Category Archives: New York City

Laduree, Sarabeths, Le Bain and more

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Good evening everyone! I’m back with another recap of my amazing NYC trip last weekend. I literally ate my way through the city and I have some iPhone photos to prove it.

My Saturday morning began at Sarabeth’s with my freshman roomie, Cameron! It was such a cute little brunch spot–we brunched at their South Central Park location. It was busy but it didn’t take too long to get seated. I had their veggie frittata with a pumpkin muffin and coffee. Filling and tasty.

I loved how we sat next to this little garden area. It really brightened up the damp and humid morning.

Next up was Laduree. Of course!

The store front was enough to melt my heart.

The inside was so cute. At $2.75 per macaron, I decided to get 4 to make the trip up there worth it, right? I got pistachio, salted caramel, coconut and chocolate. Mmmm…

For dinner we headed to the Meatpacking District with a few goals in mind: Biergarten at the Standard and a rooftop bar. We started out at Sea Thai–my prosecco, his Stella. I had pad thai and he had a green curry noodle dish. My pad Thai was too rich and left me feeling a little unsettled.

After dinner, I was dying to walk the high line. I practically stared at it all through dinner. We walked up and down the high line and were happy to see greenery and the Jersey shoreline. We also ran into a few food trucks up there…but I was too full to even think about food (not until 2am did I get my gelato). It was a romantic spot to walk around sunset time.After our walk, we had pint sized beers at the Biergarten at the Standard Hotel and enjoyed the people watching and the overall atmosphere. It was a fun place, but we were ready for a rooftop. We gulped those things down and headed up the elevator to Le Bain.

That would be a hot tub in the club. We were expecting a bar not a club, much less a club with a hot tub! We were shocked, but mostly in awe of the view.

After staring out the windows, we got drinks, sat down on a couch near the hot tub and enjoyed pure people watching entertainment on that Sunday night. Sorry for missing half your face in this photo, Ryan.

Things got wild and we got to be spectators. A hot tub in a club!? Still shocked.

Have you ever been to a club like that? Ever been to Sarabeths?

Bon Appetit,

That Foodie Girl

Shake Shack, Fig and Olive and Campbell Apartment

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Well, I’m back in Dallas now and I’m feeling a bit reminiscent about this past weekend. I had an amazing time seeing friends I hadn’t seen in a long time, spending time with Ryan and eating amazing food. There’s just something about NYC. I will be back soon.

So looking back, Saturday was all about getting to Shake Shack. Ryan and I walked an hour to get there, but it was worth it. The walk through Central Park was nice too. We waited in line for about 25 minutes, Ryan waited for the food to come out, and I stood in a line to get a table. Insanity. I’ve never seen this Upper West Side location so busy. We ate way too much food.

After that, we spent the afternoon lounging and watching the Olympics (my favorite). Once we felt like it was time to eat again, we decided on Fig & Olive.

I loved the pretty interior, and that evening it had rained, so it was a perfectly cool temperature, windows open and all. Since we weren’t starving, we shared 3 small plates. I love that Ryan and I share a love for trying dishes and getting little tastes of everything.

Please excuse the crappy iPhone photos, but this is going to have to do. We started with all 3 plates at the same time which I found to be a little rushed, but here’s dish #1. It’s their melon & prosciutto burrata salad. It was all my favorite things on one dish. Arugula, a bit of pesto, burrata, cantaloupe & prosciutto.

These are their Mediterranean chicken samosas with chicken, cilantro, Greek yogurt, bell pepper, scallion and olive oil. They were really good.

Finally, we shared a plate of 3 crostinis. From the top, [prosciutto, ricotta, fig, olive, walnut], [manchego, fig, marcona almond], and [burrata, tomato, herbs, balsamic]. These were just alright. Ryan commented that they didn’t exactly get their sweet to salty rations quite right. Some were too sweet, some just too bland.

After dinner, we set off in the rain to Grand Central Station.

I just couldn’t help but to look up in awe. I hadn’t been inside before! But we were on a mission to find Campbell Apartment. Thanks to everyone who tweeted me to suggest this amazing bar.

It actually was the office/salon of John W. Campbell of the 1920′s. It’s got that prohibition era feel with live jazz music and all and is located inside Grand Central Station (enter on opposite side of Ciprianis). Ryan and I fell in love with the place and spent a good amount of time just sitting and talking over our delicious cocktails.

(photo not my own)

I’m already missing that colorful city. Here’s to a trip back to NYC in my future!

Bon Appetit,

That Foodie Girl

A foodie’s paradise: NYC

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Greetings from NYC. I arrived Thursday night right before the huge storm rolled in. It felt so great to be back with Ryan, and we had a lovely (overpriced) meal inside the Waldorf Astoria.

On Friday I knew I was going to have to entertain myself because he had training all day, so I started off by running into an NYC favorite: Crumbs. I was good that morning and used the Waldorf fitness center, so I was really unsure of what I should do. I opted for an iced coffee and a muffin…the muffin was good, but I should’ve gotten over myself and ordered a dang cupcake.

I walked about 10 miles that day, and I especially loved the quieter and tree filled Upper East Side. When lunch time rolled around, I thought Dishes looked pretty busy, so I went in and was greeted by several healthy options. I love how it’s so easy to grab a made to order salad here. I had a spinach salad. On my lap on a bench outside Bloomingdales before I went in to shop.

I was craving something sweet (always) and opened up my FourSquare app to see what was buzzing around me. I slipped into Momofoku Milk Bar since I had heard so much about it.

The menu was kind of crazy and there was even a restaurant back there (Ma Peche) and a hotel! I ended up getting the cereal milk soft serve and a pack of birthday cake truffles. The soft serve was a very odd taste–though they hit the nail on the head with the cereal milk description. The bday cake truffles were something dreams are made of. Sugar. Rush.

Afterwards, I walked just about everywhere and oooed and ahhhed over this amazing concept:

What’s not to love? This is definitely on my list for next visit. The best part about my day was finally getting to be with Ryan. (cue the awwwwww’s)

But it’s true!

Bon Appétit,

That Foodie Girl

My latest foodie obsession: rhubarb

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(above photos not my own)

You may have heard about rhubarb once or twice before, but have you been brave enough to try it? Before you freak out about its initial appearance (see photos above), give its flavor a chance. It’s delicious and my current obsession.

Rhubarb is in fact a vegetable that belongs to the buckwheat family, but has edible stalks that are good for making preserves, pies, and….who knew! Martinis!

I ordered this tasty concoction at Mas Farmhouse, an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Greenwich Village, NYC. The mixologist must have been a genius, because I couldn’t taste an ounce of alcohol and I began to become even “thirstier”. I’m not sure what exactly went into the martini, but the rhubarb flavor was to die for.

The best way I can describe rhubarb is a more tart and richer version of a strawberry. In fact, when paired with strawberries, I’ve heard a pretty delicious pie can be made. So that is my mission. I want to find rhubarb at a market (probably Whole Foods?) and make a pie, muffins, and maybe even some martinis! I even tried a rhubarb popsicle while I was in New York. Let’s get creative with rhubarb! It’s too delicious and underrated to ignore anymore.

Have you ever had rhubarb before? Can you describe how it tastes?

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Tamarind: a sexy New York Indian eatery

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Dum Aloo Gobi

Tamarind

Where: Flatiron District, NYC

What: Indian

Coming in at number two on my list of favorite restaurants in New York City (Extra Virgin being number one), Tamarind has me really turned on to Indian cuisine.

I have to start by giving props to my dad. He chose the restaurant by searching Zagat (?) and because of his love for Indian food, decided on Tamarind, an upscale authentic Indian dining experience.

I’ve always enjoyed Indian food, but I don’t usually even consider it when deciding on where to eat in Dallas. Maybe there’s a lack of Indian places here, or perhaps I just haven’t been looking hard enough.

Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted by friendly staff members and your nose gets the royal treatment. I nearly melted when we first stepped in. The garlic and curry and all the delicious spices wafted through the air and made me even hungrier than I already was. Then, you walk a little further through their dining room and pass the open kitchen complete with tandoori ovens. And if you weren’t already convinced of the authenticity of the place, I noticed most tables were occupied by Indians and Indian-Americans alike. The food has to be good.

Chicken Shahi Korma

And it was. Although the menu was sort of confusing for a not-so-regular Indian food eater, the waiter was kind enough to explain everything. Before I go any further, I must preface the rest of my review with a warning: prepare to be extremely full.

To begin, I had the mango caipirinha (a fruity take on the traditional Brazilian cocktail) and my friend had the tamarind margarita. My drink was tasty, but not cold enough. They used freshly blended mango that was probably not refrigerated, so at least it was fresh. The tamarind margarita was delicious. Don’t even try to miss out on their innovative drink menu.

For our appetizer we ordered the Dum Aloo Gobi. Bear with me on these names. It was a potato and cauliflower dish simmered in onion tomato sauce. If you enjoy cauliflower, this dish is for you. I love cauliflower, so the crunchy texture paired with a mildly spicy and smoky flavored sauce was incredible. I’ve never tasted anything like it.

For my main dish I ordered the Chicken Shahi Korma. A roasted chicken in a saffron cashew sauce. Ok, I’m craving this right now just typing this. It came served in a deep silver dish with plenty of extra curry-like sauce. On the side, we all shared lemon flavored basmati rice. The waiter served the rice on my plate and topped it with my chicken dish (as you can see in the photo). I loved the friendly service. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the sauce was slightly creamy, but not too overwhelming. The mixture of spices made for a very exciting, but not too spicy dish.

Majjiga Pulusu

My dad ordered the Majjiga Pulusu. A large dish with green plantain, yam, radish, white pumpkin, carrots and okra with buttermilk, mustard seeds and curry leaves. The large bread-looking things in the center of his dish are kind of similar to an Indian equivalent of a popover. Because my dad doesn’t eat meat, this was one of many great vegetarian options.

Although your table will be full of food, the roti breads are not to be skipped. We ordered a basket of garlic nan. It was a delicious accompaniment to the meal, not to mention you can dip the nan in your extra sauces, or in my case, my curry.

Overall, insanely delicious flavors, a sexy dining experience and a staff that treats you like royalty. A hands down win on all fronts.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Care for a snowcone in a Chinese takeout box?

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Happy Monday everyone!

Everyone knows Mondays can be sort of boring and drab, so I thought I’d give you a little bit of food-viewing pleasure this morning.

Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls

What: snow cones

Where: West Village, NY

My interest was immediately piqued when I saw the bright colors and big comfy pillows that lined the window seats around the little snow cone joint. Then, I saw people leaving the store eating snow cones out of Chinese takeout boxes! A cool, innovative way to alter the classic snow cone is probably what has customers coming back for more.

I’ve seen snow cone trucks and snow cone stands, but never a store. It was a cool concept–I just hope they can survive in the crazy competitive food market of NYC. I ordered mine with tangerine and granny smith apple. It was pretty good, but a little too sweet to handle. Naturally, I had to compare this place with my favorite snow cone place, Sno Beach in Austin. At Sno Beach, they have the “snow” concept down pat. It literally tastes like you’ve scooped up a handful of the ideal powdery snow and topped it with the perfect combination of sweet and sour (or whatever flavor you so desire). At Imperial Woodpecker (weird name, I know), there was too much sugar and I occasionally bit down on a chunk of ice. It wasn’t perfect, but it was satisfying and was a tasty way to cool down on that particularly warm New York summer day.

As far as the photo at the top of this blog–this is my dad’s photo. He ordered the coconut cream and really seemed to enjoy it.

So, stay cool this week, and try to find a local snow cone place! Has anyone found one in Dallas?

Oh! And before I forget— That Foodie Girl is now on Twitter!! Follow me at @thatfoodiegrl to get exclusive updates and alerts anytime a new post is added!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Birthday Cupcakes and Magnolia Bakery

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It’s my birthday today, so I figured I’d do my Magnolia Bakery post! Although I won’t be enjoying those delicious cupcakes, I think I packed enough of them into my month in New York City to last me a while. Above is the cute early birthday dessert plate my boyfriend’s mom made for both of us. Ryan’s birthday is almost exactly a month after mine, so it was a nice little early celebration together. All the desserts came from Central Market (yum). My favorite was the blueberry tart.

I know, I know. I’ve already mentioned Magnolia Bakery in my previous blog entries, but there’s just something about this place that actually makes you drool just looking at the photo above (or stepping into the actual bakery). I love the way they ice their cupcakes–it looks so perfect, yet still homemade. That chocolate frosting goodness is a dream, and I knew that photo would make me miss having a Magnolia a couple blocks away from my West Village apartment.

And just for your viewing pleasure…

Their mini key lime pie tarts. I didn’t actually get to try one, but they look awesome. There were just too many baked goods to choose from. My favorites were the vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting and the chocolate chunk blondie. YUM YUM. For now, I will celebrate my birthday with a Dallas cupcake…What’s your favorite?

Yankees Stadium: care for some sushi?

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I’m back in Dallas now, and back at my internship at You Plus Dallas. It feels great to be back in the city I like to call home, but also a little sad my month in New York is over. To help reminisce a bit, I still have a few more New York City posts for you all.

First off, My dad and I went to a Yankees game at the new stadium, and we had pretty awesome seats as you can see from the photo above. Coming into a baseball game, most people think a beer, a hot dog and some peanuts, right? Well, not at this baseball game. Food ranged from hot dogs to sushi to pizza to noodle bowls. What really made me laugh was when I saw a man carrying a big box that you would usually see filled with hotdogs, but this time filled with gourmet sushi and some extra wasabi and ginger on the side. Even the baseball stadiums are a foodie’s paradise in New York City!

Since I was at a baseball game, I had to stick with the classics. My dad and I ordered our favorite beers; Blue Moon for me, Leffe Blonde for him. My dad ordered peanuts and I went on the hunt for some great classics.

I got in like at Nathan’s Famous and ordered a hot dog and some of their massive crinkle-cut fries. Although the menu clearly displayed the alarming calorie counts for each item, I figured, you only live once, right? Yikes. I shared the fries with my dad since it was enough calories to feed one person in a whole day. They were thick and perfectly crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. The hot dog lived up to it’s “famous” standards, but was so tiny, I found myself wanting another.

I don’t know what it is about Dippin Dots, but I can’t ever seem to resist it. Good thing the “ice cream of the future” is only sold at limited locations–like ballparks and theme parks. How cute is that little Yankees hat for a bowl? I had to.

Stay tuned for another NYC post tomorrow!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Authentic Greek food at Snack NYC

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Snack

What: Greek

Where: Soho

I stumbled upon this little Greek eatery on my Four Square app…and when I say little I mean it. It was a tiny little 5 table restaurant situated on a relatively calm street in Soho. Thankfully we only had to wait about 10 minutes since it was just me and my Dad. We were squished into the little place and it was kind of hard to hear each other even though we were just a foot away from one another. But that’s New York sometimes, right?

We started with the hummus and the Greek salad. As you can see, the Greek salad was very authentic and delicious. I loved the fresh cucumbers, onions and tomatoes drenched in maybe a bit too much olive oil. The starters were both really good–the pita bread came out a bit late, but was freshly baked, warm and went really well with the hummus.

I had the spinach pie. A nice little “snack” size (ha), it was filo stuffed with spinach, feta, onion, parsley and dill. I liked that it was just the right amount, but I wasn’t crazy about the flavor. Since it was under the “savory pies” section of the menu, I assumed it would be more umami-tasting (that’s just a cool way of saying rich and savory). The pie was more of a bitter, tart tasting dish. I would have preferred more feta and less dill, but hey, maybe this is more of a authentic Greek dish. I don’t know, you tell me!

My dad ordered the vegetarian mousaka. Although it appears to look slightly strange, it was rich and satisfying. Almost like a Greek lasagna, the mousaka came with eggplant, mushrooms and a creamy bechamel sauce. It was a lot for a lunch portion, but good nonetheless.

So if you ever find yourself looking for authentic Greek food in Soho, this is your place. I wasn’t that impressed with my spinach pie, but I think I would go back to try some of their dinner options like my personal favorite– saganaki, a delicious kasseri cheese lit on fire and topped with lemon juice.

Tonight I’m going to a Yankees game. Be on the lookout for a ballpark food post!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Comfort food, wine bars & cupcakes

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So, it’s been a little while since I’ve posted and that would be because my twin brother Travis came to visit me in NYC. We toured around everywhere and ate lots of awesome food.

South Houston NYC
(pronounced [how-stin])

What: comfort food

Where: Soho

We stopped at this little restaurant in Soho for lunch one day only to be greeted by a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. As you can see in the photo, it’s a little funky and rustic, open and airy, and made for a great lunch spot. I ordered the veggie burger, which was a bit mushy for my taste, but still good. Travis had the South Houston burger, which he seemed to enjoy. It wasn’t awesome food by any means, but I loved the fun music and the laid back ambiance that isn’t always easy to find in the Big Apple. But, the best part about this place came with the check: a box of chewy Lemonheads. Yum! My favorite! I love little personal touches like that–something that makes you smile…and come back again.

Next stop:

Gottino Gastroteca

What: wine bar

Where: West Village

What a romantic spot! I’d heard so much about their walnut pesto before going in, and wow. It’s worth the hype. My friend and I ordered lots of little appetizers and a glass of wine each. I wouldn’t be able to tell you what type of wine I had– it was a special Italian red wine I hadn’t ever heard of. It was $15 and worth every cent. We had the walnut pesto crostinis and some aged gruyere to share. The crostinis were tiny, especially for the steep price. Delicious nonetheless. I had a crepe with prosciutto and mozzarella and it filled me up and was the right amount of food. I loved the overall feel of this sexy wine bar. It was almost as if we were in Italy, decades back. I’d definitely recommend this place for a late night drink/snack or a light dinner.

and finally…

Magnolia Bakery

What: bakery

Where: all over Manhattan

Does this cupcake not look FAKE? Unfortunately for me, there’s a Magnolia right behind my apartment. I went with Travis this weekend and I got the vanilla with chocolate frosting. I had tried the red velvet after I had it sitting in a box for 3 days and wasn’t too impressed…but it was probably the circumstances. So going in, I had my doubts. Is this place really as good as everyone says it is? YES. This vanilla/chocolate combo tasted like the birthday cakes my mom used to bake for us. It tasted so homemade and the chocolate frosting was a perfect buttery chocolate combination. Now do I stop by on my way back from work…?

Only 4 full days left in the city. This month has flown by. Please let me know any suggestions or recommendations you have. And when I’m back in Dallas (on July 6th) I will begin my taco tour. Get ready for it!

As always, please help me spread the word by liking That Foodie Girl on Facebook.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl