Ike & Jane: A Match Made in Sugary Heaven...

Sweet tooth? Live in or around the Athens, Ga area? Ike & Jane is your kind of place. As most of you know, Athens is my hometown and I visit often. I heard about Ike & Jane through friends of mine who live and die for their Nutella Sandwiches. Yes, that's not a typo...a Nutella. Sandwich. As I'm not a huge sweets person, although I do enjoy my Nutella, I just never made it over to the Normal Town area to try one of Ike & Jane's signature sweets. Until last weekend. 

I was happy to hear they have breakfast sandwiches and bagels. That's more my speed. I ordered one of there signatures, Roasted Jalapeño, Bacon, Egg and White Cheddar. This sounded better than it actually was. The bread was the best part, fresh and toasted to buttery perfection but there just wasn't enough filling. It wasn't bad my any means, just not as flavorful or "stacked" as I'd hoped it's be. The bagels looked fantastic. I should've gotten a bagel.

This being said, their sweets were a whole different story. They had rows and rows of fresh doughnuts. Cocoa Pebbles, Fruity Pebbles, Sprinkles. I mean every yummy flavor you can imagine and presented oh so beautifully. I bought a few to take home to my nieces, aka "share" with them. They were beyond were amazing. Two of my friends got the Nutella Sandwich on country bread. Unlike my sandwich, their's was HUGE and full of Nutella. The mother load in my personal opinion was The Elvis. Please see image/major food porn below. A scrumptious doughnut topped with fresh peanut butter, bananas and crispy bacon. OMG. They also have a delectable selection of sweet bars, muffins and other treats as well as some pretty awesome coffee.

Sadly, I would not recommend this spot for breakfast sandwiches (they also have lunch sandwiches, soups & salads but I haven't tried them yet). HOWEVER for any and all things sweet we've got a winner. The doughnuts (for sure) and the Nutella sandwich alone are worth coming back for. 

Those lucky Athens, Ga locals...

The Elvis. 

Eat Up!

Everyone has to wait at Joe's ... And it's worth it.

Welcome to sunny Miami friends! I'm going to do a little throw back post to when I was down south last month. Joe's Stone Crab is a South Beach institution. It was established in 1913...that's right as in 100 years old and they've been going strong ever since. Joe's does not take reservations unless you're a party of 20 or more booking private dining. They're notoriously known for extremely long wait times and for serving up succulent, sweet Stone Crab Claws.

A few friends of mine went last year and told me they waited about an hour for a table at dinner which I supposed isn't horrible. Fun Fact: While they were waiting a certain Food Network star (who will remain nameless) checked in and name dropped herself and the fact she was from the Food Network. The host was very kind thanking her for coming in and then proceeded to tell her it would be a 2 hour wait. I love that. Everyone is equal when it comes to vying for a table at Joe's. My buddies told me the food was amazing so I knew I had to make this dining destination a priority. 

When we arrived at lunch on a Saturday there was no wait but they were certainly busy. The space is massive so it's pretty crazy to me they get so busy as they have an insane seating capacity. They're a bit fancier then I expected. I guess I envisioned a chill, beach-y fish shack kinda place. Joe's decor is very sophisticated with dark brown woods, soft leather and a bit of outdoor seating. The servers are dressed to a "T" and the style of service is very formal. Not unfriendly by any means but I did find them a bit stiff. I had on a cute sundress with a hat and although I didn't feel out of place per se, I probably would have taken the time to do my hair had I had known. Whoops.

AnyWho! The food was out of this world. Super fresh EVERYTHING. Even the bread and butter they start you off with is top notch. Although the Stone Crab Claws are the main draw, for me the Fried Oysters and Coleslaw were the serious standouts. One must also get the Key Lime Pie for dessert. Joe's Stone Crab is a perfect spot to hit when visiting South Beach for any crab/seafood lover. Ryan and I will definitely be returning the next time we're in the area. Perhaps for dinner and we'll just be prepared to spend our wait time sipping cocktails at their stunning bar. Drink up!  

The BEST coleslaw you will ever taste. It's served in an almost deconstructed fashion with just the right amount of creaminess from the mayo. The slaw itself is already pickled so the entire dish is full of incredible flavor. 

My slammin' Fried Oysters! The exterior was perfectly fried and crisp but the interior oyster plump and tender. Amazing. To top it off they serve these babies with a house-made cocktail 

AND tartare sauce. 

OMG. A seafood lovers dream.

Chef Jerie with his platter of seafood goodness...and bib of course.

House-made Key Lime Pie to finish off lunch. The perfect ending.

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala...

I had only heard of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic in recent years. I think it's one of those fabulous NYC events that only foodies, mixologists and people in the hospitality industry know about as I became "in the know" when I was working in food PR. It's similar to the Lucky Rice Festival or NY Food & Wine in that it's a series of events focusing on food/booze. Being it's the cocktail classic, the focus is more on the booze and less on the food. The big event to kick off this hangover induced weekend is the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala. This black tie soiree is held at the timeless New York Public Library, an epic space for large scale events and swanky social gatherings. It's literally four floors of bars cranking out 25,000 (yes, that's 25,000) handcrafted cocktails and tasty spirits. Not only is this a cocktail connoisseur's dream but you can also find tasty treats such as savory veggies from Jacobs Pickles and sweet, boozy bites from Tipsy Scoop. To "top off" the evening, there's the unlimited entertainment lurking inside every corridor. Live bands, fortune tellers, acrobats, celebrity performances (this year Big Boi from OutKast preformed!!!), countless step & repeats and more. It was like walking through a wonderland fun house for the 21 and up. 

There are still tickets available to this week's MCC events and they can be found on their website (An Afternoon of Cocktails and Chocolate is calling my name...) but you'll have to wait until next year to experience the amazing-ness that is The MCC Gala. FYI-Gala tickets run about $195 for regular entry and $295 for VIP. Either ticket is 150% worth the experience and they sell out fast. The MCC is always held in May so mark your calendars and set a reminder to buy your tickets early. This is one of those "only in New York" experiences you do NOT want to miss.  

The bustling first floor of the New Public Library

The hubs double fisting a couple of Hangar One Vodka cocktails. So proud:-)

A little fresh coconut water to re-hydrate.

DRINK UP!

Cha-Cha-Cha Chia Seeds!

Chia seeds! One of my favorite “superfoods"! I know I’ve mentioned my love for Chia Seeds in past posts but now I want to get into all the reasons why I sneak chia seeds into my daily diet and why you should do the same...


1.) Nutrition: These little guys are packed full of everything you need in life, a little protein, some fat and tons of dietary fiber. Plus they’re a mineral providing powerhouse with calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorous. This alone is a good enough reason to keep Chia Seeds around, but let me continue...

2.) Weight Loss: I mean, everyone is trying to keep a healthy weight right? Chia Seeds absorb a ton of water so they make you feel full longer and keep you nice and hydrated. Want to lose and/or maintain your weight? Eat Chia.


3.) Omega 3’s: They're high in Omega-3s
. If you’re not eating enough fish, they’re a great alternative. Like the omega-3s in flax seeds, the chia omega-3s are more difficult to digest than fish omega-3s so it's best to use ground chia seeds. It makes it a little easier on your body to get the goods it needs.

4.) Staying Regular: Did I mention they were high in fiber? They promote a healthy digestive system, which is always a beautiful thing.

5.) Easy To Find & Consume: You can find these guys at any health food store and even some chain ones. There's also a variety of brands on amazon.com so you can get them delivered right to your door. My favorite way to eat my Chia Seeds is blended in my fruit and spinach smoothies but you can add them on top of salads, oatmeal, granola or really any dish, as Chia Seeds do not have much of a flavor on their own. I hear they can even be used as an egg replacer! Crazy!

My fave brand of Chia Seeds!

Healthy goodness. Eat.them.up.

What's Cookin' at Tenth Ave Cookshop...

“I love Cookshop!” one of my old bosses said with incredible enthusiasm. This was the first time I had heard of this Chelsea favorite. This was about 2 years ago and since then I’ve heard this same statement come from many of my colleagues. Yes, yes I know. For those of you who have eaten there you’re probably wondering why the hell it took so long. Well, about a week ago Ryan and I were going to be in the neighborhood. We both adore Chelsea Market and were going there to shop and walk around and figured we needed a place to have dinner. Cookshop is about a five minute walk away...done and done. This just happened to be one of the first spring-y days in NYC and Cookshop has abundant outdoor seating. Huge bonus. The scene is very cool. Crowded with what seemed to be a pretty hip crowd and an attractive staff. We of course opted to sit outside. 

We loved it. The menu is seasonal and Chef Mark Meyer executes a beautiful menu. Our favorite items were the Deviled Eggs (a must order), the bread (yes, the free bread that comes before your meal. So.good.), The Raw Veggie Salad (super fresh and healthy), The Split Chicken and the Ball Park Sundae.  The service was also wonderful. If you’re in the hood an/or looking for a great place to dine outdoors, then head to Cookshop for a drink and a tasty meal.

They do take reservations but not for outdoor seating so if it’s a nice day and you’re looking to dine al fresco then arrive early. Eat up!

The best bread. Some how it’s fluffy, moist and chewy all at the same time with a flavorful, onion exterior. Delish.

Tasty little Deviled Eggs with and onion relish. Clearly we dig onions. 

The Mulled Dates with creme fraiche. Ryan liked this dish but this was actually my least favorite. The dates had a very strong wine flavor as if they had been poached a tad too long. Again, Ryan liked them, they just weren’t very friendly to my personal palate. 

Our tender little Gnocchi’s. I wish the portion was larger, I could’ve eaten 3 bowls. Yum.

Split Chicken with torn bread croutons. The chicken was unbelievable. So juicy and the sauce was divine. I have to say however the croutons were my favorite part. They were INSANE. 

Homemade goodness. 

Ball Park Sundae with caramel popcorn and brownie bits...nuff’ said. 

Enjoy!

An Epic Meal at NYC's ABC Kitchen

Jean-Georges's ABC Kitchen has been an NYC favorite for several years now. Even to this day a reservation is extremely hard to come by especially on the weekends. Having been in the industry for a while now, I've certainly seen my share of "sustainable" restaurants. Descriptions such as "Green Market" and "Farm to Table" are thrown around like rag dolls all over Manhattan and other up and coming foodie cities. One does wonder how these statements really hold up. Part of ABC Kitchen's success is they practice what they preach. Their food is not only creative, delicious and presented beautifully but also incredibly fresh. It's literally something you can taste. The first "green flag" is the menu actually does change seasonally. If you're at a "Farm to Table" restaurant and the menu stays the same year around or you're there in the summer and the majority of the menu is made with winter produce, you know you've been duped. This being said, we all live in different climates and areas so it's pretty difficult for all menu items and their components to be locally sourced and organic. The point (like ABC Kitchen states) is to offer the freshest ingredients possible and for them to be pesticide and GMO free, always honoring global sustainability. I love it!

ABC Kitchen's executive chef, Dan Kluger, has been in the New York food scene for over 15 years. The man knows his stuff. I am so in love with his menus. I love how approachable they are. I can totally appreciate when chefs spruce up dishes with liquid nitrogen and/or uses exotic ingredients and techniques, however there's so much to be said for simple, pure food. A huge plus is the prices are also fairly approachable (for NYC standards of course:-) and the portions are plentiful. I loved the pastas and whole wheat pizzas! I also can not say enough about the ambiance. Being that the restaurant is part of ABC Home, a high-end furniture store and design firm, you would certainly expect some impressive decor. Yet again, ABC Kitchen exceeds expectations. Everything you see from the moment you walk through the doors is impeccably designed and placed. I loved the little florals and table settings, too cute. The service was also wonderful. Everyone was friendly, down to earth yet knowledgeable and I adore that they wear flannel. Very cool.

Menu standouts from our first time include the Kabocha Squash Toast, The Mushroom Pizza with Egg, Every Pasta, The Organic Fried Chicken and Seasonal Doughnuts. For your drinking delight: The Sour Cherry Old-Fashioned. I can not wait to go back. To my absolute glee, I see a lot of ramps on the menu for spring...

ABC Cocina, the newest concept under the ABC umbrella, is on my must go-to list. 

Blog post to come! 

Kabocha Squash Toast with Ricotta Cheese: One of the best bites I've had in a long time. Heavenly. 

Our assortment of cured meats & local cheeses with accompaniments...need we say more?

Can you say "food porn"? That egg...YUM!

Fried Organic Chicken. This batter was insane. Thick and crunchy served with a deletable hot butter sauce. I'm pretty sure this was a chicken breast but it was so juicy and tender, it could easily be mistaken for dark meat. 

Fresh, house made donuts to finish off the meal. 

Eat Up!

Foodie Things to Do In NYC-Make Some Mozz!!!

Yet another fun find on Gilt City. A mozzarella making class at Tommy Lasagna! I've seen this offer on Gilt a few times and have heard good things. Chef Tommy Mosera is the chef and owner of this fairly new gem in NYC's Gramercy neighborhood. Judging from reviews the food is pretty kick ass. Since I live on the West Side it can, at times, take an act of god (or insanely good food) to get me to head across town. A mozzarella making class with my hubby that includes cheese, lasagna samples AND wine is a sure fire way to get me to the East Side;-)

Chef Tommy teaches the class himself which I love. They offer a mozzarella making class for $74 per person and a lasagna making class (which we're definitely planning to go to) for $95. Chef Tommy was awesome. Not only was he super knowledgeable and informative but uber pleasant. A genuinely nice guy. He started the class by pouring everyone a glass of crisp white wine to compliment the cheese. We went through all the steps: warming the curds for stretching, adding the salt, checking proper temperatures which is a MUST when making fresh cheese. We made 3 different types of mozzarella-a fresh ball to take home, Bocconcini (little marinated balls of joy) and fresh mozzarella rolled with sopressata. Through out the class we sampled our cheeses and at the end...had the pleasure of sampling Chef Tommy's famous lasagna. I mean there's a reason the restaurant is named after the Italian staple. The class and the food get an A+. Ryan and I can't wait to go back. 

If you're looking for something fun to do, have company visiting or gift hunting for a fellow foodie, a class at Tommy Lasagna is a good way to go. FYI-classes really do fill up fast so plan ahead and check out Gilt for specials!

Notice the "Eat Up" ;-)

The man himself...

Our soon to be yummy cheese curds warming up for stretching!

Our marinated mozzerella knots with olive oil, fresh basil and crushed red pepper. Yum!

The hubs enjoying a little piece of heaven, aka Tommy's Lasagna with meat sauce and bechemel.

Eat Up!