The Little Beet!

Sorry folks I haven’t been on in a while. It’s been a busy past couple of months! I started Grad School (woah, right?) and I’m just getting into that summer mode! (Perks of working in Education.) But, I’m back and with a cool new (healthy!) spot to boot.

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How far is one willing to trek to get healthy, high quality food? Well. I’m not ashamed to say that I drove 30 min to Roosevelt Field Mall just for the Little Beet. It’s worth the trip.

If you haven’t been to RF Mall in the past several months, they have revamped their entire food court into what is now called the “Dining District”. And finally I have a healthy place to eat at! It’s right smack in the middle of the food court. For $10 you can pick a Protein (chicken, steak, tofu, salmon, veggie) + a side. There’s a bunch so I won’t name them all. ($12 for protein & 2 sides, $14 for protein and 3 sides)

From visiting a few times, I’ve had the opportunity to try a bunch of their grilled vegetables which are fantastic. My favorites include:
-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with sea salt & pecorino
-Roasted Cauliflower with olive & lemon oil
-Lentils with avocado, oranges, pecans, kale & ginger
-Buckwheat Soba Noodles

As for their proteins: chicken and steak were fantastic. Make sure to ask for their spicy/smoky maple sauce (I think that’s what it is). It’s got quite the kick and really pairs well with the meal. Trying to eat healthy? You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for clean eating! Not with the Little Beet anyway.

• 630 Old Country Rd
  Garden City, NY 11530
• (516) 387-6300
• thelittlebeet.com/locations

I Now Know Why The Chicken Crossed The Road…

Chicken’s Road, welcome back! Heard they had a mishap with a fire but now they’re back and in business! Which reminded me, I can’t believe I haven’t review this place yet. There aren’t many Latin American restaurants (that I know of anyway) on Long Island, so it’s great to have at least one close to home.
The place itself is small, but there’s definitely enough ample seating if you want to eat-in. I’ve only had take-out (which seems to be the norm there) but the atmosphere is nice! Everything I’ve eaten here so far has been great. They specialize in rotisserie chicken but offer plenty of other food options as well. And their prices are excellent. My usual go-to meal is the 1/4 chicken [breast + wing] which comes with two sides (there’s a lot to choose from) and a drink. All for under $10! The chicken has always been very tender and flavored nicely. As well as, they give you the “green sauce” which you can opt for spicy or mild. The spicy has QUITE the kick.

As for the sides, I mean… everything was great. I love, love, love their Maduros and sometimes will just go there for those alone. But! They also have delicious mac and cheese, arepas and rice/black beans. Also, their Pernil (pulled pork) sandwich is great – I highly recommend it.

For a casual joint, this place serves up some great LA food. The staff has always been incredibly kind and welcoming. Check this place out for sure.

Babylon Bean

The Babylon Bean has excellent taste. And I don’t just mean the food and drink! They have an eye for decorations and a good ear for music! Whether I’m hear catching up with a friend over a good cup of coffee or working on a paper, this spot is without a doubt one of my favorites in Babylon.

Although I love my starbucks, there’s nothing quite like a traditional coffee shop. I’d much prefer the mismatched drinkware or the piping hot herbal teas paired with a freshly homemade pastry. Now that’s what I’m talking about. The Babylon Bean has ample parking in the back and on the street so you won’t have to worry about nabbing a spot. And inside, they have small tables or large couches to choose from. It has a cozy yet funky kinda vibe with the unique artwork hanging up on the walls. Best part is… they’re local artists which is very cool.

As for their drinks, how can you go wrong? I’ve had their chai latte, “almond joy” latte, hot chocolate, regular coffee… and it was all excellent. As well as, last time my friend and I came we shared their chocolate coffee crumb cake which was heavenly. (I think we managed to get every single crumb!)

Looking forward to attending one of their open mic nights! Rock on Babylon Bean! This adorable spot is a must-try.

17 Fire Island Ave

Babylon, NY 11702

(631) 587-7729

thebabylonbean.com

Without A Doubt, I Love My Stout!

Frothy. Creamy. Dark, Stout.

Always a win in my book. Went to Stout for a friend’s birthday this past weekend. It’s super convenient in location. It’s about a 2 minute walk from Penn Station. I made sure to do my research and everyone said to get the Milk or Chocolate Stout. Gosh, I miss my Irish brews. From living in Ireland for 4 months and drinking nothing but whiskey and dark beer… it changes you.

So this place was pretty cool. A very relaxed, hip vibe. And Saturday’s there’s karaoke night so of course we couldn’t pass that up. Let me warn you in saying… I am not a good singer. I mean I am not glass-shattering awful. But I am no Jennifer Hudson. Me and my friends got a nice big table, a few orders of fries and appetizers. Since I couldn’t decide on the milk or chocolate, the waitress was so nice and gave me a sample! They were both so delicious (and a favorite amongst the crowd) but I decided on the milk. The head of the beer was so creamy and the stout was very bold and filling. Just how I love it.

Most of the people come in around 11pm and the karaoke begins. The man who runs it is such a friendly guy and not to mention an AMAZING singer. If you’ve never been to a karaoke bar and are nervous… have no fear. This was my first time and I had a blast. It’s dimly lighted, the atmosphere is casual and with a few drinks… everyone is a superstar. There was such a big crowd… of all ages too. I highly recommend this place and will hopefully be back soon enough.

133 W 33rd St
New York, NY 10001

 

(212) 629-6191

stoutnyc.com

Going Nuts For Doughnuts!

I don’t like donuts. I don’t know, maybe its because they can be cloyingly sweet at times, the powdered ones make such a mess or possibly because I feel like crap after I eat them. Nonetheless, I usually try to avoid them. However, the Doughnut Plant is the exception to the rule. They’re sophisticated bites with really out-of-the-box flavor combinations.

For my birthday, my friends created a food tour for me with all my favorite spots (including some new ones) and the DP was on the list. The best thing about my college friends is that we’re expert share-ers. So everyone in my party each tried a different flavor both from the cake side and the yeast side.

For the Yeast flavors – the Valrhona Chocolate, PB&J Square
Cake flavors – Tres Leches, Green Tea, Carrot Cake

My favorites were… the Tres Leches which was such an unexpected taste. This “three milks cake” was soft, buttery and had that nice milk-sweetness from the glaze. The Valrhona packed a punch in chocolate goodness and was super rich. And lastly, the PB&J Square… I mean, what’s not to love? Turning a classic childhood memory into a decadent dessert. And a donut nonetheless! Genius.

Yeah they’re a bit pricey. But can you really put a price on sugar-y happiness? (Wow, that was horrible.) But in all seriousness. Take all that change in your piggy bank, head to the DP and try something new…. Be adventurous. You won’t regret it, they’re the best in the area.

379 Grand St
New York, NY 10002

(212) 505-3700

doughnutplant.com

 

Looking Back On 2014…

Hello my fellow food friends,

I hope you had a fantastic holiday season and New Year Celebration. Looking back, 2014 was a crazy year filled with amazing memories, a trip to Italy and of course delicious eats! I’ve had the opportunity to explore Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island more than ever. Along the way, I’ve discovered my love for new foods thanks to the help of my friends and food-lovers.

This year I’ve tried:

-Kangaroo

-Xiao Long Bao (Soup dumplings)

-Hand-pulled noodles

-The famous DKA from Dominique Ansel’s bakery (no cronut yet…. it’s on my list)

Etc., Etc., Etc. (to name a few!)

To my readers…. thank you so much, for taking the time to hear what I have to say. I hope you enjoy my perspective and maybe someplace I visit will become your next stop! So here’s to another year of GREAT food, WONDERFUL people and LONG LASTING memories.

Cheers,

Katie