NYC Eats & How to Travel With Foodies

Brandon and I both love a good dining experience. Whether it’s the Deux Moulins in Montmartre or a taco stand on the North Shore, we get it done. When it comes to traveling we both love to do the research and hit up some wicked places, not only for the food but for the whole experience. But, I have to say our taste in food can be polar oppositions at times. While he loves a good quality cut of steak, I’d be happy with a do it yourself salad bar with fresh ingreds. And when it comes to travel eats you are also under a strict time constraint. You could be choosing two lunches and two dinners, max. Then you need to decide on all the coffee, pastries, ice cream...it could really never end! So, how can it be done? How can you hit up your favourite spots in one trip, without the other person hating on you for dragging them to Your Butcher’s Daughter for the billionth time? You can most definitely save yourself the foodie fight, and here’s how. 

{Marinara Pizzeria on the Upper East Side-- I got the cauliflower crust, while B got the original}

1. Don’t make separate lists. 

If you make a list on your own you’re sure to set up an argument. Foodies are passionate about where they eat, so having an ok meal on a trip when you are limited in time is not going to sit well. If I made a list of all the delish (to me), healthy places in NYC and told B I had our dining covered, he would despise me for the whole trip! You can definitely take note of some places you're excited to try but do not make a definite list based on your own preference. 

{Los Tacos No.1 in Chelsea Market}

2. Do your research together and come up with a list of mutually agreed upon places. 

This is something we did together and it worked so well! We both sat at the computer and since Brandon is more visual we watched YouTube videos for the best rooftop bars in NYC or the best restaurants pf summer 2018. It helps when you both can see them on screen together and can decide which ones you both are loving. Once we chose a few we looked into the menus to ensure we’d both be happy. We both knew we needed tacos from Los Tacos No.1 in the Chelsea Market, so this was an easy meal. The tacos were easily some of the BEST we ever had. 

{We both heard amazing things of Babbo's (Mario Batali's restaurant in Greenwich). When we saw the menu spoke to both of us it was a no-brainer!}

Tip- make a list of places by area so you’re never forced to make a decision on the fly. I do this so I know if whether we’re in The Meatpacking or Upper East Side, we’re covered.

{Berry Eclair from Almondine Bakery in Brooklyn}

3. Give your travel partner one non-negotiable and accept it. 

You gotta give in. Relationships are all about compromise right? There is no winner in the battle of the foodies. Allow your travel partner one place they are just dying to try out. Sometimes you may actually love it! The last time I brought B to a vegan resto he ended up loving it! So you hate where they’ve chosen? Do not be sour. Remember they are doing this for you, too! Appreciate the experience for what it is. Even if it’s a cheese museum and you hate cheese. Haha—no... but imagine Brandon brought me to a cheese museum!?! I’d die. In all seriousness, embrace the situation and do it with a smile. If you show an ounce of discomfort it will likely ruin their whole experience. Show up in full. 

{Guacamole burger from By Chloe for me, and a slice of Joe's Pizza in Greenwich for B}

4. If it’s possible, do a combo. 

This works sometimes! Do you have a “fast foodie” place you want to check out? Or a food fest that will host multiple trucks? For example, in the Chelsea Market, there are loads of different food vendors. If you both can satisfy your foodie cravings in one meal, but not necessarily have the same thing, go for it! Take it away and have a picnic in the park. Or research two spots semi close to each other where you both can get your fix. We did this while wandering around Greenwich. I wanted me obligatory stop in By Chloe's for the guac burger, and B wanted a slice of Joe's famous pizza. We both got what we wanted (take away for both), and headed to the park to eat. 

5. Realize there is always next time. 

Yup. There’s always next time. Or the next city, with the next best restaurant. Don’t let yourself get down that you didn’t visit all your spots. Just be glad you got a few crossed off your list. 

Was this helpful? How do you guys make it through traveling with other foodies? 

x

{Ralph's coffee truck in Rockefeller Centre}

How to Throw a Thanksgiving Picnic

When you think of Thanksgiving get-togethers usually you think "evening time, indoors". There might be a fire burning and a turkey in the oven. However, Brandon and I will be away for Thanksgiving this year, and rarely do we do things the conventional way. This year with the help of Kelly's Bake Shoppe we decided to have a romantic Thanksgiving themed picnic for two. Who am I kidding... I decided we were having it and he so graciously went along with my idea!

Easy Easter Entertaining

Entertaining and Easter... two of my favourite E's! I love getting together with a few friends over good eats, treats and just celebrating the little things. A little springtime Easter inspired gathering?! Right up my alley! This past weekend I did just that and had a pre-Easter brunch with some of my closest. 

I've said it before, you don't need to go crazy hosting! A few little details are all it takes to put together something special. If you're short on time or want to throw something together last minute I have you covered. Some of my favourite local eateries were so eager to be a part of the brunch and supplied some seriously amazing eats to make the day go off without a hitch! One thing I've come to realize after hosting quite a few affairs is that it's okay to take off some of the pressure and not do everything yourself! I used to let myself get so stressed trying to curate the perfect menu. But, really it's so important to remember why you are having the get together in the first place-- to spend time with those who matter. After the eats were taken care off, I threw in a few little DIY details and the event was complete. It really is that simple! Let's break it down, shall we?!

F O O D

What could be more fitting than pastel coloured eats?! We served up The Burger Pawty's "Dream Burger"-- a delicious chickpea/corn patty sandwiched between perfectly pastel lavender coloured waffles. Add in the cilantro-lime sauce, sprouts and pickled pineapple and you have one seriously tasty slider! The Burger Pawty was founded by Louise Mangalino for her love of burgers, and girl power! She was reviewing burger joints on her blog and was inspired to create something new, fun, and girly around her love of burgers. I can't get over the aesthetic. One look at her Instagram and you'll see why. With names such as The Barbie Burger and The Dream Burger which feature pink and purple waffles as the buns, this is definitely not your run-of-the-mill caterer! Louise even made sure the waffles were gluten-free for me! So accommodating. They cater to all kinds of events. Definitely look her up if you're looking for something totally different and fun (and delicious)!

N I B B L E S

Light bites are a brunch essential and since fruit is the perfect nibbling snack I knew I wanted to serve up all the colours of the fruit rainbow. The Fix + Co is my just my jam. They are my go-to spot for any sort of healthy eats, juices and smoothies. Now that they do platters and catering, life is complete! The ladies put together such an amazing holiday inspired spread for my Christmas gathering, so I knew they would knock it out of the park with this one for spring. We went with a refreshing fruit platter that was also stacked with nuts, dried coconut and fruit, and their amazing cashew nut cheese which was served alongside crackers. Check out this interview I did with Adrianna and Tamara, or their 3 wellness tips to learn just what they are about!

S I P S

This time around I wanted to try something totally unconventional and fun. Enter in the homemade blueberry-blue latte. Pink lattes have become all the rage, so I took the lavender spin on this one to match the waffle bun sliders. I started my muddling some blueberries in a pot on the stove with a touch of maple syrup and water. Using a fresh cold pressed juice from The Fix + Co (I used On The Mend -- a blend of beets, celery, apple, swiss chard, and carrots) I mixed it with fresh blueberry syrup and 1/2 cup of almond milk on the stovetop. I then frothed up some almond milk with the beet juice and topped it off with some edible flowers. A subtly sweet drink and pretty to look at!

T R E A T S

No brunch is ever complete without dessert! Kelly's Bake Shoppe is my go-to spot for all things dessert... always! They do everything to gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free perfection (as you've seen here, and here). They come out with seasonal menus and I knew their Easter features would be too good to pass up! They were so kind to give me a sneak peak of their menu before it's release this Easter weekend, and sure enough, everything was divine! We went with the Bugs Bunny cupcake (carrot cake topped with cream cheese buttercream and a toasted coconut birds nest), and the Lemon cupcake (lemon cupcake, filled with lemon sauce and topped with an adorable lemon buttercream chick). Sprinkle donuts and sugar cookies fit in perfectly with the pastel brunch spread. Kelly's cookies are seriously my weakness, I think I ate all of these sprinkled cuties! Owners Kelly and Erinn and two seriously inspiring ladies and their cookbook, 'Made With Love' divulges some of the famous recipes of their bakery and restaurant in Burlington, ON. In light of the book's one year anniversary I'm going to have some exciting news next week, so stay tuned!

D I Y / D E C O R 

I kept the party decorations to a minimum this time around to keep things fresh. A table backdrop doesn't need to be intimidating to make or time consuming! Some fresh flowers, a DIY backdrop, and some floral-crowned eggs adored the tablescape to create a simplistic but playful Easter vibe.

The DIY backdrop was inspired by Tiffany Pratt's latest book 'This Can Be Beautiful' where she has instructions for creating coffee filter rosettes. All you need is some white coffee filters, a little dab of paint and some string to hang! Voila! I scrunched about 3 filters together and twisted the backs of them to keep them bunched. I chose colours like lavender, pink, orange and gold and just went to town painting until I felt they looked pretty. No method at all! I used some raffia and washi tape and got to hanging the rosettes above the tablescape. So easy, but adds such a nice touch! You can also use the filters to wrap the treats/sliders in, use as coasters, or just place around the table! Confession-- the backdrop is still hanging... I just can't take it down yet! Too pretty!

The little white eggs I got from Dollerama, along with the mini rosettes. It took no time at all to glue the roses to the top of the eggs and place them on the table. A few minutes and you have yourself some homemade touches!

Delicious eats, simple sips and a little creativity are all it takes to elevate your get-togethers with friends. Keeping it simple is sometimes best! I hope you found this inspiring enough to throw a little Easter or spring time brunch together for your nearest and dearest! I can't thank The Burger Pawty, The Fix + Co, and Kelly's Bake Shoppe for helping me bring my Easter vision to life! They are seriously some of my favourite local shops to work with for their kindess, generousity and all around amazing eats!

Banana Date Oat Breakfast Cookies

A chewy, dense, naturally sweetened, oaty cookie that qualifies as a breakfast food? Yes, that's right! Cookies are one of my favourite things to make, and obviously eat. If you didn't already know, I am obsessed with Angela Liddon's (Oh She Glows) recipes. I may creep her majorly on Snapchat and just know we could be instant besties, cooking and baking up a storm in the kitchen! When she posted a link to her Banana Bread Muffin Tops I got excited because I had never come across that recipe on her site (and I have made a lot of her recipes)! It's probably because the recipe is from 2014, but when something is good, it's good and deserved to be pulled up from the archives. These cookies are vegan, gluten free (as long as you use certified gluten free oats), and have no added sugar! I love the hints of cinnamon, and the blended date/banana batter is probably one of the most amazing concoctions I have ever tasted! Tasted like smooth, creamy, caramel sauce-- I was eating that shiz by the spoonful!

When I was skimming the recipe I  decided I could alter these cookies by adding nuts and seeds to really make them a breakfast power cookie, and boy am I happy I did so! They are sooo good, and perfect for a breaky on the go (slathered with a spoonful of almond butter, of course). I decided to sub out the chocolate chips for this batch, but you can add them in here, along with any other nuts or seeds you fancy. If you have any leftovers (doubtful), you can pop them in the freezer and take them out as needed.

Let me know if you try out my adapted version of Angela's Banana Bread Muffin Top! I promise you'll be hooked on this healthy, simply sweet breakfast cookie!

Recipe adapted from Oh She Glows Banana Bread Muffin Tops 

Banana Date Oat Breakfast Cookie
A chewy, dense, "throw into blender" cookie that is naturally sweetened, vegan, gluten free. Takes all of 10 minutes to throw together and acts as the perfect breakfast on the go!

Base Cookie Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas (peeled)
1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates *soak dates in water for 30 minutes if too firm
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Additions:
Feel free to add as you wish, a few tablespoons of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, dried goji berries, raisins, chocolate chips, etc.

Directions:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Place peeled bananas, pitted dates, coconut oil, vanilla into food processor and blend until smooth
3. Add cinnamon, baking powder & salt to date mixture in blender and blend for another few seconds
4. Add oats to blender and pulse for 5 seconds
5. Stir in nuts and seeds (I added 1 tablespoons each of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts and dried goji berries)
6. Spoon a heaping spoonful of dough onto parchment lined baking sheet (leave as mound, do not flatten)
7. Bake for 10 minutes, rotate pan and bake for another 7-11 minutes (just until lightly golden on bottom)

Enjoy!

Sorelle & Co.

If you travel to Vaughan, a town just north of the city, and search out a petite, white, historic house with pastel blue awnings, you will find yourself immersed in a glamorous, golden, confectionery- loving world that offers the most delectable treats, light fare, and pantry goods for those with dietary restrictions, food allergies, and those who just want to indulge in a a healthier way.

Brownie, Chocolate Crispy Bar

Sorelle & Co. is the newest bake shoppe and café to open up in the area that offers gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, nut-free and preservative-free ingredients. As soon as I saw their Instagram feed-- pastel and pastry filled-- I knew I had to get there as soon as possible! While the exterior is dreamy and picturesque, the interior is even more swoon worthy. Two levels of white marble tables, upholstered arm chairs fit for a queen, gold accents (including a golden staircase), and all the treats you can imagine await you.

Motivated by a family with food allergies, Sorelle & Co. was dreamed up as a safe haven, as a place where you don't have to worry about what you're eating. Not only did I leave with such a warm and sophisticated experience, I also left feeling good about what I ate!

I went on a lady date to Sorelle & Co. with my mom. We ordered the Caprese Panini and Quinoa Tabouleh Salad to start, but really we couldn't wait until after the food arrived to dive into the Crinkle Chocolate Cookie. The girls at the shop proudly announced that cookie as a top seller so we knew we had to try it! It was more than what you would expect from a regular chocolate cookie. So moist, so fudge-y, so much flavour and oh-so delicious! A definite favourite from the day.

The food arrived shortly after we devoured our cookies, but really all I could think about was the other sweets! Gluten free bread and vegan cheese, and you really wouldn't have known. Food was partially consumed and it was back to the showstopping sweets.

Nanaimo Bar, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate 

Next up were the cupcakes. A Double Chocolate, and a Snickerdoodle. Again, extremely moist and full of flavour (the chocolate more so than the Snickerdoodle). The icing was light, fluffy and exactly what you want to top your cupcake.

Next up we try the Nanaimo Bar. The ladies at Sorelle & Co. identified this as their most popular treat right now, a constant sell-out, so we were excited. My mom loves Nanaimo Bars, and she was ready for it! This sweet was seriously divine! A chocolate/coconut base, a "cheesecake" centre (made with rice milk), and a chocolate top. So delicious. I can see why it's a top seller! While we did sample a few of their specialties, that have taken the bakers months to perfect, there are so many other goodies I need to get back to try. There's the Ginger Molasses Cookie, the Doughnuts, Cinnamon Buns, and Protein Balls! Just take a peak at there menu.

The Nananimo Bar

Sorelle & Co. also has a selection of pantry items to take home. Loaves of bread, roasted red pepper hummus, pesto, power seed cookies, biscotti, and more! They also offer two granolas--  Chia and Raisin, and Chocolate Chip and Banana. I was lucky enough to take home both and I have become slightly addicted to them! I don't want the bags to end.  This is partially because they are totally different styles of granola than what I have been making as of late. Their granola doesn't contain oats or nuts, and has ingredients such as buckwheat, amaranth, pumpkin seeds, raisins, brown rice crisps. It's a lighter and subtly sweet change-up from my nut and oat heavy recipe.

Crinkle Chocolate Cookie

I can't say enough positive things about my experience at Sorelle & Co. The sweets are amazing, the Kombucha is local, and the decor is stunning. They truly have created a fantasy land for not only those with food allergies and sensitivities, but for anyone who loves an indulgence. Make a trip out of it and stop in to try out all the goodness for yourself. They also make custom cakes, and have a large room upstairs which would make the perfect afternoon tea birthday or bridal party!

Sorelle & Co. is located at 1050 Rutherford Road, Vaughan, Ontario. While this post was not sponsored, a selection of the above mentioned items were given to me to try out and review. All opinions are my own, and those shared by my mother! Now, go visit!

Kelly's Bake Shoppe- Treating You Well

I have only recently discovered the magically delicious world of Kelly's Bake Shoppe and it's safe to say that I have since become obsessed with the baked goods that are crafted within this quaint and charmingly girly bake shop. Located in Burlington, Ontario, Kelly's Bake Shoppe has without question mastered the world of healthy baking.

It's really not easy to find quality bakeries that cater to so many important dietary restrictions, and truthfully, there is no other bakery I've found to compare their goodies too.  Since I've had to personally deal with a few of these dietary issues, it became a quest for me to find baked goods that would not leave me suffering nasty side affects. It's here, at Kelly's Bake Shoppe, that you can completely indulge in healthier baked goods that are gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, vegan, and -ready for the best part- they taste incredible.

Mother-daughter team Kelly and Erinn started selling their out-of-this-world treats at their Burlington restaurant, Kindfood (now called Lettuce Love Cafe). Once the craze began and the awards came knocking, the duo opened up Kelly's Bake Shoppe, a destination strictly for their healthy and wholesome treats. You'll find all your favourites at Kelly's -- think cupcakes, cookies, cakes, donuts, muffins, lattes, and even soft serve!-- except all are overflowing with only organic and fair-trade ingredients, and are free from artificial ingredients.

Kelly's Bake Shoppe sweetly gave me the opportunity to try out some of their wonderful creations. I called over my bestie, we brewed some ice coffee and spent the afternoon swooning over these treats. Keep reading to find out our thoughts.

Upon entering Kelly's you become completely wide-eyed. Rows and rows of mouth-watering cupcakes, stacks and stacks of chewy, buttery (but not really) cookies, and even a large freezer filled with goodies to take home. It's just so pretty in there, I didn't want to leave! We arrived just as they opened, and already the customers were lined up. The ladies behind the counter are just as sweet as the goodies, chatting and helping customers make their selection, but really you can't go wrong! Be sure to check out the weekly rotation of cupcake flavours. Some examples are Sunbutter and Jelly, Lemon Coconut and Cookie Dough. They also features cupcakes of the month and for July it's a Pina Colada cupcake, and a Root Beer Float cupcake.

I leave with their award winning caramel cupcake-- the Dulce de Leche, and a classic Black and White (chocolate ganache and vanilla frosting). The homemade caramel sauce literally oozes out of the Dulce de Leche. The cake is moist and the frosting is light and airy. How do they do it?!

Next we go for the Mile High Brownie. I have been following Kelly's Bake Shoppe on Instagram for quite some time, and this decadent layered creation has been teasing me ever since! Another award winner, and it's easy to see why. It tastes better than any flour-filled, made-with-eggs brownie I've found at any other bakery. Ooey and gooey-- just how I like 'em, and layered with more of that delicious frosting, and another brownie. Complete brownie heaven.

Next we move on to the cookies. I had been eyeing the Snickerdoodle since leaving the shoppe and I'm sure you can see why-- it's practically the size of my head. We break it in two and it's so soft. I love cinnamon so this is pure bliss for me. And it tastes so buttery! After that we dive into the Chocolate Chip cookie. It doesn't look like your typical choco chip cookie, but don't let that fool you; soft and chewy on the inside, crunchy around the edges, and it tastes….unreal. How can it possibly taste better than cookies made with eggs, flour and all those artificial flavours?! Cookies are my weakness and these two babies left me speechless.

The World Peace cookie is a combination of all my favourite things -- seeds, berries, oats and chocolate chips. And the Skinny Cookie, which is sweetened with roasted bananas, well, I could eat that everyday for breakfast.

Even if you don't have any dietary restrictions and are just looking to treat yourself in a kind, healthy and utterly delicious way, I encourage you to try out Kelly's Bake Shoppe. Not one bite will leave you feeling guilty or sluggish.

So, you don't live near Burlington and you don't see yourself headed that way any time soon (it's a beautiful city, I recommend you do)? Talk about accommodating-- Kelly delivers all around the GTA, and as far north as Newmarket for only $15, when you spend $50. Get ordering!

Thank you to Kelly and Erinn and all the lovely ladies at Kelly's Bake Shoppe! Can't wait to visit again!

Kelly's Bake Shoppe is located at 401 Brant Street in Burlington, Ontario.