I Can Cook: A whole day's food

Usually when I undertake a cooking endeavor I try one dish at a time. I don't know what overcame me, but today I cooked Brunch and Dinner. But dinner wasn't just one dish- it included an appetizer and dessert. Whoa. Calm down now. We started the day out with Cannoli Stuffed French Toast with a side of fresh papaya,



and I could have quit right there, but no. I trekked on and we finished our day with Onion Rings and Chicken Wings.




I know this is all sounding like a fairly unhealthy day, but all the recipes were from Hungry Girl, so were completely guilt free. I tried to end the day in a flourish by attempting to make a souffle,



but as you can see, I couldn't rise to the occasion. I don't feel too discouraged though since souffles are infamously difficult to get right, I gotta start somewhere- and with some whipped cream and cocoa powder for garnish it wasn't half bad.

Best Bagel: Murray's

5/30/10

One of the mornings that we were moving in we went to the closest bagel joint, grabbed some bagels, and kept working away. These bagels were not good. So when the Mr. suggested we grab some more of said bagels the next day, I threw on the brakes at hit the interwebs to find some real bagels. It took a lot to convince him that those bagels weren't that great and that instead of two blocks, we should walk almost a mile for a bagel. Then, once we got there there was a line. He was not feeling this little escapade "how much better can they possibly be". But then, all of the frustration melted after he took his first bite and he saw the light. So now I've got the Mr. well on his way to being a real New York bagel snob and in the mean time I'm now trying to convince him that we don't have to go to Murrays every day.

Max Brenner: Real Life Willy Wonka

Stopped into Max Brenner in Union Square for dessert. This place is a must for any chocoholic in NYC. Some people turn up their noses at this place for being 'touristy'- you know what, fine. While you are over there being snobby, I'm going to be in chocolate heaven having a blissful chocolate-filled experience. Pictured here is their version of Tiramisu which comes in an adorable little jar with fresh fruit and a beaker of rich, velvety chocolate. All served on a plate that resembles loose leaf paper. As if the chocolate wasn't enough by itself, they have to go and make it all cute too. Ach, you've got me Max Brenner, and I will come back to you again and again.

Angelo & Maxie: These dudes know steak

Sometimes I have this assumption that the restaurant across the street from you can't be that good. I mean, it's just too easy right? Hop across the street and get a great meal? Where is the hunt? Nonetheless, we need to scope out our local haunts, so to Angelo & Maxie's we went. Out came the bread basket:


Mmmmmmooo. Delicious. Especially the onion roll. And I loved the little cow that came on top of the butter, you can roll your eyes all you want. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.

We started off with the Portabello mushroom stuffed with goat cheese & wild mushrooms. I'm going to let the picture speak for this one, because it was every bit as good as it looked.

Then it was time to bring on the meat. Honestly I don't remember which cut we split since that is more the Mr's department, but it was good. Real good. For sides we got the mashed potatoes and creamed spinach which I could not stop going back for more helpings of.

Now here I will add my disclaimer that we still haven't been to Peter Luger's or Craft or any of the other high end steakhouses that make boasts of being the end all be all of steak, but we enjoyed the mid-level price and fanciness range of this place. Nice for an evening out that's definitely a few steps up from Outback, but not something you have to save up all year for.

Baohaus: Buns Runner Up

Momofuku's pork buns have launched The Mr. on a quest to find the best pork buns in NYC. The Food Network featured Baohaus on Ultimate Recipe Showdown so off we went. It's a small joint with limited seating, no frills, just buns. The Mr. ordered a Sidra apple drink and I went for a hot chrysanthemum tea and we grabbed some stools and waited for our buns. On our menu for the evening: The Haus Bao, The Chairman Bao, The Uncle Jesse (close-up) and Sweet Black Sesame Bao Fries. Our favorite was the Haus Bao which was hangar steak since the pork belly Chairman Bao was just a sad substitution for Momofuku's. The Bao fries sounded heavenly, but were basically bread with some sweet black sesame icing. Everything was good, but definitely not outstanding and not worth coming back for.