{good eats} SriPraPhai

I am going to be honest, I am not in love my neighborhood.  I have been here for over a year and a half and no matter how positive I try to be, it's inconvenience is starting to wear on me.  MINUS my neighborhood joint that is not only 2 short blocks away from my door, but one of the best Thai restaurants in New York City.  This isn't just good Thai... this is real, authentic, flavorful Thai.  

Every time someone comes to visit me I insist on a trip here, and the first thing I order is always the Ground Catfish.  While it looks a little strange and the texture takes some time to get used to as it slightly dissolves in your mouth, it's insanely good.  The seasoning and spices on their own are worth a trip on the 7 train.

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} Salt & Fat

While house sitting a few weeks ago I picked up a new dish from an old favorite, Salt & Fat in Sunnyside, to take home for a luscious treat.  This place is insanely good - the kind of place that is always crowded at 6:30 on a weeknight with vibrant smells permeating from the kitchen + bold flavors on every plate in front of you.  

This new Scallop dish is no exception.  Roasted carrot puree as a sweet base, with a perfectly tender scallop + truffled corn salsa, topped with salty, crispy fried capers for a seriously balanced flavor combination on every forkful.  My only wish was that I ordered 2 instead of 1...

photos + styling: Robin West

{good eats} Leyla NYC

Let me break this down for you.  There are few things that I love more than brunch in NYC, that's first.  Second, I'm a sucker for eats that have the words "salted caramel" in the description.  So obviously when I walked by Leyla to meet my brunch companion [our goal in 2013 is 40 brunches] + saw the sign "unlimited mimosas + brunch entree $25" + I saw Salted Caramel French Toast, I just had to drag her in.  I mean, it would have been wrong not to.

These may sound weird, but I don't love french toast.  Yeah, when it's made from some fresh challah I enjoy it, but it doesn't usually scream to me.  This stuff was legit.  I have never had anything like it.  It was the perfect texture + then had this crazy crunchy texture to the outside with bruleed banana + THEN on top of salted caramel?!   

Do you see it? You see it, right?  Pure insanity.  Oh, and thank you to our amazing server who danced his way over to our table [+ our hearts] with these plates + that pitcher of mimosas, you are a true rock star.

photos: Robin West

{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

{good eats} Fig & Olive brunch

I have always heard great things about Fig & Olive, wondering what this restaurant did to give so many New Yorkers addictions.  Well, now I know.  First off, it's one of those places that you can't sit + wait if you are hungry because the aromas could toy with your emotions immediately.  

We started big and got the Bread & Viennoiseries + these butcher blocked filled with goodies was the perfect hint of what was to come - simple + classic eats, made with the highest quality ingredients.  With the upmost respect.

Northern Italian Mushroom & Truffle Soup

Breads + Zucchini Carpaccio

South of France Poached Eggs with Salmon [hiding below those perfectly poached eggs, drool]

photos: Robin West

{good eats} Petite Abeille

Walking into Petite Abeille to meet Amanda for a lovely Sunday brunch was sensory overload.  See, before I started always ordering hearty, Belgian Waffles were my "go-to" dish, so walking into this quaint cafe and smelling fresh, warm waffles being baked to order one after another, I didn't see any other choice when I looked at their menu.  Would you??

photos: Robin West

{good eats} Crave Fishbar

Ok, there are a lot of restaurants in NYC, A LOT.  So when you happen to just drop into one that you haven't heard of and it knocks your socks off, it's pretty incredible.  That's what it was like walking into Crave Fishbar.  A friend and I were planning on meeting at a wine bar a block over... when it was way crowded, we headed back to an adorable bar I walked by.  The front all open, white birch wood along the wall and an aroma that gives you a little smack. 

From the first sip of my Baby Jagger [I'm on a gin kick], I was hooked.  The Olive Oil Poached Octopus was THE most amazing octopus dish I've ever ingested, and I'm slightly depressed that when I went back last week it wasn't on the menu.  We also noshed on some Baby Colorado Lamb Ribs that were to die as well.  In case you haven't picked up on it, you should probably head there immediately. 

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} Parish Hall

Sometimes all a girl needs is a little sampler and a delicious cocktail, preferably, one with sparkling wine, Ragged Mountain Rum, strawberry, house rhubarb bitters and lemon to be precise. 

Photos by Robin West [at] Parish Hall, Williamsburg

{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

{good eats} Crif Dogs

If you haven't heard of Crif Dogs, all I can say is that you need to make it one of your destinations while visiting NYC.  It's one of those great little places that you can indulge in your hot dog craving the most magnificent way possible - by piling on even more indulgent toppings like egg, cream cheese, avocado and bacon.

As a Jersey girl myself, I find it near to impossible to find something our state likes to call Pork Roll [if you live on the shore] or Taylor Ham [if you live in North Jersey]. It's a pork item that is probably only second to bacon and no one outside the Garden State eats.  Why, I ask, WHY?!?!  Anyhoo, I've been having a serious craving for the stuff so I couldn't pass up on the "Garden State" dog wrapped in Taylor Ham and topped with chopped pepperoncini, american cheese and mustard.  Eating this on a Ms. Pacman table only made it more nostalgic.  When in Rome, right?

Photos: Robin West

{snack'd} Thai Mazipan

I am lucky enough to live a block away from one of the best Thai restaurants in NYC, SriPraThai. This is real, authentic Thai, so whenever I make a stop there I try to walk away with one new thing.  This trip I walked out with Thai Mazipan.  Mainly because these bite-size bean paste treats in the form of fruits and vegetables were just too cute to resist.

Photos: Robin West

{sunday funday}

Yesterday was the perfect Sunday.  Starting off at The Bailey Pub & Brasserie in the Financial District, I decided to go outside of my usual order of eggs benedict and ordered up the Oak Smoked Salmon, carefully layered on top of Boxty Irish Potato Cakes.  I really can't explain how good this was. After that, I decided to walk up through Chinatown {stopping for some lychee bubble Chinese Tea} and Soho to take in the sites.  

I forgot my camera at work, so it was my first true photo diary taken through instagram.  Here's my Sunday in NYC...

stairs and feather headed mannequins in Opening Ceremony

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} Aubergine Cafe

I ended up in a delightful scenario this weekend - meeting some lady friends for a light dinner, or what you could call a dessert dinner.

Photo: Robin West

{good eats} Locanda Verde NYC

I was won over by the dinner menu here months ago and fell in love even more this weekend after experiencing the brunch menu.  Along with the beautiful waffles below dazzled in apple goodness (even apple syrup), we started the meal with their unreal Sheep's Milk Ricotta drizzled with truffle honey and burnt orange toast.  I stand behind this statement 100% - I could eat this every day and never grow tired of it!

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} Salt and Fat Restaurant

Again, I apologize about all the dishes in the last 3 weeks or so that all have egg plopped right on top of them.  But, to continue indulging in this obsession [if restaurants are offering, who am I to say no?], this Crispy Pork Trotter Torchon delight is from Salt and Fat Restaurant in Sunnyside.

They had my heart with the first bite of popcorn cooked in bacon fat.

Photo: Robin West

{ladies that brunch} MexiQ Kitchen and Draught

My dear, dear friends recently took me to a belated Birthday celebration to one of the best brunches that I have ever had at MexiQ in Astoria.  Really, I could go here every weekend and never get tired of switching the dishes up.  Let's talk about the brunch menu really quick.  #1 - $9 unlimited booze.  #2 - BBQ Brisket Eggs Benedict [on corn bread, no less].  

What did I take away from this experience?  There are truly not enough meals made with corn bread.

Photos: Robin West

{good eats} ABC Kitchen

I can't believe that this week was the first time I have ever sat and consumed the goodness that is ABC Kitchen!  My work was lovely enough to take me on a belated Birthday lunch here and I still have a big grin on my face from the endless organic dishes we indulged in.  The Pretzel Dusted Calamari, Mushroom/Farm Egg Pizza [I am clearly addicted to food with fresh eggs on top right now], Roasted Kabocha Squash Toast and an array of entrees.

One item that must be noted [and the original reason my ears perked up about this restaurant] was the ice cream.  This sundae is no joke.  Salted Caramel ice cream, candied peanuts & popcorn, whipped cream & chocolate sauce.  If you go for any type of meal here, however big or small, I advise heavily on treating yourself to this. Or, let's be real, just go for the ice cream as a mid-day pick-me-up. 

Photos: Robin West