Monthly Archives: September 2012

Isabella’s on the Upper West Side

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I recently posted a review of one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city.  I only recently found out that one of my favorite NYC brunch spots is a part of the same restaurant group.  Isabella’s is an upscale Zagat-rated Mediterranean restaurant on the Upper West Side.  Adjacent to Central Park, it’s a sophisticated restaurant which apparently has many celebrity visitors (though I’ve yet to see any!).

Isabella's

Outdoor dining at Isabellas. (Photo courtesy of their website)

When my sister lived in the city, it was a go-to spot when the whole family came to town on Sunday mornings.  Now, even though it’s a bit farther for us, the food and atmosphere make it worth the trip uptown.  The sidewalk seating, right across the street from the park, gives it that gorgeous upper-west-side feel but without the ridiculously priced menu.

Although it’s technically Mediterranean, the menu isn’t restricted to just seafood.  Whether you’re in the mood for an omelette, sandwich, or chicken, you’ll find a gourmet version of whatever you’re looking for.

We usually get the fresh fruit plate to start. The egg white omelette is my favorite – with wild mushroom, tomatoes, and Muenster.  Of course you’ll have to pair it with a bellini or mimosa (I had both…).  My family loves the bloody marys (although they’re not for me).

Isabella’s also serves their complimentary bread with their signature strawberry butter.  In my most recent visit, I was able to snag the recipe and wanted to share it here!

Isabella’s Strawberry Butter

Isabella's Strawberry Butter

Isabella’s Strawberry Butter (Photo courtesy of their website)

  • 1 lb softened unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 6 oz. fresh strawberries
  • pinch of salt
  1. Combine strawberries, sugar and salt in a bowl.
  2. Toss with a spoon and let stand for 10 minutes.
  3. Put softened butter in a food processor & whip until smooth.
  4. Add strawberry mixture to food processor and continue to whip until smooth.

Spoon strawberry butter into a small ramekin and serve immediately with Irish Soda Bread, or a bread of your choosing.

Check out Isabella’s and try their specialties for yourself – located at 359 Columbus Avenue.

Review: Glade Expressions Collection

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I love having the opportunities to review new products, especially when companies send them to me for free. :)  Recently, BzzAgent let me in on a review opportunity for Glade Expressions®, including the Oil Diffuser and Fragrance Mist, which offer “artfully designed, true-to-life fragrances” for your home.

I’m used to the dollar store gel air fresheners that you sit in a corner and wait for your house to smell like cranberries.  So, when I was able to get these classy products to spruce up the scent of my apartment, I was thrilled.  The value of them together was almost $15 – this is some serious scented stuff.   Of course, being in the most expensive city in the country, I still had to pay $1 over the coupon amount, but hey – who can complain about that?

Glade Expressions come in four homey (and elegantly named) scents:

Glade Oil Diffuser

Glade Expressions® Oil Diffuser

I chose the Lavender & Juniper Berry Oil Diffuser and switched it up with the Cotton & Italian Mandarin Fragrance Mist.

The Oil Diffuser was a great scent – not too artificial and not too strong (which is my biggest issue with air fresheners).  It has a subtle scent when you first walk in the room and otherwise, it’s just cleaning up the air a bit.  And the design is meant to blend into your home (unlike my ugly dollar store gel) so it sits great on my book shelf.

Glade Mist

Glade Expression® Fragrance Mist

The mist is a staple in everyone’s home – you have to have a spray air freshener.  The Cotton & Italian Mandarin is as sweet as the name sounds (fancy right?) and the scent lasts.  It smells clean (which is my favorite scent for air, especially in Hoboken ha).

But, I can’t keep it all to myself – check out this coupon and try it for yourself!  They’re a bit pricey without the coupons, so take advantage!

Get your coupon for $2 off Glade Expressions.

If you want opportunities to try products FREE (you don’t have to be a blogger) check out BzzAgent and these other awesome freebie sites!

  • MyInsite - this site offers samples, coupons, and even in-home parties.  It’s owned by General Mills but they also feature other brands.  (Huge disclaimer: I used to manage this website … so you know it’s awesome.)
  • VocalPoint – Similar to MyInsite, VocalPoint offers samples and coupons for P&G brands.
  • House Party – Throw a party sponsored by various companies!  They great part about this site is they even have alcohol products.  I hosted a Godiva Liquor party – yup, free liquor for my party!

Enjoy the freebies!

*BzzAgent and Glade provided me with these products to review free of charge.  All opinions on these products are completely my own.

Video of the Week: City Streets, Famous Musicians

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It seems part of the magic of New York City is that it’s an inspiration.  Apparently a group of musicians found lower Manhattan an inspiration for music.

A friend sent Tom this video by cdza, a group that “creates musical video experiments.”  Last week, on September 11th, they made a video playing music based on the street signs downtown.

The video is below and cracks me up – especially since it shows some of the streets near my office.  :)

Sweet Potato Stuffed Shells with Caramelized Onions and Sage Butter Sauce

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As you can tell from my recent recipe for Mini Sweet Potato Enchiladas, we’ve been eating a lot of sweet potatoes lately.

One of my new favorite meals for the fall is a recipe from my sister for Sweet Potato Stuffed Shells, inspired by a recipe we found on Pinterest.   But of course, we had to make it better. :) Instead of the classic Italian version with ricotta and marinara sauce, we added caramelized onions, apples, and goat cheese, and topped it with a sage butter sauce.

This recipe is a perfect side for Thanksgiving if you have any vegetarians attending, or if you just want to switch things up from the standard menu!

Sweet Potato Stuffed Shells with Caramelized Onions
and Sage Butter Sauce

  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1/2 apple, shaved or chopped small (we used Gala)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large sweet potatoes, mashed
  • 1 box uncooked jumbo pasta shells
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 oz. goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon sage, chopped fine (can use dried as a substitute)
  • 8 tablespoons butter

Directions

Sweet Potato Shells

  • Preheat over to 375°.
  • Cook sweet potatoes and mash well.
  • Saute onions in butter on low heat for a half hour or until softened*. Add garlic powder and salt. Reduce heat and cook 25-30 minutes until deep golden brown, stirring slowly. Add apples and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Add thyme and pepper into cooked onion mixture.  Stir in broth and bring to a boil; cook until liquid is almost evaporated. Remove from the heat. Stir in the mashed sweet potatoes and goat cheese.
  • Spoon mixture into shells; place in a large greased baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 375° for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan and add sage.  Cook on low heat for 10 minutes.  Spoon over cooked shells and serve.

*Chef FYI: True caramelized onions take about 45 minutes to make, stirring while they brown slowly.  Have as much patience as you can, but you can always settle for browned onions.

I Love New York

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Living here, it’s hard to get through today without feeling compelled to say something.  Although it seems everything has already been said and there are no new words to express the emotion behind every anniversary, there is plenty of reflection and patriotism being silently carried by everyone in this town.

Freedom Tower

Freedom

It’s my 11th Patriot Day – 11 times this date has had meaning in my life.  But it’s my first working in the Financial District of Manhattan.  My first time getting out of the PATH station to masses of camera crews and more cops, it seems, than there are pedestrians.  And it’s the first day I spent walking to work in the hustle bustle, the mayhem, and the monotony of my commute where I actually stopped to look up.  Normally, it’s such a tourist thing to do – or the sign of a novice Manhattan commuter –  but today I allowed myself the transgression.

This is the history our generation was a part of – the event we lived through rather than read about in textbooks.  It’s that memory where “you’ll always remember where you were when…”  For my mom it was the Kennedy assassination. She was on the kindergarten playground.  For me, it was listening to an announcement over the middle school’s loud speaker that offered vague news that I couldn’t begin to understand.

Today is different.  And today we always remember why we love this country.  And I remember how much I love New York.

NYC Getaways

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One of the great thing about New York City is the convenience of its location.  There are so many great day trips and weekend getaways that are just a short drive or train ride away.

I’ve blogged about my recent trip to Ocean City, MD and my mini vaca earlier this summer to Newport, RI.  I also had a quick trip out to the Hamptons a few weeks ago – another easy getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you have a whole weekend to escape, I highly recommend Ocean City, MD or Newport, RI.  Other quick trips from the metro area that I’ve enjoyed are a romantic beach weekend in Cape May, NJ or  hitting the historical tourist spots in Philadelphia.

But in addition to my list, CBS recently posted a list of Scenic Drives Within 60 Miles of NYC.  If you have the luxury of car – or even access to NYC’s Zipcars – a change of scenery is just a short drive away.

Lyndhurst Mansion

Lyndhurst Mansion (Photo courtesy of Lyndhurst.org)

    • Lyndhurst Mansion (Tarrytown, NY): With a backdrop of the Hudson, take a tour through the mansion to gain unique insights into the three families that once lived here: railroad mogul Jay Gould; former New York City mayor William Paulding, and merchant George Merritt. Once outside, take advantage of the gardens, greenhouse and river walk trails.
    • Johnny’s Famous Reef Restaurant (The Bronx, NY): Open March – November, this 60-year-old restaurant is located at the very tip of City Island. Don’t be fooled by the cafeteria-style setting and dive-bar décor; this restaurant has the best seafood outside of New York City and even better views of the water to watch yachts float by on the Long Island Sound.
    • The Village of Sleepy Hollow (Sleepy Hollow, NY): Less than an hour outside the city, the village of Sleepy Hollow offers something for everyone, including farmers markets, street fairs, haunted hayrides, and of course – the headless horseman. Take a guided or driving tour through the hauntingly beautiful Sleepy Hollow Cemetery to see the final resting places of iconic figures including Andrew Carnegie, William Avery Rockefeller and Washington Irving, who brought the legend to life.
    • Salinger’s Orchard(Brewster, NY): Salinger’s Orchard has everything from handpicked apples to homemade pies and fresh strawberry preserves. Gaze upon thevast orchard while you snack on freshly made baked goods and coffee. Check out its beehive observatory, or take a slightly longer drive. A few more miles north, ride route 7, to Kent Falls State Park, where you may visit Connecticut’s largest waterfall.
Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park (photo courtesy of NYSParks.com)

  • Bear Mountain State Park (Bear Mountain, NY): The park is located amidst the mountains rising out of the Hudson River, and features a swimming pool, shaded picnic areas, a zoo, a large play field, lake and river fishing, boat rentals, hiking trails and even a Merry-Go-Round with hand-painted scenes from the park.

Rave Review for Dos Caminos Meatpacking

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Last May, after two and a half long years of attending the New School part time, I finally got my MA in Media Studies.  For my graduation, Tom’s parents gave me a gift certificate to one of my favorite restaurants in the city – Dos Caminos.  Last night, we finally used it, deciding that we needed a Friday off to just eat, drink, and recuperate from last week’s celebrations.  So after work we headed over to the Dos Caminos Meatpacking. There are a few Dos Caminos locations in the city, but I love the atmosphere of the one in Meatpacking – sitting on a cobblestone street, it’s right above 675 Bar (also in the BR Guest group) and next to the Gansevoort (I’ve heard rumors of even the Karsashians paying a visit).

Dos Caminos Meatpacking Location

Dos Caminos Meatpacking Location (Photo courtesy of their website)

It’s a bit upscale, and we sat on the second floor in the round leather booth.  Our waitress was so friendly which – let’s face it – is rare in Manhattan.  When she saw my “Congratulations” gift certificate, she got so excited, asking “Oh my gosh! Who graduated?” and her kindness was actually genuine.

Of course we started with the house guacamole – yum – and I had the Prickly Pear Frozen Margarita – double yum.  Tom tried the Mexican Star: espolon silver tequila, strawberry, lime, and sparkling wine.  It was so delicious – and strong – it ended up being my second drink of the night.

For the main course, I had the Dos Enchiladas – two chicken enchiladas, half in mole sauce and the other in verde.  I can never decide which I like more, so this is the perfect meal for me.  Tom had the Mar Y Tierra tacos (AKA “surf and turf”) which were made with rock shrimp and marinated skirt steak.  I would have never picked it myself but these tacos were REALLY good.  The food is traditional Mexican with just a touch of “different” to give it unique taste that is 100% worth going back for.

Dos Caminos - Compliments of the House

Celebratory drink – Compliments of the House

After dinner, the waitress brought our check with two complimentary congratulatory drinks – two flavors of margaritas, served in a champagne glass and topped with a strawberry.  They also brought a mini dessert in a shot glass made with pineapple and coconut water.  Both were AMAZING and were compliments of the restaurant – a gesture that most established restaurants don’t go the extra mile to offer.  I can’t remember the last time I was this pleased with a restaurant.

Check out the menu for this and other locations on their website.  Plus, stay tuned for my review of one of their sister restaurants – Isabella’s.  I only recently found out they were part of the same restaurant group but the high quality food and atmosphere make it clear this is one chain to follow.

Mini Sweet Potato Enchiladas

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The other day my sister introduced me to this delicious recipe for Sweet Potato Enchiladas.  It’s a great vegetarian alternative to the fantastic chicken version which is one of my favorite foods.  They’re just the right amount of sweet, spicy, and YUM.

This recipe is adapted from the Gluten Free Goddess, although I’m sure our alterations aren’t quite gluten-free!  We decided to make them “mini” based on the tortillas we had on hand and they came out perfectly portioned.  We paired it with a tomato and avocado salad, tossed with sea salt and olive oil – the perfect weeknight Mexican meal!

P.S. My iPhone photos don’t do it justice!

Mini Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Mini Sweet Potato Enchiladas

  • 1 jar salsa verde (a good brand like Goya)
  • 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Fresh lime juice from 1 big lime
  • 1 large peeled and cooked sweet potato, smashed a bit, but still chunky
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 10-12 white corn tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded mexican blend cheese (feel free to sub with cheddar or pepper jack)

Preheat your oven to 350ºF.

In the meantime, using a mixing bowl, combine the drained black beans with minced garlic and lime juice. Toss to coat the beans and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine the lightly smashed sweet potatoes with cumin, sea salt, and pepper.

Stuff enchiladas with sweet potato and beans

Stuff enchiladas with sweet potato and beans

Pour 1/2 of the salsa verde into the bottom of a large baking dish.  Arrange the tortillas and stuff with the sweet potato and black bean mixtures.  [For mini enchiladas, fold the tortilla sides in.  For regular sized tortillas, fold all four sides in and place seam down on the baking dish.]

Repeat for the remaining tortillas. Top with the rest of the verde.

Top with a sprinkle of cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the enchiladas are piping hot and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Labor Day in Ocean City, MD

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Labor Day is the last beach weekend of the year. Considering I was lacking in beach weekends this summer, I was glad we had last minute plans to meet some college friends in Ocean City, MD for the holiday weekend.

First, Tom and I started the weekend by driving to central Jersey for the wedding of a former colleague. She of course looked amazing and it was obvious how excited she was to be married which made everyone there so happy for them. Congrats Kelly!!

After lots of catching up and many glasses of wine, we Tom drove all the way to Ocean City so we didn’t arrive until 2:30 am. Fortunately everyone was just coming home from the bar so it was an interesting arrival. It was the gateway into a weekend of flashing back to college days and the partying that I’m sadly realizing has now aged me. It’s hard to keep up with our old habits but the nostalgia was a good reminder of how worth it those four years were. And I guess we’re not too old to have fun – we just head home a bit earlier. :)

The Bay at Seacrets

The Bay at Seacrets

As part of the festivities we went to the infamous Seacrets – the outdoor beach bar that is literally in the water. I’ve always wanted to go and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The first time we went (yeah there were several visits in two days) we threw our shoes on the beach and hung out in the water. (Warning: my friend’s shoes got stolen so it’s best to carry them with you.)

Dirty Banana drink

Dirty Banana – best drink at Seacrets!

There are tables, rafts, and a dock all in the bay so you can drink in the water. Waitresses wade out to take your drink order and the music and frozen drinks gave it the atmosphere of Cancun. I had many Dirty Banana drinks which were delicious and tasted like spring break. At dark they kick you out of the water so we weaved through the palm trees and twinkle lights to the different bars and of course drank more Dirty Bananas.

 

We had a great fried food dinner around the corner at Dumpser’s and went back for more Dirty Bananas. And did it again the next night…

So this week I will be running like there is no tomorrow and trying to eliminate the food baby that I developed from the weekend of living like I was 21. Half marathon in 3 weeks…. Ugh.