The Best of NY — Personal Food Awards

PIZZA….  INNOVATIVE VARIATION OF AT LEAST

Balaboosta’s Grilled Pizza with Carrot Purée, Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Cilantro

Um…. I dream about this dish weekly. I’m not a huge regular pizza fan, whatsoever, if anything I’ll opt for the White Pizza with Broccoli. I’m veering off course, the point that I’m trying to make is that, Balaboosta’s Grilled Pizza is ANYTHING but ordinary. The variation of flavors and textures just makes this pizza literally unforgettable. To think that a pizza which incorporates no traditional fixings of a pizza can be SO ridiculously good is mind-boggling to some. The carrot purée as the base adds such texture in addition to a heartier alternative to marinara sauce. The goat cheese paired with the caramelized almost sweet onions is insane on the palate as well. As long as Balaboosta keeps offering this appetizer, the longer I will continue to salivate about it. Just sayin’.

 CORN

Cafe Habana’s Signature Corn

If someone were to have asked me, do you remember the best corn on the cob you’ve ever had? I’d probably have laughed in their face… that is until I stopped at Cafe Habana for brunch a couple of weeks back. I have since been researching this signature Cuban delicacy and came to find in a great cookbook I own, written by Miami’s top chef, Michelle Bernstein, that the dish is somewhat of a Cuban staple. With Ancho Chile Butter, Queso Fresco dousing the corn on the cob, I literally can’t stop thinking about this corn. I need to go back sooner than I should to order it again….

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Tie between Les Halles and Five Napkin Burger

There is nothing like French Onion soup. Nothing. I think no matter how warm or how cold it is outside, I am always in the mood for a bowl of French Onion. Maybe it’s the texture combination of the soaked bread with the harder cheese crisping on the rim of the bowl with the sautéed and softened onions. YUM. I love two restaurants in the city for their French Onion – one more traditional and one less so. Five Napkin, known for their burgers, beers and sushi rolls, offers an amazing soup — up to my liking. Les Halles, a Midtown East French hang out, is known for their dish which I can’t say fails to live up the hype whatsoever.  

 SWEET TREAT

Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Cream Pie

My boyfriend has a sweet tooth … or more like he likes to dabble in the “fat kid diet” every now and again. He forced me to wait with him in the never-ending line to get into Magnolia Bakery. While I’m not one to wait for ANYTHING, even a free bottle of great wine, I complied. I’m more than glad I did. The Banana Cream Pie was served in a cup with a spoon and to say it was the most enjoyable dessert I’ve had in years, is true. WOW. Go now even if you have to wait…  a while.  

GREEK DISH

Kefi’s Baked Shrimp and Orzo Dish

My mom and I love to eat shrimp… and we love feta…. and tomatoes…and orzo. Ok we love a lot of Greek inspired dishes. Point of the matter is that I have a favorite place at home called Athenian Garden, that makes this to-die-for Shrimp Orzo Bake. I didn’t think, however, that in my wildest dream I’d find a replica dish even better here in Manhattan. For a VERY REASONABLE cost, you can get such an amazing shrimp, feta, tomatoes, orzo bake at Kefi. Add a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot and you won’t regret the trip to the Upper West Side, I promise you this in advance. 

MARGARITAS 

Rosa Mexicano’s Famous Pomegranate Margarita

  I don’t know just how many times I’ve blogged about Rosa Mexicano since I began this blog in 2008. It has been an integral part of my dining life since I was a tot. No other margarita holds a candle to Rosa’s famous “Pomegranate Margarita”. Even I feel the immediate effects (and regrets) after ONE drink. Insane things begin to happen when you finish off more than two – take for instance, you becoming the restaurant’s coat checker for the half hour insisting that it’s your job position. Let me not elaborate any further on this anecdotal story.  

HANGOVER OMELET

Jane’s Shrimp Ranchero

I love innovative dishes, something as simplistic as a omelete that you can whip into an unforgettable breakfast is noteworthy in my book. I’ve had Jane’s Shrimp Ranchero breakfast dish countless times and yet? I still can’t get enough. It offers a heartier protein than just eggs, by incorporating shrimp and it also has amazing texture with great salsa and perfectly done avocado.  

 

My Daily Routine

 I must admit, I have become better over the past year. Perhaps I should attribute my decrease in food ADD to my transition into real life? Who knows, all I know is that I can’t have one more egg white with cheese omelet with a side of toasted Rye for A LONG TIME. I am also, lately, craving some fruits and something crunchy in the morning. With that in mind, I have decided to switch up a lot of my meals and boy was it refreshing. I thought I’d go through what I eat day to day — clearly not every day… or including weekends….or including the Oreos I polish off and don’t remember eating. Let’s move on shall we?

BREAKFAST

FAGE OR CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT WITH ROLLED OATS AND VARIOUS FRUITS

This surprisingly keeps me as full as my omlettes have in years past, but it has so much more flavor and variety in textures — I am totally diggin it at the moment. I love switching up the cereals/oats I use — sometimes I will use just plain old Quaker Oats rolled oats or sometimes I’ll eat our clients cereal in house such as Post Grape Nuts and Shredded Wheat. Fruit I vary it up too sometimes I love blueberries, rasperries and other times I love more “oomph” so I get Kiwi and Mangoes. YUM.

My recent love for Lattes with syrup, I must admit, have come with a heavy cost. Perhaps it’s just me but 5 dollars for a Cup O’ Joe with some foamed milk and syrup really shouldn’t rack up to 5 bucks, but hey, I do live in Manhattan so I will shut up about it. I tend to order a Medium Skim latte with vanilla syrup and cinnamon sprinkled on top. If I’m not in a coffee mood I tend to go for Mighty Leaf’s Chai tea with Honey and a bit of milk. BY THE WAY — if you aren’t familiar with Mighty Leaf? You should go this instant and buy the ridiculously priced box, it’s worth your bang for the buck. Hold me to it.  

LUNCH

Lunch is always an iffy one for me. I’m not a lunch girl by any means but my stomach sure is. I am ravenous come 1pm but the inevitable question is — what to eat? I sometimes make sauteed chicken with Farfalle and vegetables to bring to work. Other times, I have a large bowl of Hale and Hearty Soup or an oversized chopped (hold the chopping part) from PAX. I don’t think lunch should be your favorite meal of the day — it is in passing. Meals should be able to be enjoyed in a leisurely manner, not midway through the to do list at work or for classes. Count me out.

DINNER 

I have and will always love my Caesar salads. Similar to my love for French Onion soup, there is no other pick for appetizers most nights of the week. If I’m somewhere upscale that frowns down upon such low brow selections, I will opt for something more esoteric but for the most part? I love me a good salad with extra cheese, crispy croutons and big chunks of romaine.  

For my entree, I will either have some type of lighter fish dish — I.E. Cod, Scallops, Shrimp, Halibut or will turn to my go to — BBQ marinated grilled chicken with a bed of rice and some vegetables. I love going to Chelsea Grill in Hell’s Kitchen and getting their Grilled Chicken Platter with a side of steamed spinach. The dish is presented with sweet as hell Honey Barbeque sauce coating the chicken breasts, a massive bed of white rice (shoot me, really) and marinated then chargrilled vegetables such as eggplant and zucchini — can’t beat it.

DESSERT

I wish I could still have creamy ice cream but I can’t — lacoste intolerance has got me opting only for greek yoguts and frozen yogurt which doesn’t upset my stomach for some odd reason? Anyway, I love having some Butterscotch or Vanilla Fro Yo mostly store bought not from Pinkberry or any of that nonesense, with whipped cream. It does the trick in my book. You don’t feel all too guilty about it and it’s a satisfying treat after dinner. Still wouldn’t mind some damn ice cream every once and a while though, whatever man.

Hot Chocolate can and will always be my night time go to sweet drink. I’m sorry don’t try to persuade me otherwise. I also tend to enjoy store bough SWISS MISS (yes I said it) over in store Hot Chocolate. There’s just something reminiscent about opening up the packet in the company of your own home and making amazing hot chocolate yourself. I don’t add marshmellows though — a bit over the top don’t ya think? I think my whipped cream and fro yo indulgence covers me for the evening typically.  

Five Napkin Burger — Review

There’s something about 5 Napkin that has always intrigued me — I don’t know if it’s because there never fails to be millions of people crowded around the bar after work, or the banging looking burgers. I had to give it a go — I tried their French Onion Soup to start. For anyone whose ever met me, you know I order F.O. Soup if it’s an Appetizer option — period. Out of ALL of my soups in the past I will say this one is in the top 10, hands down.

The Veggie Burger was delicious — odd looking in color but tasty nonetheless. 5 Napkin signature sauce, lettuce, pickles, tomato and a multi grain bun. I’m sold.

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.