Trestle on Tenth
242 10th Ave
New York, NY 10001
(212) 645-5659
I went to this place on Saturday night for a close friend’s welcome home party.

After reading the customer restaurant reviews, I wasn’t expecting anything great.  It was more about a social gathering than the food.
There were 10 people in our group and we were seated in the very back of the room.  The layout of the restaurant wasn’t anything special, just tables either spaced apart or together with the essential votive candle placed right in the middle of each table.  How romantic.
One …

Socarrat Paella Bar
259 W 19th St
New York, NY 10011
212 462 1000
Socarrat Pella Bar is just the place to go to satisfy the paella crave.  What makes this restaurant stand out from other paella joints is the “dinner at home” feeling.  Everybody sits at a long, narrow communal table on tall, plushy stools.  You will feel cramped, and you might even accidently rub elbows or knees with the person sitting next to you.  That’s quite alright because when the paella comes out, that’s all you think about.  All other external stimuli …

Souen Organic Ramen
326 East 6th Street
New York, NY  10003
Souen Organic Ramen is the third Souen location in New York City, and as you might have guessed, it focuses on all natural, organic ramen.
Don’t expect to find any fatty pork or any kind of meat on the menu.  The only thing that’s as close to meat is the organic chicken broth,seafood broth, and the steamed ‘meat’ dumplings.
The Decor/Ambiance

Yes, it’s really that dim inside.
The decor wasn’t anything extraordinary.  The place is dimly lit, and I counted 10 tables total, laid out in …

Sure, New York City is home to a number of decent ramen places.  Ra Ra Ken and Ippudo always come to mind, but living on the other side of the GW Bridge, driving to the city and circling the neighborhood to find a half-decent parking spot just for ramen is too much of a headache.  If I’m already out in the city for other matters, then yes, a ramen stop will most likely make it on the itenary.
I live close to Fort Lee and Edgewater in New Jersey, and ramen …

Upon hearing about bulgogi hot dogs from a friend some months ago, I was skeptical of a modern mish-mash between East and West.  I am familiar with the concept of fusion, but this just sounded ridiculous.
In one corner, a Western classic that’s as American as baseball.  In the other corner, a traditional Korean dish that is passed down from generation to generation.  How did the idea of intertwining the two items come about?  Was it from a stroke of genius, or a thought from half-baked randomness?
New York Hot Dog and …

Very rarely do I recommend a wine.  In fact, this might be my first wine recommendation.  My friend Stewart brought over a bottle of Stag’s Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage 2005 to my most recent dinner party.  He liked it so much that he actually bought a case to drink on special occasions.  This cab is a Napa Valley wine and during this time of the year, you might have better luck finding a 2006 vintage over the 2005 vintage.  From the website:
“Focused and complex, the wine opens with aromas …

Today I had lunch at The Greek Village restaurant in Northvale, NJ. It’s a small restaurant with about ten seats, and when I was there this afternoon, it was a full house. While I love getting chicken and rice off the streetside in New York City, the chicken souvlaki platter at this place was better and top notch. The chicken was grilled just right, the pita was warm and chewy, the rice had just the right amount of flavor, and the tzatziki sauce was consistent and thick. …