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Published: 04 May 2011

Created: 04 May 2011

Last Updated: 04 May 2011

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It’s hard to know what to look at first when you enter Alvin and Friends, a new southern and Caribbean restaurant in New Rochelle. There’s Alvin Clayton himself, a former GQ model with a dazzling smile and warm handshake, his wife Gwen who was recently named one of Westchester’s most beautiful people, the elegant, softly-lit setting or the colorful paintings that line the walls of both dining rooms.

Whatever you see or eat is sure to delight you.

We reserved a table on a recent Saturday night and were impressed with the ambiance, the food and everyone we met at Alvin and Friends. Alvin explained that he had been waiting for the right site to be available for his restaurant. An 11-year resident of New Rochelle, he wanted to pick a location where “your Grandmother from Wykagyl would feel safe.” When downtown New Rochelle was rebuilt and Villa Rina vacated the space on Lawton Street across from the New Rochelle Public Library, Clayton knew he had found the right spot. The area is safe and parking is available on the street and in a lot a few steps away.

As Alvin was a partner in two restaurants in Los Angeles, he was not new to the food business and had a vision for the concept for Alvin and Friends. The space has an elegant feel complemented by the display of Alvin’s colorful oil paintings. A talented artist, Alvin’s works depict life in his native Trinidad and here in the United States, using bright hues with influences of Gaughin and Matisse.

We were promptly seated and offered a tempting array of tropical drinks from the bar including Rum Punch, flavored Mojitos, a pomegranate and blueberry martini and Red Stripe beer. We perused the menu that offers both southern specialties like fried oysters, smoky chicken wings and broiled catfish as well as Caribbean dishes such as curry mussel bisque, jerk rubbed duck breast, and lechon frito (pulled pork, black beans, yuca fries and citrus mojo.) Chef Raymond Jackson, who was trained at the Culinary Institute and worked under Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans, has designed an original menu that combines spices and ingredients from several regions.

Eating with a large group we were able to sample many items on the menu and everyone cleaned their plates. The mussel bisque was packed with fresh mussels, cilantro, corn and potatoes in a tasty seafood broth. Tamarind shrimp arrived with fried sweet plantains and celery apple slaw and the Asian-influenced jerk-seared Ahi tuna was accompanied by sliced avocado, wanton noodles and tamari aioli.

For the main course, adventurous eaters went for the spicy broiled catfish with braised greens and cornbread while others tried the crispy striped bass that was served with coconut rice and peas, under a vanilla-ginger butter sauce. Also on the menu was sea scallop fricassee, with olives, capers and tomato broth served over fettuccini, crispy fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and grilled lamb loin with grits and black eyed pea salad.

I’m embarrassed to admit we had dessert too, and shared the white chocolate red velvet bread pudding with

amaretto whipped cream and blueberry compote as well as the bittersweet chocolate cake.

And if the food, the artwork and the good service were not enough, as we left the restaurant a saxophone player had begun to circulate the tables and we would have liked to stay to enjoy a set.

Our meal came to $130 per couple, with entrees priced from $16 for spicy rubbed and seared tofu to $29 for a nine-ounce rib eye steak. A late night cocktail and bar menu is served from 10 pm to 12:30 pm. With everything it has going for it, it might be tough to stop by Alvin’s and expect to get a table, so reservations are recommended.

Alvin and Friends
49 Lawton Street
New Rochelle, NY 10801
914-654-6549
www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com

Open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday, 5:30 – 11:00 pm
Sunday: 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Sunday brunch: 11 am to 3:00 pm

 

 

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Published: 23 May 2011

Created: 23 May 2011

Last Updated: 23 May 2011

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When looking for a quick bite before or after a film at the Jacob Burns in Pleasantville, sometimes less is more. That’s why we were taken with a relatively new wine bar near the train station, where in addition to an extensive choice of vintages, you’ll find some delectable small plates. The spot has an interesting story behind it. Owner Paul Paljevic is the proprietor of the Euro Spa Salon and Spa next door, and when the antique store vacated the adjoining property, he saw an opportunity for his first foray into food.

He had the interior of the space redone to resemble a European cave – lined in stone the high arched ceiling looks like it might have been relocated from Rome. The softly lit restaurant has comfy couches upfront, a long bar and tables in the main dining room and a back room as well. Bouchon is rumored to get really busy late at night as they stay open until 1 am and it looks like an inviting place to hang out.

We visited Buchon Wine Bar Café earlier one evening and beat the crowd. We started by reading a long list of wines from California, France, Italy, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand which are offered by the glass and by the bottle. We selected a good red and a rose.

To eat, there were platters of charcuterie, artisanal cheeses and olives, plus panini and salads. If you come with a group, you can share tiered plates of fresh cut prosciutto, soppresatta and salami accompanied by a fresh array of cheese. The food is purchased on Arthur Avenue and from an artisanal cheese supplier in Manhattan. For those who want more, there’s a full selection of panini and salads as well as dessert.

Bouchon Wine Bar Cafe
10 Marble Avenue
Pleasantville, NY 10570
914-769-4040

Open Monday through Saturday from 5 pm to 1 am

And speaking of Pleasantville, to mark their 10-year anniversary the Jacob Burns Film Center will present a 24-hour movie marathon starting on Saturday, June 18 at 11:00 pm and ending on Sunday, June 19 at 11:00 pm. The wild and crazy film event is sure to be a day full of fun and surprises. The program is a secret but will include previews of four new films, great foreign cinema, fantastic screwball comedies, eye-opening documentaries, sensational shorts, classic animation and rarities. Clues to the films will be posted on the film center’s website beginning June 1. Anyone who stays the whole 24 hours will be rewarded for the accomplishment. And there is free coffee for all who purchase a ticket!

Make history at the Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road (at Washington Avenue) in Pleasantville, NY, 10570. The Film Center is conveniently located across the street from the Metro-North station in Pleasantville, off of the Harlem line train from Grand Central Station. Tickets for the event are $40 for JBFC members and $60 for nonmembers and can be purchased at www.burnsfilmcenter.org. For more information call 914.773.7663.

 

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Published: 25 April 2011

Created: 25 April 2011

Last Updated: 25 April 2011

Hits: 3863

We arrived at Solmar with nine hungry diners and high expectations as we had heard good things about this Brazilian and Portuguese restaurant across the street from the Tarrytown Music Hall. The owner, Carlos Mendonca greeted us warmly and seated us at long table in the front window of this airy, pleasant site. Out to celebrate our friends’ recent relocation to Tarrytown, we brought our own champagne and the restaurant agreed to open it and serve it for a modest corkage fee. But there is not need to BYOB as they have a full bar.

With our large party we were able to taste many of the offerings on the menu and everyone cleaned their plates. Shrimp, clams and mussels as well as pork and sausage featured prominently and there was an interesting mix of both Brazilian and Portuguese fare.

To begin the meal we started with “Steamed Clams Bulhao Pato” which were clams in the shell, steamed in white wine, garlic, cilantro and

mustard. The clams were cooked to perfection and the sauce was good to mop up with the crusty bread that was served along with it. For mussel lovers, there were Prince Edward Island mussels cooked in white wine with sausage and tomatoes. We also tried the grilled calamari …. large pieces of squid cooked in olive oil and served with sun dried tomatoes. Another winning appetizer was the crab cakes that were served with two sauces – pictured here – one a sweet red pepper sauce and the other a butter cream sauce.

We skipped the salad and soup courses and moved onto entrees. A couple of us ordered the “Camarao A Baiana,” a rich mixture of large shrimp sautéed in tomato sauce, palm oil and coconut milk. A signature dish from Brazil is "Bacalhau," which is dried codfish and Solmar’s version included black olives, onions, and roast peppers and is served with hard boiled eggs crumbled on top.

Another delicious entrée was the sardines – which are marinated in olive oil and garlic, grilled whole and served with roast pepper, baked potato and zucchini.

Still more fish was available – there was grilled salmon in a white wine and mango sauce as well as "Penne a Cachaca" with shrimp and scallops. Cachaca is Brazilian sugar can rum and in this dish the sauce is a rum reduction.

There’s plenty available for meat eaters too, including Porco Alentejano, pork stew with little neck clams, Frango Solmar … chicken breast

with sautéed shallots and chorico and Churrasco Oswaldo Aranha, grilled shell steak in garlic to list a few.

Proprietor Carolos Mendonca is a native of Rio de Janeiro and has always worked in the restaurant business. Starting out as a waiter, he served and saved to build his own place. Sol Mar opened its door on St. Patrick's Day in 2008 is now three years old.

Solmar’s attentive service, flavorful dishes and fresh ingredients all add up to a memorable dining experience. If you’re in the mood for a new taste, Solmar is a short drive away – and well worth the trip. Reservations are recommended!

Solmar
12 West Main Street
Tarrytown, New York
914-333-0151
http://www.solmartarrytown.com/