Mondrian SoHo - Imperial No. Nine

My friend and I stopped by the Mondrian Soho Hotel, while wondering through Soho.  The outside had a rusted iron fence with ivy, and an archway beckoning us to come in.  So we did.  The lobby is something from I don't know where, and I actually would recommend you close your eyes (think a paint bucket of periwinkle blue has been throw all over the room, blue shiny vinyl seats, blue velvet, and a blue feather boa lamp - yuck), and make a u-turn to your left into the Imperial No. Nine restaurant.  It is like the Secret Garden/Alice In Wonderland, so pretty, whimsical, and a perfect place to get a drink with your girlfriends.  There was even a swing we sat in, which made drinking a little precarious, but didn't stop us.  If you are in the area, I would recommend checking it out.

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - Harney & Sons Paris Tea

Maybe I haven't eaten very many delicious treats this last week, or maybe Harney & Sons Paris Tea is really just that good.  On a cold, snowy day, I made myself a cup while working at home.  It truly is my favorite black tea, although some of the Kusmi Teas come in a pretty close second.  I first tried this tea over a year ago at this adorable bed and breakfast in Atchison, Kansas called the Glick Mansion.  If you are ever in Atchison, I would highly recommend this place.  It is so old fashioned and quaint, and the innkeeper Chris is just the sweetest.  She also makes a delicious blueberry pastry :)  I wish I had taken more pictures of the place to share.

Back to the tea - Paris tea is a smooth, strong black tea, but has hints of vanilla, and a slightly fruity flavor.  It's one of those teas you really want to sit and enjoy it while you sip it.  The best part about Harney & Sons is they now have a store in Soho (click here to check out their Soho blog).  I stumbled upon it in December.  They have a wide variety of packaged teas as well as all of their best sellers in loose leaf form.  If you don't live in New York, don't worry, they have an extensive website.  The sad thing is, I just keep getting Paris, because it is so good.  I might have to start branching out though ;)

Photo from the Harney & Sons website.  I love their tins - so pretty.

Last year, I made this awesome Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup with Popovers.  Seriously, it is soooo good.  Or click here for my 99 Miles to Philly review.

Cafe Habana

A couple weeks ago, I met up with friends in Soho after the Food Truck Festival fiasco.  We decided to eat dinner at Cafe Habana, a place my friends have been raving about for a while.  Because it was early evening, we didn't have to wait long and soon got seats at the bar - the best spot in the house to see all the action.

We ordered mojitos, micheladas, and just a plain old beer.  The mojitos were fresh with tons of mint, although a bit on the sweet side for my taste.  The michelada was good, but Caracas Arepa Bar's are much better.  All around though, it was a good start to the evening.

My friend insisted we start out with the corn, and I was not going to fight her on it.  I mean, she has been talking about Cafe Habana and its corn as if there was no other reason to go there, but for the corn.  It lived up to its reputation; it was to die to for.  The grilled corn comes on a skewer, and the corn is rolled in cotija cheese and chili powder.  Spicy, sweet, salty, and a little zip at the end from the splash of lime juice.

For dinner I got the Baja style fish tacos.  Although the fish was fried, it did not seem greasy, and the cabbage and tomatoes really brightened the whole dish up.  Seriously though, the best part of the meal was the soupy black beans.  I am guessing they were probably cooked in some animal fat, because they were so flavorful.  They were so good in fact, that I stopped feeling guilty for eating them after the second bite.

One of my friends got the Cuban sandwich, which was voted best NYC.  The pressed sandwich is filled with pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles, and is served with a side of fries.  As a spectator, I thought the sandwich looked delicious, but my friend said it was a little underwhelming.  I snuck a few of his fries while he was in the bathroom, and they hit the spot.  They were slightly flimsy but still crisp, and were only enhanced with the soft and fluffy centers.

If you are in Soho and in the mood for a little Cuban fare, I would definitely recommend trying Cafe Habana.  The place is pretty small, so if you do not feel like waiting for a table, there is always the take-out joint next door.  You at least have to come and try the corn!  But if you cannot make it in, then you can always try the drippy Mexican corn, posted here.