food review – Lolita And The City

Treat House – Treat. Yo. Self

Treat. Yo. Self. To Treat House that is.

An unknown rice krispie treat shop had been gracing my Facebook feed. Between this and a new crepe shop in SoHo, it was hard to decide which to check out first. Crepes tend to be more fun with people, so I went to check Treat House on it’s grand opening.

I also treated myself to the American Natural History Museum to check out their whale exhibit which was a few blocks away.

(For the record, I went to the museum first.)

To be honest I have a love/hate relationship with rice krispie treats. I will crave the marshmallow snack, but once I’ve bought a box it will stay unopened until the apocalypse. (There’s an infamous chocolate-covered one in the shape of a penguin in the bowels of my cupboard.) I blame the overwhelming sweetness and the not-so-snack-size bars they often come in.

You can buy 1, 2, 4, or 12.

Treat House, on the other hand, were petit-four sized, had just the right sweetness, and came in more than one flavor. Actually they come in so many flavors that it was hard to choose. My eyes went instantly to the Double Bubble that topped a Pink Bubble Gum flavored one, but my brain recollected bad Halloween memories followed by trips to the dentist.

I recommend a 4 pack for one person.

Instead I ending up pointing at familiar flavors like Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Pretzel, S’mores, and Cappuccino (my favorite). This turned out to be a mistake because I wished I had chosen ones like Red Velvet, Blueberry Pie, and Birthday Cake. There’s even a plain bar for you vanilla people.

My Chocolate Pretzel did not fair well on my trip to Central Park.

Lolitas looking for sweet alternatives should take heed: for $2.25 a bar, it’s cheaper than a cupcake and about the same price as an average macaron, depending where you go.

I will be curious to see how this shop will fair in future months. However this shop already has an established following; when I popped in there were plenty of locals congratulating the owners and making purchases.

Groups are popping in and out.

Unfortunately to my husband’s dismay, there is currently no vegan/vegetarian option (The homemade marshmallows are made with fish gelatin). Hopefully they will consider this in the future. Otherwise that will be 4 bars for me.

In addition to the crisped rice treats, they serve cake pops, marshmallows, and ice cream bars. As well as homemade iced tea, juice, and Stumptown coffee to wash it all down.

Cabin in the Woods this is not.

The decor was very simplistic (just like a rice krispie) and I had nothing but smile when I saw the little faux cabin in the back.

Employees’ Only sign?

Log art on the wall.

Right now, there’s no shop like this in New York, so I would not label it a craze just yet. However it is certainly unique and something to check out if you are in the area (like the museum) or just visiting the city.

Treat House will probably become my Upper East Side counterpart: when I go to Alice’s Tea Cup I will more than likely go to Ladurée. Especially after learning they donate a portion of all their sales to the Food Bank of New York City.

All treats were eaten in the making of this post. So was my smile.

Treat House

452 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY

Go Big or Go Home: Lolitas vs. (Mini) Vermonster

Signed as proof.

Lolita fashion makes you do crazy things. If you love the fashion long enough you want to do practically everything while wearing clothes that make you look like a giant cupcake. Whether it’s going to the movies, the zoo, to try out a new restaurant, or even going out for ice cream.

Since a lot of friends were big foodies, I wanted to do something a bit outrageous: I wanted a bunch of us to get together, while wearing Lolita, and eat a Vermonster. It turned out to be a fun, casual bonding experience.

For those who are unfamiliar with Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster, according to Wikipedia it is a giant sundae containing “20 scoops of ice cream, 4 bananas, 4 ladles of hot fudge, 3 chocolate chip cookies, 1 chocolate fudge brownie, 10 scoops of walnuts, 2 scoops each of 4 toppings of your choice, and whipped cream.” Ideally it is for a group of 7-8, preferably more. For $38 dollars between that many people is still a good deal.

The plan was to meetup at Rockefeller Center, since this was the only Ben and Jerry’s in NYC that carried the monstrous sundae. Due to unforeseen circumstances only 6 (as opposed to an original 10) of us could make it and the more we thought about it, we wouldn’t be able to tackle it.

Cherry Garcia, Phish Food, Cookie Dough, Milk and Cookies, and Rainbow Sprinkles.

Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Americone Dream, and Cookie Crunch.

Fortunately there was a mini version, appropriately named the “Mini-Vermonster,” with 4 scoops of ice cream, your choice of caramel or hot fudge, 1 chocolate chip cookie, 1 chocolate fudge brownie, 1 topping of your choice, and whipped cream. Since the mini-Vermonster was made for 2-3 people, we decided to get two of them. It was $13.99 for each and between all of is it was only $5!

Can’t Believe It’s Ice Cream.

We finished them for the most part! It was still a bit much, but more manageable than 20 scoops of ice cream.

No More. No More.

Did I really just eat this?

Yes we did.

Oddly enough we were still hungry and now craved something more savory. Someone had mentioned a German beer hall that served giant pretzels as big as your head.

It was very unanimous that we had to go. Especially since we were unable to get an actually Vermonster.

They even had tofu wurst for vegetarians.

Reichenbach Hall is known as one of the only indoor German beer halls in NYC. We wanted pretzels and were going to order two, but the waitress told us it was very large. Also that instead of $8.99, it was $18.99. We decide to order one for now and order more if it wasn’t enough.

Behold the pizza pretzel.

It had been the giant-sized food we had been looking for — served on a large pizza tray, the pretzel was warm, soft and had the right amount of salt.

I volunteered to be the Vanna White for scale purposes.

The end of the story is do something crazy with friends and it will be a memory you can put in a book later.

Steady As She Goes: Connecticon 2013

You are not in NYC anymore, Pucca.

It was a weekend of firsts: it was the first weekend where the weather was below 90 degrees; the first weekend I stayed in Connecticut instead of just passing through; it was the first time time I attended a convention that was not an anime or comic focused; finally, it was my first time at ConnectiCon.
UncleYo vouched for the convention every time I had a chance to talk to him. This year I was fortunate to attend as Press. Coming from New York it was a hop, skip, jump to Downtown Hartford by Metro-North. Not only that but ParfaitDoll was nice enough to offer me a place to stay. Not only that but the weather held out to be perfect for a convention unlike the heatwave that continues in New York City.

The family that watches Korra together, stays together.

Which witch is which?

I must say that it was refreshing. As I’ve talk to many attendee goers, it was a con for those who did not or could not go very far and still wanted a con experience — and you certainly get that at the Connecticut Convention Center. Unlike Otakon or New York Comic Con, ConnectiCon was a smattering of fandoms: there’s anime, comics, celebrities and a panel room that always has something to do with Doctor Who.

Doug Walker autograph signing.

Little Witches Academia.

While Connecticon boasts an attendance of 10,000 plus people, it still felt small; which for me was a good thing. I never had to worry about lines, crowds, or if I had eaten anything at all that day. Yet on Friday lines were still out the door and everyone was waiting to get into the Dealer’s Room. There had been few occurrences where I waited in line for a panel—unless it was for Jim Cummings or UncleYo.

Marina Sirtis and Magic a la Mode.

Marina Sirtis a bit peeved there are people leaving for Doctor Who panels.

Lolita Fashion and Life: Wearing Daily – hosted by Ramble Rori.

For a convention in the middle of Connecticut, the Lolita fashion community is quite strong — having not one, but three panels dedicated to Japanese fashion. There was a panel, run by Christina from Ramble Rori and Caro from FYeah Lolita on how to wear Lolita fashion daily and how to make your wardrobe more versatile (KISS).

Stick them with the pointy end. Perhaps slicing them is a better choice in this case.

Later in the day was a J-Fashion Show, featuring different fashions that you find wandering the streets of Tokyo.

Dolly kei; Shironuri; Cult Party; Aristocrat

Sweet Lolita; Gothic Lolita; Gyaru; Decora

Group shot.

Unfortunately I will regret due to the lack of seating (due to sword demos taken place the hours before) and dim lighting made for poor pictures on my part.

UMI sushi + tapas in Blue Back Square

Conveyor belt sushi in Connecticut. Who knew?

Since the show was the last thing on our list, Victoria and I celebrated surviving our first day with a sushi dinner. Umi is located in West Hartford in Blue Back Square – a fancy outdoor mall that reminds me of the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham, MA. Umi is a conveyor belt sushi place that certainly stands out in the suburbs. I decided to try the sushi off the belt and it was good, especially if you went for the classic rolls. There were also odd flavors like BLT rolls and something called an Edamame Bomb.

Lolita Fashion 101 – the silhouette.

Swap Meets are good for those looking to clear and add to their Lolita fashion wardrobe.

Saturday we took it easy and attended the Lolita 101/Swap Meet panel. Oddly enough, I was told that the room was full yet when I peeked in again there were quite a few seats. However it was a constant rotation as the room was overpacked, leaving staff to ask any standing room people to leave. No matter where you go I suppose anything related to Lolita fashion will get a packed room. At the end of the panel was a swap meet for Lolitas or attendees to add or clear their wardrobe.

Jim Cummings Q&A

Jim Cummings Q&A started with the voice actor asking questions about his audience before they could ask their own question. This was intermingled with Cummings and Liz Landa actin out scenes from Star Wars (Winnie the Pooh as Darth Vader), The Godfather (Tigger as Micheal Corleone), and Gone with the Wind (Ray the Firefly as Rhett Butler).

Lastly was UncleYo’s panel which was his and friends telling convention stories. There were so many to choose that he left it up to the audience to choose. Eventually it divulge into telling the story of how he and his girlfriend meet, and reading aloud fanmade fujoshi featuring UncleYo.

Penne a la vodka – sauteed portobello mushrooms and red peppers tossed in tomato cream sauce made with house infused jalapeno vodka.

Connecticut treats their congoers right.

Our night ended with catching a bite to eat at the Front Street Bistro across the street. I’m always weary of food around a convention, much less inside a movie theater. Front Street Bistro though made you feel like you were at a restaurant with it’s outdoor dining and hardwood seating– despite lines right next door to see Pacific Rim for the nth time. The menu was a typical burger and fries joint, and I opted for a penne a la vodka. Overall I was impressed by the service at 8PM on a Saturday during a convention: waiter was attentive and service was prompt, even the food was excellent. The penne was not drenched in heavily ladened vodka sauce and had slices of portobello mushroom. Also if you still had your badge, you could get 10% off your bill.

Potato Pancakes.

Vanna White waffle. There is fruit under that. Somewhere.

Sunday was all about the brunch. Victoria took me to a brunch place she frequents a lot – Leo’s Restaurant. It was your basic restaurant but the brunch was impressive and, I must say, creative. They had croissant-style french toast, a take on Huevos Rancheros, and a waffle named after a game show hostess. I went with potato pancakes…and could not finish. Victoria had a waffle that looked to be something from Milky Planet than waffle.

10 Most Important Things About Writing.

Once we arrived at the convention was I popped into a panel about how to improve your writing (i.e. Write a lot; Don’t be a perfectionist; Experience everything).

Kokeshi Doll Workshop

Victoria and I also tried our hand at making kokeshi dolls.

To drink or not to drink all the tea: that is the question.

Lastly there was a tea tasting panel where for $1 you got a souvenir cup, went to table, and learned about the tea they were brewing. This panel was also popular and almost sold out. Again we were told it was completely booked, but by per chance we were able to secure the last two spots.

Dealers’ Room

Haru Vamp as Bōsōzoku Black Lady with Sailor Moon

Overall I had a wonderful first Connecticon experience and would certainly consider going again next year. It was the convention of my yesteryears when I thought AnimeNext was a big convention. It was a convention where I didn’t have the race at opposite ends of the Javits Center at New York Comic Con to catch a panel.

San Francisco: Tourist Time

Friday was our first free day together, where he took me to Blue Bottle Coffee, a West Coast coffee chain that is very precise about their coffee — using glass beakers, scientific thermometers. Each cup is treated like its own experiment and infused with various ingredients like berries, nuts for a more flavorful coffee. If he had to drink coffee everyday it would have to be Blue Bottle.

View from the tower (you can barely see the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out from the horizon); Various art pieces I found interesting.

The we took a trip to the de Young Museum. The art scene there is very different, more radical in my opinion or the artists seem to be inspired by found materials.. We were also recommended to go to the tower where you can get a nice 360-degree view of the park and everything else.. The day we went was pretty cloudy but still impressive. From there it was a short walk to the Japanese Tea Garden.

The Japanese Tea Garden is another must-see with all the sculptures, pagodas, and koi. You can even witness a tea ceremony if you make reservations.

Park Chow: Veggie Burger and Chicken BLT. Also a Blushing Dream (not pictured) to drink.

Before heading to Fisherman’s Wharf for the Aquarium we stopped for lunch at Park Chow. A very homey, tavern-like bistro with a fireplaces upstairs and downstairs. Taking another light rail train to Fisherman’s Wharf for the Aquarium of the Bay, an aquarium devoted to all the animal life in the Bay.

Aquarium of the Bay: a sampling of what lives in the Bay.

Very tiny compared to say the Monterey Bay or New England Aquarium, this one did have two walk-thru tunnels and was very accessible for those without a car. Initially we had thought about attending an after dark food truck rally but the walk was too far and we were unfamiliar with the area, so we ended up at Ghiradelli Square. Home to the original factory, Ghiradelli now houses to various shops and at least several chocolate shops where we purchase half of our Christmas shopping.

Cable Car souvenir tickets can be purchased at end of the line booths.

With our bags suddenly getting heavier we chose to get a cable car back ending the night with dinner at the Restaurant Collection, in Westfield Centre Mall. We had thought about going to M.Y. China but apparently it was reservations-only, so we went to Cupola Pizzeria, an artisanal pizza place whose wait was shorter.

Cupola Pizzeria: Garlic & Bread Soup; Steamed Artichoke; Torn Pasta “Handkerchiefs”; Margherita Extra pizza.

What’s pretty cool was I gave they my mobile number and they were able to text us when our table was ready. As usual, we ordered way too much food or I did. Our appetizers were a steamed artichoke and garlic bread soup. The torn pasta was the favorite out of all of the things we ordered. The restaurant appeared to be very fancy but was also very down-to-earth; I saw well-behaved children coloring on the back of placemats. With a pizza that was again amazing and still homemade tasting, and pasta that was simply delicious. Full from dinner we headed back to the hotel to start again. But not before buying the last half of our presents at Lupicia, Japanese tea shop.

Saturday morning we waited long enough and had a breakfast of tea and Beard Papa. This was a treat as New York used to have a bunch of these around the city; now you can only find one on the Upper West Side. We were meeting up with old friends in the Mission District but since we still had time to kill we walked around the Metreon area, even going on the carousel.

Mission Chinese: A Mexican Coke the size of my head and lots of tasty things to eat.

Mission Chinese originated in San Francisco in a family restaurant, eventually opening up its own location on the Lower East Side where the line is often out the door. I consider this real Asian fusion cusine as it’s taking ingredients not normally used but using Asian cooking techniques. They also make vegetarian/vegan versions of certain dishes for those who like animals as friends not food.

Renegade Fair.

Having a bit of time on our hands before dinner we walked to the Renegade Craft Fair. Being a big crafter myself I wanted to check out the scene; also Twinkiechan was vending there and hoped for a picture opportunity. Shockingly I saw two Lolitas there was well.

Forbidden rice; shumai; roasted portebello sliders

Mapo Tofu; Sweet and Sour Pork; Vegetarian Longevity Noodle Soup.

With reservations made on Opentable we were able to get into M.Y. China, Martin Yan’s signature restaurant. It looks like it was pitched as a high end version of classic, homemade Chinese food. There was dim sum dishes, and other typical dishes like Mapo Tofu and Sweet and Sour Pork. Also more pseudo dishes like the mushroom sliders. Despite the frustration of making reservations, it was certainly worth it if you can afford the prices ($25-30 per person). And depending on the size of your party they will have chefs come to your table to watch them make hand pulled noodles.

Our last day was spent at the Dickens Fair, an annual holiday event in the Bay area. Think Dickens-era Renaissance Fair. With bustle skirts, top hats, and Whovians, it was certianly experience. Taking place at local convention center we took the BART to a shuttle to the Fair. Perhaps if I was in Lolita I would fit more right in, and also sans company of my husband with fellow Lolitas instead. We still had fun walking around and every inch of the place. Each section was carved out of a Dickens novel and it was hard to distinguish attendees and the actors there. There was also a reenactment of the Christmas Carol throughout the convention space. Eventually I got tired of the whole scene, and it was slowly getting more crowded as the morning became the afternoon. By the time we were hungry the food lines were too long, so we took the train back and walked around while we still could.

Imperial Tea Court: Dim Sum Sampler.

We walked all the way to Ferry Terminal for a small meal and tea to warm up before our red-eye flight back home.

There are a few thanks in order which are to the Bay Area Lolitas who were willing to meet up and whome I got to see. Also to Google Maps for being so precise, and being able to tell me the number of stops and roughly the time to get everywhere. That is a weird thanks but it was a lifesaver. And of course, my husband allowing me to tag along. San Francisco is not exactly New York City, but traveling to other places certainly make me appreciate the city more.

San Francisco: My West Coast Home

How could you not go?

Old news is good news if you haven’t talked about it on the internet yet. In December, I piggybacked on my husband’s business trip to San Francisco. It’s been years since I made my first trip to the West Coast, so going back was like going to a West Coast home that I wish was home.

Surprisingly it would be the first mini-vacation as a married couple as well.
(Note: this post is long but has lots of food and pictures)

What has always impressed me about San Francisco was the weather; nothing like New York and simply fantastic no matter what season. While it was during winter, it was nothing like the biting cold of New York, and for the entire week I mostly stuck to jackets and cardigans, and a scarf for expectionally chilly nights. Since I was to keep myself occupied while the other half was working, I was determined to not limit my experiences. However I was a bit worried about exploring by myself. So it was extremely fortunate that we stayed at the Marquis Marriott as it was in Union Square and central to everything. Also I had a smartphone. And if worst came to worse I would hangout at the Westfield Centre Mall which thankfully didn’t happen. However we did up hanging around there several times.

Fish Tacos meet Giant Salad.

We arrived early and were able to catch some lunch before I met a local Bay Area Lolita for dinner. He chose a giant salad and I had fish tacos, both ironically at the mall food court but then it had been a long and early flight, so perfectably acceptable. And since an old college friend of mine worked nearby, she joined us on her lunch break.

It was the best day ever because we were in San Francisco.

We also got dessert at a crème brulee cart.

The Fortune Cookie Factory and familiar facades.

The Great Wall of Cake.

Our hotel was next to Beard Papa and Angelic Pretty.

Full from food we walked to Chinatown and passed by the Angelic Pretty store, which turned out to be dangerously close to our hotel.

Comfort food done right.

After working off our food, I was set for another meal at Mel’s Drive-In, a local chain known for their shakes ands and giant salads (is it a West Coast thing?). I ordered a black and white shake and a burger, both of which were delicious. The best were the sweet potato fries.

Legion of Honor Museum

The next day I went to the Legion of Honor to check out a Versailles exhibit. It was actually my first time taking public transportation in San Francisco, and typical me I went in the wrong direction first. However thanks to a smartphone and Google Maps I was to get on my way. The only thing about the Legion of Honor, if you are taking public transportation, was at Golden Gate Park, but what neither my phone or the internet mentioned was there was a golf course at the entrance. So I got quite confused for a few minutes (literally walking in circles) but then eventually went back on instincts and followed the path up until the museum was in sight.

Part of a Byzantine Chapel.

Unlike New York, San Francisco is very much a driving city but encourages taking public transportation for a more eco-friendly atmosphere. You even get a small discount at local attractions – just show them your pass or ticket stub before you pay admission. Unfortunately they did not allow pictures in the exhibit (not even the sign!) but it was really amazing. From golden snuffboxes to silver dinnerware to tapestries depicting Louis and Marie Antoinette as Venus and Apollo. In the end it was small but made up in quality, and I imagine that one could only take so much on loan from Versailles. I was also able to check out some of the other galleries where they had a ceiling from a Byzantine-era chapel and were also planning to restore a future exhibit. Rushed back to Union Square to meet up with said college friend for lunch who took me to a local gyro place known for its fries. Then quickly left to change to take a Caltrain, local commuter rail, to meet up with some girls in San Jose.

Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park is apparently an annual event where local vendors and schools buy a tree and decorate it all for the sake of charity.

Taking pictures of food is strange thing out here.

We were even able to take a picture with Santa, which I hadn’t done in a long time but it was free so why not? Then it was to Peggy Sue’s for dinner. In true Californian fashion I added avocado to my BLT, even though the healthiness surely cancelled itself out with the bacon. Then not realizing the time we all parted ways to catch a train, which we ended up missing. Someone lived nearby so we camped out and played with their cats for a few minutes until the next train. After which I attempted to use the Uber app to catch a taxi back to the hotel.

Honey Honey Cafe & Creperie: Salmon Scramble with Home fries and wheat toast.

Wednesday I decided to get an actual breakfast, since most of the time I just got a hot tea, and picked Honey Honey Cafe & Crepery because it was near my tourist destination of choice. It’s really cute and has lots to choose from. It was a hard decision but I had a salmon scramble – salmon with scrambled eggs and home fries; it was hard to relax and enjoy my food, since I wanted to eat it all right away.

From there it was a mountainous walk to the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. I assumed it would be more of a tribute, but turned out to be the epicenter of all the lines. Be warned it may be a bit loud. If you ever get a chance you should make a stop here — and it’s free. They do asked for a small donation.

Iconically Berkeley.

I took a cable car back to Union Square and headed to Berkeley to meet up with a New York expat. She took me to a pizzeria which serves only one type of vegetarian pizza every day. As we sat down there was a local band playing, apparently typical of Berkeley. Then onto various thrift shopping where I purchased some Celeste Stein tights (which are apparently everywhere out there), two blouses and a recent prize posession, a Gunne Sax skirt. After all that retail therapy it was time for some food therapy with gelato.

Mixed Green Salad; Root Vegetable Gratin; Sweet Dumpling Squash Ravioli; Vanilla Lavender Creme Brulee

And then I went back to join my husband for a dinner at Annabelle’s Bar & Bistro, a restaurant across from our hotel. The food was very rich and the vanilla lavender crème brulee was simply amazing; you could taste the lavendar all throughtout. Between the ravioli and the gratin, the ravioli won out because I felt the other dish was still a bit too bland for my tastes.

Sea Lions at Pier 39; Golden Gate Bridge

Thursday I hung out at Fisherman’s Wharf for a bit while waiting for my husband’s last business meeting and the start of our mini-vacation. Unsurprisingly the sea lions were still there, not a lot but still a good amount.

Japantown; New People; MaruQ

From there we walked to Japantown for another meeting, where I ended up spending a lot of time trying things on at Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. I made a few purchases at the Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, and a lot of purchase at Daiso, a Japanese dollar store.

Kushi Tsuru: Vegetarian Rolls; Edamame and Potato Croquette; Soba Bento

We then had lunch at Kushi Tsuru, one of several sushi restaurant along the bridge portion of the mall. What I presumed was a small bento was still overwhelming; it would also be the last time I would order soba since I am realizing I’m not that big a fan. Then it was a long walk back to the hotel.

Stay tuned for the last half of my trip.

Loli-Date with ParfaitDoll

Last Friday Victoria from ParfaitDoll was interested in coming into the city for an afternoon, so we decided to meet up for some lunch and shopping. She had a determined interest in visiting Ladureé‘s New York location, so I suggested Mon Petit Cafe.

Mon Petit Cafe was a restaurant I discovered with my husband as we were on our way to Central Park. It’s a cute French cuisine bistro that I now take people whenever I have the chance to go uptown. It’s also a good alternative for those who are unable to get into Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter II location as this place is just a few blocks down Lexington Avenue.

It was the first time I was there on a weekday at lunch hour and it was bustling with locals. We were seated quickly, I chose an Omelette du Jour, which was red and green peppers with fries while Victoria went with a Croque-Monsieur. Overall the meal was good, but I prefer their quiche than the omelette. For a tea and meal it came out to under $20, pretty good for New York pricing. Which that extra cash can be used for Ladureé.

Macarons in the window are not for eating, but the boxes are certainly for purchasing.

Ladureé, the inventor of the macaron, landed in New York two years ago and now you can often find the line out the door. Thankfully we did not have to wait long and were able to browse with attentive shopgirls nipping at our feet.

Accidentally ate the rose macaron before I thought of taking a picture.

Macarons are $2.80 each and you can order it in a decorative box or a bag. The art on the boxes range from their classic Ladureé logo to limited edition box art featuring Hello Kitty, Tsumori Chisato, Disney, etc. So when in doubt, always go for a box. They also sell truffles, chocolate, and gelato with a macaron, as well as a gift section with notebooks, scarves, candles and the like.

My growing Laduree box collection.

Again also a few blocks away from Alice’s Tea Cup, and Laduree is my side trip place when I early for a brunch at Alice’s. On another note, I had the guts to ask about any news on their SoHo location, but for right now they could only say it could possibly open in the fall. Cross your fingers!

Then we strolled through Central Park and warmed up in UniQlo, eyeing the new Sanrio collaboration. It’s nice to hangout with a fellow Lolita one on one, as well as get to show them some of my favorite places in New York City.

Raiding the Bank at Trinity Place, Bachelorette Style

No Secret Passwords Needed.

I’m not one to talk about work, but today my co-workers were kind enough to take me out to lunch for a bachelorette luncheon at Trinity Place Bar and Restaurant.

What’s fun and very unique about this place is that it’s was originally a bank vault in the Trinity Building. An ideal and archetype place for two stock brokers and the like to talk business.

Trinity does not have a dress code, but ideally it should be kept business casual or very toned down Lolita (natural hair only, please).

One person brought sparkling wine to enjoy the celebration, which the waiter was kind enough to pour for everyone, sommelier-style. The menu is very reminiscent of a speakeasy/high end bar menu with Guinness Pie, Kobe Burger, Duck Confit as entrees.

The occassional called for Prosecco.

Since this was a party in my honor, I decide to splurge and ordered the Duck Confit with English Peas and Bacon. The duck was crisp and the risotto just as cheesy. I only wished there was more. It was incredibly filling and I only had an Apple Cinnamon crepe for dinner.

Everything tastes better with bacon.

Also a big note is that since Trinity Place is located in the Financial District lunch was pricey at $20 per person. It is well worth it. Though make sure to act like big money and you’ll get treated as such, since service was a bit slow with the credit cards.

Princess for the Day.

During the whole event they gave well wishes, as well as a felt crown with little pockets of Post-It notes with advice on how to have a long and happy marriage.

This was my favorite out of all of them.

Sunday Brunch: Laut

When in doubt, Laut.

Now it’s time for the other half of brunch: lunch! There’s nothing wrong with eating breakfast at lunch time, but it’s nice to have a real lunch once in awhile.

I had originally discovered Laut through MalaysiaKitchen two years ago and was more than pleased with my experience. Now I try to bring everyone I know there at least once. Laut specializes in Malaysian, Singapore, and Thai food – a real Asian fusion. And if Lillies Victorian Bar is full, this is right next door.
One of the reasons I wanted to go here was that Laut is one of the few places that serves tea tarik. Tea tarik is warm milk tea that is “pulled” or poured back and forth between two metal cups before serving. This makes the tea very frothy and a pretty nice spectacle to watch if your near the kitchen.

Tea Tarik in action at a Malaysia canteen.

Roti is traditonally Indian, but they serve this at Laut as well since Malay food is also has Indian originas. There are two kinds, Roti Canai and Roti Telur — both of which you can’t go wrong. Roti Canoi looks a very flaky funnel cake that you peel off and dip into sauces. Roti Telur looks more like a savory pancake with egg, peppers, and scallions.

Roti Telur straight from Malaysia

Roti Telur with curry dipping sauce. Curry Puffs are optional, but delicious

Laksa is another dish that is delicious and best served spicy. If you have watched No Reservations, this is a dish that Anthony Bourdain raves about a lot. Ironical a few weeks ago he even visited Laut to share his Singapore memories. I will warn you that the laksa here is so spicy that you may not be able to reach the bottom. I love spicy food as much as the next person and can take the heat too, but I had to throw in the towel and took at least half home.

Curry Laksa.

What I also like about Laut is that you can walk in almost any time and get a table. While this is an indicator of not-so great food, Laut it just means the food is so great that most people just don’t know about it. The price was average and affordable, and the service was OK. I put an OK because waiting for the check was a bit of a hassle.

Laut
15 E 17th St
New York, NY 10003
212-206-8989

Sunday Brunch: Petite Abeille

A place easy to remember by its signature bumblee.

I found this place by searching the best “moules frites” (mussels and fries) in NYC, but that’s another story for another time (they were delicious!). Petite Abeille was one of those really popular bistros which you have to wait at least an hour for a table at brunch. It’s a Belgian-French bistro with four locations scattered in lower Manhattan.

Last week for my birthday, my fiance decided to treat me to this place. However it was too early for dinner and mussels, so we settled for a late brunch at the 17th Street location. The wait was around twenty minutes, which is practically seconds for New Yorkers.

Again we expected a dinner menu, but brunch apparently lasts until 4PM. No complaints here. I decided to go with a Tartine de Saumon Fumé (salmon with egg salad on sourdough) with Belgian fries. A strange combination that works – and it has a hint of Dijon mustard for those who like a kick.

He went with a daily special waffle with tropical fruit (mango, kiwis, and bananas), whipped cream and strawberry sauce. All of which was quickly gone.

Petite Abeille has daily dinners specials everyday which you can check out on their website.. Brunch is a popular meal of the day so try to go here later in the day for a shorter wait time. Or if you are an early bird, they do open at 8AM.

Pofferjetes – Flemish pancakes.

Stuyvesant Town
401 20th St
New York, NY 10010

West Village
466 Hudson St
New York, NY 10014

Flatiron
44 West 17th St
New York, NY 10011

Tribeca
134 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

W.M.D.s found at Wafel & Dinges

Wafel truck at Central Park.

Belgian waffles are the bane of the college freshmen diet. Thankfully statistics have proven that the “freshmen 15” is completely myth.

So go out an celebrate by eating a waffle! Specifically at Wafels & Dinges. It is one of the original gourmet food trucks that roved around New York City streets leaving a trail of spekuloos spread.

Throwdown Wafel – spekuloos spread and whipped cream.

Words really can’t describe a waffle at Wafels & Dinges. You just need to try it. If you’re not sure what to order, the staff is ready to assist in answer all questions. Personal recommendations include the ThrowDown wafel (the wafel combination of whipped cream and spekuloos that won against Bobby Flay), a Chili corn wafel (limited-time special), and a W.M.D.

Bacon Liege – waffle with bacon bits in the batter and drizzled with maple syrup.

Waffles of Mass Delicious. For $7 you purchase a waffle and can have as many toppings (dinges) as you like.

Chili Corn Wafel – veggie chili, corn, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and parsley

The other thing you need to know is that these waffles are excellent hiders. So the best way to capture one is to follow their Twitter @waffletruck or at local stalls at the annual holiday fairs in Union Square, Columbus Circle, and Bryant Park.

What are you waiting for?