Turkish Meze

www.turkishmeze.com

Mamaroneck NY
This casual restaurant is child friendly and offers a wonderful selection of carefully prepared meals. The grilled octopus was my favorite of the evening and the Doner, served tradionally over rice and salad, was a generous portion of tender lamb.
The service was friendly with the exception of a waitress who seemed to rush us to order, especially as I tried to find a Turkish wine by the glass, but her suggestion turned out well. It was a red Turkish table wine similar to a Pinot Noir.
The grilled kebab dishes look wonderful and I saw a whole fish being served which also looked great. Definitely a place for more visits, Turkish Meze is listed as #1 of Tripadvisor for Mamaroneck.

Juniper

www.juniperhastings.com

Hastings on Hudson

This local gem is the current family favorite, and the fresh ingredients offered always include a surprise. The chef is creative with flavor combinations, accomplished in the preparation, and remembers us with a smile of greeting when we return. This past visit was especially delightful. The tile fish on the menu made me curious to know if it came from Montauk. (See Fishbar Montauk blog from the summer). Sure enough, it is from that charming town and it is nice to see nearby fisheries patronized, especially with tile fish, which is a moist fluffy fish which I now prefer to halibut.

My husband enjoys the pork and has had it in a number of variations at Juniper, all very satisfying. The roast duck was excellent. The appetizers included gnocchi with a truffle sauce which was outstanding. For dessert, we ordered the pound cake which was toasted lightly and served with amazing lemon curd and creme fraiche. We have now had the pound cake a few different times and it has always been a delight, though I missed the one served with raspberry sauce which I've been told is superb.

I suggest booking advance reservations for weekend evenings. Juniper is a small restaurant, but the atmosphere is warm and the service very gracious. They do not have a liquor license yet so one can eat very well on a budget bringing in your own wine.

The talents of the chef, Alex Sze, can be measured by the happy patrons. I will be returning again, I hope, to enjoy the winter menu at least once more. If I don't make it back until spring that will be a pleasure, too. As the seasons turn, so will come new surprises in fresh delights from Juniper.

North

This new arrival to Armonk is a welcome addition to Westchester cuisine. The service was exceptional and being catered to in this fashion is a special treat outside Manhattan. The meal started with hot, firm crusted pumpernickel rolls served with delicious infused butter. The wine list offered an excellent Sancerre by glass or bottle. The appetizers were outstanding. We shared the tuna tartare with guacamole and foie gras, perhaps the best I have enjoyed even in light of my trip to Dordogne. For the main course the bay scallops with roasted potatoes were wonderful, the ribs rich and delicious, and the cod nicely prepared but not a cut worthy of this chef. The desserts we ordered were a chocolate chip cookie and apple crisp, each served in a skillet with vanilla ice cream from Ronnie Brook. A delightful evening with charming waitresses and host attending. A certain return on another day heading North.

Table d'Hote on the Hudson

Table d' Hote served its second savory meal to the delight of some twenty eight eager eaters. The quality selected wieners and wurst served with the best Sauerkraut I have ever had are the work of Alex Orlowsky, whose gracious demeanor delivers the meals with care. The appetizer Butternut squash was delicious, and the accompanying wines of the meal included St. Nicholas de Bourgueil 2007, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For dessert was Tarte Tartin.
These meals bring out the true talent of Fred Cottineau, whose pairings are excellent, worthy of recording for future indulgence. The patrons of these Alex and Fred meals are a delightful group, and I will remember the wonderful meal of December 11 for a long time to come.

The Original Sandwich Shoppe of New York

At 58A Greenwich Avenue just off Seventh Avenue South, this neighborhood eatery offers excellent empenadas and fresh soup. The white bean soup I tried on my last visit was delicious. The empenada was the best I ever had, offered to me by a woman with a warm smile diligently working away behind the counter . I imagined it was an old family recipe and if I could get it, it would be a new family recipe in my house. With a price tag of about $7 or so for lunch, the relaxed atmosphere and just plain good homestyle cooking are refreshing in this part of the city. I also enjoyed the turkey sandwich with green apple.

Tomatillo

Dobbs Ferry, New York
This restaurant is one of my favorites in Dobbs Ferry. The fresh ingredients are consistently good and some are purchased from Stone Barns in nearby Tarrytown. The chicken club burrito, which I prefer with black beans to the menu pinto (also very good), is a generous and nutritious option for days when work hours run too late for a home prepared meal. The service is friendly and the restaurant is a fun place for sit down meals with its jovial colors and tables with options for varied size parties. The appetizer chips are the best I know of in any nearby Mexican restaurant, and the salsa is also great. The proprietor responded to a student's inquiry regarding use of recyclable container and opted for some of the choices she suggested, later hiring her to work in the restaurant. Simple fresh fare and sustainable, community conscious management. A bow of respect to Tomatillo!

Savoy on Prince Street

savoynyc.com
SoHo New York
This low key establishment prides itself on its fresh ingredients and offers a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, with a wood burning fireplace in its second story dining room. The wine menu includes a fine french wine by the glass, Macon Charnay (Bourgogne), which, by the fire, sets the perfect mood for the dining experience.
The appetizers include a specialty "burrata", mozzarella in a purse form with the inside of the treat fluffy, light and moist, savory with its delicious companions of garlic toast and tomato compote. Our other appetizer was just as delightful. The farmstead sheep's milk cheese, Weston Wheel from Vermont, was perfectly matched with lightly toasted fresh bread and honey crusted pecans.
For our entrees we were both blown a bit over, for the flavors were so succulent and delightful that this restaurant quickly reached "good find" on our radar. The Florida Gulf shrimp with braised beans and bacon was in a Trinidad chili salsa sauce so delicious it compared with excellent ragout sauces I have had. My striped bass came from Rhode Island and was perfectly cooked with a crisp skin, shallots, a mushroom flavoring no longer on the menu, but I would say it was in the chantarelle family, and risotto on the plate. The fingerling potato side was its perfect side dish.
For desert we shared a concord grape Gelato so rich in flavor, although no sugar was added, that it is one of the best I have had. 
Savoy, you are my new word for savory, and I will be back for a certain return with loved ones to share you with!