Chobani Creations

I have tried nearly every Chobani yogurt flavor that is on the shelves. Even Lemon once by accident when I purchased it instead of Pineapple.  The verdict is in on what the best flavor they make is - PLAIN! Over the past year or so I have experimented with a variety of different flavors from Peach to Black Cherry to Apple Cinnamon. All delicious, but if you eat it every single day for a long period of time you inevitably will get tired of it. The Plain has freshened up my breakfast and allowed me to continue enjoying my favorite yogurt once again. Add some fresh strawberries, a few cut up blackberries and some Bare Naked Granola and you are good to go! 

Smooth, crunchy, a little tart, and perfect way to start the day.

If you aren't eating at the office and have the luxury of a blender then SMOOTHIE it up.

5 Ice Cubes

1-6 oz plain Chobani yogurt

3-4 Strawberries

3 blackberries

Drizzle of Honey

ENJOY!

CATCH

Catch was a MUST HIT place according to my fellow food lovers. It pains me to say this, but I wanted to love it so much more. The space was phenomenal with a rustic feel with the exposed brick yet new age see in kitchen. Our darling waiter, wish I remembered his name was so amazing. So helpful with picking champagne and recommending his fave dishes.

Some highlights...

 The pretzel bread was insanely tasty and loved that as a different bread option!

Crispy Shrimp spicy mayo. This was great and a way bigger portion than I would have thought.

Macaroni & Lobster Cream mascarpone, breadcrumbs. Was not a fan of this dish. Maybe the mascarpone was overpowering, but just too many flavors competing. 

(from top to bottom) Catch Roll, Hudson Roll, Hellfire Roll

Had a taste of my sig others swordfish which was fine, but was not in love with my sushi rolls. Maybe it was a bad night but sushi was not fresh and really disappointing. I'm not here to be a hater but had to blog about this place bc I want to know what your signature dishes are? Maybe they haven't discovered them yet but please do tell. We had an overall pleasurable evening with my man on my birthday evening but would love to try it again with some better pointers and direction. Thanks food friends!

Tiramisu espresso granita lady finger croutons. yUM! Happy Birthday to me :)

Robert and myself celebrating my big 3-0!

http://emmgroupinc.com/restaurants/catch/

Spice Market Still Going Strong

New Yorkers are alway trying to hit up the new hot spot. Whether it's for dining, drinks or just for the scene - there is always something on the horizon. Going to that early bird special or the midnight reservation just to get a table! I often succumb to such ridiculous behavior so I can experience and spread the word to everyone you know. I recall having this urge ever since starting my media buyer job where as you know, dining is the best part. Spice Market was the new meat packing it spot and I couldn't wait to test it out.  Failed attempts at getting there lead me to just simply forget about it and it soon became just another restaurant. As my 30th birthday just came around I tried thinking of some of those missed locations. Spice Market it is ! With my entire work team and fellow industry friends headed downtown I anxiously awaited lunch. 

The decor alone made me want to just spend the afternoon and relax sipping an exotic tea from India. The barely English speaking, yet kind waitress helped us choose our apps and food. I love a good sharing style, so we rattled off the pork, lamb,chicken and everything you can imagine dishes. 

The empanadas dish was tasty an delicious with an awesome cilantro lime dipping sauce.

The vindaloo pork dish was so filling. Layers of meat veggies and plethora of sauce to dump the fried rice in. 

I can't wait to go back here with friends and maybe sit in a fancy downstairs lounge table. Although it might not be the newest spot in the ever so changing city, I have certainly found a special place for spice market.

Pie Face!!

Gotta get it stacked!

Ricotta and pear dessert treat!

I have recently traveled to Australia and come across a chain lunch spot called Pie Face. It seemed like a pretty simple yet clever idea. A flaky pie crust filled with various meats and vegetables. Then you can get it stacked with mashed potatoes, gravy and peas! It almost sounds weird, but it was such a great food experience.

 Usually when you travel and you return to your homeland, you always remember those meals that really made the trip. That really good pizza you ate in Naples or maybe the paella you sampled in Sevilla. Regardless of where or what you ate, it seems to be a challenge to duplicate the experience at home. Upon my return to the states I came to the realization that Pie Face was open in NYC. If it were to open anywhere in the US it would be NY and I am so thankful for having the luxury of having this great city as my playground.  A midtown advertising employer heads north on a beautiful spring day to check out the recently opened chain on 53rd and Broadway. New Yorkers are still unaware of the Pie Face phenomena, but I envision that it is only a matter of time before they start popping up in every neighborhood across the island. The Mexican pie stacked was the perfect fix for a stressful Thursday. I can't wait to go back and sample the rest. 

From Bondi to Broadway!!!

53rd and Broadway NYC!!!

Just a little mini apple pie treat!

Toloache Tacos

I had the pleasure of taking part in the Tacos & Tequila event during the Food Network's Food & Wine Festival in October. It was an experience like no other. I have frequented 82 Mercer on a few occasions for media events and it is always a great space for a party. Tables lined up and down the rooms with chefs from all over the city in action cooking up all varieties of taco treats. I was told to take a bite of one and throw the rest out or I will be full before I get to the 3rd table. What a crazy concept, but it had to be done since there were an incredible amounts of options to try.  One of the locations that I took note of was Toloache. They had served a veal cheek taco that I remembered being one of my favorites of the night. 

Last week when the restaurant week menus were published I saw that Toloache was included for 2012. I viewed about 25 menus to see if any were better than others regarding what options were included for the pre-fixed price. I ended up going with Toloache. Now that I have returned from dinner I didn't even bother ordering off the restaurant week menu! Not even sure why I looked because I knew I would end up ordering whatever I wanted anyway. Being that I was quite fond of the veal taco from the event a few months prior I couldn't steer clear of that. Since they were small portions the waiter recommended ordering another as well. When I asked the waiter if he recommended the De Cabeza, I think he was nervous that I wouldn't want to eat veal head, little did he know I could care less where it came from! The meat literally melted in your mouth with each bite and tasted incredible. The other taco I went with was the Carne Asada, which was fine however it didn't come close to the veal. My sig other ended up with the  Shrimp dish that had an awesome flavor as well.

De Cabeza braised veal cheeks, onion, cilantro, chile de arbol salsa

 Carne Asada chile-rubbed skirt steak, pulque salsa borracha

This place was a great find and I can't wait to tell my work cronies about it. Doesn't look like much from the outside, especially with the neon sign. However, once you enter the door, the lack of the exterior is forgotten as you feel that you have landed in a lovely Mexican cantina. Bravo Chef Medina!

Mercer Kitchen

Mercer Kitchen has been a place I have wanted to try for quite some time.  I honestly had my mind made up that this was going to be an over-rated 'scene' but I was pleasantly surprised.  Of course looking at the menu the night before our reservation I was prepared for what I wanted. I had attempted to make a Butternut Squash recipe a few weeks prior and I wasn't overly impressed with my creation.  Figured I would try it out a few times and try to see what flavors I was missing to perfect my own recipe. I have to say this was a phenomenal soup to start with. On a freezing cold winter NYC day, it really hit the spot! They made them with black trumpet mushrooms, which I will have to try adding next go around!

Butternut Squash Soup with black trumpet mushrooms

Salmon with crispy sushi rice, chipotle mayo and ponzu

Omelette with goat cheese and roasted rosemary potatoes

Omlete was nothing special. Little too much goat cheese for my liking. Would have been nice if they put some sort of substance inside. Possibly spinach or mushrooms would have worked. Tried the Mercer burger, which was mighty tasty with its guacamole smothered self. Would get that if and when I go back. Loved the downstairs decor, was really an awesome space. 

Pizza Is My Soul Food @ John's Pizzeria

In the culinary Mecca of NYC I often become underwhelmed by the dining options as it becomes just too much to chose from. Another work lunch among us, another hour of flipping through the Zagat only coming up with question marks and mass confusion. Just when I think I have the perfect place, I see they are only open for dinner or my superior overrules my decision. It times like this where instead of being adventurous, I find comfort  in staying right in the neighborhood of midtown Manhattan. Streets screaming with tourists from Penn Station to Times Square we typically flee for the 1 train and head right to the village. Coworkers and friends alike complain about the lack of good restaurants by the office, but I suppose we really are all spoiled new Yorkers. Days like this are when a Johns Pizza on 44th hits the spot. Set in an old church with murals and decor that stimulates the senses. I am a sucker for some good architecture and John's has just that. They hold true to their 'no slices' policy stated on the backs of the wait staffs shirts. Now often my tendencies for over-eating take over my desire to be healthy, but today I stick to the food plan. A few servings of salads and only one pizza roll to start, but once that sausage pie comes out I know I'm doomed.

Now there is nothing that I hate more than eating sausage that hasn't been taken out of the casing. It pains me to  see pizza with sausage rounds that are flavorless and as visually stimulating as a piece of toast. The pork Italian sausage pizza at Johns is really what keeps me coming back for more! Large sections of crumbled up pork sausage so you get a juicy taste with every bite, it's absolutely divine!


I try avoiding the crust to save space for the good part, but then I realize that I now have evidence of how many slices I ate, oops! (It was 5 if you must know). All in all a solid and quick meal close to the office. Sometimes it's just good to stay simple ad stay close to home and remember that these same old places might just have exactly what you need that day.