Grandaisy Bakery

Firstly, if you've never heard of Groupon, go sign up for their daily emails for awesome deals that are offered by your location. They have deals like 50% off restaurants ($25 for $50 worth of food), spas, dance classes, sailing classes, etc. Please sign up using my link so I can get credits if you purchase something (Remember, Karma is the best!).

Now that you're acquainted, I will tell you how my first Groupon purchase went. A few months ago a deal for Grandaisy Bakery was offering $15 worth of food for $7. I had gotten menus from here before and always wanted to try it, so this was the perfect opportunity. I got 2.

After work today, I headed to the movie theater to get Tom and myself tickets to see Iron Man 2 this weekend at the Lincoln Center IMAX. Aghast from spending $19 PER ticket, I headed into Bacchus Wines after seeing signs advertising "Wines under $10". I bought 2 bottles totaling $18.95 (STILL Less than a movie ticket!). Then I passed by Gray's Papaya, and after resisting the smell of the hotdogs, I thought I'd stop by Grandaisy and pick up dinner. I heard they had flat pizzas. They only had 3 kinds left: Pomodoro, Funghi and 1 Potato left (with gruyere and onions). I got one of each, plus a Chocolate torte, and Lumaca. It came out to $15.50. Ah, so close. I gave the cashier my groupon and 2 quarters and headed home.

I put the pizzas into the toaster oven to reheat. Sadly, that didn't do anything for the pieces of cardboard. The Pomodoro was so bland and the sauce was barely existent. I added basil and crushed red pepper flakes to try to revive it but even that couldn't fix the dry tasteless crust. I had higher hopes for the mushroom but again, bland. What the heck Grandaisy? You sell these pieces of paper for $3-$3.50 each?? I drizzled a little bit of olive oil and it helped a tad, as did the basil I dusted on. Surprisingly, the potato slice had the best flavor. It was very reminiscent of the potatoes au gratin my mom makes. Again, I had to drizzle a little bit of Olive oil since it was very dry, but I enjoyed it.

Grandaisy: -10 points



Then again, it's a bakery, not a pizzeria. I tried the Lumaca.
WOW. Packs a lot of flavor, is dense but still light and flakey, not too sweet; reminded me of baklava. Ok, Grandaisy, you get +8 points.

Chocolate torte. WOW. Such wonderful chocolate flavor and it was so amazingly light! It tasted like the best brownie you ever got with the consistency of a moist chocolate cake. The outside has a bit of a crunch but inside... angel food. +10 points.

Ok, so you redeemed yourself with your pastries. I would like to try the pear tart next and the various cookies stacked on your wall. Good thing I have another Groupon!

Aliseo Osteria del Borgo

Tom had been wanting to go to, what he kept calling "Aiello", which is actually Aliseo Osteria del Borgo in Prospect Heights for awhile now, and I am glad we finally got to get dinner there last night.

It is a cute albeit rustic brick-walled restaurant with empty wine bottles lining the wall. A charming old black & white photo of what I assumed was a family of 100 and pig figurines adorned the mantle of the (faux?) fire place next to our table.
It was a modest menu, but the items were listed in Italian with English descriptions beneath, and actually to my disappointment- a few items were not available, but there were still several left for us to choose from.

To start, we were served a bowl of Ricotta and olive oil with warm and soft foccacia and very thin melba toast-like pieces of bread that were addicting speckled with coarse salt around the edges.

We ended up sharing an appetizer (mini sesame seed-crusted meatballs served over a line of very basil-y pesto sauce and an orange-colored sauce that has yet to be determined (apricot-based? peach? I couldn't tell as the sesame seeds overpowered most of the flavors, but the meatballs tasted like meat.)

Then we shared a pasta and meat dish. I started with the homemade fettucini with beef ragu. and he started with the pork loin in a red cherry reduction with apples. The meat was cooked perfectly and tender and the fruit was a great addition to the saltiness of the pork- which can be attributed to what Tom calls, "An Italian Pinch of Salt". The pasta definitely had that pinch, but luckily we like salt.

For dessert, he ordered a chocolate tart that was very reminiscent of the chocolate ganache i've made that went wrong (but this was made right). I really liked the crust.

Plus he enjoyed his glasses of wine so overall rating? A+

P.S. - Max Brenner's

While we're on the topic of Chocolate, let me post this warming beverage.

If you've never been to Max Brenner's - Chocolate by the Bald Man, please for the love of all things delicious, go and treat yourself to a warm hug mug of hot chocolate. Seriously, these little handleless mugs are adorable. This one has little cocoa puffs in it, giving it depth, texture and whimsy-- the guys I was with were very amused by it. (Thanks to Bril for introducing me to this concoction)

The wait may be long and it is not cheap, but it is so worth it.

The first time I got to go to Max Brenner's was last year for my birthday. My friend, James O., treated me lunch. After perusing the novel they call a menu, I ordered crêpes and they were completely satiating and filling.

A note to novices though: Unless you are okay with having a sugar arrest, please order one chocolate item per meal.
You will thank me.

Meet Me at the Bar

The chocolate bar, that is.

I am a sucker for really good chocolate. While I won't object to a Hershey's kiss, let's get real here... It would be like saying give me a US-made Cadbury bar over a British-made Cadbury. There is a noticeable difference and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

My cocoa bean-to-bar of choice is Green & Blacks. In my opinion, it's a couple of steps above Ghiradelli, and a few below Sharffen-Berger or Cote d'Or. I first came across this delight in a Sainsbury's or Tesco's in London. I had never seen one before and thought it was a specialty to the United Kingdon. However, to my surprise and delight upon arriving back in the states, I see these beauts in my local store (Fairway, to be exact). While I haven't found the bar I cherished so dearly across the pond (Dark Chocolate with Almond), I took kindly to Green & Black's Milk Chocolate with Almonds as a substitute. I may even like it more than Godiva.

Actually, I've been more a milk chocolate girl lately after two decades of loving the semi-sweet. They do say your taste buds change every seven years, so it is possible I am going through chocolate puberty.

But I really didn't write this post to rave about G&B's, though you should check out their site and find your "perfect match". I am apparently "Ginger" (blech!) and my perfect match is Dark 85% with an apt description so maybe I do like a little bitter taste after all...

"You are Ginger
You’re full of crazy zest yet you’re down-to-earth. You would wear your best shoes even when you walk to work every day. Your friends find your outlook refreshing. A bit quirky but always charming nonetheless. Your mantra: "Ruin a pair of shoes, save the earth.

Your match: Dark 85%
Is your match intense, perhaps an artist or writer? This person definitely has a deep, dark side but is also incredibly irresistible and a great partner. He or she always looks chic and elegant. Your match appreciates inner beauty and loves discovering the hidden intellectual. Mantra: "Green never goes out of style."

Okay, so the real inspiration behind this post is the chocolate bar Lela got me for my birthday. She said Mast Brothers was one of her favorites. They are local Chocolatiers hailing from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They are living the dream... my dream.




After admiring the packaging for so long, I finally decided to break into it. I felt like Charlie Bucket opening the chocolate bar he got for his birthday... running my fingers over the wrapper feeling the grain and texture of the paper, slowly unfolding the corner, anticipating the treat underneath the foil...and finding a glint of gold.
Well I share with you my unveiling:



Aside from the apparent cat hair found on the chocolate that can be seen in one of the photos (ah, Brooklyn!), I must say this is a mighty fine chocolate bar. Like almonds or bacon, the Fleur de Sel ("flower of salt") adds a lovely touch and balance to the chocolate. Also, who doesn't like to say "Fleur de Sel"??

My first Mast Brothers bar was a success and I seriously only ate what I broke off (see picture 1) as it is very rich. I will trek to Billyburg to try other flavors.

Christmas Dinner 2008

Christmas Dinner = Decadent

Thanks again to my Aunt Bicky and Uncle Mark for a delicious dinner!


The Dish of the night... prime rib, rare.



I made string beans with portobello mushrooms and balsamic vinegar topped with sesame seeds, with the help of my dear cousins.


Aunt Kathy's amazing Chocolate Mousse Cake

Also served, a turkey, aunt kathy's famous rolls, corn, rice and my mom's stuffed mushrooms.

Can't wait til next year!

The Annual Christmas Eve Dinner

Merry Christmas!!

Apologies for the lack of updates; I've been a busy bee.
Just because I haven't been blogging does not mean I haven't been eating or cooking; quite far from the truth actually!
I must admit I am finding it "embarrassing" whenever I whip out my camera before eating, for people just think I'm nuts.
Then I explain, "It's for my food blog" and first timers ask, "Really? You have a food blog??", as if I were just making that up as an excuse to take photos... Sheesh. But usually people think it's cool and let me click away. You know who's your true friend when they automatically wait before digging in so I can snap a shot of their food, or when they ask if I'm going to take one when I just want to dig into my burger. And you know they're your best friend when they start sending you photos of food they have eaten.

But its Christmas and sure it's about spending time with your family, but it's also really a time to wonder why you ate so much. I'm still full from last night. Every Christmas Eve, my Aunt Kathy prepares a traditional Italian seafood dinner for my uncle and luckily my mom and I get to partake. Kristina, my cousin, of course is there too and this year we had a special guest, Sean, her new boyfriend. He agreed to an eating contest in the future, so stay tuned.

Without further ado, feast your eyes on this... feast. Note, I didn't take pictures of all the dishes, but I think you'll get the idea.


tuna salad & aunt kathy's calamari


Kris and Sean's brussel sprouts and Aunt Kathy's coconut shrimp with an apricot and horseradish dipping sauce


my mom's stuffed mushrooms


Kris' Belgian Chocolate Cake


my pineapple coconut cake which I will post a recipe to another day

Afterwards, my mom and I went over to Daniel and Willy's Christmas Eve dinner and while we didn't eat a second meal (Lord knows I wish I had room to though!), we couldn't help but ooh and ahh over the desserts.




Happy holidays!

Stay warm,
N