to eat / lady m cake boutique | bryant park

French-influenced Japanese cake boutique, Lady M, recently opened on the south side of Bryant Park. Close enough to hop to on a work day.

Simply put, I adore cake. Especially the light, fluffy, not super sweet kind. I’m partial to the elegant Gâteau aux Marrons (with almond cake and chestnut cream) but will pretty much eat anything from Lady M.

Bryant Park Boutique
36 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
+1 212-452-2222
Monday to Friday: 8am-7pm, Saturday: 11am-7pm, Sunday: 11am-6pm

If you like creamy chocolate, check out Japanese Hokkaido brand, Royce, which is a few steps east of Lady M. It’s no surprise they are neighbors – they share an owner, Ken Romaniszyn.

to eat / sprinkles cupcakes

I have an illness. Even though I think that cupcakes are totally over, I can’t help but walk an few, extra blocks to visit the “new” Sprinkles, and spend some hard earned dollars to consume unnecessary calories — just so I can cross it off my mental list. And no, I couldn’t just buy 1. I had to get 4.

I was a huge fan of the strawberry cupcake. I’ve always been a fan of strawberry cake, so anything with strawberry cake gets at least one thumb up from me. Since it was right before St. Patrick’s Day, I also got the Irish Chocolate which is chocolate cake with Baileys frosting.

to eat / {my east village} peels, laboratorio del gelato, pok pok wing, and more

1) Peels (325 Bowery, NYC; East Village)

Affogato and a Build a Biscuit (fried chicken, fluffy scrambled eggs, and red eye gravy).

to eat / {my east village} van leeuwen & big gay ice cream

I love ice cream. When I heard E 7th St was getting not one, but TWO, ice cream shops, I thought to myself once again, I love my neighborhood.

Van Leeuwen is a little further away and outside of from my area of frequent movement. After my experience, it’ll be a while before I return. VL ice cream is still good on its own and you can also buy it at Whole Foods. My advice is to stay away from the hot fudge. There was a weird waxy, unmelted texture going on and I got sick from it.

Big Gay Ice Cream started out as a truck. I’d only been to the truck once and the lines were horrendous. I was ecstatic when they decided to open a storefront really close to me. They had a Groupon that forced me to eat there more often then I preferred, so I visited it frequently. The lines were long when the shop just opened, but they have died down. Also, their staff is super friendly. I witnessed a proposal here. The last time I popped in, I got a salty pimp for free. I have no idea why none of the other patrons wanted a freebie. Not pictured are the ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery, which will be another post. I’m no ice cream sandwich connoisseur, but these were the best I’ve ever tasted!

• My top recs are the sundaes and the ice cream sandwiches. I like the spicy hot fudge.
• I advise studying the menu before visiting as the store layout is not slow decisionmaking-friendly.
• Subscribe to their Facebook/Twitter for specials and updates.

Some pictures with commentary. Please note that the following items were consumed across a span of four months.

The menu that changes – and has changed a bit since it opened.

weekends / chicago in september

Warning: massive food post. Don’t read while hungry.

It’s only appropriate that I remind my Illinois friends how nice the weather in September was now that Chicago is snowy and cold. Or I am just catching up on past events. Or both.

Chicago has a special place in my heart. Even though I’ve never lived there, plenty of university friends do and I’ve visited many times over the years. Each trip to the windy city is always super productive. We have all matured over the years and have developed more complex palates for good food and good wine.

Another warning: I was lazy and many of these photos were taken with my Blackberry.

First stop was dinner at Telegraph in Logan Square. I love places that have a market to table approach. We started with the corn tartine. Then, I had seared frog legs with dill creme fraiche/smoked cinnamon/pimiento and a huge endive salad with greens, cheese, beans, and peaches. We shared a corn panna cotta with spicy bacon streusel and raspberries. They also have a fantastic wine selection, but since I had to drive, I only had a glass. Thanks, E!

I stayed at a friend’s. Their cats are so well trained they stay within the study. Say hi! (And thanks for letting me stay over!)