There have been a few adjustments that I’ve had to make since moving to the city. If I had a dollar for every time some New Yorker responds with, “It’s a big adjustment but the energy is so awesome” then I wouldn’t be writing this blog. I would be at Barneys. All day. Everyday. The one thing about living in the city that does take a while to get used to is that everyone always has plans. Ironically enough, these plans usually take people out the city (despite the amaaaazing energy provided here), so for the past year our lives have been a blur of Ubers to and from LaGuardia. It’s safe to say that spending so much quality time in such a quality* airport makes our impending move home all the more intriguing. TSA aside, all of this travel requires planning dinner dates with city friends far in advance because, for the most part, they’re all busy as well. So this past Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of having dinner with our good friends, Mary Elizabeth and Gabe Catala. We met at Peasant, a cozy Italian restaurant just a few blocks from our Soho apartment.

Robert cheesin' for the shot; Unsuspecting diners in the background

We had the best time catching up with Catalas over a lovely meal of all of our Italian favorites. Peasant’s atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for grabbing a pre-dinner drink at the bar or a romantic dinner for two as the weather starts to cool down. The location is ideal – located near the corner of Spring and Elizabeth in Nolita. Peasant is a stone’s throw away from some of the coolest bars and restaurants in the Soho/ Nolita neighborhoods. Uncle Boon’s, Rintintin, Mother’s Ruin, Public… the list goes on and on. Check out the scene at one of the many “sceney” nearby options either before or after your romantical dinner at Peasant.

Burrata & Roasted Tomatoes and Spicy Octopus

My two favorite things at Peasant were: 1) THE RICOTTA and 2) the beautiful open brick kitchen in back of the restaurant. A basket of warm, rustic bread is placed at every table and it is accompanied by the most insanely delicious fresh ricotta. Holy MOLY! I was losing my mind it was so light and sweet and creamy and DELECTABLE! Robert ordered the perfect bottle of red, and we drink it as we devoured the spicy octopus (packs some HEAT!!!) and the burrata with roasted tomatoes, still on the vine! Creamiest, melt-in-your-mouth burrata and best I’ve had in a while. I was in heaven before we even got started on the actual meal. We then ordered the gnocchi with mushrooms, sage, and what else but brown butter?! The perfect Fall dish but a little heavier than expected and probably a better order in late Autumn. The one item that we tried that I could have done without was the Porchetta Arrosto or suckling pig, their signature dish. Granted, by the time the pig actually arrived, I was about to pop. I should have. I know that I shouldn’t be too harsh a judge here (having been raised in south, on the best pulled pork BBQ in the world), but after nibbling on the teeny bit of crispy pig skin, I wished I had ordered a pizza instead. I’m not sure if I had definitely reached my limit by the time the little piglet arrived or if, after staring into the warm glow of the homey brick oven just a few feet away, hypnotizing me with every bubbly delicacy it delivered, I was having major FOMO and needed a damn pizza! Either way, I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the starters at Peasant and I will most definitely return for a pizza.