East of NYC - The Buzz

Upcoming Dining Event: Five Course Tasting Dinner at Mirabelle in Stony Brook

Mirabelle Tavern in Stony Brook is hosting a five course tasting dinner on June 18th. Located in the Three Village Inn, this prix-fixe meal will set you back a very manageable $55 per person. Hit them up to experience a great meal that is put together by Chef Guy Reuge.

Gabrielle's Brasserie & WIne Bar in Rockville Centre

Our sister site Eating Long Island has just posted their review of Gabrielle's Trattoria and Wine Bar in Rockville Centre.  What did they think about it?  You'll have to click here to find out!

Upcoming Event: Middle Neck Rd. Promenade in Great Neck (June 11th, 2009)

On Thursday, June 11th from 6:30pm - 10:30pm you'll be able to enjoy outdoor cafe style dining, Prix-fixe dinners, live music and more as Middle Neck Rd. in Great Neck turns into a lively scene.  For one night only step outside and enjoy the warm summer air with some of the best eats on the North Shore.

novita in Garden City

Our sister-site Eating Long Island has just posted a review of novita wine bar and trattoria in Garden City. You can check it out by clicking here. Enjoy!

Upcoming Event: Celebrating 10 Years of Blue Point Brewery on June 13, 2009

Award-winning LI based brewer Blue Point Brewery is hitting a milestone with 10 years in existence.  In order to celebrate this great accomplishment (and our favorite seasonal beer, Blue Point Blueberry Ale), Blue Point is hosting a party with lots of beer, music and fun times.  The event will take place on June 13th from 2-7pm.  If you plan on attending, tickets will run you $65 or $15 for designated drivers.  To find out more on this event and to purchase tickets in advance, please go to their website which can be found here.

*This event is 21+

Besito in Roslyn

Click here to view their menu.

When our friend sought out a local spot to hit up for her birthday dinner with a few select friends, she hit the nail on the head in picking Besito in Roslyn. The second Besito on the island (the original is located in the village of Huntington) and one of the restaurants owned by local restauranteur John Tunney (also the owner of Honu and America Roadside Burgers) this restaurant achieves the sophistication of the palate and of the design that you would expect from this powerhouse owner. Located on the North Shore and in a shopping center with Kotobuki, a high-end Japanese restaurant, the crowd is as high-end as the food and drink offered.

The Tequila list is as long as the menu and is the hallmark of the restaurant/bar.  Margaritas, specialty drinks and great cervezas round out the full bar menu as well.

Since we were early, we hopped up to the bar and sampled the drinks of the house.  We ordered the frozen Pomegranate Margarita; served from a frozen machine and also ordered the red wine Sangria while we awaited the other 7 people in our party.  The bar is long with soft pendant lighting above.  The bar area is in the front of the restaurant and since the weather was warm on this Saturday night, the front doors were open to patio seating and we were greeted to a warm breeze off of the exterior.

Once we were all assembled and ready to be sat we all huddled together at the front desk (they won't seat you until the full party is within eye-shot of the hostess) we weaved our way to the back of the restaurant where they had set us up with a table for 10 in a quiet nook.  To our left was a huge wall made up of what must have been more than 60 votive candles providing us with soft light. The atmosphere was very earthy with the ceiling made up of individual tree limbs (or something that resembled it) and light colors transporting us to a local village in Mexico.

Baskets of tortilla chips and bowls of salsa were generously placed on our table before we ordered.  The salsa was fresh with a nice bite to it.  Even though it was popular, the salsa was tossed to the side and largely ignored once the guacamole was placed.  We ordered two bowls of guacamole, each expertly prepared table-side by a waiter and custom tailored to our tastes.  We ordered one bowl mild with cilantro and a medium bowl without cilantro to appease all of the different tastes at the table.

Since there were 10 of us, I won't go into detail about what everyone ordered, but will share with you the two dishes that my wife and I chose.  I chose the Bistec con Mole Chatino, a grilled  New York Strip Steak topped with chayote squash, queso fresco.  My wife ordered the Salmon Manchamanteles, a roasted wild salmon with crispy bananas, pineapple pico de gallo and mole manchamanteles.  My steak was perfectly seasoned, well cooked and was on par with any steakhouse where I have eaten.  The salmon was as fresh as could be, full of flavor, light and tasty all around.  The crunchy banana was a nice juxtaposition on the softer salmon and aided in the textural enjoyment of the meal.

After dinner Churrizos (fried dough with sugar) were dropped on our table fresh out of the fryer and in a paper bag.  Similar to the chocolate cookies that are served at the sister restaurant Honu these were a great end to a long dinner and left us satisfied, yet not entirely full.

Verdict: This isn't your mother's Mexican restaurant, and we're glad that it's not.  With two locations to choose from on the island, we look forward to more Tequila, enchiladas and flavors that we have yet to experience.

* All costs associated with this dinner were paid for by East of NYC

Upcoming Event: Wine & Cheese Reception at the Main Street Bakery in Port Washington (April 4th, 7-10pm)

You are invited to a Wine & Cheese Reception on Saturday, April 4^th, from 7-10 PM, at the Main Street Bakery in Port Washington. The evening will be hosted by local photographer Sandy Jo Hyman and Michael Mignano, chef and owner of the Main Street Bakery, to celebrate an exhibition at the Bakery now through the month of April.On view, Ms. Hyman is expanding her horizons, with some of her well-known Port Views, as well as images from eastern Long Island, Manhattan, New England and Peru. Ms. Hyman also prints her images on blank note cards and larger greeting cards, which will be available for purchase during the reception. Michael, whose chocolate cake was crowned the best on Long Island, will offer some tempting samples of his work as well. 516-304-5214

Main Street bakery
170 Main Street
Port Washington, NY
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Fat Tuesday @ BBQ Inc. in Rockville Centre

Today is Fat Tuesday and we feel that drinking will make it just that much better!  BBQ Inc. in Rockville Centre will be bringing the house down with drink specials and food specials all night long.  If you have nothing to do tonight, we just made plans for you.  Enjoy!  516-255-9191

12 S. Park Ave.
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
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Weekly Cooking Classes at Grace's Marketplace in Greenvale

Beginning on January 5th, weekly cooking classes will be held at Grace's Marketplace to help shoppers learn what ingredients go well together and how to "shop like a chef".  Executive chefs from some of the island's most well-known restaurants are also gearing up for demonstrations for the lucky 12-15 attendees who will be in attendance for the small-sized classes (reserve in advance)!  

Weekday and night-time classes are also in the process of being scheduled, so check out their website for more information on the times and types of cuisines that will be featured. 516-621-5100

Long Island Dining Event: Gluten-Free Dinner at Oysterman's Restaurant & Pub in Sayville

We found this dining event taking place at Oysterman's Restaurant and Pub in Sayville on the blog Triumph Gluten Free.  According to the post:

"Attention all celiacs! I’d like to alert you to a fabulous one-time opportunity to eat your heart out at a restaurant on Long Island. Oysterman’s Restaurant and Pub in Sayville, NY generally serves New American cuisine and seafood. On December 9th, they are inviting gluten-free chef Joseph Felicetta to cook a six-course gluten-free gourmet meal for $75 per person. Chef Felicetta learned three years ago they had celiac disease and felt compelled to quit working at restaurants out of fear of cross-contamination. This was quite a loss to the eating community considering that he was an important chef at the former Octopus Garden in Port Washington, Fusion Grill in East Setauket, Allegro in Bay Shore, Casa Rustica in Smithtown and the Bayport House in Bayport. Here is the menu Chef Felicetta is planning:

• Assorted hors d’oeurves
• Sparkling rose N.V., Calvados, Spain
• Ceviche Peruviano (wild-caught Montauk striped bass and sea scallops with fresh lemon, lime and orange juices, cilantro, jalapeno and sweet peppers, with wasabi tobiko and pickled red onions)
• Sauvignon blanc, 2007, Casa Patronales, Chile
• Autumn bisque (seasonal roots and lilies, herbs and asafoetida, Blue Point oyster garni, basil oil)
• Bordeaux blend, 2006 organic Ranch House Red, Napa Valley
• Intermezzo sorbet
• Filet tournedo, Gorgonzola crown, pinot noir demiglace with jumbo scampi garni, LI potato galette, asparagus Polonaise
• Adobe Clayhouse Vineyard red, 2006, California
• Flourless chocolate torte, fresh whipped cream, cherries montmorency garni
• Deco chocolate port

Run, don’t walk, to the phone and dial 631-589-7775 to make a reservation. After all, we really should support other members of the gluten-free community. It only requires a little sacrifice on your part. Enjoy!"

• Assorted hors d’oeurves
• Sparkling rose N.V., Calvados, Spain
• Ceviche Peruviano (wild-caught Montauk striped bass and sea scallops with fresh lemon, lime and orange juices, cilantro, jalapeno and sweet peppers, with wasabi tobiko and pickled red onions)
• Sauvignon blanc, 2007, Casa Patronales, Chile
• Autumn bisque (seasonal roots and lilies, herbs and asafoetida, Blue Point oyster garni, basil oil)
• Bordeaux blend, 2006 organic Ranch House Red, Napa Valley
• Intermezzo sorbet
• Filet tournedo, Gorgonzola crown, pinot noir demiglace with jumbo scampi garni, LI potato galette, asparagus Polonaise
• Adobe Clayhouse Vineyard red, 2006, California
• Flourless chocolate torte, fresh whipped cream, cherries montmorency garni
• Deco chocolate port

Run, don’t walk, to the phone and dial 631-589-7775 to make a reservation. After all, we really should support other members of the gluten-free community. It only requires a little sacrifice on your part. Enjoy!"