{good eats} Five Leaves, Brooklyn

I have been in Queens for over a year now + somehow I have managed to never sit at Five Leaves in Greenpoint to experience all that it has to offer.  I had a staycation yesterday + unlike most days off, I took advantage of every second.  

If the table was larger, I probably would have ordered 1 of everything, but I made a more respectable choice of ordering the Grapefruit Brulee [which I would love to make for breakfast every. single. morning.] + the House Made Ricotta with figs, fresh thyme + honeycomb.  Not only were the dishes delicious, but the warm weather embracing me as I sat outside was pure joy.      

photos: Robin West

{style} down by the river

Stine Goya blazer, Zara faux leather pants, Vince Camuto snakeskin pumps, crystal necklaces - flea market find, J.Crew bag

See more STYLE posts here

photos: Ruth Kallens

{good eats} One Girl Cookies

Fresh baked cookies, whoopie pies and salted caramel buttercream cakes all located in a quaint little bakery called One Girl Cookies in Brooklyn.  The treats may be small, but they are packed with flavor + delight.

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} Lobo

Lobo in Cobble Hill was a pleasant surprise - fresh ceviche, cold sangria and a waiter with humor + a smile that can warm any heart.

Photos: Robin West

{photo diary} Downtown Brooklyn food tour

I'm truly surprised I had the will to eat when I woke yesterday morning.  On Saturday, my friend Amanda of Slow Like Honey [a friend that likes to find new places to eat as I do] and I headed to Brooklyn to take in the sights, beautiful weather and food.  

First up was Prime Meats, a farm-to-table restaurant in Carroll Gardens.  The atmosphere is delightful and the German/American cuisine became more perfect with each bite ingested.  No matter what you crave, you must, MUST start with the house-made pretzel.  I got passed that "it looked like a face" cuteness and held myself back from devouring the whole thing.  For the main brunch event, I chose the Mushrooms with Poached Egg & Bratwurst, which was a perfect balance of everything that makes brunch a success.  

Because no meal is complete without dessert, we walked to a place that I visited on my first Brooklyn venture - The Chocolate Room [as seen here].  Hot or cold chocolate drinks, chocolates, sundaes, cakes... need I go on? My spicy hot chocolate with homemade marshmallow was a bit too thick for my tasting, but the salted + peppered chocolate treats made up for it all.

When I just said no meal is complete without 'some' dessert, I meant 2 rounds.  Amanda showed me this NYC's 5 Best Pie Shops list, and since we were somewhat in the Red Hook neighborhood, our second dessert came via Baked.  I had faith in myself until I saw that the apple pie slice was about 1/4 of a pie, which I usually wouldn't mind, but I wasn't wearing elastic pants that day. But again, the apple filling was so moist and amazing that we pulled ourselves through...

With some time wasted away in IKEA [had to walk dessert off somewhere] and the sun still out, our next stop was DUMBO.  Since Amanda has never been and the last few times I've ventured it was closed for private parties, Bubby's seemed the best place to take in the sunset and view of Manhattan.  I was honestly not even remotely hungry, but "when in Rome".  I made sure to order some biscuits and still the most amazing brisket I've ever had.  If I wasn't close to comma state I would have definitely tried to steal some of her fried chicken.

Until we meet again and waddle together again...

Photos: Robin West

{a taste of Paris} Juliette Restaurant

Juliette Restaurant in Williamsburg is an unsuspecting French Brasserie in the last place you would suspect. When I visited Paris last April, I experienced escargot for the first time and was not completely blown away.  BUT, Juliette's garlic, parsley & anise butter saturated Broiled Escargot was something truly magical that if I had while oversees, I would never have left. Luckily, Juliette is just a quick 10-minute drive away.

Photo: Robin West

{good eats} An Nhau Williamsburg

You know when you go to a restaurant that you may not of known about, with no expectations, and you are blown away?  That happened to me this weekend at Vietnamese restaurant An Nhau on Bedford Avenue when I took my first bite of the Clay Pot Simmered Catfish.  I don't have the right words to explain what it did to my tastebuds, but I can't stop thinking about it!  Oh, and the indoor/outdoor garden space in the back set the perfect atmosphere.

New favorite!!

Photos: Robin West

{baked} SCRATCHbread, Brooklyn

These rosemary, grey salt & citrus delectables are not your mama's scones.  

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} The Meatball Shop

Yes, The Meatball Shop is just as tantalizing as it sounds [and looks]! My 'naked ball' choice was a rueben special, that mixed all the yumminess of a corned beef sandwich, to, well, a naked meatball!

Photos: Robin West

{photo diary} Jane's Carousel

More wonderment from DUMBO.  Jane's Carousel is a restored Carousel that opened up on the Brooklyn waterfront just last month that I have been dying to see!

Photos: Robin West

{photo diary} The Creator's Project

The Creator's Project took over the streets, buildings and old warehouses in DUMBO this weekend with an immense amount of interactive exhibits, great food vendors, DJ's at the Tobacco Warehouse and Florence + The Machine performing under the Archway.  

Photos: Robin West

{style} Brooklyn nights

Went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens yesterday for the first time for a magazine's issue release party and it was beyond beautiful at dusk.  Definitely need to head back on a weekend when the leaves start changing...

I wear this belt that my mother handed down to me wayyyy too often, but I can't help it - it really goes with EVERYTHING.

this may be able to be used as bullet proof protection...

and no outfit is complete with a little 'arm party'!!

Topshop vest, Urban Outfitters dress, Dolce Vita shoes, vintage belt & necklace, Abro bag, Banana Republic bracelet, vintage chain necklaces [from mom, of course] worn as bracelets and Michael Kors watch. always.

Photos by Rosemary