Petite Abeille

Another favorite in New York City, is Petite Abeille, a small belgian bistro with 4 locations. I have only been to the Tribeca and the West Village location but would assume that all 4 have similar quality.

The decor is quite friendly - with it taken homage to its namesake "Little Bee" which was a very popular childrens book in Belgium in the 70's. The interiors of their restaurants are all decorated with images of Tintin and other popular Belgian cartoon and comic book characters.

The menu starts off in a beer lover's fantasy, with over 40+ belgian beers (mostly in bottle) ranging from Lambics, Abbey Ales, Trappistes, Amber Ales, and Strong Golden Ales. If you would prefer a glass of wine - they have a decent wine list as well. Just check out the chalk board on the wall to see exactly what they have.

From Breakfast to Dinner - with lunch and brunch in between, Petite Abeille has a wide range of Waffles, Omelettes, Sandwiches, Croques, Moules, Steak & Frites, and Salads to chose from. They do have a kids menu for those who dine with their children. The pricing is reasonable and portions are nice sized. They also have daily specials between Monday and Thursday and are :

Monday: 1/2 off all Belgian beers from Noon to Close
Tuesday: 1/2 off all bottle of wine
Wednesday: $19.95 for all you can eat Moules/Mussells and One Stella
Thursday: $19.95 Lobster Night.

So stop in and try Petite Abeille, as they can be found in New York City at the following locations:
#1 - 401 E 20th @ 1st Ave
#2 - 466 Hudson btw Grove and Barrow Sts
#3 - 44 W 17th Street btw 5th and 6th Sts
#4 - 134 W Broadway btw Duane and Thomas Sts

Innis & Gunn

For those of you that love great beer, I have found one for you! Innis & Gunn, an oak aged beer from Edinburgh, Scotland, is an award winning beer that should not be missed. (Especially if you also like Scotch!)

I found this gem by accident at the Riverside Market on Pearl Street in Downtown NYC and have only found it at a few stores in the city (Its $4.50 a bottle price tag wasn't a deterrant, but you can find them at other places in the city for $2.50). This beer is actually aged in oak barrels that one would normally use to age whiskey. Because of this, the finish has hints of oak and has a similarity to a fine scotch. This honey colored brew has a very pronounced vanilla edge, with hints of citrus and the lingering oaky finish, which is somewhat sweet. Because of this complex taste, it makes a great compliment to steak, sausages, pork loin, curries, and desserts, like Creme Brulee.

This beer goes through a 77 day process, in which it resides in the oak barrels for 30 days. The flavor is unmistakeable and is one of the best, unique beers on the market. For those of you that scoff at Bud Light, Coors, or Miller, this beer should be on your must drink lists. Unfortunately, its distributor, Phoenix Beverages Inc, from Long Island City, NY only stocks in the NYC area.

All in all, if you know someone in the NYC area, or are visiting, make it a point to locate a bottle (or 2) of Innis and Gunn and you will surely enjoy!