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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Fall Fest: Cider, Beer & Spririts Stroll + Luna Red, San Luis Obispo, California

While visiting San Luis Obispo, we attended the inaugural Fall Fest Stroll, run by Downtown SLO. The walk included cider, beer or spirits and bites offered at about 20 shops, followed by a short terrace reception. The net proceeds of the event benefited their clean and safe program. After the event, which featured lots more spirits than food, we headed over to Luna Red on Mission Plaza to share the paella their globally inspired menu is famous for. We shared the de la luna ($52) with housemade aji amarillo-seasoned chicken, chorizo, soft-cooked eggs and English peas over a layer of soccarat — the caramelized, crispy rice — on the bottom of the [...]

By |2024-11-10T10:59:42-05:00November 20th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Two Countertop Beverage Appliances Brita Electric Water + Hamilton Beach® FlexBrew®

At a recent product showing, I found two appliances from Hamilton Beach that warm the heart of a New Yorker with a small kitchen and little countertop space for devices. I had started researching Brita water filters after finding that my crisp New York water wasn't tasting as good as it used to. I wasn't sure I wanted to give up space in my 24-inch refrigerator for the pitcher. When I saw the compact size — less than 5 inches wide! — of the new Brita Hub™ Compact ($119.99) with a 9-cup (72 oz) water reservoir detaches from the hub for an easy fill-up at the faucet with a 2-year [...]

By |2024-11-20T12:25:45-05:00November 18th, 2024|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Dinner at Eleni’s, Gramercy, NYC

I had been to Eleni's, a Gramercy area Greek restaurant on Third Avenue, but only for lunch. We decided on it for dinner based on my recommendation. We were early for our res and walked into a half-full restaurant with many tables available. We requested one away from the large party. We were told no, and we asked for another one. The eponymous owner barked at us, saying no to each one we asked for and saying it was reserved. Someone should give Eleni a copy of "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" by Will Guidara. Perhaps she saved those tables for her regulars [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:01:27-05:00November 16th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Drift In, Hudson River Parkway + Elephant Migration, Meat Packing, NYC

The migration of 100 life-size elephant sculptures began in Newport, Rhode Island before the herd took up residence in the meat-packing district of New York City. They stayed there through late October, when they headed south to Miami, Florida, before heading to Browning, Montana, in May 2025. Like many others, we walked in amazement among the giant creatures we learned were for sale. You can purchase a limited-edition, life-size sculpture supporting the conservation work and bringing a message of coexistence into your world. These elephants aim to raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations and foster awareness about wildlife's challenges. According to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, "Each elephant sculpture is made [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:07:06-05:00November 14th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Breakfast with a view at Vista Steak and Seafood, Pismo Beach, California

While on the Central Coast of California, we dined at Vista, one of three family-run restaurants on the bluffs in Pismo Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We started brunch with oh, so reasonably priced cocktails—at least compared to Manhattan. The Bloody Mary is $11, the Raspberry Bellini, $12, the Beefeater martini, $12, and a glass of red blend wine, $10. Our waitress was only one of two handling the fairly large restaurant that morning and did so with smiles, apologizing for the wait.  We didn't mind as we were catching up! One indulged in their salmon board (taking much of it home) that included a bagel and cream cheese, smoked [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:06:53-05:00November 11th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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Pre-Theatre Menu at the Greek Kellari Taverna, Theatre District, NYC + Our Town

After reading Ann Patchet's Tom Lake for one of my book groups, where they put on a production of “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, we realized that show was coming to Broadway and vowed to go together. We did. I highly recommend the production with Jim Parsons playing the narrator. Before the show, we opted for the $65 three-course pre-fix dinner at Kellari Taverna. We all nibbled the olives, hummus and radishes. One started with the cauliflower soup, and the other three enjoyed their gently pan-fried tender calamari with onions, peppers, capers and fava bean spread. One chose the swordfish daily special, another the lavraki (also called branzino or Mediterranean [...]

By |2024-11-03T08:02:32-05:00November 8th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Happy Hour*** Springs Tavern and Grill, East Hampton, New York

On an overcast weekend in East Hampton late summer, we visited Springs Tavern and Grill for their delightful happy hour menu. On our first round of margaritas, three of us had the regular; one tried the frozen refreshing blood orange one, although the sweetness made it more like a dessert. With that, we shared their delectable steamed mussels ($14) with garlic, herb butter, white wine and a soupçon of cream, then topped with fries; plus the mouthwatering Mediterranean platter ($15) that included housemade hummus — a regular and herbaceous green version with basil, a little mint and garlic — plus marinated olives, pita points and grana padano. I loved that [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:35:46-05:00November 5th, 2024|Happy Hours, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Breakfast at Joe’s Cafe, Santa Barbara, California

We had a few hours to kill in Santa Barbara before heading to the airport for our flight home. To have enough time to catch our flight, we took the pre-sunrise Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo. We walked into town from the train station, stopping at Joe's, a friendly cafe at the bottom of State Street, where we sat outside to enjoy our last day in California. Fortunately, as train passengers, we could leave our carry-ons ($10 each) with the stationmaster, a service I didn't realize had returned since the pandemic. Joe's is a very friendly cafe with sidewalk seating. We took advantage of that as we were [...]

By |2024-11-17T06:16:00-05:00November 3rd, 2024|Bites from the Road, General Food Info, USA, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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La Palapa, Gotham West, NYC + Intrepid Museum

Our ex.expat of New York group visited the Intrepid, an American military and maritime history museum at Pier 86 at 46th Street, along the Hudson River. Our tour guide brought the ship alive through personal stories about sailors and pilots who spent time on the Intrepid, protecting our country through the Vietnam war. Some of us squeezed into the Submarine USS Growler, and others sat in the Concorde, the British Airways commercial plane that flew from Europe to New York in about 3 1/2 hours. Afterward, we walked to Gotham West to grab some authentic Mexican food at La Palapa. Some had tacos, others enchiladas, guac and chips, salad and [...]

By |2024-11-03T08:02:19-05:00November 1st, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Italian Dinner at Novita, Flatiron, NYC

Thank you again, Jeffrey — the man I met on the train from Amagansett back to the city — for introducing me to Novita. He recommended this hidden gem seven years ago. This cozy Italian place on 22 Street, right off Park Avenue, consistently has good food and attentive service. We sipped the Nero d’Avola,” Saia” Feudo Maccari 2018 ($95) while nibbling bread sticks, while waiting for the crab cake with fresh mango salad in a citrus vinaigrette. We split that ourselves at the table ($22). We followed that with flavorful asparagus au gratin ($19) that they split and plated in the kitchen before finishing. COur last dish is their [...]

By |2024-09-24T07:48:46-04:00October 30th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Lusardi’s , Upper East Side, NYC

The evening started at my friend’s home with apps and icy vodka in chilled martini glasses. Then, off to Lusardi’s on Second Avenue, an Italian institution started by two brothers in the 1980s. Once seated at this white-tablecloth restaurant, the waiter brought us a basket of bread with a cruet of olive oil. We nibbled that while sipping the Sicilian Nero d'Avalo, Mortgante, 2021 ($65). We were seated outside, yet I slipped into the spacious restaurant to see it as I hadn’t previously been. My friend had raved about their veal, so I had to try her suggestion of their Vitelli martini. I loved the simplicity and flavor of the [...]

By |2024-11-03T19:00:58-05:00October 27th, 2024|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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The Lambs Club + Roommate, Not

A leisurely lunch at the Lambs Club was our plan. Then, we'd walk around the corner to see Mia Farrow and Patty Lupone in Roommates at the Booth Theatre on 45th Street. We hadn't yet discovered that the show was canceled as Mia Farrow had COVID. The Lambs Club is America's first professional theatrical club, organized in 1874. At that time, no women were allowed. It moved, reorganized and re-opened after COVID in 2022. The walls are adorned with portraits of former club members. We chatted with the lovely manager about the club, the menu and the cuisine.  After that, he kindly sent us the sweet and savory summer green gazpacho gratis [...]

By |2024-11-03T19:12:06-05:00October 22nd, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Shoreline Visits: Shell and Bone, The Stand and Zinc

I'm always amazed at how few restaurants are on the water in Connecticut, a coastal New England state — something I realized while writing for Yankee Travel Guide. And so, when visiting friends in Connecticut, I picked my first dining stop at Shell and Bones on the water in New Haven. Their bloody Mary cocktail is almost a meal ($19) garnished with chorizo, shrimp, bacon, cornichons and olives. I also shared their grilled Baja fish tacos (3 for $19) with cabbage pico de gallo and tomatillos. Another night, we headed to The Stand in Branford one evening for open-air dining and music. There, I indulged in their crispy fried coconut [...]

By |2024-09-13T11:09:40-04:00October 20th, 2024|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|0 Comments
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A Return to Hutong, Midtown, NYC

This time, I knew where to find the Hutang restaurant, whose address is on Lexington Avenue. Its entrance is in the alley off 58th Street, where Le Cirque had been, halfway between Lex and Third. Hutang, by the way, means alley. We were there for the prix fixe $30 lunch offering a selection of appetizers, entrees and side dishes. Some sipped a glass of their one rosé selection, crisp and dry Chateau De Rouet, Reserve Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cotes de Provence, France, 2023 ($22). Some started with their hot and sour soup, others the king prawn salad. The soup was tasty—peppery and tangy—but I prefer my homemade better. I prepare it [...]

By |2024-10-22T07:40:55-04:00October 20th, 2024|General Food Info, NYC Restaurant Reviews|1 Comment
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A Sad Return to Electric Lemon + Circle Line Around Manhattan

After our end-of-summer Circle Line 2.5-hour cruise around Manhattan Island through Spuyten Duyvil Creek and down the Hudson back to the dock at Pier 83, I stopped at Electric Lemon with a friend for a light bite. If you have never done — or haven't taken the cruise in years — I highly recommend the trip on the boat around Manhattan. It's always informative with something new to learn about the city. As a regular reader, you'd know I've raved about Electric Lemon's deviled crab ($24). I've sent many people there just for that dish, as I loved their creamy ginger dressing and crunchy ginger crumb topping on the fresh [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:24:38-04:00October 18th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Mexican at Fonda, Chelsea, NYC

After reading about Fonda's happy hour in Chelsea, I asked a friend to meet me there to sample their fare. When we arrived at happy hour, we learned that the offers were only available at the bar. Sadly, their barstools have no backs, making it uncomfortable for my aching back to sit without support. I requested one of the many empty booths next to the bar, explaining my back issue and mentioning that we also planned to order off the menu. Management declined. I'm guessing they haven't had a chance to read Danny Meyer's "Setting the Table," which focuses on hospitality or Will Guidara's "Unreasonable Hospitality," both of which I recommend. My [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:22:28-04:00October 16th, 2024|NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Fiesta Dinnerware Pitcher

Fiesta Dinnerware has always been known for its fun mix-and-match bright colors. The colors were born from a desire during the Great Depression to cheer up the country with red, blue, green, yellow and ivory Fiestaware. This pottery, made in West Virginia, has been lead-safe since 1986. It can be used in the microwave, dishwasher and oven. I love that it has a 5-year chip replacement warranty and that you can buy one piece or place setting at a time. This large pitcher caught my eye ($59.99). It's about 8 x 5 x 7 and holds 67 ounces of liquid. It adds a pop of color to my table and [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:20:59-04:00October 14th, 2024|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More, Of Interest, Products|0 Comments
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New Location of Mission Ceviche, Union Square, NYC + Once Upon a Mattress

I first sampled Peruvian food in Lima over 50 years ago when I went to meet my newborn nephew, who is now 51. I recently stopped into the newly opened, grand Mission Ceviche in Union Square for more Peruvian fare. It's a sister to the original one on the Upper East Side. This one is spacious, with Italian marble bars for its ceviche and sushi station, a mosaic octopus at the entrance and an unusual rope chandelier with lots of fresh plants hanging from it lights the expansive restaurant designed by New World Design Builders with Peruvian-inspired fabrics reminiscent of the sea and a commissioned wall covering made of thousands of fish-shaped scales. [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:07:25-04:00October 12th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Winona’s, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NYC

Winona’s is a family-run restaurant owned by Cressida Greening and Emir Dupeyron, who originally started it as a supper club in their apartment next door in Northern Bed-Stuy. I was invited to sample their seasonally driven food and natural wines. We started with their well-crafted cocktails. My dining partner had a Passion Sour ($16) made with pisco, Aperol, Shinola passionfruit liqueur and egg white. I sipped their forest Old Fashioned with housemade mushroom-infused bourbon plus scotch, Pedro Ximenez sherry and chocolate ($16). With our cocktails, we indulged in three must-have appetizers. We got every last drop of their smoked trout dip ($18) with housemade potato chips. Also delicious is their [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:14:46-04:00October 10th, 2024|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Happy Hour* Mediterranean ZIZI, Chelsea, NYC

One temperate night, I met a neighbor at ZIZI (formerly Zizi Limona), a modern Mediterranean restaurant on Eighth Avenue. Emmit, our server, mentioned that it was still happy hour and explained the offerings that included a martini selection from their few varieties and $6 off the small z's "3Z's" appetizer selection. I chose an espresso martini that included Spring 44 vodka, Luxardo espresso liqueur and espresso. We then selected their roasted head of cauliflower, the four falafel balls and the crazy baba (a blend of charred eggplant, feta and basil) with four large, warm pita ($23). We did order an entree but had no room for it, as we were [...]

By |2024-10-13T09:16:35-04:00October 8th, 2024|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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