Qdoba Mexican Grill House Party!

Hello friends!  It's shaping up to be quite a busy month and this weekend was no exception.  Yesterday I hosted a Qdoba Mexican Grill House Party in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and had a blast!

It was my first time as a host for House Party, which connects brands with people nationwide who apply to be hosts for parties.  Brands will sponsor parties, and if you are selected as a host, you promise to invite friends and share the goodies supplied in the Party Pack.  It's a great way for brands to directly connect with consumers in such a saturated market.  Qdoba happened to be the first House Party I applied for, and I was so excited to be selected!  As a newbie host, I was a little anxious about how my first House Party would turn out, but it was a big hit and I'm hoping more parties will roll around that I can host.

I'm always looking for an excuse to have get togethers at my apartment (I think I get this from my parents - they always willingly host parties at their house!) so was happy to celebrate Cinco de Mayo courtesy of Qdoba.  About 2 weeks before the party I got my Party Pack which included some goodies to use at the party and a certificate for a 20-person catering bar to redeem at my local Qdoba.

I suppose living in NYC for a decade has hardened me into expecting a hard time, but the manager of the local Qdoba at 3rd Avenue and 53rd Street was absolutely amazing!  Charisee truly went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed.  I was so worried it would be a hassle but she made it all so easy and was a joy to talk to.

With the food taken care of thanks to Qdoba, I was able to play around with decorations.  Qdoba supplied plastic glasses which I dressed up with some mustaches.  I also made mustache props for my guests, a Fiesta banner, Cinco de Mayo wreath, and got some fun Fiesta necklaces!

Fiesta time!

Maison Kayser

Last summer, I had read about a new bakery opening on the UES.  Similar to Laduree, Maison Kayser is a well-regarded French bakery/cafe with branches around the world and they've finally opened a NYC branch.  If you need to know anything about me, its my love for bread and baked goods (mostly bread though heee).  So of course I was super interested in scoping out this new bakery known for its bread.

A friend suggested we meet for dinner at Maison Kayser and I was super surprised to find out that they offer full meals at the cafe!

As I rolled myself in, I was immediately greeted with a beautiful display of tarts, pastries, desserts, breads, rolls, croissants, and all sorts of goodies. 

Front area with bakery goods on display

Then when I looked to the right, I saw the large and spacious dining area:

Cafe and dining area

As I dragged myself away from the display cases, my attention was next attracted to the big windows showing the bakery in the back.  Where bread is born!!!  Fresh baguettes were still coming out of the oven even at 6:30pm.  

Windows in the back of the dining area showing the bakery areas

The General

EMM Group, the people behind Catch and Tenjune, just opened their new spot The General last week.  Talk about getting the word out - I got emails about the opening from all sorts of sites such as Urbandaddy, Eater, and Thrillist.  All right all right, let's give it a go then shall we?

One of my dining compadres called earlier in the week to make a reservation for 4 people for Friday night.  We were told that only 6:30pm and 9:30pm were open.  Ok...looks like we're gonna have to go with 6:30pm on this one.  Late dinner reservations on a Friday really means an ugly Saturday morning so yes, lets eat first before kicking off any kind of Friday night festivities.  (Although, after we finished up and were leaving a bunch of tables were still open and available.  I will never know how these things work...)

Upon arrival, I was amazed at how big the space was.  There's a huge bar area up front with lots of tables and a decently sized dining room in the back.  The General had bold wall paper, funky lights, and modern chairs which added to the fun and super lush feel of the place. 

Given all the space and the scarcity of people rushing for 6:30pm dinner (just me huh?), I was surprised when the hostess tried to seat us right on top of the only other table seated.  No exaggeration, the chair of one of the girls at the other table was touching the chair at our table.  When we asked to be placed in any of the other 296 remaining seats, I was even MORE surprised when we were given push-back and left standing (!!).

Le Parisien

Last summer, as I headed to Cask Bar + Kitchen, I passed by the cutest restaurant front:

Le Parisien just exuded such a feeling that, for a moment, I got that "I'm not in NYC but in Europe" feeling.  As I walked passed and peeked into the window, I saw such a warm and cozy space that I immediately took this picture so that I could add it to my "to-try" list.  Fast forward a couple months, and I've finally managed to have a meal at Le Parisien! 

I'm embarrassed to admit that on the day of dinner, I was 30 minutes late to meeting my friend (for those of you who know me, I institute a strict 15-min rule).  However, the hostess at Le Parisien still sat my dining compadre before I arrived.  I love that - most restaurants in NYC won't even take your name unless everyone in your group has arrived!

The inside of Le Parisien is charming and filled with various knickknacks and pictures.  There is a small bar area with wine bottles sectioned off by labels written in chalk.  Really added to the charm of the restaurant! 

Wine selection with labels written in chalk (love!)

Inside of Le Parisien - never an empty table the whole time we were there!

Knickknacks, barrels, interesting wall decorations added to Le Parisien's charm

Rye

Hello Fellow Piggys!  It's been a while hasn't it?  So much has happened since I last posted, but the biggest of all is that it's now 2013!  Happy New Year!

I took some time to reflect on my 2012 and it was definitely quite a year for me:
- there was a break-up, a make-up, and a break-up again
- a best friend moved away, a best friend moved back
- I took plane rides to Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Las Vegas, Arkansas, Los Angeles and San Diego
- Sandy reminded us of our vulnerability
- I parted ways with my crackberry and finally got a fully functional smartphone (luuuuurv my S3!)
- and most importantly, I realized I almost let go of a dream

That realization was a hard one for me to swallow.  And so I didn't swallow it.  I decided to pursue it and here we are folks - its happening!  I know I'm being vague, but I will have explanations later.  For now, I'm only looking forward to what 2013 will be.  And what better way to kick it off on this blog than with a post!

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Rye in Williamsburg.  This restaurant has been on Piggy KL's and my list for a while now and we finally had the chance to scope it out!  A quick ride on the L train and a dark yet brisk walk from the Bedford station transported us to the Rye dining room.

We arrived around 6:30pm on a weekday and there were plenty of tables available, but by the time we left around 8pm it was definitely a scene!  They don't take reservations, but I believe you can call ahead and put your name down on the wait list on busy nights.

The menu was a simple one but it still offered something for everyone:

Wahoo's Fish Tacos

Well folks, as you read this I am probably on my way to LA!  I'm taking a quick trip to visit a friend and I'll be sure to eat all the West Coast goodies.  For those of you looking to get a bit of your own West Coast grub in NYC, head on over to Wahoo's Fish Taco.

As you walk into Wahoo's Fish Taco, you'll see that it has a super casual, relaxed, surf-themed vibe - reflective of its California roots!

Casual surf-themed interior of Wahoo's Fish Taco

Fun bar area

If you happen to come during Happy Hour (goes until 7pm), you'll score some great drink deals on select cocktails and beers.  And they come out hugeeeeeee:

Happy Hour margaritas and sangrias

More interested in the food?  Then walk towards the ordering counters at the back - you'll see the menus along the wall there.  You'll be happy to note that almost everything on the menu is $10 and under!  Place your order first and then take a seat at a table of your choice with your number if you are staying to eat.  Someone will bring out your food to you.

Ngam

As a child of NYU, I can't help but have a soft spot for the Thai food at Spice (and those shrimp fritters...).  But there's a new rival in town!  Ngam has opened in the East Village and I'm obsessed!

When you walk in, you'll notice a modern feel with exposed piping, brick walls, wooden tables, and an open kitchen on the right.  More often than not, you'll also see the chef and owner Chef Hong making her magic in the kitchen as you walk by towards the dining room. 

Inside of Ngam with an adorable baby picture of Chef Hong on the wall

I love an open kitchen!

Ngam really sets itself above other Thai restaurants by offering a really unique and inventive menu.  In addition to the noodle and curry dishes that are staples in traditional Thai restaurants, Ngam also offers special creations such as Lamb "massaman" Roti Potpie, Lobster Dumplings, and Thai Oyster Shots.  Take a look at their full menus here.

I've been to Ngam several times now, as well as ordered take-out even more times.  My definite favorites have been:

Peek Gai Tod” Brother Chai’s Chicken Wings: amazing marinade with just a touch of the chili sauce glaze.  Served on a piece of wood so it was cool to look at as well!

Cafe Habana

After 10 years of living in NYC, I've finally made it to Cafe Habana and have tasted its Mexican Grilled Corn!  Holy smokes....I've been missing out!

Located on a corner in SoHo / Nolita, it looks like an unmarked diner on the outside.  On the inside, it still looks like a tiny (but packed!) diner.  Definitely tiny, so be prepared to wait.  We arrived around 1:45pm and it was a half hour wait.  As we left around 3:30pm, the hostess was still quoting a 40 minute wait for interested parties.

Outside of Cafe Habana

Inside of Cafe Habana - tiny, packed, yet so festive lol

We came for brunch, so I was torn between ordering a brunchy egg item or a "regular" item. The corn, however, was a must and definitely happening.

Dirt Candy

I'm a pretty picky eater but when it comes to vegetarian restaurants, I'm all in!  Sadly, usually Piggy KL is my only volunteer to accompany me to a meatless establishment.  But on this trip to Dirt Candy, we were both so glad to have tried it! 

Dirt Candy is run by Amanda Cohen, a vegetarian chef who competed with Morimoto on Iron Chef!  Its a tiny restaurant in the East Village (only 18 seats available), definitely make a reservation before coming and keep an eye out for the restaurant otherwise you may walk right past!

Front of Dirt Candy- keep an eye out or you may just walk right past!

Its a pretty small menu with each item named after the primary vegetable ingredient (note: the menu changes seasonally based upon the current vegetable offerings).  Although small, each offering sounded so appetizing! 

Dirt Candy's menu - each item is named after the primary vegetable in the dish

Brunch: Le Bateau Ivre

I was meeting a friend for Sunday brunch a couple weeks back, but the caveat was that we had to meet in Midtown East - she had to go to work afterwards (boo!) so preferred to meet near her office.  With a little help from Yelp, we settled on Le Bateau Ivre.

If you are brunching here on Sunday, you'll be treated to a live Jazz band with your meal!  Love how it changes the atmosphere!  Sadly the space was kind of small and our table was very close to the band - next time I'm going to sit farther away and maybe I'll be able to chat more with my dining compadres lol

Live jazz band with Sunday Brunch!

View from our table

They offer a brunch prix fixe - for $19.95 you get a brunch drink, coffee or tea, and a brunch entree of your choice.  While it was a little more than my usual brunch prices, this isn't too bad for Midtown East.  And who doesn't love a drink with brunch!

Hummus Kitchen

Ahh with Thanksgiving fast approaching, I already can feel the impending gluttony of the upcoming holiday season.  Of course I won't let that stop me from eating out (I know, I have issues...) but I guess I should try to make some healthier choices! 

A friend recently suggested Hummus Kitchen and I thought why not, lets give it a try!

Hummus Kitchen - Kips Bay location

With a couple locations around the city, on this occasion I visited their Kips Bay location.  When you walk in, you'll see simple wood tables and chairs and exposed brick wall.  The lighting is bright and I can clearly read the menu (the way i prefer it!) and this spot is perfect for a casual weeknight dinner!

Inside of Hummus Kitchen

Looking at the menu, its a pretty simple menu offering standard Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare. I like that its a simple menu yet offers a good variety of everything. 

Front of the menu - appetizers

Back of menu - entrees

Wafels & Dinges

Friday, unsurprisingly, is a favorite day of the week for many people, but at my office its an even more exciting day: the Wafels & Dinges truck is on our corner!  Yippeeeeeee!!!

Wafel & Dinges truck outside!!

While the truck does offer some savory waffle options (pulled pork wafel, chili con corne etc), my team and I really love stopping for for a little post-lunch sweet treat!

Take a look at their menu which is located above the truck:

Menu above the truck

Close-up of the menu

Each wafel order comes with your first dinges (toppings) free with each additional for an extra $1 and scoop of ice cream for $2.  Here are your dinges / topping choices:

Dinges (toppings)

Brunch: The Barrel

I stopped by The Barrel in the East Village for brunch on Saturday and was very excited to see that there was no wait!  Wohoo!!

Inside of The Barrel

I liked the inside of the restaurant - calming feel with lots of wood, some greenery, and curved decorations.  I guess it was meant to mimic the inside of a barrel?

Looking at the menu, there is a brunch menu for $12.95 which includes a brunch entree and a drink - what a steal!  There's also a lot to choose from on the brunch menu so that makes it exciting for me.  I'm usually an egg gal for brunch but lately I've been feeling more lunch hehe

Brunch menu

Lunch menu

The brunch menu includes your traditional items as well as Barrel specific creations such as the Galette.  My dining compadres and I ordered a pretty good variety to share:

Galette Breton Complet - buckwheat crepe, gruyere cheese, eggs, arugula, smoked ham

Whitehall

Hurricane Irene Sandy is rolling through NYC right about now...what did you do to prepare for Frankenstorm?  Since I couldn't even get into any of the three grocery stores in the Union Square area yesterday, I'm making do with some popcorn and diet ginger ale from Duane Reade and a huge ball of fresh mozzarella cheese from East Village Cheese Shop.

My rations for the hurricane: popcorn, ginger ale, and a big ball of fresh mozz

I couldn't resist having one last meal, though, so last night I stopped by Whitehall in the West Village for a Hurricane Welcome dinner!

Front of Whitehall - look for "No. 19" on the awning

The name is not prominently displayed in the front of the restaurant so if you are a bit lost, look for "No. 19" on the awning.  The front room has a long bar area on the left and tables on the right side of the room.  If you keep walking to the back, there is another dining area with exposed brick walls.  Both areas are warmly lit and feature chalkboards detailing the specials of the day.

Front area of Whitehall

Back dining area

Love the large chalkboards listing the day's spec

As I take my seat, first order of business is the take a look at the cocktail list.  I looooove a great cocktail!  And when they come, they are served in huge glasses!

Brunch: The Seahorse Tavern

I have had my eye on The Seahorse Tavern for a couple weeks now and finally had the chance to check it out for brunch recently.

The Seahorse Tavern on the Upper East Side

Located on the upper east side, this little seafood eatery was perfect for a low-key casual brunch. I loved the brick wall and simply decorated space!  Had a bit of a 'New England seafood restaurant by the sea' feel hehe.

Looking at the brunch menu, most of the items have a seafood twist to it which makes me super happy.  Even better?  You get a drink with your meal yayyyyyy!  While it's not a big menu, there is a pretty good variety including egg dishes, sandwiches, salads, and a burger.  Definitely something for everyone!