A cake that not only has rum in it, but rum in the glaze also? Yes please! Plus eggnog? Sign me up! I’m a huge eggnog fan. Which wasn’t always the case, as you can’t buy it in New Zealand, and I never knew anyone who made their own. Now that I’m living in New York, I’ve really gotten a taste for eggnog during the holidays, and I like to have it as a treat after dinner. Or whenever I want something sweet. I was very surprised when buying the eggnog at my local supermarket, that 5 out of 6 varieties contained high-fructose corn syrup. This is a nasty replacement for sugar, but it’s cheap so that’s why companies use it. I had to pay a bit extra to get the natural eggnog that has real sugar & no artificial ingredients, but at least I feel better about drinking it. The brand I got is called Organic Valley, and I can highly recommend it as one of the best tasting eggnogs I’ve tried. Of course, one of these days I’ll have to make my own.
food blog
Chocolate-Raspberry Croissant from Épicerie Boulud
Colored croissants are not as common in the US as they are in Europe. This beautiful, striking Chocolate-Raspberry Croissant ($4) from Daniel Boulud takes 3 days to make. It is unique in the fact that the layers are so precise, you could count them, and the outside is crunchy, with a sweet, buttery inside. But be fair warned: this croissant is not for the faint of heart. It is sinfully rich and decadent. The brains behind this candy-striped creation is Francois Brunet, who is in charge of the bread and viennoiserie at all of Boulud’s restaurants across the city.
Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie. I first tried this special dessert when I came to New York a few years ago. I fell in love with the strong flavor of the toasted nuts, mixed with the deliciously rich, sweet, chewy filling. But let me tell you: I am no expert when it comes to making pies! Pies and cakes are two totally different animals. But for anyone out there who, like me, is more accustomed to making cakes than pies, this pie crust recipe is great for beginners. It contains cream cheese, which gives the crust a slightly tangy flavor and rolls out quickly and smoothly. I think this pie is best made with a mixture of chopped pecans for the filling and halved pecans for the top of the pie. It is even more decadent served with a side of whipped cream or ice cream. You can also add maple syrup (1 & 1/2 tablespoons) to your whipped cream for a taste sensation. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Cotton Candy Creations at Ruimilk
Fans of cotton candy (or candy floss as it’s also known), can’t go past these adorable creations at Ruimilk in Flushing, Queens. First you choose your soft-serve flavor, vanilla or chocolate, or you can get a twist of both like I did. Then choose your cotton candy ‘rui’. As well as the super cute panda ($5.75), there’s…
Barn Joo
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Barn Joo, Korean for ‘music with your meal’. Situated on the ground floor of a boutique hotel, owned by the entrepreneur Charles Chong, Barn Joo is a huge tavern-like space, with a large bar downstairs, as well as additional seating upstairs. Perfect for large groups, the modern interior is…
Monsters from Las Delicias Patisserie
The Monster ($5.75) is described on the Las Delicias Patisserie website as the ‘perfect combination between a chocolate babka, a baker’s muffin and a melt-away cake in all its monstrous glory’. Being a huge fan of the chocolate babka, I was excited to try this interesting creation. Like nothing I’ve ever had before, the Monster was a…
Rolled Ice Cream from Minus Celsius
Thai-style rolled ice cream is popping up all over New York City. The latest location is on Grand Street, Chinatown. The Minus Celsius Ice Cream storefront is unassuming, as is it’s plain interior, but the flavours here aren’t compromised in the slightest. From the chalkboard you make your selection from flavours such as Crazy Cookie…
Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies
I recently got my work visa (after a lot of hard work and determination), and I’m now back in New York City. It feels fantastic to be back after such a long absence (1.5 years!), although slightly strange too. For the first week back, I felt like I was in a dream. Now, after a…
Wowfulls – Authentic Hong Kong Egg Waffles
One Saturday afternoon, I found myself at Smorgasburg, a big food stall market on the waterfront at East River State Park, Williamsburg. Before I even got inside the gates, I saw a girl walking out with with some kind of crazy-looking dessert and I thought ‘That’s what I’m getting!’ I saw the sign and figured…
Catfish Tacos at Bier International
Bier International, Harlem’s first beer garden, is well-known for their sausage selection, which is locally produced in small batches. Also popular on the menu is the steak burger, and their seasonal seafood like soft-shell crab and mussels. When I saw they had Pan-seared Catfish Tacos ($15) on the menu, I immediately had to try them. More…