Elements in White Plains. Great Restaurant or Great Nightlife? Yes.
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If Elements were a car, it would definitely be a hybrid. The late night younger crowd is definitely drawn to the stylish setting, but for those of us on the early shift, Elements is also a great choice for your next nice dinner out. Chef Rick Krebs, well known in the Boston restaurant circuit, turns out delicious dishes, featuring new takes on classic favorites. And, yes, also makes a mean set of wings. So, it’s time for foodies, who may have thought Elements was just a hip bar scene, to take a second look.
We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t please everyone.” Well, clearly they haven’t seen Chef Rick’s extensive menu. Those looking for a lighter meal can enjoy options like the “soup of the moment,” beautiful salads—like the poached pear salad with arugula, brandy poached pears, almonds, bleu cheese with agave ginger vinaigrette — and the small plates menu which includes Korean beef lettuce wraps, five spice short ribs, and even panko crusted macaroni and cheese.
Those out for a true dining experience will want to turn their attention to the main entrees section of the menu. There are vegetarian dishes like carnival squash risotto, with spinach and candied hazelnuts plus other options like French cut chicken with apple cranberry chicken sausage in a cranberry demi-glace, with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli or the mouth-watering roasted bourbon glazed salmon with rice pilaf and seasonal mixed vegetables.
And the “create your own” section is a carnivore’s dream come true. Choose from five cuts of meat (or grilled chicken breast), two side dishes and finish it with your favorite sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed my flat iron steak in a red wine sauce, with mashed potatoes and seasonal mixed vegetables. It was perfectly balanced, with no one flavor overpowering another. Oh, and did I mention nothing on the menu is over $28.
If you have any room for dessert check out the strawberry yogurt cake, French apple tart or chocolate mousse.
The multiple personalities of Elements is what makes it the perfect choice for a date night with your spouse, a “girls’ night out,” with friends, or even a larger family event. The sleek, long, main room has banquet seating, with raised tables, along one side and additional tables in the front where you can enjoy the cozy view of the elevated fireplace.
For a larger group, book the back room, which is sectioned off with a beautiful beaded entry. Or, if you are looking to throw a real blow out party (birthdays, surprise parties, even Bar/Bat Mitzvahs) the enormous, more casual, rooftop with its own bar, is a funky and festive option. Chef Rick is as comfortable catering a big event as he is making a special meal for two.
So go ahead, book the babysitter and head over to Elements in White Plains. Just don't be surprised if she’s heading over there herself once you get home.
Elements Food and Spirits
161 Mamaroneck Ave.
White Plains, NY
(914) 358-4930
www.elementswhiteplains.com
You can book reservations on OpenTable.com
Scalini Osteria in Bronxville
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Tucked underneath the shops in Bronxville is the delightful and private Italian osteria --Scalini on Pondfield Road. Formerly the home of Scarborough Fair, the space includes an intimate indoor dining room plus a front patio and an outdoor courtyard where weather-permitting you can enjoy a quiet lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch.
Our group of seven visited Scalini on a chilly Tuesday night and we were seated at a long table, bordered on one side by a banquette. As we nibbled warm bread and bean dip we contemplated an extensive wine list from which we chose a reasonably priced Pinot Noir.
Since we clearly had catching up to do, the waiters left us to dine at a leisurely pace. The menu is fairly lengthy and appetizers included salmon carpaccio, burrata – which is a soft, runny mozzarella served with tomatoes and basil, a napoleon of goat cheese and pesto and Caciucco di Crostacei – a bowl of shellfish steamed in a tomato broth. There were also cheese and antipasto plates to share with fava beans, fig compote and dry-cured meats.
The soup of the day was escarole and bean and also offered were a nice selection of salads --among them were Barbabietole e Arance, which is roasted beets, orange, spiced smoked almonds and ricotta salata in a citrus vinagrette or the Insalata Scalini with endive, radicchio, arugula, grilled figs, apples, roasted pine nets and truffle oil.
My diet-conscious companions enjoyed their salads while I indulged in the seafood stew that had baby clams, mussels and squid brewed in a tasty tomato broth.
The pasta selections all sounded tempting and the menu claimed that all were “homemade.” On the menu were a ricotta and carrot gnocchi with fava beans and pecorino, Spaghetti alla Chitarra Bolognese, and a ravioli stuffed with porcini mushrooms. The risotto of the day was made with shrimp, scallops and tomatoes. I opted for the pasta special and it was outstanding – fresh pasta stuffed with a puree of porcini that I will have again.
Fish selections included sea bass, salmon and the Pescato del Giorno that was an almond-crusted cod. The salmon was accompanied by lentils and mushrooms and all the fish dishes passed muster with our group. Several in our party opted for the chicken special that was served in a marsala sauce with green beans and mushrooms. Also available were pollo martini, pork tenderloin, skirt steak, veal with porcini mushrooms, fried zucchini and roast potatoes and a seared breast of duck in a lingonberry reduction.
We finished the meal by sharing some fruit and an apple tart while sipping cappuccinos.
It turned out the pasta was indeed “homemade” as we received a notice about the restaurant’s upcoming pasta-making classes on three Saturday afternoons beginning January 23 at 1 pm. You can sign up by calling 914-337-4935.
Entrees were priced at $20-$25, bringing the tab per person to about $50 including tip.
There was enough on the menu to deserve another trip down the Bronx River Parkway so I’ll be going back soon and recommend you try Scalini Osteria too.
Scalini Osteria
65 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, N.Y. 10708
(914)-337-4935
www.scaliniosteria.com
Hours:
Monday – Saturday
Lunch: 12:00-3:00
Dinner: 5:00-10:00
Sunday
Brunch: 11:30-2:30
Dinner: 2:30- 9:00
Tarry Lodge
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By now you may know that famed restauranteurs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich have come to Westchester. With the opening of Tarry Lodge on Mill Street in Port Chester, local residents can taste the fare of the heralded twosome who run Babbo, Esca and Del Posto plus many other wonderful eateries in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Their new home is actually over 100 years old and has served as everything from a speakeasy to a family restaurant. With high ceilings, a beautiful mosaic floor and a sweeping bar, the restaurant feels like a destination. Book a reservation on Open Table well in advance, or stop by and take your chances in the bar, where the full menu is served on a first come, first served basis.
We went to celebrate a birthday and the atmosphere was festive. The staff was welcoming and forthcoming with their recommendations from the extensive menu. The theme is Italian trattoria and there’s something to please everyone. For wine lovers, the back of the menu features several hundred varieties, sorted by Italian region.
The list of Vini Italini commands more than a cursory reading. Start your meal with a selection from the antipasti list including a sampling of three freshly sliced prosciuttos, Bacal Mantecato (whipped, salted cod ) or fennel with blood oranges. For the less adventurous there are salads and thirteen fresh-baked pizzas. Our table shared the Quattro Formaggio with grilled eggplant, which was warm, cheesy and ample.
It was difficult to select a dish from the pasta courses as so many of them were appealing. Fusilli alla Crazy Bastard was a spicy, creamy tomato and cheese mixture that I would love to try to replicate at home. Garganelli with Funghi Trifolati (three mushrooms), Black Fettucine with Lobster and Chiles and Linguine with Clams and Pancetta were all delectable.
The “Secondi” included an array of lamp chops, veal, fish and steak all accompanied by innovative sauces and sides such as cardoons, mint pesto, and blood orange marmalade. In addition, each weeknight features a special so there’s something new whenever you go. The list includes Chicken all Cacciatora, Braised Lamb Shank with Celery Root and on Sundays Lasagna all Napoletana. We ran out of room for dessert and finished with coffee and biscotti. So you’ll have to go yourself and report back on the sweets.
Highly recommended!
ADDRESS: 18 Mill Street, Port Chester NY 10573
PHONE: 914.939.3111
FAX: 914.939.0444
CHEF/ OWNERS: Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich, Andy Nusser, Nancy Selzer
HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE Yes
DRESS CODE Casual
RESERVATIONS Recommended but not required
CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED All major
PRIVATE PARTIES/ROOM Yes
WEBSITE www.tarrylodge.com
Sammy's Downtown Bistro in Bronxville
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We were lucky to get a last-minute reservation at Sammy’s Downtown Bistro and Bar in Bronxville on a chilly winter night. Not knowing much about the restaurant, everyone in my party was pleasantly surprised by the warm ambience. The dining room was cozy and welcoming, but spacious enough to accommodate larger parties.
Looking around you couldn’t help but notice the enormous oil paintings of voluptuous nudes. Anyone familiar with Rosie’s, another Bronxville landmark, will recognize the artwork, apparently on loan from a Long Island gallery. The wine list was suburb as was the Juliena’s Beaujolais we chose. However, deciding what to eat from the lengthy menu proved challenging, as so many of the offerings sounded appealing.
Appetizers include innovative salads, fromage fritters, crab cakes, tuna tartar, soups and more. When the first courses arrived, we realized that we should have opted to share the entrée-sized plates. Pomme salad, which was chopped iceberg with honey, Gorgonzola, apples, white raisins, and pecans, was fresh and delicious as was the fromage fritter and the saucisse -- grilled veal sausage, with mixed greens and lentil salad.
Next we were faced with working our way through the entrees – a rack of lamb with butternut squash was rich and perfectly done. Veal martini that included asparagus and creamy potatoes and the sea bass with orange and macadamia nuts, accompanied by risotto were specials that were indeed special.
How we found room for dessert is beyond me. But the chocolate ganache, a chocolate cake round filled with creamy ganache, served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, was irresistible. And if that wasn’t enough, the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting was a winner.
Service was prompt but not rushed. Our friendly waiter was happy to make recommendations for our meal. If you’re thinking of going on a weekend, do make a reservation as the place is bustling.
Sammy’s Downtown Bistro and Bar
124 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-3200
Lunch
Monday - Saturday
11:30 am - 3:30pm
Dinner
Monday -Thursday
3:30pm - 10:00pm
Friday - Saturday
3:30pm - 11:00pm
Sunday
Dinner all day
12:00pm - 9:00pm
Lulu's Cake Boutique
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Lulu's on Garth Road is now a Scarsdale institution. Opened on Valentines Day seven years ago, the bakery is known for their delectable cakes, cookies, brownies and bars and their custom cakes for special occasions.
I stopped in recently to purchase one of their extra-long marble pound cakes and noticed the recent renovation of the bakery. The white woodwork, marble counters, warm light and seating area for custom orders give the site elegant appeal.
The refrigerator case featured colorful cupcakes, and a beautiful array of cakes including the Coconut Dream Cake –which is fluffy coconut cake, coconut custard and home made marshmallow cream. The Chocolate Polka Dot - devil's food cake, chocolate pudding and fresh vanilla cream looked yummy as well as the Dulce De Leche - yellow butter cake, dulce de leche creme, frosted in caramel buttercream with toasted almonds.
Behind the glass to my right were cookies available by the pound as well as an innovative array of brownies and bars. I sampled a chocolate dipped macaroon bar, a melted chocolate blondie and a brownie brick. Also to good forget was a peanut butter cookie sandwich with peanut buttercream in the center. Lulu’s has also recreated the Yodel and after I recover from the first taste test, I will let you know what I thought of this new twist on my favorite childhood treat.
Lulu’s is featuring special holiday menus for Passover and Easter including a flourless chocolate torte and a whimsical Easter Egg cake. Under the direct supervision of Rabbi David J. Fine, Lulu's creates innovative Kosher products. Owned by Jay Muse and staffed by an energetic crew it's always fun to stop in.
Lulu’s Cake Boutique
40 Garth Road
Scarsdale, New York
722-8300
http://www.sweetsbylulu.com
