Good Food In a Hotel

Yep, in a hotel! You’ll have to travel to Buenos Aires to get these good eats (if you’re not already there)…lucky duck!

My dad is the expert when it comes to finding hidden treasures…and thanks to me, they are no longer hidden! =P

To start the meal off go for the creamy Burrata and fresh salad. Do NOT forget the Mollejas – grilled sweetbread with a lemony egg emulsion base. Insanely good!

Main dish – two options.

If you wanna go all typical you will never go wrong with their Ojo de Bife / Angus Rib Eye grilled to your liking of course! Elena pairs it with a side of yummy veggies – really – it’s all about the MEAT though!

OR go for the Cabrito Rostizado / Slow Roasted Baby Goat with a cramy ‘humita’ base and marinated raw zucchini. (Humita is basically a cream of corn, perfect balance of sweet and savory).

Yeah, having been my first time here I made someone else order the ‘other’ dish I wanted – that way I got to taste both. We all know we both left happy!

Oh dessert. Sweet, sweet dessert. Ice cream made in house, you’ll have a choice of original flavors. Photographed here is the ‘chocotorta’, a take on a cake you’ll find at every single Argentine adult’s child’s birthday party!

Our infamous Almendrado on the right. A block of vanilla ice cream rolled around in almond brittle, top that puppy with warm chocolate sauce. Mouth – water…I know! Perfect end to a perfect meal in truthfully a perfect setting!

1 2 3 4 Winter Spring Summer Fall =)

Raw (Not the Vegetarian Kind)

I’ll start with – Vegetarians beware! – Although it may be too late now! =/

As many of you may already know, I’m Armenian. Armenians love food – Armenians love meat – Armenians love raw meat. (I guess that’s the simplest way to describe us). haha!

Yes, raw.

This particular dish is my dad’s – Pepan’s – specialty! Ever since I was a little girl I would stand by and watch him make it. I would prep each ingredient in a dish, set it all up on the table and then watch him work! From years of watching I can say I’m quite the expert myself…I think…

So what goes into Chikefte? – aka Kibbeh, Keyma, Steak Tartare:

Very, very lean, extremely finely ground beef

Uncooked bulghur wheat

Red pepper paste

And those secret family ingredients I can’t give away! (I know – lame – but I’ve been sworn to secrecy!)

In traditional Armenian tables Chikefte is usually served as a mezze or appetizer. At home, it’s our main meal! Mom prepares a fresh tomato and green onion salad. Dad also makes a cooked ground spiced beef dish.

Ideally each is layered to make (to me) the perfect platter! Pair it with a few pieces of lavash and you are good to go!

Now, give yourself time for a nap right after the meal…you’ll need it!

Thank you Papi for teaching me your specialty…although I now know how to make it, I will never stop asking you to make it for me! =)

Whoooly Moly

Given the amazing locations I’ve been writing about all this time, you’ll probably laugh at me when you read this…

If I had to choose one place to eat at for the rest of my life – deep inhale, relaxing exhale – yes, I choose Whole Foods.

We all know WF right? You walk in and instantly the first thing that hits you is the colors – like a slap in the face (making you feel guilty after all the junk you’ve been consuming). Organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts, seeds, clothing, ahh!! You can smell how healthy this place is – and you love it!

To tell you the truth I don’t actually grocery shop here, prices are way too high to make it my regular go-to. But there is something in here that is so totally worth it!

SALAD BAR – SOUP BAR – BAKED GOODS BAR?

Yup, after a mid-morning walk with my mom Susy, to keep up with the healthy ‘glow’, we head on over to Whole Foods for lunch! What I personally go for is a big ‘ol mix of they’re prepared salads, a cup of soup, and a perfectly puffed up whole wheat mini baguette of course.

So about the salads – you know when you get home after work and all you want is something light but still crave creativity? All you can come up with is cut up romaine, store bought croutons and a dollop of Caesar dressing? – just sad. The team at WF clearly does not have this issue. The variety here is insane, and you want to try it all! Asian noodle salad with peanut dressing, chicken with Turkish dried apricots, Mediterranean orzo with feta and olives, ginger orange beets…the list is never-ending, and it’s all perfectly dressed.

Oh man, and the soups. Again, variety! My two go-to’s – split pea or lentil – and on a really cold day…fiiiine…I’ll take the barley mushroom. =)

Before we head over to the check out lines Susy and I stop, no exception, at the baked goods section. I think I’ve mentioned my favorite meal of the day? La merienda?! That’s tea-time for me. I need something to accompany my mate people! Cookies are good, but go for ANY of the muffins, my favorite – blueberry!

…and that’s why I choose Whole Foods.

The End

Oh Pudding

I have to admit, one of the things I look forward to when family and friends come to visit me in the city is…here it goes…stepping into Magnolia Bakery again! =D Truthfully, I never go into any of their locations if it doesn’t involve somebody I love having the pleasure of tasting their amazing Banana Pudding for the first time.

Yes, I said banana pudding…not cupcakes! Magnolia did become famous for their visually beautiful little cakes but I respectfully disagree, there is one other place that takes #1 – and you’ll come to find out shortly!

Stepping into any of their little bakeries is like stepping into sweet sweet heaven. Stacks of colorful cupcakes waiting to be hand-picked, layer cakes being frosted right before your eyes, sweetness, frosting, sweetness, cake…choose pudding!

The flavor is truly indescribable. Just scoop a spoonful, close your eyes, and let it all in! Creamy, fluffy, sweetness will fulfill your taste buds…slices of fresh banana, pieces of their delicious white cake all mixed into a pint sized – never enough – container. You will hold me in your thoughts right after your first bite.

If you have tasted this ridiculous goodness and are away from the city in need of a banana pudding fix, check out the link below and be pleasantly surprised:

http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2012/10/magnolia-bakery-banana-pudding/

 

The Impossible IS Possible

Oh wait, what? You didn’t know soup could be enclosed perfectly in a dumpling?! Oh man…if you’ve never hear of or have heard of and never dared to try soup dumplings…you are in for quite a treat!

I never really make my way to Chinatown too often for some reason, but when I do I’m probably on my way to Joe’s Shanghai – the soup dumpling palace (as I like to think of it)! Waits are long – so go with time. Service is quick – so go prepared to order right when you sit down. Room is tight – so be open to sharing tables with strangers. Oh…and cash only!

There are two things I want when I walk in the door: scallion pancakes and the incredible soup dumplings. The pancakes are crispy and flavorful, they are a great and quick start after the (probably) longish wait. Now, as for the dumplings, crab or pork?! I have tried both…pork.

I know, I know…I often say that certain meals are ‘rituals’ – I’m so serious about this one. Everyone has a particular way of eating these things and every time I introduce a friend to my favorite pockets of goodness, I guide them through the process (and take pictures too…cuz it’s just so funny!)

This time it was Celi’s turn – she took to it like a pro! Step 1 – Carefully, with tongs, place a dumpling on your spoon. Step 2 – As you pinch the twirled tip with your chop sticks, bite! Step 3 – After pouring a few drops of provided sauce in the dumpling, literally suck the tasty soup out of it! (I know – just go with it…) Step 4 – Eat the rest of the dumpling and find a yummy surprising bite-sized meatball inside!

It’s delicious, it’s fun, you’ll love the experience…and the prices. How they get soup into a dumpling? The mystery remains. You’ll have fun trying to figure it out with your eating companions! Enjoy =)

 

 

Casa

Awesome food, good music, and great company – It’s what I got at Casa…known for it’s regional Brazilian home cooking, this cute little place on 72 Bedford Street get’s you in the mood right when you walk in the door. Being my first Brazilian cuisine experience in the city, I obviously had a hard time choosing just one dish!…And you will too.

I decided I should go for the national dish: Feijoada! A black bean stew prepared with prime meats paired with white rice, fresh oranges, collard greens, farofa, and a type of pico de gallo. Eating this dish, I found, is a bit of a ritual. A little stew on top of the rice, add a bit of each accompanying item on top of that…and boom – the perfect bite of rich, meaty, zingy, crunchy goodness.

Plates here are huge, you’ll be full and happy swaying back and forth to sexy Brazilian tunes.

The dessert we enjoyed is not featured in the picture above – but just describing them to you will (no doubt) make your mouth water. A flan had to be on the table – caramel custard, what could possibly be bad about that? Then a rich coconut custard that blew our taste buds away, and lastly a passion fruit mousse so creamy that the usually sour flavor of the fruit went unnoticed.

Make your way to the West Village for a different and tropical experience. On your way out, don’t forget to grab a few pieces of Brazilian candy you’ll find in a jar right next to the door!

 

Now That’s a Wrap

I know your mouth just watered. A bacon, egg, and avocado wrap…with pumpkin hash?! At Pure Bistro in Park Slope’s 5th Ave they serve the yummiest super healthy dishes! This one in particular is one of their signature breakfast wraps (did I just make that up?) Who cares…the point is that it is a perfectly filling way to start your day.

Scrambled eggs give you the protein, bacon – not just any – turkey bacon gives you the hearty healthy breakfast flavor, and avocado (packed) gives you the healthy oils – that by the way, are amazing for your skin! All wrapped in a whole wheat wrap to make it ohhh not SO filling. Paired with a pumpkin hash…replacing the potatoes (smart)…they smoothly transition you into Fall.

The staff is super friendly, the coffee is oh so good…man…Now I just can’t wait for the weekend to get here for brunch! Oh, but watch out for the Sunday wait…

 

One More Time

I just had to…before it all gets put away for the Winter, I just had to take myself up to the Smorgasburg at least one more time!

So here I was again, at the East River State Park in Williamsburg on a sunny Sunday lunchternoon with my friend Laura. Last time I was here I got myself a delicious Schnitzel and Ice Cream Sandwich for dessert. What to choose this time…two sandwiches again?!

What can I say, I’m a sandwich kinda girl!

I got myself through the rows of vendors, taking in the free samples variety…twice. It all finally became clear to me when I set my eyes on the colorful sign for the Bolivian Llama Party. They serve cool drinks, empanadas, and brisket sandwiches…all with a Bolivian twist! A sandwich is what I wanted…filled with juicy brisket, crunchy tangy pickled veggies, creamy grated cheese, and a bit of spice…and a sandwich is what I got! I waited patiently as the anxiety built up, the ingredients were piled high with great attention to detail…just look at the colors!

After I downed this Bolivian masterpiece I decided I should give my belly a chance to make room for dessert. So I strolled over to the edge of the river to enjoy an incredible view of Manhattan. Took a few breaths, then a few pictures, had a couple laughs…

“I’m ready for dessert now…” My belly said…

Back to the vendors I went, this time in search of the perfect ending to a perfect Saturday lun…wait…do I smell burnt marshmallow?! Yep, I was sold. S’mores with pumpkin spice flavored marshmallow. What better way to get my taste buds ready for Fall?! These are prepared right in front of you…cracker, chocolate, mallow – torched to perfection by a very good looking guy in plaid, cracker.

Get your butt to the Smorgasburg before the season is over crazy! (Nov 23rd in Williamsburg and Nov 24th at the Brooklyn Bridge)…go hungry, leave happy! =)

 

High School Memories

What do you remember about your high school experience?! Your crush, homecoming, prom, the multicultural club?! Yeah…those were all cool and all…I remember lunch! =) What was great about going to Miami Country Day School in my day was that we got to order take-out…and pick it up at the back of the football field.

No offense to our school chef Gene (his white chocolate macadamia nut cookies were out of this world), but surrounding options were too good to replace with the cafeteria. Eden’s offered delicious hamburgers, french fries, and Cuban sandwiches. Z’s Pizza…more of an after school hangout but still worked. Bagel Bar poppy seed bagel -scooped and toasted – with chicken salad, yum! And yes, my personal favorite…Here Comes the Sun.

This place has been around since the 60’s. All I can say is, Sun Sauce, get it! Our order: Chicken and Cheese – brown rice on the bottom, breaded chicken on top, melty yummy munster cheese covering it all! Sweet potato fries – these are not to be missed. Veggie Pizza – this is my option for when I actually go to the location, super healthy veggies piled high, crispy flat bread, and perfectly melted cheese. EXTRA Sun Sauce please…you’ll be pouring it over everything, you won’t know what it’s made of, and you’ll love it! =)

Finish the meal off with they’re free little sample of their daily frozen yogurt flavor, that’s a Friday high school lunch if I ever saw one! Every time I’m down in Miami I make it over and get my Here Comes the Sun much needed fix!

 

Hollywood Grill

A Russian / Armenian grill with an ocean view?! Sound kinda crazy to you?! Just another piece of evidence that you’ll find just about any type of cuisine in Miami’s melting pot! Stumble upon Hollywood Grill, this great oceanfront restaurant, while walking along the Hollywood boardwalk. You’ll be overwhelmed by the options on the menu – Russian, to Armenian, to Greek – all the staples are there.

I felt like keeping it light and fresh for a beachy day so I started the meal off with a Greek Salad…that could feed every fish in the sea! The tomatoes were deliciously red, cucumbers nice and crunchy, red onion gave it the zing, and the feta mmm…

Next came the Chicken Kebab with a side of potatoes. You have never eaten a kebab like this one…I’m finding it very difficult to even describe…unbelievably juicy on the inside, perfectly crisp on the outside. Did you see the color on it in the picture above?! That can’t be just grilled…there has to be a secret step there. The potatoes were also soft on the inside and had the perfect crunch as you bit into them – added little detail…they had a secret garlicky dill sauce sprinkled on them that made it very hard to stop picking at them!

Wish you were strolling on the beach enjoying the smell of an open grill in the air!? Yeah…me too…