Afternoon at the Pub
March 20, 2013
It’s been awhile since I’ve stayed in my own neighborhood, but this past weekend I decided to venture uptown to Five Lamps Tavern. Located in close proximity to Columbia University, this whole area is buzzing with great places. While their food is pretty standard pub fare, they have an impressive craft beer list, and fantastic back garden space. Although the snow stopped us from a seat at the picnic table, next time around I’m hoping for more spring-like temps.
Sliders
Corned Beef
Beer flights including Third Shift Amber Lager and Radeberger to name a couple
Back garden area
Swoon Kitchenbar
March 11, 2013
If you’re hungry and in Hudson, I recommend spending a lunch or dinner at Swoon Kitchenbar. Their fresh, locally sourced menu changes weekly based on the season, and it was top of my list to check out. To keep with our cheese trend of the day, we opted for a sampler plate including Humble Pie, a cow, sheep milk blend that was creamy and tangy from Woodcock farm in Vermont, Ewe’s Blue, a sheep’s milk blue veined cheese from Old Chatham Sheepherding in New York, and of course our favorite Hudson Red from Pampered Cow. The shoestring fries with spicy aioli were a perfect extra snack. Although we stopped in during a quiet midday hour, the bar is known to attract a crowd and the tables fill up quickly in the evening hours, so be sure to get there early for a seat.
Ewe’s Blue cheese
Fries
Bread & Olive Oil
Cheese plate
Shake Shack
February 3, 2013
If you’re in New York and craving some fast food, you should make a stop at one of the quintessential burger joints of the city, Shake Shack. The other day I opted for their Smoke Shack burger– including cheese, applewood smoked bacon and peppers. About to get a milkshake for dessert, once I laid eyes on the Mast Brothers chocolate bar made just for Shake Shack, I had to splurge and try out the latest from my favorite Brooklyn chocolatiers instead. It was well worth the $9 for the delicious dark chocolate blend with earthy notes of cranberry and cinnamon, and of course the adorable packaging and artwork certainly helped sway my decision.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! x
Smoke Shack burger with cheese, Niman Ranch all-natural applewood smoked bacon and chopped cherry pepper with fries
Smoke Shack burger
Fries and ketchup
Mast Brothers Chocolate Bar– A Shake Shack dark chocolate blend with earthy notes of cranberry and cinnamon
Happy 2013!
January 6, 2013
Happy New Year! I’ve had such a wonderful couple weeks spending time with family, friends and relaxing– and hope you did as well. In between the holiday festivities, I’ve been working on my new website that I’m looking forward to sharing soon. As for the latest food shoots, I spent an afternoon in Downtown Syracuse grabbing some sandwiches to go. Of course, whenever I’m in the area, my first stop is Pastabilities for their infamous hot tomato oil. For the sandwiches, I decided to stop at Kitty Hoynes, a casual Irish pub, for a reuben, and lastly made my way to Franklin Square’s Boulangerie for a chicken salad sandwich.
Pastabilities Hot Tomato Oil
Reuben Sandwich from Kitty Hoynes
Reuben Sandwich
Fries and pickles
Chicken salad waldorf with apples, raisins, cheddar and nuts
Franklin Square
Chicken salad waldorf with apples, raisins, cheddar and nuts
Donna D. Photography Brings Us… For the love of uni
December 18, 2012
I have an obsession with those spiny little globular animal’s gonads. I can’t get enough of their creamy custard-like texture that dissolves on your tongue and tastes like a delightful ocean mist with a sweet after tone. Anytime, I hear about a restaurant serving up the best oceanic foie gras, especially one whose menu reads like a Jacque Cousteau book, a visit is a must. It took me two years to get there but Marea, and its warm sea urchin wrapped under a cashmere blanket of melted lardo, was well worth the wait.
FUNGHI acquarello risotto, wild mushrooms, parmigiano
RICCI sea urchin, lardo, sea salt
ASTICE nova scotia lobster, burrata, eggplant al funghetto, basil
SAN PIETRO new zealand john dory, sunchokes, pomegranate, brussel sprouts, hazelnuts
SPIGOLA NERA local black bass, beluga lentils, cipollini onion, trumpet royal muchrooms, red wine jus
TAGLIOLINI manila clams, calamari, white wine, hot chilies
FUSILLI durum wheat pasta, red wine braised octopus, bone marrow & SPARNOCCHI sweet main shrimp, lava salt, lemon
BOMBOLONI deep fried doughnuts, zabaglione crema, espresso crumble chocolate sauce, white espresso gelato & NOCCIOLA PRALINATO hazelnut, dark chocolate lemon, mint
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
December 5, 2012
One of the best parts of New York during the Christmas season is the markets that pop up across town. I was thrilled to hear that my favorite beef jerky boys at Field Trip were going to be setting up shop at Columbus Circle’s Holiday market, where I frequent often. I’ve already made a couple visits and certainly plan to stop by more before Christmas. The market has expanded from years past to include a more diverse aray of food options, so you can not only shop but grab a bite as well. Happy Holiday Shopping! x
Field Trip Jerky
Pepper vinegar pulled pork and green apple coleslaw from The Fat Beagle
Grilled Cheese from Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen
Central Park
Chicken from the Red Basil Thai Kitchen
Happy Saturday!
November 17, 2012
It’s a beautiful start to the weekend, and I’m thrilled to say that I’m staying local and enjoying the city. With the cooler season just upon us, one of my favorite ways to pass the hours on a Saturday afternoon around the Upper West Side is to take a glimpse around the Natural History Museum and go across the street to the New York Historical Society for lunch. A huge fan of the decor, they combine perfectly the look of a traditional home dining room with a modern flair. Our recent visit left us a little too full for lunch hour, but the food was just too good to not indulge.
Arancini
Salad
Artichoke Mezzaluna with porcini and parsley
Gnocchi Gratinata with black truffle fonduta
The Regis in Red Lodge
November 10, 2012
Amongst the options for a Sunday breakfast in Red Lodge, Regis Cafe is quite the popular choice. Early morning starts out quietly, but the tables soon fill up with locals and visitors alike– from churchgoers to adventure enthusiasts stopping through town. With a high concentration of sustainable and organic food, the meals are unbelievably fresh. And if you’re in the mood for some grocery shopping, the shelves against the walls resemble what you’d find down the aisles of Whole Foods, so you can always grab that box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese to make for dinner on your way out.
Pineapple French Toast
Pineapple French Toast & Coffee
Bacon, eggs, toast and fruit
Bacon
Roberts Cafe
October 25, 2012
Roberts, Montana is a small town that you very easily could pass without even realizing it. But if you’re being attentive on the road, you just might notice the little side street that holds a post office, art gallery, farm supply shop and cafe. This no frills diner had a very homemade artistic feel to it. The food was what you’d expect at a diner– we ordered a standard eggs/toast and grilled cheese, but it’s certainly one of those places off the beaten path that was worth a visit.
Roberts Cafe
Grilled Cheese and Fries
Tator Tots
Eggs & Toast
A Taco Bus in Red Lodge
October 15, 2012
One of my favorite places to escape the hustle and bustle of New York is Red Lodge, Montana. Nestled below the towering Beartooth Mountains, we grabbed lunch at Taqueria Las Palmitas my first afternoon in town. This school bus turned taco truck could possibly have some of the best tasting Mexican around, for quite the deal– only $1.50 per taco. And it gets extra points for its unique location. Parked off the main street alongside historic log cabins, this wouldn’t be a place you’d expect to stumble upon, but well worth a visit. We filled up on tacos and quesadillas while chatting with a local guide sharing adventure stories from Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, and of course the nearby treks of Red Lodge.
Chicken tacos
Pork tacos
Quesadillas
Tacos
a camera in the kitchen 