The Brooklyn Botanical Garden {Early Spring}

Happy Friday everyone! It feels like the past few weeks have been going faster and faster since our wedding is less than two weeks away!  The anticipation leading up to our wedding has been pretty so great that I wish time would slow down just a little bit so that I can fully soak everything in.  This is such a special moment in our lives that I truly want to savor every minute.  I am headed 'somewhere' this weekend I(it is a surprise) to spend a weekend with a few of my sisters

 and my sister-in-law-to-be. It should be fun!  Before I leave you I thought I would share a few photographs from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (the site where we will be getting married!) that I took a few weekends back when the tulips and magnolias were in full bloom.  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

A Sweet Introduction:: The Caprice

One of my favorite things about New York and Brooklyn is discovering new bakeries where owners pour their heart and soul into their confections, Caprices by Sophie is no exception. Situated on Williamsburg's bustling North 6th Street, this bakery is a jewel of a shop that specializes in the Caprice, a relatively new French dessert that has made it's way to New York.   The caprice is made of pâte à choux, otherwise known as a cream puff and is filled with pastry cream and topped with the appropriate corresponding flavor, whether it be salted caramel, pecan or lemon.  They are two bite beauties that will satisfy any sweet tooth.  

{Le Week de Paris} Top Five Baguettes in New York & Brooklyn

If I was stranded on a deserted island I would bring three types of food with me - a good bottle of Greek olive oil, a bar of rich dark chocolate and a crusty baguette (preferably just out of the oven). If I could pick a place for this said island to be it would be off the coast of France where I could get access to baguettes, unlimited sweet baguettes.  Since it is Paris week here on the blog, I couldn't let it pass without rounding up my favorite boulangeries here in New York that bake bread like they do in France. Here are some of my favorites, but after visiting make sure you have a cheese shop lined up or a few good bottles of olive oil! Did I miss any baguettes that I must try? Dit-moi s'il vous plait! Continue for more...

  

Salty Honey Pie {From The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book}

I have already sung the praises of my favorite pie shop in Brooklyn, Four & Twenty Blackbirds, a gem in the up-and-coming section of Gowanus.  But now I am singing even louder due to the fact that they have just released a cookbook that allows me to whip up their unique pies in my own tiny kitchen. I received a copy of their book and let me tell you it has heart and soul. The bakery was started by two sisters, Emily and Melissa Elson who were seeking a way to share their love of pie, soon word got out just how amazing they were and thus their shop was soon born.   It was hard to pick a recipe from this book, but luckily it is categorized by season so it was a bit easier to narrow down. For the first recipe (a second one is coming your way next week) I decided on the Salty Honey Pie, and boy, it is even better than it sounds.  This pie has the texture of molten pudding and has a distinct and addicting taste thanks to the honey which lends a floral hint and the sea salt flakes round out this amazing flavor.  Continue for more...

{Top Five} The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies NYC & Brooklyn

If I ever had to decide one treat to eat for the rest of my life, it would hands down be the chocolate chip cookie.  What isn't to love - it is filled with chocolate goodness, loaded with butter and the texture, oh the texture, ranging from soft and chewy to crispy. I have been stumbling across fabulous bakeries here in New York for over seven years and I am always keeping my eyes peeled for new places to try.  Recently when I was savoring, okay devouring, a Levain chocolate chip cookie (if you don't know what cookie I am referring to, I urge you to board a plane to New York and head to West 74th Street now) I thought how amazing their recipe was but for reasons unique to Levain. Their cookies resemble a rich Southern biscuit and are served warm with a gooey and doughy center while the chocolate chips and walnuts create a melt-in-your mouth texture.  But then there is Ovenly, a stand-out bakery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that boasts a bevy of baked goods including a vegan (you would never know, trust me) chocolate chip cookie that is flecked with the perfect amount of sea salt flecks and incorporates more dough than chips.  

I decided I would do a round-up of the best chocolate chip cookies that this city has to offer and ask my fiancé, John, to decide on his favorite. So on an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon, I sat him down and he happily dug in.  Disclaimer: I have happily eaten all of these cookies before, so I warned him, he was in for a really nice treat.  Continue for more...

Places to Venture {Brooklyn} - Bellocq Tea Atelier

From the outside of of Bellocq Tea Atelier in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, you would never know that an enchanting tea parlor awaits you.  The exterior is very 'Greenpoint' if you will - it looks like a active brick warehouse; however, you are quickly convinced otherwise as soon as you slip past the large black doors. Inside, a quiet oasis awaits you filled with yellow tea canisters, quince blossoms, the aroma of herbal teas and rays of ethereal light that filters through the large scale windows.  The highlight of this shop is the sitting room, which has a color palette that is impossibly pretty with shades ofsteely blues, dusty pinks with hints of gold and yellow.  Bellocq Tea Atelier, originally from Kings Road, London has moved their headquarters to the New York City area. If you live in New York or if you are planning a visit, I really recommend that you venture across the East River to this beautiful gem.  Continue for more...

Places to Venture {Brooklyn} - Four & Twenty Blackbirds

There are so many places to dine at in New York City it can be quite intimidating.  I find it nearly impossible to keep up with the newly opened restaurant section of New York Magazine, Time Out New York or The New York Times.  I admit that I get most of my leads  by watching The Cooking Channel - I am quite obsessed with two shows,  Unique Eats and Unique Sweets (have you guys ever tuned in? You should if you haven't!). 

They recently featured Four & Twenty Blackbirds, a cozy little pie shop nestled in the up-and-coming section of Gowanus, Brooklyn,  They have an amazing selection of pies by the slice or whole pies to choose from - we settled on Lemon Chess and Salted Caramel Apple. Let me tell you how amazing both were in particularly the latter - the inside contained soft, molten apples drenched in liquid caramel while the outside had flaky crust sprinkled with coarse sea salt. It was a slice of  heaven.   If you are in the area of if you aren't it is definitely worth the trip. They also brew Irving Farm Coffee and an assortment of teas to accompany your pie.  I also loved the rustic/refined decor that consisted of aged copper tin ceilings and walls and the large wooden tables to enjoy your pie.  

*Photographs by Alison 

Places to Go: Bien Cuit

If you are looking for an authentic Parisian boulangerie experience, look no further than Bien Cuit in Cobble Hill.  The aroma of the bread takes me back to the magical experience of waiting in line for a baguette at Maison Kayser on Rue Monge in Paris.  They have a plethora of fresh baked crusty breads, croissants and croque monsieur, not to mention other gorgeous confections that pair perfectly with one of their frothy cappuccinos.    

(A great selection of hearth-baked breads)

(Puddles of chocolate dolloped in a sponge cake and finished with a sugar-coated raspberry)

(A lovely cappuccino)

As seen through Instagram

Places to Go: Calexico, Brooklyn

Calexico is a popular Mexican restaurant that started out as food cart and eventually graduated into a restaurant.  Recently, my boyfriend and I checked out this Columbia Street Waterfront hot spot - so hot that the food cart during the summer at Brooklyn Bridge Park has a line half a mile deep.  I had the crispy tortilla chips (very addicting, just warning you) with guacamole and the pollo asado tacos, which were two corn tortillas filled with flavorful chicken, avocado and pico de gallo.  If you don't want to trek to Brooklyn, check out their food cart located in the Flatiron District. 

Places to Go: Bar Bruno

(Bar Bruno, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)

We recently discovered Bar Bruno, a cafe/bistro in our neighborhood. I loved the nostalgic decorations like the red rimmed tables, black lacquered booths and chairs that have the feel of the 70's, but with beautiful decorative tin ceilings. We went for brunch on a Saturday. I loved the laid-back environment and the food was delicious, a spin-off of traditional brunch fare but with a Spanish twist. I had the Vegetarian Quinoa Burger - a very healthy way to start off a weekend that was filled with holiday cookie baking and of course, cookie eating. 

(Sun-drenched seating)

(The vintage bar - I love the ornate tin roof)

(A delicious quinoa burger)

Places to Go: Baked and Saipua

(Baked Brooklyn)

(Many options for brownies)

 

 (So many cupcake options, it is hard to narrow down which one you want)

(Jars of biscotti)

(Jars of homemade marshmallows)

(A glamourous chandelier)

(I settled on the Sweet and Salty Brownie, an award winning treat and a coffee)

I first discovered Baked, while visiting friends in Charleston, SC - little did I know that this bake shop originates from Redhook, Brooklyn.  On a recent excursion to this section of my new (favorite) borough, I had to stop into Baked. This shop has grown in popularity, (I mean once you make Oprah's list of favorite things, you are pretty much set for life) with cookbooks and now their whoopee pie and brownie mixes that are sold at William Sonoma.  I love the orange and brown decor and the chandelier that finishes it all off.  The ambiance is definitely inviting - whether you choose to nibble on a unique cupcake confection or sip on hot chocolate topped with a homemade (chocolate) marshmallow, I promise you, your sweet tooth will not be let down.  

 While you are in the area...

(A lovely flower and soap shop)

I have lost count just how many times I have read about Saipua, a flower and soap shop in the heart of Redhook. So when I was recently in the area, I just had to check it out.  This shop is absolutely gorgeous.  The worn wooden walls create such a rustic feeling environment. The fragrant handmade soaps create an intoxicating aroma and the combination of the floral bouquets is just heavenly.   I definitely want to stop back and pick up a bouquet.  

Places to Go: Redhook Lobster Pound

(Redhook Lobster Pound)

(The scales to weigh the lobsters)

(The fresh lobster pool)

(Maine Style Lobster Roll - a healthy mixture of fresh lobster, mayonnaise and lettuce)

(Nautical inspired decorations in the dining section)

The Redhook Lobster Pound is quickly becoming an institution in Manhattan and Brooklyn for serving authentic and delicious lobster, straight from Maine.  We recently ventured to Redhook to try their famous lobster rolls.  Located on the northern section of Van Brunt Street, this restaurant is a must-try if you are in the area, or even if you are not, follow them on Twitter to find the location of their food truck.  The rolls are prepared as you wait and can be eaten on the picnic tables in the laid-back dining room. I had the Maine Style lobster roll that was piled with lobster meat and sandwiched between a buttered roll - what a delightful lunch.

Places to Go: Frankies Spuntino and The Chocolate Room

(The wait is over, welcome to Frankies)

 (A fall cocktail)

 (Cremini Mushroom with Truffle Oil Crostini)

 (Sweet Potato Ravioli with Sage and Parmesan Broth)

On to the Chocolate Room

(A brownie sundae with homemade vanilla ice cream, a warm brownie and fresh whipped cream)

My good friend Nuria and I have a tradition of taking each other out to dinner on our birthdays.  I have been wanting to try Frankies Spuntino, which is right around the corner from where I live.  A few years back, I discovered their olive oil at Whole Foods and have been dying to eat at their restaurant ever since; the only problem is that the wait is incredibly long (especially Thursday - Saturday) and they don't take reservations.  The trick we discovered was to dine early, we arrived at around 4 p.m.  We sipped on fall inspired cocktails, munched on crostini - I had the Cremini Mushroom with Truffle Oil (anything, anything with truffles - I will gladly eat, until I am bursting from the seams) and for my main course I had the Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage and Parmesan Broth.  The food was absolutely delicious, just what I had hoped.  


For dessert, we walked up Court Street to The Chocolate Room. When I close my eyes and hear the words 'chocolate room', I imagine a tiny cottage that is supported by four walls of pure dark chocolate.  Well, The Chocolate Room restaurant is almost that, except you know, without the walls constructed of cocoa.  I decided to have the Brownie Sundae, and boy, did I choose well.  The thick, warm and chewy brownie was perfectly accompanied by a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and topped off with a cherry and chocolate shavings.  It was knee-buckling good.  Thanks again to Nuria for such an amazing dinner and dessert!

A (Brooklyn) Fall Afternoon

(Espresso with an amazing view)

(A glance from the completed section of Brooklyn Bridge Park)

(A secret garden in Cobble Hill)

Walking around Brooklyn on the weekend is becoming one of my favorite things to do.  When I walk down Court Street, famed for it's exquisite brownstones, it makes me feel like I could be on either a movie set or in London.  

If there is one community project that I have been itching to be complete, it is the Brooklyn Bridge Park opening.  The beginnings of the Park in Cobble Hill are still under major construction; there is fencing and piles of stone everywhere, but you can see that slowly but surely progress is being made every day.  The Brooklyn Heights section is completely finished, so today Miss Mickey (our dog) and I took full advantage.  I sipped an espresso at the Brooklyn Bridge Bar, an outdoor space with brightly colored tables and chairs. They serve both coffee and alchohol all with an astonishing view of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Also, as I may have previously mentioned, I love gardens that appear in unexpected places.  A few weeks ago, I wandered down Degraw Street in Cobble Hill and stumbled across this amazing garden.  Who knows what it was before, as now it is a peaceful haven away from the noise of the city.