« Back

Next »

Picture 1 from 9: Made in Florida, but certainly loved by this beach town.

While on a weekend trip away from the Big Apple, I shot some photos of some beachy snacks, signs and even seaweed!

…at my friend Ryan Dill’s backyard bbq!

Originally from New Orleans, and now residing in Brooklyn, Ryan invited me over for a summer soiree where she and her roommate cooked up some serious Louisiana goodness–gumbo, alligator sausage, boudin and crawfish-stuffed baked potatoes (the latter being my favorite)!

Nothing like a little crawfish to make me realize just how much I miss the Crescent City…

This simple salad made of blanched farmer’s market green beans, sliced radishes and imported sardines, dressed with a little red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil was delicious!  I ordered it at a small Italian restaurant in my neighborhood that serves mostly small plates.

And while I love going out to eat (almost 5 nights a week!), I might skip the visit to the restaurant next time I want this and just making it at home because it would be so easy to make myself.  I think I might even throw in some chopped Kalamata olives to my version!

I usually don’t work on Mondays and love to go out for breakfast or lunch by myself, a good book in hand.  Last Monday, I decided to go to my neighborhood Spanish tapas restaurant and take advantage of their happy hour special–$1 oysters from 5-7pm!  I cannot think of a better way to spend a Monday afternoon.

Instead of regular old French fries, a small taco stand in my neighborhood serves these–deep fried strips of yucca with chipotle ketchup and jalapeno mayo dipping sauces.  Muy delicioso!  Washed down with a cold cerveza, this was a really great snack.  Although, eating two tacos and half a torta with them, did put me over the edge…

When I saw this on an iPhone application, I had a sudden epiphany!  Being a pastry chef can be really hard work.  Now I understand why…

 

« Back

Next »

Picture 1 from 4: English lavender, lemon thyme and tarragon make up this box of scents!

Remember that post about the rooftop garden I was going to plant?  Well, it is in full swing now and here are some photos of the season’s best!

 

« Back

Next »

Picture 1 from 4: Vietnamese jewelry designers will help you choose a piece of jewelry or custom-design something for you while you wait!

At Bahn Mi Saigon Bakery, you can get great Vietnamese sandwiches and handmade jewelry! While waiting for your sandwich to be made (and if it’s during the lunch hour, that wait might be 30 minutes), you can have one of the women who work in the front of the shop create a one-of-a-kind beaded bracelet or necklace for you.

This shop which is part jewelry store and part sandwich shop is just a tiny, narrow storefront in NYC’s Chinatown neighborhood.  Tucked between street vendor stalls selling fresh produce, if you didn’t know there was a bakery in the back, you’d never think to stop in for one of the city’s best bahn mi because the window display offers nothing but jewelry!

Who cares about mashed potatoes when you can get an even better version of the famous spud.  Purchased somewhere in Idaho, and brought back to me by a friend, this coconut-sprinkled, chocolate-covered and cocoa-marshmallow filled candy bar was AWESOME!!!  I could eat a hundred of these things!

 

« Back

Next »

Picture 1 from 3: In addition to the dozen or so regular flavors on offer, Earl Grey Tea was the daily special.

On a side street in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood parks an artisanal ice cream truck called Van Leeuwen.  The flavors are pretty straight-forward: mint-chip, pistachio and chocolate, for example.  But, the ingredients are not.  Each flavor is made with incredibly high quality products–Sicilian pistachios and Michel Cluizel chocolates to name a few.  The creme de la creme of ice cream, if you will.  And for nearly $5 a cone, they should be!