Sabbia: a new rooftop restaurant at Eataly in NYC

April 29, 2016 / I On The Valley / Leave a comment

Eataly has opened a new roof top bar and restaurant in Manhattan on the 14th floor of Eataly at 200 5th Avenue in the Flatiron district. Sabbia (“sand” in Italian) is Eataly’s new pop-up restaurant and is sure to be a hit. Eataly is the amazing gourmet Italian marketplace and eatery that is part owned by Chef Mario Batali and Joe and Lydia Bastianich. I had the opportunity to attend a press only launch party for this new hip restaurant.

Oyster Bar

The theme of Sabbia is the beach and seaside resorts of the Italian coastline. The rooftop bar and restaurant with its retractable glass roof creates an environment in which you are no longer in Manhattan, but rather you are at a hip seaside resort in sunny Italy. The decor features, cabanas, beach chairs, palm trees, vintage travel posters, and more. The atmosphere is casual and laid back as if you were on vacation.

Cabanas, Beach Chairs and more !

The menu consists of healthy, easy to eat “coastal” foods from both land and sea. During the preview we were able to sample calamari, shrimp, scallops, and chicken as well as other dishes. Eataly is also partnered with Island Creek Oysters of Massachusetts which has set up an oyster bar in a small boat right in the restaurant.

There is also a full bar which specializes in 12 unique and fresh cocktails , as well as a selection of wines and beers. Some of the cocktails that are available are “Hoppy Hour”, “Sorrento Spritz” and many more.

A flight of cocktails

Sabbia opens Friday April 29th and will be open through October. Don’t miss out on this special coastal Italian experience on a rooftop in the heart of Manhattan. So grab your sunglasses and sandals and get ready for summer.

Sabbia (at Eataly)

200 5th Avenue New York New York 14th floor

https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/new-york/archive-new-york/sabbia-rooftop-restaurant/

212-937-8910

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Zero Otto Nove: A fresh look at Italian cuisine in Armonk

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016 / I On The Valley / Leave a comment

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I have heard about the wonderful food at Zero Otto Nove on Arthur Avenue in the Little Italy Section of the Bronx and was interested in eating at their Westchester restaurant in Armonk. Located off Old Route 22 in a former commercial building, the restaurant decor has an industrial modern interior combined with traditional touches. The brick walls, exposed trusses and large opening garage door are a hint to is past and this has been blended with traditional touches to create a warm inviting effect. On a Sunday evening I visited for dinner and it was a full house and most tables were filled with families and tables with couples . Some tables were filled with a variety of dishes which encourages sharing a variety of plates.

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The food is Southern Italian inspired by the owner and chef Roberto Paciullo from Salerno Italy. The menu is both familiar yet unique and there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy and to share.

Starters: I began with Parmigana di Melanzane E Zucchine (Eggplant and Zucchini parmigiana) with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce. The sauce was fantastic as only the finest San Marzano tomatoes are used and the pasta is made fresh daily.

Eggplant and Zucchini Parmiagiana

You can taste the difference with the fresh quality ingredients. I also shared the Grilled Octopus with fresh tomatoes, capers, cannellini beans and olive oil. Delicious ! Also shares was the Polpettine, Polenta and Caprino which is an innovative and tasty delight of small meat balls, polenta, and goat cheese. Both appetizers were delectable and the presentation was pleasing. There is also a wood fired oven on premises which provide diners with a choice of fresh pizza selections.

Meatballs with Polenta and Goat Cheese

Grilled Octopus

Wood Fired Oven Pizza

Main Course: The entrée I picked was the Mediterranean Sea Bream with clams, cherry tomatoes in white wine.

Sea Bream and Clams

Sea Bream is a mild tasting white fish which was cooked with the other ingredients in aluminum foil to keep in the moisture and taste. The foil is opened table side and the aroma of flavors that escape is quite amazing. The dish was a fantastic combination of flavors.

The other dish was a pasta dish which was suggested by the waiter and I am glad I ordered. This is a unique dish of Radiatori in Cartoccio , which is pasta with porcini mushrooms, tomatoes, bread crumbs and parmigiano reggiano also cooked in aluminum foil. Because of the unique preparation of this dish, the food was soft creamy and amazing. As the foil was peeled back, you could witness the pasta unfurl in front of you as the flavors wafted over the table. This is not your typical old school Italian dish.

Pasta,porcini mushrooms,tomatoes cooked in tin foil

Dessert: is homemade and fun to share. The cannoli alla Zero Otto Nove was a variation of the classic cannoli as it was two flat thin canolli pastries filled with sweet ricotta creme. I had to indulge in the Sogni Cioccolato (chocolate cake with dark and flavored with Grand Marnier and covered in Nutella). Hats off to the pastry chef for two provided two great ways to finish a fine meal.

Zero Otto Nove is a really innovative Italian restaurant with food for the whole family and is prepared and served from the heart. The service was great and they made you feel like you were part of the family.

Fun Fact: Zero Otto Nove means zero eight nine (089) which is the area code for Salerno Italy from where the owner/chef is from.

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Zero Otto Nove

55 Old Route 22 Armonk NY Tel: 914-273-0089

web: http://www.089armonk.089roberto.com

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Trattoria 632: Fresh ingredients and classic recipes make this Italian Restaurant a winner

September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 / I On The Valley / Leave a comment

When I walked into Trattoria 632 an Italian restaurant in Purchase, I immediately felt a homey and soothing vibe. The friendly hostess who was there to greet us made us feel as if we were friends and not just customers on our first visit. We passed through the bar area, which is an informal space with a bar, pizza oven, seating and room for a band. We were seated in the main dining room a space with molding, hardwood floors and stained glass windows.

Dining room

Dining room with stained glass windows

Figs

We were seated and introduced to our seasoned waiter, Tony who took time to explain all the specials that evening. I learned that the restaurant had won the Best of Westchester Award (2014) from Westchester Magazine for Best Italian Restaurant. With that in mind it is easy to see why diners love this spot and keep returning. I loved that the menu consisted of interesting dishes yet included all the classic Italian favorites that I love. The seafood is so fresh that the specials are based on what the chef buys that day. The salad dressings are all made in house as well as the fresh mozzarella cheese. I learned that many of the tasty desserts are also homemade by the owners Mother, whom I had the pleasure to meet during my stay.

Our party of four shared the appetizers. We ordered fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, figs topped with walnuts and gorgonzola cheese, stuffed clams with shrimp, bell peppers and applewood bacon and zucchini flowers with with ricotta and mozzarella cheese. All the dishes were delicious with raves from the table about the clams which were also served in a light scampi sauce.

Stuffed Clams

Zucchini Flowers

For my entree I ordered the daily special which was a stuffed filet of sole with fresh crab meat and vegetables. Also ordered was the salmon filet special which was served in a mustard sauce. Chicken parmagian was also ordered and served with a side of pasta and was delicious.

Salmon in Mustard Sauce

Stuffed Filet of Sole

Shrimp and scallops over squid ink pasta

All the dishes were amazing and everyone was very happy with the freshness and presentation of their selections. As a side dish we ordered shrimp and scallops over squid ink pasta which was a nice item to share, and the sauce was very tasty with a bit of a kick!

Though we were full we had to try the homemade desserts as I was told by a patron in the next table not to pass them up. I ordered the homemade tiramisu which was so very light and airy. We also split a tasty Napolean with fresh whipped cream, homemade carrot cake and very tasty peanut butter mousse pie with an oreo crust.

Homemade Carrot Cake

Tiramisu

Napolean

The owner was present as was several members of his family and it was a pleasure to meet them and enjoy a wonderfully prepared meal in a warm family atmosphere. I felt like I was dining with my family. That is how special this restaurant made me feel. There is also music every Thursday night which lightens the mood in the bar area. This is a great place to enjoy classic Italian dishes that we all crave as well as fantastic fresh seafood specials. Portions are a nice size and the price is reasonable. An excellent restaurant for you to try and enjoy.

Trattoria 632

632 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, New York

Phone: (914) 481-5811

website: http://trattoria632.com

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