MASSARA ......913 BROADWAY; FLATIRON FIND.

 I AM ALWAYS panning for food gold. RECENTLY,  I visited the ROY MARINO' stream and mine.

Roy has  been a hard working star in restaurant world for a long time .   "MASSARA,"  he said.

Once in a blue moon I step into a new house of feeding and exclaim to myself," OMG This is it! " It is

not alway "it". This time it was.

From the quiet charmer that helped us plot a menu strategy to the glasses of Montepulciano and Falanghia ...and all the servers who teamed and played seamlessly,

our early nodding was strong though not flamboyant. The pizzetta and squash salad and a pomegranate-

shredded cheese appetizers set off imagined starter guns.  The beef ragu pasta and the pasta with sprinkled

lobster led to Pat and  I  exchanging looks that had captions about believe-ability. We constantly turned toward the open kitchen to see where the magicians were crafting gems.

We walked out on mute til we hit the rainy street. Pause. Umbrellas up.Pause. "OMG?" "YES.OMG!

"

FLEUR CAFE ON 5TH AVE IN PARK SLOPE NEAR 7 ST

THE STAFF ARE STARS AND FUTURE STARS.

GREAT BUNS

\

 JUST OPENED  BUT  FILLED WITH HAPPY CUSTOMERS MONTHS AFTER OTHER NEW LOCAL CHINESE RESTAURANTS  ARE TRYING TO FILL A TABLE HERE OR THERE....BUT EVEN MORE THIS IS IT.!..... This is the Shanghai Soupy JUICY Dumplings,dim sum rice cake and wow talent place the slope has been waiting for! Winning fine dining Indian got herE first but this is it! Go now or buy a stool to sit on on line when the world finds out.  THE PORK SOUP DUMPLINGS ARE AS GOOD AS ANY OF THE 712 I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE CHEF TANGS CUCUMBER SALAD AT HWA WAN BUT THE SWEET VINEGAR MIX IS A COMPETETOR.

                                                        TANGERINE SHRIMP

CURRY MEE 369 5TH AV ...PARK SLOPE.......DAY ONE

 I could feel the excitement coming from the team that pulled this together. Looks similar to the now departed Sushi house at this location. I only had time for a few tastes, but what I did taste looked good.

The vibe is also good. I started with a small appetizer of ROTI Canai with a lovely friendly pancake and a curryish soup/sauce. two small  dark chicken golf balls were perfect

The cuisine is Malaysian and so familiar dishes reflected a slight variation on the cuisines we might associate with a dish...like the wonton soup for example and the wontons themselves had a tight wrapped likable density. The veggie dumpling too was substantial but not doughy. 

Every dish was a star. Next time Shrimps ,whose pictures in the menu wearing various garbs look so good  , I believe i Will find them entertaining.

And they are different in another way: They are not closed on Mondays . Not closed on Tuesdays. So

thats a plus. everyone opens on Wednesdays....just not Mee.

                                                                         WONTON WONDER

                                                                          ROTI

  

COMMON on 15st and 4th Ave in Park Slope

ONE BREAKFAST AND I COULDN'T WAIT TO SHARE SOMETHING ABOUT COMMON. ... MIDDLE EASTERN FLAVORS AND  GLOWING SPACIAL ENVIRONMENT. BREAKFAST WAS ENOUGH BECAUSE AVOCADO AND MUSHROOM AND EGGS AND THE PERFECT AM SAUCE WITH PERFECT POTATO CUBES...MADE THE IDEA OF LUNCH OR DINNER HERE PROMISING . A WIDE OPEN KITCHEN AND PERFECT COFFEE  WEREJUST RIGHT AND THE BEER TAPS BEYOND THE COUNTER CALLED TO ME. SOFIA SERVED AND NOTICED MY NYU ID SINCE SHE IS A STUDENT THERE WHEN SHE IS NOT HELPING HER DAD IN HIS NEW PLACE AT HIS VOID FILLING COMFORTABLE EATERY. "I will meet you for breakfast Tuesday. Where should we go?"  Pause. Pause.  "I know a place:COMMON!" I plan dinner there soon.

ARTHUR & SONS 38 8th Ave(JANE ST)

                                                             All seating seems comfortable

                                                             SEAFOOD FRA DIAVOLO

              

                                                          BAKED CLAMS

              

                                                          

                                                           BIRTHDAY BOY

                                                                        

I first heard about King Arthur (Red sauce king) on  CBS Morning Show. And had a sense that my...

childhood at Salernos in Ridgewood would be evoked. I also loved how the owner explained his style and freshness but used the catchphrase "BUT THE CHICKEN PARM PAYS THE BILLS" . Master parm lover, Jerry Seinfeld ,take note.  With my brother Lane's November birthday now being revealed, this too

would be to his liking as a quiet birthday treat. It was.And birthday or not it must become a regular thing.. The baked clams alone would have done it. The hot sea food( both " hots" ...temp and  spice...) sits on linguini from linguini heaven.

Because the waiter overheard the birthday talk desert came decorated for the occasion. Thank you Arthur & Sons....and if you see this blog I apologize for half eaten food photos but its your fault the food told me not to pause. And if you like this review dont do anything to express your appreciation ...just keep the dishes coming . I will see you again as i begin my finish the whole menu quest. As James Cagney said in Yankee Doodle Dandy..."My mother thanks you, (my father doesn't he was kosher), my brother thanks you..

AND I THANK YOU.

 

OLE SAVANNAH...ROUNDOUT LANDING KINGSTON NY

                                                            This find by the Kingston docks

on the Hudson began with fine corn fritters.

A

                                                        And slightly spicy Jambalaya

and fantastic fried green tomatoes ...without the grease.

 Southern hospitality transport to a northern river front. This side trip from the great Quaker gathering was a fun plus..Our walk after lunch brought us to a craft store where we were gleeful to find the lovely owner was a relative to a neighbor in Brooklyn....ON OUR BLOCK!   Another good small world moment.

HALLIGAN'S PUB. STONY POINT. NY

Opus 40 is an art installation  that took 40 years and tons of slate to create...near Woodstock NY.

While we started at a Stony Point Quaker retreat site to celebrate our friend Charlene's birthday, this location was a highlight side trip. We arrived too late for dinner on night one but were rescued by Halligans, a dream diner . Great surprise ...from friendly service to Pierogi to hot turkey platter>

                                                              PIEROGI AND ONIONS

                                                            Thanks for this pop up thanksgiving platter.