Wined Up bar and restaurant, located in the Flatiron district offers a fun and cool place to stop in for a drink or have a casual meal.

You might think you are in the wrong place or at best on a questionable mission to parts unknown as you walk up the steep stairs, passing the entrance to Punch restaurant.  But as you push through the heavy, velvet Harry Potteresque curtains, you will ultimately end up at Wined Up.

The curtains open up into a beautifully decorated area where you will be seated at a marble bar located in the back of the restaurant. I have only been the bar during the week and think that while there was room at the bar or room to stand, on busy nights, it probably is crowded and will seem like a small space for drinks.

The dining room faces the front as you would expect, is quite spacious, unlike other restaurants where you are literally sitting on top of one another.  One entire wall is lined with bottles of wine giving the room a very open and elegant effect.

I have been to Wined Up on several occasions both for drinks and dinner.

The Bar – While they offer wine by the glass, I would definitely recommend getting a bottle with friends as the pricing is so much better. Wine by the glass will run you $9 – $14. The wine selection  ranges from Riojas to Chilean wines. We enjoyed a delightful Rioja and a Malbec on the day that we went. The bartenders are always friendly and are more than happy to answer all your questions about the wine list.

The Restaurant – The variety of foods on the menu is sure to please, whether you are there for drinks and appetizers or low-key dinner with friends.

The appetizer menu includes an incredible cheese selection from the United States, France, Italy and Spain. There are cheeses on the menu that I had never heard of but the server will be able to walk you through all the different choices and help you pair them with your wine selection. Since we had just come for appetizers, we tried everything and were quite happy. Don’t forget to ask for more bread, there is definitely not enough bread for the cheese.  If you are into pizza, think about adding pizza along with your cheese appetizer options.  There is your basic pizza margherita along with unusual topped pizzas like truffled tomato (yummy.)

For dinner, there is a range of options that is sure to appeal all of your friends and even kids. The menu ranges from salad to pasta to steak. My friend and I, were feeling rather carnivorous the day we went to Wined Up. She ordered a hamburger while I opted for the cast iron hanger steak with spicy fries. The steak was just perfect. The portion size was generous enough to walk away with a doggy bag. The average entrees range from $13 – $20 which is pretty average for New York City.

So if you are wandering around Union Square or Madison Square, head “up” to Wined Up.

Again don’t be confused by the location,  you have to enter a doorway that is the same entrance to Punch restaurant but for you to get to Wined Up, you need to climb up the stairs to the second floor.

Location: Wined Up

913 Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets

Reservations: 212-673-6333

If you are looking for some old-fashioned Coney Island boardwalk-style fun, then look no further than Carnival brought to you by the same folks who run Bowlmor bowling lanes.

By day, the venue is kid-friendly and by night an amusing playground for adults

Carnival, a 16,000 square foot wonderland offers a dozen boardwalk games including chance dunk tank, fish pong, BB gun target shooting and basketball throw all under a huge, lit big top tent.

My daughter and I visited Carnival on a Saturday spending our time partaking in all the classic boardwalk games, even playing pool. There is nothing like Carnival in the city and it’s all contained which is great if you have children.

If you are going with your adult friends for an evening of fun and games, there is ample seating and table tops to hangout while you play the games.

Carnival also is available for birthday parties.

Carnival
110 University Place (btw. 12th & 13th Streets)
212-255-8188
CarnivalNYC.com

Since I moved to New York, I have been dying to get to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. According to some, it has the best Italian food in the area.

Recently, I had the opportunity to eat at one of Arthur Avenue’s landmark restaurants, Mario’s Restaurant. The Migliucci family has been cooking traditional Neopolitan dishes since 1919. The restaurant’s interior is very old school with pictures of Vesuvius and Naples scattered throughout the room with the chandeliers lend an air of old world charm.

Since there were four of us, we ordered a variety of food so we could sample the menu. We started with appetizers which included calamari, antipasti special and stuffed mushrooms followed by penne with broccoli, lasagna and veal marsala for the main courses.

So how was the food? There was just a tad bit of inconsistency across our selections, ranging from very good to fair. The anti pasti and stuffed mushrooms were very good while the
lasagna and veal marsala were fair.

Would I go back again? Yes, because the restaurant has charm, atmosphere and while the food was inconsistent, it’s worth it if you are adventurous and find yourself near Arthur avenue.

If you are planning to go, I would recommend making reservations. We arrived late Sunday afternoon which is prime family hour and had to wait for 30 minutes for a table.

Mario’s Restaurant
2342 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
(718)584-1188
http://www.mariosrestarthurave.com

Now that the snow has passed and you’re able to get out and about, why not add a little Mojo to your life? You won’t go home disappointed.

Mojo is a Harlem eatery located on the corner of 119th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Occupying a corner unit of one of the area’s condo edifices, Mojo greets its patrons as a jeweled glass structure reflecting the rich colors of purple and red within out onto the street and the night air.

Don’t be surprised when you enter the tight confines of the restaurant. Real estate is at a premium in this area and Mojo’s floor plan is no different than any of its siblings in the area (despite appearing quite spacious in NBC’s American Express commercial that features the establishment).

The proximity issues that Mojo presents has its pros and cons. The cons being, if you’re uncomfortable sitting and eating next to strangers then this isn’t the place for you. On the flipside, if you don’t have these qualms, it’s easy to make friends (most who are area locals) while breaking bread.

The bread at Mojo, dubbed “New Harlem Cuisine” is a fusion of Mediterranean/Southern flavor and represents the diversity of Harlem. Impressive sounding and tasting menu items from the creative kitchen of Executive Chef Julio Sanchez’ include Buckwheat Fried Oysters, Harlem Fried Chicken Sliders, Moroccan Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, and Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri. The restaurant’s website touts their Sexy Grits as being the crowd favorite. I won’t say why they’re so sexy. You’ll have to find out on your own if the dish lives up to its claims. And if you’re the type who does desert, you can finish off a meal that pops with flavor with a tasty delight for your sweet tooth. How does Strawberry Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse sound?

Owner, Mounir Jabrane’s grew up in both Belgium and Morocco before settling down and setting up shop in Harlem. One only needs to take a glance at the interior or peruse the menu to see the influences of these two countries. Mr. Jabrane, an affable restaurateur who takes the time to meet and greet his patrons, considers himself a throwback to the explosively creative times of the Harlem Renaissance. He’s doing his part to continue the tradition by featuring live music by unknowns and local favorites alike. You can call or check the website for performance dates and times. But what you can’t do is make a reservation unless your party is six or more. And on heavy nights, service can be spotty. Despite these minor inconveniences this writer’s humble opinion is that it is better to experience Mojo than not to.

Mojo
mojo-harlem.com
185 Saint Nicholas Avenue (at the corner of 119th Street)
New York, NY 10026-1200
(212) 280-1924

Photo courtesy of Mojo

Looking at the straws and cups made from corn (entirely recyclable and compostable), the natural pebble flooring, and minimalist white décor flooded with natural light, it can be easy to wonder if the unassuming new pizza place in Wyckoff, NJ is more about eco-style over substance: it’s not. Open since December 2009, The Flatz Company makes a tasty and healthful pizza pie, and is one of my favorite new lunch spots.

The “flatz” are thin as tortillas, and crispy as crackers with creative pizza toppings on the menu like “The BLT” complete with chopped lettuce sprinkled on top; “Swimming with the Fishes” for the anchovy lovers out there; the “Jammin’  Banana Fruit” topped pizza flat, or even “The Prestige” with white truffle oil and shaved parmigiano reggiano.

The Flatz Co boasts their ingredients are “better than organic,” abiding by stricter standards than required for organic certification. For instance, the wheat flour used in the base of the flats is free from chemicals with nothing added and nothing removed. Which makes this mom’s heart go pit-a-pat – in a good, healthy way.  Served simply over paper on a reusable plastic tray, my kiddo actually likes to take care of the small amount of waste to use the  automated bin doors for recyclables or trash on our way out.

With each “flat” measuring about 12 inches in diameter, they’re more than enough for one person and easy for two small kids to share, and to that end The Flatz Co has a “Buy Two Flats, Get One Free” special on Mondays and Tuesdays. The three pizza flats should be about right for a family with two small children, as the three of us order three and end up taking about the equivalent of ¾ of one home. I also like their natural drink offerings like Boylan’s fountain soda, Mash sodas or Harney & Sons ice tea.

The Flatz Co plans to expand with four new locations in Manhattan and California over the next year. I suggest you keep your eyes peeled for one near you, but in the meantime, try it out the next time you make the journey over the GW Bridge into Bergen County.

The Flatz Co

314 Franklin Ave

Wyckoff, NJ 07481

201-560-0150

I took my children out for a walk on Main Street in search of the perfect Hamentashen. A Hamentashen is a 3-pointed cookie with one of the following fillings; poppy seed, prunes, apricot, strawberry, chocolate, or hazelnut. We had a lot of fun, as all of the bakeries and stores are Purim ready. Shelves are lined up with candy, gift baskets, and Hamentashen.

Purim is a Jewish holiday rich in meaning and plentiful in food. Hamentashen represents the three-cornered hat that Haman, the villain of the Purim story, wore on his head. If you’re not sure what Purim is and why we will be “noshing” so much, keep reading and you’ll find out. If you already know all about Purim, skip on down a couple of paragraphs to find out what bakery has, in our opinion, the perfect Hamentashen.

What is the reason for celebrating Purim? Purim is the celebration of the Jewish people and how they overcame Haman’s (the villain) request of King Ahasverus to annihilate all of the Jews in the Persian Empire. This happened in 357 BCE, but it is something that has been recognized as one of the most important Jewish events ever since.

Another way that we celebrate Purim is the giving of Mishloach Manot, or, gift baskets. Mishaloach Manot must contain two types of ready to eat foods. For example, a Hamentashen and a mini bottle of Kedem grape juice is perfect for kids. However, there are some very beautiful gift baskets online at kosher.com, and ohnuts.com. They range in price, from $18 to $50. On our search for the perfect Hamentashen, we saw some on display at Main Sweet at 72-54 Main Street Kew Garden Hills, NY, 11367, 718-261-3917, and also at Kandi Kastle, 71-40 Main Street, Kew Gardens Hills, NY. 718-520-7520. Some people chose to make donations in lieu of Mishloach Manot because there are too many people that are not able to give. This year, we have decided to make donations and make just a few Shaloch Manot gifts with homemade Hamentashen. Speaking of Hamentashen, why don’t I get to the point and tell you where you can find the perfect Hamentashen on Main Street.

We couldn’t decide which bakery was better, so we have two bakeries for you to try. Mendy’s Royal Kosher Bakery, 72-22 Main Street, Kew Gardens Hills, New York, phone 718-544-8736. They had green Hamentashen filled with apple and chocolate-filled, chocolate Hamentashen. We took some home, but we ate them up before the morning. The prices at Mendy’s are more than we would like to spend (12.99 per lb.), but the Hamentashen were delicious. The other bakery that fantastic Hamentashen was Main Street Bagels, located at 72-26 Main Street, Kew Gardens Hills, New York, (718) 793-8100. We found the most delicious Hazelnut filled Hamentashen and I even went back and bought some more. They were also very thick and looked “perfect”. I bought four Hamentashen for 2.00.

You can also try out your very own Hamentashen with this recipe from Spice and Spirit is very easy and delicious.

Traditional Hamentashen

Ingredients

4 Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Oil

Juice of 1 Lemon

Rind of 1 Lemon, Grated

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

5 Cups Flour

2 tsp. Baking Soda

pre-heat oven to 350

Directions

Beat Eggs and Sugar First

Add Other Ingredients

Place on greased cookie sheet and flatten dough. Use a round cookie cutter, and then fold the round shaped dough like a triangle. Add your filling, put in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. For a shinier cookie, brush on raw egg before placing the cookie sheet in the oven. Enjoy!

Finding a coffee shop where you can actually find a seat to meet someone for coffee, a little nosh or having a meeting is hard to find.

If you need a place near Union Square, check out 71 Irving Place. It is a casual and relaxed alternative to the chain coffee shops where you may be able to get coffee but are never able to find a seat.

The coffee selection ranges from your basic cup of Joe to the more sophisticated espresso/lattes.

Depending on your hunger level, you should be able to find something that satisfies your palette from croissants to sandwiches to desserts.

Locations:
71 Irving Place between 18th and 19th Street
Monday – Friday 7:00 am to 11:00 pm
Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm

I love going out to restaurants and sipping on a glass of wine, the perfect date for any couple, before kids.  It is very rare that my husband and I have moments like this these days, but we both love food and wine so much and we can’t wait to taste some of our favorite dishes from the finest kosher restaurants in New York.

Here are some of my favorite restaurants and where you can find them:

Cho-Sen, Kosher Asian Cuisine, 64-48 108th Street in Forest Hills, NY, 11375. The food is outstanding and fresh and the service very good. I love their Vegetable Dumplings and my husband loves the Beef with Broccoli and we love their big portions. Another one of our favorites is El Gaucho Steakhouse, authentic Argentinean steakhouse located at 4102 18th Ave. (Corner of East 4th Street) Brooklyn, NY 11218. When I studied in Israel several years ago, this was my favorite place to go with family when they visited me there. I have always loved Chorizo Parrillero (Grilled sausage with chimichurri sauce) Empanada Casera (Homemade turnover served with criolla sauce),

For events and different wine tastings held throughout the year, check out www.royalwines.com. If you hear of a great Kosher wine tasting event send a tweet out to @primetimeparent. Maybe we can have a little L’Chaim together!

Photo credit: Wine Country Tour Shuttle

One of the main reasons why my husband and I chose to live in Kew Gardens Hills, NY, was becaue of the number of kosher food options available. Since we’ve moved here five years ago, this number continues to increase. This week, Aron’s Kissena Farms celebrated their Grand Opening with incredible specials this past Tuesday, February 2nd. These specials will lasted thru Thursday, February 11, 2010. Aron’s Kissena Farms is Located at 72-15 Kissena Bllovd., Flushing, NY 11367. There will be no shortage of free parking-in the 400-car parking lot-so you can shop like a mensch.  Customers will kvel over the new interior-designed by noted architect Dinesh Doshi who also designed ShopRite, Acme, Pomegranate and Lowes-a welcome improvement to the previous appearance of Kissena Farms. The price is right, also. My husband has already given the meat prices a big thumbs up-Grade A Whole Chicken for $1.39 Lb.-get them while you can. This store is arriving just in time for people to start stocking up on food for their Purim Seudah (meal) and Kosher for Passover items as well. I’ll be there tweeting and eating, come find me @primetimeparent and let me know what you think of the new shopping experience.

In the last couple of months, a new restaurants has joined the kosher scene on Main Street as well.  The night I was supposed to get out with the moms from playgroup I fell asleep putting my kids to sleep. I spoke to them as they had just received a complimentary order of  bruchetta with parmesean toasts. They loved the food and said that the entries were large and delicious. The decor was new and fresh. This restaurant also has amazing takeout pizza with a price that we love. That is our new Sunday night place for pizza and the kids love it.  My friends also tried out their sushi and eggplant parmesan, which was grilled instead of fried because that is how she wanted it.

If you are on your way to La Guardia Airport or taking the kids to the New York Hall of Science, definitely stop off on Main Street and let us know what your favorite kosher restaurant is!

Photo:  Loop_oh’s Flicker Photostream (Creative Commons)

Smell something in the air today? It’s probably all of the delicious meals being enjoyed this week by New Yorkers without breaking the bank.

Restaurant week is one that is both enjoyed and highly anticipated by New Yorkers twice a year- Jan/Feb & June/July. The reason? During Restaurant week you can enjoy some of the most high end food the city has to offer on fixed prices!  Which means at noon you can enjoy a lunch with coworkers at the 21 club like “The Donald” and then meet up with old friends at Smith & Wollensky for a steak dinner fit for a king all on about $60.

This week is a great opportunity to try out some great new restaurants without going broke, but with 260 participating restaurants it can be hard to chose which ones to try out.

So here’s my top “5 Must Try’s” for Restaurant week:

21 Club- I wasn’t being funny before, people like Donald Trump and famous faces dine here. This restaurant is highly exclusive and even has a dress code. Though their restaurant week menu is limited, it does include an appetizer, entree & dessert and the food is excellent. Really? would the Donald dine there if it weren’t?

Ilili- whether you are a huge fan of Mediterranean food or if you have never tried it, but have always been curious-Ilili has something you are sure to enjoy. With prefix options as low as $16 this restaurant is the perfect choice for international dining on a budget! From Delicious Hommus, Grilled lamb, Fallafel & grilled chicken everyone can easily find their favorite Mediterranean dish.

Kittichi- With a heated out door area, this restaurant offers some of the best Thai cuisine around. For restaurant week their pre-fix menus include a variety of seafood, beef, soups & BBQ specialties. Both their lunch and dinner menus include 3 courses that are sure to satisfy even the biggest appetite.

Devi- Touted by NY Magazine as one of the best Indian restaurants in NYC, this high end restaurant is offering 3 course meals for only $25 for restaurant week. The ambiance is beautiful, and in addition to some of the well known Indian favorites, there are some great introductory dishes like Chicken Kabobs offered for those trying Indian cuisine for the first time.

Cipriani- If you are looking for some great Italian food in a restaurant with posh decor and an possibly the most breath taking atmosphere in NYC, Cipriani’s is your place.  With multiple locations, Cipriani’s Midtown and Wallstreet locations are both participating in restaurant week offering prefix menu’s at an unheard of $25!