sunday brunch – Lolita And The City

Sunday Brunch: The Herb Festival at Gallow Green

Last Saturday I filled in as a +1 for a friend who was going to The Herb Festival at Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel, the infamous stage for “Sleep No More.” The McKittrick Hotel was opening their rooftop garden for the first time this spring, and celebrated for the second time with a mini-festival of music, dance, and food.

A jazz/folk band to set the mood.

Unsure what to expect I dressed up a bit and had her lead the way. Entering a dark elevator it was literally like we were underground awaiting sunlight and spring at the very top. We were given with blue clovers to pin on ourselves and told to walk up creaky steps toward the light. That light being the top, filled with plants and people of all kinds.

A dance circle was our entertainment.

We were whisked away by dancing spirits to greet spring properly before being seated. We talked to a garden who had his own agenda known only to him.

My favorite: the white chocolate basil macarons and the beef skewers with habanero vinagrette.

Eventually we meandered back to our seats for a delicious afternoon tea-like meal.

Kitty is nice for once.

To respect the cycle of giving back after eating a delicious, we planted wormwood (an ingredient for absinthe, which was also in the punch) with the help from some animals.

After everything was over we were given some seeds, savory cookies, and a photograph to remind us that whatever we saw, heard and tasted was not a dream. This was an experience and would certainly go again next year if I had the chance. (For those curious it was about $50 a ticket.) And if this sounds too whimsical that was the feeling I took away from it.

Sunday Brunch: Podunk

Not exactly brunch, but there was tea and cakes and sandwiches and good company. I went to see Oz, the Great and Powerful with some friends, and then hung around St Marks. Some of us were hankering for some savory food so I took a few people to Podunk.

Podunk is a nook, so keep it small and simple with your company.

Whenever I think of Podunk I think of a grandmother’s attics: full of bits and bobs, and organized clutter filled with mementos of days past. Initially I had been worried with a party of 7 since this is a hole in the wall. Thankfully there were enough seats on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Ladies’ Luncheon

I had only visited here once in the summer, so it was nice for a change to come here when tea is meant to be hot. You ordered in the back and a waitress would bring out your order to your table. They even provide recommendations if there is too much to choose. I ordered a “ladies luncheon:” a plate full of cucumber sandwiches, cake, sprinkling of fruit and a cheesy biscuit; all paired with a pot of apricot tea.

Lolitas are always the last to leave.

The prices are pretty average, but the food is good and everything looks homemade. It’s also pretty quiet — perfect for those lazy afternoons when all you want is a pot of tea and some company.

Podunk
231 E 5th Street
New York, NY 10003

Sunday Brunch : Hi-Life

Hi-Life is a restaurant that has two faces depending on the time of day. By night it is a restaurant that caters to the looking-for-a-good-time-involving drinks crowd; by day it is a family-friendly place for an Upper East Side brunch.

Last Sunday, a good friend had been aching to catch-up and my husband wanted to try their breakfast version of a bread basket (blueberry muffins and cinnamon toast) so we decided to meet up at Hi-Life.

The east side location of Hi-Life was closer to meet up so it was a natural fit.
With the 1930s decorating, Hi-Life seems more suited to a dinner crowd than brunch. However the restaurant was still pretty full with strollers and small children, as well as young twenty-somethings trying to recollect their Saturday night. And unlike most brunch places if you arrive at noon you need to be prepared to wait, but we were quickly seated at Hi-Life.

Bread baskets at its sweetest.

I do like the idea of complimentary muffins and toast in addition to a meal, but I felt the basket kind of lacking. Perhaps in a less economy-strapped time, these muffins would’ve been bigger and there would be more toast. Regardless everything tasted as it should – the muffins were cakey sweet and the toast was cinnamon sugary. The butter was actually a berry-flavored butter which was something different that I liked about Hi-Life.

Paul Bunyan needs at least two of these.

Hungrier than normal, I ordered the Paul Bunyan brunch special which consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, and three silver dollar pancakes. The silver dollar pancakes were more like regular-sized pancakes and was skeptically whether I could finish it all. Surprisingly I did – a rare feat that happens once in a blue moon. Clearly this Paul Bunyan meal should be made double or triple if it’s to be suited for a man who dug out the Grand Canyon.

Prices weren’t outrageous, which seems right with all the families and young foodies; actually very reasonable for the amount of food and the so-so brunch satisfaction.

Overall Hi-Life is a restaurant is okay for a quick brunch before starting your day of shopping and walking around Central Park, but only if you are in the area and unable to find another restaurant.

Hi-Life Restaurant – East Side
1503 Second Avenue
212-628-5433

Sunday Brunch : Elephant & Castle

Menu says it all.

Elephant & Castle was a place that my husband and I had planned to go but never got around to it. Two years to be exact. And since we had a long weekend and hardly any definite plans we decided on this place for brunch.

Located in the Greenwich Village, actually near Tea and Sympathy, Elephant & Castle is small so be sure your entire dining company is present and prepare for a wait. But like Tea and Sympathy they use every inch of their space to accommodate as much people as they can allow – there was a two-person table in that could only be classified as a nook.

Elephant teapots.

Since it was just us, we actually never waited and were seated right away. True to it’s name there was elephant paraphernalia on shelves. And it’s name is actually named after a pub name after the voyage Charles I made to marry the “Enfanta de Castile.” The marriage never happened, but the pub stayed and eventually the English pronunciation became Elephant & Castle.

No handles neccsessary. A Spanish Latte: latte with condensed milk.

The food is very simply but rich. And we both decided to get different versions of Eggs Benedict. He went straight for the Eggs Benedict with Apples (instead of Ham) on top of French Toast. As bizarre as it was good because of the sweetness of the apples balancing out the creaminess of the hollandaise.

As you can see there are utensils waiting to dig in

I went with a more classic Eggs Benedict but with Potato Pancakes instead of English muffin. Again rich and extremely filling. The potato pancake was more like a potato patty but still good nonetheless. Be prepared with an empty stomach; I was barely able to finish with only two bites left.

Eggs Benedict and Potato Pancakes

They take credit cards and the price was pretty average for New York City. The only suggestion I have is to never go with more than a group of four.

Elephant & Castle
68 Greenwich Avenue
New York, NY 10011

Sunday Brunch: Buddha Bodai

Right across from the New Chinatown Arcade.

Being a vegetarian/vegan is relatively easier in NYC than most places. My parents tend to not venture beyond Chinatown, so I’ve been to a good portion of the restaurants that have dim sum. However it was shocking to learn that this trip they wanted to try something different. My dad is a very particular person when it comes to food, so it’s very surprising to find out he wants to try something he’s not used to. Especially anything vegetarian.

My husband and I had several options lined up near the area, but due to the sudden heatwave we made a spontaneous decision to go to Buddha Bodai.
We had always passed by this place, but never had the opportunity to try it. Until yesterday. Buddha Bodai is a one of a few vegetarian-only Chinese restaurants. The other is Vegetarian Dim Sum House that’ we’ve also tried. They also specialize in the veggie-version of dim sum.

For reference, dim sum is sort of the Eastern version of brunch or tapas.

Menus were in English in Chinese, and unlike traditional dim sum you order from a menu as opposed to picking out what you want from carts. They also code the menu to tell you which items are gluten-free as well. And for those who have had dim sum before, all the typical dishes are discernible. As such I ordered everything that was familiar to everyone:

Shrimp dumplings (蝦餃),
Siu Mai (燒賣)
Meatballs (牛肉球)
Turnip cake (蘿蔔糕)
Spare ribs (排骨)
Veggie Dumplings
Cruller wrapped in rice noodle

Except for the spare ribs (a bit too chewy) and meatballs (preferred this over the spare ribs), I recommend everything listed. They also served congee in several varieties (another typical Chinese breakfast staple).

The price is about the same everywhere when it comes to dim sum and it come to about $25 for four people. And to top it all off, it had my dad’s approval.

Buddha Bodai
5 Mott Street
New York, NY 10013
212-566-8388

Sunday Brunch: Kickshaw

Commit storefront to memory, otherwise you’ll pass it by.

There are lots of restaurants that specialize in one type of food dish in New York City. There’s restaurants just for peanut butter sandwiches, dumplings, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese.

The Queens Kickshaw is no different.

Located in the heart of Astoria, Kickshaw has become a fast go-to place for a hip coffee shop that happens to serve one of the ultimate comfort foods, grilled cheese, with adult tastes.

Gritty ceilings and construction-style lights.

Just to warn you it can be a bit difficult to find. Of course then once you’re inside you get the impression that you’re in Brooklyn and not Queens.

Really admired the lighting.

New York humor.

Remember you are in Queens.

The decor is very simple and rustic, complete with long community-style tables. Kickshaw is laptop friendly and provides wifi. And if you need a fix they also provide take out coffee growlers. But onto the most important part of the tour: the food!

A plain Gruyere and Brioche with tomato soup. Just like mom use to make.

The menu is simple — it is grilled cheese after all. Each grilled cheese sandwich is paired with a soup or salad that compliments each grilled cheese flavor. Isn’t grilled cheese just cheese and bread? How can there be more than one flavor of cheese?

This is not your ordinary grilled cheese with American Kraft.

You have your choice of Gruyere, Manchego, Mozzerella, Gouda, Feta, or Blue Cheese. And instead of white Wonder Bread, you’ve got brioche (fiance is a big fan of this), foccacia, cranberry-walnut, and multigrain for the boring types.

For more mouth-watering photos check out their website. I thought I had some more photos of food, but apparently I decided it was better to keep this place a secret and not photograph the evidence.

Prices are pretty cheap for New York City ($8-$10), but remember to bring cash as Kickshaw doesn’t take plastic. Big groups are fine, but the service will be a bit slower. And if you are strictly a Manhattan person, Queens Kickshaw might convince you to venture out into the boroughs.

The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11103
718-777-0913

Sunday Brunch: Penelope

Penelope is one of those places that you see a line out the door and wonder what the fuss is all about. I’ve passed by this place every so often, asking the wait times and see what is reasonable. So far no luck with 45 minutes to two hour wait times.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands. We set the alarm for 7AM and headed out early to literally catch the worm.

At 8:30AM there was still a wait, but only for a reasonable 10 minutes. As soon as we were seated I understood the reason for the waits. Penelope is tiny. Unlike Tea & Sympathy, Penelope has limited space but enough room for people to move.

I ordered the “Punkin Waffle” – pumpkin waffles with apple butter, dried cranberries, cinnamon-cardamom pecans, and baked apple slices. It was incredibly delicious and tasted like homemade pumpkin bread. Despite the early wake-up call I could only finish only half.

The price is reasonable despite the long waits. However both of us felt while it was good, the wait wasn’t that worth it. If you are passing by and you’re willing to wait, check out Penelope.

By the time we left the wait was well around 30 people. This was around 10:30AM. For a few waitees, Penelope is a very gracious host and offers hot drinks while you wait, as I saw several people with mugs in hand.

Penelope
159 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10007
212-481-3800

Sunday Brunch: Max Brenner

As a New Yorker, I tend to avoid tourist places due to higher price points and the crowds (and the long waits). However I do make an exception for Max Brenner‘s.

Max Brenner was one of the first places my fiance took me too when I first moved to New York City. I was amazed by the chocolate and the oddly designed drinkware. As well as the food was modestly We went there again a couple more times, but the price seemed more expensive and the wait suddenly was not worth it.

Making memories

Recently, I had the opportunity to go back. ElleJay from Sherry and Cookies was in town and I was invited to a small get together. Max Brenner was on the agenda and I decided to give it another chance. Thankfully there was brunch on the menu.

Since it was St. Patrick’s Day, most of the table splurged on drinks.

Berry Nutty Professor

Peach Lemonade

Max’s White Russian

Tiramisu

I went with the Lazy Breakfast, presuming it was just your average “two eggs any style” staple. When it arrived I was very wrong and understood the “lazy” part of the title. I ordered and expected two eggs (sunnyside up) with bacon on the side and perhaps a roasted slice of tomato. Instead it was two fried eggs, tomato, and bacon bits as an omelette. Which was delicious and became a Max Brenner convert once again (at least for it’s brunch menu). My only disappointment was that the eggs were more cooked through than a runny yolk I tend to prefer.

Lazy Breakfast.

On another note it also came with a sugar biscuit with butter and milk chocolate, as well as home fries. At first I was unsure how to use the chocolate, until it occurred that I could just drizzle it on the biscuit!

And the rest of our party’s lunches were just as delicious.

Pasta and paninis for everyone

Kobe Beef Burger that was split in half with waffle fries and chili mayo.

Taking into account that I was with Lolitas that day, we all chipped in for dessert. There was a sharing plate, a fondue for two, and banana tempura. And Max Brenner you should always save room for dessert, since chocolate is their specialty. Though be sure to share. This would be the only way you can finish without feeling guilty.

European Chocolate Fondue for two

A sampler plate of everything on the dessert menu. Fondue not pictured.

Banana Tempura

Max Brenner is restaurant with slightly higher prices and long waits. When we visited there was practically no wait. They don’t take reservations for small groups, so if you are on a date have some topics of conversation on hand. But for chocolate it’s always well worth the wait.

Max Brenner
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
646-467-8803

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: Tea and Sympathy

A very royal wall.

Tea and Sympathy is one of those places you know about and have always wanted to go, but for some other reason something always comes up. Our story is set in the Greenwich Village and getting there is a lot like finding Neverland walking several side streets. And even then you have to wait for your own taste of authentic British food.
The big thing you should have to know is that Tea and Sympathy is very quaint and very small. As such they’ve posted several rules on the door and you will have to wait a bit — longer if you have a large party. Speaking of large parties, this place is very much a “tea for two.” I’ve visited with parties as small as two to as big as five, but I recommend no larger than four. And no matter how small you will feel cramped. But the food and tea will make up for it.

Nothing says British like beans and toast. Any better would be a toad in a hole.

Like Alice’s Tea Cup, Tea and Sympathy has a large selection of tea served in a various novelty teapots. Tea flavors range from floral and fruity like Black Currant to more traditional like English Breakfast and Earl Grey (of course).

Can’t tell if this teapot is from London, can you?

The food is pretty good, and the wait staff is pretty prompt with service (especially when it comes to water for tea and more cream for scones). If you are going for Afternoon Tea prepare yourself because it will take you an afternoon to finish.

Afternoon Tea for One (and 3/4)

There are two versions (single and two-person) but there honestly isn’t a difference, except maybe a few more sandwiches. What’s good to know is they are very accommodating if you want a vegetarian version. All you need to do is ask.

One of these cups are not like the other.

However if you aren’t willing to wait for a table or feel weird just standing outside like a dog in the window, they do have a shop adjacent to the restaurant that has enough goodies to satisfy any Anglophile.

These teapots are not for sale, but the ones next door are.

Not able to head down to the Village? Then you can at least visit their blog for recipes, contests and various British things Americans find funny and odd.

Tea and Sympathy
108 Greenwich Avenue
New York City, NY 10011

Also feel free to check out my list of tea rooms in NYC if Tea and Sympathy is not your cup of tea.