Food Time: Patty and Bun

Patty and Bun

61 W 8th St

Manhattan, NY 10011

Neighborhood: Greenwich Village

Third times a charm. So I went here again this weekend and I went with the women in the young leaders group at my church. All I had this time was a soda, but I love this place. The ambiance is cozy, with wooden tables, newspaper print walls, dim lighting, and one long marble bar counter. And they're all burgers, all the time (and an occasional "other" here and there). 

So can I just shout out my friend Rach, who thought it was a Jamaican spot with beef patties, cheese and bun. Ha! Love that girl! 

Anyhow, I love the french toast with drunken bananas, peaches, and walnuts. It was totally drenched in blueberry port maple syrup. The challah bread is crisp on the edges and incredibly soft on the inside, the peaches seem to be coated in a light sugar syrup and the walnuts give just the right amount of crunch! Then the fluffy ricotta pancakes simply melt in your mouth, and the raspberry quince sauce has a tangy-sweetness that compliments the ricotta's smooth and creamy after-taste. And can I just say that the havoc burger with its 3 meats and chimichurri sauce is like the 21st century rendition of a barbarian dinner! Just barbaric! Yes! As for you more proper individuals who prefer small bites and knives and forks, go in and try the sliders...always a classic. Bon appetit!

Images: 

AlwaysHungry.com

Restaurant Review: Paesano (Little Italy)

Paesano of Mulberry Street

136 Mulberry Street

New York, NY 10013

Neighborhood: Little Italy

I went to Paesano's for one of my best friend's birthdays and I got to taste a lot of little things at this place. I went to the gym first so I wouldn't feel guilty for all the rich sauces and fatty fried things I ate. The space is small, but spacious enough for expanding tummies. The calamari was tasty and crunchy, not soggy or heavily breaded like it sometimes is. I hate it when its like that too. Not appetizing. I also tasted some of the fried zucchini, which was a bit salty to me. The Joey's special salad was sooo yummy! I mean I genuinely love salads, but the zucchini and fresh mozzarella really made this bed o' greens worthwhile. I ordered cheese ravioli with meat, in a vodka sauce. The ravioli seemed to be filled with a mixture of ricotta and some other cheese, so you ravioli purists may not approve. I also had some of the birthday girl's veal, it was succulent, but I can't quite remember the name. All of it is relatively inexpensive in my opinion. But go and decide for yourself. Happy eating!

Image Courtesy of: 

everythingaboutfood.net

Restaurant Review: BLT Burger

BLT Burger

470 6th Ave

New York, NY 10010

Neighborhood: Greenwich Village

Gimme ma' burgah! That's what BLT Burger brought out of me the other day. They have a variety of burgers on their menu, and since I love to get more bang for my buck, I got the sliders. You can pick from a black burger, bbq pulled pork, buffalo chicken, and crispy cod. Can I just say that if the mini-burgers were that tasty, I can just imagine what the full size burgers taste like. I think one day I just might be a complete burger beast and eat a few sliders for an appetizer, and then a heavy-duty burger for the main course. Why haven't I considered this brilliant idea before? Because I'm a whack. Anyhow, I also had a fabulously rich, creamy, cookie monster milkshake with cookie dough bits, loads of chips ahoy cookies, and whipped cream....mmmm whipped cream. I think next time I will try the twinkie boy milkshake with twinkies and caramel syrup. Do you think I could ask them to fry the twinkies first? Why don't you check it out and ask them...let me know the verdict! Happy eating!

Restaurant Review: Tue

 Tue

3 Greenwich Avenue

New York, NY 10014

Tue rocks Thai! And for all the food you get (cuz this homegirl can eat!), its surprisingly inexpensive. $10 brunch specials till 4pm. I am the biggest fan of red, white and black decor, so I love the walls here. And the menu has the same "hand-drawn" design  as the walls. There's also a cute little sun-roof in the middle for some au naturale sunlight. 

As for food, well I generally love Thai food, so its all good in my book. But my favorite here is the massaman curry with the hot and spicy curry sauce, peanuts, veggies, and chicken breast pieces...yummy! However, I come here most often for the pomegranate ginger honey iced tea. Its made with pomegranate tea, sweet honey and real ginger for a nice kick...to the throat! Don't believe me? Go try it!

http://www.tuethaifood.com/

Images: 

citypaper.net

Restaurant Review: Cafeteria

Cafeteria

119 7th Ave

New York, NY 10021

Neighborhood: Chelsea

I love me some Mac and Cheese and red velvet cake (not together though)! On my birthday I went to Cafeteria for the first time, and then I went again in the summer. Its a trendy little restaurant in Chelsea. Its a 2 level space and upstairs the decor is that of an upgraded posh cafeteria, and more like a private lounge downstairs. I especially love the booths and leather seats.

I had a decadently moist red velvet cake. When I first had red velvet, I was repulsed just by the color. I always felt like it would be dry and weird tasting. I was a yellow and chocolate cake girl. Pound cake, angel food, marble, lemon, devil's food...all was a plus, but red velvet: ewww and double ewww. Now red velvet and carrot cake, once my most hated desserts, are total favorites. I think my taste has matured over the years. I also had a nice toasted pecan- crusted salmon, buttermilk fried chicken, waffles, pesto polenta, and rich macaroni and cheese. The mac and cheese comes on a tray in sets of 3, one with cheddar and fontina, another with smoked gouda and bacon, and the last with truffle oil. 

Did I already say I love mac and cheese?

Well the one here is one of the best in my book. Un-trusting? Go taste it. Happy Eating!

Feature: Food Affairs and Belly Fat

Thick alfredo sauce on penne, garlic focaccia bread, roasted chicken and bell peppers, basmati rice and chicken tikka masala, pepperoni pizza, wild Alaskan salmon with mashed potatoes, red velvet cake with butter- cream icing, German chocolate cake and a cold glass of milk....food is to me, what kryptonite is to superman. And when I see food, my knees buckle, my heart melts, and I give in to my long standing secret love affair with such delicious goodies.

But upon recently looking down at the spare tire that has added 1o solid pounds to my midsection, I have decided: The time has come to put an end to the madness! I mean for goodness sakes, how many times can one be mistaken for a woman that's 3 months pregnant? So forget the diet pills, the master cleanses, the sure fire ways to lose belly fat, and the gastric bypass, I'm going back to the basics--starvation and emaciation. Okay, so maybe not, but it might as well be as painful as that. I mean really, who enjoys muscle pain and rabbit food? Not I! Yet, experts claim that when you lose weight, belly fat is often the first kind of fat to go.

Medical research has shown that stomach fat, also known as visceral fat, is more metabolically active and easier to lose than subcutaneous fat under the skin. And the good news is that the more fat and flabby your stomach is, the easier it will be to lose the weight. Now ain't that just grand?!

What's even more morose is that as you grow older, belly fat increases in stages. This is due to the body storing fat in order to prepare for moments of starvation and avoid going into shock. In women, the metabolism starts to slow between the ages of 18-21, then takes a huge drop at 40, and then again at 60 and 80. Furthermore, pregnancy, beer, and increased food intake can all contribute along the way to a slower metabolism and increased visceral fat.

So how can you rid yourself of the stubborn belly fat? Here are some tips that I know I could use, and maybe you could too:

• Eating whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates.
  
• This will change the body's glucose and insulin response and make it easier to mobilize fat stores.
• Maintaining a 1,600 calorie-diet that is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAS), which have proven health benefits.
  
• MUFAS are found in avocados, nuts, seeds, olives, soybeans, chocolate and canola and olive oil.
• Getting plenty of high-intensity aerobic exercise, such as 60 minutes a day of moderate activity.
• Brisk walking is an excellent example of moderate activity
• Crunches and sit-ups complement aerobic activity, but don't help if done alone
  

Good luck!

For more helpful hints, click here or here.