Northern Spy Food Co.--East Village

Northern Spy Food Co. opened up a few months ago in the East Village and it looks like it's trying to cultivate a neighborhood reputation for being an alternative to locavore competitor, Back Forty. Steadily, over the last few weeks, the customer base has grown everytime I walk past the place.
The handcrafted and cheerful appearance of the restaurant's interior, the rough-hewn tables and benches, and the plethora of rustic design touches are characteristic of the farm-to-table ethos that this restaurant espouses.

Although their breakfast/brunch menu seemed more interesting, today, I decided to pay a visit for lunch. The choices on the menu are not as extensive as Back Forty --which is a good thing--reflecting hearty, simple food (served EVERYWHERE I go these days). I had the roasted chicken with brussel sprouts and carmelized leeks. The plate arrived somewhat sad and soggy looking. Served on the bone, the chicken breast meat was juicy and tasty, but the dark meat wasn't fully cooked to my liking. I also prefer the skin on the chicken to have a nice, seasoned, crispiness to it, which mine lacked. The brussel sprouts were overcooked and mushy, reminiscent of a bad side dish from the 1950s. The leeks were slightly slimy and also overcooked. I could tell there was flavor in each vegetable dish, but it seemed like I was served yesterday's nuked leftovers.

I am going to give this restaurant another chance for brunch, because it's so close to my apartment and the staff was so nice. Here's hoping to a better brunch experience!


Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Ciao for Now in the East Village

My lunch I had on Thursday, at the East Village cafe, Ciao For Now, on 12th street. The place serves mostly dense pastries, quiches and soups. Not bad. I had a tasty Autumn Puree with a Polenta/lavender muffin.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Typical Lunch

Will I ever tire of this lunch? 

At Tarralucci e Vino w a paper, pen and idea notebook (blank)...yet again! Ordered the Plutone  Panini, which is made of Bresaola, parmigiano cheese, arugula, olive oil w pink peppercorn dressing-- I've tried to make this sandwich at home, but can never replicate the exact flavors and textures. Had an iced coffee for a much needed caffeine punch. Mmmm.

Culture Clash --Visiting Home

Arroz Caldo--Filipino Rice Porridge

I'm visiting my family in Wheeling for an extended weekend--exploiting parental affection and sleeping till noon. Lovely! Lunch today consisted of slurping up Arroz Caldo and nibbling on Paczki.

Paczki, a Polish doughnut made by local bakers around Lent.

Good times in the Ohio Valley. See you Wednesday!

Comment Card: Porchetta - Lunch Review

2009 did not usher in an era of mirth and prosperity for most people. Let's all face it. We are in an economic recession and mental depression! As everything started to head south: expense accounts, office headcount, 401Ks, salaries, personal net-worth--so, too, followed the collective American psyche, spiraling down into the proverbial dumps. But, misery is a pill, so the nation responds by taking pills, consuming scotch, seeing the latest Judd Apatow in droves, and more than ever, by seeking consolation through comfort food. The richness and satisfaction of a heaping platter of macaroni and cheese can compensate for the deficits that we experience financially and psychologically. The sweetness and warmth of a chocolately, fudge brownie have the power to lift the soul. Comfort food has the tranformative ability to placate the mind and engage the senses, which is why I went to Porchetta with a friend on one doozy of a Friday, hoping to get my spirits up and elevate a very rotten mood.

Perhaps due to my exposure to Southern BBQ during my formative years, or my grandmother's Filipino way in the kitchen, to me pork is synonymous with comfort food. Whether its Lechon (Suckling Pig), Pork Tenderloin, Crispy Pork Belly, Chicharones/Pork Rinds, Pulled Pork, BBQ Spareribs, I'm going to feel pretty good after a plate of that stuff.

I had taken a class at The Brooklyn Kitchen and my instructor was the butcher and chef at Porchetta, so I knew the ingredients would be fresh and local, and the menu well thought out. Everything on the menu has pig somehow integrated into the dish, even the vegetables.

This is what we ordered and shared:

The Porchetta Sandwich

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Crackling, Lemon, Thyme, and Honey

Roasted Potatoes with Burnt Ends

A $5 coke of some kind

Cost: Less than $30

The sides are huge, but the sandwiches are not. What we ordered was adequate for two people (and filling, due to the high fat content of the porchetta), but if you have an appetite, get another sandwich and one side to share. The Porchetta sandwich was simply made of sliced cuts of pork with heavenly hunks of brown crackling on a Ciabatta roll. The pork was succulent and deliciously fatty, and the bread/protein ratio was just about right, not overly starchy at all. My friend thought that the potatoes could have used more seasoning, but I really liked them. They had a nice crisp and the burnt ends of the crispy pork skin provided a savory, counter crunch that was fun. The roasted brussel sprouts were a great accompaniment to the Porchetta, but could have been punched up with a tad more acid. Nevertheless, I gobbled them all up. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, feeling fat, happy, and pleasantly distracted for a brief while .

Food: Porky Delight

Ambiance: Tiny, Clean and Cute

Service: Friendly. Helpful when asked for hot sauce.

Price: Sorta pricey for a take-out place

Verdict: Comforting. I'd go again on a Sunday afternoon.

Porchetta

110 7th Street between Avenue A and 1st Ave

East Village

212-777-2151

Review Links:
New York Magazine/ The Underground Gourmet
Yelp
Serious Eats