MAD.SQ.EATS

Hello my fellow food connoisseurs, I have a tasty review for you! A week a go a friend of mine reminded me that Madison Square Eats is back in town. It is a semi-annual culinary market that has been on going for the last five years presented by Urbanspace.  

Personally, I think it is like a food block party that has people buzzing everywhere and stuffing their faces. I'm thinking restaurant week on steroids. The market consists of a slew of popular NYC restaurants offering bite size samples of  their most favored dishes. As soon as I got there I could not contain myself.. I wanted to try everything but I had to be realistic..I was on my one hour lunch break and I had to pick fast. 

After some prior research... (yes I have to get the all the tea before I eat) Red Hook Lobster Pound was all the buzz sooo I had to check it out. As soon as I got there the line was long.. While waiting I ran into a lobster roll aficionado (who knew all the deets on lobster rolls). He also stated that he often travels to Maine for lobster roll binges so I knew that he would not stare me wrong.   

After my lobster consultation, I decided on the lobster roll warmed with butter. After the first bite it was over.  I didn't chew, I didn't swallow, I literally inhaled it... Yup demolished it... lol!!! When it was all over I thought to myself ...Wait what just happened here? I wished I would of really savored each bite because it was just soo good and for $16 a roll getting another one was completely out of the question. 

So would I recommend this spot??? OF COURSE!!! I am officially on the lobster roll bandwagon. Believe the hype because it's good!I think the guy I met in the line may have a buddy on his next trip to Maine because I am officially on board!

I attended Madison Square Eats on its last day but one of the vendors told me that they were moving to Herald Square for Broadway Bites. Talk about a great day!!! This food market will be in Herald Square until the end of November. Be sure to check it out!!! **** Please note that a new post will be coming up.. because I tried an organic sweet potato chili at Broadway Bites and it was to die for.. 

The Mercer Kitchen

At least once a month I try to meet up with my former co-workers to catch up and eat somewhere delicious. This month we decided to try The Mercer Kitchen in SoHo. It is American(new) and Asian Fusion costing about $$. I have a disclaimer before you read this review: I was only able to eat soft foods at dinner that night due to the fact that I got my wisdom tooth taken out... Talk about a dramatic experience but I digress... ( Anything for food)

(Tuna Spring Roll-with Soy Bean Puree) 

(Oysters)

For an appetizer I indulged in the tuna spring roll and fresh oysters. I was not a big fan of the spring roll.. I would say that it is definitely an acquired taste but once you dip the roll into the puree it makes everything better. One would also say oysters are an acquired taste as well but none the less they were really delicious. I recently started eating oysters and I must say this is best I have had thus far.. Everything was really fresh and it was evident on how well it tasted.

(Three Cheese Ravioli)

My main course was the three cheese ravioli. It is definitely a light dish. Enough to make you feel content. The server said the the ravioli is one of their popular dishes and I can see why. However I don't think it was the best ravioli I have ever had but it was pretty good. The dish had the perfect consistency of sauce to pasta ratio.

(Sorbet Trio) 

For desert I decided on the sorbet. It would not of been my first choice.. but due to my dental situation I went with it. The sorbet was really tasty and refreshing. I had to opportunity to try the butterscotch pudding and let me just say.... AMAZING!!! I am not much of a pudding fan but after trying it I wanted to kick myself because it was that good! I should have listened to the waiter when he suggested it initially... (Side-note- Ask the waiter for their opinion when you are having a hard time deciding on what to eat. Nine times out of ten they are usually spot on)

All in all my experience at The Mercer Kitchen was great. The ambiance was amazing, service was great,and food was tasty. I have a thing about bathrooms in restaurants and let just say their bathroom was top notch! Our waiter was really nice and funny as well. One of my friends is allergic to peanuts and failed to tell him that until desert time. He was flabbergasted that she waited so long to say something which made it extremely funny when he said "What if there were nuts on your chicken?" (You had to be there to get it! lol) I think that moment made my night. We laughed sooo hard everyone in the restaurant was staring at us.. Not to mention our waiter could not stop laughing. A great way to end a night.

The Mercer Kitchen is great for a night out with girlfriends or a possible date night. Definitely not a place for children even though I spotted a few.

For more information on The Mercer Kitchen please visit:

http://www.themercerkitchen.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mercer-kitchen-new-york-2

Chicken and Waffles.....

A couple of months ago I made my way down to the home of BBQ.(Drum Roll)Texas.. Houston to be exact.... But somehow during my visit I didn't get a chance to have any BBQ.. Go figures... But I did have the opportunity to visit a slightly hidden gem "The Breakfast Klub!"  Yes I did stand in a long line in the Texas heat just to get a taste of their famous chicken and waffles... Boy can I say it was definitely worth the wait in the blistering heat.. to make matters worst I ate outside.. I couldn't wait any longer! (A true foodie)

From speaking with the waitress everyone eats their chicken and waffles differently.. some eat the waffle first and then divulge into the perfectly season chicken or vise versa .. Some eat them simultaneously.  I decided to eat the chicken and then the waffles.. Everything was absolutely delicious.. having the waffle at the end was like a sweet desert. Please believe I will be back for more... I also have to try their catfish and grits which is also a hit.. 

For more information on this restaurant please visit http://thebreakfastklub.com/ 

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-breakfast-klub-houston-2

The Black Duck!

Soo.. restaurant week has past.... and I am now writing a post on this... procrastination at its finest...It’s not because I have been super busy... Sometimes when certain things are your dreams they then become road blocks. But enough inspirational /self-reflecting.. Time to talk about food!! 

I had the opportunity to visit three restaurants during the month of August. Today I will be discussing my favorite out of the three. The first place that I visited was a French restaurant called the Black Duck. (Who would have thought the first place would be my favorite?) I never heard of this place until one of my co-workers recommended we visit during the month long festivities. I usually do my research on a restaurant before visiting because I really do not like having a bad dining experience. 

Despite being unprepared I was pleasantly surprised because the food, ambiance and service was superb! I ordered the petite fillet for my main course and I loved every moment of it. My fillet was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I did not want that moment to end. I remembered savoring the last bite like it was actually my last. A bit dramatic but it was delicious. 

I will definitely be back!

*This place is also great for a date or an evening with girlfriends. 

For more information on this restaurant pleas visit there website:http://www.blackduckny.com/

Yelp (a great way to decide if a restaurant is for you) :http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-duck-new-york-2

A Cup Of Me...

Hello World!

Welcome to my first blog post. I would like to give you a little insight about why I decided to start a blog specifically about food! Over the past couple of months I have been trying to discover myself and what makes me happy. After much thought, I came to the revelation that trying different restaurants and tasting new food was a hobby that I did not know existed. I am always critiquing different restaurants around this amazing city I call home NYC.

Whenever a friends or family are in town they are amazed by the hidden treasures I find to dine at. As a result I wanted to share my little treasures with the rest of the world. So therefore sit back and sip a cup of tea as I take you on a at home dining experience through NYC and places I visit along the way…..

Post to come : NYC restaurant week, every foodies favorite time of the year!!