Sweet, sweet brunch

Now that the weather is nicer, I do my best to hit up at least one brunch spot every weekend.  It doesn't always work out that way, but I do try.  I have yet to do it alone, so lately I've been bugging Mel to go with me now that she has Saturday's off.  Horray!

Lately Cafe Colette has been my go-to brunch spot near my hood.  So far, its been fantastic and I look forward to going back over and over again.  I've been here a total of 4 times, once for dinner and three times for brunch.  I know I've already mentioned them before, but I just want to reiterate my love of this place based on the fact that its A.) adorable, B.) the food is fresh and tasty, C.) its really affordable, and D.) their staff is helpful, attentive and super cute!

Of course I usually get their poached egg dishes, but I can't help it.  My new found love of poached eggs is more than I can bare!

Anyhoo, they offer two versions, both of which are super tasty.  The last time I highlighted Cafe Colette, I had ordered the Chick Pea Puree with Kale on Toast variation.  This time I went for the Squash Croquette with Mustard Sauce version.


The croquettes were crispy on the outside and oh-so-good on the inside.  Squash is so versatile! 

The mustard sauce was light and worked well with the oozy goodness of the runny eggs.  The salad was light and fresh with a tart vinaigrette dressing.

This is not the most filling meal, but definitely satisfying.  I ordered the sage sausage on the side, which is truly delicious and turns this fairly healthy brunch option into something I need to walk off.



My fab out-of-town friend Teresa ordered the bread pudding french toast (I think that's what its called), which cooked in a lovely cast iron dish.

She said that although it was dessert-like, it wasn't overly sweet, which was a good thing in order to get through it.

It smelled delicious and she did manage to get most of the way through this hearty entree.






My awesome friends Tubby and Zac (Teresa's brother) ordered the egg sandwiches which come with a choice of cheese and breakfast meat on a roll.  Tubby went for American cheese with sausage while Zac went for the bacon and no cheese (he's a lactard like me!)

Tubby got a side of fries, which were delicious!  You can just eat these guys up without ketchup, they're that good and fresh.



Zac opted for a side of home fries which was a HUGE portion and they looked really good.  One of these days I'm going to have to try some myself.  I love me some good ol' home fries with eggs.  Is there anything more comforting?

I know this is a crappy pic, but I blame Zac who was all the way across the table and took the photo for me.

Zac - you need to steady your hands next time! :)

The next brunch place I tried out recently was Dumont, which I've enjoyed for dinner but never their brunch.  I took my mommie here for Mother's Day, which I know was a long time ago... so sue me if I take forever to write about it!

Honestly, the reason we picked Dumont was because they had a reservation for brunch at a good time through OpenTable.  I didn't want to risk waiting a year and day to take Mama Maria to brunch.  We ended up waiting about 30 minutes anyway due to a "communication" issue with staff since we wanted to sit outside.  Whatever, it was nice outside and we got a chance to look at the menu.

My mom is a particularly picky eater since she has an allergy to cheese and butter.  No dairy for her either, but she's far more allergic than I am and can end up in the hospital with just a sprinkle of cheese.  She really wanted to get the ham omelet but she couldn't due to the fact that they use cream.  I had NO idea that dairy was ever used for scrambled eggs or omelets.  That is truly unfortunate but makes sense as to why I've felt sick afterwards at certain restaurants.

The safest bet for her was the Eggs Benedict without the hollandaise sauce.

It wasn't the most exciting dish, but it was safe for her to eat and she seemed to enjoy it.  The ham was nicely done and the salad was fresh and tasty.  She was a little worried about the bread being buttered, but she took her chances and won!







I ordered the eggs benedict myself, naturally, and enjoyed it a great deal.  The dish came with these spicy home fries that really gave a kick to the mouth.  I like spicy, but I have a feeling a lot of people are overwhelmed by them. 

The eggs were cooked perfectly, the ham was tasty and the sauce was thick and luxurious.  Doesn't it look incredible here.  My only complaint would be the bread, which was REALLY difficult to cut through.  It proved messy to eat since you needed a hacksaw just to get through the bread. 

The backyard area of Dumont is really lovely, so I recommend waiting the extra time to sit outside.  The staff was also really helpful and accommodating to my mother's allergies.  Our server checked on us several times throughout our meal to ensure everything was okay.  I definitely like Dumont, but their selection for brunch can be a little limiting to those who can't have dairy.  I guess the worst case scenario would be to get the burger - which is AWESOME, so there is no downfall to coming here any time of day.

From Crab to Cupcakes

Wow what a weekend - hopefully everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.

I ate lots of things I shouldn't have eaten, of course, but it was so worth it! So let's get to it...

Although this wasn't exactly the weekend, I did have dinner last week with an old friend of mine, Gary, so I'm going to include it anyway.  And there's nothing you can do about it, so there! :)

A+ Thai

We were hungry and in the area, so this was our choice for dinner on a random weekday night.  I'm not all that familiar with good dinner spots in Midtown East, but I've enjoyed a number of good lunches here.  We were seated right away and the food came out quickly, which was a plus since we were starving!!


We started with the Spicy Crispy Duck Salad, which was really good!  It definitely had a nice kick to it, and the duck was cooked perfectly.  It wasn't the largest portion and a bit pricy for such a small salad, but it was worth getting again, to share.

Gary was thrilled with how good this was and totally psyched for his dinner.  I was salivating for mine, which is a good thing it came out relatively quickly.

Gary went the safe route and ordered the Chicken Pad Thai.  I actually do the same when I'm trying a new Thai place.  If they don't have decent pad thai, then I pretty much write off the place entirely.

It's like going to a BBQ joint and getting the ribs, if they aren't good what is the point?! Luckily for Gary, their pad thai was spot on and he eat is in about 2 minutes.  He was a hungry man!  I definitely took a taste and was almost a little jealous I didn't go the safe route too.

I wanted some excitement in my life, so I ventured down the spicy basil udon road.  It was great, but almost a little too spicy.  I love me some spice, don't get me wrong, but because I was so hungry and my belly so empty, I could actually feel the burn in my gut.  It was weird, but I ate away hungrily.

I've been on a vegetarian kick, so this was the tofu with veggie version, which I highly recommend.  It was definitely flavorful (so it wasn't all heat) and the veggies were cooked perfectly.  Would recommend this for anyone looking for a good kick in the mouf.  :)

So A+ Thai is kind of A+ in my book.  Fast, fresh and really affordable.  Their lunch specials are great with an appetizer and entree for $10!

Pop Clothing Shop Spring Celebration!

I'm a HUGE fan of this store, and recommend anyone looking for adorable and well-made ladies clothing, shoes and accessories to check it out.  I'm in here about once a week since they're constantly adding new items to their inventory.  They add things daily, so essentially you can live in a tent outside and still be excited every time you went shopping.  LOVE IT!

Anyhoo, they were having a fun event after work on Friday and I dragged my lovely coworker, Chiara, there to inspect the good.  They happened to have the most lovely desserts in their cute backyard.

Turns out one my friends, Shannon, is the most fantastic baker and went all out making 150 cupcakes for the event.  Have you ever seen a more beautiful set up?!


They also had some nice white wine and Prosecco, which is just what I needed after a long work week.

If you look closely, those mini cupcakes (not the tiniest, but the second tiniest) actually have little baby birds on top made out of frosting.

Shannon only bakes vegan desserts - could I get any luckier!?!

It was truly amazing and they tasted better than they looked.

The event was awesome and hope they have another one soon.

Adam (yes he tagged along and not just for the cupcakes, he's a nice boyfriend), Chiara and I were hungry so we went over to Fiore for some supper.  We didn't want to go nuts since we were planning on having a few drinks with Shannon and Breonna (who works at Pop, yet another reason this store rocks) after they were done with the event.

Fiore

I absolutely adore Fiore.  If you go before 8pm, you can usually score a table without waiting, and everyone about this place makes me swoon.

First off, the decor is so cute.  Exposed brick, very homey with little antique touches here and there.  They also have a lovely back outdoor area when the weather is nicer.

Then there's the staff, who are exceptional.  And of course, the food is fantastic.  However, my photos are terrible (sorry) due to the fact that its dimly lit and I have no flash on my phone's camera... so I apologize in advance for how crappy they look, but I assure you the food looks amazing and tastes even better. 


Chiara and I wanted to share a pasta dish, but were torn between the Gnocchi di Patate ai Funghi e Porri (Potato gnocchi with wild mushrooms and leek ragout) and the Fettuccine con Ragu di Carne (Fettuccine with Fresh tomato and meat ragout sauce).  When we asked the waiter what he thought was the best choice, he recommended we get a half portion of each. 

Needless to say we squealed with delight (which he thought was funny) and enjoyed both dishes. 



Obviously the top image is the gnocchi, which was fluffy and really savory.  The ragout was so tasty with an earthiness to it.  

The Fettuccine complimented the gnocchi well since it had a totally different flavor.  You could taste the fresh tomatoes and the meat didn't overwhelm the sweet and tart flavor of the sauce.  It was really very good.  I would order either again.

Adam wanted to be healthy and had already eaten dinner, so he went with the Assorted fresh greens with balsamic.  It was a huge portion, enough for all of us to share.  He was still eating his salad when we were done scarfing down our pasta. ::oink oink::

While we were eating, our waiter came over and gave us a side of Sauteed broccoli rabe with garlic and oil.  Turns out the kitchen "accidentally" made this, so he gave it to us on the house.  It was delicious (sorry no photo, hands full w/ eating at the time) and we loved Fiore all the more for giving us free food.  It's really an affordable restaurant, with their most expensive dish costing about $17.00.  Most are between $11 and $15.  I also recommend their Slow cooked lamb shank with mashed potato and the Fedelini ai Frutti di Mare (Fresh tomato sauce with assorted seafood) which is amazing.  

On Saturday, I enjoyed brunch with Mel (lil' sis) at Manhattan Inn and just wanted to show everyone how cute it is in there.

Brunch was delicious, of course, and we enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere.  Again, we ordered the steak and eggs with a side of the greatest hash brown ever.

If you're waiting 18 years for a table at 5 Leaves, do yourself a favor and check this place out instead.  I know the "scene" there is hypnotizing, but being seated right away, serenaded and fed organic food is far better than any "scene" I assure you.

Later on, Adam and I took how his mother for her birthday.  She was in town for the 5 Borough Bike Tour and it was the perfect opportunity to eat somewhere nice in celebration of both the birthday and the tour.  She wanted something light, so we opted for fish (both the food and the name of the restaurant, coincidentally).

Fish Restaurant

This was SO worth the wait, and there is almost always a wait to get in.  We were rather early, getting there about 6:30pm, so the wait was only about 30 - 40 minutes.  The four of us, which included Adam, his mom Barbara and her friend Chris and I, were seated at a nice table near the back.  Our waitress came over, took drink orders and announced the specials.  Even without the specials, their menu is impressive with a plethora of fancy fish and raw bar options.  I had no idea what I was going to get, until the waitress mentioned a softshell crab entree on special that night. SCORE!  This is by far one of my most favorite foods in the whole world.



I started out with their Fish Market Soup, which is spicy tomatoey goodness with shrimp and white fish.  Fish soups usually have cream or dairy products, so this was a special treat for me.  Although it was pricy at $8 per bowl, it was really good.  I could have just eaten this with some of their amazing biscuits and been good.

We also ordered a half-pound of steamed Alaskan King Crab legs for the table.  I tried to take a photo of the dish, but everyone went crazy for the legs.  So what is pictured here is what was left after everyone grabbed a leg.  It was a nice portion to share with 4 people.  I can't image what the entree is like, which has over a pound of crab legs.

These were really amazing crab legs.  They were sweet and succulent, with no need for the butter.  Just a little spritz of lemon and I was all set.  I practically licked my plate clean.  Adam can't stop talking about how good these were.  He's determined to go back and order the entree (to share, or so he claims).



By the time my meal came out, I was already a little full, so I knew I wouldn't finish my dinner.  However, I was shocked to discover that the portion was ridiculously generous.  They gave me three large, juicy, perfectly pan-fried softshell crabs.  They were too delicious.

Even the sides were amazing!  The green beans were made to order and seasoned and cooked perfectly.  We kept raving about how good they were since everyone at our table got them.  Barbara shared mine and
Adam's. The mashed potatoes were great - fluffy and creamy with not too much butter, just enough to cleanse the palette between bites of mouth-watering crab.  It was a really special treat since they're only in season for a few weeks every year.  These big boys were the largest softshell crabs I've ever seen, let alone eaten.  If you have a chance, go there asap to try these.  They also offer a appetizer variation of this dish.


Adam and Chris ordered the other special, simply grilled wild caught stripped bass.  Had the softshell crab not been offered, I might have gone this route.  Stripped bass is fantastic and I had a feeling it would be particularly good here.

It really was just about the freshest fish you could get in NYC.  It was a nice sized filet that was cooked to perfection.  It didn't need much of anything to taste delicious.  Just a little salt, pepper and you're good to go.

Adam ate each bite carefully to fully appreciate how good this fish really was.  It came with this salsa verde, which was tasty, but the fish was just so good on its own - no need to spicy it up with some fancy sauce. Good fish can hold its own and this was definitely good.


There was little left after Adam and Chris were done.  I did manage to get a bite from Adam and would recommend their fish.  Definitely far healthier than my fried crab, alas.


Barbara went for one of the regular menu items, Pot o' Bass - which was a nice piece of bass cooked in a cast iron pot with white wine, potatoes, tomatoes and onions.  It looked and smelled delicious.  I wasn't able to try it, but Adam said it was really good, full of flavor with lots of tender fish.  It came with big piece of bread to soak up all that tasty broth. The photo doesn't do it justice, but it was really appealing in person. 

It was a glorious dinner that left with heartburn that could have killed an elephant, but it was so worth it.  Adam and I will definitely be back as soon as we can afford it.

Yup, this place is pretty pricy, with our special dishes costing $28 each.  Adam was a real gentleman and paid for the whole thing regardless of our cries to accept our cash to compensate the hefty bill.  What can I say, he's a keeper! So consider this a place to go for a special dinner or if you're really in the mood for unbelievable fish/seafood.  They're famous for their all-you-can-eat Maryland crab lunch special (which apparently runs out quickly, so go early) and their Oyster/PBR special for $8.  Either way, its a great place that's worth the wait and the hefty price tag.

Easter Weekend Eats

Hopefully everyone enjoyed a very lovely Passover and Easter Holiday!

I'm a fan of the food involved with each holiday and do my best to take full advantage.  Although I have no record of my digestive involvement, I assure you it was delicious!

I had a really lovely weekend, and enjoyed a number of tasty delights with Mel, Adam and my MOMMIE!  She is a miraculous woman who appreciates food as much as I do.  She also happens to come from a long line of incredible cooks - so I do my best to watch her cook.  She's one of those natural cooks that doesn't really measure... so its particularly difficult to figure out what she's doing and replicate.  Anyhoo, here's the food...

To start, I had brunch twice this weekend with Mel.  She has the whole weekend off, so we took full advantage!  After some Total Body Conditioning (I'm gonna have me some sexy legs and arms this summer), we headed over to The Bedford for brunch.  Unfortunately, their menu wasn't so good for me this time, with lots of cheese in everything.  Mel, being the good sister and understanding my dilemma, encouraged me to go elsewhere for brunch.  I felt terrible getting up and leaving, but they had a very limited selection and I didn't want a single thing on their menu.
We went to Cafe Colette instead and had a deliciously good time!

Cafe Colette (please note that their menu is not updated fully on their website)

We were fortunate to get a table right away.  This place is usually busy for brunch, but the weather was terrible, so that played in our favor.  Mel comes here all the time and rightfully so since its fantastic.

They had a lot of interesting options on their menu, most of which sounded like the healthier version of common brunch dishes.  There were two poached egg dishes to choose from, so I went with the spicier variation, even though the other sounded just as good!


This dish came with two perfectly poached eggs laying neatly atop pureed chickpeas and braised kale.  The bread was a type of sourdough that had a bit of kick to it.  Not sure what it was, but it was delicious.

The dish was a little spicy, but nothing too crazy.  It was delicious, not greasy at all.  I loved every bite.

I would definitely order this again, but will probably try the other poached egg dish since it looked fantastic (person next to me ordered it and I pretty much salivated all over him)


I thought that I needed something a little unhealthy to even my meal out, so I went with their homemade sage sausage patties.  Wow those were good.

They were perfectly grilled and juicy.  I definitely recommend these if you want a side of meat.  It's a shame Mel doesn't really eat meat, because she totally missed out on these.

Oh well, more for me!





Mel ordered one of the sweet crepes on their menu.  I love crepes, but most have filling that will make my body cry out in pain.

I definitely had a taste of these though, so I can honestly say they were incredibly delicious.

These are creme fraiche, honey and walnut cremes.  I guess Mel went the opposite with me and thought these were too unhealthy, so ordered a healthy side...

Here's the happy half grapefruit that we both enjoyed during our meal.

Grapefruits are quite possibly one of the most challenging and messy fruits to eat with a spoon.  This thing was splashing all over the place.

I ate one almost every day for breakfast, so I'm starting to get the hang of it, but its still a splash-fest!

So overall, the meal was really lovely.  Staff was nice and quick to serve.  The food was fresh and flavorful.  Great option if you want a healthier brunch - definitely going to come back in the next couple of weeks to check out that other poached egg dish.

After Adam was done with work in the late afternoon, we decided on our activities for Saturday night... which involved going into the city and enjoying some delicious imported beer.  Adam is a serious beer connoisseur, so we venture to really great bars that offer a wide variety of excellent beer.

But first, we needed to eat something so that the beer didn't kill us.  I opted for something a little healthier (shocked, aren't you!) and went to Dojo near NYU.

Dojo Restaurant

I've actually been coming here for so many years.  I think as long as 10 years if that's possible.  It was and still is a really affordable restaurant with a wide range of tasty items.  It was particularly convenient when I knew friends attending NYU, since it was right near them.

Dojo is still a great place to hit up if you're in the area.  I was shocked to learn I'd never taken Adam here, so it was a totally new experience for him.

It was particularly dead on a Saturday night.  Usually this place is buzzing with activity, but I guess the weather and holiday weekend made the city less lively.


I usually ordered the same dishes here.  Their fried chicken cutlet with Japanese BBQ sauce is always a winner.  I also like their grilled chicken salad.

The other dish I'll order here is their Salmon Teriyaki - which is not only delicious, but surprisingly inexpensive for what you get.

This dish used to be about $8.95, and keeps going up every time I go back. I know times are tough and food prices are increasing.  This time, the dinner was $12.95 - but I still think its a good deal.
You get a large piece of fish, that's always cooked perfectly with a nice portion of steamed vegetables and brown rice.  Talk about a healthy dinner!  Sure the glaze isn't that healthy, but I end up scrapping it aside anyway.  The veggies are always crisp and fresh.

Each dinner entree also comes with a lovely little side salad with the greatest carrot ginger dressing I've ever had.  I can practically eat this dressing with a spoon - believe me, I have.
The salad is a lot bigger than this - I was just so hungry that I forgot to take a photo while it was a full bowl.


Adam ordered the Grilled Salmon Steak with ginger dressing.  Our waitress was helpful and allowed Adam to swap out his broccoli for cauliflower.

He was a little sad that mine was better, but his was far healthier and he was saving himself for the tasty beer ahead.

We both enjoyed our salmon and agreed that although the price wasn't what it used to be, it was still worth it.  We'll definitely be back!  Also try their fried calamari, which comes with this amazing sweet and sour tarter sauce.  Their cold sesame noodles are also yummy!

The following morning, Mel and I met up for brunch at Brooklyn Label - which I've highlighted before, so I'll go through this quickly.  I had a ScoutMob, so it made brunch a super affordable treat.




I was craving their Borderline Benedict, which is always a winner here.  The bluecorn muffin was tasty, their chorizo was good, but perhaps a little under done.  Although sometimes they burnt it, so I'd rather it this way than burnt!

The eggs were cooked perfectly - my only complaint was not enough hollandaise sause, although this was probably best for me.

Also their hash browns are probably the best I've had anywhere.  It's always amazing and worth getting.

Mel was indecisive and ordered their special eggs benedict that had a cheddar biscuit with pastrami, but she swapped out the pastrami for smoked salmon.

She liked the dish, but wasn't all that impressed.  She had a lot of trouble cutting the biscuit that looked more like a slice of bread.  Oh well - what can you do.

At least I enjoyed brunch?

We then ventured into the city to meet up with Mama Maria (our mom).  It was Easter after all, and so we took her out for a movie and dinner.  We enjoyed The Good Life playing at the Tribeca Film Festival (definitely check out that movie, it was great), and then went to a nearby restaurant that sounded appetizing online.

Westville Restaurant - Chelsea

I called before heading over and they reported that business was slow so it was a good time to go and get a table.  Rumor is that they get busy and since they don't take reservations you need to wait outside - something I didn't want to make my mom do.

The place was really  pleasant with helpful staff and an extensive menu.  They feature plenty of market fresh sides, I counted at least 15 of them.


Mama Maria is very particular about her food.  She has a very severe cheese allergy, so we always have to be careful about the dishes that she orders.

She also hates sauces, so the grilled salmon (minus the sauce that they featured on their menu) was best for her.  It came with her choice of side and mixed greens.  She chose the lemon grilled asparagus, which was delicious.  It was beautifully cooked and she enjoyed it a great deal.



Mel wasn't feeling particularly hungry and went with two market fresh sides, which cost $5 each.

We were all very surprised with how large they were and Mel ended up with a hefty doggie bag.

She chose the roasted beets with goat cheese and the roasted fennel with Parmesan cheese. Both looked nice, but I'm a fan of neither.  I did try the beets and I guess they were okay.  I don't care for beets.  They kind of freak me out actually.

I'm also not a fan of fennel.  I hate that liquorish flavor and so don't care for fennel at all.

Mel enjoyed both very much.  They looked good, but the cheese sprinkled on top was really my final straw - so Mel got to eat in peace without me pestering her for another bite.

My dish, however, was truly amazing and would gladly come back to have it again.  I was initially going to get the roasted trout with pears, avocados and other tasty items.  The waitress mentioned it was a very light tasting meal, which could have been good had I not been so hungry.

She recommended the Macadamia nut encrusted tilapia with coconut rice, mixed veggies and a small salad.  It didn't sound very good, but she said it was really tasty.  So I thought "what the hell, I'll get it" and I couldn't have been happier with the recommendation.


I was surprised to discover that there was a sauce with my dish.  That was my main worry - it being too dry.  Fish and rice can be so dry together, but this was perfection.

The fish was large, flakey and delicious.  Roasted macadamia nuts were sprinkled throughout and added a tasty crunch.

The sauce was sweet and creamy, adding a light macadamia nut flavor to everything.  The fluffy coconut rice was hiding under the fillet with little morsels of vegetables hidden throughout the rice.  Every bite was heaven!  I barely had room for dessert, barely.


Mel and I were hoping to get the strawberry rhubarb pie, but Mama Maria had her heart set on the special Chocolate Pecan Pie.  The only reason I ordered this was because my mom wanted it, but it was sinfully delicious.

It was made with cane syrup instead of corn syrup, or so claimed the waitress.  It was oogey-googey goodness with a prefect crust and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.  I tried not to eat too much, which was good cause my mom finished everything without issue.  Nothing like something a little sweet after a perfect dinner.

Overall, Westville Restaurant was nice, offering fresh food and a lovely atmosphere.  The food was a bit pricy, but it was good quality.  I would come back to try some of their cheaper fare, like the hamburgers, which looked really good.

Well it was a long tasty weekend, not back to reality and my diet.  ::sigh::

A Healthy, Tasty weekend!

I've been trying to watch what I eat and stay within my 1800 calories-per-day regiment as I get in shape for the warmer months.  I'm usually not that successful, but at least I'm trying.
As I get older, I realize that what I put into my body is so much more important.  Your metabolism slows down and I know that what I eat can have a huge effect on fertility.  I want to be a mom someday, so I better be careful now while I can.  There is no rewind button on life, so be careful what you do with the body that you have.  (Aren't you proud, mom?)

So this weekend I did attempt to eat healthier, with the help of Adam who have been on a real health-kick lately.  He's lost some weight, is working out and generally look damn sexy.  I'm a lucky girl, what can I say?

I've been craving sushi ever since Chicago and Adam decided it was okay for our diets, so to sushi we went!

When it comes to sushi, there is only one place we go to in our area - Sapporo Haru Japanese.
My friend, Erika, recommended this place to me ages ago and its so great that I refuse to try anywhere else. Honestly, Erika did extensive research (as in she literally tried every single one in the area) as to which Japanese restaurant was the best, so why would I bother with somewhere else?

At one point Sapporo has bad service because they became busy and didn't have enough staff, but they remedied that situation and now its fantastic all around. My only word of precaution is ordering delivery from them on the weekend.  They're so busy it'll take over an hour, so just get off your rump and walk over there instead.

They were super busy, so we were offered seats at the sushi bar.  I was really excited because I never had a chance to sit here and watch the magic happen.  Unfortunately I'm too damn short and couldn't see over the fish fridge they have on display.  We did get to see all their amazing sushi creations dressed up on pretty plates before the waitresses swept them away to their tables.

Over the last year, I've come to love sashimi instead of sushi.  I just want the fish, nothing else.  No rice, no fancy veggies or fruit or spicy mayo.  Just give me a perfect, fresh slice of succulent fish.  Sure all those fancy rolls can be a lot of fun and can make sushi exciting, but its a lot of filler distracting you from the main reason you're going there - the fish!

Adam and I sat contently at the bar, ordered two miso soups (a first for Adam), seaweed salad and a large platter of sashimi.

I LOVE miso soup.  It's so warm and comforting, especially on a cold day.  The tofu is so creamy that it melts in your mouth.  The seaweed is fun to eat and the scallions add a little crunch to the whole thing.

I was always worried that there was a lot of sodium in it, or that it was unhealthy but apparently its really good for you!  Go ahead, google "miso soup health benefits" and you'll see a ton on it.

Not all miso soup is created equal though, as Sapporo's is particularly delicious.

I never tried their seaweed salad, but it looked gorgeous when someone else ordered it.  Even Adam asked in excitement, "what is that!?"

We ordered it and were very pleased with the results.  It was crunchy with a nice sesame flavor.  Also a very healthy dish to order.

If it were up to me, we would have gone with the pork gyoza, which is why I suck at diets.  I need Adam there to go "No Jaci, think about how unhealthy that is" and make me feel bad.  I need someone to guilt trip me into healthy submission!!!

Finally the main event happened and were couldn't have been happier.  We specifically asked for not octopus or mackerel.  I like octopus, but prefer mine cooked.  Mackerel is just too fishy for me, which is saying a lot since I grew up on sardines.

The fish was fresh and delicious.  They were fantastic for giving us extra salmon.  I love me some salmon, its my favorite fish ever.  The white tuna was great and the yellowtail is just too yummy.  We ate it all with smiles on our faces.

Adam wasn't entirely full and ordered himself a scope of green tea ice-cream.  I did have myself a teeny, tiny taste of his ice cream, just enough to make me immensely jealous that he can eat dairy without issue.

The great thing about Sapporo Haru Japanese is that its really inexpensive for the quality that you're getting.  Our total bill came out to about $30.  They also have free hot green tea and free hot sake if you order over $10 per person.  We skipped drinking since we were heading to a Anniversary Party in the UES.  The night was young and my liver could do without some pre-gaming.  I'm not a spring chicken anymore, ya know.

The following day, my friend Zac Attack and I hit up some brunch.  There are these new brunch places I haven't tried out, so on a nice day we figured it was about time we explored other options in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area.

We decided on meeting at The Bedford, located on - you guessed it - Bedford Ave.  We met at about 1pm and were surprised there were tables available.  They even had outdoor seating and plopped our tired selves down at an empty table.  No one else was outside, so it took a while before someone came over to take our order.

The menu was short, but interesting.  They focused on farm-to-table foods that were seasonal.  Something I liked very much, since eating seasonal means your most likely eating local.

I was immediately drawn to their fried chicken, but was disappointed to discover they didn't have that available.  However, they did have an Eggs Benedict special, featuring crab hollandaise sauce.  I know what you're thinking - that is NOT healthy.  But I did walk there and walk home and walked all around the area, so I figured I would just walk off the fat from brunch.  LET ME LIVE A LITTLE!  P.S. Adam wasn't there to stop me, now was he?

We both ordered the special as well as a tea and coffee.  Tea for me, coffee for him.  I don't drink coffee, unless its espresso and I don't like American espresso beans.  Sorry, I'm picky.

Anyhoo, it took a little while for it to come out but it was SO worth the wait. 

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful in your life?  Okay, I know that's a serious statement to make, but at the time I could have cried I was so happy.  

It was absolutely fantastic. Might have been the best brunch ever.  Again another bold statement that I'll probably regret, but I loved this dish.  I would eat this every day if I could.

To start, the english muffin was fresh baked and softer that a store bought one.  It was perfectly toasted and did a great job of soaking up the liquid yolk from the eggs.

Next there was pan-fried ham, which was delicious.  It had little bits that were crispy and added a little crunch to the meal.   The eggs were perfectly poached with cooked white and a gooey center.

The best part, of course, was the hollandaise sauce which had little bits of fresh crab meat.  They really provided a great portion of crab throughout the dish.  It wasn't too fishy, just enough to make this a Surf and Turf Benedict.  Every bite was PERFECTION.

Zac and I couldn't stop talking about how good this was and practically licked our plates clean.  At one point we weren't even talking to each other, just savoring every bite.

Our server was apparently new to the job, so another serve came over to clean up and bring us our check.  They apologized for the delay and ended up not charging us for the drinks.  I love this place!  I hope no one else finds out about it so I can keep it a secret and have it all to myself. Bwahahah!  I know that will never work, but will find a way to come back here again very soon.  Perhaps even for dinner!

The only other amazing meal I had over the weekend what a very special peanut butter and jelly sandwich that Adam makes me at the cafe he works at part-time on the weekends.

Lately I've been a hungry hippo looking for a healthy snack, so he made this for me to satisfy my hangry side.  (Note: hangry = hungry + angry)

It's natural peanut butter with no sugar/salt added with raspberry jam on toasted pumpernickel.

To wash this deliciousness down, a grapefruit Fizzy Lizzy.  If you haven't experienced the awesomeness that is a Fizzy Lizzy, definitely check it out.  It's just real fruit juice and soda water, only 100 calories per bottle!

Thank you Adam for the delicious snack!  I loved every bite.

Lots of Goood Fooood!

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to partake in some major deliciousness. I've been TRYING to eat healthy, and for the most part, I do. But for some reason this was a particularly tasty weekend filled with great and not-so-great for you treats.

To celebrate my friend's 30th birthday, we ventured to Zenkichi, a very unique Japanese restaurant. Tamami (the birthday girl), is Japanese and it is always wise to venture with someone who is in the know. She knew exactly what to order and how to order it. The food was incredible and perfect for sharing.

Here are some of the highlights:
Raw Jewel of the Day: I love sushi, but more recently have forgotten the rice completely and just go straight for sashimi. Zenkichi had a special selection of incredible fresh and delicious fish. This dish came with fluke, yellow tail and sea urchin. I HATE sea urchin, but this was was the best I've "tried" so far. By try I mean I took a tiny spec on my chop stick and winced when it hit my tongue. I love seafood and fish and everything in between, but sea urchin and I are NOT friends. Yuck! But hey, Tamami and her man, Ramon, were in love with it. I'll stick to the fish.

Vegetable Tempura - delicious, perfectly fried with lots of different veggies like pumpkin!

Potato Mochi - OMG delicious fried balls of rice and potato that you dip in spicy mayo. They were ooey gooey on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside. Must get more!

Camembert & Shrimp Corn Tempura - I wasn't able to partake in these because of the cheese, but everyone said they were really good. They looked pretty!

Grilled fish of the day - Tsukiji was the special and it was amazing. This is the cheek of the yellowtail and apparently the very best part of the fish. I love yellowtail, but always eat it raw. So it was particularly interesting to have it cooked. Probably the first time in my life where I ate something cooked for the first time when I usually eat it raw. Anyhoo, it was amazingly tasty!

Hot Udon - Definitely one of the best udon noodle soups I've had. It was similar to miso soup, but served in a HUGE bowl with the worlds largest chop sticks and a laddle. There was a egg floating around in it, which I choose to ignore. It was fun having Tamami serve everyone into smaller bowls since the noodles were slippery and difficult to grab.

Grilled Riceball with Salmon Miso Chazuke Style - Oh Yeah! This is why you go with your Japanese friends to a Japanese restaurant. I would NEVER have thought to order this. It was AMAZZZZINC! It was nothing but a riceball in the middle of a big bowl with some reddish looking paste on top, then they pour green tea into it. Sounds simple enough, but its so delicious. You then distribute this yummy mixture into smaller bowls to enjoy. It was salty, a little spicy, with the green tea bringing a nice warmth to the dish. It didn't taste like tea to tell you the truth. It was good and I want more.

Now on to DESSERT - the best part of the meal, of course.
The staff was awesome and brought out a dessert with two candles to sing Tamami happy birthday.

This is the Walnut Chocolate Pudding: Rich & creamy dark chocolate pudding with walnuts. It was SUPER rich, almost like a chocolate mouse and it came with red bean paste, not sure why but we ate that too.

Mineoka Tofu
Milk tofu (made with heavy cream and kudzu starch, no soymilk): Azuki red beans

I wasn't able to try this because of the dairy, but everyone LOVED it. Adam thought it was one of the best desserts he's ever had. It was apparently finger licking good, as everyone took turns sticking their fingers in the little cup to get the last bits out. We're classy people.

To satisfy MY dessert craving, we went with the one dessert I was able to eat:
Grapefruit Agar Gelee: Refreshingly tart agar jelly made with Japanese seaweed (no gelatin) served in scooped-out grapefruit

Not only did it look pretty, it was SO good. It was everything that is delicious about a grapefruit. I don't know how they made this, but its creamier than jello, but rich in flavor. We were surprised by how good this dessert was. At no point did I feel bad I couldn't eat dairy. This was an EPIC win!

Overall, Zenkichi was a great restaurant. I didn't even go into detail about the decor. Each table is separated into a booth with a little stick curtain that the staff pulls up when they're speaking to you. You call them over via a button on the table - so you have completely privacy during your meal. Check it out for a romantic date!


On Sunday, after watching a good movie (True Grit - definitely go see it), my bf and I were faced with a dinner decision. Do we use one of my ScoutMob coupons or do we try something different. We decided to venture to Katz Deli in the LES and share pretty much the best pastrami sangwich in the world. Seriously, this thing is good. I doubt there will ever be a time in my life when I feel it's okay to spend $15 on a sangwich. That is some serious money. I eat steak for that price. But this is a magical sangwich famous everywhere and it really does live up to the hype.

We shared ONE sangwich (and remember to tip the guys, they tend to give you more meat and that's definitely a good thing, plus they work hard), a matzoh ball soup and their free pickle plate. All you need a touch of mustard and the rest is bliss. When you're eating this gift from heaven, you really want to eat a whole one but its reallllly fatty. To sum up this sangwich in one word - SUCCULENT! Seriously, drop what you're doing and go there right now. And don't lose your ticket! :)


The soup was excellent too - with a perfectly fluffy GIANT matzoh ball. It came with only one matzoh ball, but it was perfectly seasoned with the right texture. Just enough salt to make it tasty but not leave your blood pressure through the roof. I'm really sensitive to salt, so less salt in my food is a good thing.

Nothing like a weekend of good eatin'!!!