BabyCakes NYC

Gluten-free, vegan baked goods that taste good? Does that exist? I didn’t think so until I went to BabyCakes NYC this past weekend. I had read about BabyCakes in Cherry Bombe magazine**, and although Cherry Bombe can do no wrong, (seriously… working at Cherry Bombe is kinda sorta my dream) I was super skeptical.

But BabyCakes is actually really good. The store on the LES is super tiny, cramped, and pink. But the people working behind the counter are friendly and efficient. There are a few seats (if you’re willing to squish) and some rickety benches on the sidewalk outside.

I tried a donut with chocolate frosting and it was chocolatey and sweet, without being super sugary or greasy. My friend, Laila, tried a cupcake which tasted, in her words: like a cupcake…but a healthier cupcake. And in my words, like a just right cupcake.

If you prefer savory to sweet and aren’t a huge sugar fiend, run on over to BabyCakes. I’ll be back to try the muffins and madeleines!

xxLydia

** Pick up issue 2 of Cherry Bombe (stocked in these places or you can order it online) to read an interview with BabyCakes NYC founder, Erin McKenna. Oh, and there are recipes included…I may have to teach myself how to bake. **

 

The Clam

The Clam is a triple treat.

Photo from Zagat

 

Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing dining room, with soft leather chairs and plenty of windows that let in the evening light. Attentive and helpful waitstaff who clearly know the menu. And excellent, flavorful food. The Parker rolls that are brought out for each diner are warm and buttery. There is sea salt in little bowls on the table and the waiters are quick to refill when a bowl starts to run low.

The spaghetti with clams is stellar. The surprising richness (the secret? butter, our waiter told us.) of the tomato gravy is balanced by lemon vinaigrette dressed arugula and ridiculously tasty and fresh clams, both in the shell and chopped up in the tomato gravy. Also not to miss? The steamed little necks, served with “juicy bread” and “natural broth.” (Whatever that means…but it was the best bowl of little necks I’ve ever had.)

The clam fried rice is a salty concoction that’s good to order for the table. As for sides, I tried the creamed kale and market carrots. The creamed kale was leagues better than any sort of creamed vegetable I’ve had in a restaurant (ahem, goopy creamed spinach dishes I’m looking at you.) and the carrots were perfectly cooked.

It’s ridiculously hard to get a reservation, but (surprise!) they keep most of their tables open for walk ins and also serve a full menu at the bar.

Check out this interview with The Clam’s chef and co-owner, Mike Price.

Lydia

Jack’s Wife Freda

“Oh, we don’t need a reservation. Jack’s Wife Freda probably won’t be that crowded.” I told my friend, Jules. Not crowded? Thursday evening and the place was packed. (Turns out they don’t take reservations for fewer than six people anyway.)

Jack’s Wife Freda is cool. It’s inexpensive for Soho, attracts a young, Opening Ceremony dressed crowd, and counts among its fans, Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller…yeah, so it’s really cool.

Leandra outside of Jack’s Wife Freda

And did I mention that the food is good? The menu is simple and beautifully designed.

Jules and I shared the salt and pepper eggplant and tuna salad to start. The eggplant was super flavorful and sweet, and the tuna salad was the best tuna salad I’ve ever tried. Both were ample portions, and although I’m embarrassed to admit it, I was already full by the time our entrees came. I tried the Fish a la Plancha: a simply prepared piece of white fish sitting on top of a plentiful mound of kale. Very healthful. Jules had the Bloody Mary Moule Frites. The mussels weren’t my cup of tea, but the fries certainly were. For dessert Jules ordered the Seasonal Baked Fruit Crisp. He thought it was delicious, and I thought it was good, but a little too sweet.

Now, I need to go back for brunch:

Read an interview with Jack’s Wife Freda’s, Maya Jankelowitz

Lyds

Trivia Night!

From Yelp

If you, like me, are a second semester senior, you’re looking at a lot more free time on your hands.  Just weeks ago, every weeknight was packed with homework and college applications, and while the homework might not be behind you yet, every week has several new-found, essayless hours.  Enter: Trivia Night!  Every Tuesday at Building on Bond in Boerum Hill, you can try your luck through six rounds of entertaining trivia.

Things kick off around 8pm and usually end around 10 or 10:30 depending on the night, but there’s not a dull moment to be found.  Between the six rounds, there are themed bonus questions and the right answer can win you a $10 gift certificate.  The first place prize for the whole game is a $25 gift card.  Look out for regulars like the Witches of Bushwick and New Quiz on the Block; they’re the teams to beat.  Also be sure to become buddies with the super friendly host.  Rounds range from categories like “Russian Revolution trivia” to “Canadian Cities” with “Musical Genres” and “Drugs” in between.  Even given some of the more esoteric topics, in general, the questions are pretty doable, especially if you have a bigger team (limit is six people).

There’s also pretty good food to be had.  Highlights are the chicken parm, black friday sandwich, and mac and cheese.  You can eat among the myriad hipsters and admire the quirky decor (including a lite brite wall and library style card catalog drawers).

From Timeout

If Building on Bond isn’t in your neighborhood, you can also check out this list of trivia nights around the city.

Are you smarter than a Brooklyn hipster?

xo, I

 

New York Philharmonic — Student Rush

Imagine getting a ticket in the orchestra section to see one of the most highly acclaimed orchestras in the world for the measly price of $13.50.  Can’t wrap your head around it?  This too can be yours, given that you’re a full-time student with a valid ID and an interest in unparalleled classical music.  The New York Philharmonic offers amazing deals for students interested in their concerts, and they’ve even eliminated the most frustrating element of normal student rush tickets: you can buy them online or at the box office up to ten days before the concert date instead of having to line up hours before the concert day of.

This week, I took advantage of one of their offers and went to see a concert at Avery Fisher Hall.  The program included Mendelssohn’s violin concerto in E minor, Dvorak’s eighth symphony, and modern piece by Argentinean composer, Osvoldo Golijov.  I had a fantastic seat in the orchestra section with an unobstructed view of the stage, and I was close enough to see the soloist’s facial expressions.  Mendelssohn’s violin concerto is a personal favorite of mine, and while I hadn’t heard the Dvorak symphony before, I quickly became a big fan.  It’s very characteristically Dvorak — combining more modern stylistic elements with a huge wealth of traditional Bohemian folk music.  The Golijov piece was also fun, but I was less of a fan.

You too can have a fun night out at the Philharmonic without breaking the bank!  Dress up!  Pretend to be someone fancy!  Enjoy the music!

You can sign up here to get news about NYPhil tickets, but also check out this site for other student rush opportunities around the city.

See you at Lincoln Center!

xoxo Isabel

Don Jon

Don Jon is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. It’s hilarious, smart, and well executed. Maybe it capitalizes on New Jersey stereotypes a bit much and wouldn’t be so funny for the mall going, gum snapping, Sunday churching folk….Regardless, go see it and tell me what you think!

xx Lydia

 

Ruby’s Cafe

Ruby’s cafe is one of the cutest places to eat in Nolita. Certainly one of the cheapest. It’s a surprisingly comfortable hole in the wall, located on Mulberry street between Prince and Spring.

Ruby’s!

The menu doesn’t change (or hasn’t since I’ve started eating there) but there are options for everyone. Delicious salads (try the chicken and avocado), pasta (try the pesto with fresh vegetables), and paninis (try the roast vegetable). Oh, and lest I forget, burgers! Which are more like sandwiches, the bun is ciabatta bread, than a Big Mac.

I’ve only tried the Bell’s burger, which is ground beef with tomato, lettuce and mayo, but Ruby’s is known for its Bronte burger, which also has sweet chilli and cheese. If you’re not a red meat eater but dabble in chicken, they also offer the Bronte burger and variations of it, with chicken breast instead of beef.

Eat Eat Eat and Be Happy

Lydia

Ganso — quick review

My friends and I ran out of good lunch options near our school in Brooklyn Heights this year, so we decided to branch out a little bit.  Ganso, located just off the Fulton Mall on Bond street in Downtown Brooklyn (and conveniently catty-cornered from Goodwill!), provided a much needed change of taste.  It’s also walking distance from my house, so, while they don’t deliver, it’s prety easy to order by phone and go pick something up.  Obviously, ramen is the main focus at this place, but they also serve delicious short rib buns and gyoza.  The ramen itself is amazing too.  I usually go for the Ganso ramen, which features tender pork belly and pork shoulder in a soy broth with seasonal vegetables and an egg.  The short rib ramen is also outstanding.

The staff are incredibly friendly, and the restaurant interior is sleek and simple, with both booths and tables, and lots of light from the front window.

Highly recommended!

xo, I

Van Leeuwen ice cream

This insane summer heat definitely warrants some ice cream.  While it’s cooled down in the last couple of days, last week, when I  went to the Van Leeuwen ice cream store on Bergen street, I could have sworn my thermometer read 110 degrees!

Located in Boerum Hill (incidentally, right next to the original Hanco’s), this ice cream store also boasts locations in Greenpoint and the West Village, as well as several ice cream trucks!  With yummy, slightly esoteric flavors, and a total hipster vibe, this place provides some much needed (and delicious!) relief from the Brooklyn heat wave.

Flavor board

I ordered mint chip with caramel sauce (I know, very boring), and my friend got palm sugar — both of which come highly recommended.  In the past, I’ve also tried Earl Grey tea (interesting…), and I’ve heard very good things about the ginger, if that’s your kind of thing — I’m not a big fan.

They also serve various coffees and pastries, if you’re looking for a warmer snack.  They have a record player and a huge collection of LPs tucked away in the corner, so there’s usually some kind of nice music playing.

It’s easy to forget you’re in Boerum Hill and not the hipster breeding grounds of Williamsburg or Greenpoint.

So beat the heat!  I mean really, what better excuse for ice cream all the time than this weather?

xo, I

Hanco’s

By now, most of you have probably at least heard of Hanco’s Vietnamese sandwich shop, if not already become a frequenter.  I count myself in the latter category.  This small business, with three currently operating stores in Brooklyn, has quickly grown into a borough-wide must eat place.  Boasting both delicious Vietnamese sandwiches (with more kinds of meat that you can name) and an endless variety of bubble teas, Hanco’s provides a quick, but entirely yummy eating experience.

The Boerum Hill shop – from their website

The newest shop opened on Montague street in Brooklyn Heights a year or two ago (and has since become a lunch time favorite of mine), and is a much different scene from the original in Boerum Hill.  The original store is a one room affair with the kitchen in plain sight.  It has one size of bubble tea and only accepts cash.  The room is a little stuffy, and maybe not 100 percent clean, but overall is not a bad spot.  The Brooklyn Heights branch is spacious and bi-level; offering small or medium bubble teas and accepting credit cards.  The kitchen is also entirely hidden on a different floor.  They have a couple of tables outside, but also have tables on a second floor with a whole wall of windows.  The staff at both stores can be a little unfriendly, but interaction time is very minimal since there’s no table service; you order and pick up at the counter.  I have yet to visit the Park Slope branch, so I can’t really provide any insight there — apologies!

The menus at both restaurants I’ve visited are basically the same: classic Vietnamese sandwiches, rice vermicelli salads (very good), bubble tea, etc.  But the Brooklyn Heights branch also has shrimp summer rolls and pork spring rolls, which I have not yet tried.  A friend of mine swears by their vegetarian pork rice entree, but it’s not really my thing — too much rice, not enough vegetables.  Try as you will.

A personal favorite bubble tea is passion fruit, but if you prefer a more traditional route, the classic black tea with milk is also good.  For a very sweet option, try the (bright orange!) thai tea.  You also get to pick the color of your large-enough-to-accommodate-tapioca-bubbles straw, so make sure to choose wisely.  The bubbles are definitely an acquired taste, but if you have them often enough, I guarantee they’ll grow on you (Just fwi, they charge you 50 cents for extra bubbles).  If you buy ten bubble teas, you get one free!  But only if you can keep track of the punch cards they give you.  I swear I have seven different ones floating around…

My lunch

If you find yourself with extra bubbles on your hands, please avoid a) shooting them at friends, b) shooting them at passersby, c)shooting them off the Promenade into oncoming traffic on the BQE  None of the above take too kindly to sticky tapioca.

Good luck! And I promise, aim gets better with practice.

I