A Voce - Restaurant Week Lunch, Summer 2012

Antipasti
Passato di Zucchine
Zucchini Soup, Pesto, Almonds, Pecorino

Antipasti
Mozzarella
Marinated Prosciutto, Stone Fruit

Antipasti
Pesce Crudo
Fluke, Marinated Cucumbers, Chilies, Lemon

Secondi
Arista di Maiale
Roasted Pork, Pickled Cherries, Coriander, Mustard Greens

Mandilli
Pasta Handkerchiefs, Braised Merluzzo, Toasted Fennel,
Capers, Olives

Dolci
Semifreddo
Semi-Frozen Lemon Mousse, Blueberries,
Candied Lemon

Dolci
Crema di Cioccolato
Chocolate Crema, Espresso, Almonds

Coffee, Marshmallows

A Voce

41 Madison Ave (at 26th St)

New York NY

212 545 8555

Dovetail - Restaurant Week Lunch, Summer 2012

Bread Service
White Cheddar Cornbread, White Truffle Parmesan Arancini

Appetizer

Cucumber Vichyssoise

Pickled Onion, Smoked Trout, Dill

Appetizer
Squid a la Plancha
Snow Peas, Ginger, Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

Entree
Pork Loin
Barley Risotto, Bacon, Peaches

Entree
Roasted Chicken
English Peas, Mushrooms, Basil

Dessert
Devil's Food Cake
Chocolate Chantilly, Toasted Marshmallows, Peanut Butter Pudding

Dessert
Passion Fruit Mousse
Coconut Dacquoise, Blueberry Sorbet, Basil

Dovetail
103 West 77th St
New York NY 10024
212 362 3800

Italy - Practical Travel Advice

Like most international airports, getting out of Rome-Fiumicino Airport and into Rome has a myriad of options. There is a bus that goes straight to Roma Termini from the airport. Look for the Terravision Bus / Atral Bus signs.

Roma Termini is the main train station of Rome and it connects to all major Italian cities and other European cities such as Paris, Munich, Geneva, Basel and Vienna. It also has bus and Roma Metro connections to get you to your hotel in Rome.

The bus is comfy, and costs €4 per person (one way) and it takes an hour to get to Roma Termini. If you aren’t in a rush, this is simply the most cost effective way to get to the center. There are trains that go from the airport to Roma Termini, but that is about €14 and takes half an hour. 

When travelling to anywhere in general, keep these things in mind:

Not everything is going to be in English – be sure to know the following words in their native tongue:
Ticketing/Ticket Office
Entry/Exit
Restrooms
Danger
The names of the cities/places you are going to in their native tongue. Ex: Firenze for Florence, Venezia for Venice. Extremely important especially when you are catching public transportation.

Currency – If possible, bring the local currency with you. Do it at your home bank/money exchange weeks before you leave. The Money Changers in Europe have VERY UNDESIREABLE exchange rates; bring very little US Dollars with you.

Credit and Debit cards – Call your banks to let them know that you are travelling and ask if they have partners in the country you are visiting to. (ex: Bank of America's partner in Italy is BNP Paribas. I didn't get charged anything by withrawing euros from their ATM) This allows you to withdraw money at the best rates from an ATM and you don’t have to carry much cash with you. Remember, the best exchange rates are transacted via plastic in Europe.

Learn how to read a map, and always carry one with you -If you are lost and the person you are asking for directions don’t speak your language, just show them the map and point. Locals are very friendly (for the most part) and will point you to the bus stop/train station even if they don’t know how to speak your language.

Learn how to take public transportation! – There are no ifs and buts on this one because when you are on public transportation it won’t go anywhere that isn’t on its route. It will show you the way the locals live and allows you to be part of the landscape. If you don’t know how, it is always good to practice on the New York City Subway and Bus System because if you can take the NYC subway like a pro – getting on public transit in any part of the world will be a cinch.

DON’T BE STUPID, AND DON’T ACT PRIVILEGED -The comforts you are used to back home may not exist in the country you are visiting or may not exist in the same manner you are used to. Take everything around you with a grain of salt and enjoy your surroundings. This is why you are travelling! Don't call any attention to yourself and be very careful of petty crimes such as pickpockets.

Public service announcement found
in Florence buses. IN ENGLISH!!
(they also have it in Italian, fyi)

Italy-specific travel advice

If you are riding Trenitalia (there are many train lines in Italy), remember to validate your ticket before getting on the train. If the inspector comes into your train and your ticket isn't validated, you will pay a fine. Rail Europe charges more money, so your best bet is to come up to the train station and just buy it from the machine or from the ticket window. The fares are the same price regardless of buying them in advance or 5 minutes before the train leaves.

Trenitalia train tickets are valid 6 hours after validation (not after buying). If you are travelling between Firenze Rifredi and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, you can still go back to Firenze Rifredi using the same ticket if the train you are taking is within the 6 hour window from validation.

Trenitalia serves a lot of destinations, however this is the slower train. This is the "Trains for Local Transport" in the Trenitalia website. The express trains are here. All trains are comfy regardless of speed; however the express trains are definitely much more comfier, it has its own bathrooms, a bar car and a table for your eating pleasure. They are also equipped with "free wifi" but it only accomodates passengers who have Italian mobile service. It didn't allow me to use their wifi without an account.

Sometimes the express trains are the only option you have - BUT MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHICH TRAIN YOU ARE TAKING BACK before you wander off on your daytrip. This is especially true if you are taking a daytrip to Venice (Venezia), the only option I had going back to Florence was the Frecciarossa.

When getting on a long train trip, try to eat before you get on the train - or pack a picnic to eat on the train. Sometimes, you get lucky and a vendor will come up to the train and sell prosciutto and cheese sandwiches (luxury! prosciutto!) and drinks. This is the only time I saw them and I took a lot of intercity trains.

If you didn't pack - don't despair. They have vending machines right by the tracks. But it is always good to have food with you.

Water is EVERYWHERE and is potable and FREE! Reuse your drink container and drink from any fountain in Italy! And you can even wash your face with it!

The bus system in Florence and Rome are very good, it is just a matter of learning how to use them. There are clearly marked bus stops and they say where they go, so just read them. Be sure to get your bus tickets from the Tabacci and validate them once inside the bus. They have different kinds of validating machines, one of them is this yellow one. If the bus is packed, and you cant get to the machine, you can ask a fellow passenger to validate it for you. I've seen this happen a couple of times.

Bus Ticket Validating Machine

The Rome Metro is just a big X on the city and you can transfer from one diagonal to the other at Roma Termini. It really is a no-brainer, especially if you are used to a public transit.

You will be walking a LOT wear comfy shoes. If you go in the summer months, keep your cool with Gelato. Preferably 3 times a day.

Don't worry about getting lost - the Italians are very nice people and they will give you directions gladly. If they don't know the answer to your question, they will ask another person for you and then point you where to go.

Ciao!

*******

Other blogposts in this series:

Daytrip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa from Florence for 9 Euros!

Airline Food: Delta Airlines (NY to Rome)

Once upon a time, I loved flying. That was before I had to take my shoes off, get a patdown and buy my own snacks. 

I still love travelling, I just hate going through airport security and making sure I have a "cheeseburger insurance" in my purse. (I always fly with a cheeseburger or some heavy sandwich with me when I fly domestic.)

This time around, I had actual meals!

Dinner:
Salad, Bread, Crackers, Cheese, Chicken with Rice and White Wine!

Chicken and Rice, up close
This was very flavorful, and props for the chicken for not being rubbery.
Sauce is a bit on the sour side and the rice was also good.

I also love that my blondie is by this company called
Love and Quiches!

By sheer stroke of luck, my seatmate found out that the couple ahead of us were upgraded and she asked for their seat (thank you, Doriane!) and we ended up in this section...

and we had LEGROOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

Somehow, it wasn't as lucky as you would think it is as devil child was sitting behind us and kept screaming to the top of her lungs and kicking both our seats. I seriously wanted to unleash my inner tiger mother on that child but I stopped myself. Instead I went for the next best thing. I went to the galley and asked for more wine. If you are under 21, and you fly Delta - you still CAN'T drink on the plane because you are technically on US soil, so the age rule applies. Yes, the flight attendant asked me if I was over 21. (victory!)

The wine helped a tiny bit as the sleep i got was little to none with the stupid kicking. Im not sure if im happy to get all that legroom... but all bad things must come to an end with sunrise over the clouds and breakfast!

Coffee, Egg Muffin, Banana and OJ.

Egg muffin up close. It really held up to the bad reputation of
airline food. LOL

They say it's not the journey but the destination. With a devil child kicking your seat? It's about the destination. With the free wine to soothe you? It's the journey.

In any case - Hello, Rome!

Veritas Tasting Menu

"The only way to do it (run a restaurant) is to be in the kitchen all the time."
- Sam Hazen, Executive Chef

True to his personal philosophy of running restaurants, my hubby and I had a wonderful second wedding anniversary celebration at Veritas. I barely had the chance to peruse the menu when Chef Sam Hazen came to our table and introduced himself. He was quite the jolly person and he has this way of making his diners feel special.*

The Chef's Tasting Menu is a line on the menu. If you weren't looking for it, you won't find it. If you want to know what's in it, YOU WON'T. According to our friend Ryan**, who was our server for the meal, the tasting menu is never the same for any table. It really goes for whatever the chef feels like serving you.

They are very cautious though, the chef personally asked us three times if we had any food allergies.

One by one, I indulged in Sam Hazen's emotions. My god, his emotions are delicious!

Here's the progression of our meal:

Bread Service

Home Made Biscuit with Shallot Braised in Mangalitsa Pork (front)
Stratchi Bread (Back)

Seared Prime Sirloin with Quail Egg and Garlic Crostini,
Crispy Risotto Ball, Charred Pepper, Tomatillo, Shaved Feta

Sashimi of Montauk Fluke, Lime Ponzu, Cilantro & Jalapeno

Oyster with House Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce &
Vodka infused Horseradish

Oyster Escabeche - Marinated in Sherry Vinegar,
Candied Lemon Tomato Confit (part of oyster 2 ways)

Crab Salad - Boston Jonah & Venezuela Blue Cram with Peppadews,
Olive Oil, Arugula, Shallots, Phyllo Ring w/Black Olive Salt,
Meyer Lemon Jam & Olive Tapenade

Seared Diver Scallop & Seared Foie Gras
with Wild Mushroom and Veal Reduction

Loin of Lamb, Braised Short Rib Ravioli, Veal Jus,
Braised Wild Mushroom & Watercress Shallot Salad

Pan-Roasted Slicked Veal Chop, Cognac Mustard Potato Cake,
Warm Frisee Bacon Salad

Lemon Thyme Sorbet

Petit Fours - Chocolate Cookie, Rhubarb Hibiscus Macaron,
Apricot Pate de Fruit

From Bottom Left, Clockwise:
Veritas Candy Bar - Peanut Butter, Hazelnut, Devil's Food Cake
Pistachio Pudding, Rhubarb Compote, Buttermilk Whipped Cream
Market Berry Tart - Mascarpone Custard, Macerated Strawberries &
Apricot Vanilla Jam
Root Beer Vacherin, Vanilla Ice Cream, Root Beer Sorbet,
Root Beer Caramel & Sassafras Foam

 Chef Sam Hazen and Me
(The best way to my heart is through my stomach. No kidding.) 

Banana Bread - This was a parting gift.

My definite winners are the Fluke Sashimi and the Scallop and Foie Gras. The Scallop and Foie Gras is such a homerun because I'm a seafood and liver lover. The lamb dish is also very commendable - I hate lamb, but this dish is really, really good. It wasn't gamey and I ate it all. 

I look forward to the rest of our wedding anniversaries, for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Veritas - Our meal was amazing! 

Tasting Menu Price Varies, and starts at $130/person. Please ask your server before ordering.

__________________________


*Chef Sam Hazen made his rounds of the restaurant and paid attention to each table. I was observing. Very rarely do chefs come out of the kitchen to meet us, and if they do it is AFTER the meal. He came as soon as we sat. 
**Ryan is a very good friend of Dave and they met when they were still both working at Dylan Prime. Ryan was our dapper dining companion at Eleven Madison Park.
***My husband was very annoyed to take my fangirl photo. (I cannot wait to take a photo with his boss!)

DISCLAIMER:
This post was NOT sponsored in any way, shape or form. All the photos are opinions are mine. All rights reserved.  
__________________________

Veritas
43 East 20th St
New York NY
212-353-3700

Keeping at It

Say hello to my American Education!

I have to say, I am overwhelmed. My inner nerd-overachiever is on hyperdrive. I go to work, I go to school (I still do for some fun courses plus I'm in the process of applying to an MBA program) and I have a full on social life whenever the homework takes a back seat. Oh, yeah. I'm also married.

In this economy, there is a bunch of naysayers to higher education. I dont blame them - going to a private school is not cheap. Im so glad that FIT is part of the State University of New York (FYI. I paid $2500/semester in-state tuition.)

So what overwhelms me? Everything. The never ending job applications that I fill out on the listings I see on the internet, getting my portfolio together, GRE test prep, grad school applications, next semester... it has come to a point that I dont plan anything far in advance because there's. just. too. much. to. do.

I'm not complaining. Just trying to inspire anyone who reads this that IT CAN BE DONE.

See? I graduated with the highest honors. It can be done!

******

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only. 
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post. Get it from allthingsfadra.com
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.