What’s The Big Deal about Frozen Yogurt Anyways?

If I see one more person walk by me with a big bowl of the new “hot dessert” I may hurt someone. I cannot take this craze… the UGGS with leggings? Ok, in some areas of the world I let that go because it was more functional than a fashion fad. I was even OK with the Blackberry craze… it’s annoying but necessary for those in the working world. But this Frozen Yogurt shit? Get out of here. People have this CRAZY mentality, that you can eat an abundance of “healthy” food for you without any guilt, am I right? Like, ladies I think you are not understanding the concept of Pinkberry/Frozen Yogurt in general. The serving size is about 1/2 of a small cup without any “add ons” which is primarily the reason you make the trek, so….? In reality is it any better than getting let’s say… god forbid a small cone of Haagen Daaz? Not really. 

Another point I have to make here is this. I grew up eating my daily chocolate/vanilla swirl with extra jimmies from TCBY. I cannot remember how many days I’d make my Uncle Mickey drive my brother and I to the TCBY in Amagansett because they didn’t have one in East Hampton, which is where we usually lived in during our summers in the Hamptons. I just don’t think after having frozen yogurt from a little shop by my place in Union Square, it even COMPARES to my old school favorite TCBY.

I think people flock like sheep to the “newest and hottest thing“. I truly believe even if this “Fro Yo” all of a sudden was made with rancid ingredients such as goat’s milk, let’s say, people would still be all about this dessert. Why is that? Because it’s “cool”. Look at the example below, I don’t mean to call Pinkberry out here or anything, but let’s be honest does this REALLY look more appealing than my delightful TCBY photo above? I don’t think so. 

My advice would be to stick with the old time classics, such as TCBY Swirls with JIMMIES, yes you heard right. I know they are also “out of style” because apparently they contain harmful fats? Whatever. If you live your life in fear of things as dumb as the fat in jimmies? I feel for you. 

Just Around The Corner…

I thought it was time to blog/comment on Cafe Deville, seeing as that I go there by myself at least once a week. Some times I will have friends who will join me, but in the event everyone is busy? I have no issue with dining alone at the adorable French restaurant. Located at 103 3rd Avenue the outdoor seating at Cafe Deville is really the attraction on days when it’s not disgustingly hot or trafficky of course. 

If you go there for anything, I really suggest you try the French Onion Soup, or the Shrimp Cocktail if it’s the right season. I am a “French Onion Soup Connoisseur” by this point and Deville is definitely in the top 3.

  

Very moderately priced French cuisine, with typical dishes as well such as my favorite Chicken with a simple sauteed broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes. If you live in the East Village or a big fan of a casual, mid-priced French dining experience I would recommend this joint. 

My Issue With Water.

Bottled. Tap. Still. Sparkling.

I don’t care how to phrase it, it’s all the same to me. I just don’t like water. Growing up in the Foxman Household, you were only given a few options in terms of beverages to drink…

Tab– For those of you who were born AFTER 1980? Tab was the first “diet cola” ever released; it was and still is produced by The Coca-Cola Company and I’m sure my mom is one of the only devoted customers who still buys this beverage. I know they did not sell it anymore at our local super market, but because of my mother’s constant persistence and devotion to the soda, they brought it back to the store for her specifically.

Perrier– Although I did not MIND this sparkling water-like beverage, she would rarely buy it so the rare times that it was found in our kitchen cabinets, I drank it. I will comment, however, that Perrier was and is still notorious for leaving a foul after taste in your mouth . So, with no real “nutritional benefits” to counter balance the gross taste that it left in my mouth, I yet again opted to not drink this water like beverage. 

Red and White Wine–  Although I currently enjoy the fact that there is never an absence of wine in our house? It was not as you could imagine a nightly pick to accompany my dinners while growing up.

 

As you can see, I did not grow up gulping up massive amounts of water. Come to think about it, I actually cannot remember ever finishing off one full water bottle in my life. I will try to suffer through a bottle of Fiji, or Evian but tend to always leave at least 3/4 of the bottle… Water has no taste, it has no color, and no real “spunk” in my opinion. I am perfectly healthy, as is my brother and we both grew up drinking an occasional bottle of water, so in reality? I find no reason to begin guzzling down bottles and bottles of water now. I know it’s the “thing to do” but I will not succumb.  

This is what I do for my “internship” if you can even call it that…

Just got back from one of the restaurants Gita Group represents, L’Absinthe. Unreal experience. Granted? I was with the restaurants “hope” at gaining recognition, aka we were literally unloaded with every… single….extravagant dish Chef could concoct. The place is located on 67th, scene is very French, and the clientele is all upper crust people who live in the area. Pricey but well well well worth it, in my opinion. 

Let’s highlight some of the stronger appetizers, entrees, and desserts.. if that is even possible to do. 

Appetizers:  Lobster Salad with Guacamole, Casserole of Fresh Peas (Pea Shoots, Pea Dumplings, and Chicken Wings oddly enough) , and the seasonal Salmon Tartare 

 

Entrees: Orange Marinated and Glazed Black Cod, Signature Poached Chicken in Black Truffle Oil, and Steak Frites

 

Desserts: Profiteroles, The Daily Soufflé, and the Thin Crisp Apple Tart.

My Best Friend SJP…Oh, and my opinion on Craft Restaurant

So I have to babble for a few minutes about my run in with the lovely Sarah Jessica. I was eating dinner at Craft, Tom Cellicio’s restaurant on my birthday when I walked into the bathroom to wash my hands. She not only was complimenting my dress, but continued on with saying how adorable she thought I was and even wished me a happy birthday. Dating back to my days sitting in my basement in the Hamptons every summer watching Girls Just Wanna Have Fun… to Halloween-time Hocus Pocus.. to of course, SATC.. I just couldn’t think of someone who I’d rather have met. Such a LOVELY lady…

 

Real quick critique of Craft Restaurant, located at 43 E. 19th Street… I have been a fan of Tom’s main restaurant for years now. He is the best at perfecting simplistic dishes. His restaurant works a bit differently than most others… The menu is divided by “Protein” “Starch” etc… and brought out “family style” in cauldrons. I would recommend the Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Shittake Mushrooms, English Snap Peas, and the Organic Chicken. Their dessert were quite delicious as well, we split a few different ones including the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie as well as the Mint Cookie Ice Cream. 

Because I have been negligent…

So I was told by a close friend of mine that lately, I’ve been slacking on my Blogging and I should work to refresh it, so here goes… 

Saw “The Wackness” on Tuesday night… Surprisingly a very refreshing, new movie. I think Ben Kingsley did a solid job, and I really loved up and coming Josh Peck & Olivia Thornby. My opinion of Mary Kate Olsen however, differs. I think she was of NO use to the movie, nor do I think she played anything but her role in reality, which is a little “troll” strung out on drugs. Crawl back in your hole, MK, thanks. 

After the movie, we went to this “famous” Halal stand. I was reluctant to walk 15 minutes out of our way to go to a halal stand, but I have to admit after trying the food, it was worth the trek. The food of choice was a lamb gyro, with a mysterious white sauce, and lettuce. For the price they charge, it is well worth it. Not only is the long line in the middle of the night add to the appeal, but the grease that’s left on your hands after finishing is just as memorable. 

Rhubarb Pie and Vampires

All I have done since having landed back in the Dirty Jers, is read and bake…  a really scary amount of reading and baking, yes. One really solid dessert I made last week is this Rhubarb Strawberry Pie. I’ll see if I can find the recipe.

The trilogy of books written by Stephanie Meyer? Unbelievably addicting. Although they are light reads, I totally recommend. If you like dark novels about women falling in love with vampires and werewolves that is 😉 Totally bummed however that a major motion picture of the movie opens August 2nd. Ugh!

Oh one more really solid, chilling book I read last week was Chris Farley Biography, wow. That’s all there really is to say to sum up how I felt after having read it. I grew up to SNL, Tommy Boy, and Black Sheep and have a secretly LARGE crush on David Spade, but after having read this novel? Those shows and movies were somewhat ruined. Large amounts of coke, anger, jealousy, sex, death… I understand that Farley was a “complicated” guy but his life was one of excess, in all aspects of the word. He overate, drank too much, hired too many hookers, and the worst part was that he never really even knew himself. He was always playing “a part”… seriously good read for anyone who likes uncovering the “real” story behind hollywood stars. Ekk…

 

Payce Blog…