Tag Archives: coconut

Frozen Eggnog

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Highlights from the weekend (including some highlights of the whole damn year!)…

Eggnog dalgona iced coffee – after driving around with cocoa and the dog to look at lights this is our favorite holiday tradition.

Peppermint white mocha iced latte from Buzzed. We also shared an eggnog cold foam cold brew and were pleased with both. I wouldn’t go back all the time but I will definitely check out their next seasonal specials.

I’Milky oat milk iced matcha with chestnut creme. I was mostly getting this to be seasonal but we ended up both loving it – super balanced and satisfying.

Petit Chou tropical tres leches cake with a layer of jammy pineapple. I need to try more things from this spot.

Spudsy sweet potato snacks. I thought these would be like Chex Mix but they were actually the size of a small clementine.

Comfortland frozen eggnog (15/10) and a chocolate, coconut, marshmallow doughnut. This was the best doughnut I’ve ever eaten; the outside was sugary and crispy.

We also got the Everything Everywhere Tots at Once special – with cheddar, hot honey, marinated ribeye, gochujang aioli, ranch, chives, and everything bagel seasoning.

Brunch at Madre. This spot deserves the hype – the space was beautiful, the service was great, the food was all wonderful. We shared a Granddaddy Purp – sake, lavender, plum, cereal milk, and egg white. Gorgeous and delicious.

El Sancho – mezcal, apricot, campari, habenero, and cinnamon.

Jalapeño cornbread madelines with whipped honey butter.

The burger with gruyere and fennel slaw (didn’t make my top five but definitely in the top ten and Adam loved it).

And the brown butter french toast with caramel and roasted banana.

Scooping/dipping dinner. Baked wontons with togarashi / roasted broccoli / blended tuna salad – with smoked trout, mayo, and capers / pimento cheese dip – warm with honey and spiced pecans on top.

P.S. We checked out the Rockefellers tree and it was totally stunning and worth the crowd!

Festival Of Festivals

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We had such a yummy weekend! NYC is doing so many fun pop-ups/holiday specials this year! Here was everything festive we did this weekend…

A trip to the Milleridge Inn Village to admire the lights.

787‘s coquito and tres leches iced lattes. These were too milky for our tastes but still so good; the coquito was perfectly spiced.

Cafe d’Avignon in Essex Street Market makes the best breakfast in the city – an iced vanilla latte and a fruit and nut bun with butter and cheddar.

We went to Supermoon Bakehouse for the eggnog kouign brûlée croissant (and gingerbread cheesecake filled doughnut).

But what ended up blowing our minds was the twice baked sugar cookie croissant filled with funfetti almond cream. <– swoon!

Brigadeiro Bakery‘s seasonal specials included cinnamon and gingerbread.

Brooklyn Cupcake‘s coquito cupcake.

Pokito is making seasonal jello shots! And they were beautiful and delicious! We also got an El Tigre – frozen light and dark rum, orange liquor, coconut, Thai tea, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Sleyenda at Leyenda.

Their Candy Striper is always my favorite drink of the season – frozen Cachaça, coconut, maple, peppermint, vanilla, lemon, and cardamom.

We also shared the arepa with chipotle-lime shrimp and pineapple salsa.

And fried green plantains with ropa vieja.

Snow Days at Sunday in Brooklyn. Polar Bear Club – frozen coffee-distilled rum, Aquavit, banana, coconut, pineapple, and cucumber / Comet’s Cosmo – tequila, ginger shochu, yuzu brandy, tart cranberry, elderflower, and shiso soda.

Jungle Bells – mezcal, prickly pear, Campari, poblano, pineapple, and tamarind.

The drinks/decorations were fun but the food was the standout. We adored everything we got to share. Roasted honey nut squash with brown butter, sesame, and coffee tahini.

Wood roasted brussel sprouts with pistachio, golden raisins, and lemon gremolata.

Wood roasted half chicken with Herb De Provence and roasted garlic jus and seasoned fries. I couldn’t get a good photo but this was outstanding – juicy, savory, and one of the best things we’ve eaten all year.

Plus we got a sundae with housemade hot chocolate and eggnog soft-serves for dessert.

Winter Banana

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Highlights from the week…

We are both really enjoying this flavored s’mores coffee from Bones Coffee Company.

Extra-purple smoothie – frozen grapes, frozen berries, Greek yogurt, and butterfly pea tea.

Yogurt bowl with fresh persimmon, caramel apple granola, honey, and nutmeg.

This giant apple was labeled a “Winter Banana” at the farmers’ market so obviously we bought it.

Such good packaged snacks this week. Jalapeño and honey chicken jerky (9/10) / peanut butter dark chocolate Over Easy bar (8/10).

Abomination Brewing’s marshmallow double IPA with a marshmallow fluff rim!!

True or False – I buy anything new Ben & Jerry’s has to offer? At least once! The peanut butter cup cookie dough bites were a new favorite, 2nd only to the s’mores option, but the Oat of this Swirled flavor wasn’t for me.

We also shop Seed & Mill pretty indiscriminately! These halvah coated pecans were a 10/10.

Take-out steak soft tacos from our local Mexican place. With zucchini, chopped tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce.

Noodle bowls loosely inspired by Khao Soi. Hand-cut noodles / shredded chicken breast / brothy sauce with coconut milk, red curry paste, and chicken broth / dinosaur kale sauteed with shallots, ginger, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, and rice vinegar / topped with tons of cashews and chili crisp.

Caribbean-inspired rice and beans (brown rice cooked with yellow onion, habanero pepper, coconut milk, chicken broth, and dark red kidney beans) / roasted broccoli / curried chicken salad (shredded chicken with mayo, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, sauteed onion, dried cranberries, salt and pepper, and Jamaican curry powder). I topped my bowl with pineapple Blind Betty’s hot sauce and the whole thing was divine.

Staycation 2023 [part 2]

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Highlights from the second half of our staycation, which ended up being one of the best vacations!

We did so many fun things! Like checking out the Halloween-themed spot Haunted House of Hamburgers to grab a drink and admire decorations.

Spending a beyond lovely morning exploring the Avalon Nature Preserve and communing with nature.

And roadtripping to Connecticut for coffees and booze. Food hightlights included…

Aldo’s Coffee. This spot in Greenport makes the most perfectly roasty espresso.

Druthers Coffee. This burnt caramel latte was amazing

Perkatory Coffee [CT]. I loved this spot, especially their monthly special – cold brew with vanilla and strawberry, topped with condensed milk cold foam and Fruity Pebbles.

Yellow King Brews [CT]. Cold brew flight??!! My favorite was the fantastically blue one – cold brew shaken with cookie butter sauce and topped with cookie cold foam.

12% Beer Project [CT]. They had taps from Evil Twin, Abomination Brewing, and Fat Orange Cat. Also really good housemade thin crust pizza.

Evil Twin taproom. Always a favorite.

Whole Food’s pumpkin pie cookie.

Alligator Pear for a New Orlean’s lunch. We had (a lot) drinks and started with the wonderful cornbread with sweet brown butter and the blue crab beignets.

We shared the summer salad – baby kale with strawberries, goat cheese, candied pecans, and a honey mustard vinaigrette – and a po’boy with grilled shrimp.

Kappo Counter at Okonomi Market for a lovingly currated multi-course tasting menu. Some of my favorites included the tilefish and cucumber with yuzu and coconut.

Roasted Japanese sweet potato with salmon roe and toasted tahini.

And the frangipane with toasted rice ice cream and pickled strawberries.

Rolo’s for the best lunch of the vacation/the best meal of 2023! Spicy mezcal bloody mary.

Beet salad with concord grape vinaigrette and castelrosso cheese // grilled oyster mushrooms with pine nut miso.

Double cheeseburger with grilled onions and dijonnaise // malted waffles with plum compote and ricotta. We also had the super crispy potatoes topped with Kewpie and a spicy peanut sauce.

Apple Crumb Pie Sour

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Highlights from the week…

I get so much joy from my milk frother; cold foam on a homemade coffee is such a treat.

I couldn’t capture it in the rainy light but this apple I got at J-Mart was delightfully pink.

Trader Joe’s chile and garlic cashews are a satisfying snack.

As are the Perfect Layers bars, though I’ve decided I prefer the originals.

We visited Fern and Aurora – a newish Filipino bakery – and got an assortment of fun treats. Including a solid halo halo and a calamansi meringue that was one of the best desserts of this year.

Fat Witch mint brownie. This is our favorite of their flavors.

10/10 beer line up. Abomination Brewing Ice Cream Sandwiches in Space milkshake-style double IPA (P.S. I also tried their pumpkin milkshake IPA at a bar this week – we went out to do poorly at trivia – and was a fan) / Blue Point Apple Pie Crumb Sour.

Homemade callaloo with spinach, crab, and turkey bacon. Plus leftover teff biscuits and blue cornbread from Hav & Mar (the bread basket was the highlight of that meal!).

Tuna pasta. Whole-wheat spaghetti with roasted zuccini and romanesco, pine nuts, canned yellowfin tuna packed in olive oil, lemon juice and zest, gochugaru, and urfa chile pepper.

Tasting plate dinner – smoked salmon spread / bitchin dip / baby sweet bell peppers / everything corn crackers / Trader Joe’s black bean and cheese taquitos.

Sandwich Week Forever

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Things from last week…

Coffee combo – Nguyen Dalat roast (my new favorite after Hanoi) with coconut sweetened condensed milk. The SCM was more solid than liquid and it clumped terribly but tasted amazing.

See also – a summer s’mores iced latte (as good as it looks!) from The Barn in Merrick.

An array of apple beverages! Alani caramel apple energy drink / health-ade pink lady apple kombucha / Targer honey apple sparkling water.

An envy apple with 88 Acres vanilla cinnamon sunflower butter (so dreamy!).

Over Easy apple cinnamon bar – too raw oat chewy for me.

Trader Joe’s honey crisp apple cinnamon yogurt with apple pie granolas, chia seeds, and a honeycrisp.

I did not eat enough plums this summer but I am still excited for the start of Sumo season.

I loved the idea of this Sweet Water Gummies Tropical IPA but it was too pineapple-forward for me.

This week required SO MUCH ice cream! Including this new-to-us Ben & Jerry’s – Mousse Pie.

See also – I am still in a committed relationship with the s’mores cookie dough mix.

Sandwich 1 – chopped sharp cheddar, Applegate Farms honey and maple turkey and citrus ginger turkey, mustard, mayo, and banana peppers on a ciabatta roll. With roasted baby cauliflower.

Sandwich 2 – buffalo chicken salad (shredded chicken breasts with mayo, Franks, red onion, and blue cheese) on Trader Joe’s sliced sourdough. Plus roasted green beans with furikake.

Sandwich 3 – soft scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, cheddar, and quick pickled red onions on a garlic naan. Plus roasted brussel sprouts with pecans and blue cheese.

Sandwich 4 – baked tofu (super firm that I marinated in hot and sweet pickled jalopeno juice), sharp cheddar, and mayo on sourdough. Plus roasted broccoli and cauliflower.

We Had Fun-Fetti

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Highlights from a very wonderful weekend…

Cafe Grumpy iced latte with oatmilk and blackberry syrup.

Are you admiring my sleeve? Last weekend Adam and I bought a $10 kit from Target and tie-dyed our own shirts!

Caffe Valencia Roosevelt – iced latte with frothed milk and vanilla and toasted marshmallow.

Green protein smoothie. Premiere Protein cake batter with frozen banana, grapes, and spinach.

Taiyaki. I got custard-filled, hojicha ice cream, condensed milk, and sprinkles.

Best cake ever from Butterfield. Super dense funfetti with two kinds of frosting; the cookies and cream layer was life-changing.

Lunch at Kayle.

Beef sliders on ube rolls.

Beef Tapa meal – seared tri-tip marinated with soy sauce and garlic with chili plus rice and a fried egg. And a side of roasted eggplant.

Plus, of course, halo halo. (10/10, best I’ve had in the city)

Dry-aged cheese burger from Mighties.

Spicy cumin lamb hand-torn noodles from Xi’an Famous Foods. These noodles are a large part of why I feel like I can never live outside of New York; 1,000/10.

Coke, Callaloo, Cashew

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Highlights from a yummy week…

A fantastic smoothie; frozen cherries and strawberries with cottage cheese and water.

7/11 Day. I ruined my Coke slurpee with unfrozen lemon but it’s still my favorite holiday.

Rum and Coke slush! Coke ice cubes blended with golden rum and key lime juice.

These Tid Bits fruit bites are delicious and surprisingly high in fiber and protein.

Cashews aren’t usually my go-to but I loved these for snacking this week.

Hands-down our household’s favorite snack right now are the Trader Joe’s lentil curls. They are so satisfying!

Dinner sucesses this week were 100% thanks to this beef bacon.

Sandwiches with bacon, Kewpie, and local heirloom tomatoes. Plus roasted zucchini and extra tomato on the side.

Callaloo is traditionally made with amaranth leaves and salt pork but this version with spinach and beef bacon was a delight. Plus crab, yellow onion, hot pepper, ginger, garlic, urfa, and coconut milk. I topped my bowl with hot pepper jelly.

No bacon but still a winner – turkey meatloaf. A riff on this recipe with gojuchang, ketchup, sisig seasoning, green onion, and sharp cheddar. Plus roasted cabbage with tahini and chili crisp.

This post is a day early because I am taking a long weekend and heading to Colorado tonight! My youngest cousin is getting married! And I am spending a few extra days exploring Denver with my mom.