Fave Village Forages

One of my favorite areas in The City is the Village. I usually find myself on the east side for its rich culture, shopping opportunities, and various food joints. Today I took a little trip there to visit Lush (an all natural cosmetics store which I'm now obsessed with) with my friend and my younger cousin and sister. It's always a great time in the city but today was even more fun because it was Pride! Needless to say the village was poppin' haha. We saw a couple of nip slips (actually full on boobs, sorry mom!), feather boas, but most importantly equal love all around. Anddddd we obviously ate like fatties because it's me and that's all I do, especially in the city. 

The first place we stopped was one of my favorites. I go there allllll the time. I even drive to the city from Staten Island before work in Bay Ridge sometimes to grab food to go! If you tried this place, you would understand. It's called S'Mac and its to die for. It's on E12th between 1st and 2nd Ave. Who doesn't love Mac and cheese honestly? Especially when it's cooked in a cast iron pan and served bubbling and cheesy right before your eyes. My go to is the Cheese Burger with slab bacon, it's cheddar and American cheeses with seasoned ground beef. They have simpler options like All American, a blend of cheddar and American cheeses, and then more complex options like Buffalo Chicken, American and cheddar cheeses with chopped chicken, buffalo sauce and topped with crumbled blue cheese. I'm never disappointed and neither is anyone I drag there with me haha. It's a must if you're in The Village or Murray Hill. Also, if you're gluten free or lactose intolerant they have both lactose and gluten free options for an additional charge which I'm sure is worth it!

A meal for me is never complete until I have something sweet for dessert and I'm a sucker for ice cream. My friends? Not so much. We decided to try a bakery I heard of and grab some cookies, but to our dismay it was closed. So we decided to try a new ice cream place (insert evil laugh since I got my way). It's called Snow Days and oh my gosh it was delightful. 

Snow Days is right around the block from S'Mac on E10th between the same avenues. Snow Days is a cross between shaved iced and ice cream. It has the creamy texture of icecream but the lightness of shaved ice. It leaves you satisfied but not feeling like you've over indulged. They have their famous Yeti Tracks (cookies & cream) and other flavors that include Machi Green Tea and NY Cheesecake. You can top this shaved cream with different drizzles, candies, cereals, and even fresh fruit. It was wonderful.

I got Yeti Tracks topped with strawberries, captain crunch, and a salted caramel drizzle (I'm such a sucker for caramel). 

My friend Megan got what was called Yeti Food. Yeti track shaved cream topped with bananas, sugar cone pieces, and a blueberry purée... And you guessed it, it was delicious. 

For more information on any of these places visit their websites at smacnyc.com and snowdaysnyc.com ! 

 

Biting My Way Through Brooklyn

One of my favorite things about the spring/summer is spending my beautiful Sunday's stuffing my face with new food. Brooklyn Bridge Park makes this extremely easy for me. Not only is it so beautiful over there but mostly because every Sunday from 11AM-6PM they host Smorgasburg at Pier 6. I know exactly what you're all thinking... "What the heck is a Smorgasburg?!" And there is really only one word that I can use to describe it... HEAVEN! Just kidding. But seriously, if heaven does it exists, this would be mine.

Smorgasburg is when a bunch of different food vendors who make their way to Pier 6 on Sunday and deliver extremely diverse and delicious food to the public for most of the day. The food is also not too expensive, which is always a positive for me. You can definitely eat on a budget there and leave satisfied. I've made my way there quite a few times this year already (more than I'd like to admit, totes worth it though). Throughout my visits there I've tried a number of different foods and I've never been disappointed. Also, if you're looking for a good way to burn off all the calories you just ate, you can take a nice walk along the park down to Dumbo right under the Brooklyn Bridge (& maybe get some ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for the walk back). 

And here there are:

The Ramen Burger

This has to be one of the absolute best burgers I've had in my life. It it's a cooked to perfection angus beef burger, shoyu sauce (Japanese sauce for anyone wondering it's a secret recipe so no clue what is in it sorry guys haha), and arugula wrapped in authentic handmade ramen noodle buns. It is TO DIE for. The noodles hold well together as a bun which shocked me. But when you bite into it the noodles melt in your mouth and an explosion of taste erupt into your tastebuds. Basically you never want it to end. 

Home Frites

Home Frites was one of the best fries I've had the pleasure of inhaling (I ate them so fast that is the only term that's appropriate). There are a few different options (even Vegan!). I got the Original which are natural hand cut russet potatoes fried in 100% canola oil and seasoned with kosher salt. They're crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside paired with their handmade sauces, they are honestly great. I'm a sucker for garlic so I obviously chose the lemon garlic aioli, and I was NOT disappointed. A must try, the wait is worth it. 

Milk Truck Mac & Cheese

This photo does not do this delectable cup of cheesy noodles justice. By far one of the best Mac and cheeses I've tasted (& trust me there have been a few!). The cheese is aged cheddar, gruyere & asiago cheeses blended into a creamy bechamel sauce (made from milk, butter and flour, usually a base for other sauces), fresh mozzarella added on top right before hot cooked-to-perfection bow tie noodles are mixed in. They finish the dish off with rosemary breadcrumbs...  Hi loverrrrr! The truck usually shows up a little late to the Smorgasburg party so if you don't initially see them, don't fret they will be there. 

Bite Size Kitchen Buns

A main component of Asian street food, these little buns look unusual but they are super tasty and pack a punch. I tried the braised pork belly and the red curry coconut chicken. The braised pork belly had pickled jalapeños, cucumbers, scallions, and hoisin (traditional sauce used in Chinese cuisine). It was delightful, something I've never had before but would definitely get again. The red curry coconut chicken had crushed peanuts, fried garlic (you're probably seeing a pattern now haha), cilantro, and shallots. Both great but the pork belly definitely won it for me. 

And what meal is complete without dessert?! I'm borderline obsessed with The Good Batch so I always grab an ice cream sandwich when I go to Smorgasburg. My absolute favorite is The Krispy! 

For more information on the ice cream refer to my previous post titled A Good Batch of Sundaes. 

Smorgasburg is not limited to Brooklyn Bridge Park, thankfully. They reside in Williamsburg, Queens, and a couple of other places. It is definitely worth the trip and the money. If you have a free weekend and looking for some good eats, make you're way down! For more information on Smorgasburg, including locations and vendors, visit Smorgasburg.com. 

 

Pizza-iiiish

Considering I don't have the most balanced diet on the weekends, I try to keep a low carb and low sugar diet Monday - Thursday (Friday too, if I'm being extra disciplined so basically never haha). As well all know eating healthy can get pretty boring very fast. There are only so many eggs you can willingly eat without starting to get nauseous at the though. That's why it's important to try new things and experiment with your food a little. While trying to stay low carb and fighting off the daily urges of pizza my friend decided to create a cauliflower pizza crust. Being that she had some success from the creation I decided to do the same, but with a little twist. 

The cauliflower crust is extremely easy to make. There is a simple recipe that I loved. The only bad thing that I would say is that the crust never really gets that stereotypical crispy crust that we enjoy in a regular pizza. I'm sure you can try to dry out the cauliflower more or cook it longer, but I actually enjoy everything mushy and undercooked so it was fine for me. 

This is the recipe: 

Ingredients for Crust:

Nonstick spray
2 1/2 cups cauliflower, grated (about 1/2 a large head)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

(I also added Garlic Powder to taste)

Topping:

Arugula/Baby Spinach

Crumbled Goat Cheese

Part Skim Mozzefella 

1/2 Avocado

-Pre-heat the oven to 445•F 

-Grate the cauliflower with a grater until you have 2-1/2 cups (you can also use a food processor until they are roughly chopped) 

- Place cauliflower in a bowl and microwave until soft (usually 7 minutes) let cauliflower cool

- Mix egg, mozzarella, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

- Once combined, pat and shape the mixture into your desired size pizza (usually 10inches, you don't want to create a pizza that is too thick or too thin because it will be either undercooked or burned). 

- Bake for 12 minutes or until brown

- Assemble toppings onto pizza crust according to your preferences and then bake for another 10 minutes. 

This was my finished product 

Mucking for MS

Hey Everyone! Yesterday I participated in a 5K called MuckFest MS. This 5K was in honor of Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease where the immune system eats away at the protective covering of the nerves (ouch). This disease is extremely painful and can result in a variety of symptoms, some physicial and even cognitive. Around 2-3 million people suffer from MS, it is a chronic illness because, although there are treatments for the disease there is no cure. MS can occur in men and women but is 2-3 times more common in women and is also more prevalent in Caucasians than people of other ethnic backgrounds. For more information on MS, donating, and participating please visit  http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_MUCK_MuckFest_info_newjersey

MS hits home for me because my best friend's mom has been battling this disease for a number of years. It has not only changed her life but has changed the life of my best friend and the rest of her family. This family is like a second family to me, I have watched them struggle and deal with everything that has come their way throughout the 10 years we have been friends, and I am honored to be considered apart of their family.  Since this disease effects so many people it is important to cause awareness and get people to donate.   The MuckFest was not only for a good cause but so much fun. There was a group of 14 of us and we did the run in NJ at the South Mountain Reservation. The venue was beautiful and I would definitely go there again to hike or even just visit the park. This was a mud run with about 17 obstacles, boy was it messy (I had to wash my hair three times when I get home haha)! I am so proud of all of us, mostly because of how wel we all worked together and supported one another. I can't wait to participate again next year with an even bigger group!  

This is the before and after haha 

Just to add a little bit of foodie-ness, considering this is a good blog, at the end of the run you get a free beer (who doesn't love free anything? Because obviously if it's for free its for me). The Traveler Beer Co is actually a National Sponsor for MuckFest. I'm a huge fan of their beer to begin with so I was thrilled r find out that's what they would be serving. I was even more excited when I saw that they had Grapefruit Ale. This beer had to be one of the best I've ever tried. I'm not a huge fan of beer, but the Grapfeuit Als is definitely something I can see indulging in again. It has sort of a Blue Moon taste but is crisper and lighter, it's definitely refreshing for the summer.  The grapefruit taste is not overpowering but is apparent, there is also some nice carbonation and earthiness of hops in the beer too. First grapefruit beer I have tried and something I'll be sipping on during these hot summer days in the future! 

Good Batch of Sundaes

Sundays are usually spent being lazy; relaxing, watching some sports, having a nice sunday dinner, going to church...etc. My Sundays are in fact, the opposite.. because on Sundays, Brooklyn Bridge Park host the Smorgasburg. There is a plethora of diverse food at the Smorgasburg, the options range from the delicious Ramen Burger to authentic Ethiopian food and everything in between (I'll be posting about these soon!). This also includes ice cream, but not just any ice cream - ice cream sandwiches from The Good Batch specifically. Being a regular at the Smorgasburg I've had the opportunity to try three different options from The Good Batch, and in all honestly I'm in love with them all.

 1. Vanilla Nutella: Who doesn't love some Nutella? The cookie seen in this sandwich is a soft baked chocolate chocolate chip sugar cookie, vanilla ice cream in the middle, and it is finished with a Nutella cream and some chopped hazelnuts. It was absolutely delightful.








2.  The Goodwich: This is definitely for someone who loves originality with a little twist. The cookie featured is an oat chocolate chunk cookie, vanilla ice cream in the middle, finished with a fudge drizzle and sprinkled with sea salt. Perfection.









3. The Kripsy: The Kripsy just happens to be my favorite. It is a Rice Krispy marshmallow sandwich with vanilla ice cream. Basically all things that are considered delicious. The Krispy sandwich is the perfect combination of gooey and consistent. It keeps it together even after the first bite which is something I appreciate while stuffing my face within a large group of people haha.





The Good Batch became known for its Stroopwafels, I haven't had the chance to try yet but I will definitely be making my way to a retail store in the near future. The Good batch can be find throughout retail stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan, they also have a website where you can place orders for their stroopwafels, cookies, and macaroons. Sadly, their ice cream sandwiches cannot be purchased this way.

For a full list of retailers or to see their online selection, visit their website : https://thegoodbatch.com/story/

A Doughy Introduction

Hi, Guys! Considering this is my first post, I'm going to introduce myself little. My name is Lauren, I'm 24, future teacher, originally from Brooklyn and currently living in Staten Island, New York. Since I live in one of the greatest cities in the world, I am surrounded by some of the best and most diverse foods that you can imagine. Therefore, I make it my mission to discover new, different, and especially delicious foods and introduce them to my family and friends. I consider myself an amateur foodie haha. Now I'm planning on sharing all of my discoveries with you guys!

In honor of National Doughnut Day (one my favorites) yesterday, I will be sharing two of my favorite places in the city to score these scrumptious treats.

1. Dough Doughnuts: They have multiple locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan and also have pop up shops at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, BBP, and Queens. They even have a pop up shop in Japan! Their doughnuts are the perfect combination of sweet and sultry. Even with their unusual flavors you don't lose the comfort of an actual doughnut, flaky and fluffy but not tooooo doughy.

Seen from bottom to top: Hibiscus Glazed, Toasted Coconut, Plain Glazed, Lemon Poppy, Cafe` au Lait, Dulce de Leche, and my personal favorite Chocolate Salted Caramel.

2. Doughnut Plant NYC: They have multiple locations in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and one in Queens. They also have a shop in Japan as well. People can usually tell you went to Doughnut Plant when they see the square shape. Doughnut Plant has a long family history of doughnuts and bakers, they even created their own Jelly-Filled Doughnut Design, hence the square shape! Their doughnut selection is also much more varied than those at dough. I can't even describe the deliciousness that these doughnuts deliver.

Pictured: The top square doughnut is a Vanilla Bean Glaze with Blackberry Jam Filling, the bottom is  Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam Filled. The top doughnut on the right is a Brooklyn Blackout, and the bottom right is a Triple Chocolate. My favorite was the Vanilla Bean and Blackberry.

These two shops are definitely worth the try if you're looking for something sweet and love doughnuts. They have many different flavor options and can be conveniently found throughout NYC.