Spot Stole My Heart

New Favorite Dessert "Spot"

After Scott and I finished up our Ramen dinner, I was ready for dessert! While we walked on St. Marks, I noticed Spot Dessert Bar (http://www.spotdessertbar.com/). I have wanted to go to this place for A LONG TIME but the time never presented itself. Tonight, however, the stars aligned! We didn't ease into dessert either, we ordered four dessert tapas. Clearly, one would have been enough. Though, who thinks clearly when dessert is involved?

Our desserts came out in the order I posted the photos below. As a funny coincidence, the order they came out in was also my preference of the desserts. To begin, the Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake stole my heart.

Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake

The cake was heaven on a plate. It was hot and cold - the perfect balance of a straight out of the oven cake and freshly scooped ice cream melting on it. God help me, I need another one. NOW. The warm soft dark chocolate cake is filled with a green tea ganache, green tea ice cream and walnut soil. It is perfection and beautiful. Next, came the Golden Toast!

Golden Toast

The Golden Toast is so completely random yet delicious. It is honey buttered toast with condensed milk, vanilla ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream. This tapa reminded me of French toast without the maple flavor. It was a nice complement to the lava cake. We would have been ahead just stopping with two desserts. However, we already ordered four because we are gluttonous pigs. Next up, Kabocha Brulee Cake - an Asian interpretation of pumpkin pie.

Kabocha Brulee Cake

This was OK. If I had not already enjoyed the lava cake and toast, I would have likely thought this was a better dessert. However, in comparison to two star performances, this one was doomed from the start. This cake is a warm Japanese pumpkin cake (more of a custard though), with walnut "soil" aka crumbs, and condensed milk ice cream.  The final dessert was super disappointing even though it contained Thai Tea flavors, the Thai Tea Crème Brulee.

Thai Tea Crème Brulee

This final dessert was a huge letdown. Frownie brownie. It was a Thai tea infused cream custard with caramelized sugar and served with a cup of hot Thai Tea. Ugh. Wish we didn't order it but sometimes you don't know until it is too late - with dessert and many other things, am I right?

Anyway, you MUST go here. Maybe just get 1 or 2 desserts. Stick with my first two choices and you are golden (no pun intended).

Cheers,

Liz

Tea for Two at Cha-An

One Last Get Together Before Break!

Before we parted our separate ways for break, Melissa and I got together for one last fun activity! We wanted to meet for afternoon tea and did some research. We ended up selecting Cha-An (http://www.chaanteahouse.com/) after debating among many choices. As my review will show you, we may have not made the best decision!

The Outside is Inviting!

I took a peek at the menu online before we got there. I ordered a dessert set-up: Cha-An's Sweets, with cookies, a fresh baked earl grey scone (the highlight of the visit) and pound cake. This was $16 and I assumed it would included Tea....since it was for Afternoon Tea. I read the fine-print and it was $5 more for tea!! I thought this was a bit expensive for what it was, especially since a tea set-up generally includes tea.

Cha-An's Sweets - earl grey scone on the lower right!

I (unhappily) paid $5 for tea - I got a black tea - Darjeeling 2nd Flush. It was a smallish pot and I drank most of it before my desserts even came. I could get refills of course...but it was $5. Other places I've been for tea, the tea is unlimited. I've been spoiled apparently!

Darjeeling 2nd Flush

There are much better places in the city for tea. I doubt I'll come back. If you stop by, maybe just order a small dessert - the black sesame crème brulee with black sesame ice cream is "famous" there.

Cheers!
Liz

 

Chocolate and Bourbon Are Besties

A Chocolate Lava Cake is Best Eaten with Friends

Saturday night, Meredith and I walked over to a dessert spot located very close to me. I've gone there several times and it hasn't let me down. It is called Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar (http://www.ayzanyc.com/midtown/index.html). Meredith had a hankering for chocolate and ordered the Lava Cake. 

Lava Cake is Best Served Warm and With Vanilla Ice Cream

For our cocktails, Meredith ordered the Chocolate Raspberry Martini. 

Pure Decadence. Served with a piece of chocolate.

I attempted to order a Bulleit Rye Perfect Manhattan. Unfortunately, the spot didn't have Bulleit Rye, so I had it with Maker's Mark. It definitely wasn't the same. I "struggled" through it because I am a good sport. 

This Perfect Manhattan wasn't quite "Perfect" without Bulleit Rye

If you're in the neighborhood and have a craving for a sweet fix, I encourage you to check out this spot. You will not be disappointed!

Cheers, Liz

 

A Cause for Celebration!

Visiting NYC's Hottest New Restaurant, Piora

My close friend, Liv, and I had two huge reasons for celebration: after a year of recruiting, interviewing, and interning, we have job offers. It feels great! I tend to celebrate momentous occasions with food and drink. Allison, the fabulous entrepreneur behind Brenne Whisky (http://drinkbrenne.com/), recommend this spot: Piora (http://www.pioranyc.com/). In addition to carrying her incredibly whisky, the restaurant is currently ranked #1 on Eater Manhattan's Heatmap for Where to Eat in Manhattan. Given these two pieces of information, I made a reservation!

As we reviewed the menu, we ordered cocktails. I ordered Fall Leaves (Plymouth Gin, Calvados, Apple, Maple Syrup, Tea and Lemon). It was yummy! It reminded me of fall, a blend of apple cider flavors and maple! Liv ordered the Wear and Tear, a play on an Old Fashioned, made with Old Overhold Rye, Aperol, Chartreuse Jeune, Cinzano  and Angostura. 

Fall Leaves

Wear and Tear

Once we got our cocktails, the chef presented us with an amuse-bouche. It was crisp, light and tasty. A nice way to prepare the palate for what was to come!

Amuse-Bouche

We had to order the Monkey Bread!! It is served hot, warm, sweet and salty with two awesome spreads: Lardo (aka pork fat) and Seaweed Butter. Each spread was awesome in its own right and I'm not sure which I preferred.

Monkey Bread - Lardo (left) and Seaweed Butter (right)

For our entrees, we started with a split order of Bucatini. The pasta is black because it is made with black garlic and a little squid ink is added. There is also crab and mushrooms on top - simply divine. Since we split the pasta, our server was gracious enough to separate into two bowls. It can be awkward to split pasta!

Bucatini

For the entrees, we split the Duck (a perfectly prepared breast) and the Halibut (with mushrooms and brown butter)

Duck...Duck...

...Halibut!

With our dinner, I ordered a glass of white and Liv ordered a glass of red wine.

A pair of happy glasses

You know we totally got dessert! Liv ordered a glass of Port, but I wanted to try the ice cream (chocolate, salted caramel and vanilla). Liv is such a good friend that she offered to try it too!

3 Scoops of Awesome

The owner, Simon, came by our table and we chatted about our mutual friend (Allison, mentioned above). I should say that I know her more, since she is a celebrity of sorts - we got a complimentary dessert! It was lovely.

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Before we left, I had to snap a photo of the back-bar. I saw Allison's bottle of Brenne! I am so proud of her! I realize the photo is bad. It was tricky taking a photo without completely infiltrating someone's personal space.

Brenne, right next to Blue Label - so impressed!

You must try Piora!

Liz

 

Celebratory Drinks!

Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar

Yesterday was a GREAT day! If anything, it was more of a turning point in my life than just a Thursday. After several years of planning, researching and preparing, I got a job offer to join my dream company. Over two years ago, I started the process of applying to business school and transitioning to a completely different industry (real estate to wine, beer and spirits) and function (investment banking to marketing). I am thrilled to start this next chapter of my life. In the spirit (pun intended) of celebration, I met with a new friend from Stern, Scott. In a small world twist, we actually know each other from my first job. We were in the same hire class in Charlotte, NC over six years ago - crazy! He was near my neighborhood, so I suggested a fun spot near me that has fantastic dessert cocktails, Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar (http://www.ayzanyc.com/midtown/index.html). 

I started with the Raspberry Chocolate Martini. It was DIVINE! It is made with Chambord and Kahlua. It is also served with an 80% dark chocolate truffle - YUM! The cocktail was rich and creamy - so much so that I needed a spoon at the end to get up all the chocolate shavings!!

Raspberry Chocolate Martini

Next, I ordered a lighter cocktail. It was still sweet, but not weighed down with cream. I ordered the Bohemian Pear. It is a mix of Absolut Pear, St. Germain, Angostura Bitters, and Fresh Lime Juice. I loved it! It was light and refreshing!

Bohemian Pear

As my final cocktail, I ordered the Pomegranate Martini. It is made with Ketel One Citroen and Pomegranate Juice. This drink was a bit *tart* - I don't think that the juice was sweetened. This likely made the drink have fewer calories, but my face was puckered. I enjoyed it, but it was my least favorite. 

Pomegranate Martini

The weather was lovely last night and we sat outside. My only complaint would be that they wait to throw out all of the garbage until the venue closes for the evening. I found it a bit distracting/disturbing that the workers were putting out garbage bags (on the street) while patrons (including us) were sitting outside. Garbage isn't exactly 1. nice to look at or 2. neutral smelling. I found it odd, my only improvement to an otherwise great cocktail/dessert spot.

Cheers!

Liz

 

A Trip to the Orient

Cocktail & Tea Time!

I wanted to surprise Amber with something special so I made reservations for afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (http://www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork/). The tea is daily at starts at 2:30pm. We got there a bit early (2:00pm) to make sure we could secure a window seat. Most of the seating has a good view, but when you're spending $$$ you want to make sure it is the best!

While we waited for tea time to start, we (naturally) ordered a cocktail. One immediately caught my eye: the Summer Solstice. It is a heavenly mix of vodka, blood orange juice, mango puree and Solerno liqueur (blood orange). This cocktail was magical and at $19 (!!) I was hoping it would be. I knew at a place like this you're paying for the view and it was worth it. 

Once we finished our cocktails, we moved on to tea! I ordered the Thunderbolt Darjeeling tea. It was a delicious black tea. Check out the scones, finger sandwiches and desserts! Nom! I highly recommend this spot for a special event - a mom in town, good friend or to impress a lady!

Until next time!

Liz

 

The (Blair Witch) Greenwich Project

Hidden Gem Close to Stern!

You know your life needs an intervention when a group of friends takes over 50 emails to schedule an evening together. A full-time MBA program is no joke. Once you add internships, relationships, and other obligations (like sleeping, exercise, remaining sane), you enter into a never-ending email chain of suggested dates and locations. We bit the bullet and scheduled drinks for tonight, after many of us were done with night class. It was aggressive and it perfectly suited this group of incredible friends. 

As we walked near campus (carrying super sexy backpacks doesn't encourage one to venture far), we found the Greenwich Project (https://www.facebook.com/GreenwichProjectNYC). We were ready for drinks!!!

Bklyn '76

My first cocktail was from the menu. It was a mix of gin, rosemary honey, lemon, sparkling wine and house lavender bitters. I loved it! I appreciated the balance of the drink and the other ingredients prevented the gin from tasting too junipery or pine needley (yes those are words!). The glass added to the experience; it was delicate and elevated. Just a class act.

I loved the cocktail menu. In case you didn't like the bartenders' suggested cocktails, there were general categories you could order from: boozy, sour, spicy, sweet, refreshing, etc. I thought this was clever and matched the general vibe of the place. A lot of customization and attention to detail. 

I decided to be adventurous (a current theme in my life) and let the bartender have free reign with a dessert cocktail. The server asked for general direction (what I didn't like and what I preferred) and then let the bartender take over! 

Bartender's Choice

My drink ended up including hazelnut liqueur, Grand Marnier, and heavy cream (I believe about 2 cups...woof). Although the taste of the cocktail was pleasant, it was far too heavy too enjoy. I should have been more clear that I wanted a sweet drink, not a glass of heavy cream. Either way, this is what happens when you live on the edge and through caution (and the menu) to the wind. 

I would consider coming back here for dinner. Among my group, we split the doughnut dessert and no-bake cheesecake. Both were great, although the filing in the doughnuts led to questionable consumption. It was a bit...well, order it and let me know!

Cheers,

Liz