Hudson Clearwater

We all love a little mystery. It's why multiple volumes of Sherlock Holmes stories exist, people have been flocking to the shores of Loch Ness for decades, and Sarah McLachlan spent a good part of the 90s building one for broom skirt-wearing girls with choker necklaces and perfume oil from The Body Shop. However, the greatest mystery of the current New York restaurant scene might involve Hudson Clearwater - namely, where the balls is the door?

The restaurant's address is 447 Hudson Street, but this leads to an abandoned retail space with papered windows and notices from the NYC Building Department. So...not where we're dining? No. Instead, head around the corner to Morton Street, where there's still no indication you are anywhere near your ultimate destination. Do we just walk through this first door then? Of course not. You're going to want to try that next shady-looking one with all the graffiti; it's cut into the random wall seemingly beyond the building you originally intended to enter.

Everyone opens this door slowly, expecting to trespass into a sketchy back alley serving as home to Crackhead Larry, but once through, you'll find yourself in a quaint open courtyard occupied by no such fiend. Traversing this space leads to two outdoor staircases - one leading upwards to a second story and one leading downstairs to a basement level. It all feels very "Choose Your Own Adventure," but you'll want to head upstairs for the main restaurant. The second set of steps leads down to Hudson Clearwater's private dining room, which can accommodate up to twelve guests.

Once upstairs, you'll find yourself inside a dimly lit, wood-adorned room with a chef's counter and a sunken dining area. Girls in their twenties and couples on dates tend to fill the seats at the chef's counter. Much like at dell'anima, this is where all of the cooking action takes place, and if he's not insanely busy, you can chat up the very guy preparing your meal. Some tables are located in this entrance area, but the rest are down a few steps beyond the counter. The bar is situated in this second section too, and patrons may enjoy a full meal here in addition to cocktails.

Alright guys, we made it. We can put our compasses away and relax. It's 'bout time we get to eatin', and lucky for us, they're sending out an amuse bouche already (a breakfast radish and kale salad bite last time I was here, though I expect it changes often). Reading the menu shows the options are limited, but eating said options proves they. are. delicious. holla.

The essentially American selection includes the likes of butter clams with gnocchi, duck leg confit, black sea bass, and cured pork belly. Vegetarians may be satisfied with a hearty and flavorful root vegetable risotto, though salads and side dishes are not to be missed either [insert flirty wave at the potato-cauliflower gratin here]. You'll want to save room for dessert, as the likes of dark chocolate and cherry ganache as well as a bosc pear tarte tatin have been known to grace the menu.

Though the ambiance is refined casual, and the food is upscale, the prices are thankfully moderate. Appetizers can get into the teens, but every entree is under $20. At least that's how the restaurant has been operating thus far, and it would be a damn dirty shame if those responsible for pricing made a liar out of me.

So head to Hudson Clearwater with that friend who doesn't like to leave the West Village, for that blind date your co-worker has been pressuring you to go on, or for Aunt Nellie's birthday with eleven family members curious to check out that private room. Just draw everyone a map before you go and hope for the best.

Hudson Clearwater - 447 Hudson Street (though entrance is on Morton Street between Hudson and Greenwich Streets)

Traveling Fresh Pepper: Miami and Key West, Florida

Fresh Pepper is first and foremost about New York, but sometimes homegirl hits the road. There are gems everywhere, so I'm including this departure from the norm after a recent trip to Miami and Key West, Florida. Considering some of you lovelies don't live in New York and others travel as well, a few tid bits from beyond the usual borders shouldn't be half bad.

First up, Miami. There are tons of worthwhile places to visit - from the famous (Joe's Stone Crab) to the outrageous (Barton G.) to the smaller yet equally impressive (Michy's). There are also eateries off Lincoln Road (the retail and restaurant laden pedestrian street in South Beach) and busy Alton Road, which we have here in New York - stop in Sushi Samba, Shake Shack, or the newest Rosa Mexicano if you're craving a bite of the Big Apple. However, there are lesser-known spots tucked around the city worth a look as well.

1) La Sandwicherie - Essentially an outdoor counter with stools at which you order your sandwiches, salads and smoothies through an opening cut in the side of the building, La Sandwicherie is as no-frills as they come. Customers flock to this literal hole-in-the-wall for French twists on American basics and sit under a lightly spraying mist of water on particularly hot days. This joint has my all-time favorite shake made with strawberries, apricot, and vanilla yogurt, and the fact that I'm not drinking one right now while wearing a sundress and SPF 100 is making me a little sad.

2) The Tuesday food trucks on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami - That about sums it up, though it must be noted these are not your standard hot dog carts and ice cream slingers. Basically anything you can imagine is available, and if it's not on offer this week, it probably will be next Tuesday when new options rotate in. Three of us on a recent jaunt managed to put down pulled pork with coleslaw and melted cheese on Texas toast, fish tacos, ginger-marinated string beans, fried plantains, pork buns, French macarons, deep fried chocolate cheesecake, a fruity sno-cone, a Coke...and some Skittles. Ok, just kidding about the Skittles, but at least the reference was Miami appropriate.

3) El Rinconcito El Chele - This corner diner is one of the best deals in town for breakfast. Two eggs, creamy grits (or fries, which they misleadingly call "tater tots"), Cuban toast, sausage (or bacon or ham), cafe con leche, tax, and a 25% tip will set you back all of $5. Oh, you want to go every morning? Great, see you there.

Next, let's head to Key West.

1) Knaus Berry Farm - If you ever find yourself driving from Miami to Key West, you are going to want to stop off in Homestead, Florida at Knaus Berry Farm. They sell everything from vegetables to honey, but the top draws are the fresh strawberry milkshakes and cinnamon buns. The strawberry fields are located out back, and you may pick the berries yourself at certain times of the year. As for the cinnamon buns, they are always soft, sticky, and warm, annnd yep, I want one right now.

2) Pepe's Cafe & Steakhouse - Known as the "eldest eating house in the Florida Keys," Pepe's has lasted so long for good reason; the food is delicious, the people are friendly, and the ambiance is classic laid-back Key West. Whether you sit inside, outdoors, or at the covered bar, by yourself, next to tourists, or with locals, you'll likely have a great meal. My favorite time to go is for breakfast (served 7:30am until noon every day), though you can still get your eggs, homemade bread of the day, or creamed chipped beef later as long as your name made the waiting list before the noon cut-off.

3) Blue Heaven - This is the place where you can eat a Breakfast Tortilla, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Goombay Gumbo Soup, and Key Lime Pie outside as roosters run around your feet by day and cats saunter about by night. Every single thing on the menu is made from scratch, the drinks are strong, and the vibe is at once casual and refined - or maybe for the prices, you'd just like to think it's refined. End your meal with a cup of Baby's Coffee, and then pick up a couple pounds of it at their store back out on US1.

Obviously this post did not cover every worthwhile spot Southern Florida has to offer, but the idea was to provide you with a lil taste - as it were. I may sneak in discussion of more restaurants from other cities, states, and countries over time, but the next post will likely return to our regularly scheduled programming. Unless it doesn't, sucka! Just kidding, let's stay friends.