hear from the pr rep to get proper images for this write-up.  I threw the bag they come in on my scanner and scanned the bag right away.  I just had to share this new found goodness.  The salt & pepper flavor I had was great, however, they do have others such as original, barbeque, sour cream & onion, cheddar, sea salt & vinegar, and parmesan garlic.

Information on their site states that "in the West, popchips are available at leading retailers including Safeway, Whole Foods Market, Vons, QFC, and Ralphs. In the Northeast, popchips are available in Duane Reade, Wegman's, King Kullen and a growing number of many other world class retailers. Nationally popchips are available at Jamba Juice and select Target and Costco locations." Or one can order directly at www.popchips.com.

What are you waiting for?  Get popchip-in!!!