A long weekend in NYC

A few weeks back, I took a long weekend to visit one of my closest friends, Leigh Anne, in New York City. Last spring, she picked up and moved across the country to follow her Big Apple dreams. I'll admit I mourned the loss of my devoted brunch buddy, but it was quickly outweighed by my happiness for my friend and her exciting opportunity as well as the anticipation of a visit to New York over the summer. I was thankful for having seen much of the tourist side of the city in a previous trip, so we could spend the weekend catching up and leisurely exploring.

Luckily Leigh Anne shares my sense of adventure and love of food, so much of the four days was spent in search of food. Between a local and a devoted foodie, we had an endless list of places we were hoping to fit in.

Fort Defiance

Of course, we visited Chelsea Market, and made a stop Fat Witch. S'mores in a brownie, what can I say, it's an excellent combination. For happy hour, we dared a walk through Midtown on a Friday night so we could try Southern Hospitality, a bar and restaurant owned by Justin Timberlake that stays true to his southern roots. Leigh Anne and I felt so at home at Spitzer's, a gastropub in the Lower East Side. Communal tables, craft beer and a lively atmosphere -- it's the kind of place we could spend hours in, and have been known to do. As soon as we read 40 beers on tap, we were sold. We made the trek to Red Hook with Becca, our friend who happens to be Leigh Anne's roommate, for brunch at Fort Defiance. It was a quaint restaurant that was worth the trek, with hearty portions, seasonal ingredients and tablecloths that reminded us of the southwest.

Becca, Leigh Anne and I ventured to The Standard hotel's Biergarten at the High Line for drinks with Leigh Anne's friends and I tried the Berliner Weiss, a regional German wheat bear that's fruity and a little sour.  It's funny that it took a trip across the country to step inside The Standard, when I used to drive past the one in Hollywood on a weekly basis. On the way home, we got a sweet tooth and that meant a stop at Magnolia Bakery, made popular by Sex and the City, was in order. I couldn't not try the cupcakes, since I've spent my adulthood venturing to Sprinkles. I enjoyed the Banana Cupcake, which had a light, more banana-muffin-like flavor with a sweet caramel frosting. There were also stops for coffee, of course. We are journalists by trade after all. And, we got a chance to try the ever-popular Shake Shack burger, and compare it to In-N-Out and the numerous other "road-side" burger stands. The consensus was it was a good burger, and each has it's own perks. And of course, what trip to New York would be complete without a slice of pizza.

     

Fried Chicken and Cheddar Waffle from Buttermilk Channel with a view of the

 skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park (left), DBGB Kitchen and Bar, and

Cookies and Cream and Salted Carmel from Blue Marble Ice Cream

But among our many stops, there were a few standouts and I am so excited to share my three to try for New York City.

DBGB Kitchen and Bar 
Daniel Boulud's restaurant in the Bowery has been on top of my list of places to try in New York for quite some time and I was excited to enjoy a night out with Leigh Anne and Becca during my visit. I originally saw DBGB featured on a Food Network show, and the French bistro meets American tavern concept intrigued me. The menu features a variety of house-made sausages from around the globe, traditional entrees like duck and steak frites and inspired gourmet burgers. I mulled over the menu for a good 20 minutes, but in the end went with the first item that caught my eye. The Piggie is a beef burger topped with pulled pork, jalapeno mayonnaise and a mustard slaw. And I was not disappointed. Each bite was thoughtfully layered, but the flavor profile not overly complex. Beyond our satisfying meals, the main dining room took inspiration from the history of the Bowery as a restaurant supply district. The walls were lined with shelving stocked with dry goods, table wares and copper pots from other acclaimed chefs. It felt almost if you were dining in an enormous, walk-in pantry albeit more chic than industrial.

Doughnut Plant
Who doesn't love doughnuts? I have favorite bakeries or ice cream shops in nearly every city I've visited, and Doughnut Plant is now sitting at the top of my New York list. Leigh Anne shares my love of this sweet treat. In fact we had a favorite bar in Phoenix with doughnuts on their dessert menu that quickly became an after-work favorite. So after a red-eye flight and a quick stop to drop off my luggage, we ventured to Chelsea to get a late breakfast. With all the seasonal and unique flavors, I probably could have ordered a half dozen doughnuts. Luckily I had some self restraint and settled for two featuring my favorite fruits. The peach cake doughnut had a great crumb texture. My favorite though was the vanilla bean yeast doughnut with blackberry filling. It had a perfect ratio of vanilla in the dough and sweetness in the berry filling, so that neither overpowered the other. Doughnut Plant's filled doughnuts are square with a hole in the center like traditional doughnuts. It's absolute genius because now there is filling in every bite! There is no reason to wonder why Doughnut Plant is celebrating it's 20th anniversary, they know doughnuts and it shows. While the wait wasn't long, there was a constant flow of people coming and going as we sat and enjoyed our doughnuts.

Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg was quite possibly my favorite part of my entire weekend in New York City. It's a weekly food market with vendors from restaurants and local food proveyors across the city. We ventured to the Brooklyn Bridge Park location on Sunday morning so we could enjoy the views of Manhattan as we enjoyed our snacks. There options were abundant, ranging across many cuisines, but I had my eyes set on trying Blue Marble Ice Cream. But first I opted for something more savory, on Becca's recommmendation, from Buttermilk Channel. We got one of my favorites, buttermilk chicken on a cheddar waffle. Simple, but done well. I enjoyed it so much that on my next trip to the Big apple, I plan to make a stop at their restaurant in Brooklyn. After, I stopped to get a two-scoop cone at Blue Marble to enjoy as we wandered the length of Brooklyn Bridge Park from the piers to the Brooklyn Bridge. I opted for a perhaps strange combination so I could try both of the featured flavors, cookies & cream and salted caramel. Artisan ice cream is really worth the cost, it just tastes so much better! It was the perfect treat for a summer afternoon.

50 beers to try

I grew up around beer but it was only quite recently that I developed a true affinity for beer. After I tried some flavorful wheat beers, smoky porters and rich stouts, I realized there was actually something worth liking. And I have since discovered that sipping a good craft beer is like tasting a fine wine.

Last month, my sister introduced me to the term “hop head,” sort of the beer drinkers’ equivalent to a wine snob.  I do enjoy touring breweries, visiting ale houses where I can try flights of beers and I know terms like wort and some of the names of the more common hops. Am I a hop head? I don’t know, but I’ll admit I am a bit of a beer aficionado.

So it was no surprise that the first book I’ve tackled for 2013 is Brewed Awakening by Joshua Bernstein. Joshua was a beer writer for the now-extinct Gourmet magazine, one of my most trusted culinary guides. (I am so thankful it lives on as an app, Gourmet Live, at least) On a broad scale Joshua’s book is a testament to the craft beer revolution, but it touches on everything from the four ingredients that comprise beer and homebrewing to leading craft brewers and beer festivals small and large around the country. And while he focuses primarily on the American craft beer scene, he touches on international breweries of note as well as a few select craft offerings by the macro-brewers. One thing I love about this book is that Joshua weaves in his top picks to try throughout the book, explaining some of the subtleties of what imparts flavor, aroma, etc., to the particular beers to make them unique. I highly recommend the book as a great guide, especially to anyone interested in the burgeoning craft beer scene, but even to those looking to learn more about beer.

Over the past few months I’ve read quite a few lists of beers to try, curious to see how many I’d tasted. On a couple, I’d actually tried 10%, not bad for only a year or so of really exploring craft beer. The best part about these lists is stumbling on interesting beers that I’ve never heard of and might like to try (although tracking some of the smaller craft brews down is another story).

We'll start with two lists I recommend perusing that have a lot of variety. I have tasted 5 of 50 on GQ’s "50 beers to try right now" but I think at some point I will have to try them all. I did a bit better on Cooking Light’s “Best American craft beers." I’ve tried 7 of 50 on this list. Here’s a couple shorter, but equally interesting lists -- Huffington Post’s “10 craft beers to try right now” and Bon Appetit’s “Strange brews: The weirdest beers in America.” I’ve tried zero on either of these lists but there’s two beers included on them that top my list of ones I want to try soon: Ommegang Hennepin and Willoughby Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter.

There’s just something about kicking back on the weekend, relaxing with a cold beer and some football – simple and enjoyable. But why limit yourself to the usual, or worse to a bland beer. The great craft brewers are experimenting with unexpected ingredients, developing complex flavor profiles and pushing the boundaries of what is expected.  I’ve tried some pretty unique beers, and I’d say 9/10 times I was pleasantly surprised. That’s why I love ale houses that offer flights, it always forces me to pick at least one beer that I’d probably never touch otherwise.

All of this has inspired me to create my own list of beers to try, highlights from my own craft beer adventures. While the beers on my list cross the spectrum, I like some for their easy drinking quality, some for their complexity, and some for the unexpected ingredients, but I enjoy all of these fifty for their great flavor profiles. So without further ado, my top 50 beers to try:

1.       Abita Imperial Oyster Stout

2.       Anchor Brewing Anchor Steam Beer

3.       Anchor Brewing Breckle’s Brown

4.       Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

5.       Ass Kisser Vanilla Pale Ale

6.       Ass Kisser Smoked Porter

7.       Barrel Trolley Belgian White

8.       Batch 19

9.       Bison Chocolate Stout

10.   Bison Gingerbread Ale

11.   Bison Honey Basil Ale

12.   Blue Moon Farmhouse Red

13.   Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

14.   Boulder Beer Planet Porter

15.   Breckenridge Agave Wheat

16.   Breckenridge Avalanche Ale

17.   Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

18.   Deschutes Red Chair NWPA

19.   Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

20.   Fifty Fifty Donner Party Porter

21.   Four Peaks Peach Ale

22.   Four Peaks Pumpkin Porter

23.   Four Peaks Sunbru

24.   Firestone Walker Walker Reserve Porter

25.   Full Sail Ltd 06

26.   Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

27.   Lagunitas Lucky 13

28.   Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

29.   Leinenkugel’s Canoe Paddler

30.   Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark

31.   Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

32.   Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter

33.   Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale

34.   Mudshark Havablue

35.   Nimbus Oatmeal Stout

36.   North Coast Old Rasputin

37.   Odell Cutthroat Porter

38.   Odell Isolation Ale

39.   Prescott Brewing Achocolypse

40.   Prescott Brewing Petrified Porter

41.   Rogue Mocha Porter

42.   Rogue Old Crustacean

43.   Russian River Brewing Pliny the Elder

44.   Speakeasy Prohibition Ale

45.   Stone Levitation Ale

46.   Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers

47.   Stone Suitable for Cave Aging (porter aged in bourbon barrels)

48.   That Strawberry Blonde

49.   Third Shift Amber Lager

50. Wasatch Ghost Rider

Phoenix's ale houses

Angel's Trumpet Ale House

Whether its the result of the growing number of small-batch breweries in Arizona or an ever-growing interest in craft beer, Phoenix has recently become home to a number of ale houses, and as a beer aficionado myself I couldn't be happier. I am pleased that these new ale houses have a commitment to changing taps and bringing in seasonal and limited releases, in addition to some great food. 

Angel's Trumpet Ale House
Angel's Trumpet boasts 31 changing taps, including 2 nitro taps and a hard cider, and their entire concept is centered around craft beer. What sets Angel's Trumpet apart is that their taps are constantly changing -- you could visit every week, or even twice in the same week, and find completely different beers. This is where their flights come in very handy,  for $9 you get six 3 oz. pours. I've found that if at least two beers sound interesting, it's worth doing a flight since the beers might not be on tap during your next visit. When I order a flight I usually have one odd choice, so there's the added bonus that you might discover something you may not have expected to like. The friendly atmosphere and large patio are quickly making it a favorite watering hole. Angel's Trumpet's menu compliments the beer with a variety of sandwiches, salads and pizzas, including a delicious grilled cheese and shroom stroganoff burger.
http://www.angelstrumpetalehouse.com/Angels_Trumpet/ATAH.html

Brat Haus
When one of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix, Oregano's, moved out of its cozy original Old Town location to accommodate a larger crowd, I was very curious to see what restaurant would spring on such a prime location. Brat Haus does not disappoint, it converted the charm of the location into a brewpub and beer garden, serving up three of my favorite things -- artisan sausages, Belgian fries and craft beer. Their menu has a dozen types of sausages ranging from your basic beer brat to the rattlesnake ripper. And if you're really hungry and adventurous, try the Pig Mac, a 1/4 lb. sausage patty and 1/4 lb. beef patty with caramelized onions and cheddar. It's decadent but well worth it, especially when washed down with a good brew. I discovered one of my new favorites at Brat Haus, the Stone Smoked Porter. Brat Haus has 25 taps, two of which rotate seasonal brews from Green Flash and Dogfish head. And they even do "adult" milk shakes, who could say no to that?
http://brathausaz.com/

World of Beer
World of Beer recently expanded to the West Coast, opening a location near ASU. If you're a casual beer drinker, they have a knowledgeable staff able to answer questions and steer you in the right direction, and if you're a beer aficionado  you can find more than 40 beers on tap and probably three times that in bottles, ranging from craft brews to more widely available brews like Guinness. It's a great place to try something new, since they have so many options within each type of beer and their drafts change weekly.
http://wobusa.com/Locations/Tempe.aspx

Where to eat in Denver

One of my favorite activities is researching restaurants I haven't visited and consequently trying them, alone if need be.  After spending 10 years in total between northern and southern California and having an adventurous palate, I'll admit I have become a culinary snob of sorts. I enjoy a wide array of international cuisines and have come to expect such diversity from large cities. 

I was pleasantly surprised in my visits to Denver and can honestly say it now boasts a few of my favorite restaurants. 

Shredded bison Indian taco, Tocabe

-- Tocabe -- I can't claim to have stumbled upon Tocabe all on my own, though I wish I had. I actually turned on Food Network in one of the nights before my trip to Denver and Guy Fieri was featuring Tocabe on Diners, Drive-in, and Dives. And Tocabe lives up to all the high expectations I had for it -- generous portions, southwest flavors, and the absolute best fry bread I've ever tasted. Ben and Matt have their recipe perfected. While Bison is not uncommon on restaurant menus in Colorado, when Tocabe tops Indian fry bread with it, the result is an excellent balance of the slightly sweet fry bread, seasoned bison and spicy salsa. Furthermore, the owners are the friendliest people you'll meet, I went twice in three days during my visit and Ben welcomed me with a warm hello and "You're back so soon?" upon my return. It's not simply great food, but great service that keeps me coming back to my favorite restaurants. If only I lived closer than a plane ride away...

http://www.tocabe.com/

-- Rioja -- My sister, a recent culinary school graduate, introduced my family to Rioja. When she suggests a restaurant, I know that it's going to be good. What I enjoyed most about Rioja was the creativity in their menu, in their use of seasonal ingredients and inspiration from across the culinary spectrum. The resulting dishes were well thought out, carefully plated and layer upon layer of flavor. My dinner was an artichoke tortelloni, which had artichoke mousse filling and artichoke broth that sang together brilliantly. The soft flavors of the mousse were heightened by the truffle essence in the broth. Even more, dessert forced me to be adventurous and step out of my comfort zone. Not one who usually likes fig, I found myself enjoying the fig-filled beignets, and furthermore for one who doesn't like meringue I was surprised to find the baked alaska to be my favorite dessert. Rioja's baked alaska was once again a clever combinations of flavors and textures -- a coconut macaroon, the smoothest pineapple sorbet and a pineapple gastrique, and of course flambé on the meringue done tableside.

http://www.riojadenver.com/

-- Amato's Ale House -- For craft beer aficionados Amato's Ale House is a must visit in Denver, with 42 craft beers on tap, that change daily, and a gorgeous rooftop patio. I went for Sunday brunch and enjoyed a generously portioned vanilla porter cinnamon raisin french toast. Also equally delicious was the lobster mac & cheese. But really my attention at Amato's was mainly on the beer. To accompany my meal, instead of a traditional mimosa, I got my perfect mimosa made with Breckenridge Brewery's Agave Wheat -- unique and so refreshing! For the adventurous, the less decisive or anyone in between, Amato's does mini flights so you can try their draft selections three at a time. Sharing with my sister, we sampled six beers, that ranged from light summer ales to a milk stout, and found a few new favorites.

http://alehousedenver.com/