FOOODIES...

Hello luvs,

How are yous? Hope all is well! NY is fine and dandy and hella cold, but ya know. What can ya do? I hear there are only a few more months of winter so that’s nice... (Yes. Few more MONTHS. You did not misread… I’m told come April, it should start warming up… WTF?? Exactly.) It sucks and you know it and I know it and no amount of tornadoes in Cali can make it better. JOKING. Obviously. That being said, I do feel for you guys. Tornados in CA?!?! Ummm… Please stay safe my luvs and make use of your basements... I mean… your cellars? Or… Hmm. Yeah, ok. I guess yall are kinda screwed… but hopefully it’s a one time thing! (Seriously though… hail, tornados, and snow in one year?? LA, which Gods did you anger?!) Anywhoo. So, winter is forever long this year in NY and CA, and we will just have to deal with it. The rats have started appearing in the subways though, so I am taking that as a good sign. (I’m told they come out when it heats up so...!) Forget groundhog’s day. Rats are telling me brighter and warmer things are up ahead! Bring on the humidity!

Now that I’ve bored you with weather gossip, let’s talk about a more pertinent issue... FOOD.

New York, New York… ALL I want to do is eat! Everywhere I go, all I see are restaurants, coffee shops, patisseries etc… that are SO overpriced but so good!! In all honesty, food has probably been my greatest expense since I’ve been here. Cheese shop?? Yes, please. A bread store?? Sign me up. Different types of Ukranian baked goods?? Why not. I love spending time with good people over good food, so it’s my preferred method of splurging. Some people shop... I eat :) What can I say? I’ve tried everything from Kati rolls (Indian burritos) to “exotic” dishes in china town with questionable “meat.” (They were very good, don’t get me wrong, I just prefer not to question as to what the “meat” was exactly.) I have a feeling there’s a good reason the menu is only in Chinese, and it’s not to create a more AUTHENTIC feel. BUT, not gonna lie… “meat” was delish. So… all in all, I have realized NY has something for everybody. You like eating questionable “halal” food from food carts in times square? NY has you covered. (I have done this, just to clarify and not mislead you into thinking I’m above cart food, BUT I do question the “halal” aspect of their hot dogs. All I’m saying.) If you want to spend ten dollars on a bowl of rice and beans at a “MEXICAN” restaurant?? I have a list of places I can give you. ALL fulfilling the ten dollar requirement while lacking on the MEXICAN aspect. But what are you gonna do? NY just doesn’t do Mexican food quite like TX or CA. (Poor, poor souls. They will never know what they’re missing out on.) Oh well. My POINT is… there is an array of choices for foodies and hungries alike, and this city is never short on options for your everyday stroll through Brooklyn or your late night excursion through the city. So, out of respect for NY’s thriving, overpriced, yet deliciously delectable food industry, here is a look into some places that I highly recommend… or don’t.

Enjoy!

 K. So let's start with a No Go. Taim.. Your local falafel and smoothie bar. Ya know. The norm. EXCUSE ME? Who thought this would be a good idea?? I just want to meet the fellow who was like, "YES. You know what I'd love with my chick pea and fava bean concoction?? A mango banana smoothie. THAT would just hit the spot." NO Taim. Just NO.

TEA... ALWAYS and FOREVER. Can't go wrong. Haven't actually been here, but I can only imagine the hours I could spend tea shopping. Yeah. Actually entering would be a bad idea.  

Alice's Tea Cup. SOOOO. THIS place is kinda amazing. They do little princess parties for girls' birthdays! CAYUUUTEE! (Don't mind the upper east-siders frolicking in the foreground.. they know no better. And OF COURSE this place is in the upper east.. where else would you expect a tea shop for little girls to froo froo around in? HARLEM? Nope.)

CHEEESEE. Again, they can do NO wrong except maybe have TOO many cheese options. It's kinda ridic. And they kinda do have too much cheese... But that's like saying you have too many presents on Christmas, so... Irrelevant. 

 OK. So this place is on my way to school and I feel the need to stop by. A LOT. Not gonna lie. TOO much. OK, they might know my name. BUT, it's absolutely amazing. SUCH good sweets and cakes and breads etc.. But yeah, I've mostly tried the sweets. This cookie was A) HUGE and B) COVERED IN POWDERED SUGAR. Nuf said.

So, unfortunately, I ate my Kati Roll too quickly and thus don't have a picture of it.. But here's the bag. DELISH. Think slightly spicy Indian burrito that is steaming hot and perfect for a cold day. YUMMMM.

So my neighborhood cafe, THE COLADOR, is just short of perfect. The "just short" being the fact that they only take cash. (UGH, NY. COME ON. This is America. LAND of the credit card. AND you don't have enough BANK of Americas for me to actually get cash from so... boo.) But otherwise this place is perfect... Coffee is amazing, and red velvet muffins...? Worth every penny I have to dig out of my purse to complete my "cash" transaction. LOVE.

 

Radegast Hall and Beer Garden in Williamsburg. You have hipsters galore and a WHOLE bunch of really happy/slightly drunk people playing board games! (Though that being said, the atmosphere is actually quite family friendly, believe it or not.) It is a very laid back place where you literally bring your cards/games etc.. order a DELICIOUS pretzel that comes with various mustards, and enjoy you chill Sunday afternoon. Oh and the beer is good too... so I've heard.

 SO. My friend here has a ridiculous sweet tooth and decided that at 9:30 pm we should head to Junior's to get dessert. WELL PLAYED, MY FRIEND. His cookie/ice cream concoction and my chocolate milkshake were JUST the right amount of sweet to hit the spot. (And you have a ride home on the G Train for your dessert coma to wear off, so no worries.) BUT, just a heads up, DON'T ask your waiter what the difference between a "shake" and a "malt" is. He doesn't know and will only get more confused as he tries to explain his theory of malt/shakes to you. Just don't. Enjoy your malt/shake while googling the answer yourself.

 LAST but NOT LEAST... 

There is nothing quite like eating what you make! Baking and cooking to your heart's desire and then gathering with the gang is ALWAYS great. Whether the food actually turns out edible... WELL, that's another story entirely. 

But not gonna lie... We're not too shabby :)

 

 Desserts baked by Dorian... She is making me fat, one day at a time. BUT, look a 'em. TELL me you don't want an apricot tart or pear pie?!! LIES!!

 

 

SOO good

 

Good food, good friends...

 

 Good times!

AND more to come!!

Food and friends... the essentials of life, no? Well, I hope yall are all now really hungry and heading to your nearest Ukranian baked goods store to stock up... I know I am. And on that note, it is LUNCH time, and I must go my dears. Have a lovely weekend, and enjoy!

Till next time,

<3

A southern, west-coaster, in the northeast

P.S- When you find yourself late at night, walking into your kitchen, hungry, but not hungry, thirsty, but not thirsty... This is what you're craving... 

Just do it. Get it over with. Make some tea, eat your 6 tablespoons of Nutella, and be done.

Never fails.

(For those of you whom the Jameson caught your eye, NO. That is NOT what you are in the kitchen looking for late at night. ALWAYS a BAD idea. Stick with your tea.)

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