Merry And Bright

by Emily

Last week was great, and filled with great eats. It worked out that I was off from work most of the week, which was just lovely! And Adam and I were both home together for Christmas, which has rarely happened in our marriage. The absolute best part of the week was walking around Manhattan (8 miles!) admiring holiday decorations and checking out the Rockefeller tree – – it was impossible to capture in a photo but even in the daytime the lights were stunning.

Other highlights included…

We obviously had to buy both of these eggnogs to do a comparison taste-test (premium was a bit better!).

Christmas morning dalgona coffee with eggnog.

Max Brenner‘s peanut butter hot chocolate blew our minds.

Trader Joe’s peppermint mini marshmallows are great.

And we loved this peppermint seltzer.

Birthday cake scone from Sweetie Pies on Main. We went out to Cold Spring Harbor to admire their decorations. And yes, we do have a car tree.

This snowball doughnut from Comfortland was insane. It was coated in coconut and stuffed with marshmallow cream.

Plain Greek yogurt bowl with banana, chocolate cashew butter, and cinnamon.

Very impressed with this vegan jerky.

I’ve had my eye on this salmon candy spread for months and it did not disappoint. Paired wonderfully with everything-style crackers.

Still very into this frozen meal. Also fresh mandarin oranges.

Best meal I’ve ever made – crockpot five spice chicken thighs / celery, bok choy, and scallions / rice cakes / gojuchang brown sugar sauce. Topped with chili crisp.

We broiled the leftovers with mozzarella cheese and it somehow got even better.

The best meal we’ve ever eaten came from Milu. Mandarin duck with duck fat rice and marinated cucumbers / brisket with chili garlic mint sauce and tofu seaweed salad / chili crisp fried chicken with scallion mayo. Plus egg tart soft-serve. Every single bite was swoonworthy.

A roasted sheet-pan meal with brussel sprouts, cave aged blue cheese, turkey sausage, dried sweet cherries, yellow raisins, and sweet and spicy pecans.

Soft-scrambled eggs with roasted broccoli rabe and purple cauliflower, cucumber salad, and hot-smoked salmon.

21Dec2020

Can’t (Co)Quit(o)

by Emily

The last week has been pretty wonderful; we made it through the first winter storm unscathed and I’ve officially eaten all of the on-theme holiday things I was excited about for this year!

Highlights included…

787‘s iced coquito latte won our hearts as our favorite coffee of the year! So thick and wonderfully spiced and just sweet enough! We also had a fantastic marzipan latte.

We tried, and loved, the new-ish Fan Fan Doughnuts.

Strawberry jam filled / salted brown butter caramel glazed / pecan hawaij sticky bun.

Lunch at Nowon. I thought I didn’t like soju but this Tiger Bomb cocktail with jasmine, yuja citron, and mint syrup changed my mind.

I kept warm with Fire Chicken – spicy chicken with cabbage, rice cakes, and mozarella.

And lost my mind for the honey butter tater tots with labneh and seaweed.

Checking out Leyenda‘s Sleyenda decorations is our favorite holiday tradition and this year’s outdoor set up did not disappoint.

I had a Coquito Ho Ho – tequilla, sherry, coconut liquor, and coconut with cinnamon and egg.

And a Candy Striper which was hands-down our favorite cocktail/beverage of the year. I said at least ten times “this drink is making me so happy!” It’s a frozen blend of cachaça, coconut, vanilla, maple, lime, peppermint, and cardamom.

Hummus and pretzels with nougat and candied apricot candies my parents sent me.

Malai‘s toasted nutmeg ice cream basically tastes like eggnog! And the consistency is out of this world.

We made a batch of my Bahn Mi Chicken Salad and it was even better than I remembered. With roasted veggies and local sourdough.

Sourdough also made an appearance in great turkey sandwiches with cheddar, jam, and garlic mayo. Plus baby carrots and salted egg yolk chips.

Buffalo chicken meatball sandwiches. With sauteed carrot and celery in a mustard sauce.

7Dec2020

Flock Together

by Emily

I worked all weekend – crazy busy but super interesting days; we’ve had a ton of micronutrient deficiencies lately and I’ve really gotten to flex my nutrition-focused physical exam skills – but Adam and I managed to have some excellent date nights.

Highlights include…

Strawberry iced latte from Copper Mug Coffee.

Eggnog things!

Eggnog punch bubble tea from Lazy Sundaes. I have been wondering for years why no one was doing the egg nog and boba combo and it was just as tasty as I had anticipated.

Pumpkin cupcake and eggnog pudding trifle from Sugar Sweet Sunshine.

Homemade fish taco bowls. Roasted cabbage with lime Sriracha crema and beer-battered cod.

The new best dinner of the year from Canary Club. We ate in the frigid wind on the stoop (it could not have been any more safely socially distanced nor any more cold) so I couldn’t take photos but the the meal was a 10/10. Spicy mezcal cocktail with genepy, lime, pineapple, and pink peppercorn plus a berry rickey with cinnamon cachaça and citrus wild berry cider // black sesame tempura carrots with chili tahini and dill // smoked delicata squash with pecorino, creole butter, and Malaysian peanuts // duck fat broccoli and cauliflower with cilantro and toasted almonds // hanger steak with olive relish, crispy corn cakes, and French onion sauce.

An epic take-out spread from Birds of a Feather. We piled giant plates with numbing-spicy goodness!

We ordered a million things so we could try everything that sounded good and have leftovers for dinners next week: steamed curry chicken dumplings // chive pancakes with egg and dried shrimp // poached wood ear mushrooms with pickled peppers and cucumbers in a vinegar sauce // sautéed Chinese broccoli with soy sauce and scallions // string beans in ginger sauce // spicy and sour tofu pudding // shredded chicken with sesame and chili oil // spicy cumin lamb with bell peppers and miso // cold Sichuan noodles with peanut paste, chili oil, and peppercorns // fried rice with mustard green shoots // fried rice with shredded duck.

Plus Levain for dessert!

16Oct2020

See Food Diet

by Emily

Highlights from this week include…

The salted caramel Perfect bar is perfect.

Black and white cookie. I’ve decided I have not been eating nearly enough bagels or black and white cookies.

If you haven’t tried the hot honey chicken sandwich from Melt Shop yet get yourself there immediately. It has hot honey and jalopeno pimento cheese!

We went with a seafood theme for dinners this week and each night was better than the last! Seared scallops with crispy garlic smashed potatoes and sauteed bok choy and radish greens.

Roasted cabbage with sliced radishes, avocado crema, and Whole Food’s frozen fish fillets.

Broccoli rice with five spice quick pickled cucumbers, furikake, Sriracha aioli, and smoked salmon.

3Aug2020

Lemon Meringue Pie

by Emily

I worked (long days!) Friday, Saturday, Sunday but we still had a fun weekend with amazing date nights! Five favorites were – –

Mekelburg’s rose black halva latte – an oat milk iced iced latte with rose halvah syrup, topped with rose petals and sesame seeds.

Westbrook Brewings‘ lemon meringue pie gose might be even better than their key lime pie gose!

Friday night we cuddled on the couch with nachos and ice cream and (re)watched “Love and Basketball” and it was kind of the best. Chipotle nacho hack – order chips and a rice bowl without rice (this one had chicken, fajita veggies, corn salsa, and cheese (and guacamole on the side!)) and bake.

We got three -epic – sandwiches from Mekelburg’s and had a picnic down by the water near Domino Park. Waygu roast beef for Adam / a bahn mi with Peking duck, duck rillettes, and sambal hoisin mayo for me / a Mekelburger with dry-aged beef, American cheese, grilled onions, fried onions, and tarragon mustard on Hawaiian bun to share.

Chinese take-out to finish the weekend. I got chili oil tofu with cabbage, celery and white rice.

24Jul2020

Birthday Week

by Emily

Today is my birthday! Woo-hoo to getting another year older!!

We were supposed to be home in St. Thomas to celebrate so Adam and I have actually been on ~~vacation~~ staycation this week. A tropical island is obviously always the preferred option but social-distancing fun in the best city isn’t a bad second choice. We’ve taken several long walks, had lots of cuddling time with Webster, and watched a ton of Seinfeld and The Office. Plus we’ve eaten so many good things! If I was going to name ten of my top favorite foods I’d say Diet Cherry Coke Zero, vodka, espresso, sweetened condensed milk, soursop, nachos, cheeseburgers, ice cream, roasted green beans, and Pad See Ew and I’ve eaten all but three of those things in the past week.

Highlights include…

A ton of yummy things from Win Son Bakery. The standouts were the mochi doughnut and the Fan Tuan (rice roll) with egg and Chinese cruller.

A fancy picnic (from Ellen’s) in our car at the end of the North Fork.

We had a lobster roll and duck fried rice.

Plus a local passionfruit IPA.

Soursop ice creams. I’ve been wanting to go to Taste of the Tropics for a decade and their soursop ice cream did not disappoint.

I actually preferred Island Pops though. Soursop + nutmeg.

IPAs at Greenpoint Harbor Brewing.

Tamarind + mango + tequila = our new all-time favorite homemade cocktail.

East Wind Snack Shop makes our favorite dumplings in the city. Dry-aged beef potstickers // Shanghai vegetable steamed dumplings with ginger scallion sauce // veggie noodles.

Happy birthday to me! 🙂

17Jul2020

Soursop And Szechuan Peppers

by Emily

Today is my 1st day back in at the hospital after a day off and a two-day stint of project days at home. I had to recertify in ServSafe and I had a big task to work on (updating the Nutrition Department’s Clinical Practice Guidelines to be more current/evidence-based) so my boss let me work from home, which was lovely. I got to leisurely brew Phin coffee and sip while I worked! Plus I ate a million snacks. <– Normally I sit in the ICUs and wear an N-95 for most of the day so I took full advantage of having a free face!

Highlights included…

The company that makes the instant espresso we love for Dalgona coffees also makes a really good espresso roast.

Plain Greek yogurt bowl with blackberries, peach, cashew butter, and a chopped up Bueno Bar. <– I realize it is ridiculous to stir a candy bar into your lunch but this was breath-takingly good and I’m glad I did it!

Vanilla skyr yogurt bowl with blackberries, black plum, cashew butter, coconut chips, and starry sprinkles.

Adam and I had to go into Manhattan for a doctor’s appointment so we stopped by Bibble and Sip for a cream puff. A cream puff topped with crème brûlée and filled with milk tea cream and boba!

I snacked on nuts every day this week. These sweet Thai chili almonds were a favorite.

Still obsessed with Hal’s caffeinated cola seltzer.

Adam and are both head over heels for these dinner mints. We made it through 12 years of marriage before we realized we are both fans of these guys!

This soursop ice cream was possibly the very best packaged ice cream I’ve ever tasted.

I topped this cheese enchilada meal with more cheese, sour cream, and Crystal hot sauce and it was 10/10. P.S. I highly recommend Amy’s frozen meal options, this one is good even if you aren’t over the top about it.

There’s a newish poke place in our neighborhood that lets you add a thousand toppings. This was white rice with crabcake, tofu, eel sauce, spicy mayo, cucumber, shiitakes, shredded carrot, string bean, green onion, tamago (shredded egg omelet), oshinko (pickled veggies), inari (tofu skin), garlic crisps, and lotus chips.

Blistered green beans – sauteed with garlic, ginger, and chili oil – with Trader Joe’s mini chicken and cilantro wontons.

Have a great – safe, distanced – weekend!

3Jul2020

Summer Fruits And Veggies

by Emily

It was a very good week in fruits and vegetables here! We went to Whole Foods on Saturday to stock up. With our new, pandemic-induced, bimonthly grocery schedule our first week of dinners/snacks always feels a lot fresher than the second week.

Highlights include…

Could Perfect Bars be any more perfect? They are the optimal balance of sweet and savory. I loved this trail mix flavor.

My parents sent us a box of tamarinds and I found these strawberry cherries at Whole Foods.

I also snagged a bag of genips (<– Caribbean fruit that I grew up picking from a tree near my house but have had an impossible time finding in New York) on the street corner near my hospital!

IMG_20200630_153811_864

Watermelon-themed things since it’s almost July 4th. The winner of the bunch was definitely the Hal’s Seltzer.

This dinner was brought to you by the color orange! Salmon/trout salad bagel melts / local heirloom tomatoes with a bit of salt and pepper / roasted gold zucchini.

We have been loving this black-eyed pea salad combo for almost a decade. This batch was actually made with fancy heirloom yellow eyed beans since BEP were sold out at the store. Beans, green pepper, smoked almonds, sharp cheddar, and green Tabasco. It is such a simple combination but super satisfying.

Roasted green zucchini topped with Moroccan tofu cubes and a simple yogurt sauce (plain skyr, mayo, olive oil, sumac, paprika, salt, and a little water).

Our best meal of the week was this trio – baked tofu (cooked with a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, Sriracha, and honey) / Chinese smashed cucumber salad / fancy mushroom medley sauteed with salt, pepper, and butter.

13Apr2020

It’s Not Delivery, It’s Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough

by Emily

I made some damn delicious meals this weekend; all of my dinners were winners. I am midway between my bimonthly grocery trips now though so we’ll see how next week goes.

Highlights include…

Phin coffee. We are head over heels for this system, the results are so velvety!

We ate yogurt bowls as a family. Mine had 2% Fage, honey, candied walnuts, cinnamon, espresso powder, and blueberries.

TJ’s vegan tikki masala. 9/10.

Leftover turkey meatballs. This simple batch – seasoned with salt, pepper, TJ’s umami powder, and Korean chili flakes – turned out so good.

We made Hummingbird High’s small batch brownies and they were hands-down the best brownies I’ve ever eaten. Insane. I added espresso powder and didn’t have any cocoa powder and they were next-level fudgy.

IMG_20200410_105751_383

Greek veggie bowls. Cucumber, baby tomato, roasted chickpeas, olives, fresh mint, TJ’s Greek feta salad dressing, and TJ’s zhoug.

Pizza salad! Romaine, Greek feta dressing, roasted tomatoes, sharp cheddar, and pepperoni croutons (aka turkey pepperoni that I baked until crispy). Plus homemade garlic knots.

I made stromboli! With turkey, turkey pepperoni, and mozzarella. Plus roasted green beans.

Important update – this is how the dog likes to spend most of his time, on my lap, under a pillow.

24Feb2020

See Food Diet

by Emily

Two key housekeeping things –

1) I recently kind of randomly started eating sashimi and burgers and I am now obsessed with both. Also, apparently I’m into cake at the moment.

2) I had an absolutely fantastic time in St. Thomas! I spent two weeks hanging out with my grandma and swimming in the ocean!

Thankfully the weather in NYC has been nice enough for us to do a ton of walking (and a ton of cake, coffee, and fancy cocktail consuming!) so the transition has been pretty easy.

Recent highlights include…

Rum raisin iced latte at the Ace Hotel. Related – I had a rose cold brew at Brooklyn Roasting Co that was mindblowing.

I am definitely a fan of these new KIND nut butter bars whose product info is weirdly not on their website.

Brunch at the Fulton in the Seaport District. I had a smoked bloody mary margarita!

We shared sashimi with spicy white ponzu.

And brussel sprouts with mint and pecorino cheese.

And I had the gruyere cheeseburger with au jus.

Now that I’m into sushi, a girlfriend suggested we get lunch at Sugarfish. I got the “Trust Me Lite” which included edamame and tuna sashimi.

Albacore, salmon, and shrimp sushi.

And a toro hand roll.

Adam and I had a giant, epic lunch at Fan Fried Rice Bar in Bed Stuy. Golden kimchi / cucumber salad / mush-mame fried rice with shiitake mushrooms, edamame, mixed vegetables, and fried shallots.

Big Gay Ice Cream is my current favorite. This was yellow cake soft-serve with dulce de leche and rainbow sprinkles in a biscoff lined cone.

Dreamy cake slices – strawberry Good Humor bar and Oreo – at Little Cupcake Bakeshop.

Brigadero cake and a cappuccino at Padoca Bakery.

Leyenda‘s Candy Striper is a frozen blend of Leblon cachaça, coconut, vanilla, maple, lime, peppermint, and cardamom and it is the single best beverage I have ever put in my mouth. Every sip was so interesting!

Dinner at the Hi Hi Room. We started with smashed potatoes with an herb aioli.

Other Half Cream Get the Honey IPA. <– IPAs brewed with lactose are my favorite

Our reason for being there = hand-cut spaghetti with duck chili, cheddar, and white onion. I couldn’t get a good photo but it was truly fantastic.

Our apartment complex lost power for several hours on Friday night and we were forced to go out to a super fun dinner on the Upper East Side. A friend sent me a list of “the best cocktail spots in NYC” and NR definitely earned its spot!

Our favorites were the Japanese whiskey sour (above) with brown sugar, yuzu, and egg white and the Pistachio – dry gin, house-made pistachio cream, campari, and clementine!

We also shared a truffle oil egg salad sandwich.

And I had the hokkaido ramen with chicken, corn, butter, bean sprouts, and extra seaweed.

A home-cooked meal! Trader Joe’s frozen mahi mahi burgers, steak fries, and roasted baby cauliflower with sumac and smoked paprika. All dipped in a sauce of honey habanero hot sauce, honey, and mayo.

Eating Chalk

Tag Archives: cucumber

Merry And Bright

Can’t (Co)Quit(o)

Flock Together

See Food Diet

Lemon Meringue Pie

Birthday Week

Soursop And Szechuan Peppers

Summer Fruits And Veggies

It’s Not Delivery, It’s Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough

See Food Diet