Looking Back, My Day in Edinburgh - Scotland Trip Part 1

A view of the Ferris Wheel and the Scott Monument on Prince Street 

I was looking through my photos and I realized I never wrote about my trip to Scotland, but I was amazed at all that I remembered. Sometimes, I remember trips better than days that I've spent at home doing nothing but eating & surfing the web. Perhaps there's a psychological reason for that - being proactive versus non-proactive? In any case, I wanted to write about the wonderful places I saw and delicious meals I had - black pudding, anyone?! This is only Part 1 of my Scotland Trip, so please look forward to the rest!

Last November, I visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St. Andrews in Scotland. I went mainly to visit my boyfriend in St. Andrews, but it became a trip where I had some amazing views, quality alone time, and an overall wonderful time with my boyfriend and friends - do I even have to mention the delicious food I had?! The only con from the trip was the cold weather. I love layering and wearing my thick fuzzy pajama dress during the winter, but boy does the frigid air slap hurt!

November 2016.

The beginning of my trip started with a night in Edinburgh. I stayed at a B&B a few minutes out of the bustling city center. With an hour of sleep on the 7 hour overnight flight, I arrived to a lovely house and a staff member who greeted me. The owner, David, was out but he arrived a few minutes later as I was unpacking in my room - a Victorian style room decorated with yellow walls, white furniture, and light pink drapes on the window. David was so friendly and welcoming. He was so quick to explain transportation routes, recommend different restaurants he visited and enjoyed, and point out the go-to places in the city. After speaking with him for a few minutes, I got ready to head out for my 5-6 hour walking/sight-seeing event.

Cheesy Eggs in Toast Recipe!

Hello Food Friends!

It has been far too long since I posted a recipe, so HERE IS A RECIPE. I have a delightful, easy recipe for all egg (& cheese) lovers out there!

I made Eggs in Toast (also known as Egg in Hole, Eggs in a Basket, etc) on a whim once because my boyfriend was hungry. I didn't want to make the classic Eggs with Toast so I thought I'd try something I hadn't done before. Thankfully, it turned out delicious and I made it for myself recently as well. It's really easy to make and doesn't take that long either. :) I hope you enjoy.

Phoebe's Banoffee Pie Recipe

One of the first recipes I ever helped make was a Banana Cream Pie at my great-aunt's house. It was during the summer time when my family and I went to her house for a family gathering. Dessert has always been a key part of the meal at my great aunt's house, whether it was a simple piece of apple pie or a you-need-to-smother-this-all-over-your-face ice cream cake (I prefer the latter). I still remember getting so excited when she asked me to help her prep for the pie, especially because I knew it was going to be delicious. Fruit + Sweet Pudding? What can possibly go wrong!?

I was young but able enough to slice bananas so I was in charge of cutting the perfect slice. Not too big, not too thin. While she prepped the pudding for the pie I did sneak a few nibbles of the banana and nilla wafers. When she was done, the Nilla wafers were layered down into a pan and topped off with beautiful layers of golden, sweet vanilla pudding and perfectly cut slices of banana. It was finished off with a layer of whipped cream and then it was chilled briefly before serving. Waiting was always a pain. My sweet loving young self wanted it immediately.

Phoebe, the contributor on Facebook posted this recipe previously on that platform but it never made its way here, so I thought I'd share this recipe with you guys! It's a sweet reminder of my childhood, and I hope it brings back delectable memories for you as well.

Happy Cooking!

Here's her recipe:

What you'll need:
Butter 100g
Biscuits or Graham Crackers - 180g
Bananas - 3
Condensed Milk - 1 tin
Whipping Cream or Reddi Whip - 300ml if using whipping cream
Cocoa Powder, or Dark Chocolate Shavings
Vanilla Essence or Vanilla Extract - 2 tsp

*Note: I'd suggest starting with the caramel first since it'll take 2 hours.*

1. Melt 100g (6-7tbls) butter, and combine with 180g (12 tbls) crushed (to crumbs) digestive biscuits (or graham crackers). Once mixed, press into the base of a tin, or dish and place in the fridge. (You can divide this into smaller dishes or even mugs to make individual portions)

2. For the caramel, boil a tin of condensed milk (still in packaging) for 2 hrs. (this may sound strange but it makes the best caramel with very little effort!) Meanwhile, slice 3 bananas, and combine them in a saucepan with 25g melted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla essence, and cook on a low heat until slightly soft. Then whip 300ml of whipping cream with 1tbsp icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence until stiff.

3. Remove the base from the fridge when the caramel is done, and cooled a little, and layer the bananas on top of the biscuit, then the caramel on the bananas, then finally the cream on top. You can then add shavings of dark chocolate on top, or simply dust with cocoa powder.

HELLO!

Dearest Food Friends!

Hello!

How are you?

It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry... but I haven't posted since LAST year (I know, it's 2016!) so I thought I'd drop in and say HELLO (I love you, Adele)!

I hope everyone's 2016 has started out on a great note and that your 2015 ended with a BANG!

I'm mainly active on Instagram, but no worries - I will be back here up and posting very soon. I have yummy recipes and other fun stuff coming your way, but if you have any recommendations, suggestions, comments, concerns, products to review.. etc. you want to send my way, please feel free to email wondersforthesoul@gmail.com!

Until next time,
Wonders for the Soul

P.S. Be wary of the weather and don't get sick! It sucks when you just feel like BLEH all the time and can't smell, taste or eat food properly!

P.S.S. HAPPY WONDERS EVERYONE!

Lobster Salad Recipe

Doesn't it suck when you go out to restaurants and leave a tad disappointed or feel like you didn't get the bang for your buck? I get that feeling often with lobster dishes. In many restaurants, the lobster dish barely had any lobster.................. Granted, there are so many reasons for limiting how much a guest gets for expensive ingredients, but it still sucks. I mean, honestly... who wouldn't want a little bit more of the good stuff? When I had brunch with my boyfriend this past summer, I ordered Ensalada de Langosta and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and the spiciness it packed! However, I honestly felt like the dish could have had a few more pieces of lobster. And for $26, the portion was a bit smaller than expected.

The Lobster Salad I had at Calle Ocho

When I went to the supermarket recently, a sale was going on for lobsters and I thought I'd try recreating the dish! It was my first attempt, but I'm VERY satisfied with the results. It's refreshing, clean and cool with a slight kick to it - and there's a substantial amount of lobster too. The original dish uses Green Papaya, but since I was unable to attain that fruit, I substituted it with cucumbers! Please enjoy and I hope you have wonderful results too!!!

NYC Restaurant Week 2015

Hey everyone!

NYC Restaurant Week started yesterday until August 14th 2015! If you've never heard of Restaurant Week, it's when a ton of restaurants serve lunch and dinner at a prix fixe price, and some restaurants develop new menus specifically for this week!

Lunch 3 Course prix fixe = $25

Dinner 3 Course prix fixe = $38!

This is the perfect time to try out restaurants you've never been to before, or go to your faves for a great price! There are so many participating restaurants so check out the list at:

http://www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week 

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=69&m=8

Happy Eatings everyone!

Hello, Zora Dora!

Grapefruit Ginger Honey Paleta

My boyfriend recently took me to the colorful, delicious ice cream/ice pop store in Beacon, NY called Zora Dora and I immediately knew I had to tell you guys about it! It's a while away from the city, so it can be perfect for a day when you feel like visiting New York outside of the city - you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much there is up north!

Zora Dora produces micro batch ice creams and paletas, a Latin American treat made with ice and fresh fruit. It's a small shop along the Main Street in Beacon, but it has a pretty big selection. This cute shop seems to be well-known in the town for making their signature ice pops with all-natural ingredients.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! Quick, Cheap & Easy Gift Ideas

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the dad's out there!

Courtesy of Google - Huffington Post

Please continue to be an inspiration and a source of pride, courage and love for your kids and a guardian for your family. 

In honor of Father's Day, here are a few Easy & Quick Gift options:

New Contributor!

Hi everyone!

I'm super duper delighted to tell you guys that a friend of mine, Phoebe, will be contributing to this blog as well! Since she's in the UK, we'll be providing you guys with two different food realms and we're both super excited about joining forces!

Although I love to eat baked goods, sweets, etc. I cannot bake for the life of me. :( I've gotta say I'm not bad when it comes to cooking savory foods, but the sweet realm is a whole different ball game for me. HOWEVER, my new contributor is GREAT with the sweets so she'll be posting recipes on sweets, as well as additional content that will help BLOOM this blog even further!

We also have a Facebook page now, so please check it out and like it - Facebook Page for Blog !

I'm super thankful to all of you guys who read this blog, so please look forward to it even more!

Please follow us or subscribe via email to this blog & Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @wondersforthesoul!

For any inquiries, please direct them to: wondersforthesoul@gmail.com

THANK YOU!

Happy Eatings!

155 W 51st: Le Bernardin - My Time at the 3 Stars

A couple of months ago, I went to Le Bernardin, a 3 Michelin star restaurant that focuses on making their seafood dishes a meal to remember.

To celebrate the end of a fun cooking class with some friends, we decided to go to Le Bernardin. It was a very formal setting with a comfort level at around 6/10. At first, I felt out of place because everyone seemed so business oriented (and much older) while I wanted to eat and take photos. Soon enough though, we were in our own bubble. I was really impressed by the design of the restaurant and how simple, yet beautiful it was. Even the plates in front of me were simply stunning.

We went for lunch, which meant $80 for a 3 course meal.

For starters, I decided to get the Bay Scallop-Sea Urchin. It was absolutely refreshing. The Nantucket bay scallops with the sea urchin and Meyer lemon vinaigrette tasted clean, crisp, and sweet. I really wished there was more of everything,

The Beauty on Cornelia: Palma

Courtesy of Shammara Lawrence (@fashionpopqueen)

Palma is a small, cozy Italian restaurant hiding on Cornelia Street, with an unexpectedly mesmerizing setting. 

My friend and I sat in the “garden” area. It’s an open area further back that has been decorated with plants, flowers, and beautiful string lights that hang below a clear roof top adding a touch of romance.

It was a Saturday night and the crowd seemed to be between their 20s and 50s.  Their attire leaned towards the casual side. The overall ambiance was very cool and relaxed, but the noise level was on the higher side. 

When we opened our menus, the waitress came over and greeted us.

“How are you doing today? I just wanted to let you know some of the specials for today!” she said with a smile.

She continued

Orange Cranberry Sauce - Recipe

Hi everyone!!!

I can't believe it's already time for Thanksgiving! It's one of my favorite times of the year because there's just so much good food - and that's heaven for a foodie like me!!!! 

I was making some Orange Cranberry Sauce in preparation for tomorrow and thought it would be a nice and super easy recipe to share with you all!

Ingredients: 

1 Bag of Cranberries - the bag I got was 2lbs. 

1 Cup of Water

1 Cup of Orange Juice

2 Cups of Brown Sugar (can be substituted with white sugar)

6-8 Peeled Mandarin Oranges or Clementines (can be substituted with canned oranges) (NOTE: If you just want some cranberry sauce, exclude the oranges and you're set!!!) 

Recipe:
First, wash your cranberries!

Then, dump the cranberries, water, and 1 cup of Brown Sugar (I'm not putting in all of the sugar at once so I can taste it along the way, and if necessary add more) into a large sauce pot. 

Let it boil for 5-10 minutes until the cranberries start popping.

Then, add the cup of Orange Juice and continue to stir. Taste the sauce again and see if it needs more sugar. 

While it continues to boil (reduce the heat), peel the oranges or, if you don't feel like it, you can use canned oranges instead. If you're peeling, remember to stir the sauce mid way so it doesn't get stuck to the bottom of the pot as much. 

When you're done peeling, turn the heat off and let the sauce set for about a minute or two. Then, add the oranges and fold the oranges in. 

Voila! You're done! It's a really simple recipe that has a wonderful result to it! Hope you enjoy and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Happy Eatings everyone!!!

GNOCCHI RECIPE

FIRST EVER TIME making gnocchi, and it didn't turn out bad.

I looked up online how to make gnocchi and I didn't follow the exact recipes that I saw, so I am here to share with you what I did:

Ingredients: 

1 Potato, boiled (or baked)

1 Cup Flour, will have to sift later

1 Egg, beaten

Pinch of Salt

Pinch of Black Pepper

1 tsp dry Oregano (but if you use fresh oregano, I'm sure that'll be better)

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Parsley

1 tsp Onion Powder

Instructions:

After boiling, or baking the potato, mash the potato in a bowl until there are no hard pieces (use fork or potato masher).

Then, slowly sift your flour into the potatoes so there are no clumps.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix -- when you see the dough forming, take it out of the bowl and place it on a board with some sprinkled flour.

Flour your hands as well so the wet dough doesn't stick to your hand as much. 

Knead the dough (fold inwards) and dust a little bit of flour on it as you do it so it's not as sticky. Knead for about 1 - 2 minutes, and then mold the dough into a ball.

Dust your knife with some flour and cut the dough ball in half. At this point, get a pot and add some water - put it on high heat.

While the water is boiling, use half of the dough and roll it out into a rope. Then, get your flour dusted knife, and cut the gnocchi dough into bite size pieces. 

Now, to cook the gnocchi -- when the water is beginning to boil, add the gnocchi. Once it floats to the top, it's cooked.

Then, remove it and shock it in cold water so it can stop cooking, or add it to a pan with some butter and saute until golden/brown.

Check out my instagram where I only post pictures of food: @wondersforthesoul http://instagram.com/wondersforthesoul

X2O - Xaviar's on Hudson Review

One of my all time favorite restaurants is X2O: Xaviar's on Hudson. [Warning: this post might be slightly long, but it also has a TON of pictures - you can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.]

This restaurant is located in Yonkers, right next to, or should I say on, the Hudson River. It is owned by Chef Peter Kelly who is very well known around the Hudson Valley area. He has additional restaurants that have been well received by people such as Xaviar's Restaurant (Piermont) and Restaurant X & Bully Boy Bar. He has been on Iron Chef, beating the contender with the "Cowboy Rib Eye" and even hosted Anthony Bourdain.

The scenery that you get from the restaurant is really stunning. I've been here for brunch once and for dinner on multiple occasions. I'll be honest - ALL of the dishes weren't perfect, but my experiences here have made it one of my favorite restaurants.

The pricing is not horrible and the ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice for a romantic dinner and it is fitting for a casual lunch or brunch too. They also allow you to pack the food and order for take away which is a plus for me. ALSO, they do promotions on Groupon where I've purchased a 3 course dinner for TWO for $85 -- I've seen others using this at the restaurant as well, and the good thing about it is that you can choose from their regular menu. They don't have a select menu for Groupon users, which is great! I've also seen some promotions at Costco where you can purchase a $100 gift card for $75 or something like that. So, keep an open eye for those!!! :)

I've read some reviews online where people talk about decor and I definitely understand that that can be a part of someone's experience but if the food is really good, I think it's worth over looking that stuff. Sure you can work on those things but there are some places out there where the decor/interior of the spot might not be the best but the food is just banging! Don't you agree? Online, there have been divided reviews regarding experiences at the restaurant, which is definitely understandable but, I am definitely glad to say that I've had a wonderful, satisfying experience each and every time.

You can check out their menu here: http://www.xaviars.com/restaurants/xaviars-x20-on-the-hudson/

FOOOOOOOD TIMEEEE

Appetizers

Asparagus Flan: I had this appetizer during my first time at this restaurant, which was during Hudson Valley Restaurant Week in March 2014. I am a big fan of flan, but this savory version was such a new concept to me that I just had to try it! I am sure glad that I did because it was FANTASTIC. The moment I got a taste of it, my eyes widened and I was in complete awe. The flavor, seasoning, the presentation was just superb. Two thumbs up for this dish, and I really wish that they add this to their menu for future appetizers because it is HEAVEN.

Asparagus Flan with Rock Shrimp

Sam Won Gak - Korean Chinese Restaurant Review

SamWonGak is a Korean-Chinese Restaurant, located in Queens, NY.

If you want some good JaJjangMyun (Noodles with Brown Bean Sauce) then, go here. I've tasted this noodle dish from various places, but I've gotta say that this place is the BOMBDIGGITY and the best in NY/NJ. This restaurant is very casual and don't expect to get small portions and exquisite presentations. The prices are decent and the portions are pretty large. You get the bang for your buck, essentially. It get's pretty busy on the weekends, especially during dinner time so beware!

FOOD TIME: -- Please excuse the half eaten pictures because I totally forgot to take the pictures... Hopefully I'll update the pictures in the future..

They have different types of JaJjangMyun (written in Korean as - 짜짱면) but I think that they all taste really good, except for the Vegetable one. I say this because they add in Bell Peppers, and the flavor/taste of the bell peppers are very overpowering and that's all you can taste when eating the noodles. Aside from this, the rest of the Noodles with the Brown Sauce are very delicious. The sauce is brought out on the side so you can put on the noodles as much or as little as you want.

Fried Beef in Sweet and Sour Sauce (Beef TangSooYook 탕수육) - Very delicious. The sauce isn't too sweet and it isn't too sour - it's just right. I suggest you get some soy sauce, vinegar and red pepper flakes, (which are already set on the table) and pour it on your plate so you can dip the beef into (about a 2 tbsp - soy sauce; 1 tbsp - vinegar; however much of the pepper you want). It just enhances the flavor, and if you want more seasoning, that's a def go to recipe.

When ordering the Fried Rice, please beware that the portion is pretty big so if you want to try other dishes, SHARE THE FRIED RICE!! The picture might make the portion look small, but don't fall for it! It's a pretty hefty portion. haha.

Their Fried Dumplings sort of taste like Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) but without the soup. It's really good, and it's pretty big so if you're not sharing, a plate of these dumplings might be enough to fill you up.


I would recommend this restaurant if you want some good JaJjangMyun, good Korean-Chinese food really, and the bang for your buck! :)

Check out my instagram: @wondersforthesoul instagram.com/wondersforthesoul

Nizza Review

What can I say, this restaurant is just a place you NEED to check out at LEAST once!!! And if you do, I hope that you enjoy Nizza as much as I do.

I've been here more than 4 times and each time, I left with a very pleasant experience. Like Isabella's (review is here: http://wondersforthesoul.blogspot.com/2014/10/isabellas-restaurant.html ), everyone that I've brought here have said positive things. It's a medium sized, cozy restaurant with a decent number of tables and a lovely atmosphere. They also have tables outside, if you're an outdoor sitter. If you're worried about pricing, I'll just say you don't have to worry about your bank account being drained. SO! If you want to go on a nice romantic dinner date with great food and good pricing, you definitely have NIZZA as a choice!! :) I've been here for both lunch and dinner but during lunch hour, it's definitely less crowded but during dinner, it's a different scenario. (Note: Nizza has a moderate noise level, but during the lunch hour it's a bit more quiet since there's less of a crowd.)

Check out the menu here: http://nizzanyc.com/menu 

These two are just a must try if you go to Nizza:

Socca - a chickpea pancake that is full of flavor and also, for those have a gluten free diet, this is gluten free!!!!! (on the left side of the picture)

Gnocchi Al Forno - this was my first gnocchi and it made me look forward to all the future gnocchi dishes I would try. It is very creamy and for cheese lovers, GO FOR THIS! Super cheesy and just pure love!!! Don't think about calories with this one because if you decide to go with this, you won't be able to get away from those calories because of how delicious it is!!! (on the bottom right of the picture)

Their lunch special's are not a bad choice either since it's $9.25! I've had the House Roasted Turkey Paninetto (with caramelized onions, fontina and garlic mayo) with Tomato Soup with Fresh Ricotta and it was really good. The portion was moderate for me, where it made me feel full but not stuffed to the point where I was going to knock out. Of course, depending on your appetite and the meal that you choose, it might be too small or maybe even too much. I personally think that this lunch special is totally worth the $9.25. If you ever visit during lunch time or are around the neighborhood looking for a lunch spot, check out the lunch special. It should be at the top left corner of the menu! (on the top right of the picture)

This restaurant is a DEFINITE recommend!

Check out my instagram: @wondersforthesoul http://instagram.com/wondersforthesoul

Petrossian - Restaurant Week (July 2014) Review

I went during Restaurant Week back in July 2014, not knowing what to expect. The reviews I saw online were divided between positives and negatives, but sadly, I can side more so with the negative side than positive.

The food wasn't awful but if you want, and only if YOU want to, I would suggest trying this restaurant during restaurant week instead of paying full price for the meals... or if you want to get caviar, of course. Personally, I wouldn't pay full price for the food because there wasn't anything spectacular from my meals...

FYI - they had caviar as an option on their restaurant week menu but there was an additional $12 charge. Basically, they made it worth the regular price... SO, they might as well NOT place it on the restaurant week menu or at least put a disclaimer that the caviar won't be given on a discount.

NOW, the FOOOOOOOOOOD.

My appetizer was a salad (no picture). Just a regular salad is all it was. Nothing special.

My entree was steak with a root vegetable puree. The steak wasn't bad. A bit more thin than I expected, but none the less it wasn't that bad. The root vegetable puree on the side was REALLY exceptional. It was full of flavor, creamy and it was the best part of the meal. Now... if only I could remember what the root vegetables were... :(
(I think it might've been fennel and parsnip....) 

My dessert was a little cake with peach and vanilla ice cream on the side. The peaches were a bit sour and the vanilla ice cream, which I believe was freshly made at the restaurant, tasted a little weird to me too. The dessert too was mediocre and it didn't grasp my attention for its tastiness.

Overall, with the exception of the root vegetable puree, everything else was mediocre and unmemorable.

If it's not obvious already, I don't recommend Petrossian as a restaurant, but if you would like to go. Go for it, since everyone has different experiences, and hopefully you're time at the restaurant will be a positive one.

Check out my instagram: @wondersforthesoul  http://instagram.com/wondersforthesoul

Cafe Boulud - Restaurant Week (Aug 2014) Review

Cafe Boulud, located in the Upper East Side, is one of the Michelin starred restaurants owned by the world renowned Chef, Daniel Boulud.

I came here with my boyfriend for Restaurant Week back in August 2014 and I can't tell you how much I looked forward to the whole experience. I expected to have a great time and enjoy every dish because of how much my boyfriend raved about the place, but surprisingly, I wasn't that crazy about it. It was a Cosine Wave.

You can view their current menu here: http://www.cafeboulud.com/nyc/menu

I sadly don't have a picture of the restaurant week menu but these are the dishes that I had selected.

For the appetizer, I decided to go with the: Shrimp Ceviche with a Mango Salsa, Guacamole, and a Plantain Chip. The tender, sweet shrimp was just beyond words and the salsa and guac really added a nice refreshing yet rich flavor. I could have eaten SO MANY PLATES of these because there was a party in my mouth! I wish I could have ordered more because my entree failed to impress me.

Food in London 5 - DUCK AND WAFFLE

This post is so long overdue but let me just say, that this restaurant left such a beautiful impression on me and is FOREVER embedded in my memory. If I ever have the chance to go back to London, visiting this restaurant again will be on top of my list!!!

Duck & Waffle is a restaurant on the 40th Floor of the Heron Tower. You're not only promised a beautiful view, but a beautiful atmosphere, amazing food, and a wonderful staff.

Trying to decide on which restaurant to go to for date night, I came across Duck & Waffle by fate on someone's Youtube channel and decided to give it a go!

When we got there, we were seated by the window and at that moment I was completely mesmerized by the view.

When the menu came, I didn't know where to focus my eyes on because there was just so many wonderful selections!!! We ended up choosing:


Bread with N'duja and Gruyere - REALLY GOOD. It had a spicy kick to it which surprised me, since it was my first time tasting N'duja, and the gruyere really topped it off well. The moment my boyfriend had a bite, he couldn't suppress his emotions of happiness.

Jerusalem Artichoke Ravioli - AWESOME. It was a very rich, creamy dish with wonderful flavor. The hazelnuts added a great crunch to a very soft dish and the nutty aroma did a solid job on the dish. It was a great dish to share because I don't think I would have been able to eat it all by myself.

Duck & Waffle - DELICIOUS. I was skeptical of the idea of, the literal title, DUCK and WAFFLE, but after one bite, I became a fan of having waffles with poultry. The mustard syrup that was paired with this dish was fantastic. The mustard seeds really added a tangy, spicy kick to the sweetness. The duck meat, egg, waffle, and syrup just paired magnificently.

We both had Gin and Tonics but Duck & Waffle had their own twist to the classic drink -- They added Yuzu sorbet and Rose Petals and my, oh, my was it tasty.

For dessert I don't remember clearly what I had, but it was a fruity dessert and my boyfriend had something chocolatey, I was really good but I preferred the savory dishes. We also ordered the cheese table but it wasn't to our liking. When we got our checks, the staff had forgotten to place the cheese table, so when we told them about the mistake they were nice enough to put that on the house since we expressed that it wasn't something we enjoyed.

This place is not only good for romantic evenings, but a great place for a girl's night out (because they have a bar/lounge a floor below), a nice family dinner for a special occasion, etc.

If I'm not mistaken, this restaurant is open 24 HOURS/7DAYSAWEEK. Yeah, you read that correctly. 24 HOURS. For a foodie like me, that's so dangerous! 

Check out my instagram: @wondersforthesoul http://instagram.com/wondersforthesoul

Isabella's Restaurant

Isabella's is a Mediterranean restaurant located on the Upper West Side (359 Columbus Avenue).

I must say that this restaurant is one of my favorites and any guest that I bring to this restaurant, leaves with a "I hope to come here again" comment. I've dined here at least 4 times (NOTE: the 4 times I have been here have been for dinners!!!, so I won't/can't write about their lunch/brunch menus or how my time then was), and each time, I have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is great! The waiters/waitresses I've encountered were all lovely and accommodating; they don't rush you! The pricing is not bad and compared to going to an overpriced restaurant with disappointing food, going to Isabella's is a better choice, especially if you're in the area. 

You can see their menus here: http://www.isabellas.com/menus-and-food     

In addition to their menus, they have specials which differ (I'm assuming) day to day or maybe even week by week, something like that, but if you hear something you like from the special's list - GO FOR IT! Whether it's the appetizer or the entree, the stuff that comes from the "special of the day" list is really ON POINT.

Previously, I've had a Tomato Curry Bisque with a Crab Corn Salsa which just melted my heart. My friend and I shared this dish, and I feel like maybe we should have gotten our own bowls. Haha. It was THAT good. (on the right side of the picture)

Another special dish I tried was a Gnocchi with Truffle Shaving and a cream sauce. Very rich, and obviously, creamy, but it wasn't over the board. The truffle flavor really complimented the dish and the smooth texture of the gnocchi was just mesmerizing. During my dinner, I was able to hear the opinion of a lovely lady to the left of me, who is said to be a "big gnocchi fan," stating that the gnocchi she ate at Isabella's was really delicious. "One of the most delicious gnocchi's I've ever had."

A few dish recommendations I must write about are (the one's I've tasted of course):

Artichoke Alla Romana (Appetizer) - There's a wonderful roasted flavor from the artichokes, and the creamy tang from the brown butter vinaigrette pairs well the arugula. Everything comes together quite well and since it's a light dish, it won't be overbearing for the stomach. 

Crispy Point Judith Calamari (Appetizer) - This one is my mom's favorite, and I must say, it's some pretty good Calamari. You can rarely go wrong with Fried Calamari, but Isabella's takes it to another level. There's a solid spiciness to it, but it's not unbearable that you'll reach for the water immediately. The spiciness balances out the fried, oily aspect of the dish.

Mushroom Ravioli (Main) - I must say this particular dish might not fit everyone's palate since it consists of mushrooms and there is a blended arugula sauce, adding a very bitter flavor to this dish. Tasting the blended arugula alone is not the best choice, but when paired with the ravioli, some sundried tomatoes, pine nuts, and pieces of fresh arugula, it comes together to be a wonderful dish. Very interesting composition of flavors, really. 

Recommendations from others:

Grilled Branzino (Main)

Herb Roasted Chicken (Main)

Cheeseburger (Main)

Hay&Straw Linguine (Main)

Good pricing, great atmosphere, awesome food! I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone!!!!! :)

HAPPY EATINGS!

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