The Savored Blog

If you’ve visited savored.com in the past week or two, you may have noticed the new “Diner Style” and “Hot List” sections on the site.   Here at Savored HQ we recognize that dining is social, so we’ve added new features to make your experience on our website social as well!  Rather than puzzle over why you’ve recently been dubbed a “Gourmand” and debate whether or not to click the star box on each restaurant’s homepage, we’ll get straight to explaining.

Diner Style

If you’re anything like us, the last time you showed your kitchen some love might have been… well, never.  We’d rather eat at The House than our house; dining out is a part of our everyday lifestyle.  Friends ask for our restaurant recommendations and finding our next favorite spot to dish about is always at the forefront of our minds.  For you like-minded dining enthusiasts, we’ve created our new Diner Style feature.  With each reservation you make and booking you share with pals in the Facebook and Twitter-verses, you’re on your way toward gourmet glory. Achieving “Gastronomist” status is not only a way to say, “hey friends, leave tonight’s restaurant selection to me” but it’s also a fun way to track your enhanced epicurean clout.

Hot List

With hundreds of amazing restaurants to choose from on Savored, at times even I forget the new restaurants I want to try and the favorites I’ve already visited.   Well, it seems the gods tech team has smiled upon me and instituted the Hot List.  Now you can visit a restaurant page and, if you’d like to save it for later, stick a virtual fork in it by clicking the star button and adding it to your Hot List.  Appropriate scenarios that call for some serious Hot Listing:

Tried your new favorite tacos and tequila at Zengo?  Hot List it.

Walked past Fatty Crab and noticed their fabulous sidewalk seating?  Hot List it.

Encountered the cutest server at Betel?  Hot List him it.

So go ahead and Tweet your Diner Style status, share your Hot Lists and show your friends and followers just exactly how savvy you are – after all, with Savored, you are dining smarter.

We’ve all been there; it’s Thursday night, you’re looking to unwind after a long day and a nice post-work drink excursion fits the bill.  However, with cocktail lists popping up everywhere that include ingredients that range from exotic to downright bizarre, finding a simple libation to quench your thirst can be quite the endeavor these days.  Here to take the hassle and guess work out of your order are the folks at The Vinatta Project.  With bespoke cocktails fashioned by simply saying “savory,” “gin,” or even “cucumber,” you’re just a few descriptive words away from cocktail nirvana.

Perusing the array of ingredients assembled in the bar’s mixology station, it’s quite apparent that the stylish barkeeps know what they’re doing; one taste of your drink will confirm just that.  My initial cocktail was a gin-based twist on the classic martini with jumbo stuffed olives and a splash of liquid smoke.  An easily sippable (and potent) drink, it accompanied me to a seat in the posh leather booth where a delicious meal would soon unfold.  A basket of fresh bread and an aggressive family-style order later, I ventured on to a tequila-based jalapeno infusion with watermelon juice and a touch of agave.

As plate after mouth-watering plate arrived at the table, we first road-mapped the offerings before us then began our well-varied culinary adventure.  The Tuna Two-Way dish paired wonton crisps with spicy tuna as well as an avocado puree; across the plate, a fresh piece of sashimi was complemented by a soy broth.  A plate of ribs satisfied the carnal hankering for BBQ and duck-fat fries were a carnivorous take on pommes frites (not to mention, a table favorite). The heirloom tomato and rocket salad dialed back the richness with clean, crisp flavors – necessary before digging in to the skillet of cheesy stone grits awaiting us.  Also necessary?  A final bespoke cocktail, hand crafted to perfection to cap off a fuss-free evening I’d be happy to repeat on the regular.

Ok, so maybe it’s not even lunch time, but since when has that stopped me from day dreaming over a particularly delicious dish?!  This slice of perfection is the Burrata pie from Nolita’s Emporio and, yes, it’s as good as it looks – maybe even better.  Just a little something to brighten up this rainy Wednesday…

Betel's Vietnamese Beef

Clearly, the team here at Savored takes our dining very seriously.  In fact, we love going out so much that we keep a running list of places we’ve been and all the fabulous tips on what to eat, when to go where and other insider info.  Since we’re so fond of you all, we’ll let you in on our little secrets.  Here’s a roundup of our February favorites!

Corrie M. dined on duck and Vietnamese beef at Betel where she “LOVED the food” and marveled at how lively the scene was on a Tuesday night.

Weekend evenings are the perfect nights to visit La Palapa.  One Saturday evening, Shaina F. claims to have eaten “every taco on the menu” washing them down with “amazing margaritas that were all natural and made with fresh fruit puree”.  I myself made a Sunday Funday trip with a group of four where we dined on guacamole and tender fish tacos.

Out of town and out of control (delicious, that is) – Maureen O. visited ZENTAN on a recent foray to Washington, D.C..  The bar area in this “DC swank” resto was bumping when she enjoyed a sushi platter and crunchy vegetable dumplings with her two friends.

Out in BK, Gerardo D. got the VIP treatment at Autour du Monde, where he feasted on a “pan seared boneless filet of trout served with quinoa and sauteed garlic sage butternut squash with almond citrus sweet chili sauce”.  Hungry?  YES!

Visit Girasole, Dine with Al Roker!

Celeb Spotting!  Cassie Y. dined beside the faboosh weather-watcher, Al Roker at Girasole in NYC.  Al’s crew was celebrating a milestone birthday and Cassie’s party celebrated 30% off grilled Portobello mushrooms with fresh vegetables, Chicken della Nonna and sautéed zucchini!

Check back each month to learn where the Savored team is spotted dining about town!

Creamy Gorgonzola Bruschette with Pear and Truffle Honey

There are many ways to make a girl swoon; for some, it may be a romantic gesture like flowers or chocolate.  For me, however, break out a bottle of delicious wine and a dish with rich, cheesy goodness and Cupid, let your arrow fly.  Emporio, the oozing-with-romance Italian resto in Nolita has got my recipe for amore pegged.  Whatever menu section you turn to, their offerings are jam packed with the good, the mild and the stinky – cheeses, that is!

Before I get ahead of myself – let’s do a quick scan of the wine list.  While their selection may not be on the top of your name recognition lists, here’s one name I’ve said before that you should get familiar with: Grüner Veltliner.  Since I first tried this delicious Austrian white over a year ago, it’s been popping up on menus everywhere – get to know it!  I also had the pleasure of trying the Greco di Tufo, a mineral laden white with just a bit of sparkle as it touches the tongue (ps… Emporio has an amazing sommelier who helped me navigate the goods and find this beauty of a bottle).  Both paired excellently with the assortment of cheese-licious dishes that followed.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Whether you’re a “more goat cheese please” or gorgonzola gal, you’re going to want to order at least one of the bruschette (I’d opt for more than one, but that’s just me).  In both varieties, a toasty piece of bread is heaped with tasty offerings like creamy gorgonzola with sliced pear and truffle honey OR roasted beets, hazelnuts, goat cheese and vincotto (a caramelized grape reduction).  How can you choose between those two?!  Exactly my point – get em both!  For your green fix, the brussel sprouts, roasted and tossed with crunchy bread crumbs and radishes, are a great item to pick at while you wait for your main (event) course…

Be Still, My Heart: Burrata Pizza

PIZZA!  The Burrata pie is “ohmigosh I need to stop dreaming about this slice and get BACK there” good.  Flavorful tomato sauce blankets the thin crust and mounds of burrata cheese (think mozzarella’s creamier cousin) are piled in heaps on the pie.  Cherry tomatoes and basil are sprinkled over it all for a fresh kicker that you’re bound to fall for.  Not to be overshadowed by all this talk about cheesey items, the house-made pastas are a menu section to be reckoned with – after much debate, we finally decided on the Taglierini.  Saffron lends its essence to the actual pasta and buttery rock shrimp balance the hot peppers spread throughout the dish.  With breadcrumbs baked onto the top of the pasta, it’s a pretty hard number to follow.  Amazing pasta or not, without a healthy portion of cheese, I wish it good luck vying for my attention.

So yes, it is Valentine’s Day, but if you’re not one to get mushy, it’s still fine to get cheesy – at Emporio!  When you’re dining with 30% off your total bill through Savored, what’s not to love?!

Sure, February is typically the month for couples to pair off and get their romance on, but if you ask me, I think group dining can be a lot more fun.  It seems I’m not the only one here at Savored HQ who shares that sentiment, which is probably why we’ve compiled our favorite places to gather the group this week!

Knowledge is power; at Atlanta’s Food 101 you and seven of your friends can meet up for an epic American feast.  What better way to celebrate group dining than by sharing plates?  I’ve got my eye on the Cast Iron PEI Mussels – I wouldn’t even TRY and stop me from ordering my favorite mollusks.

While we’re on the topic of my favorite things, DC’s Dirty Martini restaurant’s namesake is one of my most beloved cocktails.  With reservations for up to 10 people, there is a lot to love AND save thanks to 30% off through Savored!  So call some friends (or co-workers) and have a leisurely lunch, taking care to choose wisely from their “Hands On” menu.  Blackened Ahi Tuna Wrap?  I’m in.

Let’s get local – NYC’s La Palapa has a name that’s almost as fun to pronounce as it is to dine at this Mexican eatery.  Grab your crew of up to 10 for brunch (the Bloody Mary is superb) or dinner (go with the Enchiladas de Hongas Verdes for a veggie delight).  It’s a fiesta no matter when you go; whichever lucky friends you choose to bring along will praise you and sing, “muchas gracias!!!”

Wherever you choose to lead the crowd, make sure you’ve booked through Savored – with 30% off, the more who dine, the more you save!

Date Night at Tiella

What does the perfect date night dinner have in common with Japanese tacos and Italian Sushi?  Why, they’re all this week’s newest Savored restaurant offerings!  This bunch of Italian restos will have the pasta-craving masses adding a handful of new joints to their to-do list and the fusion-foodie-fiends equally delighted.

Date Night Signature at Tiella

Upper East Siders take note: date night with your sweetie just got that much sweeter with a four-course tasting menu that includes wine or cocktail pairings at Tiella.  Get your veggie on with chickpea fritters followed by garganelli pasta teeming with tender scallops and fava beans before moving along to the wild boar stew with black olives.  Oh, and be sure to leave room for the lemon delizia!

Sushi and Tacos at Taka Taka

And now for something completely different… grab your indecisive friends and get to Taka Taka where Mexican sushi meets Japanese tacos.  Confused?  Don’t be!  This is a geographically diverse pairing we’re thrilled to partake in (plus with 30% off your total bill, this is a trip around the globe that won’t cost you a pretty penny!)

Ristorante Aglio's Branzino

Ristorante Aglio

Eat your Italian with a side of elegance at Ristorante Aglio, Savored’s latest addition to the TriBeCa scene.  Meat craving patrons will rejoice in the presence of not one, but TWO dishes featuring Kobe Beef.  A full list of Italian wines begging to be discovered await, with a wait staff that will fawn over your every need.  Don’t keep them waiting – book your next weeknight excursion now!

Coming out in droves for Caffe Cielo

Round up the whole gang and head to Midtown West for dinner at Caffe Cielo.  This authentic Italian joint takes Savored reservations for up to 12 guests so don’t be greedy – share in your savings.  Or you could always see a show and make some new friends to bring to post-theatre dining – the more, the merrier, especially with eats this tasty!

The Original Fettuccine Alfredo

Be a Tourist at Alfredo’s of Rome

Start with a visit to the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza (the quintessential Winter NYC tourist experience) and then walk on over to tour the culinary delights of Roman cuisine at Alfredo’s of Rome.  Don’t forget to try the fettuccine Alfredo, a dish whose origins trace back to Alfredo’s sister restaurant in Italy!   But do save some room for surprising menu selections (Italian sushi? Yes, please!) that will keep your palate guessing for what treat will come next.

An Array of Reds at In Vino

We’ve all been there: you’re on a first dinner date, you’ve picked the perfect venue (get suggestions here) and everything is teed up to get your swoon on.  But – once you’re there, striking up a meaningful conversation and ordering the perfect meal on that initial rendezvous can sometimes take a little prep-work.  Before you find yourself having a deer in headlights moment, check out these tips to making your dining experience epic.

When ordering wine, cover the basics. Be sure to ask your date if they’re thinking red or white.  That simple piece of info will cut down any potentially intimidating wine lists by half.  Also, don’t be scared to ask your server for suggestions; he or she is your best resource to help choose an ideal bottle to complement your meal.

• The Cannonau “Nero Sardo” at In Vino is a delicious red wine and VERY affordable.
• The Tablelands Sauvignon Blanc at Do Hwa is crisp and refreshing on the palate and your wallet.

Alcala's Perfectly-Portioned Shrimp Tapas

Share the love AND the appetizers.  Ordering a starter (or two) to share with your date lets you know what he or she likes.  Perhaps you both share the love of a similar dish – I smell common ground!  Splitting a dish also brings a new topic of conversation to the table; describing the flavors can be a very sensual experience.  Nab the opportunity to show off your foodie knowledge and you’ll have them eating out of the palm of your hand.

• The very shareable Guacamole from Matilda offers a unique Tuscan spin on the Mexican classic  – it’s infused with basil and red pepper, and served with tortilla chips and brick oven roasted focaccia.
• Want to share your whole dinner?  Consider Alcala; their tapas menu features small plates that are perfect to split with your dining companion.

10 Downing's Daily Gnocchi's are a 10

Order to your heart’s delight – but let your date’s order be their own personal delight.  Unless they specifically asked you to order for them, chances are your date will want to make his/her own decision.  Ordering for them could be a bit presumptuous and we know that’s not your style.  Also, if you have a favorite menu item, go ahead and tell them about it – and then let them try a bite!

• The Spicy Thai Mussels from Jo’s are absolutely sensational for fans of food with a kick to it. Plus, if your date wants to steal a shell, you’ve got plenty to go around!
• 10 Downing’s daily Gnocchi specials feature the tender potato pillows with a different ingredient pairing so you can have an old favorite while trying something new.

It's S'mores Galore at Gyu-Kaku

End on a sweet note.  Finishing the meal with a sweet indulgence is decadent and the perfect way to end your date.  Pick a whimsical dessert to show your fun side and as a bonus, you’ll prolong time spent with your sweetheart.

• For S’mores you can roast over your own fire pit at the table, look no further than Gyu-Kaku.
• The Warm Chocolate Cake at Affaire is served with rich vanilla ice cream – a match made in heaven.

Whatever your perfect dinner date entails, it should always include a reservation booked through Savored.  You’ll get 30% off your entire check at the hottest restaurants with discrete discounting (and no cheesy coupons).  Or even book a Savored Signature with a prearranged menu designed to expand your dining horizons.   Either way, follow these tips, remember to always tip your servers, and you’ll be well on your way to date night success!

An Array of Seasonal Toasts

Dining is supposed to be an experience in which you taste wonderful things, but who says you can’t feel wonderful after eating them as well?  At Rouge Tomate, they are leading the charge; this Manhattan eatery’s philosophy is all about bringing unique, locally sourced and seasonally-relevant dishes to the table – and they certainly deliver.  On my recent dinner foray to their swanky Midtown East digs, I fell in love with their take on the flavors of fall.

The perfect start to any meal (as far as I’m concerned) is a fabulous cocktail.  That’s exactly what you get when you pair the winning combo of Rouge Tomate’s freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices with cocktail staples and exotic infusions.  The Queen’s Cup, which features Pimm’s, cucumber purée, mint and lemon juice, will have you feeling like royalty.  Innovative twists on cocktail classics (Plum Collins?!  Brilliant!) may leave you stumped on what to order – but that’s why we dine with friends, right? Similarly, the seasonal toasts are so interesting that I challenge you to try ordering just one.  Egg salad aficionados rejoice in the quirky Celery Root Rémoulade offering, which classes up the essential deli salad with the help of cornichon, quail egg and tarragon.

Autumn Squash Soup with Anisette Foam

If the thought of playing with your food interests you, then you’re not alone; the Autumn Squash Soup is as amazing to watch being served as it is to taste.  The shallow bowl is delivered with anisette foam; the fun starts when elements of this spectacular fall broth (flavored with apple, pumpkin seed and a blend of fall spices) are delicately drizzled around the foam to complete this whimsical dish.  What’s next?  Surely, it’s the Hamachi Crudo; an excellent palate-refreshing dish that is plated elegantly as well.  Parsnip and green apple lend a hand in creating a crisp essence perfect for a quick sojourn between courses.

Topping the gamut of menu items you’ve seen thus far is a task that proves all too easy for this Michelin starred gem.  For the adventurous eater, look no further than the Sunchoke Ravioli which is brimming with Veal Sweetbread (if you’re not familiar with this item, perhaps wait to Google it until after you enjoy your meal).  Making good on the promise of autumnal harvest, you’ll also find this plate adorned with pickled shallots, brussel sprouts and black truffle jus.  For you veggie fiends at the table, the Parsnip Farrotto is warming and rich, borrowing the rich earthy flavors of Lacinato Kale, parmesan and maple.  Don’t shy away from the dessert menu either; sorbets that capture the essence of their respective fruit agents will tempt even the strictly-savory enthusiasts.

Dessert Sampler

Perhaps, when imaging a nutritionally optimized meal focused on farm fresh produce, you wouldn’t immediately envision an extravagant evening of dining out.  However, when the restaurant you’re eating at is Rouge Tomate, re-think everything you know and get ready to enhance your dining experience.  They’re changing the face of wholesome eating, one delicious bite at a time

A Bar with Food, but don't call it Bar Food

Some things are just meant for each other – think roasted beets and goat cheese, fresh mozzarella on a crispy pizza or even prosecco and me.  While all three of these simply perfect pairs were present and accounted for last weekend at Onieals in Soho, what is really remarkable is the unlikely pairing of a gourmet restaurant inside a neighborhood pub.  Although, with a gastronomic experience executed as successfully as my meal at Onieals, it’s no surprise I plan to become as permanent a fixture there as the menu items themselves.

After entering Onieals through the spacious lounge section, we were seated in the intimate dining room; the crowd would suggest that a refined palette is something developed by a sophisticated clientele.  Fitting into the scene was easy with a three-olive martini in hand and an elegantly-plated roasted beet and warmed goat cheese salad before me.  The candied spiced pecans and dried cherry dressing introduced a wide breadth of complex flavors that stood up nicely to the tang of the goat cheese. The subsequent course (obviously) entailed a bottle of prosecco and an order of mussels in a light white wine sauce, which were served with two slices of warm crusty bread.  Make no mistake; this was me in my happy place.

Scallop Perfection

After consulting with the host (who happened to be as fabulous and bubbly as my prosecco in hand), the entrée selection was complete.  The Snapper special of the day was served in a broth of coconut milk with hints of lemon grass, which lent its essence to not only the fish filet, but also several clams and a selection of mushrooms.  The light sear on the snapper was as expertly cooked as the bok choy, which was pure al dente perfection.   Not that it had anything on the utterly amazing pan seared fresh scallops; just remembering the buttery scallops sitting on top of a dish of asparagus-studded creamy risotto might warrant wearing a bib. The addition of a light carrot ginger sauce sprinkled with chive is a bit too much to imagine on an empty stomach.

Whether you’re looking for a trendy weekend dining destination or an unorthodox gourmet resto, Onieals has your number.  Sure, it’s a bar, with food – but don’t even think about calling it bar food.  I’ll see you there next time!