tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13683834994081133432024-03-13T22:59:19.719-04:00So Much to Eat, Too Little Time A blog about my culinary adventures in New York City and beyondAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-9656787209292750332015-03-14T11:29:00.001-04:002015-03-14T11:29:15.303-04:00Cafe CloverCafe Clover has been the talk of the town lately, and one of the latest NYC restaurants to join the veggie-forward movement. I wasn't expecting their offerings to be as health-centric as they were, but they were still very tasty.<div><br></div><div>Each table gets a dish of hummus and delicious crackers (gluten free) to start. The crackers looked like a mix of sunflower, pumpkin, and a few other seeds. They were incredible, as was the butternut squash hummus that accompanied them. The hummus had a slight Indian flare to it, which really complimented the earthiness of the crackers.</div><div><br></div><div>I decided on the veggie crudités for my appetizer, which was much larger than I expected. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5mwRFw4Pb1M/VQRTxI3hP5I/AAAAAAAAAxk/YrCDtEPhloM/s640/blogger-image-2038427579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5mwRFw4Pb1M/VQRTxI3hP5I/AAAAAAAAAxk/YrCDtEPhloM/s640/blogger-image-2038427579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>There was a lot going on here. I thought the amount of cauliflower was slight overkill, but the trio of sauces (green goddess, smoked vinegar, sesame ranch) that came with it let you diversify a bit.</div><div><br></div><div>For my main, I went with a 6 oz steak served with crispy Brussel sprout leaves and olive oil puréed potatoes. Shockingly, the steak was the highlight of the meal. Cooked to absolute perfection. My sister (visiting from DC) got the cauliflower steak for her main.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gmNl-ApadJs/VQRTylo87BI/AAAAAAAAAx0/wV9sdAwlf-8/s640/blogger-image-1989400926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gmNl-ApadJs/VQRTylo87BI/AAAAAAAAAx0/wV9sdAwlf-8/s640/blogger-image-1989400926.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It came with an insanely good dipping sauce, that seemed vaguely reminiscent of the hummus at the start of the meal. We also ordered a side of butternut squash with cashews and a slight dusting of crumbled cheese. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-irV5xYKsqyA/VQRTwYkEpjI/AAAAAAAAAxc/KwvyITQUjqA/s640/blogger-image-282744933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-irV5xYKsqyA/VQRTwYkEpjI/AAAAAAAAAxc/KwvyITQUjqA/s640/blogger-image-282744933.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This was definitely their strongest showing in the veggie department--perfectly tender and mixed with toasted quinoa.</div><div><br></div><div>I also sampled some of their cocktails, which tasted like they were trying too hard to make them "healthy." One was a Superhero cocktail with pomegranate and blueberry, which was average. The second drink I tried was a matcha and gin concoction. It was definitely better than the Superhero, but still felt a little off. Maybe I'm just not used to the taste of matcha.</div><div><br></div><div>For the grand finale, we got a GLUTEN FREE crepe layer cake that was pure heaven. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZjPGdQwV_FM/VQRTx-ty-KI/AAAAAAAAAxs/kZ4fyv8UOlU/s640/blogger-image-795694726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZjPGdQwV_FM/VQRTx-ty-KI/AAAAAAAAAxs/kZ4fyv8UOlU/s640/blogger-image-795694726.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was filled with a light marscapone cream and served with a side of espresso ice cream. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The drizzle of chocolate sauce at the top added a nice touch of sweetness without being cloyingly sweet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This dessert is a must for any gluten free New Yorker, and a slam dunk all around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Overall, I'd give Cafe Clover a 7/10. They did veggies well (for the most part), but my favorite parts of the meal were the steak and crepe cake. Portion size was also a little skimpy, but it's par for the course in the Village</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-68517140561340162015-02-27T10:23:00.001-05:002015-02-27T10:23:12.989-05:00The Black AntI'd heard a good amount about this place, primarily because it's named after an insect. I'm pretty adventurous, so the occasional ant doesn't deter me. <div><br></div><div>The menu, at first glance, is admittedly intimidating. It seems like they're trying to attract a very specific "foodie" audience, and alienate the unadventurous. For example, their guac had ant salt on it...</div><div><br></div><div>The ant salt guac was delicious, but I know many people who would've passed on The Black Ant based on that one dish. Guacamole is the simplest, purest Mexican dish, so when you mess with it you're bound to deter a select group.</div><div><br></div><div>At The Black Ant, they were a little more mainstream with their drink selections. They had the standard margarita flavors and a few flavored options. Their special that day was Rosemary Watermelon. I like both of those things, so I tried it.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-duZpgbnfoMw/VPCL1KnXfgI/AAAAAAAAAw8/DgBfmXlfu2o/s640/blogger-image-2013977810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-duZpgbnfoMw/VPCL1KnXfgI/AAAAAAAAAw8/DgBfmXlfu2o/s640/blogger-image-2013977810.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I liked the sprig of Rosemary as a garnish, but the flavors were far too muddled in the drink itself. I couldn't distinguish either flavor--it just tasted a little bit off. The prickly pear margarita, on the other hand, was a home run. It was perfectly tangy and sweet. Two thumbs up for the prickly pear.</div><div><br></div><div>For my main course, I decided on the goat tacos, which had been marinated in an avocado cream for tenderness. I couldn't detect much avocado, but I don't think that's the point. The goat was tender, which is usually the challenge when preparing gamier meats (like goat). </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1JlUdkLy0JA/VPCL3ip06XI/AAAAAAAAAxE/wpqA59x_aFU/s640/blogger-image-1392179317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1JlUdkLy0JA/VPCL3ip06XI/AAAAAAAAAxE/wpqA59x_aFU/s640/blogger-image-1392179317.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The dim lighting inside the restaurant doesn't make for the most appetizing pictures, but these tacos were delicious. There was a spicy mole sauce drizzled over the goat as well as a few picked onions. My only negative comment is that the dish was very goat-heavy, and could have used a lighter element (like avocado or a spiced crema). The tacos also only cost $12, and since we had chips and guacamole, this was plenty for one persons main course.</div><div><br></div><div>Overall, the service & ambiance was perfect. I love the cozy feel of the East Village, so I think I'm slightly biased to restaurants in that area. I'd definitely go back. Also, do not be worried about the insect ingredients. They only play a starring role in one or two dishes, so if you're not into that, just avoid those few dishes. The guac is safe though. Trust me.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-79899477415747788102015-02-06T10:48:00.001-05:002015-02-06T10:50:10.736-05:00RubirosaI've heard so many good things about Rubirosa, from gluten-free and gluten-eating friends alike. It's always crowded so I've been hesitant to commit to heading down there and waiting an unknown amount of time.<div><br></div><div>But last night I braved the bitter cold and headed down to Nolita to try their pizza for myself. And the freezing walk from the 6 train was most DEFINITELY worth it. Plus I only waited 10 minutes for a table for two--which isn't bad at all for that area on a Thursday night.</div><div><br></div><div>First off, they've got a comprehensive gluten free menu. They can make everything from mozzarella sticks to arancini (risotto balls) gluten free, in addition to their famed gluten free pizza. </div><div><br></div><div>My initial reaction to Rubirosa was that I loved the atmosphere of the place--it had just the right amount of elegance mixed with a dash of Nolita hipster. The staff was gracious and friendly, and got us seated surprisingly fast considering how crowded the restaurant was.</div><div><br></div><div>I started with the gluten free risotto balls and my dining partner got a half portion of rigatoni with bolognese (not gfree). He started eating, and immediately exclaimed "this is THE best pasta I have ever had." He is a pasta fiend, so this is quite the compliment. While I considered gluten free risotto balls to be an impressive feat, I wasn't blow away. The cheese wasn't totally melted on the inside, and they needed to be heated up a bit more. The marinara sauce they came with was the best part.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, on to the pizza. Oh my gosh was it good. I got the gluten free vodka pizza with pepperoni (because I refuse to eat a pizza without pepperoni). The vodka sauce was perfectly rich and well-seasoned. The mozzarella was some of the best I've ever had--I loved it and I'm not a huge cheese girl. </div><div><br></div><div>The crust was nutty and pillowy, with a slight crunch. I am a big fan of Keste and Don Antonio's gluten free pizza, but this really gave those a run for its money. Mostly because the crust had more flavor and the vodka sauce was heavenly. It was a slightly thicker version of the standard pasta sauce, and cut the nuttiness of the crust while pairing perfectly with the creaminess of the cheese. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JfOR8yhatPk/VNTiUjEmHSI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Dvg_zDv3IpM/s640/blogger-image--253559921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JfOR8yhatPk/VNTiUjEmHSI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Dvg_zDv3IpM/s640/blogger-image--253559921.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The non-gluten free option (same pizza but without the pepperoni) had a thinner crust with more crunch. I prefer a more pillowy crust though, so I was happy with the texture of the gfree crust. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MUiopGUkuUY/VNTiSJN4JDI/AAAAAAAAAv8/4K9yJRjO1BY/s640/blogger-image--713192324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MUiopGUkuUY/VNTiSJN4JDI/AAAAAAAAAv8/4K9yJRjO1BY/s640/blogger-image--713192324.jpg"></a></div>^^ the gluten-rich option</div><div><br></div><div>Rubirosa is also infinitely cheaper that many of the other restaurants in its league. Especially considering its location and the volume of customers it has crowding the restaurant.</div><div><br></div><div>I'll be making this my first "regular" spot in NYC, and am going to try to visit monthly to try all of their gluten free options. But regardless of your dietary restrictions, they've got something for everyone.</div><div><br></div><div>Run. Don't walk.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-50635853146966001962015-01-28T10:08:00.000-05:002015-01-28T10:15:11.539-05:00Del PostoFrom the minute I walked into Del Posto, I knew its Michelin Star was well deserved. Everything is pristine, every staff member is attentive, and the space looks exquisite. The color palette of the restaurant (dark maroon, golden, and brown hues) is indicative of a true fine dining experience.<br />
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The first thing I tried from Del Posto was a rum-based, tea-infused cocktail with a splash of grenadine. At first sip, the cocktail was surprisingly strong, but eventually mellowed out. The cocktail menu was very, very, expansive, so if a tea-infused rum cocktail doesn't sound good to you, there's definitely something on there that will.<br />
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In regards to food, Del Posto is a gluten-free mecca. In addition to four different bread offerings, they also provide a gluten free focaccia and two delicious butter variations. For appetizers, the best thing I tried was the house salad dressed in truffle oil. The truffle was perfectly pungent and delicious--I could smell it the minute it hit the table, and it tasted just as good as it smelled.<br />
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I ordered the gluten free garganelli verdi (a green penne-like pasta with bolognese), which was suberb. The color of the pasta against the ragu reminded me a little bit of Christmas--not that there's anything wrong with that. I was just expecting a "classic" bolognese to come with a white pasta. Regardless, it was perfectly salty, ideally al dente, and well portioned. The only complaint I have is that the dish could have used a bit more meat.<br />
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The waiter told me that Del Posto could make ANY pasta gluten free, which is unheard of, as most restaurants just have one gluten free pasta option that they plug in to various dishes. I want to go back just to indulge in a sampling of gluten free pastas.<br />
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Gluten-free dessert options were plentiful as well, but I felt like the chocolate cake with pistachio drizzle was a no-brainer.<br />
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Candied pistachios added a nice crunch, and a creamy scoop of gelato balanced everything out. I found the dish a tad small, but then the waiter came over to the table with a platter of complimentary truffles, nuts, and other bite-sized sweets, so all was forgiven.<br />
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Overall, the experience was exquisite and the dishes were one of a kind. Their Michelin Star is well deserved, and I will definitely be back to sample (several) more pasta dishes.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-32403724231956777042015-01-17T11:31:00.001-05:002015-01-17T11:32:46.636-05:00Little Beet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Little Beet & Little Beet Table have been the talk of the town lately. With Little Beet Table's opening on Park Ave South, Little Beet (its quick service counter part) has definitely benefitted from the buzz and excitement behind its sister restaurant's opening.</div>
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Little Beet is a completely gluten free, quick-serve spot in Midtown near Rockefeller Center, that dishes up fresh veggies, protein, and some killer gluten-free baked goods. I've been gluten free for over a year (for medical/allergy reasons), so any place that focuses on its gluten-free patrons has already won my heart. </div>
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That being said, I am very honest with my reviews. And Little Beet is really incredible. My favorite thing that I've had there is the cauliflower and leek soup (above).</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It is </span><i style="text-align: left;">perfectly </i><span style="text-align: left;">seasoned and has just the right amount of spice and heat. The soup is slightly creamy, but the flavors of the cauliflower and leek are truly the stars of the show. I used this as a dipping sauce for the other parts of my meal, in addition to licking the sides of the bowl to ensure I got every last drop of soup.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The rest of my meal consisted of charred cauliflower and grilled chicken. The chicken might have been a little overcooked for some, but I like my chicken well done. I don't appreciate mushy chicken. The chicken was delicious, but I found myself adding a bit of extra salt to really bring out all the flavors of the chicken breast.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The cauliflower was spicy, charred, and scrumptious. The Middle Eastern-ish seasoning on the cauliflower was pronounced but not overpowering. My only complaint was that I had more cauliflower and a slightly larger piece of chicken. But when your only complaint is that you want more food, I guess the restaurant is doing something right.</span></div>
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This is my second time at Little Beet (I've been to Little Beet Table once as well), and I have yet to be disappointed. I love how they elevated the quick service concept into something healthy, sustainable, and allergen friendly. Keep it up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1801414/restaurant/Midtown-West/The-Little-Beet-NYC"><img alt="The Little Beet on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1801414/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-40711103084934997102015-01-16T12:27:00.001-05:002015-01-17T10:56:50.912-05:00ABC KitchenI'm a huge Mercer Kitchen fan, so I expected ABC Kitchen to be a slam dunk. It's also one of those restaurants that has been on my MUST VISIT list for months. So I was extremely excited to get a last minute reservation there.<br />
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The menu has a huge selection of dishes (medium, small, really small), so I decided to order a bunch of small plates.</div>
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Our waitress didn't seem too happy that we just wanted several small plates, and not an "entree." Considering we ordered drinks along with 5 share plates, I thought her annoyance was unwarranted.</div>
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We ordered the meat & cheese plate, raw ahi tuna, portobello, roasted squash with hazelnuts, and french fries (because why not). The best things I had were:</div>
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1) My cocktail. It was a basil lime gimlet made with rum and fresh lime juice. Pretty incredible. </div>
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2) Roasted squash. Honestly, I had a hard time figuring out which of the share plates were the best. They were all just "eh"</div>
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The portobello was good, but it was tiny. The rest of the dishes were waaay too small considering their price tag--especially the $17 meat and cheese plate. The meats were tasty, but the cheese variety was lacking as was the portion size.</div>
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Considering all the hype around this place, I expected some better food and a nicer waiter. At least the ambiance and drinks were good. </div>
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Would I come back? Probably not. I'd rather go to Mercer Kitchen any day.</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1517308/restaurant/Gramercy-Flatiron/ABC-Kitchen-NYC"><img alt="ABC Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1517308/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-32640698977966238732015-01-13T17:45:00.001-05:002015-01-14T09:33:03.298-05:00Gluten Free Pizza at Don Antonio'sPizza is one of those foods that, when really done right, you remember forever. The first time I had Don Antonio's gluten free pizza, I was convinced it wasn't actually gluten free. But alas, it was.<br />
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Pictures above is their gluten free pie with mozzarella and salami (the closest thing they have to pepperoni). </div>
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First and foremost, the crust is incredible. It's chewy and crunchy without being overly crumbly or mushy. It's perfection. The mozzarella is also top notch--on this pie I had the regular mozz, but I usually go for the imported buffalo mozzarella (they were out this day). Buffalo mozzarella is a tad creamier and more flavorful, but this mozz was still excellent.</div>
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And the salami, it's even better than pepperoni. The first time I went to Don Antonio's, I was slightly outraged that they didn't have pepperoni, but that anger quickly faded. The salami crisps up better than pepperoni, and is saltier and fattier--two traits that make anything infinitely better.</div>
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The person I dined with had a regular, non-gf calzone, and they readily admitted that this gluten free pizza was better. While I'm sure the regular pizza at Don Antonio's is magical, this was damn good for gluten free pizza.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Check it out for yourself next time you're in Hell's Kitchen at 309 W 50th St.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1650671/restaurant/Hells-Kitchen/Don-Antonio-By-Starita-NYC"><img alt="Don Antonio By Starita on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1650671/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-34152520092979535692014-10-16T17:01:00.000-04:002014-10-16T17:01:05.032-04:00Best Gluten Free Sandwiches in NYCFinding a sandwich in New York is not hard, but finding a place that carries gluten free bread? Now that's a struggle. Thankfully, there are some really great sandwich shops that carry gluten free bread for those of us who have an allergy, or who just want to cut a little gluten out of their diet. This list is in no particular order, because I am equally thankful for them all.<br />
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1. Untamed Sandwiches -- They actually have gluten free bread that resembles a ciabatta roll, which is something I've never seen before. AND it actually tastes like bread, not cardboard. They can make all of their sandwich offerings GF except for the "Hot Goldie" because the meat for that sandwich is braised in beer. Untamed also offers breakfast/brunch sandwiches in the mornings and weekends, and they have a separate GF roll for those. Score.<br />
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2. Spreads -- I have a particular affinity for the Smoked Turkey sandwich (avocado, chipotle aioli, peppers), but that's just because turkey is my favorite. Their gluten free bread is of the multigrain variety, and I love the crispy texture of it. In addition, Spreads has some really interesting GF sides, as well as GF dessert options (baked lemon donut, ginger cookie).<br />
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3. Friedman's Lunch -- Friedman's is one of the most well-known gluten free hotspots in the city. Their sandwich selection is vast, ranging from an eggy breakfast sandwich, to a grilled pastrami reuben. They can make almost every dish on their menu gluten free, including brunch options like pancakes and waffles. Count me in.<br />
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4. Melt Shop -- This place is brilliant for taking the concept of a simple grilled cheese and jazzing it up into a full-scale restaurant. They are even more brilliant for making gluten free bread available, because gluten free grilled cheese sandwiches are practically impossible to find. You can't really argue with sandwiches like their Truffle Melt (truffle oil, havarti, arugula) or their Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese (maple bacon, aged cheddar).<br />
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5. Risotteria -- Risotteria is an Italian place dedicated to bringing gluten free patrons killer comfort food, including panini sandwiches. The panini's are made on rice-flour ciabatta bread, and can be stuffed with your choice of meats (parma ham, italian sausage, turkey, chicken, leg of lamb), cheeses (mozzarella, gorgonzola, fontina), and vegetables (spinach, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms). They also carry all sort of other gluten free goodies, like risotta, pizza, and black & white cookies.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-38103830407760720272014-10-06T10:32:00.002-04:002014-10-07T08:14:08.645-04:00BetonyAs one of New York's newest Michelin star inductees, Betony has been on the top of my "must visit" list for a long time.<br />
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I expected Betony to be either on the Upper West or Lower East side, but it was oddly situated on W 57th, right below Central Park. Despite the awkward location (which neighbored a Fresh & Co. and some low-end clothing stores), the ambiance of the restaurant was sophisticated and luxurious. The first thing I noticed about Betony was the impeccable service--the staff was the most attentive and conscientious restaurant staff I have ever encountered. For me, service is one of the most crucial, yet often overlooked, parts of a dining experience. The quality of service made my time at Betony infinitely more enjoyable than it would have been if the staff had done a mediocre job.</div>
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My first impression of the menu at Betony was that it appeared condensed and refined. I started my meal with foie gras bonbons, which were insanely rich and coated in toasted cashews. The portion was technically a "sharing portion," which made more sense once I tasted how rich the bonbons were (I could only eat two out of four). </div>
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However, the main dish I ordered, grilled short rib, was disappointing. The short ribs were fatty and could have been seasoned better. I enjoyed the accoutrements more than the actual short ribs. I expect a Michelin star restaurant to expertly prepare their meats, and this dish just wasn't up to par.</div>
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Dessert was the highlight of the meal for me, as they were very very accommodating to my food allergies (gluten), and had a wide variety of options to choose from. I chose a delicious espresso-flavored cake with milk foam, and also ordered petite fours for the table. One of these small bites was a cinnamon-rice macaron, and it was one of the best macarons I have ever had (I used to work at a macaron shop, so that is saying something).</div>
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Despite the misstep with the entree, Betony won me over with their desserts and allergy-friendly kitchen--they even made me fresh gluten-free rolls before the meal. The staff was incredible, as was the ambiance. While I don't think the food was up to the level of some other NY Michelin star winners, it was quite good.</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1744934/restaurant/Midtown-West/Betony-NYC"><img alt="Betony on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1744934/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-6416901494905069172014-10-01T19:52:00.001-04:002014-10-07T08:17:22.240-04:00Momofuku's Steamed Pork BunsIt's momofuku's 10th anniversary, and I have been seeing pictures of their steamed pork bun EVERYWHERE. I've been to milk bar several times, but have yet to eat anything savory from David Chang's empire.<br />
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I don't like waiting for tables at restaurants (ironic, since I live in Manhattan), so I went to momofuku ssam and sat at the bar. I went alone, because I wanted to cherish the experience solo. It took about 4 minutes for them to come out of the kitchen, which the impatient toddler in me loved. And they were beautiful (I added sriracha to one of the buns before I took the picture).<br />
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The bun's texture was pillowy and soft, which perfectly balanced the fattiness of the pork belly and the heat from the hoisin sauce (and added sriracha). The pickled cucumbers also played a crucial role with their addition of slight acidity to each bite.<br />
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I loved how generous the serving of pork belly was in each bun. Oftentimes, I feel that restaurants skimp out on portions of meat when they're inside another vessel, but this bun was overflowing with pork--in the best way. My only complaint is that I wish the pork belly was a little crispier. The flavor of the pork was delicious, don't get me wrong, I just wish the fat was slightly more golden on the sides.<br />
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My verdict on the pork buns: delicious, well-balanced, tons of meat. Add some sriracha to your pork bun for an extra kick if you can handle spice. If you can't, just stick with the hoisin sauce, which is already slathered on the buns. If the pork belly were a touch more golden, it would have been a 10/10. Having said that, I still give it a 9. Definitely worth the hype.
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/34692/restaurant/East-Village/Momofuku-Ssam-Bar-NYC"><img alt="Momofuku Ssäm Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/34692/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-77314111200927128012014-08-21T13:15:00.001-04:002014-10-07T08:17:31.228-04:00Gramercy TavernI've wanted to come to Gramercy Tavern for months, and I figured that August was a great time to get in before hoards of people came back to New York in September.<br />
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My mom came in to visit me and we headed over there for lunch. I didn't really know what to expect walking in, but the ambiance was better than anything I could've imagined. The restaurant was slightly rustic but sophisticated, and the service was impeccable from the minute we walked in the door to the minute we left.</div>
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I really wanted to get the tasting menu; which was only $58 for five courses and several complimentary small bites in between. The first thing I tried at Gramercy Tavern was the corn bread muffins, with jalapeño and real corn inside the muffin. </div>
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The muffins were incredible--moist, slightly spicy, and decadent without being overwhelmingly rich. I had three...</div>
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My mom and I also decided to try some of their non-alcoholic drinks. We settled on a lavender lemon concoction, and a ginger mint drink that was basically a mojito without the liquor.</div>
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I expected to prefer the lavender lemon drink (left) but I much preferred the faux-mojito. The mojito had the perfect blend of mint, sugar, and ginger. I am not a huge ginger fan, so I was pleasantly surprised at the delicate balance of ginger and mint in this drink.</div>
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The first course was a small diced salad of vegetables and beans in a cilantro vinaigrette. It had a perfect amount of acidity, although I could have used twice the portion.</div>
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The second course, a lobster salad, was definitely my least favorite part of the meal. Most of my lobster felt tough and stringy, which I understand can come with the territory, but a restaurant with a Michelin star should have tender, buttery lobster. I felt like the lobster course was entirely unnecessary, to be honest.</div>
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The next course--the seared halibut--was the highlight of the meal. It was THE best fish I have ever had.</div>
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The halibut was buttery and perfectly cooked. There was a delicious mushroom broth with a variety of mushrooms underneath the halibut, which added just enough salt to the plate. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This dish was a 10/10 in my book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">While it seemed nearly impossible to top to the halibut dish, the next course came pretty damn close. Duck is my favorite protein, so I was thrilled to see duck breast on the tasting menu. </span></div>
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The duck had a crunchy and sweet corn mixture underneath it, which cut the richness of the protein. The silky sauce that accompanied the duck was also incredible. Although it didn't top the halibut, this dish was a 9/10.</div>
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Finally, the meal (sadly) came to an end with an apricot panna cotta and tapioca pudding concoction. I use the word concoction because I have never seen or tasted anything quite like this. </div>
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I love tapioca and apricot, so the concept of the dessert was to my liking. At first sight, I was just confused about all the elements of the dessert and how they would work together. Somehow, though, it just worked. The panna cotta was decadent but well balanced with apricot slices laced throughout. And the tapioca balls gave the dish an interesting texture that provided some relief from the pudding-like composition of the dish. As weird as this dessert seemed, I ate it all. And half of my moms. I guess that means it was good, right?</div>
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Overall, I was thrilled with Gramercy Tavern's ambiance, service, and expertly composed dishes--with the exception of the lobster. But I'll let that slide because of how incredible the halibut and duck was. </div>
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Next time I visit, I will be back for dinner. I can't wait to try another bizarre dessert and perfectly seasoned fish or protein. </div>
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If you haven't been yet, go. Now.</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/28942/restaurant/Gramercy-Flatiron/Gramercy-Tavern-NYC"><img alt="Gramercy Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/28942/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-76210521282804456632014-08-11T11:48:00.001-04:002014-08-11T13:16:12.217-04:00Gotham West MarketAfter hearing so much about Gotham West Market (and seeing it ALL over Instagram), I knew I had to take a trip out there. It's a bit of a trek, but definitely worth it.<br />
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As an ardent taco fanatic, I was overjoyed to see Choza Taqueria, an authentic Mexican taco shop at Gotham West. </div>
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After several minutes of indecision, I decided upon the carnitas tacos with pickled vegetables. There's something about pickled veggies that cuts the fat of carnitas so perfectly, and Choza executed the tacos with a complimentary and delicate balance of fat/tangy. The tacos were wrapped in two small corn tortillas each, which were some of the best corn tortillas I've ever tasted. They were the ideal size and texture, and it was smart to wrap each taco in two tortillas to prevent any filling from escaping the corn shell.</div>
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My sister went to Gotham Market with me and visited Ivan Ramen, where she got the signature ramen dish with chicken. She loved the broth, but some of the chicken was tough and hard to chew. That was slightly disappointing, seeing how highly lauded Ivan Ramen has been.</div>
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Another great part of Gotham West is that they offer a wide variety of beers and other alcohols, which you can enjoy inside the market, or at picnic tables right outside. Gotham West is a perfect casual date spot or a great place to relax on a weekend with friends. It's worth the hike. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-63470972214350938222014-08-10T15:38:00.000-04:002014-08-10T15:38:49.805-04:00ScarpettaScott Conant is the only person I have ever been star-struck around. The funny thing is, most people probably don't even know who he is. As a religious <i>Chopped</i> watcher and restaurant fanatic, I've known for a while. So when I got the chance to meet him at last years Food & Wine Festival in NYC, I cried. Not to his face--just before I went up to meet him. I got his cookbook autographed and everything, and it was amazing.<br>
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So, you can imagine how excited I was to dine at Scarpetta. The restaurant looks tiny from the outside, but once you get inside, it is pretty huge.<div><br></div><div>The menu is on the smaller side, but I wasn't bothered by it. I would rather have a chef put out their 5 best entrees than 15 mediocre options. I started with a polenta covered in mushroom jus and delicious sautéed mushrooms.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4IBzqhtU8xc/U-EaLgDHC4I/AAAAAAAAAm4/wTcFIuFDRrY/s640/blogger-image-1899515590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4IBzqhtU8xc/U-EaLgDHC4I/AAAAAAAAAm4/wTcFIuFDRrY/s640/blogger-image-1899515590.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The mushroom portion of the dish was incredible, but the polenta was a tad rich for me. The consistency<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> was delicious but I think there was too much fat/cream/butter involved in the recipe.</span></div><div><br></div><div>I got branzino for my main course with lentils and a delicious peppery tomato sauce. It was a home run. The skin was perfectly crispy and the lentils provided the perfect Mediterranean flair.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Zg4OpLZJ_-E/U-e4spxeQCI/AAAAAAAAAns/XrNRHhhMJQ4/s640/blogger-image--22322266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Zg4OpLZJ_-E/U-e4spxeQCI/AAAAAAAAAns/XrNRHhhMJQ4/s640/blogger-image--22322266.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My dining companion (my little sister) got the signature homemade pasta with an amazing tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KrBWocpE-Z4/U-e4uwzeYrI/AAAAAAAAAn0/CB4b9N_wv1U/s640/blogger-image-2096276391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KrBWocpE-Z4/U-e4uwzeYrI/AAAAAAAAAn0/CB4b9N_wv1U/s640/blogger-image-2096276391.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It only took her about three minutes to finish the pasta, so I'd say she liked it. The homemade spaghetti was definitely what made this dish special, and the tomato sauce was perfectly tangy but it didn't overpower the delicate pasta.</div><div><br></div><div>All in all, I was thrilled to finally dine at Scarpetta. I could have done without the overpowering richness of the polenta, but the fish and pasta were phenomenal. I'll definitely come back to try some more items on the menu and to try and catch a glimpse of Chef Conant.</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/394098/restaurant/Chelsea/Scarpetta-NYC"><img alt="Scarpetta on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/394098/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-19539257515559294642014-08-09T15:59:00.001-04:002014-08-10T15:37:40.786-04:00OatMealsOatmeal is one of my all-time favorite foods. I have it every morning for breakfast, and I have a very specific way of preparing it. Most people who have ever lived with me understand my oatmeal obsession, so naturally my roommate and I had to visit OatMeals when we heard about it.<br />
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It is a cafe and bakery entirely dedicated to oatmeal. It was my own personal version of heaven. I can't even explain how happy I was when I walked into the cafe.</div>
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I ended up going around brunch time, so I decided to get something sweet and savory. I ALWAYS eat my oatmeal with crunchy peanut butter, so I felt like I needed to get something with peanut butter on it.</div>
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After some careful deliberation, I went for the Elvis--steel cut oats with banana, peanut butter (creamy, but I got over it), honey, bacon, and sea salt. </div>
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At first I was pretty confused by the salty/sweet combo, but after a few bites I was hooked. The bacon was salty and added a great crunch to the oats that made up for the fact that the peanut butter was creamy and not crunchy (I'm very anti-creamy peanut butter if you couldn't tell). <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The sea salt added a touch of decadence to the oatmeal and made me feel like I was indulging in some luxurious truffle or dessert. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My roommate went with a more savory bowl, filled with manchengo, figs, honey, and walnuts. She also got a cinnamon scone because they looked incredible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I am not a huge manchengo fan, so this wouldn't ever be something I would order, but it was perfect for an adventurous cheese lover. My one note about this oatmeal is that it could have used a touch of sea salt to help balance out the sweetness of the figs and honey--the manchengo itself wasn't enough to offset their sugar content.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The scone earned rave reviews from my roommate, and she finished the scone but couldn't polish off the whole cheesy oatmeal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The prices at OatMeals were surprisingly reasonable, and I was happy that my oatmeal only cost $5.50 for a medium. I will definitely become a regular here and I will be back to tackle some other oatmeal combos.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1709653/restaurant/Greenwich-Village/OatMeals-NYC"><img alt="OatMeals on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1709653/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-68927694520110855812014-08-02T11:37:00.000-04:002014-08-02T11:38:32.253-04:00Best Smoothies in New York<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-85418257149969335352014-08-02T09:29:00.000-04:002014-08-02T11:51:59.314-04:00DBGB Kitchen and BarI was expecting DBGB to be pretty awesome based off the fact that it is Daniel Boulud's restaurant. He didn't let me down (for the most part). I decided to visit because it is restaurant week, and the restaurant week menu looked decently large. My sister is visiting so she dined with me, but opted for the regular menu.<br />
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For appetizers I had the chilled corn soup with queso fresco sprinkled on top, and my sister had the shrimp cocktail.<br />
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The chilled corn soup was good, but it lacked depth of flavor. It had some flavorful extras added to it (green onion & sriracha) but there wasn't enough of them to make an impact. I liked the soup, but it could've been better. The shrimp cocktail, on the other hand, had plenty going on. With two dipping sauces, sliced avocado, and tomatoes, flavor was not an issue. The shrimp were delicious and the sides made the dish playful and unique.</div>
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For main courses, I got the pork and parsley farmhouse sausage link, and my sister got the salmon. The sausage was <i>incredible</i>. It was crispy, flavorful, tender, and rich. The sausage was served over a bed of ratatouille that was the perfect complement to the earthiness of the parsley in the sausage. My only qualm is that I could have eaten twice as much sausage as they gave me. I think that's because I was doing the restaurant week menu--I find portions are always slightly smaller during restaurant week.</div>
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I had a hard time finding anything particularly inventive about salmon dish because salmon is such a predictable staple. This salmon was served over a bed of farro (even more predictable) with a tomato-pepper vinegar. At least the vinegar addition makes the dish unique. </div>
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In the dessert/drinks category, DBGB definitely pulled through with unique and inventive dishes. Their cocktail menu is fun and offers a wide array of options, like the Na Na Na Na Na, made with banana puree and an assortment of alcohols. The restaurant week dessert options were black forest cake or a sundae, and I opted for a chocolate peanut butter sundae. Best decision I made all week.</div>
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The sundae was made up of chocolate ice cream, peanuts, caramel corn, whipped cream, and caramel drizzle. It really was as good as it sounds. I finished the sundae in about 60 seconds.</div>
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Overall, I really liked the ambiance of DBGB (open kitchen and a lot of open space), and the food was great, with the exception of the soup and the unoriginality of the salmon dish. Definitely stop by if you're a foodie and want to eat at Daniel Boulud's more relaxed French-American fusion bistro.</div>
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<a href="http://www.dbgb.com/nyc/" target="_blank">DBGB Kitchen and Bar </a>-- 299 Bowery (Between Houston and 1st Street) New York, NY</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1445316/restaurant/Lower-East-Side/DBGB-Kitchen-Bar-NYC"><img alt="DBGB Kitchen & Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1445316/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-57765142285933761562014-08-01T10:34:00.001-04:002014-08-01T12:40:41.292-04:00Las RamblasHaving spent roughly a month of my life in Spain, I consider myself somewhat of a tapas connoisseur. My time in San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona turned me into a lover of Spanish cuisine. So, when I went to Las Ramblas, a small Spanish tapas bar near Washington Square, I had pretty high expectations.<br />
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Las Ramblas is a bit of a hidden gem in the West Village. It's a tiny space (they could fill a space three times the size on a regular basis), but the size adds to the ambiance and authenticity. The tapas are true Spanish style tapas in both their size and contents.<br />
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My favorite dish were the patatas bravas drizzled with a garlic aioli. They had the perfect amount of sauce and spice. I probably could have eaten two plates of them, all by myself.<br />
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Another stand out dish was the Alubias Blancas con Chorizo aka white beans with Chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage). The dish was served in a casserole-like skillet, filled with white beans, chorizo, and onions. It had the perfect amount of chorizo, which was sliced thinly and dispersed throughout the dish. I am a huge chorizo lover, so this was a home run dish for me.</div>
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In addition to the patatas and chorizo dishes, we also ordered olives (which were amazing) and meatballs. I would personally rather have chorizo over meatballs at a tapas restaurant, but it's all about personal preference. I bet I would like 99% of the dishes on Las Ramblas' menu, seriously. </div>
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If you're in the West Village and craving some small plates straight out of Spain, visit Las Ramblas.</div>
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Las Ramblas -- 170 W 4th St. New York, NY, 10014</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/32443/restaurant/West-Village/Las-Ramblas-NYC"><img alt="Las Ramblas on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/32443/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-29056848357510490302014-07-31T14:38:00.004-04:002014-08-01T10:35:08.922-04:00Todd English Food HallThe Todd English Food Hall is underneath the Plaza Hotel. The first thing I think about when someone mentions The Plaza is the movie Eloise at the Plaza. That is not at all relevant to anything, but I just wanted to get that out there.<br />
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I had no idea that there was a big food scene going on at The Plaza aside from the dining in the actual hotel, but I was incorrect. Below The Plaza there's a huge food court area with some of New York's most well-respected artisanal restaurants and shops. The best part about this area, in my opinion, is the Todd English Food Hall. It takes up the most space of the food court, and it has the most variety. From kick ass sushi to gluten free pizza to fire grilled octopus to handmade dumplings, you can find a million dishes you will love.<br />
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My personal favorite item on the menu, and the reason I keep going back, is their gluten free pepperoni pizza.<br />
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The crust is crisp and has a slight cheesy taste, and the pepperoni is some of the best I've ever had. For being gluten free, this pizza is incredible. The sliced basil on top bolsters the flavor of both the pepperoni and the crust. </div>
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The sushi at Todd English is also amazing. It doesn't really make sense for me to order sushi and pizza in the same meal, but alas, that's what I've found myself doing. </div>
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I stuck with the avocado and cucumber vegetable roll, and even though it was a simple roll it was very well executed. The rice was perfectly sticky and didn't fall apart when I tried to eat it (that's a major pet peeve of mine and a sign of poorly constructed sushi). The avocado was ripe and tender, and the crunch of the cucumber added a great textural element.</div>
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The Todd English Food Hall is definitely a place you want to visit for lunch or dinner. The variety and quality are impressive, and it's pretty cool to eat at The Plaza.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theplazany.com/dining/todd-english-food-hall/" target="_blank">Todd English Food Hall</a> -- 768 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10019</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1535364/restaurant/Midtown-East/Todd-English-Food-Hall-NYC"><img alt="Todd English Food Hall on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1535364/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-76162116941991772312014-07-31T14:01:00.001-04:002014-08-01T10:35:24.136-04:00Chloe's Ice Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit is probably one of my favorite discoveries in New York thus far. First of all, their ingredients are only fruit, water, and cane sugar. I'm not sure how that works, but I am happy just being left in the dark and eating whatever they make.</div>
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I tried the banana soft serve with peanut butter drizzle (because who doesn't want bananas and peanut butter??), and added some sprinkles. I honestly could not tell that this was technically "healthy," or that it happened to be dairy, fat, and gluten free. It looked and tasted like regular fruit-flavored soft serve. I consider it a dessert miracle. </div>
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I visited the Chloe's near Union Square, but several other places sell Chloe's soft serve, which also comes in popsicle and smoothie form. The flavors of soft serve change daily, and the topping options are plentiful. They have SO MANY topping choices. They've got fruit/healthy toppings, but they've also got more decadent toppings like chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter, and graham crackers.</div>
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Whatever combination of healthy and sinful you want, Chloe's can hook you up. It may be more expensive than buying an ice cream pop at a convenience store, but then again, it also tastes about 100 times better.</div>
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Union Square Location -- 25 E 17th Street NY, NY 10003 </div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1653804/restaurant/Gramercy-Flatiron/Chloes-Soft-Serve-Fruit-Co-NYC"><img alt="Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Co on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1653804/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-59324351991818963092014-07-31T12:01:00.002-04:002014-07-31T12:01:12.934-04:00The Move to NYC<span style="font-size: large;">So Much To Eat has moved to New York! </span><div>
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Since I graduated college in May, I've moved to New York to start a job in the restaurant PR world (and to eat my way through New York, naturally). </div>
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As of today, I will be updating the blog weekly with updates and reviews of New York restaurants, food carts, and farmers markets. </div>
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Please leave comments if you have requests about places I should visit, or things you want me to write about!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-53614144788771783112013-10-12T23:25:00.001-04:002013-10-13T15:24:40.285-04:00El Centro ReviewEl Centro is Georgetown's new, hip restaurant, located in the space that The Third Edition, a longtime Georgetown bar for college students and young 20-somethings, formally occupied. The brainchild of chef Richard Sandoval, this is El Centro's second location, the first of which is located on 14th Street. El Centro has two floors and three bars, including an outdoor space and an outdoor bar.<br />
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El Centro specializes in authentic mexican food and unique Tequilas. The largest section of their menu is reserved for their extensive list of tacos, ranging from nopal cactus to duck to adobo marinated pork shoulder. El Centro's drink menu is also comprehensive--especially their margarita selection, which includes their signature "El Centro," frozen, strawberry, chili-ginger, mango, prickly pear, and pineapple-habanero margaritas.<br />
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The first thing I ordered at El Centro was their guacamole, which they prepare table-side. El Centro offers guacamole with bacon, tuna, or crab, but I decided to stick with their traditional guac.<br />
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This guacamole was some of the best I have ever had, and the chips that accompanied it were just as delicious. The balance of serrano chile to onion to cilantro was spot on, and I just about finished the entire serving myself.<br />
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For entrees, we ordered the shrimp huarache and the slow-roasted pork taco. Huarache is a flatbread dish made from corn masa, and the huarache we ordered was topped with shrimp, avocado, bean puree, and chipotle aioli.<br />
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The combination of the flatbread, shrimp, aioli, and puree was pretty bizarre, and was definitely my least favorite part of the meal. The masa flatbread wasn't bad, but all of the toppings made it soggy, which defeats the purpose of a crunchy flatbread.</div>
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The pork tacos, topped with avocado and pickled onions, were paired with a side of beans, rice, and salsa verde. The pork was tender, spicy, and delicious, and the avocado added a layer of creamy richness which cut through the spice of the pork perfectly. </div>
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Overall, I enjoyed the guacamole and the pork tacos, but was underwhelmed by the flatbread. I didn't try any of the Tequilas or margaritas, but I will definitely be back for happy hour and some guacamole. But I'll skip the huarache.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Visit <a href="http://www.richardsandoval.com/elcentrogtown/" target="_blank">El Centro</a> at 1218 Wisconsin Ave, NW 20007</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1819 14th St, NW 20009</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/1775452/restaurant/DC/Georgetown/El-Centro-Washington"><img alt="El Centro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1775452/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-39803042924012078722013-09-29T22:11:00.003-04:002013-09-29T22:12:55.273-04:00Neyla ReviewRecently, a friend Instagrammed a picture of hummus at Neyla, a Lebanese restaurant in Georgetown. I don't know if it was the filter she used, or the expertly plated hummus dish, but I was sold on Neyla--I needed to go.<br />
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So when my Mom came into town this weekend, I knew that I wanted to take her there. Neyla is tucked in a corner of Georgetown off of Wisconsin and has a great outdoor seating area. The first thing that our waitress brought over to our table was a delicious plate of pita chips, olives, and Greek yogurt with olive oil.<br />
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The chips were topped with a variety of Lebanese spices and herbs--they were great by themselves, but when you dipped the chip into the Greek yogurt and olive oil it brought the dish to a whole new level. The richness of the olive oil and the creaminess of the Greek yogurt paired perfectly, and the spices on the pita chip really bolstered the flavors of the yogurt. The olives were succulent and perfectly salty.<br />
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Since the Instagram picture of Neyla's hummus was what drew me there in the first place, I knew I had to get that as an appetizer. We asked for the hummus with variety of vegetables on the side for dipping.<br />
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This hummus was by far the best hummus I've ever had. Velvety, rich, delicious--I couldn't imagine a better appetizer. The hummus also came with incredible pita bread, but I think that the pita bread almost masks the beauty of the hummus. I found the vegetables to be the better dipping vehicle because they really let the hummus shine.</div>
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For our entrees, I went with the beef kabob, and my mom went with the jumbo shrimp kabobs.<br />
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My mom said, verbatim, "This is the best shrimp I've ever had." The lemon, olive oil, and oregano marinade brought the shrimp to life and they were cooked perfectly. My steak was equally incredible. The filet mignon was cooked to a perfect medium--just as I had ordered it--and it was slathered with a garlic and red pepper marinade. This dish came with a side of batata harra, a Lebanese spicy potato dish made with red peppers, coriander, chili, and garlic. The potatoes were unlike any potato dish I had ever tasted, and their spice profile worked in perfect harmony with that of the filet.</div>
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Our overall experience at Neyla was a very enjoyable one, as the waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable. The price per-person for our dinner was about $40, which I would gladly pay again for another dinner at Neyla.</div>
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If you like hummus, steak, shrimp, pita, or Middle Eastern flavors, Neyla is the place for you.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Visit <a href="http://www.neyla.com/" target="_blank">Neyla</a> at 3206 N St, NW</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Washington, DC 20007</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/104420/restaurant/DC/Georgetown/Neyla-Washington"><img alt="Neyla on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/104420/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-52043115017468719722013-09-14T13:57:00.004-04:002013-09-14T19:56:15.669-04:00Puro Cafe ReviewI've walked by Puro Cafe about 989230 times, but I'd never thought to eat there. I think it's location on Wisconsin is slightly detrimental to its popularity, because Puro is tucked into an area of Wisconsin that is often ignored by passerby. I've been looking to eat somewhere different in Georgetown though, so when one of my roommates suggested Puro, I was more than happy to oblige.<br />
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When we walked into Puro, I immediately noticed its laid back vibe. Puro calls itself a "Mediterranean tapas" restaurant, but the ambiance made it feel like a casual European bistro. The menu had a wide variety of tapas, ranging from quinoa with Medjool dates to meatballs with basil sauce to jumbo lump crab cake. Although Puro offers such a wide range of options, they are all infused with a Mediterranean spice influence and flavor profile.<br />
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We went with a selection of seafood, vegetarian, and meat tapas including the meatballs with basil sauce, shrimp with dill, shallots and dijon, golden rice with raisins and asparagus, grilled asparagus with sea salt and tapenade, and an arugula salad with gorgonzola, apples, and walnuts.<br />
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For me, the highlight of the meal was the meatballs with a delicious basil tomato sauce. The meatballs were tender and well seasoned, and the sauce was the best tomato sauce I've ever had. Basil is my favorite herb, and this sauce was the perfect combination of sweet tomatoes and earthy basil. I finished every ounce of sauce on that plate.<br />
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My roommate's favorite dish was the shrimp with shallots, dill and dijon. The sauce was definitely the star of this plate--it was creamy and slightly buttery without being overly fatty or too rich. The dill added another layer of flavor to the sauce that perfectly complimented the dijon.<br />
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The third-best dish was the golden rice with raisins and asparagus. I loved the combination of the sweet raisins, the perfectly seasoned rice, and crunchy asparagus. The textural contrast between the raisins and asparagus truly made the dish.</div>
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Overall, my roommate and I really loved our meal and the laid-back vibe of Puro Cafe put me at ease. We also noticed a great deal on mojitos ($15 dollars for a pitcher during happy hour), and vowed to return in the next few weeks for drinks. Mojitos, I'll be back for you.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Visit <a href="http://purobarlounge.com/" target="_blank">Puro Cafe</a> at 1529 Wisconsin Avenue</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Washington, DC NW 20007</span></div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/1516600/restaurant/DC/Georgetown/Puro-Mediterranean-Tapas-Washington"><img alt="Puro Mediterranean Tapas on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1516600/minilink.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-35046274070322661302013-09-06T08:40:00.001-04:002013-10-21T22:17:17.980-04:00Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Cake<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ok, so I didn't plan on writing a post about the dessert I made last night, but it's just too good. I HAVE to share this with the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was introduced to a vegan chocolate cake recipe by one of my friends tonight. She's vegan, and has recently shown me some incredible vegan dishes. We decided to tweak the recipe she found to make it gluten free (I recently found out I'm gluten and soy intolerant--but don't worry, I still plan on eating out and cooking all the time), with a gluten free flour from Trader Joe's, a combination of rice flour and tapioca flour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The original recipe template that we used came from Alicia K at <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/The-BEST-chococlate-cake-ever...that-happens-to-be/#step1">http://www.instructables.com/id/The-BEST-chococlate-cake-ever...that-happens-to-be/#step1</a>, and she's also got a blog at <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"><a href="http://aliciakachmar.com/blog">http://aliciakachmar.com/blog</a></span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In order to work within my dietary restrictions, I substituted the soy milk for chocolate almond milk and used the gluten free flour in place of the regular flour. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The recipe involves a cake as well as a chocolate glaze (which is where I substituted the soy milk for the almond milk), and the glaze tastes incredible when you drizzle it over the cake hot out of the oven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We followed the rest of the recipe as written, with the exception of sunflower seed oil instead of vegetable oil, and apple cider vinegar instead of distilled white vinegar. Also, the recipe says bake for 30 minutes and let cool for 2 hours, but I prefer a molten center (and I just really wanted to eat the cake) so I did not wait that long for it to cool. We baked the cake for about 15-20 minutes, and it came out perfectly moist and gooey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The best part of all of this is that it's not awful for you and if you've got food intolerance, you can FINALLY eat a dessert again. Also, chocolate cake is my #1 favorite food of all time, and this is one of the top 5 chocolate cakes I've ever had. So just let that simmer, and head on over to the grocery store and buy the ingredients to prepare this little slice of heaven.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368383499408113343.post-57374865117391928482013-08-31T13:37:00.002-04:002013-08-31T13:37:39.030-04:00Banana and Peanut Butter Frozen YogurtI crave ice cream all day every day. Unfortunately, eating ice cream all day every day probably isn't the healthiest thing for me. So I've come up with an alternative. I've read a ton of articles about frozen banana ice cream or smoothies or frozen yogurt, but I hadn't tried my hand at making it until this week.<br />
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It actually happened on a fluke because I had two bananas that were about to go bad, so just threw them in the freezer hoping that would magically extend their life span. I forgot about them for a day and opened the freezer back up to look for something else, and there they were. I was bored so I decided to experiment a little and create my own frozen banana ice cream recipe. This is what I came up with.<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
(makes one larger serving or two small servings)<br />
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1/3 cup Almond Milk (I use unsweetened because it doesn't mask the banana flavor)<br />
1 tbsp peanut butter (I use chunky because I like the texture, but creamy works just as well)<br />
2 frozen bananas, sliced into 1/2 inch chunks<br />
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Peel two bananas and freeze them for at least 12 hours. Combine the bananas and 1/3 cup almond milk in a blender and pulse at five second increments until the banana and the almond milk have combined.<br />
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Once the mixture resembles a thick frozen yogurt, add in your peanut butter and pulse once more for five seconds. Pour out the mixture into a bowl or cup and enjoy.<br />
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If you want the ice cream to have a thicker texture, you can re-freeze the ice cream or add 1/4 cup of almond milk.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08803923626505016958noreply@blogger.com0