Brunch-a-licious

brunch

Naturally, I decided to post about brunch on a Sunday. Granted, this delightful quasi meal can be enjoyed any day of the week, it is most frequently visited on Sundays.

That being said, I can honestly say I’ve sampled some of the best brunch right here in New York City. I think a large selling point for most of the restaurants are their 90 minute ‘all you can drink’ options. Pair that with some eggs Benedict or juicy burger, and you have most sold. Don’t they say the best way to get over a hangover is to drink?!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to Maracas in the Village. For a whopping $15 I had a huge tostada filled with Mexican chicken (nice and spicy) with guacamole, sour cream and tons of veggies. Coupled with some strawberry margaritas and mimosas, I was in heaven. I then spent the next few hours lounging in Central Park. I don’t think I could have had a better Sunday.

That being said, brunch is truly one of the best meals – anything goes. You can get breakfast or lunch or even a combination of the two. Add in some drinks and you’re golden.

I urge everyone to get their brunch on. Drinks or no drinks, I can’t imagine a group being unable to find something appeasing to each individual’s taste. It really is a great way to connect with someone; over comforting foods on the earlier side of a day. Hey, it would be a great date too! Easy to cut off afterwards if things didn’t go as planned, but also just as easy to spend the rest of the day together.

I myself have spent too much of my time skipping breakfast or skirting around what I deemed to be appropriate breakfast fare. Now, however, I’m able to embrace breakfast, and more importantly brunch, on a whole. Breakfast is one of the great meals that really can be enjoyed anytime. Add it in later in a lazy Saturday or Sunday, even throw in some drinks, and I can’t imagine anything better. Unless, of course, there were cupcakes…

Fall Foods – Pumpkin Part 1

I can honestly say I rarely look forward to the fall. It means I have to retire my flip flops, sun dresses, and bathing suits. In the food realm, I give up things like cook-outs and outdoor food festivals.

This fall, however, I’m ready to embrace something absolutely delicious; pumpkin. Previously I’ve adapted pumpkin to only a few things in my diet- pie and the occasional Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I’ve come to realize, however, there is a whole world of pumpkin goodness; Kashi TLC bars have a Pumpkin Granola, Magnolia’s bakery has a Pumpkin Cupcake, and there are A LOT of beers that have a Pumpkin Ale.

That being said, now that we’ve passed labor day, I’ve started my pumpkin excursion. I’m starting slowly, as it’s only the beginning of September. I’ve decided to gulp down some Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, and it is deeeeelish. I know there are multiple pumpkin flavored brews on my list, so I’ll certainly keep you up to speed with each sip. I’ve also indulged in the TLC Pumpkin Spice bars, which are truly a treat – they have the goodness of granola, with a little decadence of pumpkin glaze. And of course, I’ve already devoured two Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks. I’ll continue enjoying those until it becomes time for their winter flavors.

Needless to say, I’ve never been big on fall flavors – I’ve always been too depressed to see summer go, while also dreading the cold winter. This year, I’ve turned a new beautifully golden red leaf. I’m learning to embrace not only fall, but also winter. There is goodness in fall; pumpkin, apple, nut, and smoky flavors, more hearty dishes, and also Halloween, something I would find difficult not to love.

That being said, I’m embracing fall and all it has to offer. I’ve broken out my light jackets and starting racking my brain for costume ideas. I promise to keep you up to date with all of my fall food endeavors; I know they will be absolutely delightful.

Burritos

I once had a friend ask me if I was Mexican. Confused, since I look as Irish as they come, I asked why she was inquiring. She proceeded to explain it was due to my eating habits. When given the chance, I’ll always choose something spicy, and in most cases of the Spanish persuasion.

That brings me to burritos. They have easily and increasingly become a staple in my diet. I can have one for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I’ve sampled authentic, as well as generic, and I really don’t think I’ve found dissapointment yet.

I have important qualifiers that make a burrito note worthy; it needs to be stuffed to the gills with deliciousness, while still managing to stay fully intact. I’ve come to learn the key to that phenomenon is steaming of the tortilla prior to stuffing it. I learned that the hard way while in college; every time the I got a burrito from the “Mexican Station,” it crumbled right in front of me. I’m glad, however, the proprietors of places such as Qdoba, Moe’s, and Chipotle learned it early on.

Burritos seem to be the one thing that can be filled with anything. I’ve had with eggs and potatoes, your typical chicken, beef, or pork, or if you’re feeling daring, even tofu. That’s right, it sounds weird, but it is delicious. Moe’s happens to offer the option for the meat weary – and let me tell you, even if you’re the biggest carnivore out there, you should give it a shot. It’s perfectly seasoned and picks up all the right flavors once combined with the rice and beans. It truly is surprising at how delicious it is.

I can honestly say I’ve only ever met one person in my life that hasn’t shared my love for burritos. I currently work in an office where everyone LOVES them. If one person mentions it for lunch, it’s a guarantee that 80% of the office will be on-board for one as well. I guess that’s what happens when you work around the corner from a Moe’s Southwest Grill.

I’m a lover of all types of food – Spanish, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, German, Italian, French, American, and fusions of all of the aforementioned types. I’m sure I’m even leaving some out (not on purpose, of course). There’s just something special about Spanish food, though. I really can’t put my finger on what it is, aside from deliciousness.

I think I’ve successfully recreated the burrito many times in all it’s glory. I know I’ll never get sick of it, and I’ll probably continue to have it at least once a week, preferably more if at all possible.

As I write this, I’m being bombarded with inter-office Skype messages about Moe’s for lunch. Clearly we are all going to give in. There really is no way to say “no” to a burrito.

Cupcakes!

I’ve recently become mildly obsessed with cupcakes. Okay, I’ll be honest – I am completely obsessed with them. They’ve taken over my dessert dreams. My boyfriend and I plan days around stopping to get cupcakes at various locales.

I really can’t think of a better dessert. Yes, that’s right. I think cupcakes are the best.

This all started a few months ago when I took a trip to the famed Crumbs Bakery that opened in my town. Well, it was love at first sight. I spent a few hours prior to my trip analyzing the menu (something I do before every food trip I make). As soon as I opened that menu page, I was sucked in.

After visiting a hand full of times, cappuccino is my favorite. It was a decadent cream-cheese filling with a thick chocolate/coffee frosting surrounded by mini chocolate chips. S’mores and Brownie are a close second/third.

Since that fateful day in oh so many ways, I’ve been on a quest to obtain gourmet cupcakes anywhere, and any way I can.

The New York Times recently published an article about the growing cupcake trend, and conveniently listed the top 10 in the city. Well, you can only imagine what I’ve got planned.

My first stop was the newly famed CupcakeStop. This will blow your mind. It’s a cupcake bakery, on wheels!!! They travel throughout the city and post their location and daily flavors via Twitter. It really is ingenious. For a bakery on wheels, their cookie dough cupcake was pretty spot on. They’ve even introduced two sizes and gluten free!

I think my next stop will be the famed Magnolia’s on Bleeker St made famous by my girl SJP in SATC. I’ll have to see where the sweet deliciousness takes me from there.

I have every intention of trying any and every cupcake I can get my hands on. I promise to keep you posted on my journey.

The old addage – Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts

Last night, over coffee and dessert at my boyfriend’s parent’s house, we got to talking about Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts coffee. This is often a debate I find myself a part of, with extreme feeling.

I can’t say I’m a coffee conossuire. Coffee lover, that I am. I can’t go a day without it. When I do, I feel like something is missing. My whole day goes awry.

But enough beating around the bush. Dunkin’ Donuts by far the best regular coffee. And by regular, I am including flavors. I am partial to the hazelnut with the occassional french vanilla or coconut. I tend to prefer it iced as well, though I’ll take it hot in the colder months. Now onto it’s over priced and snazzy labeled counterpart.

I tend to find Starbucks is used more as a status symbol than actually purchased for a good cup of coffee. I find their plain coffee without any extras extremely bitter and often times burnt. Add some flavor shots (that will cost you and extra 25 cents each), you simply mask the burnt bitters.

I will give Starbucks credit for their specialty drinks. That is something they’re good at, but the amount of calories and price usually keep me away.

So here I stand still a Dunkin Donuts fan to the core. Yes, I’ve tried WaWa, QuickCheck, 7-Eleven and even McDonalds (which is actually pretty good). But I can’t be swayed. Unless I’m looking to carry a status cup down the street or indulge myself in a fall time treat (pumpkin spice latte!) You’ll always find me at DD. To be tried and true to the Facebook group my friend and I started Sophomore year of college when that was cool, I would never cheat on Dunkin.

Buff Chicks!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

If you like spice, and you like meat, and I know you like pizza (who doesn’t?!) this NEEDS to be on your to-try list.

I can honestly say the first time I tried this was while I was still in college. There were multiple pizza joints around campus while walking to and from bars and house parties. Conveniently the ones closest to the bars stay open well past 2am. So, when they late night hunger craze hits, these pizzerias are flooded with drunken college students.

One of the more adventurous locales, Pietro’s, offered up interesting combinations like BLT pizza, Buffalo Chicken pizza, even an apple pie pizza in the fall, etc.

Being a lover of all things supremely spicy, one evening I decided to give it a whirl. Well, I was instantly hooked. It was just the right amount of mozzarella cheese, buffalo sauce, and chicken strategically placed atop perfectly cooked dough. I then spent the next year and a half ordering it religiously.

After graduating I went on a quest to find the next best thing. I spent many an evening dissatisfied with the rendition of my favorite – either the chicken was too dry, there wasn’t enough hot sauce, or it was just over-all subpar.

Since moving to Highland Park, NJ, though, I think I’ve stumbled upon the next-best, or perhaps even best Buffalo Chicken Pizza. It can be found at La Rosa II.

My only gripe is the grease/oil situation. It literally oozes out of the pizza as you eat it. Granted, this is a combination of the ingredients, but it just makes you feel guilty while devouring it. Needless to say I just finished housing some of it.

I love spicy food, and this has just the right amount of spice. It’s definitely present, but doesn’t overwhelm you and take away from the other flavors. It has just the right amount of cheese for an ooey gooey texture, and impressively sectioned pieces of chicken.

I definitely give this pizza an A-.

I certainly won’t be stopping my search for the best Buffalo Chicken Pizza. I’ll try it any time I can get my hands on it. And be advised, I’ll let you know when I find the one.

Here it is!

So, my first official post as Foodosaurus Rex.

I can’t really imagine where this is going to go, but I suppose only time will tell.

I’m an avid foodie who recently has become obsessed with the blog world. Put the two together, and there’s a whole new virgin territory for me to delve into.

So join me in my quest for deliciousness; whether it be in my kitchen or another’s. I’ll do my best to find all things yumyum and give you the 411 on all the nomz.

I can’t suggest you put weight in my posts – I love food. It’s going to be difficult for me to find something I don’t like.

Nonetheless you should stay tuned…