NYC Food Tour

This Saturday was St. Patrick's Day. It can get pretty crazy in the city. We have the well known parade, people in green, bar hopping, and lots of other crazy things!

As many of you know Nick and I aren't the wild party, bar-hopping types. But we did get out and celebrate in our own way. The weather was great...a little cool but there was plenty of sunshine.

I actually got the idea from one of my friends Jen (a fellow blogger). Check her out here: http://adailythoughteatsandgoings.blogspot.com. She moved here with her fiance who is at NYU. She documents all her NYU experiences and she loves food! There are so many places that Nick and I have wanted to try and reading her blog from last weekend made me decide Nick and I had to have our own NYC food tour.

Nick and I ventured downtown (East Village, Greenwich, West Village). There are a lot of places that we have wanted to try but sometimes it's just so hard to get down there. Here is a recount of our all our stops:

First up, Doughnut Plant
Yes, that one. The one that is featured on all the shows like the Cooking Channel, HGTV, Travel Channel. Now I love, and I mean love, my doughnuts from home. Nothing quite compares to Donut Palace in Coppell, TX. I had high expectations... And they were met. Granted they were different from back home but every bit as delicious. I ordered the cake cinnamon doughnut (I know, traditional... but I like traditional doughnuts) and Nick had the Hazelnut and chocolate doughnut and the tres leches (he went back for seconds even after I explained it would be a long day of eating and he needed to pace himself)!
Ranking:
Cinnamon Cake: 8/10
Hazelnut: 7.5/10
Tres leches: 10/10
Cost: $10





Next, Katz's Delicatessen:
Yep, the famous one from When Harry Met Sally (yes, we saw the sign where Meg Ryan had her famous scene). It's been there since 1888 serving the best sandwiches! I had read it has a tendency to get busy as the day goes on. We arrived around 11am and it was just starting to get busy. Nick and I weren't sure of what to order... we had his phone out to look up the names of the sandwiches on Google. Ha! We ended up ordering the Reuben (minus the sauerkraut). It was surprisingly better than I thought... I'm not a big sandwich person but the meat was really fresh. There was a sauce that came on the sandwich that was a little different... not Nick's favorite since it had some green chucks in it. But overall pretty not bad and pretty cool to be in a restaurant that has survived through so much.
Rating:
7-8/10 (I was a 7 and Nick was an 8... he thought we could have picked a better sandwich for our tastes)
Cost: $20







Third on the spot, S'Mac:
All you can eat macaroni and cheese in many different kind of flavors. With all those different flavors what did we choose? Yes, the traditional 4 cheese. I know, I know... not that exciting but it was so good! And super heavy... we definitely needed to pace ourselves. All of the cheeses melted together wonderfully! Nick also ordered a Stewart's cherry and cream soda. He had never seen one of those before and had to try it. We did not finish all of the mac-n-cheese (this was a 'small'!)... but we did enjoy every bite!
Rating:
8/10
Cost: $11



It continues at, Pommes Frites:
Bring on the french fries! I absolutely love french fries and this was one of the stops I was most looking forward to. These were some of the best authentic Belgium fries I've ever tasted! Warm, fresh, and delicious. We ordered three different sauces: cheese, sun-dried tomato mayo, and sweet chili. Now, here is where my disappointment comes in... neither of us liked any of the sauces. We did not choose well. I'd rather eat the fries plain that ruin them with those three sauces. They did have others so next time we will have to try some more. I might be a plain fries and ketchup kind of girl though.
Rating:
Fries: 9/10
Sauces: 2/10 (we are being generous)
Cost: $7



Next up, Mamouns:
This was one of Nick's choices. He had been here before and wanted me to experience it. Now, Middle Eastern food it quite a stretch for me but I went into it with an open mind. I relied on Nick to figure out what to order. It was all gibberish to me! We ended up with a Kafta sandwich... this is a seasoned lamb with onions and parsley ground into a patty. Add in some lettuce and tomatoes and you have got a pretty good sandwich. I'll admit it's not my favorite... the patty had a unique taste. But for it being my first experience it was surprisingly decent. I didn't spit it out on the first bite... that says a lot.
Rating:
6 & 8/10 (Guess which one I am... yep, the 6)
Cost: $5.50



Continuing on at, Joe's Pizza:
I always pass this spot on the way to NYU when I met Nick down by campus. He's never stopped at it before and you can't have a food tour and not have a pizza stop. That would be a crime. Apparently a lot of celebrities frequent this place so it must be good, right? And it was. Probably one of the better slices of pizza I've had in the city. For some reason I seem to be pretty picky with pizza. I can't say that I've found a place that has really blown me away. Nick would be embarrassed for me to admit this but I love Domino's. I know, shameful in a city full of all different kinds of pizza but hey I like it! But, back to Joe's... the sauce was my favorite part. I ended up picking off the pepperoni. Don't worry, those did not go to waste.... Nick was there to eat them!
Rating:
7.5/10
Cost: $5





Desert time, L'arte de Gelato:
It was time for a little desert... we had earned it. Is there anything better than a traditional Italian gelato place?! It was amazing. It reminded me of being back in Italy (oh, how I wish we were there now). I ordered the lemon sorbet and it was extremely refreshing and light. Nick opted for 2 flavors: biscotti and chocolate/hazelnut combination. He loved his as much as I loved mine... we didn't share to well on this one!
Rating:
Lemon: 10/10
Pisciotti: 11/10 (according to Nick it was that good - and I would have to agree from the one bite he allowed me)
Chocolate/hazelnut: 7/10
Cost: $8





Last on the list, Fat Witch Brownies:
We walked up to Chelsea Market where Fat Witch Brownies are located. Apparently these brownies are the best in the city. It was a cute store and I have to admit I really love their packaging. We each got our own brownie and made our way to relax on the High Line. Unfortunately, I don't agree these are the best brownies in the city. They were good but not that good. Nick was even nice enough to say he preferred the brownies I made! So sweet.
Rating:
6/10
Cost: $9 (for three)



Needless to say we were quite tired and VERY full when we arrived back home. We spent the rest of the afternoon taking a nap and relaxing on the couch. One would think we would have no room for dinner but I did make some spaghetti and salad.



A home cooked meal was a fantastic way to end a wonderful day in the city!

Happy Birthday Nick!

Nick's birthday was on Monday... he turned the big 2-8! It's really hard to believe that we are in our upper 20's. It seems like just yesterday I met him at the young age of 16!

Nick is currently on Spring Break this week. I know... I am completely and utterly jealous. However, it is his last spring break ever. There is no more long summers, month long Christmas breaks, or week long Thanksgiving breaks. Once school is finished in May it's back to the "real" world.

Nick spent his birthday day riding his bike. It is gorgeous this week in the city and it's perfect cycling weather. I wish I was able to play outside but sadly I have to work.

After I got home we went to David Burke at Bloomingdale's. Nick had bought a Groupon deal so we decided to use it for his birthday. It wasn't a real nice or romantic dinner. Pretty causal but the food was pretty good. We started off with a bottle of wine and some appetizers: lobster bisque, chips and guacamole, and a caesar salad (I know.. a lot of different things going on there). Nick order the streak and fries for dinner and I had the salmon. It wasn't the best salmon I've had but definitely not the worst. We ended with the best part... a root bear float for Nick and creme brulee for me! Delicious!

We came home and had a relaxing night on the couch. Most importantly we caught up on Walking Dead... one of our new favorite shows! If you haven't watched it you are missing out!

Sadly no pictures to document this occasion.

Happy Birthday to the most amazing and supportive husband! I love you!

Wedding in Austin

This past weekend Nick and I flew to Austin, TX for my sister-in-laws wedding. It was a really... and I mean a really quick trip. Unfortunately Nick and I were not able to make the rehearsal dinner on Friday night because I had to work on Friday. It was really disappointing that we couldn't be there with our family.

My parents and Evan picked us up from DFW around 5pm on Friday. We made a quick stop to get some dinner on our way to Austin. Any guesses where we stopped? I'm sure you already know... anything Mexican. This time it happened to be On The Border because it was the first restaurant we saw. And it was amazing!

We finally made it to Austina around 10pm and I was exhausted. It had been a long day of traveling.

Saturday was a fairly relaxing day. We didn't have to be at the wedding until around 4pm so Nick and I hung out with his family. It was really nice to get to see everyone... Nick's whole family is in the Dallas/Austin/Houston area so we tend to miss a few things being all the way in New York!

The wedding was beautiful and the bride was gorgeous. Austin was experiencing a downpour the 3 prior days. Natalie had originally planned on an outdoor wedding but unfortunately due to the weather it was pushed inside. But, it was still beautiful! The bride and groom looked so happy together and I couldn't be happier for the two of them. Another addition to the family!


Getting ready for the festivities to begin


The Grounds - the green area was where the ceremony was suppose to be held but as you can see it was quite wet. It didn't matter though... the ceremony was gorgeous inside!


It's official! They are married!


First Dance


Cakes!


I just love him! He even got out on the dance floor with me... and it wasn't just slow songs either!


Me and my parents


Off they go!

Sunday Nick and I got up and had lunch with my family and Karen. It was a great way to end a very successful and happy weekend! My parents drove us back to Dallas where we caught an afternoon flight back to the city. Needless to say Nick and I are quite tired... but it was worth it.

Congratulations Natalie and Cory!

Goodbye Appendix

Who needs their appendix? Apparently not me.

Intense pain woke me up around 2:30am Monday morning. It was really bad... I could hardly stand up straight. It felt as if someone was ripping open my stomach. Yes, I know... lovely. Imagine how it felt. That pain lasted for a couple of hours. I did go into work but only worked half a day because I was still having the pains. I tried to make an appointment with my physician but she wasn't in the office on Monday.

Tuesday the pain diminished but it was still present. I went to work for the day... that wasn't too much fun but since I'm the only nurse it's hard for me to take off. That afternoon I had my appointment with my physician. She did an exam and was like okay, "I'm sending you to the hospital for a CAT scan now."

The CAT scan was awful. And I mean awful. It wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have to drink close to 1000mL of disgusting barium prep solution. It was nasty... I gagged on every sip I had to take. They really should come up with a better way...

Soon after my CAT scan was finished the results were in... acute appendicitis. I was whisked away to be admitted to the ER and then eventually admitted to general surgery. Oh what fun. Not what I or Nick was expecting for a Tuesday night.

The ER was bustling with people... luckily Nick and I were able to get a semi-private waiting room. I met with the general surgeon resident and he explained the surgery and everything that went into it. And then we waited. The OR was backed up so I probably wouldn't be getting to surgery until 1am.

It was about 2am and I was finally taken upstairs to the OR. I have to admit it is a little different being on the other side... the patient side. It just all felt really backwards... The surgeon was great though. He kept me at ease because I was a little nervous once they pulled me into the OR. But before I knew it I was waking up in recovery and Nick was right there beside me. Drugs... it's amazing how well they work.

I was discharged later that afternoon and I've been home resting. Pain hasn't been too bad... Nick has been the most amazing, attentive, and helpful husband/nurse. I really don't know how I've gotten so lucky. I don't think most men would be as attentive as he has been. He even missed his first bike race this weekend because I asked him to stay. And you might not think that's a big thing but he's been looking forward to this for months. So thank you honey... I love you!

Bandages come off on Wednesday and then hopefully I'm on my way back to normal!

Celebrities and Royalty

My job can be pretty fun and interesting... lots of important people in and out of the office. High powered finance men/women, fashion industry gurus, and of course some celebrities and royalty.

As of lately we have had quite the showing of "important" people. Obviously I can't mention any names (BIG violation of HIPPA)!

I was first introduced to meeting celebrities at my job in Dallas. I always thought I would be really nervous and get tongue-tied. Surprisingly that didn't happen. They really are just normal people. 99% of the time they are the most friendly people around. Trust me, I have met regular people who are way nastier and more impatient.

Last Friday we had a VIP patient (as we like to call them). This patient was FANTASTIC! I loved every minute spent in the room. Very nice and incredibly funny... Probably one of my favorite VIP patients to date!

I know this post would be a lot more interesting if I could divulge the name but sadly that will not happen. Maybe when I'm old and gray and looking back I can finally tell my stories!

Valentine's Day

Oh, Valentine's Day... I use to think it was such a special holiday. You know, get all dressed up, have an expensive dinner, and exchange romantic gifts. I'm past that now. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy the holiday but I don't feel it's necessary to do all that elaborate "stuff." You should appreciate and tell your special someone you love them everyday. It shouldn't just be this day.

I much prefer a simple card (I don't need presents - who would have thought!) and having a nice, chill night with the hubby. Nick and I decided to stay in and cook dinner/watch a movie. It was the perfect night.

Our meal consisted of a bottle of red wine, fresh garden salad, macaroni and cheese, peppercorn filet mignon, and scallops. It.Was.Delicious. I don't think we have ever made a meal that we enjoyed as much as this one. And to make it even better it was super easy... ready in less than 20 minutes! You really can't beat that. Oh, and don't forget dessert. I'll give you one guess... Apple pie and vanilla ice cream!


All the ingredients


Cooking in our very tiny kitchen


It was so nice to have his help... he hates to cook!


Doesn't it look delicious?! It was!

We watched Midnight in Paris while sipping our wine and savoring the wonderful food. The movie was pretty good... I think I enjoyed it more for the setting. I kept saying, "I remember that" or "I've been there." Love Pairs.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Skiing

This past weekend Nick and I went to Killington, VT for skiing. We did this trip last year with the NYU Adventures Club. We decided to go again since this would be the only time this year we would be able to ski.

Lets be honest, it hasn't been the snowiest winter this season. Not that I'm complaining... but you need snow to ski. Lucky for everyone the ski resorts are well prepared for this sort of thing. I was made aware that they can make their own snow. So ski trip is a go!

We met down at NYU Friday night to board the bus. Now, last year the bus ride was a little painful. It took us 2 hours just go get out of the city. I was hoping for a better start this year. Surprisingly, we did make really good time. The downside? Well, there was a lot more loud, obnoxious, wasted students this time. Now, don't get me wrong... I am all for having a good time. But this was just over the top. There was this one girl in particular who was screaming the whole time... her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. She was screaming profanities (I simply cannot write what she said... it's that bad). By the time we pulled into the condo I wanted to kill her. Kill.Her.

It was 1am by the time we finally laid our heads down on the bed. We had to wake up at 8am the next morning to start skiing. 8am came very quickly! It was a really nice day outside. The weather could not have been better. We picked up our equipment and hit the slopes.

The only downside... since it hasn't really snowed the conditions were more icy than last year. The ice scared me a little... it made it more difficult and you went faster. I was practically wedging the whole time! We really only did "greens"... I wasn't comfortable with anything harder than that. It was a great day of skiing and my muscles were so sore once we finished.

After skiing we headed to the hot tub for a little while. That helped with the sore muscles. Later a few of us headed out to dinner at a local restaurant. The food was nice... they had an all you can eat bread, salad, and soup bar! After dinner we went to the local bar, Pickel Barrel, and hung out for a bit. We didn't stay too long. I was exhausted and we had another early morning.

Sunday was a very different day from Saturday. A cold front came through Saturday night and plummeted the temperatures. I woke up to my weather-bug telling me it was 1 degrees outside with a actual feel of below 14!

I only did a few slopes and had to come in. I felt like every part of my body was frozen. It was miserable. I sat in the lodge and had a very delicious hot chocolate. Nick did a few more runs and then came in. At that point I decided I was much more a warmer climate kind of girl. Put me anywhere with a warmer climate and that's my kind of vacation!

The bus headed back around 3pm and we actually made really good time. We arrived back in the city at 8pm and Nick and I were in our apartment at 8:30. I can't tell you how glad we were to be back home. We showered and watched some of the Grammy Awards before we completely passed out!