Galeria Brazilian Brunch Is Bangin' and Beautiful

Leaving Ice & Vice the other day, my friends and I noticed a cute little restaurant on Clinton Street in the East Village and stopped to stare in awe at the menu – we would gladly have ordered anything on it.

We were especially intrigued by the acai bowls since it was a Brazilian restaurant and seemed to be authentic. So like the good little Bucket List builders that we are, we snapped a picture in the hopes of one day returning.

I fully expected it to disappear into the depths of my phone, but when we went to the Lowline Lab (a cool concept, but you might want to just wait until the real park opens) a few weekends later, we were throwing out lunch options in the area and realized we were really close! Instead of waiting an hour for a seat in El Rey, we headed over to Galeria and were instantly seated at one of the coolest tables ever.

Yes, the table was cool. And it was for sale, since Galeria is part restaurant/part art gallery! 

Here’s the run down on our brunch!

1.       Pao De Queijo

If you have never had these little Brazilian cheese balls you are MISSING OUT. Get to the nearest Brazilian restaurant ASAP and have your mind blown by these traditional cheesy popovers.

The first time I tried one was at my birthday brunch at Calle Ocho two years ago and that day I ended up smuggling out a half dozen in my purse.

If you’re picturing liquidy cheese inside of bread – it’s not like that at all. The cheese is much more incorporated into the dough. You can’t tell where the bread stops and the cheese starts and it’s like a big interconnected ball of love. The circle is round, it has no end, that’s how long I want to eat pao de queijo.

2.       Acai Bowl

We knew we had to try an authentic acai bowl, and we had ours additionally topped with almonds and honey. All of their acai bowls come with banana, granola and coconut! There were a ton of other options, but at $1 each, it could get really pricey!

This was great – but the smoothie was a little less solid than I would have liked. That’s completely a personal preference though, and flavor wise this was one of the best acai bowls I’ve had. We all agreed it was definitely top notch.

3.       Rainbow Cauliflower Bowl

This was hands down our favorite part about lunch at Galeria and a dish I would go out of my way to eat again.

This “unusual bowl” came with a poached egg, pine nuts, coconut, bulgar, herbs, cauliflower, tahini and a pomegranate dressing.

The combination of pomegranate, pine nuts and coconut was what really kicked this bowl up a notch. We all couldn’t stop raving about it.

And did I mention that it was SO BEAUTIFUL and Instagrammable?

4.       Pesto Tofu and Spinach Tapioca Sandwich

I still don’t really know how to explain this tapioca sandwich – the bread was brittle and crackery but also spongey? It was a very interesting consistency and though it took some getting used to, by the end I was enjoying it.

I think I liked this the most out of the three of us, but that’s because I’m absolutely in love with pesto and you could put pesto on anything and I would be a fan!

I would be really interested in trying their sweet version of the tapioca sandwich which comes with chocolate and berries.

I would HIGHLY recommend this spot if you’re looking for a delicious, healthy, trendy brunch with your girlfriends but don’t feel like waiting an hour on the sidewalk for a seat. It doesn’t have a ton of seating, but it wasn’t crowded when we went at around 1 on a Sunday which is prime brunching hours. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

8 Products I Kind of Hate

For the longest time, I was convinced I was going to be the next Ben Brantley. Don’t know who Ben Brantley is? Not shocking. He’s the theater critic for the New York Times – and as a journalism major in college, that was my dream. Being paid to enjoy and write about theater all day? Sounded like livin’ to me.

But the more I wrote, the more I realized, “My reviews don’t have a whole lot of criticism in them, do they?” In line with my personality my reviews tended to focus on the positive aspects of a production while shying away from negativity. That’s when I realized my writing might be better suited for public relations.

Where am I going with these saga about my changing career goals (spoiler alert: I now work in event operations – doing a whole lot of things that I didn’t learn about in college)? I’ve started to think that people may be experiencing a similar phenomenon while reading my blog. Thinking to themselves, “Wow, she just really loves every restaurant, every workout, and every health-food she tries!”

And while I do think my reviews are honest – and I try to point out the pros AND cons – there are also things that I try that I dislike and therefore, I’m not excited to write about them on my blog. Those misses often go un-noted while I rave on about the hits. Until now.

Here are some things I’ve tried and given a THUMBS DOWN. Keep in mind - many of these are great companies with a large offering of products. Plus, everyone's taste buds are different! Don't let this stop you from giving them a try and coming to your own conclusions!

1. Evian Water

That may sound odd – how can bottled water be bad? But when I made my Facebook status about my distaste for Evian, I was shocked when tons of people chimed in and agreed with me!

Something about it just doesn’t taste refreshing – it’s got a strange cloudy feel to it.

I’ll stick with NYC tap water or some Poland Spring, thanks!

2. Revive Kombucha

I am a HUGE kombucha fan (which is why I eventually started brewing my own – it’s an expensive habit)! I love GT’s, enjoy Health-Ade and have pretty much been happy with each of the other brands I’ve sampled.

One day, I picked up a bottle of Revive Kombucha at the store because I thought the bottle was cute. To my dismay, it tasted like vanilla extract! I love kombucha for its tart, acidic taste – and this was totally NOT that.

Revive reached out on Instagram, which I appreciated, but after a second taste this month – I must say, I really dislike this product.

3. Papaya & Cantaloupe

Sorry, nature – I’m just not feeling these fruits of the earth!

4. Primal Strips

I actually reallllllly like jerky, and I’m all on-board the “meat protein bars” (LOVE Epic bars). But vegan jerky? Sorry, nope – not feelin’ it. I tried Primal Strips one day at LaGuardia airport and was pretty grossed out, actually.

5. Bare Cinnamon Banana Chips

Yes, I ate an entire bag. But that’s only because I didn’t have any other options for something crunchy and sweet! I didn’t think these were very good.

6. Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips

I looooove their kale and broccoli chips – but their roasted kale was very disappointing. It’s more of a consistency problem than a taste problem- they’re way too crumbly - but I would never buy them again!

7. RX Bars

This might be an unpopular opinion, since I know tons of people who love these bars, but I was very unimpressed! They were very bland, in my opinion and I didn’t love the texture. I like my bars to have some crunch to them.

8. Big Slice Apples

This was another snack that I picked out to try from LaGuardia airport. It was very odd, to say the least. It was difficult to eat, goopy, and just a very weird product. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

What I Ate Wednesday: Pudding, Pierogi, Panera

Once again I have failed to document an entire day of food. Yet once again, my phone's camera roll is filled with pictures of food.

So I again present a hodge podge What I Ate Wednesday with some of the delicious things I've enjoyed in these final days of summer (SAY IT ISN'T SO!)

Pesto Zoodles with Mint & Lemon Salmon

Whenever I see my parents, I steal some of their fresh basil and mint from the garden. Is there anything that tastes better than fresh pesto? Is there anything more expensive in a grocery store than pine nuts? These are the questions I ask myself.

This time, I was out of pine nuts and feeling a little broke. So I whipped up pesto using basil, kale and walnuts! Tossed with zoodles, it was lean and green! I baked my salmon with mint and lemon which was a good summer flavor combo.

Pierogi & Shashlik

Steamed and fried cheese pierogis with a Russian beef shashlik and sour cream

I recently attended a press conference and they made some passed h'ordeuvres that were pretty divine. This one was definitely my favorite! 

Swedish Meatball Fondue

Sweet Swedish Meatballs, Cranberry Glaze, Gruyere Fondue

There were also served at the press conference and I couldn't resist giving them a try! Is there anything that ISN'T made instantly better when it's dipped in cheese? 

A Smorgasbord of Thai Food

On the same work trip, we FEASTED on Thai takeout during a loooong night of meetings. Thai isn't something I typically order or eat, because I'm not much of a takeout gal, but this Thai food was SO FRESH looking and tasting. It was full of flavor, not super oily and greasy, and tasted light and delicious. I am definitely going to need to get more Thai food while I'm in Toronto next month! 

Panera Party

The next day the office we were working in catered lunch - tons of options from Panera! I had about 283942 helpings of the watermelon feta salad because my arugula addiction is SO REAL. But I also went to town on the apple chips that were on top of the Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken. 

Also, can we talk about how every time I eat Panera I'm impressed with how fresh and delicious it is? It's definitely underrated, in my humble opinion. 

I also had a little bit of the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich which is ridiculously flavorful. 

Peaches + Green Smoothie 

One of my favorite discoveries in Toronto has been iQ Food Co. I love their smoothies in the morning! This was my first time trying the Peaches + Green - peaches, cashews, kale, spinach, banana organic agave, lemon juice and coconut water. 

I will say that smoothies are just never satisfying enough for me in the morning. I need to chew something! But this was delicious and I'm always happy when I stay at a hotel close to an iQ Food Co. 

Salmon Salad

Airport food can be scary - luckily, I found this delicious salad in Toronto and it hit the spot before my journey home! 

Steak?!

I am not a big steak eater, but when the craving for meat hits me, I know it's because my body needs it. This was my first time cooking steak by myself and it actually turned out to be pretty tasty! With some salad, sweet potato and veggies - it was the perfect meal before heading home for my triathlon! 

Sorghum and Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers 

There's nothing I love more than a night in with friends cooking, talking and drinking. My friend Rebecca developed this delicious veggie burger recipe that we recreated over Labor Day Weekend - along with some St. Germain, Gin & Watermelon/Ginger/Lime cocktails (using this new Califia Farms product as a mixer)! 

We wrapped our veggie burgers in collard greens and added avocado, heirloom tomato, ketchup and mustard! 

Baegels

When I was home for my triathlon, I obviously needed to get a bagel to eat on the beach. What's better than an egg everything bagel? An egg everything bagel loaded with egg salad.

Homemade Brunch 

 A Monday morning off means a chance to cook myself a real breakfast - complete with toast, eggs and fruit! I really just took this picture to show off my new mug that a friend surprised me with - I'M IN LOVE it makes every morning better. The other side says MMM DONUTS!

New Favorite Lunch

I've been making this a ton! A can of tuna salad mixed with plain Greek yogurt and some mustard + avocado and cucumber served over zoodles! I usually top it with some crunchy chickpeas!

Magnolia PEANUT BUTTER Banana Pudding 

My amazing friend surprised me with a container of the 1-week-only PEANUT BUTTER version of the famous Magnolia pudding as a good luck gift for my tri. 

If you haven't tried their banana pudding yet, I cannot recommend it enough. My mom is not a dessert person, yet this blew her away and she asks about it whenever she's in the city! 

I'll never forget the first time my friend Roseanna took me to Magnolia - I thought we were getting cookies or cupcakes but she told me I HAD to order the banana pudding. I had no clue what to expect, but fell in love immediately. 

It's full of full chunks of banana but my most favorite part is the layer of Nilla wafers. 

The peanut butter version was SUPER peanut buttery and I especially loved the chunks of full peanuts. I'm shocked to say, however, that I think I prefer their regular banana pudding! 

So happy I got to try it though since it was flooding my Instagram feed. 

Pro tip: You need to just eat it all in one day - don't try saving it. The bananas turn and get a little too sweet the longer they sit. I don't think you'll have any problems finishing it in one sitting though...it's THAT good. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 

ICE & VICE Sure Is Nice

If you had to eat only one dessert only for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Donuts? Cupcakes? Cookies? Brownies?

The correct answer is ICE CREAM. Ok, you’re entitled to your own opinion…but in my far superior opinion, ice cream is the king of the dessert jungle.

Here in New York City – there are a multitude of ice cream options. There are places that specialize in small-batches of unique flavors, Thai-Style ice cream rolls, soft-serve ice cream a la Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, vegan ice cream like Van Leeuwen's, goat milk ice cream from Victory Garden– you name it, New York City has got it. It’s a wonderful thing.

This summer wouldn’t have been complete without a trip to one of the much-talked about ice cream shops of the summer – Ice & Vice.

Not only do they have unique ice cream flavors, but their cones get in on the action too!

Paul Kim and Ken Lo opened Ice and Vice’s brick and mortar location on the Lower East Side after winning a Vendy Award for the Best Dessert in 2015. The space isn’t just an ice cream parlor though – they can also pasteurize the product on-site, making up to 15 gallons at a time.

And the counter has the ability to set a different temperature for each flavor!

When we went, there was a line but it was moving fairly quickly. It’s a small space with just a few tables – which I wouldn’t recommend for the claustrophobic.

Lately Ice & Vice has been partnering with other dessert destinations in the city for some crazy creations like an Underwest Donut ice cream sandwich and ice cream between two Bruffin rainbow cake cookies. Or how about the ice cream sandwich made between two of Kossar’s black & white cookies?

Part of me was tempted to go for the ‘gram with my order, but I decided that if this ice cream was really as good as they said it was, a single scoop in a cone should do the trick.

I actually like that despite not being the most photogenic thing in the world - it's just white ice cream - this ice cream shop has received so much love. Isn't it crazy to think that restaurants now have to think about how their product will look on Instagram - the crazier and most absurd the better, despite the taste or necessity? (I'm lookin' at you Black Tap and Loopy Doopy).

The flavors were all extremely unique, which made picking just one pretty overwhelming. Luckily, they allow you to sample a few flavors before you choose.

I thought for sure I would end up ordering the Food Baby – concord grape. Donut soil, raspberry coulis and rainbow sprinkles – but I didn’t love it. I tried one other that was delicious before settling on the seasonal “Nuts of Wrath.”

When I tell you what the description was, you might think it’s a little strange. But I’m here to tell you it was phenomenal! And that it tasted like each thing listed in the description.

Ready?

Marcona almond and Grape Kool-Aid jam. Mmmmm.

I asked the person behind the counter which cone they suggested and went with the Salted Blue Corn Honey. It was the right move.

Ice & Vice cone are made by The Konery and they are awesome artisanal waffle cones. My friend Abby who works for Tasting Table told us that during the non-summer months, when The Konery has left over batter, they make fortune cookies! How cool.

I don’t typically order my ice cream in a cone, but I am happy to report that Ice & Vice may have changed that going forward.

Ice & Vice really was one of the most unique ice cream shops I’ve visited and the taste was WONDERFUL. It was such a multifaceted experience for my taste buds (yeah, I really just wrote that). And the texture/consistency is just how I like my ice cream – a little on the harder side!

The price may come as a bit of a shock (the specialty cones are $1.75 in addition to the cost of a single scoop being $4+) but it’s worth it if you’re going to go out for ice cream.

 I look forward to stalking their Instagram feed until the next flavor that “I NEED” comes around!

Ice & Vice

221 East Broadway

Monday - Thursday 2 PM - 10 PM
Friday 2 PM - 12 AM
Saturday 12 PM - 12 AM
Sunday 12 PM - 10 PM

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Pre-Race Nutrition Tips from a Pro

Hi folks! I survived my first triathlon, but I'm going to keep you in suspense for the recap as I process yesterday's experience. 

In the meantime, I'm going to share some fun nutrition information that Julie Sparkes from The Athlete's Palate shared with me prior to race day. She's been helping me for a few months and I'm happy to report that my stomach cooperated throughout training and tri-day thanks to her advice and guidance. 

So here ya go!

1) What are some tips for fueling the week leading up to a race? 

• Drink lots of water but not too much. Make sure that you are well hydrated but not to the point that you're going to the bathroom frequently. 

• A week or two before the race when tapering most athletes are really hungry. I recommend that you eat foods with more fiber. A good option is chilli because is so healthy and filling, you can make a big pot and it's easy to reheat during the week. 
   
• Add fruit to your carbs to help slow down the breakdown and will slowly release in your  digestive system. This will make you feel full longer and will help reduce those snacking habits. 
   
• Maintain eating foods that your body is used to and easy to digest. This will prevent any digestive issues. 

2) How long of a workout until you should consider refueling during it? 

• The body is burning energy as soon as you start your workout. Carbohydrate and sodium stores should be replenished every 20 minutes into the workout and continue to be replenished every 20mins. As workouts increase in time or intensity this becomes more critical. 

3) What are your thoughts on carb-loading and how far out from a race would you start? 

• Carb loading in moderation is important because it gives you a chance to top up your glycogen stores. Glycogen is mainly stored in the liver and muscles. When you fuel, your body breaks down the carbs from your food during digestion and converts the carbs into glucose. Your body will use the glucose right away and will store the remainder in your muscles. The greater the glycogen storage you have, the longer you will be able to maintain your exercise intensity. 
   
• With being said, for endurance sports I recommend to eat a good serving of healthy carbs during your training 3-4 days before your race.  
   
• Here are some examples of carbs that are high in nutrients and carbohydrates: 

Starchy Vegetables

• Potatoes
• Yams
• Squash
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Taro
• Pumpkin
• Plantain
• Beets

Whole Grains

• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Farro
• Oats
• Bulgur
• Whole Rye
• Whole Barley
• Buckwheat
• Freekeh

4) Pre-race meal (the night before and morning of) tips

• Eat food that your body is used to and easy to digest. Don't try anything new the day before the race or the morning of. Eat meals that are high in complex carbs, healthy fats and lean protein. 

5) Is a post-race beer detrimental to recovery? 

• As a holistic nutritionist I can't say that alcohol in anyway is beneficial but with that being said I like to have a celebratory beverage just like the next person. Life is all about balance and sometimes it is good to reward yourself! On a positive note beer does have the perfect carb to protein ratio with 4:1 which helps with recovery. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Doughnut Diaries: The Doughnut Project

It was ages ago that I visited The Doughnut Project in the West Village to try their Insta-famous “Everything Doughnut” but I never wrote about it!

A)     I think they deserve an official post on Peanut Butter Is My Boyfriend because The Doughnut Project remains one of my favorites and

B)      I took some pictures of their doughnuts on my real camera that I wanted to post.

The Doughnut Project is another small-batch doughnut shop meaning that when their doughnuts are sold out for the day – that’s it. They only make a limited quantity per day.  Their doughnuts are yeast-based, not cake based and they have both filled and non-filled doughnuts.

The “it” thing about The Doughnut Project is how many unique and savory doughnuts flavors they have come up with.

The world of artisanal doughnuts is shockingly jam-packed lately – so new shops need to be creative. The Doughnut Project burst onto the scene with their “Everything Doughnut” – flavored like an Everything Bagel!

At first, I was slightly repulsed at the idea of savory seasonings on top of my sweet, sweet doughnuts. But like food trends – I was willing to give it a try.

I stopped by the West Village shop on my lunch break and was told that they had just gotten a new mural painted by a local artist. It was perfect for Instagram pictures, which we naturally had to take advantage of!

Here’s what we ate:

1.)    Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Obviously, not something I could pass up. It wasn’t a unique or savory flavor – but there’s not much I like more than the combination of peanut butter and jelly. What was interesting was that this wasn’t a filled doughnut stuffed with peanut butter and it wasn’t overly sweet with a fruity glaze. It was like a grown up, refined PB&J doughnut.

2.)    The “Wayney Wonder”

This doughnut is named after one of The Doughnut Project’s (TDP) favorite customers and is also known as the “Constanza.” Salted Chocolate Glaze with buttered pretzel, Ritz & potato chip crumble.

I can’t believe there was a time in my life when I didn’t realize how wonderfully salt pairs with chocolate. I guess the whole “sweet & salty” thing has been around forever, but it’s only very recently that I’m head over heels for the sea salt chocolate combo. This chocolate glazed doughnut paired with the salty Ritz, pretzels and potato chips is TDP’s most classic “dessert” doughnut flavor combination.

3.)    Those Beetz Are Dope

I was most excited to try this doughnut because even though it wasn’t chocolatey or peanut buttery – it was filled and the flavor combination offered a little bit of savory (beet glaze) and sweet (filled with ricotta cheese).

This didn’t disappoint. The glaze really tasted like beets! The first bite was a little odd – biting into a doughnut and not getting that first taste of super-sweet glaze was an adjustment. But once your taste buds and your brain got on the same page – it was really great. The beet glaze really tasted like beets! The ricotta cheese added the perfect amount of sweetness while still keeping the doughnut firmly in the savory camp.

4. The Everything Doughnut

Much like the ricotta filling on Those Beetz Are Dope, the cream-cheese glaze on The Everything Doughnut lends the perfect amount of sweetness without making things seem too dessert-y. The entire time we were sampling The Everything Doughnut we were saying,

“Oh wow, it’s really like – an everything doughnut”

“It’s not really sweet but still, like, sweet?”

“It’s savory but still a doughnut, you know?”

The Everything Doughnut is topped with sesame seeds, sea salt, pepitas, poppy seeds and garlic. I loved the fact that they weren’t too heavy handed with the garlic – which I feel could have made things a little weird. But there was definitely still the full flavor blend of an Everything Bagel.

If you plan on making a trip to The Doughnut Project (which I highly suggest), the savory doughnuts are definitely the way to go.

They’ve recently added a new one to the menu that sounds – interesting –

Bone Marrow Chocolate – bone-marrow infused chocolate and topped with a clementine glaze and chocolate shavings. Though I’m a little hesitant to give this one a try, The Everything Doughnut was a pleasant surprise so go give it a go and report back ;)

The Doughnut Project has got me thinkin’ about savory flavor combos that could work as a doughnut. Maybe a chickpea-flour based doughnut with a tahini glaze?

YOUR TURN:
HAVE YOU TRIED A SAVORY DOUGHNUT?
HAVE ANY SAVORY DOUGHNUT FLAVOR IDEAS?

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Upper East Side Pasta & Wine Spot With Light Italian Dishes

While some people go nuts over Italian food, it has never been one of my favorite cuisines. Give me Mediterranean or Mexican or Indian or Japanese and I'm ready to order everything on the menu. But you'll very rarely hear me suggesting an Italian restaurant. That's not to say that I don't LOVE pizza, eggplant parm and penne a la vodka. I just think growing up we all have so much exposure to Italian food that living in New York City, I'm much more inclined to venture out into the world of more interesting options. 

But for awhile now, I've been hearing about Uva on the Upper East Side - an Italian restaurant and wine bar. My aunt offered to take me out for dinner at Uva one night after some doctors appointments and I obviously accepted. Italian or not, here I come! 

DRINK & SMALL PLATES AT THE BAR

We started out at the bar with a drink and their extensive wine list was impressive. They also offer flights for a reasonable price ($14). 

The best part was that with each drink order before 7 p.m., you can pick a free appetizer! We had the polenta nest with meat ragu and Parmesan and the deep-fried olives. Both were tasty, considering they were free. 

We were seated outside and immediately given fresh bread with olive oil, salt and pepper. We ordered the following: 

BRUSCHETTE: WILD MUSHROOMS, ARUGULA & PARMIGIANO CHEESE

I'm a sucker for a bruschette menu. Though all four options sounded great, this one won because ARUGULA. It's an obsession. 

For some reason, I was expecting this to be served warm, with melty Parmigiano cheese on top. When it was served room temperature, it took me a minute to accept it. This was just alright, in my opinion. 

SPIEDINO DI GAMBERETTI 

Grilled shrimp skewer over a plum tomato, avocado and palmito salad

I was very torn over what to order. I was trying to keep things light, but at the same time, really wanted to try their homemade pasta. I went with the salad because it had shrimp and avocado, two of my favorites, and I knew I could try some of my aunts pasta :) 

I am SO glad I ordered this. They were not at all skimpy on the amount of shrimp and I was perfectly content at the end of this meal. (I even had room to stop at 16 Handles afterwards - THEN I was stuffed).  

You could tell the shrimp was actually grilled - it had a delicious charcoal taste to it. My one complaint was that the salad was super oily, but I loved the simplicity of tomato, avocado and palmito (heart of palm). 

FETTUCCINE CON GAMBERI E ZUCCHINE

Fettuccine with shrimp, yellow pattipan squash, zucchini, shallots and grape tomatoes, sauteed in extra virgin olive oil and white wine

I tried a bite of my aunts and the pasta was clearly homemade. It had that perfect al dente consistency and I loved that this dish was light and fresh despite being pasta based. The olive oil and white wine didn't take away from the delicious taste of the pasta. No need for heavy sauces! 

I definitely plan on making a trip back to Uva and highly suggest checking it out when you feel like a nice night out - good food, good atmosphere, and you won't spend tooo much money. If you're like me and shy away from Italian restaurants because the menus are full of cheesy, heavy, pasta dishes - Uva offers many alternative options that will make you very happy.  

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

Local's Cafe - Perfect for 'Coffee And A Bite' in Port Jefferson

When you think of summer weekends on Long Island the image that comes to your head is probably of mansions on the water’s edge in Montauk or the Hamptons. Ocean views, giant pools, trendy restaurants and tons of Manhattanites making the trip from Penn Station on Friday evenings throughout the summer season. Ready to spend the weekend lounging on their giant swan float (you know the one I'm talking about). 

Why "Out East" Is Over-Rated

In the past few years, “out east” has changed in a lot of ways. Montauk used to be beloved as a laid-back fisherman’s town. Now, it’s now full of fancy restaurants, boutique fitness studios, and bars frequented by the upper echelons of society. Of course it’s as gorgeous as ever, but it’s a big to-do to spend a weekend in the Hamptons or Montauk.

First, there’s the question of where you’re going to stay. If you’re lucky, you know someone with a house. If not, you’re shelling out big bucks to rent a house for the weekend or to stay at a hotel. 

Next is the torturous 3 hour journey aboard the Long Island Railroad. It’s crowded, it’s long. It’s really not an enjoyable experience (unless you're prepared with plenty of train dranks and beer-in-a-bags).

And then when you’re there? It’s no longer a place to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt with an ice cream cone in hand. It’s a place people go to be seen. It’s no longer a place to shop in stores like White’s or A Little Bit of Everything – buying tchotchkes and tie-dye tees. It’s a place to stop into boutique stores full of designer clothes. It’s no longer a place to grab pancakes at John’s in the morning. It’s a place to drop hundreds of dollars on dinner. It’s no longer a place to sit down at a dive bar with locals. It’s a place to buy drinks at Manhattan-prices at bars too crowded to move in.

Bah-humbug, right?

I’m not saying Montauk and the Hamptons aren’t great every once in a while. I still love heading out east. But if it’s R&R that you’re looking for, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to look quite so far east.

An Alternate to The Hamptons and Montauk 

Instead, look to Port Jefferson. A small town on the Long Island Sound smack dab in the middle of Long Island. A two hour train ride from Penn Station, Port Jefferson is small enough that there’s no need to worry about renting a car. Filled with small shops, affordable yet trendy restaurants, local activities and beaches – Port Jefferson is the perfect town to head to for a weekend beach getaway on Long Island. 

All summer long I'll be bringing you reviews and ideas on how to spend a great weekend getaway in Port Jefferson. 

Local's Cafe

For my first PJ post I'm so excited to feature Local's Cafe. A brand new addition that's sure to appeal to city-dwellers used to good coffee and Avocado Toast to start their day. Their tag line perfectly sums it up, "coffee and a bite downtown." 

Local's Cafe is owned and operated by a husband-wife duo who moved to Long Island from Puerto Rico 3 years ago. I had the chance to sit down with co-owner Amarilis and learned so much about how this unique spot came to be.

FINDING THE SPACE FOR LOCAl's cafe

When the Puerto-Rican Amarilis and her Indian husband Jiten came to Long Island in 2013, it was because of his job opportunity in Manhattan. They settled in the suburbs with their two children and while sitting down by the water on a bench one evening, noticed a corner property for rent. They peeked in the window and one of them made the comment, "This would be a great coffee shop!" 

They agreed that if in six months the space was still available, they would make a call. Six months later Amarilis started nudging her husband to pick up the phone. When they finally got inside to see the space, it was much larger than they had originally thought. They realized they could offer food in addition to coffee.

CREATING A casual space

Amarilis and her husband didn't have much background in the restaurant industry. Amarilis had only ever worked as a waitress. Their goal for Local's Cafe was to create a relaxed space for people like themselves - self-defined "casual eaters." 

From the start, they made choices that actively went against the "fine dining" feel. Jiten in particular went against the grain by fighting for concrete sheets as walls and cement slabs for the floor - he didn't see a need for them to be polished or finished. Jiten made the tables himself - upcycled doors. The stools along the windows were created from pipes. The interior design lends itself to the relaxed, rough, fun and urban space that Amarilis and Jiten were seeking. 

RECOGNIZING AN OPPORTUNITY 

A friend of theirs, a chef from New York City, began developing a menu. As they sampled it and shared it with friends - they felt that it wasn't their style. It was more sophisticated than they had been aiming for.   

While Amarilis and Jiten were still stuck on the menu, the Starbucks location in Port Jefferson closed down for renovations. Jiten, first and foremost caring about Local's Cafe's coffee, recognized this as the perfect opportunity to say, "Hey Port Jeff, try our coffee!"

A long time frequenter of coffee shops in NYC, coffee was to be the star of the show for Local's Cafe. Once they bought the space, they sampled many different varieties before deciding to serve coffee roasted from Caffe Vita - based out of Seattle and Brooklyn. 

With Starbucks' temporary closing the perfect opportunity to open Local Cafe's doors, the duo typed up 4 food options on a sheet of paper and called it a day. Their cafe was officially open for business. 

'THE food is pretty much who we are'

Since then the menu has evolved to reflect the foods that Amarilis and Jiten personally like and grew up with. The "Scramble Our Way" (Scrambled tofu, onions, tomato, cilantro on pita or wrap) is simply how the vegan Amarilis makes her breakfast. 

All of the avocado on the menu is a way of representing her Puerto Rican heritage - where avocado is a huge part of the culture. (Though Amarilis said her and Jiten are constantly finding themselves stalking grocery store shelves for ripe avocados when they run out!) 

The Chana Masala Sandwich (chickpeas cooked in Indian spices with a side salad) is representative of Jiten's Indian background. 

Amarailis said that, "Part of having a business is you're always wondering how you could improve it. Which is a good thing, I think. We're trying to think of how we can make it better aesthetically and the food too. We're constantly thinking of what we can add to the menu. The food is pretty much who we are." 

Amarilis says she's trying to get more Puerto Rican-inspired items on the menu like plantain strips as an alternative to french fries. But adding even one thing to the kitchen that requires different preparation can be a huge adjustment. 

local through and through

LOCAL'S Cafe also features products from LOCAL purveyors. The rotating flavors of small batch kombucha, brewed on Long Island by a woman the couple met while getting the restaurant ready, is absolutely TO DIE FOR. By far the best kombucha I've ever tasted. And I'm somewhat of a connoisseur. 

They also sell Long Island brewed iced tea from The Subtle Tea Company and Five North Chocolate (organic, fair trade and vegan). 

something for everyone - without the labels

What I love most about Local's Cafe is that they don't need to market themselves as "Vegetarian" or "Vegan" or "Gluten-Free" - yet people with any of those dietary restrictions will find a plethora of options. There are even gluten-free donuts which I sampled and am happy to report are delicious! (So are the thick slices of banana bread!) 

bottom line

Amarailis and Jiten have succeeded in creating what the walk-able town of Port Jefferson was missing - a spot that locals can go and hang out with their friends. It's not a formal sit-down restaurant and it's not a grab and go coffee stop. It's a space that encourages you to slow down, enjoy good food and good coffee while in good company.  

The food is fresh and delicious - served on paper plates with plastic utensils. You can get an Instagram worthy #brunch shot without feeling like you're somewhere too fancy. You can support local products and companies, satisfy your sweet tooth AND get your caffeine kick all in one place. Did I mention their menu is perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

It doesn't get much better than that. 

Local's Cafe 

106 East Main street
Port jefferson New York, 11777
www.cafelocals.com
1-631-509-0627
M-TH 8 AM - 7 PM
F 8 AM - 8 PM
S/S 9 AM - 8 PM

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

Cinnamon Snail Doughnuts Dry & Disappointing

Doughnuts. I love 'em. But you all knew that.

My latest doughnut tasting was from The Cinnamon Snail - a popular, zany and completely vegan food-truck turned brick-and-mortar space that specializes in crazy sandwiches and, you guessed it, doughnuts. 

I stopped by their location inside The Pennsy food hall near Penn Station and picked the 4 most delicious sounding doughnuts. They had a large selection, but it was surprisingly easy to figure out which ones were worth the $ to try.  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 

Always a sucker for the stuffed doughnuts, it was a tough choice between this and the Norberweiberberweiberhydrafab AKA "That One On The End. I'm Not Even Going To Try Saying That" (yes, that's really the name). The previously mentioned doughnut is one of their most popular - it's white chocolate glazed with a chocolate hazelnut bourbon ganache. But let's be real, Peanut Butter trumps hazelnut bourbon - sorry.  

The PB Choco Chip Cookie Dough doughnut was really well filled - but I was a little disappointed in the chocolate to PB ratio. The ganache was super chocolatey and decadent, but I had been hoping for a little more peanut butter. 

Roasted Blackberry Fig 

I had high hopes for this simple, glazed looking doughnut - with it's purple-y pink hue and promise of fig flavor. Unfortunately, the glaze was bland.

Coconut Thai Basil 

I was very intrigued by this flavor combination. Ever since trying The Doughnut Project, I've been all aboard the savory doughnut flavor train. But this doughnut didn't have very much Thai/basil flavor - it was pretty much just coconut to me - and dry to boot. 

Toasted Pistachio Cardamom 

Saving the best for last, this doughnut alone saved The Cinnamon Snail's doughnut cred for me. The pistachio cake doughnut was moist and flavorful and the cardamom glaze was perfectly sweet without being overpowering. 

Bottom Line: 

If you're vegan - by all means, go get yourself some doughnuts from The Cinnamon Snail. If you're not vegan - you can find better elsewhere, in my opinion!

That being said - I'm still very eager to try their sandwiches!  

YOUR TURN: 
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED A VEGAN DOUGHNUT? 
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DOUGHNUT SHOP? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Super Simple Guide to Brewing Kombucha

Within a few months I went from having no idea what in the world kombucha was to having a pretty serious 'booch habit. Soon, I was spending upwards of $15 a week to get my fix of this fermented tea that sells for around $5 a bottle. 

It was a problem, and I admitted that I needed help - but I wasn't willing to give up kombucha altogether. Kombucha has many touted health benefits, and whether proven or not, I did love the way it made me feel. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF KOMBUCHA 

• Packed with Probiotics 
• Aids in Digestion 
• Good for Gut Health 
• Cleansing 
• Improves Metabolism 
• Increased Energy 

So what's a girl to do when she can't afford to buy a bottle of kombucha every day, despite loving the taste and benefits? 

Word on the street was that brewing your own kombucha was pretty easy, as long as you had a SCOBY. A what? A "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast" - it's what you need to start brewing your own kombucha. 

People tell me a lot of things are easy to make on your own and I don't necessarily listen to them - making my own peanut butter, making my own hummus, making my own almond milk - these all sound great in theory but a) they don't cost me too much to begin with b) ingredients like almonds and peanuts can be expensive and c) it's more time consuming than picking it up from the store. 

But kombucha was starting to cost me a lot of money - so my interest was piqued. 

When I got to Denver my friend Morgan told me she could give me a piece of SCOBY to start brewing my own. I took my SCOBY home to NY and I've been successfully brewing my own kombucha ever since. 

I'm here to tell you that it actually is SO easy to brew kombucha at home. If I can do it, I promise you can too. 

There are tons of great, detailed guides by other bloggers (like the one I learned from by The Kitchn). But I think that their length can be overwhelming. I'm here to write the most simple, bare bones guide on how to make your own kombucha at home. 

HOW TO BREW KOMBUCHA AT HOME

1. Bring 14 Cups of Water to a Boil

2. Put 8 Black Tea Bags (Flavored or Plain Black Tea) into Boiling Water

3. Pour 1 Cup of Sugar into Boiling Water & Stir Until Dissolved 

4. Remove from Heat and Allow to Cool with Tea Bags Inside (Can Take a Few Hours)

5. Once Cool, Remove Tea Bags

6. Add 2 Cups of Regular Store-Bought Kombucha

• Once you've made your first batch, you can start adding 2 cups of your own home-brewed kombucha to your fresh batches instead of store-bought. 

7. Transfer to a Large Glass Jar/Container 

8. Slide Your SCOBY (ordered online or from a friend who makes their own kombucha) Into the Jar

9. Cover Jar with Paper Towel Held On Top With Rubber Band 

10. Ferment for 7-10 Days 

11. Remove SCOBY & Use a Funnel to Pour into Air Tight Containers (I use ones like these)

12. Keep Out for 1-3 Days at Room Temperature and Allow to Carbonate 

• This is the point where you can also add some fresh fruit or fruit juice to flavor your kombucha. 

13. Store In Refrigerator and Enjoy!

The coolest part is that each time you brew a new batch, your SCOBY will grow a new layer! You can peel it if it starts to get too think and share the kombucha love by giving the gift of a SCOBY to your friend! 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Buffalo Food Guide: So Much More Than Wings

It's no secret that one of my favorite things to do is explore the culinary scene in new-to-me cities. 

My latest trip took me to Buffalo, New York - home of beef on weck, buffalo wings and sponge candy. I ate none of the above - and barely scratched the surface of the delicacies this up and coming foodie town has to offer. I would have loved to do some more exploring along the city's newly renovated (and gorgeous) "Canalside," checked out some of the local breweries like Big Ditch Brewing Company, or taken a fitness class on the shores of Lake Eerie. 

I'll have to return one of these days for some more exploring but in the meantime I wanted to share with you the best meals I had in Buffalo. These may not be your typical "Must Eats" in Buffalo - (Wings at Anchor Bar, pods from Pizza Plant, etc.) but they were delicious, trendy spots that didn't require reservations. As usual, I leaned toward the healthier side of things when possible with some extravagances like DOUGHNUTS thrown in to keep things #balanced. 

Handlebar Pub

149 Swan Street
716-259-9632

Handlebar Pub was by far my favorite find of the trip. It wasn't on my "list" going into things, but while looking for a spot to pick up a quick lunch for coworkers one day, I found it on Google maps and instantly fell in love with their simple menu featuring different rice bowls, salads and flat breads. 

I fell further in love when we went to pick up the food and realized this place also had a ton of different beers and was BIKING THEMED with a cycling store attached. A bar, tables with board games, and a outdoor seating - I fell head over heels for this place. 

We waited awhile for our food - but there was only one guy working the whole place and he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off. He managed to keep our complicated alternations and requests straight and we all enjoyed our meals. 

I got the Marrakech Bowl - loaded with Moroccan spiced chickpeas, carrots, red pepper, lemon tahini and cilantro. 

Buffalo Proper 

333 Franklin Street
716-783-8699

Many people extol the cocktails at Buffalo Proper, but unfortunately, we didn't imbibe during our night at this delicious restaurant. I saved all my stomach space for the amazing meal. 

Buffalo Proper made it's way to my #1 "MUST EAT HERE" spot because of one dish in particular...but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

The interior is two stories with the craft cocktail bar on the first floor. Dark wood sets the mood and makes you feel like your meal is going to be a memorable one. 

Our waiters was incredibly nice and explained all the menu options to us along with answer our questions about how certain plates were prepared, serving sizes, and suggestions. We finally settled on the following: 

Roasted Oles Farm Carrots 

Spruce, Fresh Cheese, Orange

These carrots were served whole and the roasting brought out their natural sweetness in such a perfect way. I say it time and time again but any restaurant that pays attention to their vegetables is a restaurant that I automatically respect. Carrots in particular are my all time favorite vegetable so this small plate made me incredibley happy. And for "small plate" it was certainly filling!

ARUGULA SALAD 

Pumpkin Seed, Parmiggiano, Rice Puff

We probably could have passed on this dish purely due to the fact that it wasn't all that exciting. It tasted good, don't get me wrong - it's hard to mess up arugula (the best salad green in the world) - but it was lacking anything unique. 

CURED SALMON TARTINE 

Breadhive pumpernickel, arugula, sliced caperberry, pickled red onion, smoked creme fraiche

WHOAH. This was FULL of flavor. And honestly - the flavor of the cured salmon was a little strong for my liking, even as a usual lox-lover. But I loved the fact that it was served on pumpernickel and that they weren't at all stingy with the fish!

ROASTED OLES FARM 1/2 CHICKEN 

Stewed and Crispy Chickpeas, Braised Greens, Black Olive Oil, Sliced Citrus, Harissa

This was my friends dinner and of course I sampled a bite. Chicken is almost never what I order at a restaurant as I'm usually disappointed. By far my favorite chicken dish was the "Chicken Under A Brick" from Marc Forgione (you can read my review here) but Buffalo Proper's chicken was certainly tender, moist and bursting with flavor. 

PAN SEARED SEA SCALLOPS 

Roasted Oles Farm Beets, Organic Quinoa, Grapefruit, Pistachio

And this, people, is why I neeeeeeded to come to Buffalo Proper. It's as if the chef (Edward Forster) reached into my brain and pulled out a dream dish. 

The sweet scallops tasted incredible in the citrusy, grapefruity sauce. What worked so well was that the sauce was exceptionally light, which was perfect for the rich scallops. And don't get me started on quinoa, beets and pistachios. They were made for each other. 

If you're a fan of scallops, do yourself a favor and get to Buffalo Proper! 

merge

439 Delaware Avenue
716-842-0600

I picked this spot because how perfect is it's mission statement? 

To make Buffalo connected musically, artistically, and sustainably through nutrition, wellness and congregation.

Their menu is farm to table and organic plus full of vegetarian and vegan friendly options. The inside is soo adorable and they always have live music and art on display. I appreciated that the wait staff didn't rush us at all as we enjoyed a long 2 and a half hour dinner (I was eating with a friend I haven't seen in WAYY too long). 

Their price fixed menu was such a great deal that we both went all-in. If you're ordering a la cart, all the prices are totally fair (if anything - they're shockingly low if you're used to Manhattan prices!)

Pro-tip: You can swap the dessert from your price-fix for an alcoholic beverage! Or, you can follow our lead and go for two glasses of wine AND dessert. 

SMOTHERED FRIES 

Home cut sweet potato fries, topped with lentils and spinach and cheese curd (or daiya) Vegan & Gluten Free

Oh baby were these good - and filling as hell with the lentils! 

MEDITERRANEAN PLATE 

Falafel, carrots, marinated olives, burnt orange sage cashew cheese, roasted garlic & baguette points

This was a HUGE portion size and we didn't come close to finishing it - but it was a nice, lighter addition to the loaded sweet potato fries. 

SHRIMP CURRY BOWL 

This was loaded with veggies and had such great flavor! It had a definite kick to it, but I was able to comfortable eat it without burning my mouth off. 

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE 

I never would have guessed this creamy, flavorful, thick cheesecake was completely vegan! I ordered it to "try" but ended up eating every last bite! 

Please note that their brunch menu also looks GREAT!

Ashker's on Elmwood 

1002 Elmwood Avenue
716-886-2233

I am 100% behind the age-old insistence that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." It not only jump starts your metabolism and fuels you through the day - but a bad breakfast can definitely set the tone for what's to come. 

If there's one thing that makes me jump for joy - it's an amazing breakfast. And aside from GOTAN (you can read my RAVE here), Ashker's is the best brunch I've had in a looong time!

Not to mention the prices made our jaws drop. Toto, I don't think we're in Manhattan anymore! 

At Ashker's you order at a counter and then the staff will deliver your food (and coffee, and smoothies) to your table. All of the juices and smoothies come in adorable mason jars and there are soo many options - plus they're cool with changes and alterations to menu items. 

BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE ($4.99 WHAAAAT?!)

Home-fries, red peppers, onion, spinach, tomato, mushroom, cheddar cheese

My plate was overflowing with vegetables and reminded me of the amazing breakfast dishes served at Brookline Lunch in Boston. Despite the fact that I was eating a serious amount of cheddar cheese, all the fresh veggies made this feel super healthy! Plus, my friend was easily able to swap for egg-whites and to skip the cheese. 

As if the home fries, eggs and veggies weren't enough, this massive meal also came with multi grain bread toasted for perfection. Naturally, I asked for a side of jam and peanut butter. 

SIDE FRUIT SALAD 

This wasn't the best fruit salad I've ever had - and I thought it was a little odd that there were slices of banana in it. I would likely pass on this the next time around - the meals come with so much food that it's really no necessary! 

BLUSHING EMERALD FUSION SMOOTHIE 

Ashker's offers fruit smoothies, fusion smoothies (fruits & veggies) and juices. It's a little overwhelming trying to choose when so many of them sound so delicious! I opted for a fusion smoothie made with kale, beets, raspberry, pineapple and peach. It was more earthy tasting from the beets and kale than I had expected but I still really liked it! 

This smoothie easily would have cost $10 in NYC and at Ashker's it only set me back $4.59. 

Ashker's also had a number of specials on the board that morning - including some crazy sounding pancake creations! We each got a coffee as well, which was a self-serve area with almond, soy and regular milk options and a bunch of different blends. 

We all gave this place a thumbs UP UP UP. And they have multiple locations in Buffalo - highly recommend you check them out. 

Paula's Donuts

2319 Sheridan Drive Tonawanda, NY
8560 Main Street Williamsville, NY
936 Union Road West Seneca, NY

Don't ask me what I did to deserve the good fortune of a box of these bad boys showing up in our office one morning during the trip. 

I typically do a ton of research before every new city to find the best donuts in town (you can read all about those adventures here) but I didn't have a donut-destination planned for Buffalo. 

Scary to think Paula's may have passed me by! 

These doughnuts were gargantuan and all of them came STUFFED which is one of my favorite kinds of doughnut. My office was shocked as throughout the day I made my way through a taste of each of the half dozen donuts as others looked on with secondhand-sugar comas. 

That I can remember, we sampled the Key Lime Filled, Apple Filled, Peanut Butter Angel Cream Filled, Chocolate Frosted Angel Cream, and a jelly doughnut of some kind. 

I will admit that I didn't love the "Angel Cream" filling. It was super light and airy but to me, it tasted like a cream frosting and a not a filling. Apparently I'm pickier than I thought - I love filled donuts, but only if the filling is a certain thickness and consistency. 

My favorite part was the chocolate glaze - it was a home run! 

Paula's was even featured on Buzzfeed's "Doughnuts To Try Before You Die!" Close call on missing out on these. 

Other Notes About Buffalo 

TRANSPORTATION

There is no Uber in Buffalo and there are a limited number of cabs. We had to wait up to 20 minutes to get a cab on various occasions. That being said - all of the taxi drivers were super friendly and each cab ride was almost like a mini tour of the city - complete with history and fun facts. 

PEARL STREET GRILL & BREWERY

We ate dinner here one night and though the cuisine (bar food) wasn't my favorite, and my meal (the mahi mahi) was dry - the beers were solid and the space was absolutely gorgeous. We were able to sit outside on their expansive deck and watch the sunset. 

716 FOOD & SPORT

My dad knows a good bar when he sees one, and he was extremely disappointed that I never made it for a beer at 716. 

SOHO BURGER BAR

The name may not invoke images of a happening rooftop bar/club - but I promise you that it is! 

See ya again someday, Buffalo!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

What I Ate Wednesday: Fourth of July Weekend

This Wednesday I’m sharing all of my Fourth of July Weekend eats! One day was full of veggies while the other was heavy on the m#eeeeeats! But it was all seriously delicious and indulgent.

Friday Dinner #1 – Local’s Cafe

Friday night I got off the train and headed to Port Jefferson for a review of a new fast-casual coffee joint called Local’s Café. I can’t wait to share the story on Peanut Butter Is My Boyfriend – it was so nice learning about the owner’s story while enjoying small-batch kombucha and avocado toast!

I left with a beautiful vegan doughnut and a hunk of banana bread to go because my parent’s still wanted to go out to dinner.

Friday Dinner #2 – Spiro’s

We sat at the bar at a local restaurant, Spiro’s, and split a few incredible dishes. The lighting was super unfriendly so there’s no pictures, but we ordered the Athenian Chicken Meatballs (stuffed with feta and spinach) served atop a chickpea salad, the Grilled Shrimp & Eggplant dish (covered with feta AND blue cheese) and the Pastrami Rueben with French fries!

Friday Dessert – Local’s Café

We devoured the vegan donut at home and I finished up a pint of Halo Top chocolate ice cream. Can we talk about how great Halo Top is? Never buying Arctic Zero AGAIN.

Saturday Brunch – Better On A Bagel

Egg whites, American Cheese, Bacon, Avocado on an Egg Everything Bagel. THE only way to go when you’re on Long Island. 

Something else exciting about Saturday morning? I ran for the first time in 31 days! It was a slow 2 miles but it felt GREAT to get out there! 

Saturday Lunch – Yacht Club

Can you say liquid lunch? This is a summer tradition – rum buckets at the yacht club!

Saturday Dinner – #MealsByMitch

My dad is probably a better chef than half the chefs heading restaurant kitchens across America. I'm not complaining that the only kitchen he’s cookin’ out of is mine!

He made our all-time favorite meal – grilled vegetable platter with Italian bread. Can you just look at this? The amount of olive oil and garlic is unreal. My favorite is making a little open face sandwich with mozzarella, tomato, eggplant, roasted red peppers, onion and drizzled with balsamic.

Saturday Dessert - #MealsByMitch

So spoiled – Long Island strawberries macerated in sugar overnight and served atop Angel Food Cake with Cool Whip. I was made fun of because I request Cool Whip as opposed to my dad offering to make homemade whipped cream.

Sunday Breakfast

I woke up bright and early and went to boot camp at a local gym and enjoyed a giant bowl of Special K with unsweetened vanilla almond milk afterwards. Is it weird that I LOVE almond milk in my cereal?

Sunday Lunch/Dinner – Boat Tie-Up Extravaganza

The amount of food served during Sunday’s Fourth of July boat tie-up was absolutely unreal. 7 boats filled with people who love to eat meant non-stop food and drinks for 8+ hours straight.

Here’s a run-down:

1.       Shrimp Cocktail

2.       Raw Clams

3.       Watermelon + Mint

4.       Fritos/Sun Chips

5.       Pinwheel sausage

6.       Ribs

7.       Kielbasa Sliders with Sauerkraut

8.       Pork, Pepper and Onion Sausage

9.       Chicken Tenders in BBQ Sauce

10.   Pepperoni and Cheese

11.   Chicken Gyros in Pita Pockets with homemade Tzatziki

12.   Marinated Mako Shark

13.   Oreos and Chocolate Chip Muffins

14.   Dark Hershey Kisses + Raspberries

I decided yesterday that I need to become a shark-specific fisher-woman so that I can eat mako shark every day for the rest of my life. I knew I loved mako, but I hadn’t had it in a few years and this completely renewed my obsession. It was the most tender, meaty fish in the entire world and so full of flavor.

The chicken gyros were also incredible with a Greek salad, chicken and tzatziki layered in a pita pocket.

Food For the Soul

One of my absolute favorite things about Long Island are the sunsets – I frequently drive down to the beach just to snap a picture of the sunset when I’m home.

Fourth of July weekend provided two of the most stunning sunsets I’ve seen in a while and I was so content to take pictures for an hour + on Sunday night. It seemed that every minute the sky changed completely and I needed to take another 50 pictures.

I’m going to throw a slideshow up here with the disclaimer that not even these pictures do it justice. It was truly breathtaking to be out on the water with the sky putting on a show around us. No fireworks necessary (although we got those too!)

Sunday Dessert

Ain’t no shame in my game – eat for 8+ hours, get home, make a bowl of Talenti with Cool Whip.

Monday Breakfast

Another boot camp kicked my booty even earlier Monday morning followed by another glorious bowl of Special K with berries (with some raisins and Long Island strawberries thrown in the mix).

I also treated myself to a $4 cold brew with coconut milk from Starbucks because after an hour workout in the sweltering sun nothing sounded better!

Monday Lunch

As the sadness of a weekend home coming to an end set in, I eased the pain with leftover grilled vegetable platter.

Monday Dinner 

I wrapped up the weekend with a laid back rooftop-BBQ in NYC before the rain chased us indoors. 

There was

·          Blue cheese, raisin & walnut crostini

·         Carrots and hummus

·         Tortilla chips 

·         Watermelon 

·         Omaha Steak burgers with all the fixings - grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, pickles and even BACON 

Every year I'm reminded of the fact that the Fourth of July solidly remains my favorite holiday. Even though this year my plans came together late in the game - I got to lay out at the beach, spend 8+ hours on a boat with my parents, and wrap up the weekend on a rooftop in the greatest city on earth - stuffing my face with a burger and beer. Can you say perfection. 

Monday Dessert 

Is there any other way we could have ended a perfect weekend? S'MORES! 

YOUR TURN: 
WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY? 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY? 
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER FOODS? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

Fruity, Flavorful Salads Perfect for Summer

My mom and I are alike in many ways and growing up, we didn't have the typical mother daughter disputes. Shopping with my mom wasn't a disaster, bringing home a boyfriend wasn't dramatic. But if there's one topic we constantly disagree on it's...fruit.  I like my fruit cold (in fact, I often eat frozen fruit) while my mom will only eat fruit that's room temperature. I think cantaloupe is gross while my mom hates honeydew. And most importantly, my mom doesn't think fruit belongs in a salad while I think it elevates salads to a whole 'nother level.

Sweet, summery, colorful and cool - tis the season for fruity salads that go great as a side dish OR as a light meal.

WATERMELON, MINT & FETA QUINOA SALAD

When I was inspired to make this salad last weekend, I had to laugh at just how jam-packed full of fruit it was. My momma would not be about this salad, but I happen to think it's a perfect weekday lunch. The quinoa makes it more substantial while the feta balances out the sweetness. And isn't the flavor combination of watermelon and mint just insanely summery? I think so.

While I whipped this up, I didn't measure everything out very scientifically but it went a little somethin' like this (hit it! I always tried to be the flyest kid on the block...)

RECIPE FOR WATERMELON, MINT & FETA QUINOA SALAD

 

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/4 of a watermelon, cubed
• 1 pint of blueberries
• 12 strawberries
• 1 bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• Handful of mint, finely chopped
• 1/2 block of feta cheese, cubed
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Whole mint leaves for garnish

And now, a few more fruity options from some of my favorite bloggers!

SUPER SIMPLE SPRING SHRIMP SALAD

From My Uncommon Everyday - Ellen nails the "super simple" with this shrimp salad with beautiful raspberries! 

SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD AND STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE

From So Damn Good - I think avocado belongs in every salad :)

MINTY STRAWBERRY AVOCADO WITH CITRUS

From Athletic Avocado - don't these sisters have the cutest logo ever? 

FRUITY SUMMER SALAD WITH PISTACHIO & SUNFLOWER SEED CROUTONS

From Enticing Healthy Eating - love the pistachios that Kaylin threw into the mix!

YOUR TURN:
SO, FRUIT IN YOUR SALAD OR NAH?
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FRUIT TO TOSS IN YOUR SALAD?

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Let's Grab A Drink & Catch Up!

Hi there beautiful people! 

I feel like we haven't had a proper chat in awhile - I've been really enjoying writing more thematic posts but once it's awhile it's nice to just throw out some of those smaller tidbits that don't necessarily warrant an entire post, but still might be of some interest. A lot of bloggers have "coffee chats" with their readers, but in reality, I'm way more likely to catch up with a friend over drinks. So grab a drink, I'll grab a drink, and we'll catch up!

Stepping Up My Nail Game

My parents beg me to keep my nails looking professional. For some reason, they don't find my constantly chipped and peeling nails to be endearing or work appropriate. While I was home last weekend, I finally got my first ever gel manicure and my wallet is weeping because I think I might be hooked!

For $39 + tip (another $8) I got a pedicure and a gel manicure. From what I understand, I got a pretty damn good deal AND my nails are still looking perfect 6 days after. Had I gotten a regular manicure - chances are they would have been chipped by the time I made it back to my house.

Now the challenge is finding somewhere in NYC to maintain this habit.

Brewing My Own Kombucha

On my way from the Denver airport to Morgan's house I asked her if she had any water in the car. She didn't, but she had home brewed kombucha. Instead of rolling my eyes and saying, "You WOULD make your own kombucha Morgan!" I asked her if I could please please please have a piece of her SCOBY to take back to New York so I could start brewing my own too. Then, I said, "You WOULD make your own kombucha Morgan!" My favorite outdoorsy hippie.

I've been spending WAY too much money on the 'booch ever since I discovered it about a year ago. And I've looked into brewing my own a few times. But I was too lazy to order a "starter kit" and starting a SCOBY from scratch seemed a little too complicated. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, there will be a post on this to come for sure!)

Long story short - I put a piece of Morgan's SCOBY in a Tupperware, in two zip lock bags, in a shopping back and checked it in my suitcase hoping for the best. It was a success and tonight I bottled my first batch of home brewed kombucha! Once it carbonates for two days I can refrigerate it and see how it tastes! I'm nerding out hardcore over this and really hope it tastes good.

Reading

I have been reading up a STORM. I often find myself walking while reading my Kindle. I'm sure I look like a crazy person but lets be real, everyone else is looking at their phones, is it really a huge jump for me to walk around reading?

Here's what I've read recently - lucky for me, I've liked it all (Except A Manual For Cleaning Women).

Paper Towns by John Green

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This book completely captivated me and I haven't stopped thinking about since. Has anyone out there read it? I would love to chat. Please, don't let the introduction turn you off! But also, definitely don't check this out of the library if you're looking for a light summer read.

Me Before Youby Jojo Moyes

Yes, the movie everyone is freaking out about. Yes, you really will sob uncontrollably in your bed with tears streaming down your face. It may get so bad that you can't properly read the pages.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Eternal Wonder: A Novel by Pearl S. Buck

Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman

Doing Less

I'm trying to be more OK with down time. Unscheduled time. Time to plop down on the couch and think, "Whoah - I have nothing to do right now." Unfortunately, I'm finding that this is really really hard for me.

On the other hand, I'm constantly feeling guilty when I start thinking, "Ugh, do I really have to do that tonight?" It happens for any number of things. Grocery shopping, working out, meeting up with a friend, blogging. And these are all things that I enjoy.

When I have responsibilities and plans I find myself dreading them and wanting to crawl into bed yet when I actually have that option, I feel like I should be doing more. It's a vicious cycle and one that I'm sure tons of twenty-somethings struggle with. 

I'm definitely working on finding a balance. But in the meantime, reading articles like this one let me know that I'm not alone in some of my anti-social "just want to go home now" tendencies.

A New Kind of PR

I'm on a self-imposed 1 month running break which has been a bit of an emotional adjustment. Running has become such a part of my identity and social life in the past two years that I've been struggling more than I'd like to admit. Every morning I wake up and see my Facebook and Instagram feeds full of morning miles and smiles. So why the break?

I've been constantly injured now for over a year - unable to run more than 13 miles when all I want is to train for my next marathon. The Brooklyn Half Marathon was an absolute nightmare. And I will be qualifying for the 2017 NYC marathon and I need my body to be on board- so for now, running has taken a backseat to strength training, physical therapy, cycling and swimming.

I wrote a review awhile ago on SWERVE Fitness and since then I have become somewhat of a regular at their midtown studio. I love it. And though I'm not PRing any races, my SWERVE score has been slowly climbing to the point where I have absolutely SHOCKED myself at a score of 802.

My last free class is this Friday and I'm really not sure what I'm going to do after that. Having the metrics and being able to set goals and challenges for myself outside of running has been a huge help! Also, their showers are amazing and their smoothies to die for.

If you've never taken a class with them before, they're offering new riders a free class in June and I highly suggest checking them out!

Eats

Oh come on, you knew this was coming!

In the world of food I've been to a few places worth mentioning.

Harlem Tavern

My new favorite place to go for brunch for a few reasons - jazz music, outdoor seating, reservations, drink included with your meal, $16! The menu options here are out of this world. I tried the lobster and shrimp egg white omelette (!!!) and it was FILLED with seafood. Their Bloody Mary was on point. I'm almost scared to share this place with the Internet in case it gets overrun with brunchers!

Jane

When I returned from Denver the one thing I was CRAVING was a giant hamburger. I think it might have had to do with the fact that it was Memorial Day Weekend and my social media was blowing up with cookouts and BBQs. We had Memorial Day plans to ride bikes to the Captain Lawrence Brewery but unfortunately, the weatherman lied and called for rain all day. We cancelled our plans and opted for brunch instead (and then it ended up being beautiful out).

The burger I had at Jane was pretty damn good - bacon and caramelized onion - but nothing beats one homemade by my dad!

by CHLOE.

This place has been all the rage and I finally stood in line to see for myself how good the veggie burger was. It's a tempeh-lentil-chia-walnut patty with pickles, onion, beet ketchup and special sauce.

Unfortunately, it didn't blow me away. It was a little dry and had way too much bun! There's a bunch of other stuff on the menu that I'm tempted to try, so I may be back despite a disappointing experience the first time around.

Gran Electrica

My summer mission is to hit up some of New York City's best margarita establishments. Even if it means paying a price. Shockingly, my first stop on this mission was in Brooklyn. These margs from Gran Electrica were really good, and the outdoor area of the restaurant is so beautiful! I was very excited to learn that even their flavored margaritas qualify for the happy hour pricing ($8 margaritas from 5:30-6:30). I went with the Margarita de Pepino (cucumber, lime, cilantro, lime salt).

Summers On Long Island

After going home next weekend, it's official. I need to spend MUCH more time on Long Island this summer. It was such a relaxing weekend - sitting out on the deck with breakfast and my kindle, getting my nails done, meeting friends for coffee, eating lunch on the water, listening to live music on the water, watching the hockey game with my grandparents, going to a yoga class with my mom. Family time is my absolute favorite time.

That's all for now, I think I've rambled enough :)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

What I Ate Wednesday: Exciting News!

Welcome to another What I Ate Wednesday! 

I have some exciting news on the topic of what I'm eating. I'm happy to announce that I've been selected as an ambassador for The Athlete's Palate and have started my initial assessments with Julie, a holistic nutritionist (and IRONMAN!)

My motivation behind this is to find the best way for me to fuel and get on board this triathlon train! No, I still haven't signed up for a race. But I feel it getting closer and closer to commitment time. 

My first impression of working with a nutritionist? A lot less awkward than expected, considering we were talking about some pretty personal things. Pre, mid and post-race bowel movements aren't what I typically chat about with strangers, but Julie was extremely professional while still remaining personable and I cannot wait to hear her ideas of how I can use nutrition as a way to fuel my fitness goals. 

For now, my #eeeeeats have been pretty standard, though I've been doing my best to keep things healthy and wholesome after a week-long vacation in Denver full of tacos, ice cream and craft brews.  

Pre-Work 

For a week, I've been starting every morning with some apple cider vinegar and water. To make it a little easier to get down, I add one packet of Nektar Naturals crystallized honey which quickly dissolves given the high acidity of the vinegar. 

Who the heck knows if this is doing anything at all - but I actually find myself enjoying the taste and the ritual, so why the hell not? 

Breakfast 

I've always been a sweet breakfast fan - opting for fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, protein pancakes, etc. But as I continue to cut back on dairy, I'm slowly seeing the appeal of savory breakfasts. 

These stuffed breakfast peppers with spinach, sausage and eggs have become a staple and last week I experiment with egg white muffins filled with sausage and spinach. I really liked these - but need to work on having half of them stuck to the muffin tin (silicone muffin cups perhaps?) 

Snacks

Snacks these days are pretty simple - a grapefruit, an apple, some rice cakes if I'm craving a little crunch. 

I also couldn't help but pick up a bag of these while in line at Marshall's last week. You know, all those tchotchkes they leave out and you try to convince yourself not to throw in your basket. 

But I've had these before while traveling and they are the real-deal delicious so I happily snacked on them for the whole two days the package lasted at my desk. 

Lunch 

Lunch for the past two weeks has been a pretty bizarre combination that I'm really loving. Tuna fish + salad greens + mustard + blueberries!

Last week it was arugula and this week it's with coleslaw mix and red cabbage - adding avocado to it really makes it next level. I know the blueberries sound weird, but I swear it's good (also, blueberries have been on sale at the grocery store, so...) 

It's also just super easy to throw it all in a tupperware which might secretly be the main reason I haven't made anything else lately. 

I know, I know - I should cut back on the canned tuna because of the mercury. I'll switch it up next week. Maybe. 

This beauty of an avocado came to my from California by way of my roommate and it really made my salad even better last week. 

Dinner

I finally bit the bullet and invested in some SHRIMP last week since I've been really wanting shrimp stir-fry. 

I whipped this up using the stir-fry veggie mix from Trader Joe's with some ginger and amino acids. I paired it with zoodles and spinach sauteed in coconut oil because greens are good. 

This week for dinner I'll be enjoying salmon, thanks to a trip home to Long Island and generous parents who gave me some pre-packaged 6 oz. filets. 

Again with the zoodles (and also swoodles - sweet potato noodles) and topped with a Greek  yogurt - lemon - olive oil - dill dressing that I was quite proud of! And roasted broccoli with lots and lots of garlic!

Dessert

When I saw that Skinny Cow was on sale at the store, I couldn't help myself. Buying a box of these is a guarantee that I'll be eating them on 4 consecutive nights. 

I swear they gently call to me from the freezer. 

But today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day so I will thoroughly enjoy my mint chocolate cone! 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Gotan Gives Life to Midtown Lunch Scene

Sunlight flows through the skylight, illuminating exposed brick and greenery. I need to pinch myself when I remember I’m still on 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan. A mere .1 miles from my office building. 528 feet from my glum desk and cubicle, I’ve found a unicorn – a healthy, relaxing, delicious coffee shop with reasonable prices. A respite from Chick-Fil-A, Pret a Manger and Europa Café.

I stopped one afternoon and as I peered into this West-village-esque coffee shop, I was waved in by a friendly employee and welcomed to look at the menu. I took a copy, took a business card, and told them I would love to write about them on my blog. A few days later, I found myself shaking hands with Avi Camchi and Arnon Magal, the two Israeli’s behind Gotan.

The first stop was the barista’s bar. While the food at Gotan is something special – the coffee is the focus. Gotan is a coffee shop first and foremost, with an emphasis on coffee culture. Baristas wear bow ties and most of them are notably handsome. I’m not a coffee snob by any means – but after spending 10 minutes with Chris as he prepared me my first pour-over, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the process and the passion behind it. Chris was a full-time chef who made the decision to become a barista. He tells me tons of interesting information and I smile and nod, trying not to betray the fact that I typically order a $1 McCafe in the morning. Chris’s favorite is drip coffee or a cortado.

Gotan serves Counter Culture coffee from a bar that is visually pleasing, allowing customers to watch the entire process. My mind is blown by the exactness necessary to brew the perfect pour-over. Both water and coffee grounds are measured in grams – 24 grams of ground to 360 grams of water according to Chris. The temperature is also closely monitored for optimal brewing, though a pour-over can be tasted best after it has cooled down a bit. The problem with your coffee pot at home is that when you turn it on, it isn’t hot enough to fully extract the coffee.

When I finally taste it, it’s without cream or sugar but full of bold flavor. Notes of chocolate and cherry come through and the caffeine hit is certainly more noticeable than what I’m used to. $4-$5 for a cup of joe suddenly seems much more reasonable afterwards. And as co-owner Arnon explains – paying for a pour-over is paying for more than a cup of coffee.  You’re getting 6-7 minutes of valuable time with the barista during which dialogue, an important aspect of the coffee culture Gotan is trying to promote, takes place.

If you’re a fan of coffee shops that also serve fabulous food – you’ve probably heard of Little Collins Cafe, the Australian coffee-shop that kick-started the Aussie-coffee movement in NYC three years ago. I was delighted to learn that Little Collins was Arnon’s first venture out of real-estate and into hospitality and restaurants. He worked managing the kitchen, but was blown away by the “coffee culture” that he discovered there.

Soon, he was looking for a new space that would serve as an inspiration for his next project. He found that space in Tribeca, and opened the first Gotan. Arnon explained that as soon as he opens one place, he’s already looking for the next. The new location on 46th Street, across from SWERVE’s recently-opened midtown location, is in a building erected in 1938.

Just 40 days ago, Gotan was undergoing intense renovations when they discovered the skylight that now serves as a visual highlight of the space. A layer of bricks in the dining area were brought over from Calabria by a man who works with bricks “like a baker works with dough.”

While the space is visually stunning – it has some competition from the dishes flying out of the kitchen. Each day, the bar serves around 1,500 cups of coffee while the kitchen serves around 1,000 plates. With complex dishes requiring upwards of 15 ingredients – it’s no small feat.

These stats make the Instagram-worthy nature of each and every dish even more impressive. The natural lighting seals the deal – this is every #foodie’s dream come true (and every #instagramhusband’s  worst nightmare).

I had the pleasure of sampling 4 dishes at Gotan, and two the next day when I returned with friends for lunch. You could honestly order me any item on the menu and I’d be 100% happy.

Fattoush

Feta, cucumbers, tomatoes, radish, carrots, red peppers, mint, parsley, pine nuts, pepperoncini, lemon herb vinaigrette, pita

Sharing each dish with general manager Avi and co-owner Arnon was such a unique experience because I got to see first-hand how much tweaking and conversation goes into the taste and presentation of each dish. While eating this traditional Israeli salad, they discussed how the ingredients should be diced and sliced and how large the pieces of parsley should be.  

The ingredients were fresh and colorful and the overall taste was refreshing and full.

Daily Breakfast

Two sunny-side eggs served over sautéed kale, sweet potatoes, chorizo and cauliflower puree with multigrain toast

This was the standout for me. While Arnon explained that not all of their ingredients are organic or locally sourced – they pay special attention to their eggs – which are all organic. These were cooked perfectly, and the yolk oozed satisfyingly over the vegetables beneath them.

It’s a shame that their Daily Breakfast is a special which changes every week – because this was incredible! The details – like black sesame seeds atop the cauliflower puree, add an incredible depth to the dish visually and texturally.

Tuna Avocado

Tuna salad, avocado, frisee, tomato, crostini, parsley pest

It’s hard to pick out my favorite part of this dish – aside from how gorgeous it is. I love the use of frisee (although I don’t recommend it on a date – I felt like a slob eating it), of course I love avocado, and the addition of craisins to the tuna salad was superb. And parsley pesto? Wow.

Avi cautiously took his first bite of their most popular dish – explaining that there are two things he typically won’t eat – mashed potatoes and tuna. It’s a texture thing. (His favorites at GOTAN are the acai and chia bowls).

Brooklyn Cured Ham

Ham, swiss, cornichons, mayonnaise, mustard

Though I wouldn’t typically go for a ham sandwich, it’s Arnon’s favorite – and understandably so. The French bakery bread is the perfect consistency – crispy without being impossible to bite into. The ham is from a Polish mom and pop butcher shop in Brooklyn and the cheese is from the Chef’s Collective.

My favorite part was the cornichons!

PBJ

Peanut butter, house made jam, banana dust, multi grain toast

Wow. When this dish came out, I’m pretty sure I momentarily morphed into the heart-eyed-emoji.  

Thick, perfectly toasted multi grain bread topped with mounds of peanut butter and bright dollops of sweet, sweet, homemade fruit jam. Sprinkled lovingly with coconut flakes.

What a time to be alive.

I asked Arnon his favorite way to eat peanut butter and found out that in Israel, they never mix savory and sweet flavors.

“American cuisine is the first cuisine I encountered that mixes sweet and savory in a very brutal way, really. Now, there are aspects of the American cuisine that I don’t appreciate and there are aspects that I respect very much. One thing that I really respect is American breakfast. It’s very comforting. It’s not good for you in a way but you still feel good after eating it which is nice. So I do love peanut butter and jelly, but it took me years to appreciate it. It’s like growing up on parsley and then one day switching to cilantro,” Arnon explained.

Avocado Feta Toast

Cherry tomato, mint, sunflower seeds, chili flakes, multi grain bread

You first eat with your eyes – and this dish is a stunner. Served with a big old steak-knife, you know it’s time to get down and dirty with this overflowing ‘cado toast.

Get it with an egg, bacon bits, or both to bring it to the next level!

I always say that a restaurant that does vegetables right is a great restaurant. Gotan respects veggies. Though their menu features vegetarian and carnivorous options, fresh vegetables are definitely the stars.

I asked Arnon how they developed the menu (did they break into my dreams and know exactly what I wanted?) and got much more than an answer about food. I learned about his past, his relationship with food and dining out, and a glimpse into the genius behind his model of coffee-shop.

Arnon grew up with a German mother and Russian-Romanian father in the middle of Israel.

“The table itself was an important event. The family sat around the table. Your mother cooked for you. If there was one thing I would take to fix this horrible world of ours it’s that mother’s would cook for their children. And have this family dialogue.”

Going out to a restaurant, regardless of one’s financial situation, was a form of celebration and saved for one or two times in the course of a year.

“Me and my brother – it was our favorite thing, going out, and we went to French restaurants. And they were very very good, there were French Jews who immigrated and it was the real deal.  I don’t remember a greater pleasure from my childhood and I think that affected me and touched me in a way,” said Arnon.

In those days, breakfast was chopped salad, light bread and eggs. Dinner was the same as breakfast and lunch was the heavier meal.

After moving to the United States in 1999 and working in real estate, Arnon started to notice a trend – this style of eating was taking hold in America. Gotan serves breakfast all day for this reason.

“It makes a lot of sense to have your meal towards the middle of the day and something very light towards the evening,” said Arnon.

He also noticed something else that has been a huge cause for the success of places like Little Collins and Gotan, “an immigration of budget if you will,” he says.

“New Yorkers are very funny. They would spend $4 on a nasty breakfast like watery coffee and a dry bagel and then they would drop $100 on dinner and they wouldn’t say a word for a bartender charging you $18 for a cocktail. And now, treating yourself to breakfast for around $20, deducted from your dinner budget, is something that we see that is happening more and more.”

Lucky for Arnon, he was able to convince some serious chefs and restaurateurs to buy-into this concept.

Previously, Avi worked in hospitality for 25 years – owning and managing Thalia for 17 years along with artisanal pizza spot Annabel.

“You have a really serious restaurateur doing a coffee shop. It attracts very serious people from the industry and I think there are going to be some really exciting establishments coming.”

Coffee, food, and atmosphere are all spot on at Gotan but the most impressive part of the operation is the hospitality behind every cup of coffee.

“We try to be a very accessible and approachable business – we are truly nice to everybody.”

During my time at Gotan, multiple patrons came up to personally thank Arnon and Avi – something that you don’t see every day in Manhattan.

As I left, I found myself thinking less about the amazing flavors that had just had a field day on my taste buds and more about the powerful concepts of family, childhood memories and space and how they play such an important role in our culinary experiences.

I know you’ll have an incredible meal at Gotan. I know you’ll be buzzing after your caffeine fix. But I challenge you to stop by and have a meaningful moment here – embrace their hospitality, engage in dialogue. Then take your kick-ass #insta

While at Gotan, I noticed they had a killer playlist going on. So naturally, I recreated it for you to enjoy.

Want to learn more about the 'coffee culture' and Australian coffee-shop trend in NYC? Check-out these really interesting articles:

• Australian Coffee Culture Is Inspiring a New Wave of American Cafes
   - Eater
• Flat Whites and Avo Smash Drawing New Yorkers in to Embrace the Aussia Cafe Vibe
   - ABC
• Australian Cafes Arrive In New York - New York Times

YOUR TURN:
HAVE YOU TRIED TO GET INTO THE 'COFFEE CULTURE'?
DO YOU KNOW OF A RESTAURANT WITH A MENU THAT JUST 'GETS YOU'?
WHATS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY ABOUT FOOD?

Next Level Snack Ideas To Beat Mindless Munching

While I don't have a What I Ate Wednesday for you this week, I do have something related to the foods I've been eating lately.

Here on Peanut Butter Is My Boyfriend (PBIMBF?) I've been writing a lot about biking, running, racing and group fitness-ing. The result of all this physical activity is being constantly hangry. 

It seems that I'm always sitting at my desk reaching for another snack. 

"Just one more handful of granola..." 

"Ok, after this apple I'm D-O-N-E." 

"Just a little piece of this Cliff bar." 

It's ENDLESS and a lot of the time, it's mindless - which is the worst kind of snacking! 

So I'm trying to step up my snack game by focusing on nosh that is NEXT LEVEL. 

What do I mean by next level? A next level snack strives for these 4 characteristics: 

• Filling
• Mindful
• Delicious
• Substantial 

FILLING 

Snacks can be empty calories, or they can be FUEL. Fuel is better than filler. Fiber and protein are KEY when looking for a snack that's going to keep you satiated. 

MINDFUL

No more taking the easy way out when it comes to snackage. Grabbing a handful of dry cereal or breaking off a piece of a meal replacement bar is wayyy too easy to do mindlessly.

This results in eating when you're not hungry, having no idea how much you're really eating, and not stopping when you're full. 

I've found that if my snack requires some assembly - simple, but hands-on - it's much more fulfilling, rewarding and mindful. 

DELICIOUS 

Uh, obviously ain't nobody got time for a snack that doesn't satisfy your taste buds! 

SUBSTANTIAL 

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a 100 calorie snack that takes me 5 minutes to eat vs. popping a 100 calorie chocolate into my mouth. Food is meant to be enjoyed - plus it's been psychologically proven that having more pieces on your plate makes you feel more full. So snacks that include multiple pieces/bites/etc. are my preference. 

THE SNACKS

RICE CAKES + CUCUMBER + HUMMUS 

Alright - so rice cakes aren't jam-packed with nutrients. But there's something to be said for a snack that has some CRUNCH to it, and a rice cake (preferably whole wheat or brown rice) is a great low-calorie vehicle for a healthy spread like hummus. 

Hummus packs a powerful protein punch - with 4 grams per 1/3 cup. There's also 4 grams of fiber and healthy fats! 

Cucumbers add a refreshing dose of greens to the snack.

POPCORN 

No, I'm not recommending that you go to a movie theater and get buttery, chemically popcorn to chow down on at your desk. 

But homemade popcorn has surprisingly good nutrition stats - and it's oh so pop-in-your-mouthable! Something about popcorn feels so snacky to me. 

According to studies, popcorn (a whole grain snack) is bursting with antioxidants. And 4 cups has 5 grams of fiber meaning it will fill you up!

My favorite way to make homemade popcorn is with coconut oil which adds a hint of sweetness. You by no means need to add salt, but I like a little sprinkle of sea salt to make it taste like kettle-corn! 

There are tons of flavor combos you can try with popcorn - cinnamony, spicy, rosemary - with kernels fairly cheap, you can try it all! 

My favorite version that I've made so far wasn't exactly  low-cal, low-sugar, fat-free - but it sure was damn good! I used this recipe from Two Of A Kind Cooks to create ooey gooey PB popcorn for Superbowl this year! 

If making your own popcorn stresses you out (it scared me for awhile too!) or just takes too much effort - my new pre-packaged popcorn obsession is Crunchy Rob's. 

The first time I tried their Brazilian Coconut popcorn, I died and went to heaven. They have three other flavors and I've tried them all. Brazilian Coconut is definitely my favorite, but there's also Pineapple Habanero, Bangin' Cheddar and Himalayan Sea Salt. These are non-GMO, 100% whole wheat and loaded with fiber. They're low in sugar and also have some protein. 

CARROTS + PB 

This might not sound like the greatest combination, but trust me - it's great. Maybe it's because I have a passion for both carrots & PB - but I swear these two go together phenomenally. Carb-free snacking with lots of protein from the PB and beta carotene and fiber from the carrots.  Just be sure to pre-portion out your PB if you're anything like me - I could eat half the jar in a sitting. Okay, the whole jar. 

APPLE SLICES + CREAM CHEESE & HONEY 

Don't ask me how this craving popped into my head, but after a recent race in Central Park, I got home with my free apple and found myself giving it a good old schmear of cream cheese. I drizzled some honey on it and went to take a bite - fully expecting it to either be awful, or amazing. I'm happy to report that it was the latter and that this has become one of my favorite snacks - it's even been my dessert a couple of nights.  If you want to get fancy, you can sprinkle some toasted coconut flakes on top or change it up with fig jam instead of honey. Oh la la. 

EPIC Bars

At the Bear Mountain North Face Endurance Challenge Trail Race, I cautiously approached the EPIC tent, sampling bites from their meat-bars. I still get a little queasy when I think of them as meat-bars - but, that's what they are. 

And it turns out, they're delicious, with a GREAT nutritional make-up that blows a granola bar out of the water. I'm so glad I gave these a chance, because I'm hooked! 

My favorite flavor that I've encountered so far is definitely the Bison Bacon Cranberry. The cranberries add some sweetness to the smokey, meaty flavor that distracts me from the whole...meat-bar thing. 

Any snack that has 200 calories, 11 grams of protein and just 8 grams of sugar is good by me! Oh, and only 10 grams of carbs? 

The Pulled Pork Pineapple was also delicious with just 130 calories, 15 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbs and 3 grams of sugar. 

Truly Epic. 

CHIA SEED PUDDING 

Make this at home ahead of time and store it in your fridge at work when hunger strikes - it feels like you're eating a sweet treat - but it's actually loaded with fiber and protein!

The key to making chia seed pudding is the ratio - 1 cup of liquid to every 3 tablespoons of chia seeds. I like to make mine with coconut or almond milk and you can get creative with flavorings by adding honey, cocoa powder, almonds, fruit, vanilla extract, etc. 

Two tablespoons of these little guys has got 4 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber - plus, the way they expand makes you feel full for much longer! 

YOUR TURN: 
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MID-DAY SNACK? 
HOW MANY SNACKS DO YOU EAT ON AN AVERAGE DAY? 
WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC OF YOUR SNACK FOOD? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

 

WIAW: Some Successful Cooking Experiments

Back at it for What I Ate Wednesday!

After a long, gluttonous weekend home - I needed a slight detox from processed, sugar-laden foods. I've been having bad indigestion for a week or so, and I have no idea what's causing it. This week I'm attempting to focus on eating more protein and less dairy. I've completely switched up my typical meals and experimented with some new ideas for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. 

 Here's what I ate on Tuesday to get back in the swing of things.

Breakfast

Trail Mix

On my way out the door I grabbed a handful of some super delicious trail mix that a friend discovered at Costco. It's packed with dried fruits like cherries, golden berries (crack!), strawberries, raisins and mulberries along with coconut chips and pepitas.

Stuffed Peppers

I typically start every morning with a Greek yogurt and half a banana with honey. I struggled to come up with a dairy-free alternative since I looove my yogurt.

I stumbled upon the idea of breakfast stuffed peppers while browsing some Paleo websites and made it my own. I added frozen spinach, a chopped up chicken and apple sausage, and sautéed veggies (pepper, onion, tomato, mushroom) into the bottom of the pepper and topped it with an egg. Popped it into the oven for about 40 minutes and VOILA. This was a really satisfying breakfast and something I'll definitely be adding to my rotation!

Snack 

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy 

Casual "The Wiggles" reference. 

Near my office, there is a magical fruit stand where you can buy a "small" fruit salad for $4 that's bursting with whatever fruit your heart desires. This includes pineapple, watermelon, mango, kiwi, strawberries, grapes, apples, grapefruit, orange, cantaloupe, honeydew, banana and papaya. 

I try to limit myself to buying this once a week ("Fruit Stand Fridays") but I'm not always successful. I also try to limit myself to eating only half in a day because it's a lot of servings of fruit but - also unsuccessful on that front! 

Lunch 

Tuna Salad 

I always forget how great a can of tuna is. 22 grams of protein and 100 calories? Obviously, slathering it in mayonnaise is not ideal. So even though I'm trying to add dairy, I mixed a dollop of plain yogurt into my tuna, mashed 1/4 of an avocado and added a hint of mustard and black pepper. Then, I chopped up some romaine hearts and voila - protein packed salad! 

Snack 

Hummus and Carrots 

Classic combo. I'm a big lover of carrots. I used to eat precisely 9 of them every day before field hockey practice in high school. OCD much? Now, I can eat more or less than 9. But I still eat them almost every day! 

Dinner 

Turkey & Asian Veggie Tacos 

I impressed myself with this dinner - inspired by my scrolling through more paleo recipes. I sauteed a bunch of Asian-themed veggies with amino acids (tastes like soy sauce), ginger and garlic powder. I used peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, snap peas and broccoli. 

Next, I cooked lean turkey meat in the same mixture of amino acids, ginger & garlic powder. Then, mixed the meat with the veggies and served in romaine lettuce heart "taco shells" with some all-natural ginger peanut sauce from The Ginger People. 

When I took a bite, I was blown away by the flavors! So satisfying. 

Dessert

Apple Slices

Nature's dessert? I topped some apple slices with a little bit of plain yogurt + honey and PB + coconut flakes before crawling contentedly into bed. 

YOUR TURN: 
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FRUIT? 
DO YOU EAT DAIRY? 
HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO YOU AIM FOR EVERY DAY? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 

What I Ate Wednesday: Eat When You're Hungry, Don't When You're Full

WOW! I really loved all the comments on my last What I Ate Wednesday so I'm once again joining the link up with Sprint 2 The Table. 

Eat when you're hungry, don't eat when you're full. It's a pretty simple concept, yet one that I struggle with on the daily. I don't need to be hungry to find myself reaching for snacks that I keep at my desk. Or to grab a Jolly Rancher as I pass a coworker's candy bowl. Or to pop a Hershey's kiss in my mouth every time I leave the physical therapy office just because they're sitting there. 

I'm not going for mid-afternoon McFlurry's and fries - but I still think I should make a more concerted effort to listen to what my stomach is telling me. And if it's saying, "I'm still full from lunch," then I probably don't need to reach for the handful of granola just because I'm bored. 

Similarly, if I hadn't planned on eating anything between lunch and dinner but find my tummy rumblin', you better believe I'm going to make myself a snack. 

Ever since reading Dan Harris' book 10% Happier, I've hopped on board the "mindfulness" bandwagon. Embracing this concept has encouraged me to stop and check in with myself before making decisions, including decisions about what I eat. 

But let's be real - if I'm full and someone wants to go get fro-yo, I probably won't say no-no. 

Anyway, let's get into it shall we? 

Breakfast

Fage 0% Plain Yogurt + 1/2 Banana + Honey + Back To The Roots Whole Wheat Cereal 

Confession: If there is a bag of granola or a box of cereal at my desk, that sucker doesn't stand a chance. I'm constantly snacking on it mindlessly and then kicking myself when an 11 serving box is finished within 3 days. 

So I was hesitant to pick up this box of Back to the Roots cereal when I sampled it in Whole Foods. But 1 cup is only 160 calories with 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber! This stuff fills ya right up! 

And, life hack: instead of bringing in the whole box, I've been bringing in 1 serving in a ziplock bag per day. 

Morning Coffee 

I mainly drink coffee in the morning because it's something to do. I'm not hard to please when it comes to a cup of joe. But the free coffee in our offices? Yucko. I suck it up and drink it though, because it's free, and a $3 per day is over $20 a week. No thanks. I got donuts to buy. 

Snacks

Throughout the day I snacked on the rest of my cup of Back to the Roots cereal and, on my way out to meet a friend during my lunch hour, grabbed a butterscotch hard candy (ok, 2) from my coworkers desk. Gets me every time - especially when she's got Werther's out! 

Lunch

My go-to lunch is a big big bowl of oatmeal. Most people's reaction is, "that's all you have for lunch?" But trust me - I load those oats up and it gets me good and full! 

Today's oatmeal consisted of 1/2 Cup Oats + 1/2 Banana + Walnuts + Raisins + Cinnamon + Shredded Coconut + a generous drizzle of honey!

It's so easy to throw all of the dry ingredients in a ziplock bag to keep at my desk throughout the week. Then, when it's time to eat, I simply slice up a banana and drizzle with honey (which I keep at my desk!

Lunch Dessert 

Because there's lunch-dessert and dinner-dessert, right? 

As usual, I wrapped up lunch with a handful of 5 deliciously decadent Dutch Cocoa Somersaults. 

Pre-Pilates Snack 

Rice Cake + Hummus + Cucumber

I am freaking out you guys - I think I am allergic to cucumbers! This was the second day in a row I felt awful after eating a cucumber. I'm hoping it's just because I didn't peel them, because I LOVE cucumbers! 

The pilates class ended up being so disappointing. We barely did anything. I would have been better off taking a nap - probably would have been better for my body! 

Islanders Game Snacking

When the Islanders are in the second round of playoffs for the first time in 23 years - YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE WATCHING! 

I found someone to cover my shift at the running store so I could watch at The Overlook with a friend. Apparently, NYC finally has an Islander's bar. It's great watching here - everyone is super into the game, the sound is on, there are chants happening AND the Islanders wives and girlfriends even join in the festivities. 

We ordered some delicious "pomme frites" aka fries which I was happy to snack on because I was 100% actually hungry. I also casually whipped out one of these Qi'a mocha cocoa hazelnut bars. I love the flavor of them, but the texture is kind of odd since there are soo many chia seeds to chew! 

Dinner

Is it still dinner if you eat at 10:30 p.m.? 

Quinoa + Roasted Cauliflower & Broccoli with Red Chili Flakes + String Beans + Avocado + Sweet Potato & Carrots  +  Kale + Garlic Dijon Vinaigrette

Dinner Dessert

Did I need dessert after eating a huge plate of veggies at 10:30 p.m.? Absolutely not. Did I still take a bite of an energy ball and a spoonful of peanut butter? Mhm. 

Never go a day without peanut butter, that's what I say! 

Taking A Stab At What I Ate Wednesday

I've never participated in the wildly popular "What I Ate Wednesday" but I've been wanting to for awhile. 

It scares me that this turns into the type of post that people use to compare themselves to other people on the internet - which I do not like. This is not meant to cultivate thoughts of, "I ate way more today, shit" or "I shouldn't have gone for that slice of pizza." 

Maybe you had an awesome opportunity to eat free pizza at an office party. Maybe your body was just screaming CHEESE after a hard workout. 

These posts are simply a peak into one random day out of my life and are certainly not representative of how I eat each and every day. These posts are a fun and harmless way to be nosy - which as humans we are all inclined to do in some way or another. When you walk past a first floor apartment that has their windows wide open, you look inside, right? Please tell me I'm not the only one! 

What I ate Wednesday posts are also a great way to get yummy meal ideas, see new snacks you might want to pick up at the store, and most importantly they're a reason for me to take pictures of my food all day long. 

"Oh, sorry, I need to take a picture of this before I eat it, it's for What I Ate Wednesday, don't even worry about it..." 

Plus - I can talk about much more than my food when I do a What I Ate Wednesday - it's also a "day in the life" post which may or may not interest you. 

So here we go, let's give this a try. 

Pre-Workout Snack

I ran 5 miles on Wednesday and my new favorite ritual is popping an energy bite into my mouth before heading out to the park or to the gym for a workout. I try to only eat these bad boys in the morning before a workout - it's a little bit of incentive to get my butt out of bed and out the door. Mornings where I'm just going straight to work, I skip this treat. 

These were made with oats, peanut butter, honey, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla extract, shredded coconut and some mini chocolate chips! 

Post-Workout 

Long car-rides usually make me crave the weirdest things. Last time I was on the road I really wanted some Lifesavers. This morning while I was getting ready I enjoyed a purple one and a red one - red is the best, hands down. 

Breakfast #1

When I arrived at work on Wednesday I was pleasantly surprised by a catered breakfast. I loaded up on the fresh fruit and was so content. 

Does anyone else dislike cantaloupe? Give me honeydew any damn day. 

Hydration

I've implemented a new rule in the morning - one water bottle before breakfast. I am so bad about hydration and this seems to be working for me. 

I also recently had blood work done which revealed normal-low levels of Vitamin D. As someone who works out a lot, the doctor wanted me to try to boost my levels a bit so I've been taking this supplement. 

Breakfast #2 

I guess if you consider my pre-workout energy bite breakfast #1, this is technically breakfast #3...but I just don't feel like my day has started until I enjoy a Greek yogurt at my desk. I typically prefer plain Greek yogurt with some honey and half a banana - but the mango and apricot flavors are my guilty pleasures, sugar be damned! 

Lunch 

This was my lunch for 2 days in a row and I think I need to make it a staple. 

Last weekend, I had a DIY Toast Night Party and this was a result of some of the leftovers. A whole wheat rice cake, beet hummus from Trader Joe's (incredible), avocado and a drippy fried egg. 

#YolkPorn

Dessert

I'm pretty terrible with needing something sweet after every meal. Though it's a habit I'm trying to break, it doesn't help that I have these phenomenal little treats at my desk. 

I first discovered them at LaGuardia airport and when I realized they sold large bags at Whole Foods, I got hooked. They're made with sunflower seeds and taste SO chocolatey. 10 little cookies = 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein! 

I usually grab half a serving after lunch.

Pre-Work Snack 

I had work at the running store on Wednesday night which means being peppy and on my feet for 3+ hours. 

Cue the late-afternoon snackage. This banana drizzled with honey and sprinkled with coconut flakes and chia seeds was assembled using some desk staples of mine - is that bizarre? Oh well. 

Another thing I tend to do before the running store is stop in Whole Foods to see if there are any samplings happening. I've discovered some cool products this way - plus - I can always count on a cheese cube from the deli counter. Today, I had the usual cheeeeeze along with this local Lola Granola! I loved hearing that it's made using honey from Westchester!

Mid-Work Deliciousness

My obsession with kombucha grows by the day. I'm still figuring out a fabulous way to feature this treat on PB Is My BF so stay tuned! 

Dinner 

I really hate eating in the running store's break room. It's so cramped and dirty and there's rarely ever anything to lean on - which means eating out of a Tupperware on my lap. Not to mention for a slow eater who needs to microwave their meal - 15 minutes is over too quickly. 

Nevertheless, it is very rare that I can last until 10 p.m. to eat dinner. I tend to take my break at 8 p.m. to eat.

This weeks dinner was GREAT and I have a feeling I'll be eating something similar for the next couple of weeks. It was really easy to throw together and has enough going on that I haven't gotten bored yet. 

Arugula, quinoa, coconut-oil roasted sweet potatoes and carrots, garlic and olive oil roasted broccoli and green peppers, edamame, watermelon radishes, heirloom tomatoes and grilled chicken. 

So many nutrients, so many flavors, so many colors! 

Dessert 

The last part of my day involved sitting through an insole clinic at the running store where we learned all about SUPERfeet and the Addaday massage rollers. I got a free Addaday roller which I DEFINITELY want to start utilizing in my recovery. Stay tuned to see how that goes. 

At the end of a long day I needed something sweet, OBVIOUSLY. 

I picked this BOUNCE bar/ball out at the running store and while it wasn't my favorite, it did the trick before bed. 

Check out more What I Ate Wednesday link-ups at Peas & Crayons! 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: