[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

Terroir Tribeca during lunch is a peaceful scene—the wine bar busy enough but never packed, so different from the evenings. And in the winter I'd recommend an order of Pork Schnitzel ($15), accompanied by German potato salad. Unlike traditional German potato salad, Terroir's take is served chilled, vinegary with chopped parsley, green, and red onions. I missed the crunch of bacon bits often found in this salad, but mustard gives a fine rounded finish. (Serve a big bowl of potato salad alone and I will gladly call that lunch.)

The schnitzel is pounded impressively thin, lightly battered, an even, deep golden shade and not greasy in the least. Two large pieces to the order, with lemon on the side. A squeeze of the lemon, pick up the fork and knife, and you've got one meaty lunch, with a satisfying moist crunch to every bite. I'd say the ratio of schnitzel to potato salad is severely off—there should be easily double that amount of potato salad for that much schnitzel! But what can you do.

Finish with the Quebecois Latte ($5.50), a sweet, spiced and warming concoction of espresso, maple, and milk cinnamon. It's typically available at weekend brunch only, but ask nicely, and they might whip up a cup just for you.

Terroir Tribeca

24 Harrison Street, New York NY 10013 (map)
212-625-9463
wineisterroir.com

About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan writes A Passion For Food, where she chronicles her eats and travels adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.