Hello Saturday

Look how much the season has changed from the last time I made one of these simple Saturday posts, less than a month ago. The tree branches outside my window were all dry and shriveled up then, but now...well, just look at that!
Today was slow, my unofficial day off. Hot tea in the morning, did laundry, and then had a late afternoon meal with Shann at Pylos, one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants in the city. Pylos during the day is so different from the evenings. Bustling and crowded (though not chaotic :). And today, Saturday afternoon, practically empty save for a few tables. Quiet.
We shared a few dishes, the Bifteki Greek Style Burger, which came with eggs, toast, Greek yiayia’s fried potatoes, and a mixed green salad. Then there was a Greek grilled cheese, and for dessert, the towering custard and phyllo sweet better known as Galaktobourekakia. I am not sure if will ever learn how to pronounce that!!

Lots of the dinner dishes are also on the lunch/brunch menu, including the ever sublime Kolokythakia Kai Melitzanakia Tyganita, an appetizer of crisp, light-as-air fried zucchini and eggplant rounds, and the Saganaki Tou Merakli - three Greek cheeses, gooey, melted. All of course served with their warm, housemade pita.

Then, off into the evening. A walk in Union Square, oohing over the too-lovely-for-words Gary Graham dresses at ABC Carpet & Home. Split a bag of Haribo mini-gummy frogs with Shann. And now, time for some life admin :) Happy Saturday.

Pylos Restaurant
128 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 473-0220

Sugar Rush'ed...

...for the week, plus a look at the dessert tasting at Kyotofu, "Lunch for One" and sandwich posts from Grandaisy and Soutine :) Enjoy the weekend!
Lunch for One: Recess
Sugar Rush: Es Teler at Satay Junction
A Sandwich a Day: Baked Chicken from Soutine Bakery
Sugar Rush: Honey-Raisin Scones at Birdbath Build a Green Bakery
Kyotofu's Dessert Kaiseki
Sugar Rush: Banana-Chocolate Croissants at Panya
Sugar Rush: Caramelized French Toast at Stumptown and Cafe Pedlar
A Sandwich A Day: Panino Greco at Grandaisy Bakery
Sugar Rush: Tout Vanilla at François Chocolate Bar

Pichet Ong at The Bubble Lounge

Raspberry and Lemon Almond Frangipane Tart

This evening kicked off Pichet Ong's new dessert menu for The Bubble Lounge in Tribeca, and he was sweet enough to invite me for a taste of the goods. Lucky for me, the Bubble Lounge is a two-minute walk from my real estate office, and across the street from my favourite Tribeca lunch spot, Columbine. Monsieur P joined me for the evening, plenty of sweets and prosecco :)

The menu breaks down into two sections: Chocolate and Desserts.
Under the Chocolate section, you've got chocolate truffles in three flavours: champagne, Grand Marnier, and Chambord. There's also chocolate fondue served with fruits, ice cream, and assorted confections, including those extra plush marshmallows pictured above.
And don't forget about chocolate chip cookies as well! They are baked to order and you can specify how you prefer them done: rare, medium, or well-done.
And in the Desserts groups, start with the chocolate layer cake, butter smooth chocolate cream topped with strawberries...
...then move onto butterscotch and champagne-orange parfaits. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate-covered corn flakes.
Here's a closer look :)
Cannolis are also on the menu. That is, a frozen tiramisu cannoli, with bittersweet cocoa, and pistachio. Pichet makes a similar dessert at Village Tart, where he has frozen creme brulee in cocoa cannoli. Both are awesome.
And then plates full of little bites: champagne truffles, raspberry and lemon-almond frangipane tart (the whole tart pictured at top), a vanilla and fig cupcake. Apple and brie galettes are on the menu too...I just ate then before snapping the photo, heheh.

Many thanks to Pichet for the event! A little woozy and with dessert-filled bellies, Monsieur P and I walked over to Blue Ribbon Sushi in Soho to satiate our savoury tooth. Nothing like a balanced evening :)

Bubble Lounge
228 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-3433