An 'Affaire' to Remember on Avenue B

    Affaire is one of those transporting destination restaurants where you find yourself walking down Avenue B in the East Village and the next thing you know you're out through the looking glass and in a bistro in Paris oozing with sex appeal. The menu is primarily French bistro classics with a few updated takes on classics. Favorites include their Mussels with frites, Steak Au Poivre, Frites with chevre (goat cheese) sauce, and for something with a twist, "Buffalo" Frog Legs.Lobster Risotto is high on the top of my list to try on my next visit. 

    I was lucky enough to attend an event hosted by Affaire's affable Andrew Krauss and the sweet Sasha Cox (the entire staff was great). We had a good crew comprised of NearSay staff, bloggers, a sports photographer and a mixologist extraordinaire and had the pleasure of watching Affaire's Executive Chef Edgar Navarrete work his magic making mussels over the fire.It's always a pleasure watching a pro, be it an athlete, artist or chef in action doing their craft while making it look effortless. And watching him cook the mussels was a lot of fun, almost as much as eating them – almost. We were also sopping up the chevre cheese and pesto atop the frites.

    Affaire has a nice, roomy L-shaped bar when you enter; it's well stocked with a nice selection of wines. Their specialty drink menu is geared towards the ladies (fruity, topped with Champagne etc) yet they equally make a nice solid classic stiff drink. If you're lucky, the lovely Nicole will be shaking and mixing them for you. The dining room has wooden tables, one very large lampshade and chandeliers to set the mood. To continue your evening Affaire has multiple subterranean lounges which if I had to pick one word to describe them would be sultry. They are done up with brick walls, dark wood, gold ceilings, banquettes, couches (a raised chaise that got all our imaginations going), and plenty of nooks and cranies for quiet conversation and if things go well some canoodling. Affaire is definitely a place to, at the very least, fall in love with, if not ending up falling head over heels with your date.

    For you "cunning linguists" out there, the word affaire is often maligned as an illicit relationship of a sexual nature when in fact the actual definition of the word is "a matter to attend to, an event or happening" which comes from the Anglo-French a faire "to do"

    To make the mussels, if I remember correctly, heat up some oil, add chopped shallots, then the mussels followed by chopped garlic (add in after the shallots and on top of the mussels so you do not burn the garlic), add white wine, a bit of butter (butchers thumb) salt, pepper and top with chopped parsley. Once the mussels start opening turn down the flame so they don't overcook. Add bacon, beer and some cream to make Grand Mere style or add cream and curry if that's your thing.
Affaire: 50 Ave. B, at E. 4th St.

Garlic Pizza Bar: Do We Have a New Sherrif in Town?

    While making my way in the pouring rain in my neighborhood to pick up some provisions for the week, I needed some sustenance (fridge was a bit bare). I had a few of my usual places in mind till I remembered seeing a new pizza place on Second Avenue and decided to give it a whirl. While Murray Hill may not be lacking in places that provide pizza, Garlic Pizza Bar turned out to be a very welcome edition.

    I scanned up and down their long pizza bar trying to decide from among all the tasty looking choices on display before me. I decided to go healthy with a Grandma slice topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil followed by an almost, but not quite as healthy meat slice covered with pepperoni and very tasty ground sausage on a pie slice. What makes and breaks a good slice (in New York I take it for granted they get the crust right) is the use of good quality ingredients (fresh mozzarella and veggies, good quality meats, etc.) and their sauce. Garlic nailed their sauce. It was the first thing that hit me when I tasted the Grandma slice. It was the quality of the ground sausage versus what you usually get that really stood out on the meat slice.

    Garlic Pizza Bar has a full menu including regular, Sicilian, and Grandma (cut square, but thin and usually without cheese) pies, with 18 choices in toppings, appetizers, entrees, pastas and salads. They do have broccoli rabe on the menu (i.e. with sausage or chicken under appetizers) but it's not on the pizza toppings list. Here's hoping they will do a broccoli rabe and sausage pie.

    Garlic has a nice and immaculately clean Indoor dining area and even a little backyard/outdoor space that will work whether you go with your gal or guy, friends or family. They also have plasma screens playing sports against the back wall to check the games while grabbing a bite. This is an old school place with all your red sauce joint favorites. It tastes like it belongs in the SoHo area on the outskirts of Little Italy or in Brooklyn. Luckily for my neighbors and I it's in Murray Hill.
Garlic Pizza Bar: 629 34th St., at 2nd Ave.

Night-Out: Dances with Vice/Aquagrill

    In the immortal words of Monty Python: "and now for something completely different."
I recently attended Dances with Vice: Shanghai Foxtrot at Le Poisson Rouge. The space is a fairly good size with plenty of tables and bar space. The drinks were well made even though the size of the glasses varied during the show. They do have a full menu but only one item was ordered at our table. It was a spicy tuna roll and I don't believe it was quite the best they ever had. Again, not fair to judge by one item and if you're starving at least food is an

    The show's theme was a nightclub in 1930's Shanghai, which at the time was known as the "Paris of the East." I expected it to be primarily a Burlesque act with some song and dance but it turned out to be the opposite. Most of the show was a "Torch-Singer" singing Chinese hits from the '30s backed up by a jazz band. In addition to that, two couples came out to tango. There was an old school Burlesque feather dance (lots of feathers, not much else aside from some covering of the naughties – that is what they called lady-parts back then right?) and also a very good tap-dancer. The show was entertaining. Just my group all expected something a bit more risque.

    From there we strolled on over to Aquagrill for some tasty seafood. Aquagrill has been a mainstay in SoHo for many years now and is one of the cities top seafood restaurants. If you've been here before, it's still great. If you have yet to dine here, put it on your list if your idea of a diet is a seafood diet.

    Aquagrill has a spectacular selection of oysters from both coasts to choose from and the staff is well versed in what distinguishes one from the other. I really wish I could remember the name of the half-dozen to started with, but I can't. It was from the West coast, thin lipped, decent sized and delicious (please note we were told it could take up to 50 minutes to get them...they came within 20 and worst comes to worst they would have made a great desert).

    The other starters our table enjoyed included a sea bass roll special that was pretty tasty, a nice version of Manhattan clam chowder (remember that's the tomato based version vs the cream based from New England) and one of the better tuna tartares I've had in awhile. It was spicy, topped with fish roe I believe was from the belly.

    For main courses, a couple of us went with the branzino, the whole fish. Being a fish from the Mediterranean, I've usually had it in Italian restaurants served with flavors from the region. At Aquagrill, they did it with Asian flavors via a sesame vinaigrette, bok choy and a cucumber salad. I love branzino and this tasty version was a nice change of pace. A little known fact: great seafood restaurants always have great steaks to keep carnivores in the party happy. Our carnivore was rather happy with his steak. The star of the show went to the Truffle Crusted Cod (which made the truffle loving lady quite happy) that came with wild mushroom ravioli along with roasted hen of the wood mushrooms and spinach in a – drum roll please – truffle mushroom sauce. It was earthy, rich and oh so yummy.

    On Saturday nights for dessert, Aquagrill offers aside from the usual suspects, souffles. We gave the chocolate and the lemon a whirl. I'm not a big souffle kinda guy, but they were light, airy, and quite good. To go with the meal, Aquagrill has a nice wine selection and some interesting cocktails, for example the Jalapeno Quencher – chilled Kettle One vodka, pomegranate liquor, jalapeno, lime and cranberry juice, shaken not stirred of course. Fellow heat-seekers please note: they left some seeds in the pepper. If you were looking for hot, you got it.

Le Poisson Rouge: 158 Bleecker St., bet. Thompson & Sullivan Sts.
Aquagrill: 210 Spring St., at 6th Ave.

NYC ICY:ICE ICE BABY

    Two words: Watermelon Chip. Watermelon ices with chocolate chips masquerading as seeds. The first time I went by NYC ICY it was sold out, but with a dozen or so ices/sorbet flavors and another dozen plus cream-based (everything from the usual basics of lemon, chocolate, etc. to ginger, Thai iced tea, Nutella, mango basil) it wasn't too difficult to choose another which turned out to be the FDNY Cherry ices with pieces of cherry in it (For NYPD fans go Blue). I also tried their lychee – both were great. If you like some heat try the cream-based Mexican chocolate which was delicious. Warning: it really has some heat, but in a good way if you like some flava.

    After a filling meal at Frank, needing a stroll to work it off and a little something to cleanse my palette I popped by NYC ICY and they had the watermelon chip. It was awesome. I was pleasantly surprised how well the chocolate chips worked with the water-based ices. One of the better treats I've had so far this summer.

    Ice cream shops are popping up all over the place and as much as I scream for my ice cream, I do like my Iices. With this summer being a bit on the warm side, ices are a great light treat that cool you down without filling you up and all for only $2.50 to $5.

NYC ICY: 171 Ave. A, bet. E. 10th & 11th Sts.

Francois Payard's Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwiches

    Yes, you read the headline correctly – Macaroon Ice Cream sandwiches! Francois Payard Bakery on West Houston has added ice cream sandwiches to their already decadent menu. Their take is a bit different then most out there. They use French macarons for the sandwich and sorbets instead of ice cream for the fillings. These little treats really are delicious and perfect for when you need a cool sweet fix, but don't want a huge dessert or are petite and/or European and think a 4 X 2 inch treat is rather large. They come in a number of combinations including Coconut Mango (my choice for today), Pistachio Raspberry, and Berries and Cheesecake.

    Francois Payard Bakery has a full menu of pastries and baked goods (croissants, macarons, tarts, etc $2.50 to $4+) sandwiches and a selection of chocolates and treats to take home. To make sure I take in enough antioxidants I picked up their Dark Chocolate and Orange Peel (protect from scurvy) bar ($7) They also have a Milk Chocolate and a White with berries. I also espied on their shelves a tube of something they call a Brigadeiro ($9.25) which is their version of a chocolate spread for bread and/or as an ice cream topping (milk, dark and white). In this case I went with the White. It has the Coconut and the Lime in it, plus not just the flavor, bits...oh soooooo good.

    Francois Payard Bakery is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and a great spot to pop by before or after a flick at the Angelika, a show at Le Poisson Rouge or to re-fuel you for your shopping spree (or carrying your significant other's bags from their spree).
Francois Payard Bakery: 116 W. Houston St., near Sullivan St.

Midnight in Paris/Tapas at El Porron

    Looking for a good movie to take your girl since she's been a trooper going to your summer action flicks, or has your guy been doing the right thing lately so you don't want to punish him with a total chick flick that he could lose his "man-card" over? Midnight in Paris is your ticket so to speak and it's playing at City Cinema's 1, 2 and 3. It's Woody Allen's latest and I would put it up there with one of his better ones. To make this spoiler free I will give you the overview and some good stuff to look/listen out for.

    The basic story is an engaged couple played by Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams go to Paris on vacation along with her parents and catch up with a friend from the past played by Michael Sheen as an obnoxious know-it-all. The Owen Wilson character is a successful screenwriter who wants to write a book and finds his job lacking fulfillment. He falls in love with Paris and decides he would rather walk around at night to enjoy the streets by himself then go out dancing with his wife and friends. Somehow he finds himself in 1920s Paris and meets the various ex-pat artists, writers and their muses who made Paris their home at the time. In the morning, he is back in his time. If you've read Hemingway, really listen to how he speaks in the movie. If you're a fan of Dali, listen to him describe how he is going to draw a portrait.

    The overall theme of the movie is everyone seems to think that the times before theirs were "Golden." I can't say that I cannot relate with that. The acting was superb throughout the entire cast and they had a terrific script and story to work with. Oh, fans of the Hangover and like movies, keep your ears open for Woody's opinion on them.

    There is plenty to talk about after seeing this movie, from the shots of Paris, the acting, lines in the script, themes, etc. Now while most would go to a wine bar for French wine to stay with the theme, I decided to put a little twist on that by going to a Spanish tapas bar. While the movie may take in Paris, Dali and Picasso are Spanish, and Hemingway made his bones with the classic For Whom the Bell Tolls, about the Spanish Civil War.

    El Porron is a brief walk away from the theater and a great place for a lite bite and drink. It has a nice long bar with cocktail and dinner tables. It's dark and candle lit with some quirky black and white portraits on the walls. They have a nice selection of red and whites by the glass as well as bottle (if you are not familiar with Spanish wines try the Tempranillo for a rojo and the Albarino for a blanco) and of course Sangria. They offer about a dozen each of hot and cold Tapas. We went with the chorizo sausage and shrimp in garlic sauce – both were winners ($7 to $12). They do have a full entree menu, but will have to check it out on another visit as well as their desert menu.

City Cinemas: 1001 3rd Ave., near E. 60th St.
El Porron: 1123 1st Ave., bet. 61st & 62nd Sts.