Manhattanville Market (Mm)

 

Manhattanville Market

3229 Broadway (129-130^th Street)

New York, NY 10027

917-522-0391

www.manhattanvillemarket.com

Hours:  

Monday – Sunday – 11 am – 8 pm – open every day except for major holidays.

 

Owner and renowned Chef Franklin Becker

Benny's Famous - $4.00

Butterfunk Biscuit Banana Bread Pudding - $8.00

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Today I went to the grand opening of Manhattanville Market (Mm) at Columbia University’s Jerome L. Green Science Center.  It is such a wonderful and spacious food hall that serves a variety of food such as: Benny Casanova’s Square Pies, Shai Hummusiya, Chef Franklin Becker’s Butterfunk Biscuit Company, Mediterranean and Israel cuisine and The Botanist that serves salads in which the greens and herbs are grown on site.  It is truly a wonderful concept and a venue that is well needed.  I had the pleasure of meeting owner and renowned Chef Franklin Becker who was so personable and absolutely has the love of great food.  I watched him go to the encase herb garden and break off the following for me to taste:  Genovese Basil, Green Sorrel, Basil, Arugula and Amaranth.  They were all good but the spicy arugula, oh my!  I also met Melissa who took the time to inform me of the concept of Manhattanville Market stating that coming soon they will have live music, karaoke, and Oliva Tapas (opening in the fall) along with visiting chefs. 

I had the Benny’s Famous square pizza pie from Benny Casanova’s Square Pies (917-522-0395).  Can I tell you that sitting on top of the delightful, crunchy, tasteful and airy crust was mozzarella, fresh basil, parmigiano reggiano and tomato sauce that you savor every bite.  You taste the maldon salt that is sprinkle on top.  This maldon salt looked like sparkling crystals with a pyramid shape, soft yet crunchy.  Maldon salt has a distinctive taste, less salty than others, yet it has a zing to it.  It was great using it as a finishing salt. 

After finishing my pizza and sitting for about oh 2 minutes, I decided to be a bit greedy and try the Butterfunk Biscuit Banana Bread Pudding from the famous Chef Chris Scott’s Butterfunk Biscuit Company (917-522-0391).  So you pick up your spoon or fork whatever you are comfortable with and dive in to the taste of fresh banana’s, got to be homemade wafers, fresh whipped cream, and banana cream with a taste of white chocolate and oat crumble, drizzled with caramel sauce.  Not too sweet, just right.  The smoothness of the pudding with everything else, well I took the rest home.

The fusion of different food services is a delight and a comfort.  Coming soon there will be live music, karaoke and it has a spacious 12 seated bar.  Mm has indoor and outdoor dining.  Per Mm “pull up a chair and join them”.  I would add and stay awhile.  You are greeted from the time you enter and meet several other wonderful and personal staff.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Angel the artist and Chef Kevin.  Here’s to a successful and everlasting Mm venue!

"Food is our common ground, a universe experience".  James Beard

 

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Alvin & Friends - Contemporary Cuisine Southern Caribbean Flavors

 Alvin & Friends

14 Memorial Highway

New Rochelle, NY  10801

914-654-6549

www. alvinandfirendsrestaurant.com

Link:  Alvin and Friends Restaurant

Hours:

Monday & Tuesday - closed

Wednesday           5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday               5:00  pm- 9:00 pm

Friday                    5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Saturday                5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sunday Bruch     11:30 am - 2:30 pm

                              5:00 pm - 9:30  pm

APP Sampler - special order - meatballs, 

jerk chicken, pork tacos, 

rum jerk chicken & salad - $25.00

BBQ Pork Ribs - 1/2 rack - $24.00

Deep fried cornmeal catfish - $28.00

Seafood gumbo - compliments of Chef Jose Uloa

Chef Jose Uloa and I

Owner Alvin Clayton & I

Paintings by owner - Alvin Clayton

Paintings by Alvin

It's been a long time since my sister friends Roz, Kelly and I got together for a good old girl sit down and lets talk celebration.  So Kelly selected Alvin & Friends which she has visited several times, so off we went.

As you entered the restaurant you are warmly greeted and seated (use that for a rap).  Nyka our waitress approached us very nicely several times to take our orders, but I believe on her 4th or 5th trip we were ready.  Kelly of course already knew what she was going to order.  

The jerk chicken wings from the sampler was tender and spicy, not too much.  The meatballs were tender, tasty with a little bit of sauce.

Kelly's dish was the deep fried cornmeal catfish might I add, wild caught thank you served with stone ground grits and black eyed peas, topped with a creole remoulade.  This is one of her favorite dishes.

Per Kelly's suggestions Roz and I ordered the smoke BBQ ribs, sweet potato fries (yum) and coleslaw.   The ribs were tender, the cole slaw spiced it up a bit for me.  I really like the sweet potato fries that had a touch of cinnamon.  

After meeting Chef Jose Uloa and introducing ourselves who was very approachable and friendly, we had a wonderful conversation, he sent out a bowl of seafood gumbo for us to sample.  This would be on his upcoming Chef's Specials menu next week.  he seafood gumbo had shrimp, calamari, shrimp, rice, sausage seasoned with file also known as gumbo file.    

Chef Jose has worked as an executive chef at the Apollo, Plaza Hotel and etc. 

Roz and I met Alvin Clayton, the owner as Kelley already knew him.  Alvin is very personable.  His artwork appears on the walls of his restaurant.  

I understand that Alvin's is also a celebrity hangout.  It has a nice outdoor dining area and the waitstaff are very professional and friendly.  Overall it was a nice experience meeting up with my sister-friends and meeting new people.

#alvin&friends   #southerncaribbean   #newrochelle   #newyork   #westchester   #food  #lunch  #brunch  #dinner #outdoordining  #music  #livemusic  #jazz  #vegetarian  #good  #like  #art    

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