Jamaica, Part III. Sweet Spice, Ice Cream.

A coworker or mine that visits Negril frequently, recommended that we stop by Sweet Spice for a meal. So we did, for breakfast, one very early Saturday morning. The restaurant was quite busy and there were only three "plate" options available. Liver, chicken curry, and ackee and saltfish.

Each order was accompanied by a side of cassava and one big flat boiled dumpling.

Zubair and I shared an order of the ackee and saltfish with callaoo, plantains and two fried dumpling (just dough, nothing inside...tasted akin to a savoury doughnut ^-^)...

...and the curry chicken which also came with callaoo and fried dumplings.

Post-breakfast, we satiated our sweet craving at the only ice cream shop in downtown Negril.

Pictured above, one scoop of fresh coconut ice cream. Then off for a day of cliff diving and jet skiing! :)

Happy Halloween!

Sugar Rushed...

...for the week at Serious Eats New York. Plus, "Lunch for One" ^_^
Lunch for One: Murray's Cheese
Pumpkin Gelato at L'arte del Gelato
More on Joe: Pumpkin Muffins
Amanzi's Thai Boba
Suzette's Crepes
Pumpkin Pie Oh-My
Abraço's Pistachio Cookie

Happy Friday! ^_^

Jamaica, Part II. Shots From...

...the first bite.
We had a brief layover in Miami that turned out to be an extra-long layover with not one, two, three, or four...but five gate changes. It was past midnight by the time we arrived, and transportation options were limited. So we went with what was offered. Which was not necessarily the safest route, but really, the ONLY route, as it was a ninety minute drive from Montego Bay Airport to our hotel in Negril.
We were exhausted but hungry. And when I'm hungry, nothing matters but getting a bite to eat. Zubair and I were driven to the hotel by a man who managed to be all at once, friendly, extremely sketchy, nosy, and had plans to do other business with us on the side (!) The drive was unsettling, but I was so hungry, and asked that he stop off at this jerk chicken stand on the side of the street thirty minutes into the ride.
We each had an order of jerk chicken (quarter of a chicken each) - hot, heavily spiced and very satisfying, bones and all. Pardon, the photo is so blurry. I was scared we were going to be kidnapped (seriously!) or something horrible...could not focus on much else. I spent 50% of the trip really excited, and 50% really scared - there was no middle ground. This was meant to be a relaxing vacation, but I came back miles more exhausted than planned ^_^

Regardless, I was in wonderful company, so no regrets :)

We Are Back...

...from Jamaica ^_^ Our trip was very different from what I had anticipated, in a good way.

Aside from being stalked by a few locals, scammed left and right, and chased by dogs that tried to bite us, I assure you we had a terrific time! :)

What we did:
- caught (or rather, paid a local fisherman to catch) live sea urchins from the sea, and devoured the "meat" right on the beach...was awesome
- drove a motorcycle around Negril
- cliff diving...for Zubair, not me, heheh ^_^
- weaned myself off internet (and all technology for that matter!!)
- jet skied
- banana pancakes for breakfast every morning
- local food from Sweet Spice and Three Dives, and various jerk chicken vendors around the country
- relaxed!! We relaxed so much...

...but ahhh, it feels so wonderful, and so very right, to be back here in Manhattan :)

More Jamaica posts to come soon ^_^

Sugar Rushed...

...for the (last) week at Serious Eats New York. Plus, "Lunch for One," and "The Dessert Files" ^_^
The Dessert Files: One Girl Cookies
Lunch for One: Agnes & Eva's Cafe
Caramel Crunch at Screme
Financier's Fig Tart
Macaron Cafe's Dark Chocolate Milk
Dark Chocolate Chip'netzels from Zabar's
tbsp's Banana Muffin

We are...

...off to Jamaica! Will see you next week ^_^

Sugar Rush'ed...

Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich from Columbine in Tribeca

...for the (last) week at Serious Eats New York. Plus, "Lunch for One," and "The Dessert Files" ^_^
The Dessert Files: SWEET at the New York Wine and Food Festival
Lunch for One: Columbine
Gingerbread at Locanda Verde
Prune's Breton Butter Cake
Sweet Potato and Pie Crust at Momofuku Noodle Bar
Pumpkin Ice Cream at Sundaes & Cones
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pudding at Sugar Sweet Sunshine

His Pashtun Hats!

Hi! Sorry I haven't posted in a while - between getting sick and work, I'm only now getting myself together. Super thank you for all the get well wishes! ^_^

A bunch of exciting things going on...Zubair and I are going to Jamaica on Thursday! But till then, check out Zubair's (until now, secret) Pashtun hat collection.

I was at his place on Saturday, when he pulled out a hat.

"Oh! I have not seen this hat before!"
"I collect them!"
"What? Hats? You collect hats too?!?!" (only now he tells me...)
"Well, I collect these type of hats..."

He walked into the bedroom, opened a secret storage box, and bababoom, all these Pashtun hats fly out. I swear, it was like magic.

And logically, of course, we all put them on and posed for a photo ^_^ In the first photo, from top to bottom you've got Arlon, Khalid (Zubair's brother), Zubair and myself.

You bet we had a blast taking these photos, hehehe.

Happy Tuesday!

Was Under, Now Better

I was under the weather all this week...cold, cough, you name it. And Zubair, being the very thoughtful gentleman he is, stopped by the other night with warm hugs, medicine and dinner cooked by his mom...lamb chops, ground beef, and bell peppers. Feeling better already ^_^

Prune: 1, 2, 3

Friday night: Zubair and nothing but sweetbreads at Prune.
Saturday morning: brunch at Prune.
And then on Sunday evening, Zubair and I found ourselves once again drawn there, this time for a tasting of their 10th anniversary menu, with a side of bone marrow. I think we have a new favourite neighborhood spot ^_^
There are four seats at the bar, and we always sit at the two closest to the kitchen. Our favourite bartender is a incredibly sweet woman, she is awesome with the drinks and just stunning.
After our late Friday snack, we tucked away in bed, and woke up early the next morning. To start the day: Abraço. Drip coffee to go, a walk down to Russ & Daughters and then Prune.
We arrived as they opened for Saturday brunch and only had a brief 15 minute wait - not bad at all. We shared two entrees and a side order of housemade lamb sausages.
First up, steak and eggs - a 7 oz. prime dry-aged ribeye with parsley-shallot butter and two eggs, toasted English muffin and potatoes rosti...
...and an order of the Fried Oyster Omelette with Remoulade Sauce. And Tabasco + powdered sugar to dip on the side.
Take a peek inside ^_^
At brunch, licorice coins comes with the check. But during dinner you get chunks of Belgian chocolate.

Post-brunch, we spent the rest of Saturday running errands, knicks and knacks. I had dinner with Robyn, and we both went to the SWEET fest. And the next evening, after a day on the Upper East and West, we were back...
...this time for the special prix fixe dinner. We tacked on an order of bone marrow. Because. I tell you, that bone marrow is insane.
Love the marrow at Minetta Tavern, as well as Blue Ribbon's version, but this is by far my favourite. Oysters and chocolate may be aphrodisiacs for some people, but it's bone marrow that goes on my list :)
Then on to the prix fixe: monkfish liver with warm buttered toast...
...roasted beets aioli with their greens...
...braised rabbit in vinegar sauce...
...and finally...Breton Butter Cake and muscat.

::swoon:: ^_^

Prune
54 East 1st Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-6221