Peter Oh Peter

Just when you think you’ve had the best steak of your life…you haven’t. At least not until you’ve been to Peter Luger in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This place is old school, so old school they don’t take credit cards…These guys have been around since 1887 serving the finest USDA prime meat available on the market. Only short loin is served up and anything chosen goes through a crucial selection process only done by members of the family. Once the meat is selected it is brought up to the restaurant premises where the dry aging process begins. What is dry aging? The loins of beef sit in a temperature controlled cooler where air circulates around them for a certain amount of time (undisclosed and probably a family secret). After the aging process is complete, the meat is butchered and taken up to the kitchen for broiling. Yep, broiled!

 

…and the result…this beautiful thing right here. Crispy on  the outside thanks to the broiling, as soft as you like it on the inside. So flavorful you’ll wanna scream, but you won’t because you won’t even want to open your mouth unless there’s more meat coming. I’m really not kidding, it’s that delicious. What else is on the menu? Who cares! Kidding, the menu is pretty straight forward. You have your starters which include bacon, tomato, salads. You have the meat OBVIOUSLY, selection of for 1, for 2, for 3…You also have a small selection of seafood items like shrimp cocktail. Truthfully I’ve only gone for the meat and the sides…oh the sides!

Speaking of perfect, how about perfect french fries? Crispy and potato-y, exact thickness, no extra oil. No wonder the menu is short, they stick to what they know perfectly and don’t try to experiment.

The creamed spinach, that’s my other favorite. Really, no way to explain this. Lots of spinach and not overly creamy, you can see in the picture above it’s more green than white right? That’s how I like it!

Now, yes this place is expensive at about $100+ per person. But if you had to splurge in food, do it here, you will never ever regret it! Don’t forget to make a reservation for that special occasion…the place is huge but tables fill up in the blink of an eye.

Banh mi and Bubble Tea

Quite a play on words there huh…Banh Mi sandwiches at Banhmigos?! You know you think it’s clever, the combo of Banh Mi and ‘amigos’ – and these guys will be your friends, or at least you’ll want them to be your friends so you can have amazing Vietnamese sandwiches like – always!

I walked by this Park Slope location quite a few times and always said to myself, I have to come back here some time. I finally did, not only to try their yummy sandwiches but to try Bubble Tea for the first time ever! I know, how have I gone so long? I wondered about the texture, knew I’d like it for some reason…I have to say I don’t think I went in the right direction choosing my flavor.

The tapioca balls were the perfect consistency as they came up through that thick straw – something I’ve always wanted to try. But I chose ‘almond tea’ flavor – wouldn’t repeat. Next time I would go for something more classic, like a coffee or matcha. I have to admit the almond tasted a bit artificial.

The sandwich – amazing! I ordered the Grilled Chicken or ‘Da Mo’ Banh Mi. A perfectly toasted French baguette, spread with butter, a little mayo, filled with crispy pickled carrots and radish, fresh cucumber, cilantro and yummy sweet marinated grilled chicken – now that’s a mouthful! It’s fresh but filling at the same time. I could imagine eating this spread out on a blanket in the park taking the Spring sun in!

Yep, I’m coming again! And next time I’ll be ordering the classics for a change 😉

Energy Truffles for Energetic Kids

About a month ago I was invited by my friend Gus to PS 314/105 in Sunset Park to volunteer at an after school program he leads. He knows I love food, he knows I love kids – what better way to volunteer than this?!

I would be heading the program this day and I had to come up with a creative yet simple snack for a group of kids to make! Oh…AND it had to be raw. A difficult task, yes, but so worth it!

So, being that this was an after school program that these kids CHOSE to be in, you can imagine their excitement! I have to admit I was a bit nervous, I had never done anything like this. Cook in front of a group, give them clear instructions while at the same time explaining why this snack is super nutritious!

And so it began…

Gus led me through the beginning where we played an ice-breaker game…words like peace and love involved…and it was lovely! We explained why we need to wash our hands before we handle food…and they all ran to the bathroom! haha

The ingredients were all out and ready to use. I had the kids guess what each of them was and then explained the health benefits! The best moment was when I had them try a ‘chocolate’ chip – they all guessed…yup, chocolate…and they were surprised to hear they were carob chips! After being broken up into groups the kids could not wait to get cooking. I will share with you my recipe so you can follow along. =)

Ingredients:

1 cup Oats

1/2 cup Nut Butter (we used Sunflower Seed butter)

1/2 cup Honey

1/2 cup Nuts (we used Sunflower Seeds)

1/2 cup Ground Flax

1/2 cup Carob Chips

Splash of Vanilla

All you have to do is put all the ingredients in a bowl, stir them up into a uniform mix and you are ready to form into truffles! Now, in this particular case we did not have a fridge to work with. But if you do, let the mix set up in the fridge for about 20min. When the time has elapsed have your kids form little balls with they’re hands, they can even roll them in cacao or coconut if you’d like and…tadaa!

His face says it all doesn’t it?! This sweet treat will have your kids smiling from the inside out!

 

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! =)

 

Shake Shake Shake It!

Finally…I have come to discover it…a fast food burger I can tolerate and lick my fingers to! Do a little dance…raise the roof…woot woot!!

I like to go somewhere, enjoy the great food and then investigate a bit about them. You never know what you’ll learn…and that’s what I like to do in this space, bring out to the light those little-big stories that may be in the ‘About’ section of a website or behind the counter at a restaurant that most of us don’t look into.

So read on, this is pretty cool…the Shake Shack actually started off as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park and was created by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG). This was done to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation. Dog-in-a-bun success 3 Summers in a row – coolio! In 2004 the USHG won a bid to open a permanent kiosk in the park…and so the first Shack was born!

I have to say, I’m always careful and a bit skeptical when it comes to the fast food burger…but boy does the Shack know what it’s doing! They serve the most delicious burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer and wine (yeah, alcohol at a fast food joint)…Mast Brother’s chocolate bars (fanceeey)…those zigzag-y fries that I LOVE – shiiiz!

On top of all of this tasty fast food – they also stand for a few great things!

Good Ingredients – 100% all natural Angus beef, the veggie-fed kind. No hormones or antibiotics – EVER. They source incredible ingredients from incredible like-minded artisanal producers.

Good n’ Green – 100% of their electric usage is offset through wind power and Renewable Energy Certificates. All bottles, cardboard, and plastics are recycled aaand they’re cooking oil is reused to produce clean energy aaand kitchen food is composted.

Good Bones – Each Shack is constructed form recycled and sustainable materials. The inside tabletops are reclaimed bowling alley lanes (so fun!), the walls are reclaimed from barns and they light it up with LED lighting.

Good Neighbors – They donate 5% of sales – Committed to giving back! I am DOWN with that!

I’m feelin’ all this…and if you’re interested in reading and keeping up with some more ‘Good Things’ check out they’re blog…

http://www.shakeshack.com/stand-for-something-good

So, what I’ve done a few times is gone up to City Hall Park, watched a few games of chess…crossed the Brooklyn Bridge on foot (all this to build up an appetite and burn a few calories of course)…Boerum Place straight down…and you’ll hit it! Shack Burger will be waiting for you all delicious and what not! =)

 

A Healthy Choice

Sun is shining, birds are chirping, flowers blooming…I’d say it’s a perfect day to brunch at Sun In Bloom.

This cute little spot in Park Slope serves unique dishes that nourish – and I mean NURISH – the community. They offer delicious concoctions that can be enjoyed by all…but especially by health nuts…uhh health nuts like me duh!

Ok, ok…I know what you’re probably thinking…’You a health nut?! All this talk about pizza, doughnuts, food all day, food all night’…People, I have my moments. There are mornings (as few as they may be) when I wake up and just feel like eating something super health-ey! And as much as I have my favorite burger joint, I also have my healthy choice that hits the spot in the same exact way.

Moving right along…

They specialize in organic, vegan, raw, and macrobiotic dishes. Not satisfied you health junkie?! Well get this…they also serve gluten-free vegan baked goods and raw desserts aaand all of their food, desserts, and beverages are made from scratch in their kosher kitchen….eat that for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner! Boo-ya!

So let’s step right into what hungover Amy and I ordered on this beautiful Sunday lunchternoon. Those who know me, and especially those who have brunched with me know how hard it is – for me – to decide between sweet and savory. So yeah, one person in the group is basically obligated to split two dishes. What?! Im doing them a favor!

In this case they were two dishes that were highly recommended…Dish Uno: Their famous gluten-free pancakes topped with your choice of fresh fruit, walnuts, and pure maple syrup hmm…and Dish Numero Dos: Their ‘You won’t believe it’s not bacon’ BLT, add avocado to that…you won’t regret it! And I’m not telling you what the (NOT) bacon is…all I’m sayin’ is it’s delicious!

Choose healthy today and skip on over to 460 Bergen Street. Enjoy an incredibly attentive staff, a great atmosphere, and most importantly really great dishes. You’ll be floating out of there (that’s how light the food is) and bloomin’ like the sun! ;o) Enjoy!

 

Che Buona Pizza Bambino!

You’ll be sounding out this title after your first bite…and yes, it will come out in Italian. I’ve been hearing about Grimaldi’s for a while now…a friend of a friend took my lovely friend Celi (starring wide-eyed in the picture above) to try this Brooklyn favorite. Since she knows I’m always down to try the best…’just about anything’…she just HAD to bring me here! The girl knows what I like, and once again – she didn’t disappoint!

They’re hand built coal-fired oven is filled with red-hot anthracite coal delivered directly from Pennsylvania. Why have coal delivered you ask?! Well…let me just tell you why…this particular coal actually burns cleaner and in a more eco-friendly way than gas or wood-fired methods. Intense heat + anthracite = guilt-free evenly baked pies with a perfectly crisp and smokey crust. Deliziooooso!

You may call me Plain Jane when it comes to my pie, if the Margherita is good – the rest can follow! All I need is incredibly fresh mozzarella (check!), kinda sweet / kinda tart / not too little / not too much tomato sauce (check!) and lastly, the perfectly bubbly, crispy but doughy – yet light crust (check! check! check!)

I hear lines can get quite long at the door so I would recommend to make it out on a rainy evening. Head on over to 1 Front St. in Dumbo, right under the Brooklyn Bridge…order plain, order toppings…eat it with your hands, eat it with utensils (don’t judge!)…now pucker up those lips, put your first three fingers together, kiss the tips and say it with me…Che buona pizza bambinooo!!!

Bread – Meat – Bread

There is something about the feeling you get when you take the first bite of a delicious perfectly combined sandwich. At Bierkraft…which translates to ‘beer-force’, that’s what you’ll get.

Walking in, you’ll stride through their beer tunnel, two fridge walls, filled with infinite amounts of all beers possibly imaginable. Not being a huuuge beer drinker, what catches my eye – and where I get lost for ideas – are the super creative labels!

When you get to the end of the tunnel you’ll find their specialty house-made draft beers…which I hear are delicious. Aaaand…look for it…a menu hanging from a post! You will have a choice between 8 already thought out sandwiches, as perfect combinations. Oooor, if you’re having one of those days where absolutely nothing is perfect or sounds scrumptious enough (we all have these once in a while) the guys at Bierkraft have an incredible selection of ingredients which you can mix and match and make into your own crazily amazing bread-y sandwich creation!

As you read through the menu you’ll drool over ingredients like: wagyu beef, hot sopressata, cave aged gruyere, chevre de miel, fig spread, basil marcona almond pesto…cheeeese, meeeeat, cheeeese…note that the condiments are mostly house-made! Mmmm…

Place your order to the super friendly staff – they take they’re time to really make you a perfect sandwich – sit out in the garden with your carefully selected beer and patiently wait for your name to be called!

Now when you go get your sandwich, do not be surprised by the size, these suckers are two in onesers…but if you’re reading this and loving it…you can probably down it in one sitting (like me…jeje)!

Williamsburg – Smorgasburg

Imagine the East River State Park on the Williamsburg waterfront on a Saturday…a park is a park right?! WRONG!!

On Saturdays from 11am to 6pm what awaits are rows and rows of NY food vendors with the freshest and most delicious eats! Need examples to make this a bit more real?! Ok, here we go…Asia Dog, Baby Got Back Ribs, BiteMe Cheesecakes, Choncho’s Tacos, We Rub You, Kyotofu…the tents go on and on to complete a list of 75-100 vendors. Now, don’t let their names fool you, silly names = serious food!

First thing you’ll experience here is anxiousness (is that a word?)…either way…you walk through the rows, mouth watering, seeing colors, tasting tasters, smelling all kinds of lusciousness, vendors handing people their orders…and you can’t help but feel anxious, not knowing what to eat first, what to choose!!!! Not an easy decision! Good thing is that whatever you do end up eating is gonna be supaa good!! =)

On my first trip up to the Burg I went for the Schnitzel! What caught me is that the schnitzel is much like the milanesa from Argentina. Truth is, I’ve been missing the milarda…and I just had to fulfill my craving! Their best selling sandwich is the Bamberg – A panko breaded boneless chicken thigh, pickled diakon, shallots, and ginger, caramelized onion mustard all sandwiched into a pretzel bun…yeah…I know.

Grab your food and head on over to one of their open grassy areas, sit your butt down and enjoy the company! You’ll meet all kinds of people here…which is one of the things I enjoy most! Good food, good company, great day! On your way over to sit down don’t be surprised as people drool over your grub and ask you where you got it…nicely point them in the right direction and you and your food will be safe from attacks! haha

Save room for dessert too…I went for an ice cream sandwich! Well…vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two huge salted chocolate chip cookies =O

Basically a sandwich filled, sunny, spring, Smorgasburg day! I went home full and happy…thinking about my next weekend there, reassuring myself..don’t worry, you’ll be back for more!