she shoots, eats & leaves

Classic avocado toast at Chalait got me smiling like a fool. Clean, delicious, and beautifully presented. Wash it down with a matcha latte, and you can do no wrong. Pro tip: come early to avoid the minglers later in the day. The quiet in this cafe on a Sunday morning is sublime. Shhh... don’t tell anyone else (let ‘em sleep). 

I was never a huge fan of Ippudo. Didn't think their ramen was anything special—until recently when I tried the karaka spicy ramen. Turns out I just needed to turn up the hot factor to truly lose myself in a bowl of ramen (must be those Sichuanese taste buds). The karaka men uses spicy umami paste, which gives it a more legit spiciness than dumping hot pepper oil into your bowl as you might at other ramen places (ahem Totto).

Ippudo Eastside: 65 4th Ave (between 9th and 10th St), New York, NY 10003

Spicy cod roe pasta at La Hiro in Florence, Kentucky. If you're in Cincinnati for more than a few days and you love Japanese food, you owe it to yourself to stop by this mom-and-pop restaurant (it's conveniently located by the airport). This is the most satisfying dish if you're craving tummy-warming Japanese comfort food. Creamy, but not overwhelming; spicy, but barely—it's simple and perfect.

Show me (other) goodies here.

8645 Haines Dr, Florence, KY 41042 

Whaddya know—pretty legit macarons can be found outside big coastal cities. Welcome to Cincinnati, Ohio! Macaron Bar (native to Cincy) opened not too long ago and has already started a second shop in town and converted a critical mass of newbies. The store itself is eye candy: exposed brick walls, bright lighting, clean white counters and fascinating wall art. The decor does justice to the macarons prettily displayed in the case. I challenge you to walk out with fewer than a box of six. Needless to say (as my picture attests), I am quite taken with the matcha flavor—the tea note is intense without being bitter. For me, this shop passes the pistachio test with flying colors (that is to say, everyone's favorite pistachio is quite good here).

1206 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (main store and kitchen)

"Champagne" milk tea at Cha Chan Tang gives you a taste of royal-tea. Hashtag-dorky-pun aside, this stuff is pretty legit. While I fall squarely in the Taiwanese milk tea clan, I can appreciate the bergamot notes and distinct aftertaste of Hong Kong milk tea that millions of people love (to me it's essentially the 3-way love child of condensed milk, coffee and Earl Grey). Unfortunately, you won't find any hints of booze in this boozy lookin' thing, but I'm sure purists won't mind.

Sip this between bites of peanut butter French Toast, and you are golden.

45 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013 (btwn Pell and Bayard St in Chinatown)

There is a cafe in Columbus called Fox in the Snow. They have these pillowy things that are the best vanilla cream-filled donuts. End of story.

1031 N 4th Street, Columbus, OH 43201

The matcha goddess salad and smoked salmon sandwich (half size) are a pair made in "teaven" at Essencha Tea House in Cincinnati. The smoked salmon is served on ciabatta between thinly cut cucumber slices and lightly topped with wasabi mayo for some kick. The matcha goddess dressing is light, barely flavored, with notes of onions and herbs—a welcome counterpoint to the salty smoked salmon and wasabi mayo. All of the ingredients are locally sourced and fresh. Having had a "behind the scenes" tour of the teashop for an event, I can confidently recommend Essencha as a place to relax, sip and enjoy a healthy and delicious meal. Oolongs and green teas are great to pair with this meal.

Want something sweet? Essencha’s got it and more.

3212A Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209 (Oakley)

Delicious vegan mac n cheese—it ain't an oxymoron. But you do have to try it to believe it. This is one of the most underrated items on Melt's menu of baked sandwiches. Skip the sandwich, and get this to satisfy a cheesy craving without the guilt: the macaroni is whole wheat and the "cheese" is made from a magical concoction that involves almond meal, tofu, spices and chili. Sitting on a bed of fresh spinach and topped with pico de gallo, it's better than plain ol' mac and just a tad bit piquant.

4165 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223 (Northside)

Ah, the matcha latte at Chalait is exquisite in taste and totally photogenic. It's the perfect cup to have if you want to re-energize in the afternoon or enjoy the every person's pastime in New York: people watch. Don't expect to warm a seat here, though. Because Chalait is situated at a busy junction on West 4th Street, it's a popular meeting place for West Villagers. 

224 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014 (West Village)

Summer barbecue (eel)! Actually, you can get this all year round. Unagi (barbecue eel) sashimi at La Hiro is a much better deal than you would find at most other places and certainly the best this side of the Ohio river. In fact, wallet-wise you are better off getting the sashimi at La Hiro than the nigiri as every order comes in fours!

Other reasons to come here: more Japanese noms

8645 Haines Dr, Florence, KY 41042

Apparently it's "National Ice Cream Day." Now if you're like me, this really doesn't matter because any day is ice cream day (it's just a matter of whether the rest of the country wants in or not, which doesn't matter). Give your tastebuds a thrill, and try the homemade Asian flavors at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. It's an old neighborhood favorite, a family-owned business for over 30 years. I recently stopped by and had the egg tart flavor (!!!). It’s wonderfully rich. My usual is the lychee and black sesame. 

65 Bayard Street, New York, NY 10013 (btwn Mott and Bowery in Chinatown)

Have you ever had condensed milk toast? It’s a Hong Kong comfort food, often eaten for breakfast or while sobering up in a certain chain restaurant. It’s a pretty big freaking deal if you grew up on the decadent stuff in Hong Kong and came to the States to be deprived of adequate condensed milk toast. Seriously, it’s tough to find a good version of this traditional treat, even in Chinatown. But if you keep an open mind (and love peanut butter), your tastebuds will go haywire for the “French Toast” at Cha Chan Tang in Chinatown. It’s not your traditional condensed milk toast, but it’s an incredibly delicious, addicting spin: the toast is golden crisp and buttery, warm and gooey on the inside, and—wait for it—filled with peanut butter! It’s done French toast style and comes with a side of maple syrup. Dip just a little, take a bite, and you’ll find your tastebuds dancing between sweet and salty! Seriously bomb.

Wash this down with some iced Hong Kong milk tea.

45 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013 (btwn Pell and Bayard St in Chinatown)

One of my favorite treats: the matcha crepe filled with red beans and wrapped in psuedo newspaper at Takahachi Bakery in Tribeca. It's unusual and strangely addicting. The crepe is soft and moist, best eaten right away—fresh from the cold display case. The cream inside is lightly dotted with red beans to add some sweetness to an otherwise intense, noticeably bitter matcha skin. Perfect in the summer. Also, Takahachi Bakery is my absolute favorite to stop in, rest, take a breather and gawk at the displays of fluffy and creamy Japanese style desserts. 

25 Murray Street, New York, NY 10007 (northeast corner of Church and Murray St in Tribeca) 

New York has some pretty sweet fish, but there are days I miss the tender, melt-in-your-mouth salmon sashimi at La Hiro, a mom-and-pop sushi restaurant in Florence, Kentucky (I used to live across the river in Cincinnati). You'll be hard pressed to find fresher fish in this area—and beautifully presented on painted plates. 

Show me more noms here. 

8645 Haines Dr, Florence, KY 41042 

Girls and boys, if you happen to be in the vicinity of northern Jersey, you must stop by China Chalet, the BEST Sichuan restaurant in the greater New York area. Yes, I said it. Said by a true Sichuanese. Pictured here is the tea-smoked duck (”zhangcha ya” 樟茶鸭). It is succulent, and if you can muster the willpower, it’s the perfect dish to save for later and eat as finger food while watching TV. My family lives near this restaurant, and we can vouch that the tea-smoked duck is consistently good. 

Crescent Center, 184 Columbia Turnpike #13, Florham Park, NJ 07932

It’s shaved snow season, and I’m lovin’ Snowdays in East Village. The Made in Taiwan favorite is very traditional with matcha shaved snow, grass jelly and mochi drizzled with condensed milk. I added red bean because you can never go wrong with red bean! The flavor is very creamy with the hint of grassiness from the matcha. 

241 E 10th Street, New York, NY 10003 (btwn 1st & 2nd Ave in East Village)

These golden, crispy babies are some of the best sesame balls you’ll be surprised to find in New Jersey. Chengdu 1 Palace offers them for dim sum, and they are always hot and crunchy. You can tell a good sesame ball from an OK one by how crispy the skin is. The inside flesh is sticky and filled with lotus seed paste (莲茸). 

What else is good here? 

100 Route 22 West, Green Brook Township, NJ 08812