Monthly Archives: November 2015

Lil’ Frankie’s

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By no means is Lil’ Frankie’s in the East Village new. They’ve been around making Neopolitan wood burning pizza and homemade pastas for years. But, this neighborhood gem also offers some delicious specials and dishes, and a super extensive wine list. So come hungry, thirsty, and hit up the ATM beforehand, since they’re cash-only. From the outside, you’d assume it was a small, intimate restaurant, but step inside, and work your way back through the winding passageways and there’s a back area, complete with a garden as well. 

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To start, I had their Stracciatella. It’s basically the center of buratta cheese, stuffed in a fresh tomato, and it’s so amazing. The cheese itself is rich, and super creamy, and pairing it with the firm and flavorful tomato atop olive oil and balsamic drizzle makes for a killer combination. 

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For my entree, I ordered one of their specials that night, Trout Almondino. This was so delicious, that I apologize in advance if it’s not a special when you’re there. The trout is filleted, and generously portioned, cooked to perfection, and topped with oil, lemon, beautiful herbs and spices, and sliced almonds. The fish is tender and so flavorful, and accompanied by a really nice, fresh spinach salad. I finished the whole thing, was full, but could have still found some room for more, it was that good.

The Shorts:
Name: Lil’ Frankie’s
Location: 19 First Avenue, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Definitely. It’s not my first time here, and it won’t be my last. With new specials always being turned out, you’re in for a treat whenever you make it in. 
Would I recommend it? Definitely. There really is something for everyone, especially if you’re a homemade pizza and pasta person. I also love one of their sister restaurants, Supper, so, check that out too. 

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PETEE’S PIE COMPANY

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With Thanksgiving being just around the corner, I’d been thinking about pie a lot. I’ve made my own, which have luckily turned out great, but, they can be a lot of work, so, I like to just enjoy the ones that other bakers are making. So, I was off to the Lower East Side to check out Petee’s Pie Company. Most places make a big fuss about decor and “stuff”, but here the focus and decor is really simply the racks of pies right there on display, made fresh daily. They make their pies using seasonal local produce, natural fair-trade sweeteners, crust made with organic flour and grass-fed butter from New York State, and even offer gluten-free and vegan options.

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Everything looked awesome, but I narrowed it down to two slices. First, I had the Maple Whiskey Walnut. This pie was incredible. Like, some of the best I’ve had. The crust is buttery, almost a bit savory, and totally melts in your mouth. The center of the pie is almost custard like in texture, rich, with a hint of whiskey at the very end. Topped with a candied walnut crust, it’s seriously hard to find anything wrong with this pie (aside from the fact that I didn’t get a whole one and only a slice). 

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Then, I also got the Crumb Spiced Asian Pear. Another slam dunk Petee’s, well done. Again, the crust here is the same, and equally delicious. The crumble on top is just perfect, it’s buttery, a little crunchy, and also melts in your mouth. The pear is fresh and tender, not too sweet, with flavors of cinnamon and pecan pieces for added texture and crunch. This really was an excellent piece of pie. Again, I’m kicking myself for not getting a whole pie of this flavor. Then again, that would also add more time at the gym. But, it would totally be worth it. 

The Shorts:
Name: Petee’s Pie Company
Location: 61 Delancey Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Absolutely. These were some of the most delicious pies I’ve had, and with an abundant amount of flavors to choose from, I’ve got some good work cut out for me. 
Would I recommend it? For sure. They’re taking Thanksgiving orders too, so, if you’re in the NYC area, you’ll definitely want to place an order.