A good time at Pastis - The Manhattan Experience

I went to Pastis two Sundays ago for a Manhattan. Pastis is a nice French bistro located in the corner of 9th Ave and Little W 12 St, and it is from the same owners of Balthazar.

I went for the bar and asked for a Manhattan. The waiter (Jimmy) with no snobness create a better Manhattan than his 'friend' from the Blue Bar. A really straight forward Manhattan, not too sweet. Still I would like it a little bit more dryer. However, it was a good Manhattan.

Suddenly, the other bartender (Jeremy) ask him which whisky he used, and Jimmy answered back "rye whisky" as the client asked me.

Then they started to discuss the Manhattan and they I thought to myself - they really are bartenders!!
Just after that, Jeremy came to me with another Manhattan, made by him, with a special vermouth. A really special, spicy Manhattan. Dryer than the one made by Jimmy, and almost perfect (will I once find the perfect one?). He used Makers Mark (bourbon) instead of rye whisky.

Final grades: Pastis - 9 (claps...claps..)
Jimmy - 9
Jeremy - 9.25

Perfect Color and Excellent Taste Manhattans at Pastis!

p.s. - with all the discussion about the Manhattans, I forgot to take the picture of Jeremy’s Manhattan.. I am really sorry!

Little Branch - A nice place with a nice Manhattan

This weekend I stopped over Little Branch, a nice little Bar at 7 Ave S on West Village. If you plan to go there you must really be aware of two things:

Becareful to not miss the place

First, pay attention, since there is no sign on the wall. Little Branch is at the Corner of 7 Ave S and Leroy Street, and there is just a small sign on the door and a big line that starts after 9:30PM.

And the second, is to avoid the line, especially during the cold winter days. Since the bar is not so big, after a certain hour, they just let you in once somebody gets out (1 to 1 rule).

They are really into coktails. One option is the "bartender's choice".

The Bar is downstairs, in the basement. Once inside you will find a very nice place, specialized in cocktails, with a jazz/ Caribbean/ reggae sound, not so overcrowded, and with a mixture of New Yorkers and foreigners. For sure is a good place to go.

Since I was by myself, I just stayed at the bar and didn't order a table. At the bar, as usual, I ordered a Manhattan to Lucinda (the bartender).

The result was a really good Manhattan, very classic, and (perhaps because of the vermouth it was used) with a cinnamon and clove taste.. approaching more to sweet than to the dryness or bitter, still a good Manhattan.

The score: 9.  I didn't give a higher grade because could be a little less sweet and a little more dryer, but the spice taste of it (and still on its classical shape) worth every dollar spent on it. And the place was really the final touch.

Congrats Little Branch! And I sure recommend it!

Blue Bar at Algoquin - Manhattan Experience

After I made my list with the 15 best cocktail bars in NYC, I went to Blue Bar. The Bar is just on the side of Algoquin Hotel. The public average age is around 45-50 years old. Unless you are on that middle range, I wouldn't recommend you to go.

The place is very pricy as well, the Manhattan I ordered was almost $30(!). The bartender (Christain) told me I would experience the best Manhattan ever, and I could stopping my research.

He said he doesn't use cherry, and he made me a very strong, dry Manhattan, which appear to me, that he not leave the cherry out, but the vermouth as well. The taste of the rye whisky was the only thing I was able to find out. Very far way I could smell the bitter. But the drink was far beyond to be the best Manhattan. Perhaps, because of lack of cherry, the drink didn't get sweet, and kept its consistency all long the way, but it paid a price for that.

Still I wasn't able to figure out if the bartender didn't use the cherry because he don't like it (as he told me) or because he ran out of it. What a mystery!

For all of that, I give him an 7 and 3/4.

Best Cocktail Bars in Manhattan

Following my search for the best Manhanttan, I started a search for the best cocktails bar of Manhattan.  The next step is to drink a Manhattan on each one of them, to have, then, my final veridict.

The list is below:

Name	Location
Babbo Restaurant	110 Waverly Place, New York
Tropica Restaurant	200 Park Avenue, New York
Flatiron Lounge	37 West 19th Street, New York
Temple Bar	332 Lafayette Street, New York
Milk & Honey	134 Eldridge Street, New York
Bemelmans Bar @ Carlyle Hotel	35 E 76th St, New York
Blue bar @ the Algonquin Hotel	59 West 44th Street, New York
King Cole Bar @ St. Regis Hotel	2 E. 55th Street, New York (Invented the Bloody Mary!)
Angel's Share @ Village Yokocho	8 Stuyvesant Street, New York
Little Branch	22 7th Ave S, New York
Employees Only	510 Hudson Street, New York
Old Homestead Steakhouse	56 9th Ave, New York
Brandy Library	25N Moore Street, New York
East Side Company Bar	49 Essex Street, New York
Pegu Club	77W Houston Street, New York

* M&H will be hard to go, entrance is by referral and appointment only, by paying an annual fee of approximately U$500. Perhaps one of this days I call London and convince Jacqueline to let me in (http://www.mlkhny.com/new-york.php).

John's Pizzeria

In a country that loves to rank everything I went to what so called "the best pizza place of Manhattan": John's Pizzeria (http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/).

John's opened in 1997 and is located in Times Square at 260W 44th Street and has 3 other branches, including one in New Jersey. The pizza is really good, tiny crispy charred crust, which makes us almost forgot the "normal American pizza" with pan crust (or Chicago-style Pizza) that we are used to see in Pizza Hut, Domino's or Papa Johns. Actually John's Pizzeria stress the fact they are not a Chicago Pizzeria, with pan crust or too many toppings. As they recall, they are a New York Pizzeria.

1/2 Mozzarela and 1/2 Pepperoni

Based on that, their pizza are really good and tasty and worth a visit, and is a good option of an after Broadway dinner. Or if you prefer, you can order, since they are accepting deliveries now.

I don't know if they really have the best pizza of NYC; but sure the price difference among John's and the $1 pizzas I reviewed weeks a go is recognizable, both by the taste and freshness of the ingredients.

They also serve pasta, salads and sandwiches, but come one, don't let anyone see you ordering a salad on a pizza place! Ah, and don't forget to order their signature "garlic bread"!



A melted mozzarela cheese over a tiny crispy crust. How about a bite?



Manhattan - HK Restaurant.. and that is a Fault!

Against the common sense I went to the Hell's Kitchen Restaurant for a Manhattan. I am saying that because during the weekends they have a fix price for Mimosas, Belinis and Sparkling Wine (as mentioned in the post about the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market).

The place is really nice. The first floor remembers a restaurant in Sao Paulo called Spot (which I think it was inspired by HK but I am not sure of that).

During the summer days they literally open the walls so you almost get into the street (which is closed for the Flea Market). The second floor is a very interest roof top, perfect for warm weather days as well.

Now about the Manhattan, I seat at the Bar and asked Ina (which was using a costume, due to Halloween weekend) for a "straight up Manhattan". The first time she didn't understand. So I repeat: "straight up Manhattan". Oh a "manharan"..  she said.. and so I complement it.. "yes, straight up please".

Suddenly she appeared with a Manhattan on the rocks(!)(!)(!)... What the hell?!?!

Manhattan on the Rocks!
Not the right one!

Since this is a challenge, I didn't complained, I just drunk it. She used Jack Daniel's on it...

The good thing about that was I really noticed that the liquor can really alter the taste of it. The Jack gave a more strong flavor. At the end, it wasn't a bad Manhattan.. but it was just the wrong one!!

That said: 4.00 for HK's Manhattan.

Ina, this isn't the right way to do it! :)

Manhattan Challenge - Marseille

I went for a Brunch at the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, since I wasn't in the mood to go further to Meatpacking or Soho. I remembered a very nice place at the corner of 44th and 9th, a bistro type.

This region is really good for restaurants, nice and affordable.

The place is called Marseille. When I arrived the lady at the front told me they were already closed (they closed at 3pm and it was 3:15pm).

So I questioned her if the bar was open. It was a perfect occasion for a Manhattan. She told me yes, and there I went.

I order to Melissa a straight up Manhattan, as usual. She (like it happen at Piano Due) asked me what kind of whisky I would like. I ordered a Canadian (like Piano Duo). She made it with Royal Crown.

The Manhattan was really good, but not dry as I like it. The sweet taste got stronger from the middle to the end, but not even close of what I tasted at Piano Due. The drink was really enjoyable from the beginning to the end. The problem was she didn’t “chilled” the glass (for those who are not usual to it, before serving a cold drink, the bartender shall keep ice inside the glass, to chill it out).

End of history: no food, but a 8.5 Manhattan. Maybe next time I go just for the food.

Hell's Kitchen - Best Flea Market in the Bed Bug City!

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Hell's Kitchen Flea Market Entrance at 39/9

The Hell's Kitchen Flea Market (HKFL), located at 39th Street, between 10th and 9th Aves, is just 2 blocks from my house. As it is advertised, it happens all year long, with sun or rain. Regardless the wonderful location of it, HKFM is able to have great prices, differently from what happens in flea markets located in the Village or Upper East, or even Brooklyn.

There is a tiny line dividing old from junk, isn't it?

Normally, flea markets located in 'trendy' places mean high prices, especially now that New Yorkers became "vintage lovers". And since HKFM is close to Port Authority, maybe they don't think walking close to the Lincoln Tunnel is 'so cool'. I still think is great, close to subway lines, nice restaurants (if very affordable prices) at the same time you can avoid the tourist crowd, it does worth.

Maybe this is the reason I walk over there every weekend, just to check out the "old stuff".



Need money? Sell some stuff!



Another especial thing about HKFM is that they have a really very broad range of merchandises. Over there you can find almost anything; it goes from steel chains, furniture, cloths, jewelry, watches up to collectible itens, maps and even a good and cheap chinese back massage (yes, those guys are everywhere). There is place for everything, you just need time to search. There are some "stores" that are there every week, others just comes and goes according to their mood.

In addition, the tents are not very closed from each other, which give the public space enough to circulate and research.

I would recommend go for a walk and maybe you are able to buy, or even sell, something along the way. If you are really into a drink after, stop at the Hell's Kitchen Restaurant, a nice option to eat and drink at the corner of 39th with 9th, and for fixed $12 you can drink as many Mimosas, Belinis or Sparkling Wine as you want... and after that, go straight to your bed for a siesta!!



 

Do you need some old fashion tools?





Crates, Crates and Crates.
Real Crates from the XIX Century






Philco Television from 1949.
According to the owner he has a guy who converts it into digital
Now, explain it to me: Why?

 


Darth Vader Mask - This is a Collectible Item!!