eataly, new york

I went to check on Mario Batali's new Italian food hall, Eataly. It was a sensory overload. Everywhere I turned there was something delicious to entice my sense of smell, taste and sight. It was like a slice of Italy right in the middle of New York City.

I should have waited until the hype died down before I went to check it out. Going on the second day was a mistake. I had to fight my way through. I don't even think I got to see half the foodie mecca.

What I did get to see, didn't disappoint. The size of the space alone is overwhelming. It occupies the old Toy Factory building.

Inside there is a:

• book store
• wine store
• housewares
• cooking school by Lidia Bastianich
• beer garden on the roof
• wood-fired pizza ovens imported from Italy
• gelato
• coffee bar
• bakery
• produce
• cheese
• butcher
• fish monger
• dry goods: canned tomatoes, tomato sauces, olive oils, vinegars, jams, honey
• restaurants

Left: Mario Batali with his signature orange Crocs. Right: Map

Love this quote.

Left: So any different types of jam. Right: Italian sodas and sparkling water.

Is this  an Italian version of mountain dew?

So happy they carry my favorite chocolates!

My hubby is excited to try an expresso next time!

Delicious carbs!

Bakers hard at work. 

There were rows and rows of different shapes and types of pasta.

I cant wait to go back again and really taste what Italy has to offer!

harolds

Last weekend I was visiting some friends in New Jersey. They suggested we have lunch at Harold's New York Deli in Edison. This place should be on the Man vs. Food show as part of a challenge. Everything there is BIG! Their portions can feed a whole family.

We decided to try the corned beef and hot pastrami sandwiches.




Between the five of us, we didn't even make a dent in this thing. With endless rye bread and a pickle bar. I was stuffed after one sandwich. It was so tasty and I wanted to keep going, but my pants were feeling tight.

They also have the biggest fries I've ever seen. What kind of mutant potatoes did these things come from?!


There was no way we had room for dessert, but everyone else in the restaurant didn't seem to pass on a slice from one of their massive cakes. These things are the size of two phone books.




And people wonder why America is fat!

new year, new beginnings

Happy New Year! I love that feeling you get on the first day of the new year. Excitement, hope, renewal, and anticipation. I feel like the slate is clean again, time to refresh and reinvent. Hopefully, 2010 will be great!

I know I've neglected this sad little blog. I'm surprised there are even any readers. Work has been a nightmare , my internet was out of commission at home and I've been keeping myself busy on the weekends.

Here is a few things I've been up too.


A good friend of mine was on an episode of Top Chef America. I was there to cheer him on. It was amazing to see all the elements come together to become the final show you see on tv.


My view. It was no easy feat being in the audience. 6 hours of filming, 2 bathroom breaks and no food. All those delicious smells were almost torturous.


Thanksgiving feels like ages ago. Spent the day cooking with my best friend who joined us this year.




So much food.


My obsession with David Chang of Momofuku fame has deepened. He is planning on opening a new restaurant this year, Ma Peche. For now, it is serving a preview menu at the Chambers Hotel. Spicy popcorn with nori. Now why don't they serve this in movie theaters?!


Fried rice noodles with lemongrass, garlic and pork. Heavenly.





I heart Tim Burton at the MOMA.

boston

I'm still alive. Work has been owning me lately, lots of late nights and weekends thanks to my new boss. The industry is filled with angry, bitter women who have no friends or significant others. I can see why. Working these crazy hours doesn't leave you much time for a social life! Or even time for yourself. I haven't seen any friends for weeks and I rarely get to speak to my boy during the day.

Luckily, a few weeks ago the best friend and I had our annual Fall trip to Boston. Being only a couple hours away by car, its the perfect place for a mini getaway. Every year when the air gets crisp and the leaves start changing colors, we both have one thing on our mind.

All of our trips revolve around food. This trip was no different.


Perfect quote! I love Flour's sticky buns and cookies!


I'm not really a big fan of sushi, but Snappy's on Newbury St was good!


Heading home. I love sunsets.

avec eric

When the boyfriend and I first started dating, he took me to his favorite restaurant in the city, Le Bernardin. I was wowed by the amazing presentation and every delicious course that came out of the kitchen by Eric Ripert. Ever since then, hands down Le Bernardin has become one of my top New York City restaurants. In my fan club, is the New York Times which has given it 4 stars and the Michelin Guide which given it 3 stars over a span of 20 years.

Eric Ripert has a new show on PBS called Avec Eric. We get to follow him on his travels around the world. We see where he finds inspiration, meets people along the way and then takes what he learns to bring a dish that is easily prepared by you! I know sometimes coooking can be intimdating, but he makes it so easy. I am literally drooling everytime I watch this show!

He had a screening of his show and Q&A session at the Whole Foods on Bowery.

But, the boyfriend and I couldn't even hang on until showed up . We were so hungry and the thought of watching all the delicious food made us delirious. We ended up leaving and catching dumplings at my favorite place in St. Marks, Dumpling man. The pork seared and chicken seared ones are my favorite!

an apple a day

Last weekend, a few of my friends and I made a road trip to Princeton, New Jersey to go apple picking. The weather was drizzly and cold, but since we made the drive out we decided to make the most of it. When we got there luckily the rain stopped just enough for us to pick a few apples.

The farm we went to, Terhune Farm has both vegetables and fruits to pick all year round.


The pumpkin patch.

At the on site store, we were lucky to get a just out of the oven batch of apple cider donuts. They were AMAZING!



We started a bit late in the apple picking season, so most of the varieties were all picked.






I loved the tart little crab apples. I was picking and eating at the same time.


With our fruits of labor, we made an apple crisp.


Freshly made with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Heaven.

let them eat cake

Last week, the bff J and I had one of our weekly girl talk dinners. Our dinners always end with dessert. She and I both have such major sweet tooths! No matter how full we are, we can never say no.

We stopped by La Bergamote in the Meatpacking District. Its a very quaint little patisserie. When we walked in we were greeted by a case of deliciousness. It was so hard to choose! Everything made my mouth water.



A tasty invasion.


We decided to share the Bergamote, their signature dessert and a grape macaron. The grape macaron had such a tangy and sweet taste. I can still taste it! The signature dessert was AMAZING as well.


After stuffing ourselves, we headed over to Milk Studios for the Sam Haskins opening presented by Tommy Hilfiger.



Tommy Hilfiger, Dee Hilfiger and Ludwig Haskins. [Picture from WWD.]

The pictures didn't really impress me much.


I'm too shy to ask celebs to take pictures, so all we could manage was this terrible blackberry photo of Nicky Hilton. She is VERY thin in person and really tall. She seemed bored.



It seemed like all the girls of NYC called each other and decided to dress exactly alike. The "uniform" of the night was a black boyfriend blazer with short skirt/shorts, American Apparel top of some sort and ankle booties/strappy black shoes and a Chanel or Balenciaga bag.

food is love

This weekend was:

Brunch with girlfriends at Five Points. I had a yummy brioche french toast with pecans and mascarpone.


Shopping in Soho, with a pit stop at the Cupcake Stop truck. The red velvet was not bad.


The September Issue at the Sunshine Theater. I don't know if I loved this movie. It was alitle slow for me. I loved Grace Coddington though. She is such a amazing image creator. What exactly does Andre Leon Talley do? It looks like he does jack shit.


Dinner at Pinto with good friends. They have the coolest way of serving thai iced tea and the food is always tasty!


Then off to bed with my snuggle buddy.