{editorial} MakeSpace

If you live in a city like NYC, I don't have to explain how valuable space is. Even though I have a decent sized one-bedroom apartment of my own, closet space, and room to stack storage bins out of sight, I can never seem to have enough room. I DO have a shoe/bag/clothing problem.

I hate clutter. I hate the amount of books I have that I know I will never read again, but still won't get rid of. Winter boots that take up a beautiful vintage trunk in my living room because I have no where else to hide them during warmer months. The wasted space on thick cable knit sweaters and down coats.  [exhale]

I have never had a storage space because I'm lazy and the thought of renting a car/calling a cab to take you back and forth and lifting boxes by myself is not ideal and it is pricey. That was, until I was contacted by the brilliant minds over at MakeSpace and they opened my eyes the same way Uber has for transportation. 

Ok, so here is how it works. You create an account and schedule a time for their team to drop off bins to your door. You pack them up [mine included the random mixing of blankets, boots, more shoes, and travel books above that are more depressing than helpful], label each bin and schedule a pick up.

Here's the best part. Once THE nicest "Upload Team" comes and takes it all away, they create a virtual catalogue, a "Closet in the Cloud" if you will, of everything you are storing and which bin it's in. So, say in 3 months I'm ready for a heavier coat [heaven's forbid], I can log into my account, see which bin it's in, and schedule it to have it dropped off to my door. !!!!

Because they aren't awesome enough already, they have just launched a partnership with Goodwill NY/NJ for a donation tie-in [my weak spot]. They are supplying customers with a huge blue bag that a grown adult can fit in [trust me, I tried it] to put in anything you want to donate and they take it from you. For me, I focused on the bulkier items that I can't take on mass transit to drop off somewhere - gently used coats, shoes, bags, sweaters, a comforter - all those items that you hold on to for the sole purpose of just not knowing what else to do with them.

Ok, I need to wind down, but you know by now how excited I get by things that make life easier. Anything that can save a few moments in a New Yorker's life is worth a bit of a cheer.

{oh snap} nyc snowfall

While I'm not a fan of the snow after the initial storm, I have to admit that Monday's snowfall was pretty spectacular...

photo: Robin West at Madison Square Park via iPhone

{good eats} french macaron ice cream sandwich at Francois Payard Bakery

While hundreds of New Yorkers are still on line for a glimpse of the Cronut, I'm continuing to explore other treasures.  And what do ya know, there is another gem just 5-mins North from my office - a french macaron ice cream sammie within the walls of the Francois Payard Bakery on Houston.  

Like everything else, why haven't more people thought of this!?!?!  Obviously, the macaron shell is slightly less crisp coming out of the freezer, but it's still the perfect shell atop a tender interior.  I went with the raspberry sorbet/pistachio combo for now.  Don't worry, I'll go back + try the others. 

Photos: Robin West

{snack'd} Laudree macarons

This is going to sound crazy coming from someone who's been in NYC on and off for 12 years, and who is obsessed with macarons, but I've never experienced Laudree macarons until a walk back to the subway after a trip to the MET. I was lucky enough to not only walk out with a box of their traditional flavors, but a box of the dark chocolate Reed Krakoff flavor.  The only way I can explain the taste of that dark chocolate ganache is the way I felt after that first bite - weak in the knees.

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

{in my kitchen} brunch for one

What happens when a snow blizzard [while over-forecasted as always] keeps you indoors on a Saturday morning?  Well, you have that fabulous brunch indoors for yourself.  You may or may not have picked up on the fact that I am kind of a floozy for Eggs Benedict.  I actually happened to go to a real brunch later in the day that included just that with crab cakes.  Who knew!!!

Anyway, before I dug out my car + scrubbed the apartment, I made my own little twist to an Benedict - smoked salmon, egg and arugula mix on some fresh toasted bread.  There is no recipe to this because it's a DIY/please yourself kinda meal.

I also felt all "fancy like", so I decided to make some loose leaf berry tea from Mc Nulty's which was and is always an absolute treat.  If you are ever in the West Village on Christopher Street, I highly advise you to stop in there. 

and this was the tea I was talking about.... if only you could smell it....

photos: 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

{oh snap} happenings in the city

photos: Robin West [find me @RobinWest]

{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

{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

{snack'd} The Redhead Bacon Peanut Brittle

It was a normal Friday afternoon at work.  The sun was out, the temperature was ideal, so the team at work decided to walk over to Better Being Underground for some seriously amazing food.  I knew waiting on line into what it seemed was a basement apartment would be well worth it, what I wasn't expecting was the snacks to the side.

The first thing that got my attention, of course, was The Redhead brand.  Secondly?  Well, if you know me or have read the blog, the bacon + maple lovefest pulled me right in - Bacon Peanut Brittle!  AND, knock my socks off, it had hints of cayenne to create a world of wonder on my tongue.  

Photos: Robin West

{style} here comes the sun

The sun finally decided to come out today, giving me the perfect excuse to wear some color, catch lunch with a friend and walk around my new work stompin' grounds.  Oh, how I wish I lived in the West Village forever...

 

Vintage Akris dress,  vintage sunnies, belt and Coach bag [thanks mom!], Banana Republic flats

See more STYLE posts here

Thanks Amanda for snapping away!

{fresh}

This weekend was the perfect time to head outdoors and walk around the neighborhood to see what I've been missing.  My destination was the Jackson Heights Farmers Market, and though it's year round, I just hadn't made it over there yet. And, wow.  I walked away with some amazing local products - the farm eggs, mushrooms + Vermont maple syrup marshmallows - along with the normal produce.  Those marshmallows are still rocking my world.

As soon as I walked into my door, those maitake mushrooms, arugula and potatoes accompanied some feta I haven't used for a stone pizza.  Talk about farm-to-table.

Photos: Robin West

{photo diary} Five Pointz

Photos: Robin West

{what's in my bag} NYFW survival kit

My necessities for a few lucky upcoming days will be an amazing bag, a great red lipstick, some extra bling and a watch to keep track of time.  Truly a Fashion Week Survival Kit.

J.Crew Tillary Tote & "Thoughts I had and couldn't remember" notepad

Michael Kors watch

Vintage & heirloom jewelry

Palmer's Cocoa Butter lip balm

M.A.C. Kissable Lipcolour in "Strut Your Stuff"

and because it's NYC, an unlimited MetroCard

Photo: 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

{La Colombe Torrefaction}

It's extremely refreshing to walk into a true coffee shop in NYC.  No merchandise, CDs or t-shirts. Just good, fresh coffee in an open space.  I just wish La Colombe Torrefaction was around the corner from me...

Photos: Robin West

{top of the rock}

Rockefeller Center is a beautiful backdrop during the Holidays.

Photo: 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