La Esquina

La Esquina is one of our favorite places to eat. Conveniently located in SoHo La Esquina offers 3 different locations the Taqueria, Cafe, and their secret downstairs location, the Brasserie.

They have so many delicious things at each location but the Brasserie offers the complete menu. Our favorite things are the sopa de tortilla, ceviche acapulco, tostadas contramar, taquitos de pollo rostizado & La Esquina mole negro. They recently acquired a new chef, Akhtar Nawab, and he's added more delicious fish options to the menu, like last night's special Sea Bass wrapped in banana leaf, yum! Sadly our favorite salad was taken off the menu, ensalada de nopales, which is a cactus salad w/jalapeños, onions & cotija cheese. He also fixed the dessert menu, THANK GOD!! He added a mouth watering pastel de chocolate - cafe de olla, it's a must have.

Overall it's a fun experience walking into the Taqueria & being greeted by a bouncer & doorman then walking downstairs in what feels like a storage unit. After walking down the stairs you give your name again to the hosts, walk through the kitchen and wala...the bar!

Spotted @ in the downstairs dungeon: Alicia Keys & John Mayer


Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart
John Mayer - Clarity

La Esquina - Must Try, NYC Hot Spot, Fun Experience walking into a the Taqueria.

106 Kenmare Street

New York, NY 10012

-S & B

TURNTABLE TUESDAYS!

So today we are kickin' it OLD SCHOOL.

As we were checking out the music scene for this week, we noticed an abundance of old school artists popping up everywhere & performing right in NYC.

08.3.10

#1. Los Lobos - an 80's famed band known primarily for their 1987 hit "La Bamba" - that's right. They are performing at Bowery Ballroom TONIGHT and their 80's sound barely scratches the surface of their talents. They have crossed all musical boarders and pull from rock, R&B, blues, country and their sound is always easy and never forced.

08.6.10

#2. Keith Sweat - rockin' at the B.B. King Blues Club on Friday at 8pm. Another 80's famed singer, who didn't actually hit number 1 on the Billboards until 1996 for "Nobody" written & performed with Athena Cage. He is currently now on tour promoting his 10th solo album entitled Ridin' Solo released on June 22nd.

08.7.10

#3. Suzanne Vega - a New York Native who grew up in Spanish Harlem who will be performing on Saturday night at the Ridgefield Playhouse at 8pm. Her second album produced, Solitude Standing, earned Vega a #3 slot on the American Pop charts with the songs "Luka" and the follow up "Tom's Diner". This feat was unheard of for an 80's singer/songwriter and was nominated for three Grammys after.

08.11.10

#4. VANILLA ICE - SERIOUSLY?! PERFORMING NEXT WEDNESDAY AT STUDIO @ WEBSTER HALL?! No. Not Really. Actually, he was supposed to perform, but because there were only two tickets sold, it was canceled. Sorry Ice, you've been ICED.

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Okay - now for the good stuff!

This week - here is the list of true DOPENESS that is happening:

08.4.10

Wednesday - Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden performing with Owen Pallett and Spoon. Click for Tix! 7:30 pm.

08.5.10

Thursday - Our Two BFF's London Souls & Tanteo Tequila are killin' it at Varvatos - 315 Bowery. FREE admission and FREE Tequila. 21+ for drinks, 18 for entrance. YAY the youngin's can holler back. RSVP to Jv_Pr3@vfc.com (no entrance without it!)

08.7.10

Saturday - OMG DON'T MISS THIS: The Local Natives will be performing 6PM at Governor's Island - tickets are 10 BUCKS! and they have been dubbed the West Coast Grizzy Bear for their three part harmonies and erratic and sped up drumming. Listen to our favorite pick here - Wide Eyes! Oh - we are definitely going to this - so we'll see you there!!

WOW what a week - I'm sure all you music goers can find something good. Catch you on the flip side!

-S&B

S's Birthday Dinner with B!

We sat down to dinner with Naughty By Nature's O.P.P blaring over the stereo. Don't get the wrong idea, we love a good NBN song any day - just a little unexpected at a Pan-Latin restaurant. Maybe the typical Sergio Mendez, Girl from Ipanema, song was a bit too typical? Maybe they wanted to shake it up a bit; our only thought was that this might turn into a club at any minute!

So we ordered the following:
Guac Tipico w/Lime Cilantro & Shaved Red Onion - $11
Ensalada Verde w/Manchego & Papaya Ginger Vinaigrette - $8
Bacon Wrapped Dates - $7
Yellow Tail w/Asian Pear & Citrus Jalapeno Dressing - $16
Pollo al Carbon - $19

B made a money menu choice by ordering the Guac - the shaved red onion was just the right amount. Who seriously wants onion breath? even if we weren't kissing any boys last night.
Also, the Pollo al Carbon, as the main course, was super moist and full of flavor. It usually comes with potatoes but they were nice enough to switch it for cauliflower, delicious but covered in butter.

So the Bacon wrapped dates were a suggestion by someone off of FourSquare and we will not be reordering them. Actually, a good portion of the menu has bacon listed as an ingredient to the dish. If you're a bacon lover - you'll totally enjoy, if not - stick with the Ensalada Verde for your app or main - it's enough for either.

Agua Dulce - excellent space, Tanteo tequila, good bar scene, food - let's just say you won't be seeing us dining there again :-(

TimeOut Magazine review - not nice

- S&B

Monday Night - Tequila & Kenmare

Tanteo Mexican Standoff

Checked into the event as B, the "Influencer", and Justinien, B's guest. We started off the night with their signature drink the Tanteo Jalapeño Margarita. Justinien was impressed with his cocktail since he is strictly a Maker's man, he gave the official nod of approval after his first sip. As we sipped our drinks we people watched, of course. We spotted a girl wearing the same skirt as B but in grey and a $13k Blancpain 50 fathoms watch, which Justinien gladly pointed out. The crowd consisted of bar owners, investors, bartenders, and friends. It was definitely chill. After B's first drink was over, she had to have another...as Jay-Z & Swizz say: "on the the next one" - she ordered the Cocoa Lemonade - delicious & refreshing.

We left at 8:15 to catch our ressies at Kenmare.

Dinner Recap:
Artichoke & Heart of Palm Salad - $10
Crispy Halibut w/Chive Mashed Potatoes - $24
New York Strip Steak w/Asparagus Risotto & Truffle Burst Tomatoes - $28
Veal Cutlet w/Salsa Verde, Arugula, Lemon & Ricotta Salata - $25 Sea Bass - Special
Justinien was not impressed by the NY Strip and neither was B; the fat was not quite trimmed and we were shocked because it's such a recommended item. On the other hand, the Halibut was delicious, cooked perfectly with chive mashed potatoes, yum. Dessert you say? We indulged in the freshly baked Chocolate Chip Cookies served with melted Nutella - HEAVEN! Would B go back? Probably - but just for the dessert and a nice glass of wine.

Kenmare - Hot Spot, Trendy, & Scene

NYTimes Review - brutal

NY Mag - Manhattan's Top Restaurants

10:30pm - Justinien and B hugged their roomies goodbye and put them in a cab. We walked to MercBar, 151 Mercer to join a few friends and the Tanteo guys. It was a chill way to end the evening. Everyone was sipping their margs and laughing the night away. What more could you need on a Monday night?

MercBar - Hot Spot, Chill, Lounge, Manly

Music - Hot Mess

-S&B

Tanteo Tequila Tasting!

We were invited to the office of Tanteo Tequila for a private tasting. They have a wonderful space located in SoHo. Neil Grosscup, the Operations Director at Tanteo, provided us with the full history of the company and mixed up some amazing cocktails.

Tanteo's line-up of tequilas aren't the usual blanco, reposado, or anejo. Tanteo offers something different - flavor-infused 100% Agave tequilas in "Tropical," "Chocolate," and "Jalapeño." Launched in December 2008 into the New York market by the Tanteo Spirits Company, the trio of infusions has already received awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Beverage Testing Institute, and the World Beverage Competition.

S enjoyed Tanteo's version of the Classic Margarita made with their Jalepeño infused Tequila, while B likes her tequila straight. Bad-Ass.

Our Favs:

TANTEO® JALAPEÑO MARGARITA

~ 2oz. | Tanteo® Jalapeño Tequila

~ 1 oz. | Fresh Lime Juice

~ ¾ oz. | Agave Nectar (or simple syrup)

~ Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice

~ Shake well and pour into a rocks glass (salted rim optional)

~ Garnish with a lime wheel

and

COCOA LEMONADE

~ 1 ½ oz. | Tanteo® Chocolate Tequila

~ 1 oz. | Fresh Lemon Juice

~ ½ oz. | Agave Nectar(or simple syrup)

~ Club Soda

~Add ingredients into an ice-filled Collins glass

~Top with club soda and stir with a bar spoon

~Garnish with a lemon wheel

For those that have been to La Esquina check out Tanteo's signature drink -

PEPINO DIABLO

~2 oz. | Tanteo® Jalapeño Tequila

~1/2 oz. | Fresh Lime Juice

~1/2 oz. | Agave Nectar

~1 oz. | Cucumber Purée (or two slices of muddled cucumber)

~Combine ingredients (muddle if necessary) in a shaker with ice

~Shake well and pour into a rocks glass

~Garnish with a cucumber wheel

- S&B