Lobster Roll in NYC....believe it baby!

It's taken me a while to write another post.  I wanted it to be based off of a food truck, and due to the up and down weather, I haven't felt much like food truck chasing.  However, I came across a food truck I was dying to try.  I went on their website to see where they would be, showed up to the location 10 minutes early.  10 minutes turned to 15 minutes which turned to me googling on my iphone where the truck was via my twitter (@tammicupcake - shameless plug opportunity).  Low and behold, I was a WEEK too early. Bad news soon turned great because I saw that they would be at Brooklyn Flea that weekend.  I made my way to the overly crowded flea market and finally dived into a lobster roll...

RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND 

FOOD TRUCK

THE MENU

Given the options, it was only right to try the Lobster Roll...

I had heard from my DC folk that their lobster rolls are covered in mayo to the point of nauseation!  Maybe it's just the ones in DC, because this one I tried in NYC was Ah-Maze-Zing!!!  There was barely any mayo, lots and lots of lobster claw, they poured some melted butter over it and covered it in scallions.  It was literally one of the best I've had.  The only thing that would have made it slightly better was if the bun was toasted!  It was worth ever single dollar. 

I tasted the Lobster Mac & Cheese.  I wasn't crazy with the concept, but once I saw it when my friend ordered it.  I had to have a bite.  

My intuition was right and 1 bite was all I needed.  The top of the mac & cheese was nice and cheesy with the sweet lobster. Once you got to the layers underneath it was like a watery cheese sauce with lobster in it.  If you can imagine cheap Velveeta with expensive lobster in it.   It was semi flavorless and could have used some sort of seasoning...when in doubt, sprinkle with salt! 

The normal full menu (http://redhooklobsterpound.com/), boasts 2 different styles of lobster rolls.  The Maine Style - the one I ordered, and the Connecticut Style, which is just lobster and butter.  I would definitely go back and try the Connecticut.  

If you want to try the lobster truck, follow them on twitter, and find out their daily locations (@lobstertruckny)!! 

LAVO NY Restaurant & Lounge

I think I may have found heaven! Lavo, the sister establishment to Tao, has got to be one of the best restaurants I've tried in a long time.  It's not cheap or built for a family of 4, but it has the most amazing entrees.   They greet your table with some soft toasted italian garlic, herb bread with warm marinara sauce.  This bread alone could be your meal.  Besides the free bread, I've had a few things from the menu.  Below are the menu items that I've tasted thus far:

Brick Oven Salmon:  The house cooks it medium to medium rare and it's served with a creamy lemon butter sauce and a side of julienne style zucchini.  It was seasoned pretty well and was very filling.  The lunch portion was enough to leave you with leftovers.

8oz Filet:  Again the house prepares it medium, which for a steak can be closer to medium rare, drizzled with a dark peppercorn sauce.  It was pretty tender and the thin sauce made the steak seem to be even juicer than it would be if it were doused in a thick A1.  During restaurant week it was served with the truffle parmesan fries.  Fries aren't my favorite accompaniment with steak, but the truffle flavor was nice with the steak.

Tuna Tartare:  For my tuna fans!  The tartare was stacked with avocado, a black chili oil and small crispy garlic chips. It was a lot of tuna and a lot of avocado.  The soft avocado mixed with the soft tuna made it seem one dimensional but the oil and garlic chips allowed the dish to enter into a second dimension.

Crispy Zucchini:  Personally, fried zucchini is one of my favorite snacks.  Any restaurant that offers it, I will try it.  I've never seen it done like this tho.  The zucchini strips resembled shoe string fries and were clumped together with parmesan cheese and had a nice salty taste.  I could go to the restaurant just for the zucchini.

Margherita Pizza:  Very tasty.  It was served as an appetizer so it was a bit much to eat with the warm bread that was served.  It was almost like double pizza.  Nonetheless, it was very good with just enough cheese and basil.   (no photo)

Oreo Zeppoles:  These are double stuffed fried oreos served with a tiny malted vanilla milkshake. I think the title speaks for itself and pretty much explains the true meaning of DESSERT!

There isn't one bad thing I could say about this place.  The service is excellent, the food has yet to fail me and their nightlife (featured DJ's) is quite the midtown trend! If you admire quality food done right, don't hesitate to try Lavo....and please invite me!!!!

http://www.lavony.com/
39 East 58th Street (between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue)
LAVO Restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
LAVO Nightclub is open Thursday through Saturday, from 10pm - 4am.

Spotlight: Bread & Spoon

I decided to write this weeks post on an amazing Jersey City based company that not only offers catering, but offers classes and home prepared dishes.



Introducing ........... Bread & Spoon

Bread & Spoon creates seasonal meals with fresh organic products obtained from NY/NJ local sustainable farms.  In lamest terms, your food isn't pumped full of hormones or sitting on a grocery store shelf for days on end, stamped with an unrealistic expiration date. This also means that you are helping the livlihood of these local farmers in a time when we are all in a search of the homegrown label: MADE IN THE USA!

Bread & Spoon offers a variety of options from catering/events to cooking classes and trainings.  They also specialize in offering sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan and egg-free products. I've had the pleasure of tasting some of their items, and I was surprised at how tasty the gluten-free products were.  Owner & Chef, Colleen Christi Willett has somehow managed to make eating healthy, taste good, really good!!

Check them out!! 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-Spoon/141489565922041
Website: http://www.breadnspoon.com/
Email: breadandspoon@gmail.com