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Monday, March 25, 2013

Peachy Picks Casaville Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins

Owner and Executive Chef Lahcen Ksiyer

Fresh Origins is America’s leading producer of Microgreens and Edible Flowers. Combining the benefits of an ideal climate with a deep passion for quality and innovation, Fresh Origins products are sought after by the finest restaurants and top chefs. The farm is located in the picturesque rolling hills of San Diego County, where the near perfect weather allows for production and harvest all year. Fresh Origins produces almost 400 Microgreens, Petitegreens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™ and related items. Many are not available anywhere else, with new introductions nearly every month. Fresh Origins products are on top of the finest cuisine in the world! Fresh Origins supplies distributors of specialty produce who serve fine dining restaurants and resorts nationwide. There are also a few online sources of their products available to private chefs and home cooks. For more information about Fresh Origins, visit their website at www.freshorigins.com
Sometimes it is terrifically fun to take a trip somewhere exotic, and Peachy Deegan was just telling you how much she adores flying Virgin Atlantic, however, it can be much more efficient to stroll down Second Avenue until you arrive inbetween 34th and 35th to the lovely Casaville, by our friend 
Owner and Executive Chef Lahcen Ksiyer, who quite simply is a total peach.  Ms. I Don't Eat Olives liked the olives at Casaville, and when she enthusiastically perused the menu, she found one of her favorite dishes: Escargot.
Though we love love love them dancing in that divine garlic green sauce, we found a new way to love them at Casaville, the most successful Moroccan edible entity we've experienced in Manhattan.  Here the Escargot are in a delectable creamy sauce with wild mushroom and pastis and we believe you will be in love with this incarnation of escargot as well.  The escargot was Peachy's single most favorite item she had at Casaville!  The sauce is out of this world.
Casaville has a variety of wines to choose from and we're sure you'll all be surprised our Eater-in-Chief chose a strong Cabernet Sauvignon!  It was quite versatile, going well with all that 
Lahcen had in store for our tastebuds.
Casaville opened in 2007 and prior to this venture, 
Lahcen spent decades in other Manhattan restaurants.  Casaville was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
We are pleased to announce it has joined the ranks of Peachy's Picks!
We first tried a special: grilled octopus.  Brilliantly and beautifully presented, we can testify it was cooked well but was not overdone like it can be at lesser venues.  With a red onion, balsamic and mustard vinaigrette, it was a delicious entry.
We can't say we've had dried catfish before, but if it's always going to be like this, we'd try it again!  With garlic olive oil, this had a lot of fireworks going on our tastebuds!  By now we were getting the hang of the Moroccan flavor.
If you like Brie Cheese, you'll adore the Warm Brie Cheese with fried grapes and honey.  A true Mediterranean delight!
Another item new to us: Briwatts: crispy feuille de brick stuffed with chicken, almonds and cinnamon.  Enchanting!  The atmosphere is quite jovial at Casaville as well with a crowd populating both the restaurant area and the bar.  Casaville was complete with a belly dancer the night we frequented the venue-she was quite talented and what she could balance on her head amazed us.
Peachy does love paella, and the Seafood Paella was solid at Casaville!  A bevy of shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari danced in some savory rice, peppers and peas.  This was a symphony of the sea, and note that a version called Paella Valenciana with chicken and chorizo is also available.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
I was pleasantly surprised about Casaville. It has a suggestive decor, making you feel as if you actually have been in Morocco, even if you've never traveled there. I had the Tuna tartar appetizer, with its fresh and moist texture.
Afterwards, I opted for the braised lamb shank with prunes and almonds. The meat came right off the bone. Excellent and attentive waitstaff and Chef 
Lahcen Ksiyer
 is amazing! I can't wait to visit Casaville again.
Peachy Picks Casaville!
Casaville is Recommended by Whom You Know.

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