Valentine’s Day is not for another few months but thoughts of love and cupid filled my head when I went to the Chocolate Room in Park Slope. It’s a very cozy but not crammed spot in Brooklyn and feels like the perfect date spot. Too bad I didn’t go with a boyfriend, a lover, or a secret crush, because it would have been very romantic, a piece of dark, chocolate cake and spoons knocking together. But! I went with a very, very wonderful friend and had a fabulous time. So, I guess a boy wasn’t very necessary at all!
I like chocolate, but wouldn’t say I’m a chocoholic. However, for the Chocolate Room I might convert. Each dish had just the right amount of sweetness and cocoa intensity. There was sophistication but also homey, comfort as well. When we sat down we were welcomed with a little taster of a dark chocolate sorbet. I like to say that I like dark chocolate, but secretly I prefer milk. The sorbet was exceptional though, refreshing with just enough of cocoa aftertaste. It made you yearn for me.
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September 25 2009 | bakeries & restaurants and new york and thoughts | 5 Comments »
As I looked at the tantalizing desserts and stood amidst the urban wild, cabin decor of Baked bakery, I began to think that the long trip to Red Hook, Brooklyn would become the first of many. It was extremely difficult to narrow down the menu, especially after reading reviews here and flipping through their delicious cookbook. Finally my friend and I decided to order two cupcakes, a whoopie pie, two brownies, and apricot rosemary bar to go. Yes, it was kind of a beastly thing for two girls to do, but in our defense, we did not finish everything, it took us an hour and three transfers to get there, and we spent a fair amount of time working our way through. Excuses, excuses, I know.
We started off with the sweet and salty cupcake. It was definitely a winner for me. The chocolate cake had a upper crust like a brownie and the inner workings of a molten chocolate cake. Inside was a soft, almost melted chocolate filling that worked well with the mouse-like, airy frosting. Despite the layers of chocolate, it was a very delicate cupcake that gave a hint of salty caramel. In contrast to my opinion, my friend found the cupcake boring and cliche. I agree with the cliche, but the speckles of salt really saved it from being boring for me.
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September 07 2009 | new york and thoughts | 6 Comments »
I don’t follow many (actually any) sports with the exception of one, tennis. My sister introduced me to to the sport a couple of years ago and have been hooked ever since. If you live in New York or are a tennis fan you probably know that the US Open is held here in the city (yes, Queens is part of New York City) at this time every year. It started this past Monday and will continue on for two weeks.
So how is food related to the US Open? Well, like at any event or amusement park, food is overpriced and very expensive at the Open. When you’re hot and thirsty, $5 for a cold bottle of water is necessary but can also feel like money down the drain. I’ve made it a habit of spending no more than $10 to $15 at the Open and I thought I’d share with you what I do.
First of all, I always bring a couple bottles of water and drinks in my bag. I freeze them the night before so that they stay cold throughout the day. This year I decided to make my own beverages instead of buying power drinks. I made a thin smoothie by blending frozen berries with some water. I also made a minty, amateur lemonade by squeezing a couple of lemons, adding sugar and lots of mint. The berry juice was delicious but the lemonade wasn’t spectacular, however both were refreshing.
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September 03 2009 | new york and thoughts | 5 Comments »
I don’t eat a lot of pizza, but I crave it often. In New York City, there is a pizza place practically on every block. I’ve been to many of the well known, highly rated pizza joints but have not yet found the one favorite place. There are a few places that I think could be the one, but I feel like I have to check out a few more contenders before I can be sure. It’s so easy to eat pizza here because many places sell them by the slice, but for me, I like to share a big pie and enjoy it with someone else. To me, pizza is a group oriented activity. When I think of sleepovers, study groups, and pool parties, pizza is always there. Maybe that’s why I don’t like getting a slice by myself. It makes me feel a little bit lonely.
A few days ago, a couple of my old friends and I had a mini reunion. Some of them just recently moved to New York and others were visiting. It was a really great opportunity to catch up and a good group to enjoy pizza with. There were hundreds of pizza joints to choose from, but I decided to go with Otto Enoteca Pizzeria in Greenwich Village. I have long been a fan of Mario Batali’s and love his restaurant Lupa. But, I think my expectations were a little too high.
From the beginning, something was a little off. Our waiter was very unfriendly and rather grumpy. I’m usually not one to be really critical of the wait staff because I know, from personal experience, how hard it is to be a server. But that night, everything was very unpleasant. Our waiter was very impatient with us as we ordered. He never checked up on us after our food arrived, even though he walked by our table over a dozen times. Our cups were empty the entire meal and we all felt like he was purposely ignoring us when we tried to call him. Anyhow, it wouldn’t be fair to say that the entire restaurant’s service was horrible, but this guy did not represent very well.
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August 13 2009 | bakeries & restaurants and new york and thoughts | 5 Comments »
