I’ve went to Tocqueville toward what’s supposedly the last few days of Restaurant Week. The thing to know is, Tocqueville has a year-round prix fixe for the same price. I went there just because it’s close to where a friend of mine works (I wanted to say “hi” to him.), I wanted to try a certain dish that’s available a la carte, and I haven’t been to this restaurant after it moved from its previous location over two years ago.
Interior
The small yet elegant dining room was occupied by a few gentlemen behind me, sitting in the center where the plush banquettes were located with Spanish acoustic music playing moderately loud.
Bread service, my bread plate, and gougeres
During bread service, the waiter told me three options available – brioche, rosemary cheese stick, and a white roll. I’ve opted for the brioche, found it a bit too dense and eggy, and the rosemary cheese stick which I truly liked a lot from its sharp, cheese flavor (that melted and created a lovely crust) with rosemary studded throughout the bread stick with sea salt flakes heightened the flavors. All bread were served warm but my little issue was the butter, that’s a bit too cold to be spreadable against the pillow-y brioche. The gougeres were served a bit later. Warm, airy but not as cheesy as the bread stick. Continue reading “Lunch at Tocqueville” »
For several years, I’ve been dying to go to Casa Mono just because I read about their tasty tapas in a publication (I think it was The New York Times?) that extolled the food. Also hearing it from several foodies helps build my excitement to eat there as well. But I haven’t gone there since I didn’t know anyone who would eat there with me. That’s until I met up with my Aussie reader, Suzen and her friend Sarah who was interested in trying out the food. Woot. Continue reading “Tapas at Casa Mono” »
I kicked off Restaurant Week (back on Tuesday, January 22nd) with lunch with my three girl friends: Giulia, Seungmi, and Helen, at Devi. Yep, we’re exploring into realm of haute Indian cuisine since what we’ve encounter in our pasts were heavy, greasy, fire breathing-spicy Indian food. We had high hopes for this place since I’ve heard a lot about it on Chowhound. And yes, I do acknowledge the fact that they do serve a prix fixe lunch on a normal basis but we craved Indian food.
Ya know, I should be paying attention of my intake of pastries these days, especially with the fact that my birthday’s next Friday. Aging would mean the slowing of metabolism, cholesterol levels are bound to be high by now, especially with the blood sugar levels with the stuff I’m eating. I would eat healthier foods but I would feel deprived if I don’t eat sweets or any “bad” foods. At least I’m working out…
A few days ago, I went back to Amai Tea & Bake House since everyone from the previous post about them, were commenting about trying out their scones and cookies. It seems strange that I came back so soon, but I was in the neighborhood and I was STARVING. I don’t know why, but I was.
As you’ll see on the photo below, I went insane for pastries. I ended up with a vanilla bean scone, an Early Grey and currant scone, a green tea matcha cookie, white tea and strawberry cookie, and an almond chai cookie. Yeah, that’s a lot…along with a side of lavender butter for an extra fifty cents.
Saturday was kind of unusual for me. It’s rainy yet warm, I feel so stinkin’ tired because I want to finish up my papers…and I passed by an anti-war protest in Union Square as I walked around the Greenmarket (or Farmers’ Market, as most New Yorkers call it). I know the latter didn’t make sense, but it follows the “unusual” part on a tangent…
Note: I’m going to write about Café Gray on a separate post. I know probably a few of you might have seen the photos but I’m not going to talk about them today…but sometime very soon.
On Monday, I went was around Union Square during my lunch break since I have about an hour and ten minutes after commuting down there via the subway. Since I’m tired of eating at City Bakery and I don’t want to eat sweets that day, surprisingly (probably due to the fact that I was semi-sick?), I went to Maoz Vegetarian.
I apologize for not writing for a while, even though you see the photos from my Flickr photostream on my sidebar and the page itself, it’s just because I’m busy with work, studying for LSATs, and now my family is going through a rough time because my mother’s seriously ill. I’m just writing to you guys now for the sake of not focusing on my mother’s situation and keeping myself sane. So, here’s what happened on Monday, when things were generally mirthful.
It’s been an awful while for me to have a real day of fooding. What I mean is that I went to more than two places for the sake of food or drinks in one day. Where have I been to? Just read on.
During the morning, I went all the way to the Upper West Side for the sake of cookies. You might be thinking, “Cookies for breakfast? You must be nuts!” Well, for me there is no time restraints for the sake of sweets. Think about it. Some of us eats donuts, muffins (which sometimes taste like a cupcake), chocolate croissants, or danishes for breakfast. How can you tell me that eating a cookie is a ridiculous idea? Anyways, I went to Levain Bakery.
For the past two or more weeks, I’ve been going in and out of a few bakeries and coffeehouses just because I love them…and the fact that I’m waiting for my Restaurant Week lunch reservations to kick in sooner.
I went to my first (coffee) love Joe (the one in Union Square), since it’s been ages since I last went there. I always pass this tiny shoebox size of a bakery that is called The Adore. I didn’t eat breakfast the morning when I was going to Eleven Madison Park, so I went in and got myself a croissant and walked over three stores down to Joe for a cup of coffee, their Coffee of the Week, Indian Mysore.
I’ll do this post in chronological order. Back on Tuesday, I went to Bouchon Bakery for dessert. I think this shouldn’t surprise you anymore to the fact that I’m getting a bit monotonous with this place but…I can’t help it. Their stuff is too tasty and pretty not talk about. Anyways, I had their “Le Mont Blanc” ($7.75) and a cup of coffee.
This week I went Japanese: for lunch and a dessert flight, if you will. The latter will be explained later on. On Tuesday, I went to Choshi Sushi for lunch. There are two reasons for this venture: (1) I craved for sushi, (2) Chowhounders recommend this place, and (3) I found out recently that this week is Japanese Restaurant Week and that they are participating this event.
I went there when it just opened for lunch (12 PM). The place looks clean and streamlined. Take a look:
Split in half…
