Alice's Tea Cup

I am not a huge fan of Alice's Tea Cup on W 72nd St right off of Columbus.  Yes, they offer a wide variety of well-brewed teas and the salads are crisp dressed with tanginess .  Yes, the concept and decor are adorable.  For some reason, I still do not like eating here.  Or, more specifically, I still do not like paying to eat here.  Unless I am supping with a group of 12 year-old girls, I prefer to go elsewhere.  It is probably because I think I can replicate most of their dishes at a fraction of the cost, even if my productions do not taste quite so good.

I will say that Alice's sells an impressive number of scones.  While I do make delectable scones, I am craving bread products.  That is why I bought two before a Trader Joe's excursion a few days ago.

a currant scone (right) and
a berry scone with white chocolate

Their scone selection varies day to day, which I have to respect.  Moreover, each scone comes with a little container of cream and jam for smearing purposes.  So, for $3.50 a piece, I will belly up to Alice's counter and shamelessly plaster each crumb with raspberry preserves and homemade clotted cream.

Katz's Delicatessen

After being abandoned by the vegetarians in favor of pseudo-dates and museum wanderings, I went to Katz's Delicatessen with some fellow omnivores.  Katz's Deli is on the corner of Houston & Ludlow or on Houston between Avenue A and 1st Ave, depending on which side of street you are coming from.

After standing in the doorway for a bewildering second, we followed the masses to the counter.  A handsome fellow offered a slice of pastrami on a plate as a sample.  (Pastrami is cured meat, usually beef, that has been brined, dried, seasoned, spiced, smoked, and steamed.  I did not know this.)  I had never tasted pastrami before and Katz's was probably not the best place for this.  Undoubtedly, their pastrami has ruined me forever.  

The meat was perfectly prepared; it was moist and full of flavor but not over spiced.  The bread was fairly standard sandwich bread and it was slathered in mustard.  Katz's also serves soups and salads, in addition to a variety of other sandwiches.  Their food is a little expensive, especially for a ravenous and snobbish college student.  Each sandwich is about $16, but it can be easily split between two people and leave each person feeling satisfied.  If you tip the sandwich-maker, he'll give you even more meat, too.  I had one whole sandwich to myself and you better believe I finished it.

Katz's Delicatessen prides itself on being one of the few remaining and real delicatessens left because "they continue a tradition of meat preparation and preservation predating refrigeration".  It is also the location of this famous scene from When Harry Met Sally:

In other words, Katz's is a place of historical, gastronomical, and cultural import!  Which completely justifies the three hours and $20 I devoted to eating there!

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

Ever so bravely, the city of New York is entirely side-stepping Winter and fluidly transitioning into Spring.  I have accepted the snowless months behind us and so decided to embrace sunlight, wool-less outfits, and 70 degree weather.  Mostly because this means I can eat ice cream in public without enduring the incredulous looks of passersby.

The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop (check out their website - the photos are very funny) is on 7th St in the East Village between 1st Ave and Avenue A.  I think the men working there at the time were actually the owners.  I hope they are because they were amazing.  Each created ice cream wonders confidently and without pause, which I'll admit is the way to my heart.  As they made salty pimps and cococones, they talked to each other and casually invited each customer to contribute their thoughts on curried coconut and the unicorns on the walls.

The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop is particularly known for their Salty Pimp.  One man gouges streaks of dulce de leche into the sides of swirled vanilla ice cream.  The cone, our stage for this drama, is inverted and the ice cream is dusted with sea salt before it is dumped into liquid chocolate.

salty pimp

I also sampled the Cococone, which is vanilla ice cream covered in toasted curried coconut.

cococone

And here are the photos I attained by accosting fellow customers/friends:

american gobblers, perhaps?

something?

O'Flaherty's

Spring Break is tragically drawing to a close.  My body is physically rejecting this reality with a lovely pounding in my noggin.

I spent the time off school by communing with friends, meandering through emotionally exhausting museums, and eating.  Yes, eating.  In fact, the majority of my time was spent walking between feeding stations.  One particularly memorable day, I snacked on an apple and a coffee in Union Square, then marched the seven blocks to an Italian pastry shop to devour a cannolo before wandering over five blocks to an ice cream shop to sample their product, and finally finishing the afternoon's grazing two blocks to the west by gorging myself on some Belgium french fries.  Three hours later, after digesting a reasonable amount, I dined on a lobster roll.

The week's major festivities concluded on St. Patrick's Day with a little bit of bar-hopping and a lot of day-drinking.  I managed to claw my way into a couple Irish bars with varying degrees of respectability.  This place was by far my favorite.  I dedicate this post to the gentleman I met in line for the bathroom.  He decided to take advantage of the bathroom light switch's location outside the door and destroy the aim of the man using the toilet.

O'Flaherty's Ale House & Restaurant, located on 46th St. between 8th and 9th Ave, is an Irish pub.  Shockingly.  I stumbled upon this gem with some friends earlier in the year and decided to return for St. Patrick's Day.

First of all, I loved this place the first time I imbibed there.  The waitress was hysterical and very helpful, the beers on tap were generous in size and reasonably priced, the live music was pretty good and not at all obnoxious, and the crowd was good-natured and entertaining.

the darling patrons

It is not immediately apparent, but this place is freaking huge.  And somehow this translates into a bit of everything, decor-wise.  There is a bar with bar stools and the like at an appropriate distance from what I can only assume is a strapping young Irishman playing the guitar.  There is a backyard (that's right) with outdoor seating and flora.  There are couches surrounding small tables.  There is another couch framed by shelved books next to a coffee table.

the appetizingly-colored corn beef

On St. Patrick's Day, a friend of mine ordered their corned beef entree.  We were a bit skeptical, but that meal kept us going for the next five hours.  The corned beef and adjacent cabbage were fortifying and perfectly complemented the beers.  I discovered a drink called The Black Velvet.  If, like me, you have struggled to choose between a thick, dark beer (like Guinness) and something a little lighter (such as hard cider), never fear!  The Black velvet is a beer cocktail that is historically made with wine or champagne, but for our purposes at O'Flaherty's is made with Granny Smith's Cider.  Order it!  It is basically adult candy.

this is a horrible photo in all respects
but I post it because the guy in
the background is sporting a
green mustache.

Places I Wanted to Eat: Philadelphia & DC & Baltimore

Thanks mostly to my grandmother's wanderlust and tendency to settle in remote villages and my parents own traveling aspirations, I am fortunate enough to be twenty years old and fairly well travelled.  However, this is the first trip that I have planned, paid for, and embarked on by myself.

Notice the "paid for" part.  As a direct result, I managed to survive eight days on $32.04 worth of food.  In other words, I passed up on eating out.  It was not that difficult...  My meals were perhaps not balanced, but I was always satisfied (rice goes a looong way).  Still, here is a list of places to eat that I have yet to sample, although their reputations DO precede them:

(There may be a few cultural events or bookstores thrown in here as well because I cannot resist..)

so many books! so many books
that I am now carting across the coast!

Washington, DC

• Ben's Chili Bowl (apparently they ship to all 50 states as well)
• Julia's Empanadas
• On the Fly (a fleet of eco-friendly SmartKarts)
• Johnny's Half Shell
• Chinatown Express
• Dukem Ethiopian
• Sundays 3-9pm in Meridian Hill Park for a drum circle and African dancing
• The MLK Dedication.  I was heartbroken that Irene ripped this experience from me.

I actually did eat at Dukem Ethiopian

Philadelphia

the good men of Tommy Dinic's

• Tommy Dinic's
• The Book Corner

Mercifully, Mary and Margaret were there in Philly to impart their wisdom and experience, so I will have to go again to expand my bucket list!  If that makes sense.

Baltimore

• Red Emma's (a cafe and bookstore)
• Faidley's crab cakes in Lexington Market
• Free music IN Lexington Market
• Batimore Farmers' Market
• Zeke's Coffee (it truly is unbelievable what $14/lb coffee grounds can do)

motto? read, revolt

If you are ever in a position to do any of these things, do not hesitate!  These are recommendations from international travelers, hostel (hostile? hah!  No, everyone was really nice!) staff, and the local city-dwellers.

Sol Food

I don't know what they do to their food.  It's unbelievable.  You really haven't lived until you've eaten here.  Sol Food has two locations in downtown San Rafael, one at Lincoln Ave. and 3rd St and the other on Lincoln right next door.

take-out brings SO MUCH joy to my life

This is the only place in San Rafael that's open past 10pm, not that that is the reason to go here.  Sol Food is a Puerto Rican place.  The entire restaurant (both of them) is colorfully decorated with bright doors, old photographs, long wooden tables and benches.  It's really a lot of fun.

The rice is delicious.  Order pretty much anything.  I recommend the shrimp, chicken, pollo sandwich, all of the plantains, the salad (they have the best salad dressing ever - it's like an oil-vinegar-lemon thing).  Also, try the limonada fresca, a really tart sparkling limeade.  Sadly, the prices aren't as low as they could be, a meal costs anywhere from $12-$18.

Take home message?  Go here.

Zachary's Pizza

I love authentic Italian pizza, but the Chicago-style pizza of Zachary's Pizza pretty much makes me cry with joy.  If you've never had Chicago-style pizza, it is a deep-dish pizza with the tomato sauce on top of everything.  Their best pizzas are a little expensive (about $27 for a large) but this is why you go with your parents or with a big group of friends.  It is really filling, so don't be too worried.  There are a couple different locations, but I go to the one on Solano Ave. in Berkeley (address is 1853 Solano Ave.).

Above all, I recommend the spinach and mushroom pizza.  My family also goes for the pepperoni.  The restaurant is a lot of fun, with pizza-inspired artwork all over the place, but the most amazing part about going to get pizza all the way in Berkeley at this place is to get the pizzas half-baked.  (They quite literally "half-bake" it and then give you instructions as to how to finish the masterpiece in the oven.  I suggest calling your mom/dad/sister/dog and telling them to preheat the oven so it will be ready when you get back.)  This way, you still get fresh pizza in the privacy of your own home.

baking the half-baked

pepperoni

spinach and mushroom

Wafels & Dinges Cart

Freshman year I lived off of weird combinations of granola saturated with sugar, peanut butter with raw broccoli, questionable omelets...  The point is, I now find some foods a little less appealing than I used to (like waffles).  But the Wafels & Dinges Cart is freaking fantastic.  And it's such a pretty cart!

what kind citizens those wafels & dinges people are

It's a little expensive (ranging from $5 to $8) but they have sweet and savory waffles and they are delicious and worth it.  Usually they park around Columbia at 113th St. and Broadway on Mondays from about 8am to 5pm.  Not sure how that's going to work now that school is out, but the cart's location can be found here.  

a wafel with nutella, strawberries, and whip cream
we embraced the experience

If it doesn't make a difference to you, I'd recommend the softer waffle - the liège wafel - which is doughy and chewier and really good, even compared to its well-cooked, crispier counterpart.  

Fridays and Saturdays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

So on Fridays and Saturdays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (HAH... that's the title of the post....), the powers that be open up the so-called Great Hall Balcony Bar where you (and your parent/big money spender) can be waited upon and served cocktails and appetizers which is accompanied by live classical music.  If you're not willing to pay (me), it is lovely to just stand by and listen to the music as you look out over the Great Hall.  (It is not exactly a concert situation, so don't get too excited.  But it is a nice stop on your way out the door.)  Check it out.

Ciao Bella - Blackberry Cabernet

I have to tell the world about this.  Ciao Bella is a gelato and sorbet company that started in San Francisco (represent!) and is now taking over the world.  Meaning it is spreading to other lovely place, like New York City.  But even if there isn't a Ciao Bella store near you, you can still buy pints of their ice cream at most grocery stores.

Ice cream is getting painfully expensive, especially for a college student.  A pint goes for about $5.69 in New York, which causes me physical pain.  BUT it gets cheaper if you share with someone else.  Plus, half a pint of ice cream is still cheaper than getting a few scoops of ice cream anywhere in Manhattan.

Point being, try the pint of Blackberry Cabernet Sorbet.  It is so good.  You will not regret the $6.

Caffe Falai

Caffe Falai, right near the intersection of Prince St. and Lafayette, is my favorite Italian place in New York City.  It is as close to actual Italian food as you can get on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.  I usually just order the Spaghetti al Pomodoro because it is so simple and yet so so so good.

spaghetti al pomodoro

Another new favorite is the cappelacci di caprino.  Are you ready for this?  Basically it is a plate of cappelacci with a red beets pure, hazelnut butter, swiss red chard, and pine nuts.  As for appetizers, I recommend the polipo (baby octopus with fingerling potatoes, fried capers, smoked paprika, black squid ink sauce) or the bufala (fresh buffalo mozzarella with roasted vegetables, lemon zest, and crotons).

polipo

This restaurant is the little bit more expensive ($20 to $50) but it is worth it.  The restaurant is adorable, the food is delicious, the Italians who work there are endearing (and supply you with endless bowls of homemade bread).  Heads up: they just finished expanding their restaurant and it looks like they are opening up a bakery next door. BE ALERT PEOPLE.  BE ALERT.

The City Bakery

This is another place off of Union Square.  The City Bakery is on 18th St. between 6th and 7th Ave.  It offers a whole slew of things, from collared greens to mac & cheese, but the best things there are the baked goods (ie the cookies) and the hot chocolate (although I would approve of coffee as well).

The cookies are inexplicably crisp and chewy, especially the chocolate chip cookie.  The hot chocolate at this place... oh where to start.  It is a disservice to the beverage to call it hot chocolate (which you all know I value, immensely).  Almost more of a mud than a liquid, it is rich and almost syrupy and oh so flavorful.  In fact, it is so rich that I would pretty much recommend ordering the smallest serving - maybe like two shots of the ambrosia - if you've had any form of cream within 12 hours (or if you want to finish the cookie without throwing it up).

the frothy brew

Most importantly is the significance of the month of February.  For this entire month, the City Bakery offers a new and brilliant flavor of hot chocolate.  I had the privilege of sampling the Fig & Spices Hot Chocolate on one of the last days.  And during these winter months, don't forget a homemade marshmallow.  It melts but doesn't mix with the liquid/mud/stuff.  Instead it sits on top and waits to be consumed.

The hot chocolate and the cookies will cost you (about $8-$9), but it is so worth it.

Hungarian Pastry Shop

This place is pretty much known by all Columbians.  It is legendary.  Many a-books have been read and written here and many a-pastries have been consumed here.  On Amsterdam Ave. between 110th St. and 111th St., the inside of the shop is dark and cosy - in other words, perfect for holing up in the winter and getting some work done with a nice hot beverage.  During the nicer months, some outdoor tables line the street and offer a view of St. John the Divine Cathedral (and a partial view of that ever-so weird and ever-so entertaining sculpture outside the cathedral).

an illustrious bounty, to be sure
(two hazelnut things, two hungarian coffees, one
cappucino, and baklava)

In my experience, the different varieties of coffee and the hot chocolate are perfect, the apple cider more than satisfactory, the pastries delicious.  I will say that once I ordered some sort of cake that was dry and not very tasty, but haven't had that problem with the cakes since then.  The strudels are lovely and flakey (with the best filling being apple) and the eclairs are delectable.  My greatest discovery at this pastry shop, however, is this hazelnut creme thing.

the beautiful circular hazelnut thing

the inner workings

Somehow, I don't even know the name of this particular dessert.  The only way I can described it is to say that it is a sort-of Its-It.  Basically, a huge amount of hazelnut creme is sandwiched between two wafer-cookie things and the whole sandwich is covered in chocolate.  I love it.