Chicken and Corn Chowder

Now that winter is upon us and the temperatures are dropping (drastically-it’s currently 27 degrees) we may find ourselves holding back from going out in the frigid air. Staying in can be entertained with cooking a warm meal and watching a good movie.

Soup is my favorite thing in the cold weather. It just hits the spot and makes you feel better.

This recipe from AllRecipes.com is easy to make and so yummy!

1/2 cup butter

1 small carrot finely died

1 stalk celery diced

1 small onion finely diced

1 clove garlic minced

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups white corn kernels

1 1/2 cups yellow corn kernels

4 russet potatoes, diced

2 cooked rotisserie chicken breast halves, shredded

4 cups chicken stock, divided

2 1/2 cups half and half

1 pinch nutmeg

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir carrot, celery, onion, and garlic into hot butter until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Stir flour into mixture to make a paste; cook until lightly browned and flour gives off a slightly toasted smell, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully, flour burns easily. Remove saucepan from heat and set aside to cool, about 15 minutes.
  2. Stir white and yellow corn, potatoes, chicken, and 3 cups of chicken stock in a large soup pot over medium heat. Whisk remaining 1 cup chicken stock into vegetables and flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir mixture into ingredients in soup pot. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until thick, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir half-and-half, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper into chowder. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
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Classy Nights

I tend to stick to low to moderately priced restaurants in the blog, but sometimes a special night is necessary. Whether celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, a special restaurant is needed to celebrate the right way.

I was attracted to The Leopard at Des Artistes after seeing pictures of the interior decor. When I found out there was a rich history behind the mural paintings and building, I was sold on this Upper West Side gem. All this without even looking at the menu.

Of course, I expected the food to be good but sometimes fancy places sell you on their decor and atmosphere but not the food. I was caught off guard by how amazing the food was!

The restaurant specializes in Southern Italian dining, so it isn’t the typical penne ala vodka and pizza spot. My most memorable dishes were the slow roasted baby lamb and the creme brulee dessert. The flavors and spices of the lamb were balanced but enough to make an impression and the creme brulee was perfection at its finest.

It was a peaceful dinner with a fine but not intimidating atmosphere. Some fine restaurants in New York City sometimes have a “stuck up” air to them, but The Leopard was very welcome and cozy in a beautiful environment.

Don’t forget to reserve via Savored to save up to 20% off!

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Mexican at Maya Restaurant

 

 

One of my favorite cuisines recently has been Latin food. I never really had Latin food growing up because I disliked anything spicy or with a combination of flavors. As I got older, I started trying Latin food from various places, starting from Tex-Mex takeout to Chipotle to cuisines from all around Latin America.

So when I heard of Maya Restaurant having original, traditional Mexican food, I had to try. I wasn’t disappointed and one of my friends that has been to Mexico multiple times said they live up to their promise of authentic cuisine.

Always start with guacamole. ALWAYS. It’s like an unspoken rule when going to a Mexican Restaurant. Everything afterwards tastes so much better!!!

I highly recommend the skirt steak as a main course. I tend to stick to chicken or steak when I go out to eat because I love to try the same thing from different cuisines.

Everything I had here was good and believe me I had a little bit of everything. Recommended for dinner or for after work drinks, as the cocktails were amazing.

Book your reservation via Savored to save up to 20% off your check.

 

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Pastries at Veniero’s

No dessert post would be complete without mentioning Veniero’s in the East Village.

They are a family pastry shop that has been open since 1894 and management has been going from generation to generation since then.

Due to the high volume of customers, especially on the weekends, the servers may be a bit rushing. It’s totally worth it though; just don’t go expecting to linger or spend the night there.

cannolis

 

The first time I went, I had to have a cannoli. You have the option of the shell dipped in chocolate or not, but of course to me, more is more so I got the chocolate dipped one. IT WAS SO GOOD. The filling is tasty and has the perfect cannoli texture. I dislike cream that’s bland and that has a strong smell of the butter, but this had none of that.

cheesecake

Another one of my favorite things is the classic strawberry cheesecake. I have a thing about the smell of butter being strong in dessert and it can also be obvious in cheescakes. This cheesecake however is light and very creamy. The strawberries and syrup topping is my favorite for cheesecake and it is so good.

Check out more at Veniero’s menu and visit soon!

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Pancakes at Home

oatmealpancakes

 

I love pancakes. They are a huge part of the classic American breakfast. I get upset and homesick when I visit other countries and pancakes aren’t a part of the continental breakfast.

What I dislike about pancakes is the difficulty in making them from scratch. I’m never satisfied with the “just add milk” products and making the batter from scratch was difficult for me to perfect.

Until now.

I found this amazing recipe online from Chocolate Covered Katie for oatmeal pancakes. I never really had a preference on whether or not my pancakes were healthy. I just wanted them to be good. Most of the time, healthy and good don’t belong in the same recipe. So the fact that these pancakes are not only delicious but healthy, is a huge plus. Oh, and it’s easy.

  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tbsp spelt flour, all-purpose, Bob’s gf, or ww pastry flour (120g)
  • 6 tbsp rolled oats (30g)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 stevia packs or 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbsp milk of choice (minus 3 tbsp if using pure maple syrup)
  • 2 tbsp oil (20g)
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp pure almond extract (omit if desired)
  • optional: handful chocolate chips or raisins
  • optional: can add up to 2/3 cup blueberries if desired

In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir very well. In a separate bowl, whisk together all liquid ingredients. Pour dry into wet, and stir together to form a batter. (Note: if the batter is too thin–which might be the case especially if using cup measurements of ww pastry flour–just add a little more flour until you get a pancake-esque batter.) Lightly grease a medium skillet, then place over medium heat. When pan is hot (see tip), drop small ladelfuls of batter onto the skillet. Flip pancakes, using a spatula, when the edges begin to look dry. Allow to cook one minute longer, then remove from heat. Serve with your favorite pancake toppings. TIP: Test the heat of your skillet by throwing a few drops of water onto the surface. When the water sizzles, the pan is ready for the pancake.

*Instead of the stevia or pure maple syrup, I used 3 tablespoons of regular sugar. You can also use butter instead of olive oil to make them richer

Enjoy!

Original Recipe

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My Go-To Burger Spots

There are many places in New York City to get a burger.

From the cheap diner fix to the $40+ Kobe beef or sirloin burgers at restaurants, they are sure to fulfill any wants.

But I have found myself craving burgers from only two places:

Bareburger and Bobby’s Burger Palace.

It’s hard to write this without wanting one right now. The only negative thing I have to say is that my house is out of their delivery range.

bareburger

Bareburger

Bareburger has grown into a franchise chain in various parts of New York City. When they first opened in Astoria, I couldn’t wait to try them out. Their business model focuses on organic products and they keep this consistent from their food to the tables to the containers they give take out in.

Their burgers are customizeable as well as suggested menu items. I always get the original, with either turkey or beef, because I like to keep my burgers simple. Too many toppings take away from the flavor for me.

bbbp

 

Bobby’s Burger Palace

Bobby’s Burger Palace has been a recent discovery of mine. There are only two New York locations and both are in Long Island. It surprises me that they don’t have any in the New York City area. The owner of the chain is Iron Chef Bobby Flay.

I tried their location in the Roosevelt Field Mall. It’s spacious and simple American with friendly servers. The burger is to die for. It is very good meat, with the perfect amount of juicy and flavor in it. You can also “crunchify” it for free, which means they put potato chips inside the burger.

Out of all the popular and least popular places for a burger that I’ve tried, these are my favorite that I keep going back to and dream of when I can’t get them. They are delicious and well made and both have a great environment.

Now, excuse me while I plan tomorrow’s lunch!

Menu & Locations for Bareburger

Menu & Locations for Bobby’s Burger Place

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Welcome to my Blog!

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
― Virgina Woolf, A Room of One’s Own

I agree with Virgina Woolf. Don’t you? Think about it: with so many options, you must make the right decision that satisfies you. I feel like a zombie if I don’t eat. And if what I ate wasn’t good, then I feel like I wasted my time (and a portion of my daily calorie intake) on it. Frustrating.

I’m a New Yorker that loves food (typical, I know) which is probably why I’m so picky. We have so many options that how does one choose?

Do you want to plan a night out but are stumped as to where to go? I do. In fact, it’s an issue I dealt with tonight. Whether it’s your first time in New York City or you’re a long time resident, you know looking for a place to eat is overwhelming. I’m here to help you make a decision based on food and occasion.

As much as I love food, I’m not an expert cook. I have some knowledge and when I do cook or bake, I like to look for recipes that are simple. I will provide recipes that I think are easy to follow and of course, delicious.

So, my fellow foodies, stay tuned for the solution to your dining problems!

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