20 Wednesday Feb 2013
I received a box of these Vosges “Hip Hop” truffles from someone special on Valentine’s Day. The Krug champagne gives the white chocolate an intoxicating aroma and a decadent flavor.
20 Wednesday Feb 2013
Posted in bakeries, bucket list, celebrations, French, fruit, macarons, New York, snacks, sweets, wagashi
Ladurée on Madison Ave is now offering cognac macarons and rose tea macarons. In addition, there is a limited edition Reed Krakoff macaron featuring dark chocolate and a matching gift box.
20 Wednesday Feb 2013
Posted in allium, Asian, bucket list, celebrations, herbs and spices, Japanese, New York, Queens, snacks
crispy fried pig ears and fried chicken cartilage at Hinomaru Ramen in Astoria (33-18 Ditmars Blvd.)
The pig ears were really crispy and reminded me of Krunchers barbecue kettle chips.
sea urchin and Parmesan cheese ramen
butter and squid ramen in a black sesame broth
25 Friday Jan 2013
Camotes de Santa Clara are hand made sweet potato candies from Puebla, Mexico. Sweet potato paste is mixed with fruits, such as strawberries and coconut, and rolled into a little 5 inch log. They are sold wrapped in wax paper for $1.50 per piece at various bodegas throughout Corona and Elmhurst in Queens.
25 Friday Jan 2013
The chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) at M. Wells Dinette is an airy egg custard served over foie gras and topped with roasted eel.
The decadent marrow tart with escargots is served with a dark, aromatic gravy sauce that includes wine and herbs. I could have eaten 10 of these, they were so good.
07 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Asian, Brooklyn, bucket list, celebrations, Japanese, seafood, Williamsburg
Zenkichi is an intimate izakaya in Williamsburg with a $65 seasonal chef’s tasting menu, omakase. The faint illumination and privacy screens of the romantic booths made it hard to take pictures — but here are some that I took of our favorite courses.
pickled persimmon, monkfish, scallops
cod milt (seminal fluid) and chrysanthemum tempura
tofu salad
black cod
sesame tofu in dashi
whiskey truffles
03 Monday Dec 2012
Posted in bakeries, bucket list, celebrations, French, fruit, macarons, New York, snacks, sweets, wagashi
You won’t find the new saveurs de Noël macaron listed on the menu yet but if you ask nicely enough the staff at Ladurée NYC might be able to find some in the basement!
It is my new favorite macaron! The “Christmas flavors” are chocolate, candied clementine peel, cinnamon, star anise, and vanilla. The person who helped me at Ladurée today said it was “chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and calamansi” but I double checked in the holiday collection guide and it confirmed the first description (no calamansi). This delicious macaron is very rich, much like a brownie.
Here is a shot of two “Christmas flavors” macarons, two chestnut, one blood orange with ginger, and a hazelnut guimauve.
The new Christmas box, inspired by famous Indiennes of the 16th century.
01 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in bakeries, bucket list, celebrations, French, macarons, New York, snacks, sweets, wagashi
Ladurée New York is now selling chestnut macarons! The mysterious “Christmas flavors” macaron should be available next week, according to the gal I talked to on the phone from the boutique this morning. What could these Christmas saveurs be? Gingerbread? Mistletoe? Reindeer droppings?
Here is a screenshot of the saveurs de Noël macaron from the Ladurée website.
17 Saturday Nov 2012
Tags
Astoria, bars, BBQ, beer garden, Biergarten, gastropub, Grand Opening, N train, NYC, queens
The Strand is a new Biergarten in Astoria that just opened today. In addition to beer, they have Brooklyn Soda Works on tap and kombucha ale. I had the spiced plum soda ($4.00) and the Mava Roka kombucha ale (7% ABV and $6.00)
12 Monday Nov 2012
Chinook Olive 