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Colombia On Lex

...Everything in the shop was made from scratch, including the dough for their arepas, as well as the masa more typically (if less commonly here in the states) used as the "shell" for their empanadas, stuffed with aromatically seasoned stew beef/chicken, deep-fried to order, and served to me in mere minutes piping hot.... [Full Post]



Down For Chinatown

... With the unfortunate exception of the shrimp paste (better in idea than in execution), this dish was quite a winner. The pork and beef were nicely seasoned and tender, and were enjoyed more with wrapped in the lettuce with a leaf each of basil and mint, some rice noodles, and a drizzle of house-made vinegar dipping sauce. The springs deftly crispy and not greasy on the outside and chock full minced veggies and meat on the inside.... [Full post]



Yummy and Crumb-y

... So I purchased a S'mores cupcake and a day special Very Berry cupcake, and dropped them off at the restaurant for my co-worker and very good friend, Ali, to enjoy, which she very much did.... [Full Post]


Nice Choux's

...A very pretty woman was ordering a dozen of each flavor of their signature cream puffs, available in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. I asked her what her favorite was—fearing less initiating a conversation with her once I espied the lack of wedding or engagement ring! She said she preferred the chocolate, which I ordered only one of, accompanying it with the green tea latte.... [Full post]



Temporary Heaven at Permanent Brunch


...And when a neighborhood and its restaurants start to do this well, the homegrown New York City cynic starts to come out of me. I start expecting one of these fancified, well-reviewed newbies to eventually disappoint. You know us New Yorkers; we love to be the cool, forward-thinking, savvy savant that tells everyone to go to a cool, hip place—in this case, the eateries of the East Village—and then snap that "we're over it" when everyone eventually does!... [Full Post]
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