Dirt Candy is a tiny restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village that features vegetarian cuisine (dirt candy = vegetables – right?). But you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy it. Believe me, I would feel comfortable comparing the flavors at this restaurant to any upscale food around. Amanda Cohen, the owner, is in the kitchen cooking up great dishes on any given night.
The menu changes daily and features such items as Portobello Mousse (shaped in a perfect cube) with a Fennel Pear Compote, Crispy Tofu with Green Ragu (featuring fava beans – my favorite), Pinot Grigio Pappardelle with Roasted Cauliflower and Pinenuts, and Stone-Ground Grits with Corn, Cooked Greens and a Tempura Poached Egg. I had the Sesame Caramel Cake for dessert – the inside had a delicious bit of liquid caramel. The hit of the dessert table, though, was the Popcorn Pudding with the Hazelnut Caramel Corn.
Dirt Candy is open for dinner only Tuesday – Saturday from 5:30pm-11:00pm.
Dirt Candy
430 E. 9th Street
NY, NY 10009
212-228-7732
http://www.dirtcandynyc.com/