Sunday Brunch

Met Zubair on this very lovely Sunday. We brunched at Blue Ribbon Bakery (only 15 minutes wait! ^_^). In today's bread basket: challah, raisin walnut bread, and French loaf slices. I was missing the prosciutto bread that sometimes appear on lucky days - it is oh-so good.
Zubair had the Blue Benedict, his favourite benedict dish in the city. Serrano Ham, Jarlsberg, and Tomato on Toasted Challah.
And I went with the Chorizo Hash & Onions with Lemon Cayenne and Hollandaise Sauce. Don't know what it is about this dish, but I've had it three times in the past, and every time I return for brunch, it sounds completely new on the menu. It's not until the waiter serves the order that I realize, hey, I've had this before! I must be losing it ;) Regardless, I had a case of order envy this afternoon...the Blue Benedict was about ten million times more delicious ^_^

Blue Ribbon Bakery
35 Downing Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 337-0404

Thanksgiving @ Erica's ^_^

Super thanks to Erica for hosting this year's Thanksgiving dinner! Shots from the evening below. Turkey, two types of stuffing (bread and rice), roasted brussels sprouts and squash, mashed potatoes (with gravy, of course ;), salad, and fresh cranberry sauce.
All was amazing, and the company was even better.
For dessert: THREE pies (Pumpkin Mousse, Pecan, and Fall Harvest) from Two Little Red Hens, and chocolate torte baked by Erica. Plenty of hot tea to accompany. Stuffed? Delightfully so :)
All the dishes were prepared by Erica, her sisters and Lisa. I think I ate more of the stuffing with cranberry sauce than anything else. I'm a huge starch fan when it comes to Thanksgiving dinners.
After two plates, and a little breather, we were onto dessert! I was so over the top excited for the pies. Two Little Red Hens on the UES is one of my favourite bakeries in the city. I've written up their Brooklyn Blackout Cake (a stunning cake), Gingerbread, and Cheesecake (which was voted the single best NYC cheesecake at the Serious Eats taste-off).
We started first with the Fall Harvest Pie filled with chunks of apples, pears, walnuts and a bit of ginger. The pie crust is excellent, with just the right touch of salt.
Erica's Chocolate Torte: super dark and utterly silky. Intense, rich and classic.
Pecan Pie...most definitely calls for a scoop of ice cream.
Pumpkin Mousse Pie - the all around favourite for the evening. It was heavenly. Take pumpkin pie, whip softly and lighten up the filling, perhaps with cream. Serve chilled. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I only wish you could have tried a slice.

And now? Back to reality. I love the holidays ^_^

For The Bad Days And The Good...

...there is Otto. Consistent, reliable, and dependable. Stopped in on a rainy Tuesday evening for our seats at the bar. Dinner with Lauren, a meal rich with pizza, pasta, gelato, and plenty of prosecco. Shots below:
Funghi and Taleggio Pizza
Pasta Alla Norma - Tomato, Roasted Eggplant, Basil, Bufala Ricotta
Warm Apple Crisp, Brown Butter Crumble, Honey-Ricotta Gelato
Polenta Budino - Poached Pears, Maple Syrup, Walnut Gorgonzola Crumble

Otto
1 Fifth Avenue
NY, NY 10003
(212) 995-9559

Galanga

Five times in the last nine days. Zubair and I are absolutely obsessed with Galanga. The restaurant has been around for a few years, and it has been on my forever list of places to try. So we did, for the first time just over a week ago. And then we've been back for more times since. Crazy? Perhaps. It's affordable and good.
Call me boring when it comes to Thai, but I love pad thai and drunken noodles like no other. I can do without larb gai and other perhaps, more "authentic" dishes. I appreciate those dishes, but at the end of the day, nothing satisfies more than:
1. hot spicy noodles
2. curry with a big bowl of rice
At Galanga, we stick to our favourites, which include drunken noodles, pad thai, green curry, and the tom yum noodle soup. Duck spring rolls for appetizers and the sticky coconut rice with mango (or matcha ice cream) is a can't-miss.
I'm usually the more dessert focused one between the two of us, but when at Galanga, it's Zubair who demands dessert ;)

Galanga
149 W 4th Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 228-4267

Sugar Rush'ed...

Spot: Yuzu Eskimo, Oreo, Strawberry, and Passionfruit

...for the week at Serious Eats New York. Plus, a peek into Pichet Ong's brand new 'Spot', a breakdown of strawberry shortcakes in the East Village, and a collaboration with Nikki on Pure Dark, as well as the usual "Lunch for One" at Ground Support ^_^

Spot: Ovaltine Ice Cream with Thai Jewels

The Dessert Files: A First Look at Pichet Ong's 'Spot'
Spot: White Miso Semifreddo, Raspberries, and Olive Oil

...just gotta show you a few more photos from this place...I focused mainly on the plated desserts for this first visit...
Spot: Persimmon, Jasmine Rice, Mascarpone, and Pistachio

...but will be going back this weekend to try the house made sodas and cupcakes...this is like fairytale land for me. AND it's super close to my apartment. Doesn't get any better than that.

Lunch for One: Ground Support. Pictured above is the Cuban: Free Range Turkey, Berkshire Pit Ham, Gruyere, Pickles, Peppadew Relish, and Dijon Remoulade.

Sugar Rush: Zapallos en Almibar at Industria Argentina, as well as brief mentions on two other desserts at the restaurant...
...quince and cheesecake stuffed crepes with chantilly ice cream...
...and a dulce de leche molten cake, with sea salt caramel ice cream, prune and Triple Sec syrup.

Sugar Rush: Malted Milk Cake at Momofuku Milk Bar

Sugar Rush: Banh Mi Sau Voi Cafe's Basil Seed Drink

Sugar Rush: Caramel Marshmallows at Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Make Your Own Chocolate Bark at Pure Dark in the West Village

The Strawberry Shortcakes of the East Village

Enjoy your weekend! ^_^

Wednesday...

Rice Noodles, Pork Ragout, Saw Leaf Herb

...lunch with Zubair at Má Pêche. Yesterday was crazy. I managed to go from East Village to Midtown to Tribeca to the Lower East Side, then the Upper West Side and finally East Village and Midtown (again) and back to the East Village before tucking into bed a quarter before three. Praise the unlimited Metro card.
Three Terrine Sandwich, Daikon, and Cilantro

I'm lucky that both my real estate work and food work is extremely flexible. I could never do this on an accountant's schedule. Between lunch at Má Pêche, early dinner at Spot and later dinner at Obao, I managed to check in on a Soho property, close on a Tribeca deal, review condo docs for a client, and prep another for their coop interview!

It was a busy day and now the only thing I crave is a day of sleep and a big plate of meat jun from Peppa's ^_^

Má Pêche
15 W 56th Street
New York 10019

Catching Up With...

The Bobcat - Bill’s classic with new mexico green chiles, jack cheese, and special sauce.

...old buddies over burgers and fries, plates and plates of fries, at Bill's Bar and Burger in meatpacking. Debbie and Bhavneet were former PwC co-workers (none of us are with the company anymore), and also my very first non-food related friends in the city, haha.
Disco Fries smothered with gravy and melted cheese

We stayed in touch through all sorts of modern day technology - gchat, texting, and twitter nonsense, but the last time we all met up (in person) was late 2008.
Crispy Veggie Fries

Nothing like regrouping over satisfyingly solid (albeit, greasy) food and diet Cokes...or iced tea with six packets of sugar in Debbie's case ^_^

Bill's Bar and Burger
22 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10014
(212) 414-3003

Saturday Brunch for One...

...looks like this :)
Tucked in early on Friday night, and woke up chipper for work on Saturday. A girl needs something to energize her for the day. I ordered the Schooner ($16) which comes with chips (Miss Vickie's), a drink (Maine Root), and a lobster roll, which I topped off with...
...a few shakes of "Ben's secret spices." Would it be sacrilegious to confess that I wish there were just a few more dabs of mayo? ;)

Luke's Lobster
93 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 387-8487

New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe

Sometimes for dinner. After a very, very long day. You just really need (not want, but need) a massive plate of beef chow funn. Dinner for one. The portion must be sufficient to feed two, and your appetite must be big enough to wipe out that entire serving. The noodles must be slick, shiny and salty. Ideally it'd be beef and broccoli (think Kaimuki Chop Suey back in Honolulu), but beef and peppers will do in a pinch. With this, you need a pot of hot tea, a table for yourself and a pair of chopsticks.

Dig in...ahhhh. ^_^

New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe
65 Bayard Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 566-4884

Sugar Rush'ed...

Liquid nitrogen ice cream at Lulu & Mooky's

...for the week at Serious Eats New York. Plus, a collaboration with Nikki on the new François Chocolate Bar, as well as the usual "Lunch for One" at T-Poutine and Lovely Day ^_^
Lunch for One: T-Poutine
Lunch for One: Lovely Day Thai
Chocolate-Pear Turnover at Caffe Falai
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream at Lulu & Mooky's
Grounded's German Chocolate Cake Coffee
Zuccharinos at Locanda Verde
First Look: François Chocolate Bar

Happy Saturday! ^_^