Eggs at Egg

This is my second time having brunch at Egg in Williamsburg. The Egg Rothko (eggs in a basket) were as yummie as I remember it last time. With some melted cheese and stewed tomatoes...delicious. This place also has the best bacon I think I've ever had - carmalized, sweet and savory. But, make sure to come here only when you are planning a very late brunch as it is very popular and always busy.

Egg
135 N. 5th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718.302.5151

Ciao Chow

I love it, I love it, I love it. The street, the space, the art,...the food!

Ciao for Now
523 East 12th Street (between Avenue A & B)
New York, NY 10009
212.677.2616

Pork Dork

Last night for my friend Tobye's birthday, she hosted a lovely dinner at The National. She had been raving about this place since her last visit and I am so thankful to her for introducing me to it. I made the bold move of ordering the jerk pork ribs after peer pressure from the birthday girl, and although I rarely eat pork, I was a very happy girl. The ribs with the deviled potato salad were a great pairing, and the mussels were a hit as well. Not the best night to wear a skin-tight mini-dress, though.

The National
8 Rivington Street (between Bowery & Chrystie)
New York, NY 10002
212.777.2177

Que Bueno

If you want something delicious, affordable, and different, Caracas is it. Yes, it is technically old news, but the lines are still outside the door even on the quietest of evenings. I keep coming back and frequent more often then any other place in the city. In Brooklyn, or NYC, whether you are grabbing it to-go, or waiting at the Bourgeois Pig with a drink, the de Pabellon and Quesillo is always amazing.

Caracas Arepa Bar
93 1/2 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
212.529.2314

OR

Caracas Arepa Bar
291 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718.218.6050

Listen Sister

Forgive me, for I did not take any pictures, but I went to an amazing dinner last night (coincidentally for my big sister's birthday) and you will just need to use your imaginations, or better yet, just try it out yourself. Sorella in the LES was one of the yummiest Italian meals I have had in a while, and that means a lot because Italian, I dare say, is my favorite. I will leave you with three thoughts: brussel sprouts with bacon and apple, gnocchi with brown butter pears and chives, and bananimal gelato.

Sorella
95 Allen Street (between Broome & Delancey)
New York, NY 11201
212.274.9595

Stumptown in Our Town

Most would agree that there is no better way to start a morning then with a fresh cup of coffee. Actually, it is not only pleasant, but absolutely necessary. Finally, there is a quality spot for us all to indulge on caffeine, and some stellar decor in Midtown-West. Ace Hotel recently opened their own Stumptown coffee shop (from Portland with love) where one can sip a latte, munch on a buttered pretzel pastry, all while being served by Newsies. It's my kind of place.

Ace Hotel
18 West 29th Street
New York, NY 10001

Bongo Brunch

I LOVE BRUNCH. It's my absolute most favorite. I can go into great detail about the delightful brunch that I had at The Bongo Room in Wicker Park. I could talk about the dill hashbrowns, or the eggs benedict, or the bellini (which were all amazing) but I want to focus on the pancake. Between my friend and I we decided to be the most gluttonous of people that afternoon and on top of our savory meals we split a single pancake as well. This was the best pancake I have had. Each bite got better, and my only regret was not getting a full stack of three. It was probably for the best though seeing as I only average about one trip to the gym a week now-a-days. All I am going to say is if you are ever at The Bongo Room, please order the lemon ricotta and toasted coconut pancake. Pictured I only have the eggs benedict seeing as I couldn't even muster a thought to photograph the pancake while in awe of its flavor.

The Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60622
773.489.0690

Hot Chocolate: #1

My first official food post for the blog, just so happens to not be for a meal I had in NYC, but in another wonderful city, Chicago. Over Labor Day weekend I made a trip out to the windy city to visit a close friend and on Saturday night we followed dinner with a most exquisite dessert spot, Hot Chocolate. Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate in Wicker Park was nominated for the 2007-2008 James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef, and boy was that deserved. After much debate, and with the help of our waiter, my friend, Jessica, ordered the creme brulee and I ordered the Chocolate #1. Our very friendly waiter even comped us with a dessert of his choosing, a blueberry mousse, which was his seasonal favorite. The desserts were so delicious and presentation was impecable. The Chocolate #1 featured a chocolate ganache tart stuffed with a chocolate souffle and served with a salted caramel ice cream and a homemade pretzel. Need I say more? The slight salty flavor of the ice cream and pretzel were a delightful touch to the very decadant chocolate. The ambience in this darkly lite restaurant was very romantic and modern and I was pleased to hear that beyond their extensive dessert menu was also a dinner, lunch, brunch, and cocktail menu. Oh, and did I mention there is hot chocolate on the menu as well?

Mindy's Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773.489.1747

The Mission Statement

I LOVE to eat out (like most all New Yorkers)...often to a fault. After spending my days analyzing the previous day's meals and obsessing about my favorite new restaurant finds, I decided to start this blog. Here you will find my thoughts and reviews on dining out in glorious New York City. This blog is for old friends & new friends who need a restaurant recommendation, or just want to hear me babble about the most delicious part of life.