Category Archives: restaurants

Batali Pang Sandwich – Num Pang NYC

Did I mention that I love the Cambodian sandwich place, Num Pang? Well in case you didn’t read yesterdays post. I do. So much in fact that I returned to have them for lunch for the second day in a row, this time trying Celebrity chef Mario Batali’s signature sandwich, aptly called the Batali Pang. It was heaven,cotechinno sausage (don’t know what this is but I know its delicious!), carrots, cucumber, some sort of thin cheese and what tasted like pickled sweet onions, all slathered with spicy chili mayo in between two beautiful baguettes. This is super limited edition, so go grab one in the next few days if you’re

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near NYC!

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Grilled Skirt Steak Sandwich – Num Pang

The most delicious Cambodian sandwich I have ever tasted, ok the first Cambodian sandwich I have ever tasted but it also happened to be the best. Grilled skirt steak was tender and flavorful, perfect ratio of carrots cucumbers and sauce to top it off, fresh roll with the crispy outside and soft inside. Came with a side a what tasted like sriracha. Num Pang in midtown nyc is my new favorite spot

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Philly Food Fest

Hubs and I were in Philly this weekend for our anniversary – we decided to turn it into a food fest weekend – scouring the fine cities culinary offerings. This is a list of my favorites.

1. Gadzooks Ice Cream, Bassetts Ice Cream, Reading Terminal Market

Chocolate, peanut butter brownies, caramel. Pure chocolate peanut butter chunkiness. Rich, decadent, delicious and chocolatey.

If this ice cream was available in NY, I would weigh 175lbs. They ship, if you are interested in a 6 pint minimum

http://www.bassettsicecream.com

2. Grilled Prime Natural Rib Eye, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

This was by far the best rib eye I think I have ever had. The first bite, literally melted in my mouth. A little pricey, 42 – but worth it. Its marbled, fatty meat heaven. Also, notable – the Mac & Cheese with truffle oil – yum.

3. Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie, The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company

If you’re going to pick up cookies from this famous cookie store in the Reading Terminal Market, go later in the day – the store starts selling cookies for $1 each towards close. I tried the Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie, and I will say this was truly inspiring. Great chocolate to macadamia nut ratios, not too soft, and not at all hard. Just a perfect large thick cookie – and whats more – they ship!

http://www.famouscookies.com

The Amish Market NYC


One of my coworkers, who I now have dubbed “Mama Rose”, has been showing me great little shops around work.. I’ve been working in this office in NYC for almost 4 years, and its only now that I am exploring the neighborhood. So today, she introduced me to The Amish Market.. and the produce at this place is awesome.. and so many good brands of healthy stuff. We went to the Murray Hill location, 240 E. 45th St., I found the BEST hummus here, and my fiance agrees and has told me to keep the house stocked with it (Review to come shortly, im sorry its late and Im tired). If you haven’t checked this place out – please do.. Cant wait to try some of their hot foods!

Pinkberry Original

The new trend in NY has been frozen yogurt shops, but its not a frozen yogurt like your typical Dairy Queen, or TCBY.. Its like actual yogurt tasting, frozen yogurt. I went to Pinkberry in the city and had an original topped with fresh strawberries. It was a beautiful thing. The yogurt was sweet and tart, and the strawberries were perfect, little cubes so you could get a mouthfull of both the yogurt and the strawberries. More refreshing than any other frozen yogurt Ive tried, except my california favorite – Humphry Bogarts Frozen Yogurt. Pinkberry is the same, without all the variety of toppings.. But they’ve got it right keeping it simple. Its delicious.

5 Napkin Burger

I thought I knew what burger love felt like until I tried the 5 napkin burger at the restaurant bearing its name.. I know now.
Its basically a gourmet, brilliantly simple burger that has so many familiar tastes that you normally don’t experience on a burger.. Aioli, and rosemary, delicately caremelized onions and a thick juicy hunk o meat.. after taking the picture of it – I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish, it was so good that I did anyway..cutting it into pieces with the huge knife they gave me.. Regardless of my stomach now stretching to uncomfortable levels, and the fact that I had to take a more spread out position in my chair, I wanted as much in my tummy as I could put in there. Yum yum.
Five Napkin Burger on 45th and 9th ave in Hells Kitchen.

Shangai Cuisine – Best Soup Dumplings in New York

A friend who lives in Chinatown introduced me to this place, and the pork soup dumplings that have become a tradition and a constant craving for me and my fiance, Mike. If you’ve never had a soup dumpling, basically its a piece of pork with seasonings mixed inside a dumpling along with soup. So you bite into the dumpling and all the soup is all hot inside, you blow it cool, add a few drops of this vinegary soy sauce they give you, and bite. Mm, my mouth is watering just typing this. Good chinese food, good prices. Shang Hai Cuisine(212) 732-8988
89 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013 – if you go, make sure you grab a business card so you can find your way back when you get another craving.

Crisp

The name of the restaurant is Crisp, in midtown manhattan. Just found out about this place today, pretty catchy concept.. Handbag sandwiches, cute packaging.. And more importantly, good hummus and falafel. I ordered the Hummus Bowl with warmed chickpeas and a whole wheat pita.. Two words divine divine. The hummus was absolutely fantastic, the chickpeas were amazing, and the herbs were fresh, to make it all even more worthwhile, the pita was so fluffy and perfect (not dry, but puffy and moist) that I was tearing this thing up into the hummus. Yum yum. Claudine got a sandwich which she also enjoyed, but I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.
http://www.eatatcrisp.com

Royal Red Robin Burger

Most of us like burgers, and we know they aren’t healthy.. But we indulge in them anyway. I think that if you are going to blow a diet for the day on a burger, you should make sure that it is a buger that will satisfy every molecule of your being. Im talking about the very delicious, Royal Red Robin Burger.. What makes it so good, you ask? A fried egg. (and the three strips o’ bacon doesn’t hurt either)..
Its got all that and american cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo.. Mm hmm. Heaven. Wish I had a pic, looks like ill have to go get one and take its picture for you.