BANGERANG!

During winter break one of my best friends in the whole world (Formally known as Brandi King) and I decided to have a cupcake masterpiece night.

The pictures explain it all:

Vapiano!

This place was amazing!!!

Vipiano is an Italian chain but it's so fun!

Here is what you do:

1. When you walk in, the hostess gives you a card.

2. You find a seat yourself.

3. You go up to the kitchen area labeled "Salad" or "Pizza" or "Pasta" and you order. If you order pasta you get to choose your noodles! AHA!

4. The chef has you tap your card on the machine.

5. Then you go eat.

6. When you leave, the hostess swipes your card and the total amount of $ is on there for you to pay.
6. You leave with a mini container of GUMMY BEARS! WIN.

SO FUN!

It is do it yourself style dining which is good for many reasons but a big one is that you have your own tab and you pay for your own food.

A plus for big groups!

So I started with the Strawberry Spinach Salad with goat cheese and berry vinaigrette.

Perfect.

Alex had the Ceasar! Not the best pic but you can see the card below and some olive oil for the amazing bread!

Then I had the alfredo with chicken and broccoli. Perfect. Not too creamy, not too light. 

Alex had the pasta with sausage and sauce. Somehow the pic doesn't show off the food, but Alex's reaction to it.

ha.

Somehow I managed to MATCH the color of my food. I didn't plan it.

The place looked cool.

We shared the cheesecake dessert. It was FREE because I signed up for the club online and I got a coupon emailed to me! woohoo!

And even the to-go containers were trendy

Overall:

I am DEFINITELY going back to Vipiano!! Affordable, yummy, and fun!

Website:

http://www.vapianointernational.com/vapiano/

Something Extraordinary...(San Diego, Winter 2011)

 Whilst at home in San Diego over my winter break, I decided to have a lunch date with my beloved Thanh. We ended our date with dessert, at the infamous Extraordinary Desserts!

We were so full from our lunch at Lotus Thai, we could not bear the idea of two desserts, so we shared one!

And boy was that a good choice!

We shared the Blood Orange Ricotta Torte!

Part of the reason Extraordinary Desserts is so amazing is because of the presentation.

I mean, look at it!

The cake was moist, the frosting was perfectly whipped, not too heavy not too light. The blood orange added a zing to the sweetness. Perfect choice for something that won't make you feel like you will keel over afterwards!

Overall:

Perfect. Extraordinary Desserts never lets me down!

Check our their website, they were featured on Food Network too!

Website:

http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/

Happy Birthday to ME!

On my 23rd birthday, my friend Alex took me to

The Bryant Park Grill.

One of the best dinners in NYC so far!

When we arrived, somehow, my amazing sister called in to order us crab cakes. It was a huge surprise and she knows how much I love them, so the night began perfectly!

Here is Alex and I with our crab cakes!

Then for my main course, I chose the Filet Mignon.

It was breathtaking! (Austin Powers reference)

It came with fingerling potatoes and some veggies.

Love me a birthday steak! 

Not the best pic. Oh well.

Alex had the goat cheese ravioli. 

AMAZING.

For dessert my sister ALSO arranged for me to have the cheesecake. Amazing! Beautifully presented. Very rich, but Junior's takes the cake (pun intended).

Overall:

Perfect place to celebrate a special night. 

I am very thankful to be in NYC this year!

Website:

http://www.arkrestaurants.com/bryant_park.html

SHAKE SHACK!!!

This was a special occasion.

My friend Amelia and I decided to splurge!

My first time at Shake Shack. We went to Madison Square Park.

I had the Cheeseburger with fries and a Chocolate/Vanilla milkshake.

I loved every bite.

The quality of the burger was so impressive!

I was blown away by the rich taste of the cheese and the perfectly crispy fries.

The milkshake should get its own page it's so damn good!

So cute!

Overall:

I love it here. I still love In 'N Out but this will do.

A lot more $$ than In 'N Out, but it's not like I go every day. Worth it!

Website:

http://www.shakeshack.com/ 

Junior's! February 2011

One cold night in February, 3 friends ventured to Times Square. 
We were hungry.
We decided on Junior's.


Alex had the pastrami sandwich (below).
He loved it. It was finger lickn' good.

I had the Matzo Ball Soup.

It was wonderful. 

I wanted veggies.

So I got a side of veggies.

The main reason why we went:

THE CHEESECAKE.

Stacy and I shared the original. 

It was breathtaking.

Alex had the strawberry. Intense.

Overall:

Very touristy. 

With touristy prices.

BUT

The cheesecake was PERFECT.

And that's saying a lot. 

Website:

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/ 

Restaurant Week February 2011!

 

I went to Mezzogiorno with Emma, one of my best friends! 

We wanted to experience restaurant week in NYC! 

Cute place in Soho! 

 

We started with the
Polpettine di melanzane al caprino con insalatina di campo
eggplant croquettes with goat cheese and field greens

GREAT CHOICE!!

Main Course:

We both ordered the
Fiocchetti ai tre formaggi e pera
small pasta pouches filled with cheese and pear (below)

AMAZING!!! LIFE CHANGING!!! 

 

 For dessert, I opted for the Italian Cheesecake. 

Not the best, sadly. It was almost too ricotta-y. I should have chosen something else. By this time, it was too much cheese throughout the dinner. Oh well!

         

OVERALL:

I would give Mezzogiorno a 7/10. 

The main course was the best part!

Website:

http://www.mezzogiorno.com/index.html