Bonnie from BiteoftheBest.com

About Bonnie Tandy Leblang

Blogger Bonnie Tandy Leblang has been covering food since before it was hip to do so! She’s penned magazine, newspaper and syndicated food columns in addition to cookbooks. Follow her on twitter @BonnieBOTB and on Instagram@BiteoftheBest and at @BonnieBOTB "I eat for a living!” is her mantra, sharing what she’s sampled so you’ll know where (or where not) to go, plus what food products and gadgets to try. For her full bio go to the about us page.
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Lunch at Ongi Etorri, Saint Jean De Luz, France

On our way to France for the day, we stopped to attend the unique Alarde parade in the charming medieval town of Hondarribia (Spain), where everyone in the city celebrates by dressing in red and white. Afterward, we stopped for lunch in Saint Jean De Luz, where we tripped across the Ongi Etorri cafe. We were thrilled we did. Two had the pot of mussels (15 €), and others ordered the 3-course menu (19.50 €). My friend began with the green salad with fried camembert and grilled sardines with fries. I delighted in eating the sweet piquillo red peppers stuffed with a delicate cod mousse, followed by an unremarkable chicken [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:45:59-04:00November 4th, 2022|World, World Restaurants, World Travel|2 Comments
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The Stand Comedy Club, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

We'd always gone to The Stand for evening comedy shows. When I learned the restaurant was serving lunch, I convinced some friends to sample it with me. Even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, our food took a long time. When the food arrived, the double patty burgers ($18) were not hot and had no fries. While — oddly — the other sandwiches came with an abundance of hot crispy fries. The porchetta ($15) with broccoli rabe on focaccia was the tastiest. Do go to The Stand for the comedy and friendly staff!  No drink minimum at the shows, with tickets only ~ $10 - 20. The Stand [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:44:31-04:00November 2nd, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Bilbao, Spain: Restaurant Markina

Our front desk clerk recommended a darling little cafe not far from Hotel Míro in Bilbao, where we were staying. Markina is a friendly café with attentive service. We started with a bottle of rosé (20 €) while perusing the menu. We were still shocked that a bottle cost what a glass did in New York. We arrived just in time to get a seat, as the restaurant completely filled up.  Everything was delicious. Their rich burrata, made in Bilbao, comes accompanied by eggplant and tomato chutney (15.50 €). We ordered bread (2.80 €) for that and to dip into the garlicky oil from the grilled Galician razor clams (15.50 [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:59:36-04:00October 30th, 2022|Bites from the Road, World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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Lunch in the Tavern of Gramercy Tavern, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

Hadn't been to Danny Meyer's Flatiron District Gramercy Tavern since before the pandemic (I did stop by to support them by buying take-out.) I was eager to see how they fared. The Tavern, open since 1994, offers contemporary American cuisine and warm hospitality. Their accolades include three New York Times stars, one Michelin star, the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant and the Best Chef: NYC award for Michael Anthony. When you dine, you have two choices the fixed-price-only dining room or the bustling bar area. We chose the more casual Tavern with our informative server Derek offering suggestions -- many of which we followed. We started with three starters [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:57:30-04:00October 27th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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San Sebastián: The Pintxos Tour

Pintxos are early evening snacks traditionally served at bars in the Basque country of northern Spain. They're enjoyed along with cider, beer or wine while standing at a table — if you can grab one. During a recent Global Palate Adventure, I sampled many pintxos in Old Town, San Sebastian. I've yet to find one I didn't like. First, don't miss sampling Spain's indigenous Jamon Iberico, the cured meat from pigs mainly fed acorns. ZaporeJai, C. de San Jerónimo, 21.  I'd recommend any pintxos at La Mejillonera c/del Puerot, 5. Their fresh calamari was crispy; the potatoes bravo tasty, although I'd have preferred less of the sauces. The succulent steamed mussels [...]

By |2022-11-01T09:54:19-04:00October 25th, 2022|World, World Restaurants|0 Comments
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Giardino 54, Hells Kitchen, NYC + Los Otros, The Musical

We chose Giardino 54 for its proximity to A.R.T./New York Theatres, where we were seeing the musical Los Otros with music by Michael John LaChiusa, who we bumped into at the performance. Los Otros is a musical about love, risk and revelation told through two characters who explore significant moments in their lives. I recommend. I started lunch at Giardino 54 with a glass of their on-tap Vicentini Agostino Valpolicella, Vento 2019 ($10), reminiscent of Italian house wine. They also offer a white — Trebbiano, Poderi Dal Nespoli IGT, 2017 — on tap. Our friendly, attentive waiter served us an olive oil-balsamic mixture for dipping the bread. I tried their [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:55:21-04:00October 22nd, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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My Favorite Basque Pintxos: The Gilda

The Gilda — a Basque-style tapa often served on a skewer — is one of the oldest pintxos in San Sebastian. The newly opened Bar Casa Vallés (Reyes Catolicos Kalea, 10, 20006 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain) first served it in the '40s, named after the American film Gilda. It's a little bit spicy, a little salty, just like the Spanish-descended actress Rita Hayworth's character in the movie.  Jon, our local tour guide on a trip with Global Palate Adventures, took us to his social club, where his family and numerous others could entertain by either hiring a chef or preparing their food in the large kitchen. Jon introduced us to this pintxo, instructing [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:59:46-04:00October 20th, 2022|Recipes, Starters, World|0 Comments
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Brunch at the French La Mercerie, Soho, NYC

It was French cuisine in Soho for brunch one Sunday recently. We had lots to catch up on, so we started with a bottle of Marsannay 'Le Centenaire' Domaine Bruno Clair 2019 rosé. We shared two entrees served separately, starting with one of their classic dishes. Crèpe complète ($28) with a buckwheat crêpe wrapped around Paris ham and comté, with a sunny-side-up egg, all drizzled crème fraîche. Delicately delicious. Next, we shared the Croque monsieur ($21 + $3) with the Paris ham and comté, turned madame with the addition of an egg, that our server forgot. He brought us the egg later. We did indulge in their profiteroles (5) au [...]

By |2022-10-18T08:29:30-04:00October 17th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Tom Colicchio’s Italian Vallata, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC

From Gramercy Tavern to Craft and Riverpark, I've been a fan of Tom Colicchio restaurants. Wanting to support his new Italian adventure, I met a friend for lunch. Vallata is right next to Craft on 19th Street. We were two of the six people in the empty characterless restaurant. I tried their pasta and wine special for $29 — a real bargain. The housemade lumache with Bolognese alone is $28. And with it, they offered a glass of Paolo e Noemia d'Amico Villa Tirrena from Umbria. The large shell-shaped pasta was nicely firm, yet the sauce was too salty and buttery. And I had to hunt for the meat. Had [...]

By |2022-10-18T08:32:17-04:00October 15th, 2022|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Michelin 1-star Nerua at Guggenheim Bilboa Museum, Bilboa, Spain

The Basque country is a must-do for anyone who loves food. My first stop was in Bilboa (Spain) to visit the Guggenheim Museum. Afterward, we headed next door to Nerua, a Michelin one-star restaurant offering local Basque cuisine. We opted for the reasonably priced 85 € multi-course tasting menu with their 35 € wine pairing beautifully described by our attentive server, Asier Llona. Our first delicacies were the labor-intense amuse-bouche: A small glass of tomato-water clear gazpacho and three pintxos on a ceramic bench plate. One was a bread croquette filled with bonito, another a mini quail egg topped with langoustine foam and then the Cricket. That's the name they [...]

By |2022-10-20T08:51:43-04:00October 12th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, World, World Restaurants, World Travel|2 Comments
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Frutero Ice Cream: Tropical Fruit Flavors from Around the World

I prefer the flavor of fruit in gelato, not ice cream. If you like fruit ice cream, you might be interested in these new tropical fruit flavors from Frutero where — according to the company — the fruit is picked at the peak of freshness and sourced from around the globe. Their mangoes are from Colombia, coconut from Thailand and pineapple from Hawai. The seven flavors include Passion Fruit, Guava, Guanabana, Coconut, Mango, Pineapple and Tangerine. To find a store near you, click here. SRP: $5.99 per pint

By |2022-10-09T09:44:42-04:00October 9th, 2022|Food & Drinks, Of Interest, Products|0 Comments
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A return to Shukette, Chelsea, NYC + MJ The Musical

Our afternoon started on our feet, applauding the amazing performances in MJ the Musical  — telling the story of Michael Jackson — at the Neil Simon theatre. It won four Tony awards, including best actor in a musical (Myles Frost) and best choreography (Christopher Wheeldon). I highly recommend. From there, we headed downtown to 24th Street and Ninth Avenue for an early dinner at Shukette, serving the creative cooking of Brooklyn-born Chef Ayesha J. Nurdjaja. The name is from the Hebrew word for an open-air market, shuk. Again, we were seated inside, at the front of the restaurant, yet this time not surrounded by others. The noise was much easier [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:42:21-04:00October 7th, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Dinner at Novo on the Creek in San Luis Obispo, California

It was my last meal in California in late summer before waking at dawn to head back east from San Luis Obispo. We opted for creekside dining in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo at Novo, serving locally sourced, wholesome, and globally inspired food. We started with a bottle of their Zuccardi Malbec (reasonably priced at $38). We had decided to mainly have sharing plates as that's what's most interesting at Novo. Friends told us not to miss their salmon bisque ($10) with the recipe from Robin's, their sister restaurant in Cambria, CA. We ordered one small "poco" bowl and three spoons to share the rich broth with huge chunks of salmon. [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:51:20-04:00October 5th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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Lunch at Veeray da Dhaba, Lower East Side, NYC

Finding a good restaurant open for lunch on a Monday in Manhattan is always a challenge. I start by looking at my "To try" list. I lucked out with Veeray da Dhaba, which is open on Mondays for lunch.  It's an Indian restaurant on the lower east side with food by a Michelin-star chef featuring Punjab roadside cuisine. Dhaba (da'ba) is a roadside stand offering wallet-friendly local cuisine in India. You don't go to Veeray da Dhaba for libations. They offer $35 bottles of wine to accompany the food; the latter is what you go for. We chose a bottle of their Fairvalley Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa, 2020. [...]

By |2022-10-09T09:56:49-04:00October 3rd, 2022|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Breakfast at Blue Sky on the Bay, Morro Bay, CA

It was one of my last days on the beautiful Central Coast of California. My sister and I had decided to drive up to Morro Bay for brunch. She frequented Blue Sky, located waterside along the Embarcadero, that offers an all-day breakfast with friendly service and beautiful views of Morro Rock and Estero Bay. She had a veggie scramble ($18.99) with tomato, spinach, red onion, mushrooms, black olives and cheese topped with avocado slices and served with a toasted English muffin and fresh fruit. I'm a sucker for huevos rancheros. This version topped corn tortillas with poached eggs, refried beans and ranchero sauce, then served up a side of guac [...]

By |2022-10-02T09:08:26-04:00October 1st, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Not to be Missed: Old West Cinnamon Rolls, Pismo Beach, CA

"Do not miss the warm cinnamon rolls at Old West," we were told. Our family, who live in San Luis Obispo, came to visit us at the home I rented on Pismo Beach for what I termed Camp Grammie (Also referred to as Camp Grimby, Camp Pismo Beach and Camp Everyone!) It was the first time I had vacationed with all three grandkids. Like camp, I had activities planned to keep them busy. Our visitors raved about the cinnamon rolls at Old West, suggesting going early, as some flavors sell out. I listened. Soon after it opened at 6:30 am the next day, I headed to Old West Cinnamon Rolls [...]

By |2022-10-09T12:43:09-04:00September 29th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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A Stop in at Dive Bar & Restaurant, West Haven, CT

We planned an afternoon on Gulf Beach after lunch to catch up on life. We never got there. We stopped at Dive Bar & Restaurant, a place offering a great view of Long Island Sound that's just across the street. Oddly, Connecticut's expansive coastline offers little waterside dining. This Dive Bar is just over the Milford border in West Haven. I started with their bloody Mary ($10), one of my go-to brunch libations since it was before noon. My dining partner had their Lemon Drop ($10). We both ordered their chicken poke bowls ($17.95), replacing the poultry with grilled shrimp, yet I substituted a blend of arugula and romaine for [...]

By |2022-09-28T06:40:18-04:00September 27th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA Restaurants|5 Comments
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Lunch at Eureka!, San Luis Obispo, CA

Wanting one-on-one time with my grandnephew, I asked where he'd like to dine together. He picked Eureka! downtown, where he met me between his work shifts. It's an all-American place with a burger focus, using locally sourced produce and a rotating craft beer and beverage program. Service is friendly. All their burgers are Santa Carota Angus beef raised almost exclusively on a diet of carrots and served atop a buttery brioche bun. We nibbled on their amazing Brussels sprouts ($10) while catching up. These crispy morsels are glazed with an orange chile sauce and topped with chimichurri and almonds. I followed my niece's recommendation for their Fresno fig burger ($17). [...]

By |2022-09-23T06:47:47-04:00September 25th, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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The Smith, Lincoln Plaza, Lincoln Center, NYC + Porky and Bess

I liked brunch at The Smith downtown, so I thought we'd be fine at the Lincoln Center one. We stopped in for dinner before seeing Porky & Bess across the street at the Met. I recommend their alcohol-forward, nicely blended Wild Horses ($16) cocktail made with mezcal, tequila reposado, amaro and various bitters. It was the best part of the meal. The brick-pressed chicken was fine, just not as moist as expected. Wished they'd offered a choice of dark meat. The chicken came atop baby spinach and smashed garlic potatoes. The server kindly replaced the smashed for fried! Both came drizzled with a lemony chicken au jus ($28). My other friend was [...]

By |2022-09-18T16:15:32-04:00September 23rd, 2022|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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TASTE! craft eatery, San Luis Obispo, CA

Can't make up your mind what to order? Taste! craft eatery is for you. The menu offers a Duo ($16), Trio ($20), or Quartet ($29). You select two, three or four items from their extensive menu of choices and get small portions of each. None are full size but certainly satisfy. Interesting concept. For brunch, I sampled the So Gouda from the bowls, the Bahn Mi from the sliders and their fries! The bowl came filled with spinach, smoked gouda andouille and a poached egg, with my hollandaise on the side. The small bun, spread with garlic aioli, was filled with pulled pork, pickles, jalapeño peppers, daikon sprouts and cilantro. [...]

By |2022-09-18T16:12:04-04:00September 21st, 2022|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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