JudyJams picks #9, September 2010: El Guincho, Das Racist, New Foals video

Happy official Autumn! We’re still recovering from the summer here at TNJ, but looking forward to Fall. Here are some new music choices for this month (only three this time around, sorry!):

Nothing says Fall like 85 degree weather in NY. Perfect to go along with that weather is El Guincho‘s newest LP, Pop Negro. The album is full on sunny dance hits, especially the opener “Bombay” and “FM Tan Sexy.”

Cover art for Pop Negro via XL Recordings

Yes, the album art is totally weird, but who cares? The music is fantastic! Check out some of the songs via his website or his Myspace page.

Second pick is Das Racist, the Brooklyn based duo who released this insanely catchy song last year that I still can’t get out of my head. Brilliant yet ridiculous, turns out these three are extremely intelligent hip hop innovators.

Sit Down, Man cover via Dasracist.net

They have released their second mixtape (which is more like a full length LP in my opinion) entitled Sit Down, Man and I have been listening to it non-stop for the past few days. It is available to download for free (free!!!) at their website, and is highly recommended.

If I haven’t already gushed about how much I like the Foals new album Total Life Forever, here is my moment. My third pick is this album (which came out over the summer via Sub Pop) but also their new music video for the song “2 Trees”, which is wonderfully weird. It’s not on youtube yet but check it out here. Below is the video for their song “This Orient.”

Eat This: Raviolo al Uovo at Maialino

Maialino is the newest restaurant from Danny Meyer, located in the Gramercy Park Hotel, serving  Roman-style food. After a delicious lunch there during restaurant week, complete with the excellent service Meyer’s restaurants are known for, I knew I had to come here for brunch. When a special occasion arose (my birthday!), I pounced.

Cornetto at Maialino

The decor is Italian rustic with a nice bar area and plenty of tables. With our stomachs empty we decided to start with an appetizer of some pastries. We got the cornetto (glazed croissant) and the bombolini con crema (doughnuts with cream). Both were pretty fabulous, although I wish they had a regular croissant on the menu to tone down the sugar (the other choice is chocolate).

Bombolini at Maialino

Yummy cream filling in the bombolini at Maialino

For our entrees my husband had the Uova al Contadino, which is poached eggs on top of zucchini, corn, and pecorino.  It was light and tasty, but pretty simple–one of those dishes you feel like you can easily make at home.

Poached Eggs with Zuccini, Corn, and Pecornino

I had the Raviolo al Uovo which is one gigantic ravioli filled with egg yolk, ricotta, and sage. My husband and I have a running joke that whenever you order ravioli at a restaurant, the fancier the place is the fewer raviolis you will get. And yes, sometimes they are larger than usual, but it is still never enough to fill him up.

Raviolo al Uovo at Maialino

The runny yolky goodness inside the Raviolo al Uovo

Well, since this was only one ravioli, large as it was, it definitely takes the cake for smallest ravioli portion ever. Now, this is brunch, not dinner, so I didn’t need four of these babies. but at least two would have been nice, especially at $14. And especially because it was so tasty–I wanted more!

Sorbet and Gelato

Since we weren’t full we decided to get some sorbet and gelato for dessert, which was nice and refreshing.

I can’t help but compare Maialino to Locanda Verde: both upscale, gourmet Italian restaurants in NYC, and I must say, Locanda Verde definitely wins. While everything at Maialino was tasty and the service was excellent, for the price you definitely get more at Locanda Verde, plus nobody can beat their pastries!