Still dreaming of this meal!- Yerba Buena, Perry Street, NYC

After an awesome matinee, my husband and I walked down the West side along the Hudson heading for a good Mexican meal in the village.  The restaurant we chose, had yet to open.  This turned out to be a great thing.  A quick search of the area and we stumbled on quaint Latin restaurant tucked in the corner of Perry and Greenwich.  Yerba Buena is fusion of Cuban, Peruvian, Chilean, Mexican and Argentinian flavors, tastes and styles.

As with many NYC restaurants the seating is very cozy, with only inches between you and the next table.  No worries because you are so involved in your meal that you don't even notice the people around you.

They have a full bar but highlight their custom cocktail menu.  I ordered the El Manguito, cachaca with mango, ginger beer and lime juice.  I took a sip and loved the flavor and then I was hit with the heat!!  I missed the fact that it also contained poblano pepper!  It was an amazing drink! I loved it more and more with each sip.  

 

My husband was thrilled to see chicharron on the appetizer menu.  Why order guacamole, when you can have chicharron?  This appetizer, called Picada, comes with yucca, tostones, chorizo with rocoto.  Holy Moly was this good!!  The chicharron was crispy, crunchy on the outside and smooth on the inside.  I am drooling just thinking about it!  The Yucca was fresh and salty and the tostones fried to perfection all having a kick from the rocoto pepper. 

Dinner was a culinary masterpiece.  We ordered the house dish, Parillada, a mixed grill popular in Argentina and Columbia.  This Parillada came with rib eye steak, Beef short rib, Bone marrow and Morcilla arepa with three amazing salsas for dipping, Chimichurri, Yerba Buena horseradish and an Aji panca salsa.  The meat was so flavorful it didn't need the salsa but we added a bit and the flavor exploded.  I left most of the ribeye and short rib for my husband and dove into the marrow and Morcilla arepa.  My husband will not go near blood sausage or marrow.  He was missing out!  I could have had only the Morcilla arepa for my meal and I would have been happy.  This meal was definitely a treat, and one you should definitely try on your visit.  We ordered a side of beans and rice that I didn't eat till all the meat was gone.  I couldn't leave that plate.  They offer Chaufa rice, which is a Peruvian/Chinese fried rice.  Wow! My husband ordered the Papas a la provenzal, aka fried potatoes.  He always finds a way to get French fries.  These were awesome.  They were drizzled a tomato salsa which added quite a kick. 

If you aren't full by this point, make sure you get the Churros for dessert!   No matter what you order, I am sure that you will be as happy as we were.  Happy Eating. 

 

An Oasis in the city- Cosmos, Lansing

We now have a new favorite family dining place.  With it's casual outdoor patio, wood fired pizzas,  and amazing staff, Cosmos is the go to for a great night out.  Situated on the corner of Grand River and Larch, Cosmos is a galactic space odyssey on the inside and open air patio outside Bordered by a wooden fence, blocking the busy city out, the patio is an awesome space for relaxing, eating and enjoying a beautiful summer night. 

Cosmos provides a large variety of Michigan local microbrews with a rotating schedule so you can get the a favorite or a new release. They also offer a full bar inside and another in the patio area. 

The menu is simple, but fantastic!  You cannot come to Cosmos and not get the Duck fat fries!  They are to die for!  They come in sea salt and truffle. Careful, the truffle is very addictive.  Perfectly fried to have a crispy outer layer and soft inner layer.  The spicy ketchup (Cosmic sauce) that comes with them adds the perfect kick.  I am lucky to get some when we go with our kids.  They disappear fast. 

If you are looking for a less fried starter, you need to try the Caprese salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes, thick slices of mozzarella, and arugula pesto with a balsamic drizzle.  I could eat it everyday.  They also have 4 different kinds of bruschetta and several other salads and starts like Tempura shrimp and corn fritters.

The pizza menu provides a variety of palate tempting combinations of toppings.  We have tried several of the pizzas but the Chorizo is my favorite.  Chorizo sausage with grilled asparagus, sweet corn, garlic cream, peppers and mozzarella.  Wow!!  I sometimes eat a few too many pieces because it is so yummy.  My husband and son love the Pepperoni with pancetta, and andouille sausage. 

The pizza is full of meat!!! 

I also love the Applewood bacon pie with sundried tomato aioli. If you are not looking for so much flavor variety or you have children, they also offer cheese and pepperoni alone. 

This place is a guaranteed win for all.  We are always happy when we eat here and you will be too!!

Happy eating!