Its a Celebration at Thai Chai-Yo

In Thai, “chai-yo” is an exclamation of elation and thrill… a celebration!

As the latest addition to a family of restaurants that includes Aceluck, Aura, and Q2 Thai, Thai Chai-Yo is making a splash in New York City. This eatery is located on 9th Avenue in the heart of Chelsea and has already become a local favorite. You’ll find its modern décor revitalizing, with food to match. From Pad Thai to Pooh Jah, and from Tofu Medley to Taro Custard, the menu is filled with delicious hits!

Come celebrate a cuisine that’s undeniably refreshing and unmistakably Thai. Come in or order online to experience this wonderful restaurant.

My Favorites Dishes Are:

Pad Thai-- Rice stick noodles sautéed with egg, bean curd, bean sprouts, scallions and peanuts in a tamarind sauce
Pad See-Ew-- Fresh rice noodles, egg and vegetables in a sweet soy bean sauce
Grilled Tofu Steak-- Two pieces of grilled marinated tofu steak topped with chili garlic sauce
Honey Duck-- Crispy duck topped with honey sauce and almonds
Green Curry-- With bamboo shoots, eggplant, string beans, chili, basil and kaffir lime leaves
Fried Fish (Red Snapper)-- Crispy whole fish topped with your choice of sauce

Memorable Dishes at Midtown's Fig & Olive

Fig & Olive, located in Midtown, serves up tasty Mediterranean food with unique flavors and memorable dishes. At Fig & Olive, each dish is prepared with a selected extra virgin olive oil. Their menu is focused on local seasonal and imported Mediterranean ingredients which create refined and genuine flavors from the South of France, Italy and Spain. For a truly memorable dining experience, try Fig & Olive today!

My Favorite Dishes include:
Fig & Olive Salad—Fig vinegar, figs, olives, tomatoes, Parmesan, Manchego, Gorgonzola, Goat, walnuts and apples
Francine’s Rotisserie Chicken Salad—Picholine olive oil, free-range rotisserie chicken, herbes de provence, lemon, garlic, arugula, avocado, tomatoes, Parmesan and balsamic vinegar
Rosemary Chicken Panini—Chicken, herbes de provence, Mozzarella, herbed mayonnaise, scallion and tomato
Salmon a la Andalucia con Orgegano—Picual olive oil, seared salmon, zucchini, fennel, tomato, chickpeas, verdial olives, oregano and lemon
Fig, Gorgonzola and Prosciutto Tart—Gorgonzola, figs, prosciutto di parma, walnuts, Arugula and tomato; served on flaky puff pastry
Penne Funghi Tartufo—Truffle olive oil, Cremini mushroom, Parmesan, black truffle paste, parsley and scallion

Family Owned Italian at Monte's Trattoria in the Village

Monte's Trattoria is a romantic Italian restaurant located in the heart of Greenwich Village on MacDougal Street. This vintage Italian restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1918, with the Mosconi family currently continuing the rich tradition. Monte's features an assortment of the most delicious Italian cuisine around. The food is prepared fresh daily by the chef and owner Pietro Mosconi, who delivers authentic Northern Italian dishes from his region of Emilia Romagna.

Renowned Chef Pietro Mosconi learned how to cook at an early age while living on his family’s farm in Vincenza, Italy, a province in the Emilia Romagna region. His father was a soldier in World War II where he was captured as a prisoner of war and eventually transferred to England. With his father away from home, Mosconi spent a lot of time with his mother and six siblings. Mosconi would spend hours helping his mother with arduous tasks in the kitchen like kneading dough, and making fresh noodles. His family would frequently pick the farm for some of the best potatoes, and make fruit hors d’ oeuvres from the produce they got from local orchards. Pietro’s grandparents came to the United States and got married in the Lower East Side in the early 1900’s. Pietro didn’t come to the States until 1966 after his aunt convinced his father that they could live a better life in the United State’s food industry. Pietro took a seven day voyage from Genoa to New York on a ship called the Michelangelo. He quickly began working at some of the city’s top restaurants to gain experience in food preparation. After working in a kitchen for almost a decade, Pietro decided he wanted to own his own restaurant. So he purchased a building on MacDougal, and named the restaurant Village Mosconi. Pietro and his brother Giovanni wanted to open a place together, so they took over Razzazco, which was half a block down from Village Mosconi. This new place was later called Monte’s Trattoria.

Although Monte’s Trattoria is located in New York City, Chef Mosconi’s dishes still mirror the authentic cuisine of his birthplace. His famous creative flare can be savored in his daily creations.

Fan Favorites:
Clams Oreganata—Baked clams topped with breadcrumbs, herbs and olive oil
Shrimp Scampi—Shrimps in a lemon, butter, garlic and white wine sauce
Filet Mignon alla Marsala—Two mignonettes in a Marsala wine sauce with white mushrooms
Eggplant Parmigiana—Sliced eggplant topped with tomato sauce and Mozzarella cheese
Gnocchi Sugo di Pomodoro—Potato dumplings with pasta sauce
Chicken Parmigiana—Breaded chicken cutlet in tomato sauce topped with Mozzarella and Parmigiano

European Style Espresso Bar in Midtown East

Not a complete revolution just the way things ought to be.

Macchiato Inc. is a venture that was created in order to bring the essence of the espresso bar to the US. Although many establishments in the US market start out with the intent to deliver a high quality product, somewhere along the way the quality of pastries and the essence of the coffee drink have deteriorated. Midtown is lacking authentic “European-style” (if you will) espresso bars. While neighborhood cafes might offer high quality product, they sometimes lack that contemporary feel and fail to produce the same quality product in a fast pace environment. Macchiato espresso bars will bring superior coffees, pastries and sandwiches to the consumer in a contemporary espresso bar with a clean, sleek design, top of the line equipment and décor. Quality and standard should not and must not be compromised at any cost.

My Picks at Macchiato:

Macchiato Salad—Baby Arugula, diced tomato, diced cucumber, curly carrot, sliced mushroom, corn, hearts of palm, roasted red pepper, red onion and balsamic vinaigrette
Avocado Salad—Baby Arugula, avocado, hearts of palm, sun-dried tomato, sliced mushroom, cherry tomato, roasted pine nut and honey Dijon dressing
Caprese Sandiwch—Buffalo Mozzarella, balsamic dipped tomato, fresh basil and olive tapenade
The Turkey Sandwich—Turkey, Swiss cheese, curly carrot, Romaine, tomato and seasoned mayo dressing
The Macchiato Sandwich—Grilled Halumi cheese, Romaine, tomato, pickle and cheese spread
The Prosciutto Sandwich—Prosciutto de Parma, Buffalo Mozzarella, fresh basil, balsamic dipped tomato, avocado and olive tapenade

Azuki: My Pick for Sushi for Lunch

The name Azuki comes from the Azuki bean—the second most popular legume. The bean was first cultivated in China and Korea, then moved southeast to Japan.

The restaurant Azuki is on the smaller side (just like the Azuki bean) and therefore was given the name. The sushi is fresh, but very reasonably priced and just as popular as the bean for which it is named! Azuki is a great alternative to the nearby very popular, but crowded sushi restaurants if you're looking for delicious sushi, quick delivery, and fair prices.

The most popular menu items:
Soft Shell Crab Tempura-- Deep fried soft shell crab
Salmon Dream-- Spicy salmon with crunch, squash topped with fresh salmon
East-West-- Tuna, avocado, crunch and caviar topped with yellowtail
Marilyn Monroe-- Lobster, cucumber, crunch mayo and caviar
Pearl Harbor-- Spicy cooked white fish, crunch cucumber topped with red and wasabi tobiko
Andy-- Tuna, yellowtail, scallion, avocado, cucumber and wasabi mayo sauce
Seafood Teriyaki— Salmon, shrimp and scallop

Best Caribbean at Pine Tree Lodge Bar & Grill

Pine Tree Lodge Bar & Grill is a Caribbean restaurant that serves up mouth-watering dishes, which are sure to please any customer looking for something different. They have an extensive menu with many appetizers, salads, chicken, meat, and seafood entrees. To flavor their food, they use many exotic Jamaican spices and herbs that will provide you with quite the unique and flavorful experience. Pine Tree Lodge Bar & Grill’s friendly staff look forward to accommodating all of your dining needs!

My Favorite Dishes Are:
Crispy Crusted Coconut Shrimp; served with tartar sauce
Caribbean Salad— Mixed greens, tropical fruits, avocado and tomatoes; served with mango vinaigrette dressing
Pine Tree Burger—Sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon, barbecue sauce, lettuce, tomato, mayo on a fresh bun; served with jerk fries and a sixteen ounce Pine Tree ale
Old Fashioned Jerk Chicken— Marinated grilled chicken seasoned with exotic Jamaican spices and herbs; served with steamed vegetables and plantains (except Roti orders)
Marinated Grilled Rib Eye Steak— Garlic mashed potatoes with a shallot wine sauce; served with vegetables and plantains (except Roti orders)
Steamed Snapper— Okra, tomatoes, garlic and celery; served with steamed vegetables and plantains (except Roti orders)

The Complete North African Experience at Murray Hill's Casaville

Casaville is Murray Hill’s sexy and sophisticated Moroccan hotspot. The piping hot tagines served with preserved lemons, a cornerstone Moroccan ingredient, are all the rage there, while if you are looking for something a little healthier, Casaville also offers assorted couscous dishes and gourmet salads. If you are ordering for a large group, you simply must try the Paella Valenciana, a Spanish seafood and rice dish that is also eaten in Morocco.

For a complete North African experience, Casaville is the place to go. Order online if you don't want to leave home at their website.

Some Favorites at Casaville Are:
Salmon Filet—Falafel crusted and served with grilled vegetables
Paella Valenciana—With chorizo, chicken, shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari
Royal Couscous—Lamb, chicken and merguez with vegetables
Hummus a l’Avocat—Avocado hummus with mixed greens, cucumber and warm pita
Morrocan Salad—Vegetable confetti of eggplant, zucchini and bell peppers with olives
De Saumon Brochettes—Grilled salmon with paprika and mint; served with spicy carrots, beets and couscous salad

Jhankar Indian Restaurant in Downtown Manhattan

Jhankar Indian Restaurant is a shining star of Indian cuisine in downtown Manhattan. Each dish is prepared fresh every day using traditional recipes passed down for generations. Customers can be sure that each dish is prepared using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients around.The chefs of Jhankar have spared no expense in bringing the best that India has to offer right here to New York. They serve all your favorite tried and true dishes as well as some innovative new flavor combinations that are sure to please if you’re in the mood to try something new. For a memorable dining experience, Jhankar is the one spot that’s guaranteed to satisfy.

The Sometimes Overlooked Oscar Cafe

Oscar Cafe is so charming, so pleasant, so accessible and so overlooked. It’s the perfect place to dine whether you’re alone or with friends. The tiny wine bar makes very respectable cocktails that go perfectly with the tempting appetizers. The olive plate starter is a customer favorite and goes great with grilled chicken, veggies and mixed greens. Oscar is highly recommended if you're looking for a place to start the evening with a glass of wine and some snacks or if you enjoy a sunny lunch with a book. The homey atmosphere and friendly service will make you feel right at home.

Authentic Spanish Food at Cafe Espanol

If you are sick of the same old Spanish-themed restaurants that serve up the same food as the neighborhood Tex-Mex, then Café Espanol is the place for you. Café Espanol brings you traditional Spanish cooking in a rustic setting.

True Spanish paella is difficult to find in New York City. At Café Espanol, your biggest problem will be which paella you are in the mood for. Cooking done with saffron, paprika and other Spanish spices ensures that there are plenty of flavors in all of the dishes at Café Espanol. Fresh seafood and perfectly cooked steaks are a couple of the reasons that Café Espanol has been serving New York diners since 1976. They have recently added a tapas menu that gives many creations in smaller portions, but with the same big taste of the entrée size. If you are on the run but are craving the flavors of old Spain then try something from the tapas menu and tell your friends!

Fan Favorites are:

Paella Valenciana—Spain’s classic saffron rice dish served with sausage, chicken and seafood medley
Prime Filet Mignon al Café Espanol—Filet mignon served with mushrooms in a red wine sauce; served with house salad and choice of saffron rice, vegetables or fried potatoes
Chicken al Café Espanol—Boneless breast of chicken with onions, garlic, parsley and mushrooms; served with house salad and choice of saffron rice, vegetables or fried potatoes
Chicken and Beef Fajitas—Classic chicken and beef fajitas served with house salad and choice of saffron rice, vegetables or fried potatoes
Costillas de Cordero Adobadas y Azadas—Lamb chops seasoned with paprika, red wine, garlic and parsley
Jamon Serrano—Traditional Spanish Serrano ham aged for fifteen months

Vegetarian and Vegan Thai at Wild Ginger

Have you been looking for something different and exciting for dinner? Do you crave delicious food served in a relaxing atmosphere? Wild Ginger is the answer to both these questions and more. Let them entice you with the traditional flavors and spices of authentic Thai cuisine, which complement an all vegetarian and mostly vegan menu. Their talented chefs have more than twenty years of experience using only the finest and freshest ingredients to create an unparalleled dining experience.

Let the courteous staff serve your favorite Thai dishes in Wild Ginger's comfortable dining room or enjoy the fresh air on the outdoor patio. Wild Ginger is always available to help you select the perfect entrée for your meal.

Try some of the following favorites!
Curry Samosas—With mint chutney
Mango Salad—Mixed greens, mango, asparagus and peppers with miso mustard dressing
Sweet and Sour Sesame Soy Protein—With broccoli and cauliflower
General Tso’s Soy Protein—With broccoli
Udon or Soba Noodle Soup—With tofu and fillet and vegetables
Pineapple Fried Rice—With sunflower seeds, avocado and bean curd