Loosie's Kitchen Brunch

Oh when bloggers get together for brunch.. Sometimes we can be so annoying when we go out with friends or family and do the most just to get the perfect shot. I feel like we even hold ourselves back sometimes just because we don’t want to embarrass the people we are with. Well when bloggers get together it’s a whole different story. There is no shame in the game. A while ago we went to brunch at Loosie’s Kitchen in Williamsburg. I love brunch because breakfast food is my favorite food and I don’t have to worry about it being past a certain time to be able to get it. I had the fried chicken and waffles shown above and shared the Nutella beignets. I loved the combination of the savory fried chicken with the sweet waffle and maple syrup drizzled on top. SO GOOD! I feel like the pictures came out great that it definitely does the meal justice because it tasted just as good as it looked. P.S They have marble tables.. #aesthetics #instaworthy 

Incase y'all were wondering no this post or the meal was not sponsored. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

 

Ice cream spotlight: 10below

This spotlight is on the not so hidden Chinatown gem, 10Below ice cream. When I first came across pictures of rolled up heaven on Instagram, it was evident that I needed to try it myself and I'm sure glad that I did.

Inspired by ice cream in Thailand, 10Below offers made-to-order ice cream that is fresh and provides a unique experience. The way it works is quite simple. They begin by simply pouring liquid cream over a freezing plate which eventually turns into ice cream only within a few minutes. Then each individual ice cream is rolled before your eyes and voila you have your ice cream in its purest form right off the plate. This is the part where you want to take your phone out and snapchat the moment so you can post it on your story.

There is only one size which costs $7 but for the price you can pick any flavor you want, add ingredients to be mixed in, and indulge in unlimited toppings. I really like this idea because it makes ordering easier and quick. After all, 10Below attracts crowds that can cause a 15-25 minute wait depending on the day and time. Either way it's a really cool concept and it was fun seeing ice cream be prepared in front of me. If you are looking for something cool and different, have friends visiting from out of town, or just want an opportunity for a trendy Instagram picture, this is definitely the place to come to.

Breakfast spotlight: The Butcher's Daughter

The name itself might bring meat to mind, but the only butchering being done is of fruits and vegetables! The Butcher's dauguter is vegetarian and non-dairy and offers some vegan and gluten free options on their menu as well. Whoever this "daughter" is or isnt, sounds like your stereotypical nature and animal lover.

As you can see, the restaurant is completely adorned with plants and it almost feels like you are eating in a greenhouse. Such a relaxing ambiance sitting by the window which provided great lighting for this great photo I took of my plate. I decided to go with the multi-grain french toast which came with some berries and strawberry almond butter.

Pictured above, is their "orange juice." I placed it in quotations because it is not actually orange juice like I thought it'd be when I ordered it. I envisioned some freshly squeezed oranges but instead received a $9 pressed health drink which contained carrots and other veggies. This is what they refer to as orange juice, so if you head over to The Butcher's Daughter beware and make sure you know what you are ordering to drink. I had a great experience but just be prepared so that you do not make the same mistake I did.

Location: 19 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Meet the SUSHIRITTO

Yup you read right. SUSHIRITTO! Meaning sushi + burrito put together basically a giant Sushi roll the size of a burrito. Before you start to wonder how in the world such thing could exist, the answer is quite simple. Uma Temakeria, the glorious location where you can get yourself this heavenly creation. If you are like me and love sushi but also cherish burritos and you are always stuck between the two, there is finally a solution! No more having to debate whether you should get Japanese or go for Mexican because you can have both.

I had been salivating over the idea for quite some time ever since a friend told me about it. Looking through pictures on Instagram was painful until finally, this past weekend my friends and I went over to try it. The concept was simple and similar to Chipotle except you were creating a sushi roll. You choose a type of rice (white or brown), protein (variety of raw fish), vegetables, toppings, and sauces. I went with the white rice, salmon, tuna, carrots, cucumbers, red peppers, spicy mayo, and eel sauces all for about $11. Trust me its worth it. However, just like chipotle, "avocado is extra," and being the bargain savvy college student that I am I decided to opt out.

Either way, I had a phenomenal experience. I truly enjoyed every single bite and of course, the Instagram-worthy opportunity. If you happen to be in New York, check it out at 7th ave & 14th st.

Restaurant Review: GOTHAM BAR & GRILL NYC

New York City Restaurant Week is probably one of the best weeks in the city. It happens twice a year and over 350 restaurants participate. For a fixed price of $25 for lunch and $38 for dinner, you can indulge in a three-course delicious meal. Being bargain savvy college students, my friends and I decided to take advantage of this offer and go to Gotham Bar and Grill.

Gotham has consistently placed high in the Zagat Restaurant Guide & has maintained its Michelin Star rating for multiple years. Although the ambiance is not upbeat and trendy like restaurants such as Buddakan or Tao, it is calm and perfect for a professional business lunch or elegant evening dinner.

Since it was restaurant week, we ordered from their special prefixed menu. It was great because they offered a variety of options for each course. For the appetizer, I decided to go with a basic mixed greens salad because I wasn't really feeling the smoked salmon dish or the pumpkin creme. My salad was super good and it had a delectable vinaigrette dressing with some tossed nuts and cranberries up in the there. I did try some of the pumpkin creme and salmon from my friends and it was extremely good as well. The salmon tasted really fresh and it was served with a delicious aioli sauce as well as some greens and the pumpkin soup was perfection. 

For the main entree, I ordered a roasted chicken breast which came on top of a bundle of savory vegetables in a sweet barbeque-like sauce. The chicken was so tender and it was probably one of the best chicken breasts I've ever had. It was as if the chicken was bred on an organic diet in some hidden mystical fantasy land.

At last, the desert came and we were all blown away! The desert options were: flavored sorbet, flourless chocolate cake, and a pear parfait. We each choose something different so that we could try from each others plates. I selected the raspberry sorbet and words cannot describe how good that was. It was as if the raspberries were hand picked from Narnia or something! The rich fruity taste reminded me of the times I had sorbet in Italy. IT WAS THAT GOOD. I am not a big cake fan but I decided to try my friends chocolate cake anyway. Thank god I did because it was the most exquisite chocolate cake I have tried. I don't know if it was the flourless aspect of it, but even though the cake seemed like a solid piece its texture was that of a soft mousee. It literally melted inside my mouth and I was completely okay with that. It was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream which really went well with the cake. Last but not least, my friend's parfait was probably the best decorate plate and very tasty as well.

Check out the desert pictures below:

Overall, it was such a great experience and the service was impeccable. I definitely recommend!

Price: $$$

Rating: 9/10

Coat Check: Yes

Location: 12 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003 (steps away from Union Square)

Thanks for reading, Sebastian