My Food Journey

Alright confession time: This is not my first time riding in this rodeo. I've actually chowed down at Westville more than once and I seriously cannot get enough of it.

Alright, let's talk fancy New York dining.

A lot of it, over-priced. Some of it, over-hyped. Neither of which I am a fan of.

HOWEVER. There are some places worth that extra splurge. For my birthday this year, the parental units and I went to Casa Mono (17th st and Irving Place), my very first Michelin Star restaurant experience. 

It was incredible.

Squid Ink Bomba Rice and Taylor Bay Scallops

Lobster with Spicy Sweet Potato and Agua de Coco (left) and Sardinas Fritas (right)

We also ate some bacalao croquetas, pork stuffed calamares with wild mushrooms, setas with garlic, and warm pumpkin and apple pie. Not only did it completely live up to my expectations, but some of the dishes absolutely floored me. The pork stuffed calamares was particularly impressive from a technical standpoint, but I think my favorite was the squid ink rice dish pictured above.

The restaurant in itself is pretty small; the kitchen and dining room are all in one space, making for a very cozy, comforting feel. All of the staff were very personable, and the extremely knowledgable house sommelier made me consider a new career... that of professional wine drinker. I think I'm already halfway to pro, anyway.

Whenever I go back to North Carolina, there are three things that I always make sure I stock up on: barbecue, hush puppies, and sweet tea.

Sorry, but there's just no fancy yankee establishment that could ever satiate this particular hunger.

Ole Time Barbecue (the trailer-looking thing off of Hillsborough St)

The best part about Ole Time? Besides the kick-ass food and homey locale, is the fact that stuffing your face to the point of tears and unbuttoning your top pants button is not only accepted, but 100% encouraged.

Here's the picture I came up with today for a belated holiday card to an old friend, what do you think?

Awww this is so great!!! Thanks new follower!

MURRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Who woulda thought the guy on the left would be so lucky to have such an AMAZING daughter like me today?

Yup. it was the big guy's birthday celebration last week, and boy, did we do it UP.

I somehow got my hands on the elusive phone number for the Bohemian (East Village secret). You normally only get the number to make reservations by knowing someone who has been there before or by contacting a generic email that tends to shoot you down the first few times you attempt. But let me tell you, it was SOOO worth it.

        Set up much like a lounge or living room, the restaurant only seats 25 people and serves as a "members-only" bar until about 2am.

            The food was amazing: cold cuts, fresh vegetable fondue, sea urchin croquette, short rib sashimi, tuna sashimi over rice, grilled sea bass with vegetables all spread over a 3-hour eat fest.

Dessert was chocolate creme brule and panna cotta with tapioca.

I can only hope to become an honorary member.

The last two times Momma and Poppa Bellin have rolled into town, they have very generously taken me and Baby Bellin Sr. (the eldest of three, also known as casualbellin) to amazing meals by Jean-Georges.

First, they took us to ABC Kitchen (e 18th btw Broadway and Park) for a nice little lunch rendezvouz. It was perfect.

After a smattering of apps, I chose the Akaushi Cheeseburger with herbed mayo and pickled jalapenos, fries on the side of course.

Dessert is never skipped with the Bellins. We had an assortment of cookies, sherbert, and a zuchinni cake :)

I wanted every piece of furniture, decorative trinket, and light fixture in the place.

And last night, we went to Mercer Kitchen (Mercer and Prince) where I ate until I cried.

I had a delicious crab cake to start, then pork chops with smoked chili glaze, red cabbage braised with bacon and apples, and parmesan grits on the side. Dessert was a chocolate lava cake, cinnamon sprinkled doughnuts, and an incredible cheesecake with beet ice cream. Sorry but the ambiance was just too romantic for my little iPhone pictures! You can trust me (and/or Jean-Georges) when I say that everything was absolutely gorgeous though!

Steaks.

Or more specifically, Philly Cheesesteaks.

Not too long ago, the girls and I skipped on over to 99 Miles to Philly (3rd Ave & 12th St) on a beautiful sunny day unlike today.

We hesitantly approached the counter and asked the guy how "it worked". He looked at us blankly and pointed at the 3-step menu.

"Choose chicken or steak, the type of cheese (*from 3 different kinds), and any additional toppings, if you want any"

So summer is officially over and the dark, dark cloud that is school is finally upon us. Not only that, but we're in that weird transition between summer and fall, where its not sunny enough to feel that nice summer freedom or chilly enough to feel any fall comfort.

Now, I love fall in New York-- it is my absolute FAVORITE season in the city. And with autumn, there come a few traditions with it:

Apple picking in Largemont (and subsequent pie making)

The opening ceremony of "Unitard Season"

Halloween Planning

Pumpkin Chai with Sam

This is Sam.

If there is one person that truly epitomizes autumn in my mind, it is my friend Sam. (She also embodies all major holidays, but that's a different story entirely)

Sam is from Rochester, and in her little upstate town they have a tradition of their own called "Garbage Plates". Well we heard a rumor that this place called Little Town (15th and Irving Place) had a Rochester night complete with its local specialty!

Let me preface by saying, the faux-Garbage Plate they served us was GOOD-- it was just very Manhattanized. Needless to say, Sam was pretty disappointed. She even pointed out to the bartender, the grave mistakes his restaurant had made in her beloved home fave.

Sam drowned her woes in upstate beer, and I drowned them in six $1 oysters.

(I thought I'd order them for the both of us but apparently Sam hates them)