date night Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Dining Lab at Monroe College

Posted on July 27, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

On a recent Tuesday night my husband and I ventured to New Rochelle to enjoy a 3-course fine dining experience. You wouldn’t know there was a restaurant here if you drove by because it is hiding inside the local college. Monroe College has a culinary program and a functioning restaurant, The Dining Lab at Monroe College. On select Tuesday evenings throughout the year, they open to the public for a fine dining experience.

How do you get reservations?

You can call or email to get reservations. There are three seatings, 6:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 7 PM and they are only booking parties of four or less. I emailed my reservation request a couple of weeks in advance. A few days after I emailed, I received a confirmation phone call.

What exactly is The Dining Lab?

The Dining Lab is a student-run restaurant. Dean Constantino oversees the kitchen during dinner service. However, the senior culinary students are the ones preparing your dinner while the hospitality students are the ones taking orders, bringing dishes out, clearing the table, etc. The dining room has a partial view of the kitchen, depending on where you are seated, so you can see the students hard at work.

The dining room has twelve tables that seat up to four guests and they were all filled the night of our visit. I will mention that the acoustics in the space aren’t great. With the dining room filled with guests, it did get fairly loud.

What type of food is served?

The Dining Lab serves Contemporary American cuisine. The menu changes monthly and utilizes farm-fresh produce. While the Dean creates the menus, the students learn to execute it.

Prior to making reservations, I did make sure to check the menu out. While there were several vegetarian starters to choose from, there were no vegetarian main courses. Although I am a pescatarian, my husband usually follows a vegetarian diet. This was one of the few occasions where he decided to eat seafood. And boy did we enjoy a seafood dinner!

I chose the Lobster Risotto to start. This was my favorite dish of the evening! Not only was the portion large, but the risotto included a generous portion of lobster pieces.

While my husband ordered the House-made Swedish-Cured Salmon. This was delicious too (because, of course, we shared!); I just wish they served it with more crackers.

For our main dishes we shared the Squid-ink Spaghetti a la Chitarra with stuffed calamari, fresh tomato passata and garlic and herbs. Although it appeared my calamari were unstuffed, with the stuffing on the side!

My husband ordered A Tasting of Low Country Gullah Cuisine which included a piece of striped bass on a fish and grits cake. It had a shrimp sauce made with fresh tomatoes, okra, hot and sweet peppers, simmered cabbage and onions. This dish had some heat to it!

These were the only two non-meat main dishes (the other choices included a chicken dish, pork milanese and a duo of duck). Both of our main dishes were excellent as well.

Once your main course is finished, your server will bring you the dessert menu.

I ordered the Matcha Strawberry Tiramisu.

And my husband had the Poaches & Herbs. This was sous vide peaches served with a peach lavender jelly, herb honey, whipped ganache and a peach sorbet. This was on of my husband’s favorite dishes of the evening!

The Experience

Upon entering the restaurant, the host pulled out my chair for me. I first sat with my back to the kitchen. Our table had a partial view of the kitchen, so I switched my seat to get a better view of the action. Once we were seated an amuse bouche was brought out.

Our server, Anna, introduced herself and brought us our menus and a basket of homemade bread.

Alcohol is not served at the restaurant, however guests are invited to BYOB. Red wine is kept at the table, while they have an ice bucket to chill your bottle of white wine. They have a variety of non-alcoholic beverages including different sodas, sparking water and apple juice.

I have to admit that there was a long wait time between courses. Service was great, though, and Anna came out to apologize for the delay with dessert. Although they try to stagger the arrival times so they don’t get backed up, it seemed like the kitchen was very backed up the evening of our visit.

After our dinner, the check was brought with a mignardise (a plate of bite-sized cookies to enjoy). Professor Luna supervises the dining room during the evening and is the one who processes the credit cards.

Some Final Parting Thoughts

My husband and I had such a great time at The Dining Lab at Monroe College. Our dinner was delicious! And it is a steal at $29.95 each for a 3 course dinner!

However, please only visit this restaurant if you have patience and an open mind. These are students who are learning via hands-on experience. These students are paying in both time and tuition to “work” in The Dining Lab. However, they don’t get the financial satisfaction of earning a paycheck or bringing home tips after a very busy night’s work. But please do tip and tip generously. Gratuities support the Monroe College foundation which helps fund the college’s study-abroad programs to Italy.

The Details:

The Dining Lab at Monroe College
434 Main Street
New Rochelle, NY
website

Hours: Dinner is served on Tuesday nights
There are 3 seatings – 6:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 7:00 PM
Dinner is by reservation only

Reservations: Call (914) 740-6421
Email: reservations@monroecollege.edu

Parking: Guests can park in the Monroe College Franklin Parking Lot (directions are on the website)
There is also paid street parking available

Price: The current 3 course Pre-Fixe menu is $29.95

Other info:
*They are currently taking reservations of a maximum of 4 people per table.

*No alcohol is served, but you can BYOB.

*Coffee, tea and other beverages are available for an additional cost

*The last service for the summer was July 27. However, reservations will open up again in the fall, once the semester starts.

*Although there is no dress code, be mindful that this is a fine dining experience. Although guests weren’t super dressed up, I would recommend not wearing jeans.

Five Guys Named Moe {Westchester Broadway Theatre}

Posted on February 5, 2020 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

We were invited to press night for *Five Guys Named Moe*. Thank you to the Westchester Broadway Theatre for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.

Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, Five Guys Named Moe, debuted January 30th and it’s a must-see show!

*Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre*

Five Guys Named Moe is set in an unnamed city and unspecified year. It tells the story of No Max, recently single and drowning his sorrows with alcohol. It’s almost 5 in the morning when he’s taken by surprise as five guys, all named Moe, emerge from his radio. Big Moe, Little Moe, Eat Moe, No Moe and Four-Eyed Moe give No Max lessons in love via song and dance in hopes of helping win his girl back.

This musical pays tribute to American musician, songwriter and bandleader Louis Jordan, featuring over 20 songs, many of which are written by him. It originally debuted at London’s West End Lyric Theatre in December 1990 and made its way to Broadway in 1992. Local residents can now enjoy this lively production at the Westchester Broadway Theatre through March 1st.

Dana and I knew nothing about Five Guys Named Moe prior to seeing the show. We were both pleasantly surprised at what a fun production it is. The small cast did such a great job of highlighting the unique personality of each Moe. There was lots of dancing and even some audience participation, including a sing-along. Yes, even we stood right up and joined in!

I recommend Five Guys Named Moe to families with tweens and older. Although the songs are catchy, I don’t think the subject of the show will interest younger kids.

This was our first WBT production where a six-person band played on stage. There were even a few excellent instrumental solos. The music and songs are lively and will have you clapping your hands and tapping your feet along to the beat.

Since the Westchester Broadway Theatre is a dinner theatre, we can’t write about it without mentioning the food. I’ve written in previous reviews that the food here is okay. They are cooking for the masses and I feel the meal is a bonus for the quality of the production you get to see.

This was our first time visiting the WBT since becoming vegan. We weren’t sure if they could accommodate us, since we looked online beforehand and only saw a vegetarian option on the menu. Since we aren’t strict vegans, we were okay with eating the Eggplant Parmesan. However, when we asked if they had a vegan option, our waitress mentioned that they usually have a veggie burger.

I opted for the Eggplant Parm and Dana ordered the veggie burger. When our entrees arrived, he got a GIANT plate of veggies and a baked potato, but no sign of the burger.

We asked our waitress if they had run out of veggie burgers. She was very apologetic for the confusion and brought out TWO veggie burgers. While these are not much to look at, they were larger than expected and actually very moist and tasty! They were a southwest chipotle type burger with a hint of spice. It is probably one of the best things we’ve eaten there. We didn’t call ahead to alert them to our dietary needs, but our server did recommend doing so in the future and to let them know that we’d like to make sure the veggie burger is in stock!

Every production at the WBT has a signature cocktail. “All That Jazz” is the signature drink for Five Guys Named Moe. Dana enjoyed this drink of citrus vodka, grenadine and orange juice. It costs $12 and comes in a souvenir glass that can be taken home.

Five Guys Named Moe is playing for a limited time at the Westchester Broadway Theatre! Be sure to get your tickets before it leaves!

The Details:
Five Guys Named Moe
Westchester Broadway Theatre
1 Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-2222

Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances

Performances: January 30 – March 1, 2020

Show Times:
(The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts)
Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show
Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show
Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show

Tips:
* If you want to take home the souvenir glass, either be sure to hold on to it, or ask the staff for a clean glass to take home.

*They usually have a vegan meal option available. I recommended that you call ahead to make your dietary preference known so you can be sure they can accommodate you on your visit.

*Photos are not allowed during the show

*Check out the website for special offers

*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.

*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.

* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|

*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.

An American in Paris now at the Westchester Broadway Theatre

Posted on October 23, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

The Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, An American in Paris is playing through November 24. The original production had its Broadway debut in April 2015, winning four Tony awards. Although the show ended in October 2016, audiences can now see it performed locally at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT

I must admit, prior to seeing An American in Paris, I didn’t really know much about it. The only song that was familiar to me was “I’ve Got Rhythm.” This musical is based on the 1951 film starring Gene Kelly, which ultimately was inspired by George Gershwin’s 1928 composition of the same name.

In a nutshell, An American in Paris tells the story of Jerry Mulligan, a young WWII veteran who decides to stay in Paris after its liberation, to pursue his passion for painting. He befriends Henri Baurel and Adam Hochberg and they unite like the Three Musketeers. It is in this city that he also meets a ballerina, Lise, and falls in love. But, unfortunately, he’s not her only suitor.

I was surprised at how much dancing (ballet, tap and jazz!) was in the show. The cast was super talented; having to act, sing and dance! And I lost count at the number of costume changes they did! Deanna Doyle, who plays Lise, had the role perfected, as she played Lise on the National Tour. Although Brandon Haagenson has plenty of other performances under his belt, he makes his Westchester Broadway Theatre debut with his role as Jerry.

My husband and I really enjoyed seeing An American in Paris at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. For this show, we were seated at table 281, the second to last row in the center of the theater. However, every seat in the house has a great view of the stage.

The cost of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are not included in your ticket price. Since the show is set in France, my husband started dinner with a “French 75” martini.

But of course, WBT is a dinner theatre. Guests enjoy a full dinner prior to the show. Dinner begins with a garden salad. For an additional cost, other appetizers are available and include shrimp cocktail, French onion soup, smoked salmon and semolina dusted calamari.

Dinner options for this show include Eggplant Parmigiana, Fillet of Sole “Meuniere” (classic French preparation, where fish is dusted in flour before sauteing), Roast Loin of Pork, Sauteed Breast of Chicken with a Marsala sauce and Roast Prime Rib of Beef. I opted for the Eggplant Parm this time and enjoyed it. But I would have liked a little more pasta on the side.

My husband enjoyed the Prime Rib again. He ordered it medium rare and it came out cooked a perfect medium. If you’re not sure what to order, the Prime Rib is always a good bet.

Dessert is always the classic peach melba, but other desserts (Lemon Tart with raspberry sauce, Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, Chocolate lava cake and Chocolate fudge sundae) are available at an additional cost and served later during the intermission.

Although An American in Paris is a family-friendly show, my husband and I enjoyed a fun date night out. While we enjoyed the performance, we’re not so sure our 11 and 13 year-old would have felt the same way.

(We were hosted by the Westchester Broadway Theatre. However, as always, all opinions are our own.)

The Details:
An American In Paris
Westchester Broadway Theatre
1 Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-2222

Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances

Performances: October 3 – November 24, 2019

Tips:
*Photos are not allowed during the show

*Check out the website for special offers

*An American in Paris is family-friendly show, but after seeing it we do not recommend it for children. The story line, music and dancing will likely not interest most kids.

*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.

*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.

* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|

*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.

NYCWFF’s Grand Tasting!

Posted on September 4, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(We were given media passes to attend the Grand Tasting. As always, all opinions are our own.)

New York City’s Wine and Food Festival, presented by ShopRite is celebrating its 12th year! Last year, my husband and I attended the Grand Tasting for the first time and believe me, if you are a wine and/or food lover, you will enjoy this event.

The event is held at Pier 94 and features over 130,000 square feet of food and beverages. The Grand Tasting is the culminating two day event of the four day wine and food festival. Funds from this four day food festival support Food Bank for New York City and No Kid Hungry.

There is so much to eat, so come hungry! Since we don’t get into the city very often, it was a great way to try new-to-us NYC restaurants. While the food samples are unlimited, I don’t think we sampled all of what was available! Some restaurants even had more than one food sample. Some of the tasty bites we had included Housemade Ricotta from Fausto, Elotes from Island Oyster, Haitian Chipotle Pork on a Black Bean Huarache garnished with red and green cabbage from Bridgewater Club and a Kao Yuk Soy-Braised Pork Belly Slider from Bricolage.

Each eatery has a signs with the name of the restaurant and the dish/dishes they are serving. While I’m sure the restaurants that participate in the NYCWFF vary each year, some of the dishes and restaurants we got to try at last year’s event include {Khe-Yo}’s Red Curry Beef Soup, Mamo Restaurant’s Raviolini al Tartufo (yes, that’s shaved truffle!), Print’s Porchetta with Butternut Squash, Chili, Pickled Shallots and Mustard Greens and Ropa Vieja Taco Bites from Los Viajeros.

There was a huge pan of Paella Mixta from La Fonda del Sol.

ShopRite, one of the major sponsors of this event, had a huge setup, featuring samples of dishes made with some of the brands they sell. They also had packaged food samples (granola bars and seasonings) that they were giving out. Coca-Cola, the Food Network & Cooking Channel and Blue Moon also had some of the larger displays.

Although most of the food samples were savory, we did manage to find some sweet treats as well! Mahalo New York Bakery had the prettiest cupcakes and Spoonfuls Inc. had a variety of dessert jars. I might have had more than one sample of 2 Dough Boyz cookie dough, both the original and the chocolate salted caramel pretzel! And I couldn’t pass up a praline from Bernard’s Pralines of New Orleans.

Since this is a wine and food festival, have no worries, there are PLENTY of wine samples. Every wine table has more than one sample to try. We are not big wine drinkers, so unfortunately I don’t have a lot of wine pictures to share with you. If I am going to drink wine, I enjoy a moscato or sweet wine, so I did have to sample the sweet shiraz from Jam Jar.

Don’t be fooled, there are tons of spirits to taste as well. Spirit makers concoct special cocktails for the festival, like Tito’s Zilker Green Lemonade, Four Roses Lawrenceburg Cooler, Maker’s Mark Cucumber Julep and Spring44 Distilling’s Feast for Queens.

For those that don’t drink, there are non-alcoholic drinks available as well. Last year, there beverages from Bai, Coca-Cola, Dunkin’ and La Croix.

When you need a break from all of the eating and drinking, make sure to stop by The Ikea Kitchen to watch some culinary demonstrations. Each day’s lineup features different chefs cooking up a dish in 30 minutes. You don’t get to sample the dishes that are made, but they are fun sessions to get to see some of your favorite chefs in action. We were doing so much eating and drinking that, sadly, the only demonstrating chef we got to see was Robert Irvine. But I was able to get a pic of him and my husband, so I think that’s a win! This year’s chef demo lineup includes Andrew Zimmern, Rick Bayless, Masaharu Morimoto, Rocco DiSpirito, Stephanie Izard, Jeff Mauro, Rachel Ray and many more! Many of these chefs will also be signing cookbooks, for sale in the Flavour Gallery, where you can also purchase other festival merchandise.

As you can see, the NYCWFF Grand Tasting is a delicious event! It’s a great day date or outing with foodie friends!

The Details:
NYCWFF Grand Tasting presented by Shoprite
Pier 94
New York, NY

Date: Saturday & Sunday, October 12 and October 13
Hours: 12 PM – 6 PM
Tickets: General Admission $185, discounted tickets with a Capital One credit card

Tips:
*Arrive early! This event gets more crowded as the day goes on.
*Make sure you adhere to the bag policy.
*The Tasting ends at 5 PM, however the culinary demonstrations take place until 6 PM.
*You must be 21 to enjoy the Grand Tasting. However, children are able to attend the culinary demonstrations. There are a couple of food and non-alcoholic beverage tastings available in this area.
*Dress comfortably – you will be doing a lot of walking. It’s a huge space!

Mambo Italiano at the Westchester Broadway Theatre

Posted on September 2, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(We were given complimentary tickets to see Mambo Italiano. As always, all opinions are our own.)

I love the theatre! Growing up, I was fortunate that my parents took me and my siblings to NYC to see Broadway shows. Pre-kids, my husband and I were regulars of the NYC theatre scene. But then…..kids! Between busy schedules, ticket prices and having to trek into the city from the suburbs, we just haven’t been to as many shows as we’d like. However, we are fortunate enough to have a theatre close to home that puts on amazing productions.

The Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford has been hosting shows for 45 years, with over 200 main-stage productions. As a family, we’ve seen both Mary Poppins and Annie. Recently, my husband and I enjoyed a rare date night to see the current production, Mambo Italiano.

*Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of the Westchester Broadway Theatre.*

Mambo Italiano is based on a play and screenplay by Steve Galluccio & Emile Gaudreault and a book by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. It tells the story of a traditional Italian family coming to grips with change. Maria and Gino Barbieri have raised their two grandchildren, Angelo and Anna, and they all work together in the family’s Italian restaurant. When Angelo and Anna decide to move out of the house and get their own apartment, their grandparents don’t take it very well. Things get worse when Angelo comes out as gay and then discovers that his boyfriend Nino is bisexual and has been sleeping with a girl.

This story, set to music composed by James Olmstead, is much more than just a story about sexual orientation. It’s a story about family, identity, love….and, of course, food! “Food is joy. Food is love. Food is famiglia.” This theme is carried out throughout the production and regardless of cultural background, is one that I think most people can relate to.

The show’s cast is outstanding! While several members are making their Westchester Broadway Theatre debut, all of the cast are experienced on stage. Some of them have even performed in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, showcasing the caliber of talent that is chosen for the Westchester Broadway Theatre.

Let’s not forget that the Westchester Broadway Theatre includes dinner (or lunch) and a show. For this show, they are featuring a “Taste of Mambo Italiano” menu. For the Sunday evening show, dinner service starts at 5:30 PM and continues until the show begins at 7 PM. We arrived around 5:20 PM and almost immediately after we were seated our salads arrived. We were finished eating dessert by 6:30, leaving some time before the show to relax….and digest!

Dinner starts with a Caesar salad. They also offer four appetizer options (cold antipasti, mozzarella and tomato, fried calamari and a chilled shrimp cocktail) at an additional cost.

For the main course, I ordered Gino’s Lasagna with Meat Sauce served with sauteed green beans.

My husband had the Roast Prime Rib of Beef served with sauteed green beans and a baked potato and we shared both entrees. Out of the two entrees, we both preferred and recommend the prime rib.

Dessert is their classic peach melba – canned peach halves topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and raspberry sauce. It’s garnished with a cookie that I could have eaten a dozen of! For an additional cost, other desserts are available (tiramisu, lava cake, mini cannoli, chocolate fudge sundae and tartufo) and are served during the intermission.

I’m going to be honest, my husband and I were not thrilled with the food overall. However, I understand that they are cooking for the masses (the theatre when at capacity seats 500, including the couple of luxury boxes available) and are trying to keep ticket prices down. Based on the price of dinner and a show tickets versus show only tickets, the meal breaks down to approximately $19-$34 a person, depending on when you see the show. As I see it, the show itself is worth the ticket price and the meal is a bonus! For those not wanting to have the dinner portion of the “dinner theatre” experience, you can purchase tickets the day of–for just the show.

It is also important to note that beverages, including soda, and gratuities are not included in the price of your ticket. I ordered a non-alcoholic strawberry colada ($8) but they do serve wine, spirits including scotch, vodka, gin and rum and martinis. The current specialty drink is Il Cappello – citrus vodka, orange juice and pineapple juice topped with ginger ale.

One thing I love about the Westchester Broadway Theatre is that there’s not a bad seat in the house. At this production, we sat at table 282, the second to last row in the middle section, directly facing center stage. Even from in the back, I thought our seats gave us a good view.

Many guests visit the Westchester Broadway Theatre for a special occasion. If you are celebrating an event, make sure to let them know, as they announce it prior to the start of the show. My husband and I really enjoyed Mambo Italiano! If you are looking for a fun date night or evening out with friends or family, we highly recommend seeing Mambo Italiano before it ends on September 29. The show will literally have you clapping along!

The Details:
Mambo Italiano
Westchester Broadway Theatre
1 Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-2222

Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances

Performances: August 8 – September 29, 2019

Show Times:
(The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts)
Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show
Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show
Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show

Tips:
*Photos are not allowed during the show
*Check out the website for special offers
*The show is recommended for ages 12+ – parental advisory for language and sexual references.
*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.
*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.
* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.
*All seat locations are the same price.