Best of New York - Part 2

Hi there! 

Let's have a quick start with the second part of my favorites in New York. 

Look, be inspired and check out, if you can!

1. First To Do: A Hot Dog on the street! This was the first of a lot. 

Served fresh and hot with sauerkraut, onions, ketchup and mustard, it's a great lunch 

snack for 2-3$ (Attention: Tourist locations like Times Square charge 5$!)

2. Hot Pot Stickers from  a food truck near Staten Island Ferry station downtown.

Here: Korean style pulled pork.  Attention: Delicious, but veeery hot! (5 pieces 3,50$)

3. Three-cheese fries and Burger at "Burger Burger"

Just awesome! Crowded at lunchtime between 1 and 2 pm.. 

one of the best burgers I've ever tried! 

http://www.burgerburgerny.com/burger_burger_ny/Burger_Burger_ny.html

4. Red Velvet Dessert Cup from Whole Foods:

Layers of red velvet cake pieces and cream cheese, 

topped with fresh strawberries. Heaven!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

5. Oyster Barney in New York at Grand Central Station.

Sorry I have no food pic! I had a great, spicy gazpacho with shredded lobster and 

fired oysters wit peachbutter. Delicious, nice service, even when crowded and 

beautiful atmosphere - imagine a french fish restaurant in Marseilles 

http://www.oysterbarny.com/

6. One and only: Magnolia Bakery - went there 3 times in 10 days!

You see their famous cupcakes: chocolate vanilla and lemon. We tried a red velvet 

Mini-Cheesecake and the Smores Cake too - fantastic, sweet, just yummy! 

Plus, the shops look so cute! I bought the pale blue eco tote bag as a souvenier.. 

I'll be back!

http://www.magnoliabakery.com/

7. Japanese mochi boutique on Madison Avenue - please, just go there!

Wonderful minimalsitic and chic store for traditional mochis and other japanese sweets. 

We tried two different little rice cakes - mine was filled with red bean paste, wrapped in 

a salty (!) cherry tree leaf and topped with a cherry blossom. 

Delicate, exceptional and sweet - the new maccarons?

http://www.kitchoan.com/

8. Joe's Shanghai - best dumplings (TRY!!!) & best chinese food!

Try the Szechuan Style Ribs, chicken and shrimps in plum sauce and the wonton & cabbage brooth. 

Chic in Midtown, authentic in Chinatown - both are great! 

http://www.joeshanghairestaurants.com/kill_dumpling_eng.html

9. Pork chop at Moma Café on the 2nd floor. 

Great food for a museum restaurant!

http://www.moma.org/visit/plan/eating#cafe2

10. Dreesen's Donuts in Easthampton NY

The very best. Period.

(I heard R. De Niro likes them glazed...)

http://www.dreesens.com/

Bon appetit!

Inspiration: Chocolate Granita

A short post from my vacations in Sicily (Italy) for you, as I was so excited 

when I tried my first chocolate granita in a small Gelateria in Taormina 

(just 15m straight from Porta Messina to Corso Umberto). I LOVE chocolate in 

all its ways, like every normal human being - but I tend to prefer something 

fresher or fruity on the hot summer days. Now I found the perfect chocoholic treat 

for plus 30-degree-days. Granita is some kind of sorbet, so ice made out of water, 

sugar and natural flavor. This granita was made with super intense dark chocolate. 

It is of course less creamy than any ice cream, instead it's the light version. 

Refreshing like ice-cold lemonade but chocolatey like heaven. TRY IT if you can!!!

Cooking: Halloumi with spiced Spinach & Apricots

Once in a while, not very often, I don't have appetite for meat at all, 

especially when it is warm outside and we don't do a BBQ. 

So I found a pack of chili-seasoned halloumi cheese and some frozen leaf-spinach. 

I started to roast some onions and garlic in olive oil, added some fresh 

chili peppers, eights of fresh apricots and the spinach.  After cooking it for 10 minutes 

I seasoned it with salt & pepper, a dash of fresh lemon juice I left it aside. 

Then I fried the cheese in a pan, and topped it over the spinach - easy peasy! 

What you need for 2 persons:

200-300g Halloumi Cheese (if it is pure, season it yourself with 

chilies, bell pepper powder and some olive oil)

350g frozen leaf spinach

8 fresh apricots

1/2 chili pepper

3 garlic cloves

1 medium onion

olive oil, salt&pepper, 1 dash of lemon juice