Monday, April 30, 2012
it was back to reality bright and early this morning... when i was sneaking out of my hotel room at the fontainebleau to catch a 6:30am flight, the kids were actually still pouring out of LIV, the resident club at the hotel. as sad as i was to say goodbye to miami and all of its outrageous characters, i'm looking forward to getting myself back on track with lots of water, leafy greens and a hot yoga class on wednesday night... yes, i know it will take more than one yoga class to make up for all of the tasty things i consumed this weekend but it's a start!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
welcome to miami...
ah, how sweet it is to get the heck out of new york for a few days! little pool time, phenomenal restaurants and a serious nightlife scene. we had a taste of everything and didn't even have to leave miami beach. check out the travel page for details on where we ate on our last excursion.
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| fontainebleau, miami |
ah, how sweet it is to get the heck out of new york for a few days! little pool time, phenomenal restaurants and a serious nightlife scene. we had a taste of everything and didn't even have to leave miami beach. check out the travel page for details on where we ate on our last excursion.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
gourmet guild
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| gourmet guild |
when i told my neighbor, sandy, i had started a food blog, she told me i absolutely had to stop by the gourmet guild. she raved about how friendly the owner was and how passionate he was about bringing his mission to the foodie culture in williamsburg.
i had the pleasure of meeting steven this afternoon and he gave me a broad brush overview of what the guild is all about. they're more than just a local source for all things vended within 300 miles. soon we'll see them as a social, educational and cultural hub for all things food related and they even hope to have a few of their favorite vendors in house turning out their own fresh specialties. i just loved that i didn't have to face the crowds at smorgasburg to get a few of my favorite sauces! the guild is pulling all the best local goods and stocking their shelves.
i picked up some nonna's spicey sauce and crown maple syrup. i have some travel lined up over the next couple of weeks so i'll be away from my kitchen but as soon as i'm home, you'll see some recipes incorporating these local faves. in the meantime, definitely head over the gourmet guild and check the space out for yourself. they're still growing and filling their space but you'll find fresh, sustainable, local goods you can work into your own kitchen.
mable's smokehouse
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| mable's smokehouse |
maybe you can see a pattern here, we're totally into dives that crank out good food! this is one of them. when we visit mable's, my husband and i make ourselves feel better by ordering a 'sampler platter to split.' who are we kidding, it's still a ton of food. the ribs and pulled pork are seriously dig-in worthy though. don't skip the mac and cheese either. it's a purists delight, just creamy cheesy elbow noodle deliciousness-
the vibe is super relaxed and they play old country songs so you feel like you've literally walked into a bbq joint somewhere in birmingham. the chairs are mismatched and you'll likely come across more than one handle bar mustache.
when we go, we sit at the bar but if you opt to sit at a table, you just place your order at the feed station and they'll give you a cute little sign that resembles one of their favorite states so they can identify you and deliver your order once it's ready.
this is a good spot to drop in when you're in the mood for comfort food that will stick to your ribs. come hungry and be sure to check out their saucy southern cocktails~
brown rice pasta & fresh ricotta
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| brown rice pasta & fresh ricotta |
i was doing a little neighborhood exploring this afternoon and popped into marlow & daughters over on broadway. they're well known for their grass fed, hormone-free meat and poultry selection but today i opted for some of their fresh ricotta. i wasn't looking for anything in particular but thought the ricotta looked light, fluffy and delicious. after i picked my signature ingredient, i grabbed a few bunches of broccoli rabe, brown rice pasta and fresh basil. the ricotta made the dish, it added a really nice velvety, rich texture. recipe as follows:
Saturday, April 21, 2012
spritzenhaus33
if you had a chance to check out my travel page, you know we did some serious eating on our away weekend in boston. you'd think on our way home that sunday night we would've stopped for something quick and light.. au contraire, we hit up one of the new beer garden-esqu, german inspired spots in greenpoint, spritzenhaus33.
when the weather's nice, hipsters line the sidewalk in front of this place. the cool, industrial, loft-like space can hold plenty of folk so they jamb them in on all sides. when we went, we opted to sit at the bar, which is still only steps away from sidewalk.
my husband and i both started with a licher beer. it was citrusy and wheaty, similar to a heffenveisen. next, we had a look at the sausage menu. you'll notice an updated offering that goes so far as to introduce rotating artisinal and vegan sausages. there's sort of a system to ordering though, it's a little embarrassing if you come off like a rookie! you peruse the menu, pick your sausage type, slaw, sauce and then place your order with the bartender. in about 10 minutes, you head up to the pick-up window with your receipt in hand and grab your order. i opted for a chicken sausage with jicama chili slaw and jack got a pork sausage with traditional peppers and onions. we also ordered a pretzel to split, you'll love the different mustard sauces that come it comes with. i'm really not a mustard person but these were super tasty and somewhat unexpected.
spritzenhaus33 is a perfect spot to drop in if you want to day booze. the casual vibe of the place is key and you can tell it's a bit of a scene with the mid twenties and thirties hipster type. grab your flannel, hop on your bike and go get your day bomb on~
link to facebook page
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| spritzenhaus33 |
if you had a chance to check out my travel page, you know we did some serious eating on our away weekend in boston. you'd think on our way home that sunday night we would've stopped for something quick and light.. au contraire, we hit up one of the new beer garden-esqu, german inspired spots in greenpoint, spritzenhaus33.
when the weather's nice, hipsters line the sidewalk in front of this place. the cool, industrial, loft-like space can hold plenty of folk so they jamb them in on all sides. when we went, we opted to sit at the bar, which is still only steps away from sidewalk.
my husband and i both started with a licher beer. it was citrusy and wheaty, similar to a heffenveisen. next, we had a look at the sausage menu. you'll notice an updated offering that goes so far as to introduce rotating artisinal and vegan sausages. there's sort of a system to ordering though, it's a little embarrassing if you come off like a rookie! you peruse the menu, pick your sausage type, slaw, sauce and then place your order with the bartender. in about 10 minutes, you head up to the pick-up window with your receipt in hand and grab your order. i opted for a chicken sausage with jicama chili slaw and jack got a pork sausage with traditional peppers and onions. we also ordered a pretzel to split, you'll love the different mustard sauces that come it comes with. i'm really not a mustard person but these were super tasty and somewhat unexpected.
spritzenhaus33 is a perfect spot to drop in if you want to day booze. the casual vibe of the place is key and you can tell it's a bit of a scene with the mid twenties and thirties hipster type. grab your flannel, hop on your bike and go get your day bomb on~
link to facebook page
Monday, April 16, 2012
fennel & green bean salad w/ roasted tomatoes
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| fennel & green bean salad w/ roasted tomatoes and moscow mule cocktail |
rosarito fish shack
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| rosarito fish shack and tequilla bar |
ever heard of a 'hotdog de pulpo?' if not, remember the term and be sure to order one the next time you go to rosarito. the bacon wrapped octopus with chipotle-cabbage slaw is a mouth watering appetizer you'll find yourself craving for days after! crispy fried bacon on the outside with a tender octupus filet in the center, mmm.
rosarito fish shack swooped in and definitely stole surf bar's thunder with their white-washed, beachy atmosphere and authentic menu. most portions are relatively small so i'd recommend ordering a few things and doing a sampler type meal. you can also step up your game and pick from an array of tequillas, anejos or mezcals. get your booze straight up or mixed into fresh, fruity cocktail; both are delicious.
after our hotdog de pulpo, we opted to get a longosta al pastor. sad to say, we gobbled up the lobster taco before i could even take a picture... the lobster was rich, buttery and the pineapple served as a sweet, citrusy compliment. we finished up with the enchiladas de pollo. the mole sauce was dark and piognant with piles of tender shredded chicken beneath.
rosarito is a perfect spot to have a light bite before a night out, or rather to grab a nightcap before you turn in. staff are very friendly and the casual ambiance will bring you back again and again.
http://www.rosaritofishshack.com/
two snaps tiramisu
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| tiramisu |
this tiramisu recipe is great when you're craving something rich, indulgant and you want it fast! i made myself a healthy sized bowl of this coffee goodness and then portioned out several other individual bowls to hand off to my neighbors. never underestimate the thoughfulness of giving food. who doesn't like when dessert finds its way to their doorstep?
Saturday, April 14, 2012
brooklyn oneology
it's sounds a little desperate housewives-ish but we have a social committee group in our condo building that orgazines events in the neighborhood. our last one was here, at brooklyn oneology. boe is a locally focused tasting room that works to bridge the creative culinary, agricultural and art worlds by crafting regional wines from ny state grapes, and by displaying the work of new york city artists on the bottle labels.
the interior of the space is warm, rustic and largely hand-made. the majority of the furniture was crafted from salvaged doors, plumbing pipes and other bespoke items. it's a great space for a private party; it's open, airy and loft-inspired. you'll also notice they stock and sell some of brooklyn's finest. you can buy mast brother's chocolate, mcclure's pickled tomatoe juice, brooklyn salsa and plenty of other local favorites.
when you sample the flights, you can either choose from an array of recommended pairings or pick and choose your favorites to tailor the flight to your liking. you can also order some nibbles if you're hungry, either sweet or savory to go with your wines. the cheeses are excellent, all are sourced within the state and the selections are rotated regularly.
boe pours a deep 'tasting,' so for around $15, you get to sample four different wine selections(or spirits). this is a great spot to stop in after dinner or you can take advantage of the happy hour specials after work. look for tj when you go, he's the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable guy behind the bar that will school you on all things wine related-
http://www.brooklynoenology.com/
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| boe |
it's sounds a little desperate housewives-ish but we have a social committee group in our condo building that orgazines events in the neighborhood. our last one was here, at brooklyn oneology. boe is a locally focused tasting room that works to bridge the creative culinary, agricultural and art worlds by crafting regional wines from ny state grapes, and by displaying the work of new york city artists on the bottle labels.
the interior of the space is warm, rustic and largely hand-made. the majority of the furniture was crafted from salvaged doors, plumbing pipes and other bespoke items. it's a great space for a private party; it's open, airy and loft-inspired. you'll also notice they stock and sell some of brooklyn's finest. you can buy mast brother's chocolate, mcclure's pickled tomatoe juice, brooklyn salsa and plenty of other local favorites.
when you sample the flights, you can either choose from an array of recommended pairings or pick and choose your favorites to tailor the flight to your liking. you can also order some nibbles if you're hungry, either sweet or savory to go with your wines. the cheeses are excellent, all are sourced within the state and the selections are rotated regularly.
boe pours a deep 'tasting,' so for around $15, you get to sample four different wine selections(or spirits). this is a great spot to stop in after dinner or you can take advantage of the happy hour specials after work. look for tj when you go, he's the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable guy behind the bar that will school you on all things wine related-
http://www.brooklynoenology.com/
la superior
when you've got a name like la superior, expectations are automatically set pretty high. come hungry, the mexican street fare is spot on and these guys live up to the name.
don't be surprised if there's a line out the door when you arrive. hipsters and waterfront people alike are all vying for one of the tiny little tables or a few seats at the bar. when we go, we always sit at the bar and i start with a margarita. these are not your typical margaritas though... they top them with a little cayenne (or something that's sprinkly, red and spicy) and the flavors tend mellow after the ice has had a chance to settle. if you're a little lady like me, just one is all you need! these bad boys are strong...
this time, we did the flautas de pollo first and had a few gorditas and a fish taco as an entree. their flautas were perfectly fried; crunchy and snappy, not the slightest bit greasy (which is important when trying to convince yourself you're eating healthy). you'll notice the different sauces on each of the plates too, they really layer in that extra level of flavor and spice that makes la superior so special. and don't be shy, order a bunch. dishes are small and they fly out of the kitchen quickly. i've tried about 75% of the menu and you really can't go wrong with any of it (not even the pig's feet)!
the decor on the inside is nothing to write home about but as far as mexican street tacos go, i say they're be best in the 'hood!
http://lasuperiornyc.com/
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| la superior |
when you've got a name like la superior, expectations are automatically set pretty high. come hungry, the mexican street fare is spot on and these guys live up to the name.
don't be surprised if there's a line out the door when you arrive. hipsters and waterfront people alike are all vying for one of the tiny little tables or a few seats at the bar. when we go, we always sit at the bar and i start with a margarita. these are not your typical margaritas though... they top them with a little cayenne (or something that's sprinkly, red and spicy) and the flavors tend mellow after the ice has had a chance to settle. if you're a little lady like me, just one is all you need! these bad boys are strong...
this time, we did the flautas de pollo first and had a few gorditas and a fish taco as an entree. their flautas were perfectly fried; crunchy and snappy, not the slightest bit greasy (which is important when trying to convince yourself you're eating healthy). you'll notice the different sauces on each of the plates too, they really layer in that extra level of flavor and spice that makes la superior so special. and don't be shy, order a bunch. dishes are small and they fly out of the kitchen quickly. i've tried about 75% of the menu and you really can't go wrong with any of it (not even the pig's feet)!
the decor on the inside is nothing to write home about but as far as mexican street tacos go, i say they're be best in the 'hood!
http://lasuperiornyc.com/
Saturday, April 7, 2012
homemade lemon pasta & chicken meatballs
fresh pasta is something i had wanted to tackle for a while. this recipe is great for beginners, there's nothing to stuff and you'll have a fluffy and delicious bowl of creamy goodness to show for your efforts. my husband and i also ground the chicken and pork (yes, just a little pork to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful) for the meatballs ourselves but that's totally not necessary if you don't have a meat grinder.
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| homemade lemon pasta & chicken meatballs |
fresh pasta is something i had wanted to tackle for a while. this recipe is great for beginners, there's nothing to stuff and you'll have a fluffy and delicious bowl of creamy goodness to show for your efforts. my husband and i also ground the chicken and pork (yes, just a little pork to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful) for the meatballs ourselves but that's totally not necessary if you don't have a meat grinder.
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