The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - Caracas Arepa Bar

People who me, know I love Caracas, the arepa bar located both in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.  It was one of the first restaurants I ever ate at in New York, and it was one of  the first foods I had never tried, but instantly liked.

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - The Meatball Shop's Vegetarian Meatballs

Have you ever been to The Meatball Shop?  If you live in New York and haven't, you must go.  The Meatball Shop is just that, a meatball shop.  Fortunately the vegetarian is not left out this time though.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Photo by Marcus.

Okay, why would you trust a vegetarian's opinion when they tell you to go to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que?  I don't know, but does it help that I am from Kansas?  And every time I walk by this place on my way to Fairway, the strong waft of BBQ aroma hits me and reminds me of home?  A few of my friends and I got together and checked it out.  None of us were disappointed, even the vegetarian.  The service was friendly, the food was really, really good, and I even tried a fried green tomato for the first time - yum.  I am not going to go on and on, but I will say if you want to make a trip up to Harlem, try Dinosaur while you are there.  Just make a reservation, or expect to wait a long time, this place is popular and rightfully so.  See pictures below:

Cutest Napkin Ever!

Isn't this napkin from Make My Cake the cutest?  Click here to check out Make My Cake's website!  They have some great treats in Harlem!

Click here for a sweet and spicy lentil soup recipe.  Happy weekend!

Bad Horse Pizza Review

On Friday night, my friends and I got together for the grand opening of Bad Horse Pizza.  We followed our noses down my five flights of stairs to Bad Horse next door.  It was around 8:00 and the place was very busy, so busy that the waiter seemed annoyed/shocked that we were okay waiting for an hour for pizza.  First off, an hour wait is not that bad for New York, and second off I have been smelling their pizza all week.  I was dying to try it!  Obviously, they were not prepared for Harlem's excitement for a real pizza place.  So we decided that maybe carry out would be a better option.  So a few of us hopped over to Harlem Vintage (my favorite wine shop in Harlem) and got a few bottles of wine, and hung out upstairs at my place.  Well over an hour later and a couple of us went down to check on the pizza situation.  There was a table available at this point, so we all went down to eat.

Bad Horse Pizza - Opening Soon

For the past couple months, I have been anxiously anticipating the opening of Bad Horse Pizza, a joint opening up right next door of my apartment in Harlem.  Last weekend I saw some workers/owners place the Bad Horse Pizza logos outside their windows, and yesterday I saw people working on a counter top and organizing chairs.  Hopefully I won't have to wait too much longer, because I am dying for a good pizza place in my neighborhood.  Dominos (read review here) just isn't cutting it for me anymore (although I am not going to pass it up after a late night out).  After reading a couple other blogs, there seems to be debate over the name Bad Horse (people hate it), but I am going to save my judgement for the pizza, and besides I kind of like the name.  If Bad Horse is as cool as Patches (play video above), then I think they are on their way to something amazing.  Click here to preview their menu.

Click here to read some food-related book suggestions.

Click here for a jumbo raisin oatmeal cookie recipe.

Oh, and Rock Chalk!

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - Joe's Pizza

No words can describe how much I love Joe's Pizza. Anytime I am in the NYU area, I can't help but stop there.  It was my lucky weekend, because I had Joe's Friday and Saturday.  Delicious both times.  I love Joe's, because it is so simple.  Quickly order at the counter, pay $2.75, and grab a stool or stand, sprinkle some pepper flakes, fold pizza (New York style) and eat.  Oh and the pizza?  Thin crust, sweet sweet tomato sauce, and cheese.  Most would look at it and think "nothing special," but until you've had a bite, you don't know what is.  Definitely the best thing I've had in my mouth.

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.

Momofuku Milk Bar

If you are in the mood for dessert, and want something off the beaten path, try Momofuku's Milk Bar.  There are actually two locations, one in the East Village and the other in Midtown.  I have only been to the East Village spot.  It is dimly lit with a chalkboard menu behind the dessert-filled counter, along with tall tables with bar stools that fill the space.  I have stopped in there a couple of times for their compost cookies, but the last time I was there I tried their Old Fashioned Donut Soft Serve.  OMG!  It tasted seriously exactly like an old fashioned doughnut, except cold and soft.  I also love the way they serve it - a small cup overflowing with ice cream and a cute wooden spoon to make you feel like you are in first grade again.  Besides their soft serve and cookies, people rave about the Crack Pie, which my friend described to me as pecan pie, without the pecans, just the sugary filling.  Sounds gross to me, but I am not the norm.

If you don't live in NYC, don't fret.  Milk Bar actually ships their cookies, pies, and cereal milk (yes, it is milk that tastes like corn flakes - whoa) now.  February 9th is the last day they are accepting orders for Valentine's Day.  It's coming up people!  Click here to check out their menu.  Click here to see their shipping menu.  And click here if you want to make your own compost cookies.

New Doughnut Plant Location

Last week, I happened to walk down 23rd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) where I saw a new Doughnut Plant sign.  After checking their website, it looks like they are opening at the Chelsea Hotel!  I am curious to see what the space is like, and if there will be more room to sit and actually enjoy your doughnut.

Check out the doughnuts I got the last time I was there with my parents at their Lower East Location.  

Blackberry Jam Doughnut.

Carrot Cake Doughnut with cream cheese filling - My dad's favorite.

Click here to check out my Doughnut Plant review.

Dumpling House

On Sunday, my friend and I ventured down to Chinatown while running errands in the city.  We wanted a "snack," so he took me to the Dumpling House.  There we had a cheap feast - $8 in fact!  Whoa!  We got eight vegetable dumplings, a vegetable steamed bun, sesame pancake, and a taro milk bubble tea.  The place is small and bustling, so we didn't even try for one of the few tables in there.  Instead we went to Sarah Roosevelt Park and ate on the one park bench that didn't have snow on it.  Although, I wished they had fried vegetable dunplings, you really can't complain for eight bones.  And did I mention how awesome the sesame pancake is?  It is like Pizza Hut's thick crust with sesame seeds on it.  Okay, that might sound gross, but it is good - I swear.  They also use the bread for sandwiches, which I am sure are amazing.  If you are in New York and want to eat cheap, go there.  It is pretty amazing to watch all the women work.  A couple rolling out dumpling dough, one manning the sesame bread and fried dumplings, another slicing it, and a couple others screaming out numbers impatiently waiting for you to give them your ticket.  All in all a Chinatown success.  The worst part of the meal was having to watch the hipsters play bike polo while we ate.  Seriously, is that game even fun?

Sesame pancake - sooo good.

Vegetable dumpling.

Steamed vegetable bun.

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.

Papabubble

For my birthday last year, my coworker gave me some candy from Papabubble.  It was delicious and nostalgic and I knew I had to visit their shop in Little Italy someday.  I have gone a couple times now and it is a delight to see them actually making the candy in front of you.  Papabubble creates a variety of candies, but my favorite definitely is the lavender.  It is sweet, but has this refreshing and relaxing effect - just like when smelling the actual plant.  I like to pop one (or five) in my mouth just to mellow out.  If you are in New York, you should stop by Papabubble (click here for a map).  Or click here to visit their website.  There are some beautiful photos featuring their candies as well as their shops.

Lavender candy.

BluePrint Cleanse

So for over a year I have been dreaming of doing a juice cleanse through NYC's BluePrint Cleanse, created by raw food enthusiast Zoe Sakoutis and foodie Erica Huss. Unfortunately, the cleanse is definitely not in my budget. For a NYC delivery it is $75 for a one-day cleanse or $65 a day for a 3-5 day cleanse. Fortunately, I convinced my boss to be my guinea pig and she tried a three day cleanse and ended up really enjoying. And then as luck would have it, BluePrint Cleanse accidentally delivered her another batch for a three day cleanse a few months later. After much confusion with the company, my boss ended up giving me a day's worth. I was pumped. I had spent the last week stuffing my face with mediocre cookies and sandwiches from work, a cleanse was much needed - even if it was only going to be a one-day cleanse.

BluePrint Cleanse has a very helpful website which explains which cleanse level you should do (whether you are a rookie or a master). I would elaborate more, but you should just check out their website to get the best explanation. I will tell you that the cleanses are delivered to your door the day before you want to start your cleanse in a cooler tote bag. There are 6 juices per day labeled simply by numbers as well as ingredients within each bottle.
On a side note, I do not fair well with not eating. I love to munch like a squirrel throughout the day, and the last time I tried a cleanse (the Master Cleanse to be exact) I failed within 5 hours. I was caught red-handed by my bff (who was also doing the Master Cleanse) eating a bowl of rice.

Here are my thoughts on the One-Day BluePrint Cleanse:

*A side note: You should drink a 12 ounce glass of water in between juices and you are welcome to drink as much herbal tea as you like. Also, you should keep at least an hour in between juices and have your last juice at least 2 hours before you plan on going to sleep.

7:30 am - Started off with a warm glass of filtered water to get my stomach in motion. Okay, I used tap water - whatevs. You can also add lemon to the water if you fancy it.

9:00 am - Bottle 1-Green Juice. Juice of romaine, celery, green apple, spinach, kale, parsley, and lemon. First off you are suppose to "chew" the juice to activate enzymes that aid in digestive, so it is a bit weird. The first sip I took wasn't very pleasant. I have never been a fan of kale, I prefer to hide it in a quesadilla than eat it on its own. I thought I could get use to the flavors, but the best option was just to swallow my sips as quickly as possible. So I stopped fake chewing on this bottle. I don't want to scare people off, my boss loved this juice, it just wasn't for me.

11:00 am - Bottle 2. Juice of pineapple, apple, and mint. Okay, this was so delicious I had to control myself from drinking it all within 10 minutes. In fact, I could barely stop drinking it to take a picture. The juice combo was light, sweet and refreshing with the hint of mint at the end. My office mate made the good point of what a great cocktail the flavors would make if you just added vodka. Oh wait this is a cleanse!

2:00 pm - Bottle 3-Green Juice. Juice of romaine, celery, green apple, spinach, kale, parsley, and lemon (same as Bottle 1). So I pump myself up to drink this one again. Still, no luck. In fact, it became harder and the slower I drank the juice, the warmer and more disgusting it got to me. But I finished it!

*Coworkers decided to open champagne to celebrate a successful market. I got to sit and stare and drink my juice :( Okay, okay I had one sip - but that was it!

5:30 pm - Bottle 4-Spicy Lemonade. Juice of lemon, agave nectar, and cayenne pepper. Ummm...so good. If this was what my Master Cleanse concoction tasted like then I probably would have lasted longer. I gulped this down because I felt behind schedule.

7:00 pm - Bottle 5-Green Juice. Juice of romaine, celery, green apple, spinach, kale, parsley, and lemon. Okay, I thought I was on the Renovation Cleanse, so I was expecting carrot, apple, lemon, beet, ginger juice. My dreams were crushed when I realized I was actually on the Foundation Cleanse and had to drink the green juice yet AGAIN. I took a few more swigs and then was tempted by the smell of hash browns sizzling in my friend's apartment. Breakfast for dinner - my biggest weakness - ok Mexican actually is. I took one bite of the hash - just to try and then I quit my cleanse. I couldn't take the green stuff - I was doomed from the beginning.

8:00 pm - Bottle 6-Cashew Nut Milk. Cashew nut milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. So I opened this one just to try, my boss said it was a delicious dessert. I think people who go on cleanses can sometimes become delusional. This tasted like sweet chalky milk with cinnamon. I am not a fan with white foods or liquids in general, so I was against it from the start.

9:00 pm - Can 1-Lays Stacks. Original Flavor - stacks of thin potato, salt, and other stuff. Absolutely delicious. I didn't eat all of them - so don't judge. The perfect way to end a cleanse.

Overall, I truly was not hungry one bit and I didn't feel weak at all like the Master Cleanse. Yes, there were things tempting me, and if I hadn't hated the taste of the green juice so much then I probably could have made it through to the end.

Go to BluePrint Cleanse to check it out for yourself, they deliver across the country.

Click here to read about my 3-Day Cleanse.