I’m Still Alive

Sorry for the lack of posting – it’s been a weird week (that involved 3 hours at the DMV and a frantic search for a new apartment for a friend). And unfortunately, it hasn’t involved much eating. I’ll be back next week with high spirits and lots of great food ideas. Until then, have a great weekend! And enjoy Manhattanege tonight.

Indoor-Outdoor Seating

Saw this and completely agree: “As the weather warms up, restaurants who keep their windows open wide maintain a serious advantage over their stuffier competitors,” says Gothamist. I think I like restaurants that open their windows more than sidewalk seating—it’s the best of both worlds. And the neighborhood is all about opening their windows, check out some of my favorites who take part: Kampuchea, Tapeo 29, Thai on Clinton (which is called something else now), Bondi Road, Schiller’s, Salt Bar, Barrio Chino, and Spitzer’s Corner.

A Sunday at the Flea

I’ve been dying to go to the Brooklyn Flea since it opened, but it’s pretty much rained every Sunday for the past few weeks (or I’ve been away for a wedding). This Sunday’s forecast? Sunny and in the 70s. And, after seeing this article about the Flea in the NY Times, I’m even more amped to go. Mostly, I’m dying to check out the Whimsy & Spice goodies that I read about all the time on Sweet, Fine, Day. Everything they make looks so darn delicious! There’s also news that the Red Hook vendors are setting up satellite stands at the Flea—and let’s face it, if I didn’t make it out to Red Hook last year, what are the chances this year? I’m not so into the artsy, crafty stuff that will probably be there, but I can use it to convince others to come with me. I think Dachsies wants to go; and I can probably get Johnny in. Who wants to join?

LES News Bites

• Committee Board 3 rejected Ludlow Street’s Darkroom for a liquor license renewal. They cited several infractions including noise complaints a few counts of selling booze to minors.  — Eater
• There’s news of a potential Italian spot on B and 3rd from a very prestigious wine-shop owner. — Eater
• The team behind Stanton Social are planning on opening a “tapas-style steakhouse” at 146 Essex in what is now a furniture shop. — Eater
• Two new Japanese restaurants coming to the hood with liquor licenses: a noodle shop called Souen (6th between A and B) and robata-style cooking joint aptly named Robataya (9th between 2nd and 3rd). — Eater

Popcorn is Screwing the Movie Industry

While having dinner with friends last night, they informed me that I might be paying MORE than the $11-12 I pay now for NYC movie tickets. This seems so unfair. Apparently, because the cost of corn is skyrocketing, thus inflating the cost of popcorn, we can all expect a 30% increase in our movie tickets. That means that our $11.50 tickets will be $14.95. Add to that the surcharge of Fandango, because half the time, if you want to guarantee a ticket for a Friday night screening you’ve got to buy ahead, and we’re looking at about $16.50 a ticket. Ridiculous. And it’s all because we’re trying to be green and run our cars on ethanol fuel… I knew saving the environment would cost me in the end! I have to agree with Gawker here—the average cost of a movie ticket is $6.88, so why not just raise the price for those people?! We’re already paying almost double that!

Photo via.

The Truth

From SwissMiss.

Best Sandwich Ever

I was looking at YumSugar’s ‘Wich of the Week today, and it reminded me of something I used to make for dinner all the time in college—the Spanglish Sandwich. Yes, I watched (and still own) the movie Spanglish—I actually saw it in the movie theater and cried my eyes out… though, it doesn’t take much to make me teary. Then, on the DVD, there’s a special feature where you can learn how to make the late-night sandwich that Adam Sandler (playing a prominent chef) makes at the end of a long day at his restaurant. The recipe was actually created by celeb chef Thomas Keller of Per Se fame, and it really is the perfect, satisfying meal for tired, late-night cravings. For the recipe,

Tell ‘Em Sister

Considering J just made fun of me for the fact that I hung a Rosie the Riveter poster in my college dorm room, I thought this magnet was hysterical and appropriate (via Kitchn). Only $5 on Etsy!

Get Ready for Finger-Licking BBQ

The Big Apple BBQ is officially taking over Madison Square Park again on June 7th and 8th (found on Grub Street). The NY notables that will be grilling it up: Hill Country, Blue Smoke, Dinosaur, and Rack & Soul. This is very exciting news since I’m craving BBQ and was turned away at Georgia’s Eastside BBQ last night because they were re-doing their floors… Blast! FYI: get to the Big Apple BBQ EARLY… the food goes fast and the crowd is ginormous!

Off to the Cape

J and I are right in the thick of wedding season—spent last weekend in Cape May and this weekend we’re off to Cape Cod. I’m hoping to have a repeat meal of the pic above from last summer in Cape Cod. Lobster rolls, clam chowder, and fried calamari!!! (And yes, we are wearing bibs.) Unfortunately, I’m afraid I’ll be chowing down on wedding food instead

Clean Out Your Cabinets to Help End Hunger

Over on YumSugar I saw that May 10 (this Saturday) is the 16th Annual Stamp Out Hunger drive which is organized by the US Postal Service. To get in on the action, all you have to do is leave a bag of non-perishable food near your mailbox before Mr. Mailman gets to your house. YumSugar also says: “citizens living in New York City and Chicago are encouraged to take their food to a local post office branch because the mail carriers won’t be able to easily transport all the donations they receive.” I think what they actually meant to say is: citizens living in NYC should take their food to a local post office because your wannabe-artist/media editor/college student neighbor will probably just steal it if you leave it unattended. Anyway, to find your nearest post office click here.

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Sweet, Sweet Sangria

Monday night meant a roof-top Cinco de Mayo party at the apartment which featured Erica’s signature and delicious Strawberry-Grapefruit White Sangria. Here’s how you make it:

Ingredients:

4 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc
1 cup White Rum (although I did it with raspberry vodka once and it was delish)
2 Pink Grapefruit Juiced (about 1 cup)
1 Pink Grapefruit
1 Pint of Strawberries
1/2 cup sugar

Instructions:
- thinly slice strawberries, mix with sugar and let sit covered at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight (it will turn into a kinda strawberry simple syrup)
- juice two grapefruits, mix with rum and let sit covered at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight
- cut the other grapefruit in circles (optional)
- mix wine, strawberry and sugar mixture, and rum and grapefruit mixture together, float grapefruit circles on the top)
- enjoy

I don’t have a photo of the actual finished product, so use your imagination with the one above.

Les Enfant Terrible is Actually Terrific

I was browsing through my blog posts and realized that I mentioned a few weeks ago Les Enfants Terrible as “a restaurant I keep hearing great things about and still haven’t been to.” Update: I went. And now I would like to add my great things to the pile. It’s cuisine is a mix of African/Moroccan, French, and Brazilian. And we really ate something from across the board of those countries: one grilled steak, one rice paper flower filled w/ seasonal sauteed vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes & sweet potatoes) in spicy curry and garlic sauce, and one Bozo-Bozo—a potato-crusted wild striped bass served with spinach, artichoke, fennel confit and light saffron ginger and lemongrass seafood broth. Sounds mouthwatering because it was! It’s not listed on the menu, but the fish also has some cooked plaintains on top which added a great sweet flavor. Then, we finished with Mousse de Maracuja (passion fruit)—which will always remind me of being in the beautiful Trancoso, Brazil. Final touch: we ordered a glass of champagne each. It was a perfect night where we got to feel fancy and eat delicious food without dropping mega bucks on the bill.

Mom’s Day Giveaway

We’re giving away a cute brunch kit from Williams-Sonoma at GoodyBlog. Head over to their site and enter by midnight Friday, May 8, to win. There’s a bunch of other prizes you can check out as well.

Stimulus-Worthy Meals

I got my stimulus rebate on Friday – direct deposit to my account. And it took all of my willpower to move it immediately into my savings account. But NY Mag did a cute article on 18 Ways to Blow Your Tax Rebate, and they included a section on food. Their short term investment: buying 6 $100 orders of eels at Le Berardin this week for you and 5 friends. Medium term: Buy a one-year membership to the wine auction house Acker, Merrall & Condit’s Platinum Wine Club. And long term: get a 90-minute group lesson (for 12 people) from the experts at Murray’s Cheese. And here’s my own, personal suggestion: book the 9-course tasting menu at Per Se for two and then cringe when you have to leave your leftover $100 for a 20% tip.

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