Sugar Rush'ed...

Crispy Shrimp Sesame Crepe at Pure Thai Shophouse

...for the week at Serious Eats New York. Plus 'Lunch for One' at Kyotofu and recently opened Pure Thai Shophouse, and 'A Sandwich A Day' at Saxelby Cheesemongers. Hope everyone has a great weekend! ^_^

Lunch for One: Bento Box Omakase at Kyotofu

Sugar Rush: Lemon Panna Cotta at Salumeria Rosi

Sugar Rush: Semolina Loaf at Amy's Bread

Lunch for One: Pure Thai Shophouse

A Sandwich A Day: Ploughman's Sandwich at Saxelby Cheesemongers

Sugar Rush: Bouche-kins at Bouchon Bakery

Sugar Rush: El Beit's Banana Bread

Sugar Rush: Banana Pudding at Tao

NYC: Late Sunday Morning @ Torrisi

A Latte ($2.50) for the Frenchman and Cappuccino ($2.50) for me. Two seats in the back of the tiny Mulberry Street restaurant, and ahh how very calm it is here before noon.

Warm Eggplant Parm ($10) to share. Skin-on, paper thin eggplant slices, housemade mozzarella, tons of fresh basil and parmesan flecked tomato sauce. Next time, I'll order a side of garlic bread so that no sauce goes to waste - a fork can only do so much! During "cold months," Eggplant Parm is switched out for an equally gorgeous Meat Lasagna. In the ideal world, they'd offer both dishes at the same time.

We close on a sweet note, one mouthwateringly moist and picture perfect Coffee Cake ($2.50), dense and dusted in a flurry of powdered sugar. The cake boasts a fantastic 2:1, cake to crumb ratio, but it's an unfairly tiny thing for the price. Perhaps it's just the sugar glutton in me that demands, bigger, bigger portions. But sigh, how could you not, when something is this delicious? ;)

[Related Posts:
A Prix Fixe Dinner at Torrisi]

Torrisi Italian Specialties
250 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-0955

Paris: Les Fines Gueules

This was my favourite meal in Paris. Les Fines Gueules.

The food was utterly fantastic, yes. But it was also the cozy, almost rustic setting, that special corner location near place des Victoires and the weather that particular day. Pouring, and I mean pouring rain outside, black skies and the craziest wind.

Big sweaters, black boots and a knitted scarf. A table for two and glasses of rose. May I stay here in Paris forever? First came a salad of vibrant, sweet and ripe Local Tomatoes simply outfitted in chunks of parmesan, olive oil, fleur de sel and black pepper. It was like Otto's Heirloom Tomato salad gone minimalist and all grownup.

Then a dish of Boudin Noir Ravioli to share. Two luxurious pieces, bathed in a shallow bowl of finely seasoned Veal Broth. The pasta is housemade - silky and impressively thin, housing a meaty filling of boudin noir, the bold and creamy blood sausage offering faint, lingering notes of nutmeg.

And finally, the tender Filet de Cabillo. Oooh, you should have seen how the Cabillo skin peeled off the flaky fish, really, the most wonderful part, crisp with sprinkles of fleur de sel. A bed of steamed Mussels and Spinach, and foam - Parmesan for just the tiniest indulgence.

Cafe express to finish the meal as we waited out the rainstorm and vowed to make endless return visits. Next time, the steak tartare!

Les Fines Gueules
2, rue la Vrillière, 1st