Immaculate Infatuation
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Andrew Steinthal a 1998 grad of SHS runs the PR Department of Warner Music's Independent Label Group by day and at night works on his website ImmaculateInfatuation.com, the #1 ranked NYC food website on Urbanspoon. The site features easy to relate to reviews and features for people who love to eat, but aren't super foodies. He launched the food site with Chris Stang who is the Director of Marketing at Atlantic Records and says that they are "music biz guys bringing the worlds of food and entertainment together."
Here is an interview with Andrew and some insider tips on where to eat:
What are a few of your favorite food-related memories of Scarsdale?
Candlelight is first and foremost. Without Candlelight, there's probably no Immaculate Infatuation. For my group of friends, that's where the obsession with food started. Every night out ended with a late night trip to The Light for wings and waffle fries. Aside from the C'Light, other local favorites include Italian Pavilion in White Plains aka The Pizza Nazi as we called it back in high school. Both their sicilian and salad slices are excellent and their pink Italian dressing is ridiculously good. Walter's Hot Dogs in Mamaroneck, obviously. Also, back in the day I was obsessed with City Limits. They had really good pickles and french fries.
Other than the Candlelight, where do you like to eat now in Scarsdale/Westchester?
Blue Hill at Stone Barnes has the highest rating on our site, that place is absolutely incredible. I've been meaning to try Batali's Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, but haven't gotten there yet. I've heard it's a bit underwhelming. Generally, I make my family come to Manhattan or Brooklyn when there's a meal related event going on.
What inspired you to start the site?
My friend Chris Stang and I had been conspiring to start something ever since we graduated college. Initially it was going to be our own record label, but with the business falling apart at the seams over the last decade, we knew that wasn't a good idea. We had multiple meetings and even came up with a name for our clothing line, but that just had too much overhead. Then we decided that since we were always the one's people were asking "Where should we go tonight?", that we'd start an email service that guaranteed a personal response to that question within 24 hours. Twitter took care of that idea. So, instead, we set out to answer the 'Where Should We Eat Tonight?' question and hit the internet in April 2009 with Immaculate Infatuation. We're trying to fill the role of that trusted friend you turn to when you need a solid restaurant suggestion. You won't find any pretentious foodie hobnob from us. If you want those kinds of shenanigans, hit up the "experts" at NY Mag, Time Out NY or the NY Times. This is easy to relate to, honest food reviews and features for people like us who love to eat, but aren't super "foodies" (we loathe that word).
Do you write the reviews yourself or do others contribute?
Chris and I do all the content ourselves. We've had a lot of people ask if they could contribute, which is great and actually quite flattering. Right now, we want to make sure we keep the voice of the site consistent so we can firmly establish our identity.
How many new entries are posted a week or a month?
We post a new review, feature or video every week day.
Please offer Scarsdalle10583 readers recommendations for your favorites restaurants and links to the reviews
So, one thing that sets us apart from other sites is how we break restaurants down into our "Perfect For" categories such as Girls Night Out, Date Night, Dinner With The Parents, Drunk Hook Ups and Celebrity Sightings. Here are some of our favorite spots broken down by category.
Chronic Brunch - Cafe Habana
Date Night - Apizz
Special Occasions - Eleven Madison Park
Girls Night Out - ABC Kitchen
Raucous Party Atmosphere - Marlow and Sons
Full On Pork Indulgence - Momofuku Ssam
Birthdays - Yerba Buena Perry
Quick Eats - Luke's Lobster
Outdoor/Patio Situation - Shake Shack
Dinner With The Parents - Mas (farmhouse)
Do you produce the site for the love of food or is it a revenue-producing biz as well?
While we started this site for fun, I'd be lying if i said the end goal wasn't to make money because it absolutely is. Right now, we're still building our brand. Seeing how people react to the site and how quickly we've grown gives us the confidence to keep going. If we keep building and expanding our reach, the sky is the limit.
What’s in the stars for immaculateinfatuation?
First up is a complete redesign of the site which is will be launching later this summer. The new site is more user friendly, and people will be able to better utilize search capabilities to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion. Need an Italian joint with some Action At The Bar near Madison Square Garden? Right now, you can't search for all those things. It's coming. That's the short term. Long term, we're starting a heavy focus on video content which we're keen on developing and we're also looking to get into events as well. Food and music go so well together, we think that's definitely an area we could get into.
How do you do your day job and manage the site as well?
We wake up early and stay up late working on Immaculate stuff, it's the only way to get it done. We both work in the music business - I do PR for Warner's Independent Label Group and Chris does marketing for Atlantic Records and both of our jobs are extremely demanding. The only way to get much done on our side project is to sacrifice your free time.
808 Bistro Lights Up Scarsdale Avenue
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There’s new energy on Scarsdale Avenue and as soon as you see the neon lights and pressed tin ceiling at the 808 Bistro you start to feel the vibe. Located in the former home of Millenio, the site has been transformed in metallic and light. The layout includes a generous bar and an appealing list of locally named cocktails to enjoy.
Scarsdale now has its own drink– the Scarsdale Smash, a combination of vodka, triple sec, orange and cranberry juice with fresh lemon sour. There’s also the Route 22, which is muddled pineapple and cucumber with gin and club soda and the drink menu includes Mojitos and Margaritas in strawberry basil, ginger, pineapple, mango and raspberry. My pineapple Mojito was a satisfyingly sweet blend of fresh crushed pineapple and mint with rum and syrup.
The menu is an eclectic mix that defies categorization. Chef Salvatore Cucullo Jr. is the son of the owners of Fratelli’s in New Rochelle and there are some Italian offerings. However, he comes to 808 Bistro by way of an education at the Culinary Institute or America and work experience at the recently closed Café des Artistes in Manhattan and brings his versatile style to the table.
We started with Pan Seared Sea Scallops with asparagus, and goat cheese in a balsamic reduction. Yes it was rich – but delicious as well. On the lighter side, we ordered a Quinoa Salad (pronounced keen-wah) with orange, golden raisin, cucumbers and cilantro in a citrus vinaigrette. The salad was fresh, flavorful and unique and is also on the lunch menu. My companions had a healthy portion of a Buratta Mozzarella, sliced local vine tomatoes, basil and fire-roasted pepper salad and struggled to down it all. Also recommended from the choice of appetizers are the fresh oysters and the baked macaroni and cheese with lobster, shrimp and truffle oil.
For entrees, there are pastas, fish, poultry and meats. Among the chef’s favorites are NanasGnocchi, with tomato and basil, which is based on a family recipe. We tried the Chianti Stained Pappardelle with beef, pork and veal ragout. It was a hearty dish of homemade noodles with large chunks for meat in a tomato sauce and might have been more fitting for a cold night in February than a steamy evening in June. I had the linguine with shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari and mussels and we also had the pistachio crusted halibut. Both were well prepared, fresh and flavorful. From the meat selections were a marinated skirt steak, a Rib-eye Steak, Veal Capriccioso, several pork selections and chicken or veal any style. If you bring your family, you are sure to find something to please everyone.
For dessert, we had an irresistible Chocolate Polenta Pudding and a Berry Napoleon that was apparently a favorite at Café Des Artistes. The Napoleon had fresh berries, and whipped cream sandwiched between layers of light pastry.
Though the restaurant has only been open for three weeks, service was efficient and the meal was well timed. Everyone on the staff was gracious and made us feel welcome. Prices for appetizers ranged from $12-$17, salads $7 - $14 and entrees $17 - $28. The lunch menu includes some of the appetizers and pastas discussed above as well as a selection of sandwiches and wraps reasonably priced at only $10.
There were so many appealing choices and limits to what we could consume, so we’ll go back to try it again. We recommend you try it too – before it gets too hard to get a table.
808 Bistro
808 Scarsdale Avenue
Scarsdale N.Y.
914-722-0808
www.the808bistro.com
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Zero Otto Nove
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If you’d like to get out of town without risking a flight, drive south, but not too far south to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. I first discovered the neighborhood after a trip to the New York Botanical Gardens. I wanted to find the source of the crusty Italian bread and fresh pasta I often purchase here in Scarsdale. Using my nav, I threaded my way through the Bronx and happened into authentic Italian shops such as Casa Della Mozzarella and the Terranova Bakery. Several times I brought home creamy cheeses, prosciutto and bread, but then I was tipped off to a restaurant that uses these local specialties on their own menu. Why cook I thought, when I could be served a superior Italian meal right on Arthur Avenue?
Zero, Otto, Nove (089) is the area code for Salerno, Italy, home of Roberto Paciullo who is the owner and chef of the famed Roberto’s and his newer Trattoria Zero Otto Nove at 2357 Arthur Avenue that opened in 2007.
When you enter the restaurant you’re faced with a long bar and sometimes a long wait for dinner. The restaurant does not take reservations so go early or be prepared to spend some time at the bar. Hidden in the back room behind the bar is a two-story skylit room, with a balcony centered around a large wood-burning pizza oven. The stuccoed, faux-rock walled eatery is decorated to make you feel like you’re sitting in ancient Rome. When you peruse the extensive menu you quickly forget whether you’re in Italy or the Bronx.
Zero Otto Nove (089) is famous for their thin crust pizza, and you must try a slice. Share a pie with your companions – there’s a long list of choices from the traditional Margherita to a Caprese with mozzarella, cherry tomoatos, arugula and parmesan cheese to the Diavola with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and spicy soppresatta. More adventurous diners might try the Pizza La Cirilo with butternut squash puree, cream of truffle, mushrooms and mozzarella or the La San Matteo with mozzarella, sausage and broccoli rabe. Whatever you try, limit yourself to a slice so that you’ll have room for antipasti, pasta or an entrée.
We arrived on a wet, chilly day and all chose warm pasta dishes. Service was attentive and steaming plates of fresh pasta appeared just as we finished our arugula salad. The Pasta Al Forno, baked fusilli with meatballs, soppressata, ricotta, mozzarella, sliced egg and tomato sauce was creamy, flavorful and irresistible. Malfade, which are curly-edged flat noodles are served with porcini mushrooms, smoked mozzarella and cherry tomotoes and the pasta special that day was rigatoni with spinach and sausage in a parmesan sauce. 089 also offers a whole grilled fish of the day and full selection of seafood dishes including baked codfish, grilled shrimp, squid, calamari and octopus and a zuppa di pesce. If you’re looking for Carne, there are pork chops, chicken scarpariello, Cornish hen, veal cutlet and even steak.
Though we didn’t have room for the tiramisu, cannoli, ricotta cheesecake or profiteroles, we sipped our cappucino’s and savored the relaxed ambience at 089. Even though we were sure someone eagerly awaited our table, we were welcome to stay as long as we liked. The handsome waiters were helpful and charming, and as we left we debated whether or not to share the info with readers of Scarsdale10583.
Trattoria Zero Otto Nove
2357 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, New York 10458
718-220-1027
www.roberto089.com
Lunch: Tuesday- Saturday Noon- 2:30 PM
Dinner: Tuesday-Thursday 4:30- 10:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 4:30- 11 PM
Sunday 1:00 – 9 PM
Zagats Picks for Westchester
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Zagat Survey has released its 2010/11 Westchester and Hudson Valley Restaurants Survey covering restaurants in southern New York plus nearby Connecticut and the Berkshires. The updated guide is based on the experiences of 4,502 avid local diners and covers 961 restaurants, including 70 important additions.
"Westchester and the Hudson Valley are home to an impressive crop of affordable restaurants," said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. "With Zagat content available in print and our suite of mobile applications, diners north of New York City can access our reliable restaurant reviews wherever they go.”
This year, Westchester welcomed a surge of ultracasual eateries specializing in affordable fare. In Hartsdale, Frankie & Fanucci’s presents thin-crust pizza, while a new location of well-known Connecticut pizzeria Frank Pepe opened in Yonkers. Diners hungry for comfort food were met with newcomers Rainwater Grill in Hastings-on-Hudson and Mamaroneck’s Roasted Peppers. Consumers interested in something different were greeted by Barnacle BBQ and Fish Shack, also in Mamaroneck, with live music on weekends and a rear deck overlooking Mamaroneck Harbor.
Worldly cuisines with down-to-earth prices popped up all over Westchester. These newcomers include Sleepy Hollow’s Tyrynda Thai (Thai), Hartsdale’s Masala Kraft Café (vegetarian Indian) and New Rochelle’s Don Coqui (Puerto Rican). Asian arrivals play it safe with moderately priced menus, such as those at Lucky Buddha in Thornwood, which provides everything from hibachi to Indonesian dishes, Mt. Kisco’s Neo World Bistro and Sushi Bar and Haiku in White Plains.
Some of Westchester’s top restaurants have changed their tune to attract bargain-hunting diners. Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills added less costly options to its tasting-menu format, while Port Chester’s Tarry Lodge now offers lunch and brunch specials. In Yonkers, X2O Xaviars on the Hudson (Most Popular in this Survey) regularly hosts value-oriented events including an unlimited champagne brunch on Sundays.
The 2010/11 Westchester and Hudson Valley Restaurants guide sells for $14.95 and was edited by Bill Corsello, Michelle Golden, John Bruno Turiano, Judith Hausman, Julia Sexton, Lynn Hazlewood and Lorriane Gengo. For information on Zagat’s mobile products, visit http://www.zagat.com/mobile.
Roasted Peppers in Mamaroneck
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Roasted Peppers in Mamaroneck offers casual American dining with a Mexican and Spanish influence. At reasonable prices the restaurant serves lunch and dinner-- and brunch on Sundays. The ambience is low-key and perhaps a bit chain restaurant-esque. With brick walls, pictures of roasted peppers, and soft pop music the restaurant is a cross between your local pizza place and a branch of Chipotle. Regardless of the decor, the food was delicious. Recurring flavors include roasted peppers, jalapeno, and tomato. The service was not top-notch-- the waitress seemed unsure of which dishes to recommend and she misjudged the timing of our order so the salads arrived after our entrees-- but the overall experience was very satisfying, for both my appetite and wallet.
Reflecting the theme of the restaurant, bread was presented at the beginning of the meal with roasted pepper hummus. The appetizers, each $8, hit the spot. The cornmeal chipotle fried calamari, was a perfect balance between crunchy and chewy, and was served with a succulent honey jalapeno tartar sauce. Meanwhile, the signature stuffed roasted pepper came stuffed in two ways: one half with romesco and goat cheese and the other with ground beef-- a very filling appetizer (no pun intended) -- and a good dish to share. The signature salad was nothing special and the lime vinaigrette was good but failed to provide a kick. On the other hand, the warm seafood salad was worth the wait. Be sure not to fill up on appetizers, because the entrees and desserts are just as tasty!
The entrees are all reasonable portions for one, except the large serving of paella, which is enough to share. The three red snapper tacos had a refreshing blend of flavors, while the rotisserie organic chicken was simple, not too dry, and served with a nice mole sauce. The paella tasted as authentic as any in Spain. No one at my table chose to taste from the “burger corner,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if the burgers are mouthwatering too.
All desserts are just $5 and melt-in-your-mouth good. The waitress recommended both the jalapeno brownie and the rice pudding. The jalapeno brownie with coconut ice cream sounded like a strange combination, but the subtle jalapeno and coconut flavors complemented the very rich brownie. The dessert would make anyone feel like a kid again. The warm cinnamon spiced rice pudding with bourbon sauce was not as sweet but just as delicious. As we were the only ones left at Roasted Peppers late on a Monday night the restaurant also gave us the sweet Lepe flan to try for free and we recommend that as well.
The overall dining experience made for a fun night and a full tummy and we recommend you try Roasted Peppers soon. For the complete menus for lunch, dinner, and brunch, check out the restaurant’s website at www.roastedpeppersny.com
Roasted Peppers
320 Mamaroneck Ave
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-341-1140
914-341-1141
www.roastedpeppersny.com
