Subway has flatbread!

I just went to Subway for the first time in a few months, and was super excited to discover they now have flatbread! Below is the texting conversation that followed:

Neha: "Subway has flatbread!"

Priya: "Ummm yeah they got that about 3 months ago honey."

Neha: "Lol. Oops. Well I just had it for the first time. And it was delicious."

A veggie delite on flatbread with chipotle southwest sauce. Yum.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

I made these Iced Pumpkin Cookies today. The can of pumpkin I just bought was calling my name--and it was begging me to mix it with cream cheese for another pumpkin cheesecake. My waist was saying otherwise, and I knew I had to use the can to make something quick. A girl only has so much will power when cream cheese, graham crackers and butter are so readily accessible.

The cookies. Are. Delicious. And half taste like cake, and I love cake.

This was the first time I didn't change the recipe! Well, okay, I just changed it a little bit. I used 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 cup white (instead of all white), and threw in a tiny bit of allspice. And increased the other spices ever so slightly. And when I only had batter for about 12 cookies left, I threw in some mini chocolate chips.

Oh yeah, and I didn't put any butter in the icing. So I guess I did change the recipe--sue me. If you're reading my blog, you should know me by now. I can't follow recipes. I have a problem.

That being said, make the cookies. They are worth it!

PS- I ate one as soon as it came out of the oven, without icing. It takes like a pumpkin muffin top. Yum.

Nutrition Data

I read food nutrition labels. Always.

That being said, a lot of food doesn't come with nutrition labels. A while ago I was trying to figure out the nutrition facts of an apple, and stumbled across this website. I used it again today, and I realized I never put it on here! I find it tremendously helpful--it gives TONS of info on just about any food you can think of. Personally, I love the graphics--the nutritious vs filling graph is my favorite. :-)

Go ahead--try it out here.

Milk Containers

Did you know it's better to buy milk in containers that are not clear? Apparently many of the nutrients are light-sensitive, so it's better to buy milk in cardboard containers than in the clear plastic ones. You can read more here-- look under "fortification" in the third paragraph.)

I love Alton Brown.

So Bittersweet.

I was watching Guy Fieri on the Food Network this morning, and a commercial came on with a familiar voice. (Once you go to Graffiti a few times, you can quickly pick up on Jehangir Mehta's unique accent.) I thought it was a repeat of his Iron Chef show, but I was wrong! He is actually competing on the Next Iron Chef series that premieres tonight on the Food Network! (The winner becomes an Iron Chef--Michael Symon was the winner of the first season.)

How bittersweet. I love Jehangir Mehta, so I really hope he wins! But, on the other hand, I love eating his food at Graffiti, and I love having him come over to our table. That's probably going to disappear. :-( His appearance on Iron Chef has already made it near impossible to get reservations at the restaurant--I loved when it was our secret hole-in-the-wall place that very few people knew about. Ah well, so it goes. At least we got to experience it numerous times, and I even got to purchase a cookbook from him--not from a bookstore, but him as an individual. So cool.

Now, I can't be mad. I do recall telling him to try out for Top Chef while we were eating there once with Priya and Vinny. (That's when he told us he had just finished filming his Iron Chef episode.) But you can't blame me--his food is fantastic! I dream about the paneer and the lychee martini, and our family's "pau bhaji" lovers (Priya & Ash) rave about the tamarind buns. I'm sure hundreds of diners probably said the same thing...and now we're all paying for it. Crap.

If you haven't yet been to Graffiti, be sure to call ahead of time to see if he's going to be working. Though the food is amazing on its own, his presence adds a really unique element to the dining experience. Either way, go soon while you still can! And don't forget to watch tonight--the Next Iron Chef on the Food Network, Sunday nights at 9:00. All selfishness aside, I'll be rooting for him the whole way!

Talk about service!

Last week we went to Roy's in Desert Ridge, AZ. Priya and Vinny went to the flagship location in Hawaii, and said the seafood was amazing. I don't eat seafood, but Ash enjoys it, and I was looking forward to their signature hot chocolate souffle, so we made a reservation. :-) FYI--though this is a "chain" restaurant, each menu is different, as each branch depends on local ingredients. There are a few signature items that you'll find on each menu, but other than that, each restaurant is its own.

We happened to visit the one in Desert Ridge, so I can only speak for that location. The food was fantastic. I mean fan-tas-tic. Aside from that, the service was impeccable. The restaurant was located in the JW Marriott resort, which was beautiful, and the outdoor seating area had a fire pit and tiki torches, while the inside had cozy booths. Due to the ninety degree weather, we ate inside, and were pleased all around.

Ash kept raving about the butterfish he had for the remainder of the trip, so we almost debated going back for a second meal. However, we wanted to try other places, so we chose not to. When we picked up our mail upon our return, we found a postcard with a Roy's signature cocktail recipe on the front, and a personal handwritten message on the back (I've blacked out our name and address, but everything was personalized):



Who does that? Who sends a personalized postcard to diners through snail mail after they've eaten at the restaurant?? Talk about amazing service. I almost wanted to call up Tony (who did drop by our table when we were eating to make sure everything was to our liking) and thank him! For those of you wondering how he got our address--I signed up for their mailing list, as they send out recipes every now and then. (If you watched Top Chef Master's, this restaurant was created by and named after Roy Yamaguchi, who was a contestant on the show.)

To make a long story short, if you are in the vicinity of Desert Ridge near Roy's Hawaiian Grill, I recommend you visit. It's wonderful!

Some people know me so well...

Sometimes I can only laugh at how well some people know me. Yesterday I received an email from Jenny containing the subject line--"ALERT ALERT." She knew to brace me before I opened the email. A million thoughts ran through my head--none of which I'll share here--but I prepared myself mentally before opening the email.

What was the message? Payard has closed. Now, to anyone else, that may not be big news. To me? Oh. My. God. I loved Payard. (Evidenced by the previous blog posts here and here.) However, in order to break the news lightly, she mentioned that she was going to get to the bottom of it--as though it might not be closed, but I should brace myself in case it has indeed shut its doors.

As if that wasn't enough, Priya was also cc'ed on the email, and quickly sent a follow up email stating that perhaps they needed to check on my well-being. Before I read these emails, I called Priya, and the first thing she asked was if I had received Jenny's email. I said no, so she proceeded to break the news to me. Once I got over my initial shock (I even visited the website hoping it was all lies--no such luck), I read the email exchange and couldn't stop laughing. Every now and then I realize how well some people know me--it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling and makes me laugh--all at the same time.

PS- When I broke the news to Ash, his reaction was "NOOOOOOOO. That's TERRIBLE news." And then he was quiet for a minute. Perhaps I should've prepared him the way Jenny and Priya prepared me. Oops.

DVR Alert!

Jehangir Mehta (who I raved about here) is on Iron Chef America tonight! If you're reading this post late, go ahead and check your program guide anyway, as they repeat the show rather frequently. I can't wait!

If you enjoy seeing famous people, perhaps watch the show and then head over to Graffiti to have him cook for you! (If you didn't read my previous post--order the paneer!!) The only downside is that now I think Graffiti is going to be MUCH more crowded. Bummer.

Supercook!

I was watching the Today show this morning, and they covered one of Time Magazine's best websites. Holy crap. I found my new favorite website! Go here. Immediately.

Supercook!

You can actually create an account (for free) and enter the ingredients you have in your kitchen. Then, it continuously searches major recipe sites and provides you with recipes of what you can make with what you have on hand! I found it greatly entertaining to enter a few things and see it constantly update what I could make as I entered more ingredients. Once you enter a few things, it nicely asks "Do you have..." with a list of ingredients--all you have to do is click on those you have!

I'm think in love. (sigh)

Recipe for "healthy" brownies!

Yes, I've tried the black bean brownies--they're surprisingly not bad. I haven't tried the canned pumpkin, but I've heard that they are decent as well. However, I wanted a recipe that didn't need brownie mix, and this one just seemed WAY too weird to work. What did I stumble across? Zucchini brownies!

Oh. my. god. They are fantastic! I wish I could claim the recipe as my own, but I found it here. I followed the recipe as written, but I made two changes-- instead of 1/2 cup vegetable oil, I used 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup applesauce. Also, I swapped the walnuts for chocolate chips into the batter, because hey, everything is better with chocolate chips! When you're making it, the batter is VERY dry until you add the zucchini. Also, I didn't use the frosting recipe--I just made a basic chocolate icing and used that instead, since I wanted a very thin layer.

All things said, this recipe is WONDERFUL. Probably good enough for me to keep zucchini in the fridge. And eat brownies for breakfast. Yum!

Have I been blind?

I've passed Godiva hundreds of times. (I LOVE their biscuits, so I always walk a bit faster past the shop so I don't get tempted.) However, I don't ever recall seeing frozen drinks! I was walking in the Prudential the other day, and I was waiting in a very LONG lunch line at Qdobo. Godiva happens to be right next door. (You can see where this is going....)

Since the line didn't seem to be moving, and Godiva had no line, I figured I'd forego my burrito and instead indulge in one of their heavenly looking chocolate drinks for lunch. Why waste time waiting in line? Plus, that way I'd be able to continue walking--a burrito is hardly portable mall food. (Everyone knows it's all about portability!)

So, I slid out of line and walked into Godiva, ordered the "Dark Chocolate Decadence," and waited. (In the meantime, I also signed up for their free rewards card. A free piece of chocolate every month without a necessary purchase? Score--where do I sign?) When I got it, it looked eerily similar to a Starbucks frap, just more chocolate-y. Oh boy, was I wrong--this drink is in its own league.

It is a bit less icy than the Starbucks consistency, but there are actually ground up pieces of chocolate in the drink itself, so it's like you're drinking and eating chocolate at the same time. (I can already see a bunch of you squirm...I'll never understand those who don't like bits in their drinks. No bubble tea? Really??) In my case, I LOVED it. I almost did a little dance after my first sip. Then, I realized I was in a mall, and took out my phone to call Ash. Halfway through dialing I realized he was probably busy saving lives, and didn't need to be interrupted because I had found a cool new drink, and hung up. Then, I thought, well, who would want to be interrupted because I found a cool new chocolate drink? And I immediately called Priya.

She, however, was busy with all her smart kids, so I left a message. When she returned my call, I remembered that she was one of those crazy ones who doesn't like bits in her drinks. (::shaking my head::) But, she was happy for me! Finally, when Ash got home and asked me what I had for lunch, I told him, and braced myself for a that's-great-but-it's-not-a-healthy-lunch comment. His reaction? He smiled and shook his head. (Not even one word of disapproval. Is there anything not to love about this man?)

At around $5 for a grande size cup, it ain't cheap, but it's worth it. This might be enough to pull me into every Godiva I walk by. Somebody send me some will power. Actually, forget it. I'm probably a lost cause anyway.

Chocolate Cake Balls!

It's raining. It's dreary. I'm tired. It's that kind of day.

What makes it better? When a friend brings over a ball of cake. Wrapped. In. Chocolate.

Make these immediately: Click here

Thanks Shana!

Twenty Questions about Food!

I was sent this questionnaire, and found it very fitting. :-)

20 Questions for Food Lovers

1. How often do you eat out? About two times/week--usually a dinner, and maybe brunch on the weekends. I bring my lunch to work everyday, because Ash and I both start to feel sluggish if we eat out any more than that. Plus, I love to cook. (Especially b/c Ash does the dishes!)

2. Favorite restaurant? Currently, Sinigual. It changes every few months. I could live off of their fried ice cream. I'd be fat and die in 3 years, but I'd be happy. (Hence the above answer of not eating out more than two times/ week...) :-)

3. Favorite food? Nachos. Hands down.

4. What do you ALWAYS have in your fridge? Cilantro.

5. What do you ALWAYS have in your freezer? You mean other than ice cream? More ice cream.

6. Favorite spice? Cardamom.

7. Favorite herb? Cilantro.

8. What do you eat every day? At least 20 grams of fiber. At a minimum. (And not in supplements--in real, unprocessed food. In a pinch, I'll eat these bars. The chocolate brownie one is my favorite!)

9. Favorite fruit? The reddish ones. (Cherries, Watermelon, Raspberries, etc.)

10. Favorite vegetable? Potatoes. (Unless you get into the whole root veggies aren't vegetables debate, and in that case, broccoli.)

11. Favorite drink? Earl grey tea with milk and sugar.

12. Favorite comfort food? Creamy tomato soup (with lots of cream, butter and parmesan) in a bread bowl.

13. Favorite grocery store? Regularly? Whole Foods. But I LOVE visiting grocery stores when we travel. (Ash found this out the hard way--luckily I am married to a very patient man.)

14. Favorite dessert? Chocolate mousse. NOT chocolate mousse cake. Chocolate mousse.

15. Favorite appliance? I love all my appliances--maybe my coffee maker?

16. You can't cook without...? A really good knife.

17. You never...? Fry anything. I sprinkle on some olive oil and stick it in the oven instead.

18. Where do you get restaurant reviews? Menupages. But I give restaurants two chances.

19. Most disappointing meal? For the money? Tabla Bread Bar. For the name? Cilantro.

20. Best meal? Ferraro's in Maui. Everything about it was perfect.

Easiest. Cheesecake. Ever.

I'm on a nutella kick. I'll eat it with everything--graham crackers, on toast, or best yet, out of the jar with a spoon. (I tried making nutella and banana paninis for dessert one day--that didn't go so well.)

In any case, I searched for recipes that used the goodness-in-a-jar, and found a few different cheesecake recipes. Most of them were no-bake, which I'm not such a fan of, so I changed it a bit to make it the easiest cheesecake ever. Seriously.

Easy Nutella Cheesecake

Note: Since I chose to make a brownie crust instead of a traditional graham cracker crust, I prepared boxed brownie batter for a 13x9 pan. Then, I used some of it to make this crust, and used the remainder to bake brownies in an 8x8 pan.

Springform Pan (I used a 10 inch, because that's all I had)
Prepared brownie batter (I used Duncan Hines, I think)
1 egg
1 tbsp. vanilla
16 oz. cream cheese (I used 8 oz. low fat and 8 oz. regular Philadelphia)
1 13 oz. jar nutella

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of the springform pan (I used about 1 tsp. of vegetable oil, and wiped off the excess with a paper towel.) Pour a small amount of brownie batter on the bottom of the pan, and use a spoon or spatula to just cover the bottom. (I used about 3/4 cup for a 10 inch pan.) The more batter, the thicker your crust. Bake for about 7-10 minutes, or until it starts to look done.

In a bowl, beat the cream cheese. When almost smooth, add the egg and vanilla. When well combined, mix in the nutella, and spread over the brownie crust.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool, then place in refrigerator for at least 6 hours. (The longer you leave it, the stiffer it will be.)

Done!

Now, this cheesecake is really rich. I love rich cakes, and even I can only eat a sliver of it at a time. So, when I make it again, I'll probably purchase a smaller springform pan (maybe a 6 inch) so I don't eat it for weeks. Because really, I've been eating it for over a month now. It's also not too sweet, as the only sugar is from the nutella and in the brownie crust. I like it that way, but if you only like super sweet desserts, you might want to add some sugar into the cream cheese mixture.

Enjoy!

Wendy: "The Pit" in Raleigh, NC

My friend Wendy recently went down to Raleigh, and came back singing the praises of a restaurant called The Pit. In case anyone happens to be in the Raleigh, NC area, I'm posting her review below:

"If you are in Raleigh and want a great place to eat, The Pit is the place to go. I was in Raleigh last week and my high school sweetheart, Tim, took me there for dinner. The restaurant is homey and smells wonderful. We were told the wait would be about 30 minutes since we did not have a reservation, but before we got to the bar to wait we were greeted by an older gentleman who came over to welcome us. Apparently it was Ed Mitchell, the owner.

Talk about a southern gentleman! We sat at the bar, chatted with the staff, and before we knew it our table was ready!

We were seated in a booth and began to look at menu. So many choices! I had the meatloaf– who would have thought to put blue cheese on it? Actually, I love blue cheese, so perhaps I would have eventually gotten around to it, but it was so good! Tim got the triple combo– brisket, bbq and meatloaf. Each meal comes with two sides, and everything was delicious!

During the meal there was a man walking around playing the harmonica- peaceful and serene. It felt like I was on a porch in the south somewhere. Pure heaven!!

So if you get a chance to visit Raleigh– The Pit is the place to be!"

Thanks Wendy!

Oops.

From the article located here.

THE SALTIEST FOOD IN AMERICA
P.F. Chang’s Hot and Sour Soup Bowl
6,878 mg sodium
336 calories
12 g fat (2 g saturated)

Sodium Equivalent: 208 saltine crackers

P.F. Chang's has published their nutrition facts for years without providing sodium counts for basic menu items, which was cause for concern and—as it turns out—justified suspicion. Chinese food tends to run high on the sodium spectrum because of its reliance on viscous stir-fry sauces and salt-laden condiments like soy sauce. But this an unfathomable amount of salt to pack into one 336-calorie bowl of soup. The sad truth is that unless you stick to vegetable sides and small servings of a select few entrees (Crispy Honey Chicken, Orange Peel Beef, Lemon Scallops), you’re all but guaranteed to absorb one or more day’s worth of sodium in a single sitting at P.F. Chang’s.

Oops. Well, okay. But it's darn good soup.

On a side note, if you haven't seen Eat This, Not That
it's quite good! I own a copy, and find myself constantly staggered by the statistics.

Quote of the Day

We went to Maya last night for a family dinner to celebrate Priya & Vinny's Anniversary. (Which means that it was me, Ash, Priya, Vinny and Prammy--it's so cool when your sister's marriage now means your family dinners involve some of your greatest friends.) :-)

In any case, we found ourselves talking briefly about the suspect in the "Craigslist Killer" case, as he is a BU medical student. There were a lot of great comments, but one made all of us burst out laughing, so I thought I'd share it.

Prammy: "Well, it's obvious that guy isn't going to get a residency."

For anyone who knows (either first-hand or through a loved one) the stress involved with getting a medical residency or fellowship, it's funny just to think about what his application would look like. I'm still laughing just thinking about it...

As for Maya--fantastic entrees, thumbs down on the desserts. (We ordered four different ones, and none was above average. Instead, walk to Payard.)

Blue Smoke

My experiences at Danny Meyer's restaurants have been mixed. I absolutely love Shake Shack, but I found Tabla's Bread Bar to be a huge disappointment. Union Square Cafe was somewhere in the middle. However, I heard great things about Blue Smoke, so Ash and I decided to venture out there on Sunday night. (It's on 27th between Park and Lex.) There is a jazz bar downstairs, but we stayed upstairs, where the atmosphere was what you'd expect for a barbecue place, but somewhat cozy at the same time.

Overall, I definitely would go back, but for a few choice items. The reviews all said the ribs were something to stay away from, and since I only eat chicken, that wasn't really a problem. I stuck to side dishes, and Ash tested out the chicken. Here's what we ordered:

Applewood Smoked Chicken (served with mashed potatoes)
Eh. Well cooked, but nothing to write home about. The mashed potatoes were very average. Ash liked the chicken enough to bring some home, so I guess it was good.

Macaroni and Cheese
Yum--I'd get it again. Now be warned--it does NOT have a crispy top. It's more of the creamy-type mac and cheese, but it was burned on the top. If you stay on the website long enough, you'll see a picture of it. It looked exactly like the picture. Tasted like it had been sauteed with onions for a long time--delicious! And they give you enough for it to be an entree for one person.

Fry Bread
Get this. It was the second best thing we ordered. There were four pieces of fry bread (picture fried dough, but lighter and fluffier) served with chipotle butter. Yum. It gave me a stomach ache, as I don't really eat much fried food, but it was totally worth it.

Cornbread
Pass. Not bad, but by no means great. I wouldn't get it again.

Biscuits and Gravy
This wasn't on the menu, but we asked for it. The biscuits were good, and the gravy was average (chicken gravy, for those who are wondering). I'm still back and forth on whether I'd get it again.

And the best thing we ordered...

Sticky Toffee Pudding
This dessert is not a dessert I would typically order. However, I like to read reviews of restaurants before I go, just to see if something is repeatedly mentioned, and this was. And they were right. It was delicious. Sweet with a tiny bit of salt--yum. Both of us were stuffed (we were debating passing on dessert), but we cleaned off the plate. Definitely order it. It's not really a pudding--it has more of a cake-like consistency.

Next time I will definitely try the beignets for dessert--if the fry bread was that good, they must be amazing. But the sticky toffee pudding was certainly a welcome surprise, so I don't regret that decision. And, next time I'll probably get both. I can't not get the sticky toffee pudding now that I know how good it is.

I think our game plan will be to head to Blue Smoke for dessert after eating at one of the many Murray Hill indian restaurants. The "regular" food didn't blow me away, and indian restaurants don't really have great desserts. So, this would be the best of both worlds. Blue Smoke does have a cool "dessert sampler" platter that has five different desserts--seems like it'd be great for a few people to share.

Long story short--not absolutely fantastic, but not bad either. It certainly doesn't break the bank. Our bill came to $52. (No drinks, but we had enough for 4 people to eat--my eyes might have been bigger than my stomach.) But, if you're in the area, give it a whirl. Order the fry bread, and definitely stay for dessert!

Exciting Weekend!

It doesn't take a lot to get me excited. The weather was absolutely gorgeous in Manhattan yesterday, so Ash and I started the day with lunch at Tiffin Walah (great south indian food), and then strolled up Fifth Avenue. It was a beautiful day, but that wasn't all!

Saturday evening was spent at Priya and Vinny's, watching the NCAA tournament. This tournament is quite stressful--not because I follow basketball, but because I love to eat. For the past few years a bunch of us have been "betting" dinner on the tournament. Bottom half cooks the entrees, and top half (minus the winner) has to cook the dessert of the winner's choice. (There is also trash talking and bragging rights involved, but that's nothing new...) It is a great excuse to get together, and also adds excitement for all of us who don't really follow the NCAA. This time around, there are three people who can potentially win the bracket, all with very different dessert preferences. Desserts in the past have been brownie sundaes and s'mores, both of which I can get around. If UConn had won, we'd be eating Vinny's dessert--it'd probably have something to do with fruit (bananas is my best guess). If UNC loses the finals, Rahul will win (I think), which means the dessert will involve walnuts...blah. However, if UNC wins the finals, Priya gets to choose, and it will DEFINITELY involve chocolate. (Not to mention if UNC wins, I am high enough up in the rankings that I don't have to cook entrees--score!) So, let's all root for UNC tonight!

Now, back to my excitement--two super exciting things. One--Priya taught me how to make chocolate mousse!! We'll see if it actually comes out as good when I have to watch out for stiff peaks vs. soft peaks with a hand blender--it all seems a bit tricky. However, she learned a great recipe from a chef, and then taught it to me in between the two basketball games Saturday night. I, in turn, can't stop eating it. Yum!

Second, I think I may have found a place to order my favorite enchilada sauce! Enchilada sauce is one thing I can't master--I've tried recipe after recipe from scratch, but it never ends up tasting as good as El Rio's Hot Enchilada Sauce. (See picture--though the picture is of the "mild" kind--not as good.) I used to buy El Rio when I lived on the Upper West Side, but now no one in the city seems to carry it. They carry El Rio Nacho Cheese Sauce (cheese? in a can?) and other El Rio products, but not the enchilada sauce. I tried Old El Paso (the yellow can), but it did not even come close. It was much thinner than El Rio, and didn't have as much flavor. Yesterday I randomly googled where I could purchase it online, and it seems Hannaford started an online grocery store! So, I placed an order for a case of the sauce (yes, a case--it's THAT good!) I'll keep you posted when it arrives! If you happen to see it in your grocery store, definitely give it a try! You'll never need to order restaurant enchiladas again...

So exciting!

Zagat Time!

Sometimes I don't post for two weeks, then I post twice in one day. Ah, well, so it goes.

In any case, it's Zagat time! If you don't know how it works--all you have to do is register and rate NYC restaurants (one or one hundred, doesn't matter), and then once the analysis is done, you'll get a free copy of the book! I believe this year you can also opt out of receiving the book and receive a 90-day free subscription to zagat.com instead. In case you want to make your voice count, the link is below:

Zagat Open Surveys
(I believe the NYC one closes on May 17th. Be sure to finalize and submit your votes, otherwise they won't be submitted and you won't get your book!)

A Story

I heard Kenny Moore, author of The CEO and the Monk: One Company's Journey to Profit and Purpose, speak at JetBlue this morning. Though much of what he said stuck with me, I wanted to share one of his personal examples.

He talked about how you can do whatever you choose, as long as you're willing to live with the consequences. Simple enough, right? Then he told a story about what happened when he said that to his six-year old son. It went something like this...

Son: (Jumping on the bed)
Dad: Stop jumping on the bed!
Son: (Continues to jump on the bed)
Dad: If you don't stop jumping on the bed, you're going to break the bed. Stop jumping on the bed!
Son: (Continues to jump on the bed)
Dad: Okay, forget the bed. If you don't stop jumping, you're going to break your leg! Stop it!
Son: (Continues to jump on the bed)
Dad: Okay, you know what. You can keep jumping on the bed all you like. You'll just have to live with the consequences. (Walks out of room)
Son: (Stops jumping on the bed, runs after Dad, almost in tears) But I don't want to live with the consequences. I want to live here.

I'm still smiling even as I type it. So cute. :-)

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a fantastic birthday. I have the greatest family, the sweetest friends, and I am touched every year by all those who call/email/facebook/text message me good wishes. I am terrible at remembering birthdays, so it really does mean a lot.

My birthday for the past few years has typically consisted of going to work and then going out to dinner with Ash, Priya and Vinny. This year, Ash was on vacation on my birthday, so I figured I'd take the day off too. Since Priya and Vinny both had to work into the evening today, they took us out to dinner on Sunday night for an early celebration. That left my actual birthday to do, well, whatever I wanted!

So what did my day consist of? I had to double check with Ash that you can't cause diabetes by eating too much sugar all at once. (Luckily, as far as he knows, you can't.) Here's the rundown:

7:00 am- Woke up and picked up a few phone calls from family and from India.
8:30 am- Ash sang happy birthday with a candle in a slice of PF Chang's "Great Wall of Chocolate" cake. (Cake before breakfast...does it really get better than that?)
11:00 am- Bloomingdale's for 40 carrots frozen yogurt. (I got a coffee smoothie, Ash got the pina colada one. His might have been better.)
12:00 pm- Museum of Natural History
4:00 pm- Levain Bakery for a variety of cookies. I can never decide which one to get--today, I just got all of them! Hands down, best cookies in Manhattan. (I can't remember if this was due to Swati or Sameer--but whoever said it, totally right!)
5:30 pm- Nanoosh for hummus and pita to soak up some of the sugar
6:30 pm- Magnolia Bakery to pick up banana pudding and apple crisp
7:30 pm- Went to Priya's to eat the Magnolia desserts (Vin- the banana pudding is surprisingly good. I'd get it again!)

So yes, I had frozen yogurt, delicious cookies that weigh half a pound, and banana pudding all in one day. And I'd do it again. (Ash was kind enough to indulge me all day--he actually ate everything with me. Such a good sport.) It was delicious. Good thing my birthday is only once a year, or I'd weigh 600 pounds. Happy birthday to me! :-)

Sinigual

Priya and Vinny told us about this new mexican restaurant that they enjoyed, so Ash and I headed there on Friday night. Called Sinigual, it's located at 43rd St. between Lexington & 3rd Avenue. (The address says 42nd St., but we found the entrance to be at 43rd...I think. Maybe 41st. You'll find it.)

The first thing we noticed was the space--large booths, space between tables, and it's HUGE. The bar is right when you enter, so we requested a table in the back of the restaurant where it was quieter. They also have a glass wall in the back where you can see into the kitchen, if you like that bit. Ash and I were given a large booth for four people, so we enjoyed the wiggle room that we almost never get in Manhattan.

But, the important part--the food. Do not leave without ordering the Fried Ice Cream. Priya gave us a heads up about it, and she was totally right. They pour a shot of brandy on it tableside (which I could have done without), but the coating does not get soggy at all. It's very good. It terms of the meal, I ordered the Santa Fe Enchilada Stack (pictured--photo comes from their website), and Ash ordered a grilled chicken breast that I don't see on their online menu. We both liked them quite a bit. My entree came with a side of sweet corn cake--absolutely wonderful. Next time we go back, I will be ordering an additional side of it.

A nice touch is that instead of serving chips and salsa, they served warm tortillas. I was a fan. It seemed like their specialty was tableside guacamole (there were huge carts around the restaurant), but ever since we started making homemade guacamole, we don't typically order this at restaurants. We decided to pass on it so we could focus on the entrees and dessert. (We still brought home leftovers...)

The only glaring downside-- the service at this place seemed to be lacking. Nothing terrible, but don't go and expect wonderful service.

If you go and are looking for a quiet table, request one in the back, as the front of the restaurant was very loud. In terms of pricing, we ordered two entrees (I think they were both around the $15 mark) and split a dessert (around $10). All in, I believe our bill came to $45ish with tax--for the quality and amount of food, it seemed reasonable.

Enjoy! And thanks for the recommendation, Priya!

Valentine's Day

Yesterday was fantastic. I'm not really a huge Valentine's Day person--it's probably one of my two least favorite holidays. (New Year's Eve would be the other one.) I dislike both for similar reasons-- it's just a day where everything is more expensive, for no apparent reason. New Year's Eve? Just another day. Valentine's Day? The day to show someone how much you love them...shouldn't that be everyday?

In any case, I digress. The day itself was wonderful. We started off by going to Big Daddy's, our favorite diner, to meet a friend of ours visiting from Turkey. (Kiran--if you move back to the states, you could get bacon everyday! Think about it...) Then, Ash and I came home and had a "lazy day," which I totally love. We cuddled on the couch, watched three episodes of How I Met Your Mother, and a few shows on Air Force One and Marine One.

When it was time for dinner, Ash had made reservations at Ciao Bella--a restaurant that we've always been wanting to try, but never got the chance. For those familiar with the Upper East Side, it took the spot of Panorama Cafe--a fantastic little italian place. Now, it's an upscale italian restaurant named after the same company that makes the famous gelato you see in the grocery stores (which I usually find too sweet). Panorama used to be one of our favorite places, so we were bummed when it shut down, but had high hopes for this new place.

I ordered the butternut squash ravioli (good, but too sweet), and Ash got the roasted chicken (he liked it). Dessert was tiramisu (very creamy, but didn't have much of a coffee taste) and a chocolate souffle (not bad). Their cappuccino was fantastic. Overall, it was a nice, romantic meal, but I don't think we'll be going back. For what we paid, there are many other restaurants in the city with better food.

We had spoken to Priya and Vinny earlier in the day, and had made plans to meet up after dinner. (They went to Pranna, and said it was average.) After convincing them not to go home and to meet us at this hole-in-the-wall piano bar instead, the night became legendary. Yes, I said legendary. (TV show? Anyone? Anyone?) We got there an hour before the piano set even started--a good idea, as the tiny place was PACKED thirty minutes later. Then, after a somewhat boring set of love songs, they sang Journey. And that's when everything turned around. We belted along to "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "Rocket Man," "Cat's In the Cradle," and tons of others. When we weren't singing, we were laughing. The four of us learned that first impressions can be terribly wrong...but hysterical at the same time. (You'll have to ask one of us for the story.) It was a perfect night-- a romantic dinner with my husband, and then a fun and memory-filled night with the three people I love most.

On a side note, I found my new favorite drink! There was a two drink minimum at the tables, and Priya recommended Kahlua. I've never tried Kahlua. I don't know why no one told me about this earlier! It tastes like super sweet coffee--yum. Vinny then had the waitress bring over some milk, and it became the best drink ever. I now might spike everything with Kahlua. It's awesome.

One side note, apparently when you order, you should say "Kahlua on the rocks." Not "Kahlua on ice." Whatever--she knew what I meant. All the laughing was unnecessary. But whatever. (And Vin--I did not say Kahlua on the ice, just Kahlua on ice, funny man.) I'm going to continue ordering it my way, just to spite all three of you. So there. Bastards.

I normally don't place inside jokes in my blog, but indulge me just this once. I just want to place it somewhere it'll be permanently inscribed, so none of us will forget it...

BYE PRIYA!! ;-)

Hope you all had as wonderful a Valentine's Day as I did!

Wine and Food Matcher

I'm not a big fan of wine, but I know a lot of people are. I stumbled across this site that has a wine and food matcher. It's pretty cool! Essentially, you can either put in what food you'll be eating, and it'll pair wines for you. Or, you can choose what wine you have, and it'll tell you what foods go best with it. Pretty cool!

If the link doesn't work, the physical address is: http://nataliemaclean.com/matcher/

Enjoy!

MenuPages Added More Cities!

I almost always check Menu Pages before heading to a restaurant--just to see what I can expect on the menu, and if there is a particular dish that is consistently mentioned in the reviews. I just visited it again, and found that they have added additional cities, so it is no longer just a New York City resource! The cities included are:

New York City
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
Boston
Chicago
Washington, DC
South Florida

The maps now have a cheeky hand-drawn feel (which I like), and the site seems to be better organized. Best yet, they now have a "Find-A-Food" search which will search all the restaurant menus for the particular food you specify. (I searched "Nachos," and got 515 Manhattan restaurants.)

Super cool! If you don't yet use the site, I highly recommend it!

Graffiti (Food & Wine Bar)

"One of the top five dining experiences I've had."


Ash's words, not mine, but I'd whole-heartedly agree. We went to Graffiti last Friday, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is essentially a tapas and wine bar located on E 10th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. (Look carefully--you'll probably walk right by it.) It is a tiny little place (seats about 18 total at four communal tables), and looks like it used to be someone's studio apartment. (Yes, it's that tiny--the picture shows 90% of the entire restaurant.) However, it's set up in a charming way, so the space feels intimate and has a "hidden treasure" appeal you don't get at many restaurants. Jehangir Mehta is the executive chef, so not surprisingly, the food has many indian-inspired flavors. Below is my personal list on why you should go:

Why You Should Go To Graffiti

1. The food rocks.
Be sure to order the Green Mango Paneer. Amazing. Better yet, order three. You won't want to share.

2. Every wine on the menu is just $25 a bottle.
Yes, you read that correctly.

3. Jehangir Mehta has been a pastry chef at: Jean Georges, Union Pacific, Virot, Compass, Aix and Sapa.
Hello? Do you need another reason?

4. Jehangir Mehta actually cooks all the food himself.
We saw him working away in the tiny kitchen the entire time we were there. That is, of course, except for when he was talking to the diners, since....

5. Jehangir Mehta actually comes to your table to present all of the dishes himself.
This was my favorite part. I'm in awe of great chefs--it could have been Brad Pitt coming to our table between every course--that's how excited I was. I told him his paneer was the best paneer I've ever eaten, and he was incredibly gracious and humbled. SUPER nice. A really cool experience.

6. This is his only restaurant.
Yes, I asked him. Anything to keep him at our table longer.

7. I bought his cookbook on-the-spot as soon as I tried his food.
I don't buy cookbooks on the spot. I am an Amazon junkie. But his style was so unique that I couldn't help it, and I'm quite certain there's not another cookbook like it. In case you want to purchase his cookbook and save a few dollars, feel free to click here, or on the image below. But I will say, there's something cool about buying a cookbook from the chef himself.



What We Ordered:

We ordered a lychee martini ($7, apparently it's recently been featured on the Martha Stewart show, so everyone in the restaurant had one) and three small plates. The restaurant has three price tiers, so we ordered one plate from each tier. (You can view the full menu here.) Our plates were:

- Green Mango Paneer ($7): Best. Paneer. Ever. A small dish of paneer served with a few small pieces of perfectly cooked bread. (Small sharing portion--next time I'm going to order one of these just for myself, though I actually liked it so much I could eat four of them. Don't go and not order this. It would be a HUGE mistake.)

- Zucchini Hummus Pizza ($12): Very interesting, in a good way. It didn't have too many indian flavors, but was very good. Picture a flaky pastry crust topped with hummus, sliced zucchini and wasabi peas. Don't know if I'd order it again, but definitely enjoyed it. The size of the pizza was about 5 inches or so--a perfect size for Ash and I to split.

- Tomato Tamarind Vegetable Buns ($15): Very good. They were three small buns, each one slightly smaller than the size of my palm. You could certainly taste the tamarind, and it was an interesting contrast to the tomato. Definitely more indian in flavor, but unlike anything I've eaten at any other restaurant.

When (not if) we go back, I'll be ordering a Green Mango Paneer all to myself. Additionally, I think Ash will try some of the non-veg items, and I'll ask them to tailor a few items to make them vegetarian (which they state they are happy to do on their website). Though we didn't order dessert, we were brought a complimentary taste of his homemade ice cream (amazing), and some candied carrots (better than you would think!). Ash had a shared connection with the chef, so I think this was a kind gesture more than the norm.

(Sidenote: Before you comment on my lack-of-ordering-dessert, we had plans to go to Max Brenner or Veniero's, both of which are a few blocks away. ChikaLicious is also pretty much right across the street. So don't judge too soon... Although next time, we'll probably order dessert.)

Finally, to wrap us this post, a few bits of advice if you decide to go:

If You Go To Graffiti...

1. Make reservations.
We saw several people get turned away, as there was no availability for the remainder of the night. (We were there at 7:15.)

2. Request seats against the wall.
If you are a party of two, you will be sharing your table with one or two other couples. The seats against the wall are the only ones where people will not consistently be brushing against your back throughout your meal, as it is a very tight space. It's not unbearable--but if the food wasn't as good as it was, we probably would have gotten annoyed.

3. Don't bring a bunch of shopping bags.
When I say tiny, I mean tiny.

4. Order the Green Mango Paneer.
Did I mention this already? Ah well. It's important.

Enjoy!

Cold Coffee

Everytime we go to India, we're offered "cold coffee." Let's face it, it's usually close to 100 degrees Farenheit, and most of the food and beverages don't sit well with our stomach, so there is not much we can be offered. Our family knows us (and our digestive systems) well enough to boil water and place it in the fridge before we arrive, as well as often make ice cubes with the boiled water. After all, you never can be too careful! (Ash was sick for 4 days because a lime soda he ordered at a four-star restaurant had some carbonated tap water in it...)

Back to cold coffee. No, this is not brewed coffee that's sat out for too long. Instead, it tastes more like an iced coffee frap, but with less ice. I absolutely love it. Last time we were in New Delhi, my lovely cousins took us to this amazing coffee place called Barista. The vibe was very similar to a Starbucks, but you could order at your table, and it went WAY beyond just coffee. (Personally, I'd trade a Starbucks for a Barista anyday!) If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it. I still think about a Brrrrista Blast I had over there, described as "our finest cold coffee, loaded with choco fudge, ice cream and whipped cream." (You can look at their cold coffee menu here.) When Ash and I returned home, I went to work on figuring out how to make one.

There are two recipes below--the first is for a "plain" cold coffee, and the second is more in line with the Brrrista Blast. I always use my magic bullet, but you can also use a regular or an immersion blender.

(Note: I've made it before with brewed coffee, and have found it to be too watery. However, if you use a cooled espresso shot, that would probably work, but I haven't tried it...)


"Plain" Cold Coffee (with a Magic Bullet)

2 ice cubes
Approx. 1 cup of milk (You know I don't measure...the beverage bullet container is about one-third full--I use 1% milk)
1 heaping teaspoon of the instant coffee of your choice (I like Nescafe, Ash uses International House French Vanilla)
Sugar to taste (I use 1 tsp.)

Dump it all into the Magic Bullet, and blend! I blend until I can no longer hear the ice cubes--but if you blend it too long, the froth turns thick, so be careful! (The milk will froth and increase in size, so be sure there is space left in the container.) You can also use a blender, but I find it easier to customize drinks in the bullet, as you make each one individually.

Also, if we're using it as a dessert, we'll omit the sugar and throw in a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream. (If using vanilla, throw in an extra bit of coffee.) If you're looking for more of the Brrrrrrista Blast drink, here's what I came up with:


Cold Coffee Dessert (with a Magic Bullet)

Few spoons of chocolate sauce (syrup is a bit runny, hot fudge is a bit thick--something in the middle)
1 cup of 1% milk
1.5 heaping teaspoons of instant coffee
2 scoops of vanilla or coffee ice cream
2 ice cubes
Sugar to taste (I don't use any)
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

Blend the ice cubes, instant coffee, milk and sugar in the bullet until you can no longer hear the ice. Drizzle the chocolate sauce at the bottom and on the sides of a tall glass. (something you would serve a milkshake in.) Place the remaining scoop of ice cream into the glass, and pour in the cold coffee. Add whipped cream, drizzle the last of the chocolate sauce and garnish with chocolate shavings. Serve with a straw and a long spoon.

(Note: You can probably subsitute chocolate sauce for caramel, hence the Barista picture up top, but I am more of a chocolate fan.)

Enjoy!

A slightly different look

Yes, no more dots! I was getting really sick of looking at the generic template of my blog, so I am finally getting around to creating a custom header. Since I'm not so great with the fancy schmancy computer stuff, so far this is the best I could do. But hey, it's certainly better than looking at all those dots...

Finally--a teapot warmer!

I love tea. LOVE tea. A few years ago I bought a Bodum tea pot, and I've used it a bunch of times. However, Ash and I like different kinds of tea, so brewing a pot has always seemed excessive. (Though I secretly feel all grown up everytime I use it.)

I've always thought if there was a good way to keep my tea warm for a few hours, I could enjoy using my teapot more often. (We have a stainless steel coffee pot that will keep coffee warm, but tea, not so much.) Since my teapot only cost $25ish, I didn't want to spend another $25ish on a tea warmer. Then, this morning, I saw one on Crate and Barrel's website for $9.95! (It's on sale, so I don't know how long that price will last...) It uses a tea light, and says it can be used with any teapot. (It is a Bodum product, and my pot is the one on the picture, so I am fairly certain it will work with mine.) I was holding onto some credit to Crate and Barrel, so I quickly placed an order. Just thought I'd pass it along, since I know many of you enjoy a good cup of tea as well... :-)

On a side note, those Valhrona Chocolate Pearls (from this post) came in--I'll post on them as soon as I fully test them out!

Neither Paper Nor Plastic

First things first--happy new year!

A lot of people have been talking about resolutions for 2009. I thought about it, and I don't have a "real" resolution, but there are a lot of things I want to do this year. Some are new things, some are old habits I want to break, and some are a few things I started doing in 2008 that I want to be sure I continue. (All you OE people--stop laughing at the start, stop, continue...it's obviously permanently ingrained into my brain.)

To highlight one, a while ago I got my first reusable bag, and unexpectedly, found that I felt good about myself everytime I used it. I felt that in my own tiny way, I was doing something to help save the environment. So, this year I've decided to actually keep track of how many bags I save. I think it will become increasingly rewarding as my number goes up, and the intrinsic reward will increase the frequency of the behavior. (Notice the counter on the left. Or actually, the lack of a counter-- it's just a text box. If someone wants to build me a counter, that would be AWESOME. But I can't figure out how to do it. So until then, I'll manually update the text box.)

The first reusable bag I got was by accident. JetBlue was running a promotion, and so we all got a goody bag of products that would help the environment. My first bag was a Chico Bag in red--I always kept it in my purse, and whenever I could remember, I used it at the grocery store. Though it is super convenient to carry around all the time, it looks wrinkled when you use it, and it isn't very sturdy (at least it felt like it wasn't sturdy). So, I was on the hunt to find a better bag. I needed something sturdy that could carry a gallon of milk without me worrying it was going to rip. Also, my wrists were starting to hurt--I wanted something I could throw over my shoulder.

Bring It In A Bag had just what I was looking for. (Full disclosure- a great friend of mine owns and runs the company, but I would buy the bags even if she didn't! The bags have been featured in Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show...go check them out!) This site sells jute bags, so not only are you saving plastic bags, but you are purchasing something that is eco-friendly. I have the super cute one that says "green is the new brown". It has held 2 gallons of milk, along with a bunch of other groceries, and I've never worried about it breaking. Also, the inside is lined so that if something spills, I can just take a wet paper towel and wipe it right off. LOVE it. This bag alone has probably saved a couple hundred plastic bags already--the baggers at Associated Supermarkets now know I never need a bag for my groceries. (Although one of them once said-- "I get it, save a tree, right?" Um, sure. Since plastic bags are made from trees. But whatever.)

So, that bag solves my grocery store problem, which is where I get the most plastic bags. However, I still needed a bag that I could keep in my purse, for when I might pick up things on-the-go. For this, I used to use my Chico bag. However, I've recently discovered Rume Reusable Shopping Totes, which I absolutely love. I now almost always have one in my bag at all times, and Ash even uses a mini one to take food to work everyday. They aren't cheap, but I love the designs (I have the "Fall In NY" collection), and they roll-up into the perfect size to take with me. (About three of the large ones roll up to the size of a grande coffee cup at Starbucks.) I highly recommend them! You can check out their website here.

If you're not convinced that carrying a reusable bag is worth it, here are a few benefits we've found...

- Have you ever opened up your cabinet only to find plastic bags sticking out? Yeah, our cabinet is not overflowing with plastic bags anymore. We still have enough plastic bags to use for the garbage (the few times we forget to bring a bag is enough to carry us over), but we don't feel like we're swimming in them.

- When it's raining or snowing, you don't have to worry about your paper bag ripping and all of your groceries falling onto the sidewalk. (No, it hasn't happened to me, but I've had several close calls. I call it the hold-the-bag-like-a-baby-and-pray walk.)

- Reusable bags (specifically the Bring It In A Bag and the RuMe bags) can hold a TON more weight. So, instead of struggling with five bags, I just have one thrown over my shoulder. My wrists thank me. As will yours. (Bonus: on those rainy or snowy days, with your groceries casually slung across your shoulder, you actually have a hand to hold your umbrella!)

- Glass bottles stay upright. Both the Bring It In A Bag and the RuMe bags have a flat bottom, like a paper bag. So, instead of your jars rattling around, they actually stay upright and in place. Who knew?

So, if you don't yet use reusable shopping bags--I highly recommend them. We've used them to carry groceries, carry Christmas presents, carry heavy things that will certainly rip a plastic bag (like an AeroBed), carry food to Central Park...the uses are endless! If you don't get one yourself, at least yell at me if you see me carrying a plastic bag. I'm on my way to saving the world...one (less) bag at a time. Also, if you want to join in, I'll happily add your name as well--just keep me updated, and I'll update the numbers. (And maybe then someone will actually build me a counter.)

Happy New Year!