Il Bambino

Saturday I embarked on my second trip to Il Bamino in Astoria, NY. I would come here on multiple occasions during the week if parking weren't such a b*tch. Seriously, Astoria, when are you going to get your act together and give us some mother effing parking lots? Ones that are actually LARGE.

Anyway, the first time I discovered this place was with my younger sister for her birthday brunch. We enjoyed a three cheese cheese plate, a smoked tomato bisque, and two paninis. Ho -ly-shit, everything blew my mind!

The second time was no different, except we dragged our dear mother with us to get her out of the house! The three of us ordered some beers, a smoked bacon and goat cheese crostini, a smoked tomato bisque (this is a holy dish), and again, a panini for each of us.

The Cheese

I don't believe someone when they tell me they don't like cheese. I feel this urge to slap them in their mouth. Cheese is heaven on earth to me and it can only make a meal better in my eyes. "No more cheese. That's enough." - said no one EVER.

At Il Bambino, you can order a variety of three cheeses for $12, which is a good price. Shared between two people, they give you enough cheese, some toast points to eat with it, and a nice big dollop of fig spread (don't pass on it - sweet and salty are a heavenly matrimony). We tried boucheron, which was a type of soft goat cheese-like cheese, garrotxa, which was a harder, more aged and sharper cheese, and taleggio, which is a slightly sweeter cheese than the rest with a soft texture. They were all phenomenal, especially with fig spread! TOO GOOD.

Smoked Tomato Bisque

I had to grab the waiter's attention to tell him that this soup had just changed my life. There wasn't an ounce of sarcasm in what I said. HOW DO I MAKE THIS SOUP? Because I MUST find out. I can't even find the words. Salty. Tomato. Cheesy. Flavorful. I can't. It's impossible and you really just need to go on a Wednesday or Saturday (the only days they serve this soup) to try it. It comes with deliciously olive oil topped focaccia bread - perfect for dipping!

Here I am clearly enjoying this pot of wonderment.

Smoked Bacon and Goat Cheese Crostini

The paninis are the bomb-diggety, but don't pass on the wonderful crostinis! They're just big enough for two people to share as a comfortable app. There are so many to choose from and each sounds better than the one before! We decided on this one because it has bacon in the name. It also comes with spicy mayonnaise drizzled on it, which my sister and I have a weakness for. Spicy mayo is gold.

And when you're all stuffed till the brim with delicious Italian cheeses and meats, you can settle your sweet tooth with delicious hot beverages and homemade brownies. See our Nutella Hot Chocolate above! Smooth, creamy, and worth the calories!

You will have to wait, but the wait is worth it, I promise you. Whether you're going for brunch, lunch, dinner, what have you, this place gets pretty crowded with its popularity. The waiters are friendly though, so you don't mind waiting.

Bon Gabbétit!

Weight Friendly Lobster Rolls!

I recently got this HUGE craving for lobster rolls! So much that I actually proposed a weekend-long trip to Boston to my younger sister. And yes... we are doing it. Hopefully in June. That's a whole other story/blog post in itself.

So my mom and I had some fresh, cooked chunks of lobster and we're just like, "What the heck do we do with this now?" My first instinct is to throw a stick of butter into a pot, drench a roll of bread it in, douse the lobster in mayo and fill'er up.

But after a few minutes of brainstorming (and salivating), we came up with a healthier substitute - and they came out great!

Weight-Friendly Lobster Rolls:

• Cook your lobster! However you like it. Boiled, steamed, etc. (we had about 3 oz.). We didn't add any oil or butter to this.
• Lobster is something you can eat without feeling guilty! About 1 oz. can be 60-80 calories!
• We used whole wheat tortillas that were 90 cal. per piece. Of course different brands range in calories. Choose whatever suits your taste and diet.
• Tip: If you like warm lobster rolls, throw those tortillas on the stove for a few seconds!
• When your lobster's ready, add the spices/seasonings. We added:
• Fresh Celery - cut into tiny chunks
• 2 tbsp of Hellman's Low-Fat Mayonnaise - 40 cal. and only 4 g of fat!
• Old Bay Seasoning (to taste)
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
• Dijon Mustard (to taste, shocker)
• A little tiny tiny bit of paprika
• Mix it all up, fill up your tortillas and enjoy!

We loved them! And it made so many! We each had two tacos and there was some lobster mixture left over for salad the next day. If I had to estimate the calories per roll with the tortillas included, I would say it comes to about 150 cal. each! Not too shabby!

Bon Gabbétit!

My Daily Joe

Thank you for existing, MyWayCup Coffee. Thank you for your bizarre name, your smiling and friendly baristas, and your delicious caffeinated beverages and assortment of sweets and pastries. You serve me well, and often.

We have a Keurig at the office and I INSIST on getting my coffee from here! It's on 23rd St. at the corner of Park Ave. South. I just can't pass on service with a smile, and that's exactly what I get here. The three/four guys that work there are so professional and sweet. The Starbucks on 23rd St. can kiss my arse. I don't care if you got your new blonde roast... you ain't reelin' me in that way, Starbucks.

The coffee place's name is a mouthful, but the mouthful of coffee and sweets that comes with it is worth the long name. Added bonus - they have French macarons! Yum yum freaking YUM.

I recently decided to try something other than "one large coffee please" and I ordered something called a Cinnaccino, which is essentially a cappuccino with cinnamon added to it. A double shot of espresso included and I was sold.

They make everything with love! And foam shaped like leaves. I dig the presentation!

Yea... There is no way I could resist these! For $2.50 each, I bought one dark chocolate and one raspberry macaron to munch on with my new favorite drink. They even sparkled! Like they were made of solid gold. And heavenly deliciousness.

Some more sweets! Reasonably priced.

If you find yourself in the Flatiron District getting your caffeine itch, definitely try and make the stop to MyWayCup! It's a pretty small place so you might not be able to sit and enjoy, but take it to go! Order coffee. Order a croissant. Get served with a New York attitude you might not have witnessed before (a nice and pleasant one). Drink. Sip. Relax. Enjoy.

And tip your baristas! They work just as hard as waiters/waitresses/bartenders.
Albert Einstein does it... so should you.

All photos taken by me ;-*

Bak-love-a

I'm Armenian. Us Armos like our baklava. Nay, love. We absolutely love that sh*t.

This sweet pastry is a delicious matrimony of flaky filo dough, syrup, and a mixture of nuts, like walnuts and pistachios. There are dozens of varieties and countries have their own variations of making them. There's no right or wrong. Only amaze-balls.

I rarely make a trip to New Jersey, but my friend insisted on this place Istanbul Borek in Cliffside Park, NJ. So we decided, why the heck not! We got in the car, stomachs running on E, and went with holographic images of baklava floating around our heads. And basically everything else we wanted to eat. This place had it all!

It is a cute little place right on Palisade Avenue. The four of us sat at a table and began salivating reading the familiar Middle Eastern foods on the menu. 

First up: The drinks and the mezes (fancy-schmancy word for appetizer plates). We ordered the soslu patlican (eggplant with sauce), sigara borek (literally "cigarette borek" - fried filo dough shaped in a cylinder filled with feta cheese and herbs), and patatesli borek (fried filo dough filled with potato). Yes. Everything is fried. Everything is PHENOM (that's a thing, right?). For drinks we ordered ayran, which is not for everyone, but because we've grown up with it we were excited to see it was on the menu. It is a beverage of yogurt mixed with cold water and salt. It's so freaking delicious that you're just going to have to trust me. 

Behold, the Ayran: Cold. Salty. SO GOOD.

Soslu Patlican, Patatesli Borek, and some freakin' good Turkish bread:

Sigara Borek:

Mezes... They get the job done. Now for our entrees! I had a sujukli pide, a Turkish dish of a variation of meats and cheeses on soft baked dough. It's kind of like a Middle Eastern version of pizza, but so many more flavors! We also ordered lajmacun, another pizza-style dish. It is a thin baked piece of dough topped with minced meat, usually beef or lamb, and minced vegetables and herbs including onions, tomatoes and parsley.

Lahmacun: 

Sujukli Pide: This was the best. Cheesy (kaser cheese, my favorite!), warm, doughy, and just a little spicy from the sujuk slices. Simply amazing.

And now the baklava! We asked for a "karışım" of baklava which means assortment.

And some Turkish tea! Chai time!

Everything blew our minds. It was definitely worth the 35 minute drive from Queens.

We love you, Istanbul Borek!

Blackberry Fields Foreverrrr

Morning is prime blog time for me. This is what I've noticed. I think it's because I just spent 8 hours (but more like 5, who am I kidding?) sleeping and feel the need to just work my brain a little. And although I am technically sitting at my office cubicle working, a little creative multi-tasking never killed anyone.

Since I woke up with this resilient mood, when I went to the corner deli this morning, I picked up some fruit instead of my desired bacon, egg and cheese on a roll with extra ketchup and salt and carbohydrates and lard and... wait... maybe it's not too late to go back and change my mind... The bacon... The cheese... These are a few of my favorite things (© Sound of Music, 1965).

Okay. Control yourself, Gab. Take the fruit and make a run for it.

I like colors in my meal. It's just aesthetic and makes me think: hey, this must taste good, right? Don't judge me. I scrolled through the fresh fruit and scooped up some blackberries, grapefruit slices, and orange slices. 

So what's the deal with these things? I wanted to find out so I can feel 100% satisfied with my "most important meal of the day."

Blackberries: 

• They are the fruit with the highest level of antioxidants.

• They contain anthocyanins, an antioxidant that apparently reduces inflammation and destroys free radicals in the body that can harm your body's cells and cause cancer.

• They contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant shown to protect the skin from damage from ultraviolet light. 

• Great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and fiber.

Grapefruit:

• Grapefruit is high in enzymes that burn fats, has high water content and has less sodium which increases your body's metabolism (score).

• Grapefruit helps prevent arthritis because it contains salicylic acid that helps break down the body’s inorganic calcium, which builds up in the cartilage of joints.

• The antioxidants found in grapefruit are effective in reducing cholesterol levels.

• Eating grapefruit or drinking its juice helps treat common cold and fever, dissolve gallstones, boost liver function and enhance immunity against infections.

Oranges:

• Oranges have a high vitamin C content, and vitamin C is a chemical compound that assists in wound healing and works to help prevent infections.

• Amazing source of calcium, which is great for teeth and bone health.

• Oranges may also help your muscles work better since this fruit contains potassium.

• They contain magnesium, which is a mineral needed for healthy performance of the muscles, nerves and immune system.

So eat all the damn fruits you want! By the end of this blog entry I have eaten 'em all. They are gone. Finito. 

This guy knows what I'm talking about:

G

My letter of the day happens to be G. One of the main reasons being that my name, Gabby, begins with that letter and the mug I use and abuse daily with the amount of caffeine I drink has a neat little lowercase g on it.

It's the cutest for the office. Everyone has the generic, white company mug with the logo. Not me! You can snag one of these at Anthropologie (I was lucky enough to be given this as a Secret Santa present, yay). Find them online here for $8, a reasonable price to add some individuality to your office space, home space, what have you.

Added bonus. Here are some awesome, unusual words that begin with G:

Gad (v) - To wander about idly or in the pursuit of pleasure.
Galactophogist (n) - Someone who drinks milk.
Galeanthropy (n) - The belief that one is a cat. (What the...?)
Galimatias (n) - Nonsense.
Galliard (adj) - Brisk; lively. (Love this word!)
Gallimaufry (n) - A mixture of things; hodgepodge.
Gallomania (n) - A craze or obsession with France and/or the French. (Weird.)
Gallophobia (n) - Fear of France and/or the French. (I had to...)
Gilliver (n) - A wallflower.
Graphospasm (n) - A writer's cramp.
Gyngynotikolobomassophile (n) - One who nibbles on a woman's earlobes. (I can't make this stuff up.)

There were literally hundreds more. And I don't have all day to memorize the dictionary.

Keep it real, G's.

B R U N C H

Brunch in NYC is a pastime. It's a sport. It's a tradition. It's... f*cking wonderful.

There are only a few things as good as or better than a perfectly prepared, spicy, savory Bloody Mary.

Please enjoy this next preview of what I am currently indulging in. I am at Le Barricou in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Look at these adorable mason jars! They are so simple yet so chic to add to the cute, French- bistro ambience of this restaurant.

Onto the food. Not sure if you're ready for the deliciousness you're about to gaze upon... 

I had the Croque Madame, and for those of you unaware of what that is, it is a classic French ham and grilled cheese sandwich covered in gruyere cheese with an egg on top of it. Basically, it's all food groups you can enjoy during brunch in one plate. 

Yum...

Visit this place! Drink a Bloody Mary and enjoy!

Looking Closer

I work in the Flatiron District. I've been working there for approximately 3 months and I only recently discovered what a beautiful part of Manhattan it is.

Am I really too busy running from Jamba Juice on 5th to Park Ave to realize what's going on around me?

Wake the fuck up, Gabba.

All photos were taken by me. ;-*

Sweet Spots.

So, not much of a sweet tooth going on over here, BUT, when it happens... I have to go all out.

Now, I'm not an ice cream person. Cake is a yes. But my one true weakness is... are you ready... PIE. All-American, sweet, crumbly, flaky, warm, delicious PIE.

If you head on down to Pies 'N' Thighs on S 4th Street in Williamsburg, BK, you will be able to experience the feeling of lust that I have for their pie.

This picture does not do it justice, but my recent visit led me to discover their Sour Cherry with Pear Crumble. Enjoy. Eat. And repeat... repeatedly.

My sister thanked me (repeatedly) for finally bringing her.

Fresh

I recently created a ten-year plan for myself. A very basic one at that. Broad, yet reachable, and a little out of my comfort zone. Only because I have never planned this ahead into my future. And I have no idea what kind of turns my life will take in the next few weeks, let alone in the next ten years.

I guess I'm trying to be prepared. In November (2012) I dove into the hospitality industry at a restaurant company with my first "real person job" out of college. Since then, I have become more intrigued by this business. All aspects of it. The restaurants. The food. The service. The ambiance. Even the business side of it. The financing. The planning. The expenses. The competitiveness. The profits. The losses. It surrounds me each day and I am trying to absorb as much of it as I can, as I aspire to one day own my own business... Nobody wants to work for The Man for their whole life. And anyone who says they do is a liar.

With this extra guidance, I have started to write a blog. Maybe it's just for me. Maybe it's for you. Maybe it's for everyone... but right now, maybe it is just for me. I just want to drink everything in, literally and figuratively. Expand my knowledge. Experience every cuisine. Familiarize with every culture. Focus on my healthy choices and not so healthy choices. Enjoy myself. Live. Share. Eat. Drink. Work. Laugh. Repeat.