Choice Eats 2012

A-Tooch was super excited for Village Voice’s Choice Eats this year, and boy did the event deliver.

Luckily bf/cameraman M scored some tickets too and joined the fun. He did not, however, get into the VIP room and VIP Choice Sweets event that my press pass led me to Here are some highlights of stellar dishes that stood out:

Boudin Noir from new neighborhood fav Resto. (If you haven’t checked out Resto’s new little brother shop next door, The Cannibal, you need to get there ASAP.)

Braised beef rib on toast with pickled walnuts from fav in the old neighborhood, Jimmy’s No. 43. P.S. This place does a great, fresh Blue Plate Special on Mon. and Tues. if you’re ever in the hood.

Lamb (was it lamb? I think so) with the most delicious, tender, buttery rice I’ve ever tasted, and apricots and from Bi Lokma, same owner as Sip Sak. I recently discovered this little gem of a spot in an otherwise useless foodie neighborhood right by Grand Central. Affordable, traditional Turkish cuisine in a cute little space.

And how could we forget, our friends at Patacon Pisao were back with their moist, perfect tres leches cake, and the cachapas we have grown to adore. Last year they served meat and cheese cachapas and although I didn’t see the meat variety this year, I had no issues!

We didn’t take any shots of the desserts — totally unlike us! You should know that there was lots, though, and it was gooood. We all agreed one of the top was the sweet and savory, scrumptious Salted Crack Caramel ice cream from Ample Hills Creamery — salted butter caramel ice cream with pieces of buttery, chocolatey “crack cookies.” Booze was presented by some favorites, too, and I bee-lined to the Abita stand.