MIA tomorrow

MIA was sunny, hot, humid and gorgeous. An international destination with world class hotels, food and locales. The pictures taken from the roof of the Gansevoort South were taken midday where I did not stay, but was able to lounge in a circular wicker chair, unbothered. Many fancy shmancy places let you wander in without a drink or purchase and it is that laid back attitude that makes Miami as chill as it is.


Franny

R & L Restaurant

Never a fan of the old Florent, too much of a scene with mediocre food. Florent had to close at the end of June because of rising rent. The die-hard fans of Florent and it's owner were so upset that he had to close that, when Florent's landlord reopened the restaurant as R&L, the restaurant remained empty for weeks. Well, it is slowly coming back, though some changes are in order. For one, the restaurant needs a new chef, the same chef stayed on from the Florent days and his food is outdated and dull. We had lunch there today and there were about 14 diners including us. What I like about the space is it's red banguettes and vintagey look. I ordered a chef salad with grilled marinated chicken over greens with hearts of palm, black forest ham, tomatoes, cheddar and swiss with creamy balsamic. The only redeeming part of the salad for $13.50 was the dressing. The chicken was dry and tasteless and the cheeses tasted like something I ate at the Sheepsead Bay diner in 1995, very old school. My friend's vegetable cous cous was soupy, but actually tasted made to order. The bread was possibly fresh, though inedible. The bathrooms smell and need renovation, but mostly the menu needs some updating.
Slow Go!

Alphabet Scoop

Do you like your ice-cream with a socially concious twist? This colorful shop on East 11th. Street and Ave. B. is pure Alphabet City and helps kids while creating homemade ice-cream. The Father Heart Ministries runs the shop, employing teens to create better prospects for their future. Alphabet Scoop is open irregular hours as I have passed numerous times and they were closed. Finally, Friday about 2:30 in the afternoon- bingo! With cute names like "street haiku" a rocky road type ice-cream and about average prices, Alphabet Scoop, delivers. I had the street haiku and chocolate cheesecake which was $3.25 for two absolutely gigantic
scoops. There are about 16 flavors total. Not only was the ice-cream quite good, but the cause is too.
Go!

Totonno's Pizzeria Napolitano

There are several Totonno's apart from the old-school original in Coney Island. They are all independently owned and operated. We ate at the Gramercy Park incarnation on 2nd Ave and 26th. Street. A huge space though not designed for high style, it is all about the pizza right? Well we started with a large salad with ice-berg lettuce, corn, avocado, peppers, tomatoes and a dilly ranch dressing which was tasty apart from the ice-berg. For the main course we ordered a large pizza with sweet sausage. The pizza is cooked in coal fired brick ovens, gorgeous, the real deal and so is the pizza. Not overly charred though the dough has a rustic, uneven texture and is slightly sweet with a nice sauce and fresh mozzarella. I was dissappointed that there wasn't a fresher parmiggiano available as the pizza condiments were standard the pizza was absolutely superior.
Go!

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

Located at 915 Broadway and 20th. Street, I am not sure why I waited so long to find this spot being the bargain beauty babe I am. Acupunture done by a supervised student cost just $40. My consultation with Paul and two other students was very professional and in-depth. Needle placement was gentle and precise. The next step which I have not experienced in any other treatment session was called moxying where heated implements are moved over the needles creating a warming, sensation over the skin and as well as an herbal, medicinal smell. The needles are in for about 30 minutes and my chi rejuvenated. This was a phenomenal treatment, and Friday I am scheduled for massage.
Now for the massage which was $50 bucks and scheduled at 10:15AM with Bo. Bo walked me into a private treatment room and asked me if there were any areas of concern. He returned and executed quite a good Shiatsu style massage. Swedish, Shiatsi, and Thai are the treatment options available for an hour massage.
Must Go!

La Nonna

Another good slice in Williamsburg. A restaurant with a rustic stonefront oven. the restaurant also sells pizza by the slice which is good for a light bite. The pizza is $2.50 for a round which is a nice slice- well cooked without a real char, though it has a good bite and a dough that tastes like semolina. Tomatoey tasting though no intense depth of flavor, but still like a good Brooklyn pizza should taste. Outdoor seating on Bedford Ave and North 3rd. St. only a few blocks from hipster central and the L train on North 7th. Street. Pics coming soon.
Go!

Doughnut Plant

No, not new, but a perenially amazing doughnut for sure, the glazed doughnuts like Valrohna chocolate covered are simply scrumptious and are $2.25. The jelly doughnuts which are designed in squares to get a bite of jelly in every bite and then glazed are $2.75. Summertime raspberry lemonade is on hand to cool you off after waiting on line for the doughnuts which they still have thanks to a recent throwdown episode and of course the Doughnut Man, Mark Israel won. One helluva doughnut! On Grand St. down the block from Kossar's Bialy's and the wonderful pizza at Isabella's Oven.
Must Go!

Pommes de Terre

Ultra charming and beckoning from the outside with yellow painted exterior that looks like something out of the country instead of the otherwise undistinguishable and decidedly unglamorous Newkirk Ave. Extending the yellowness to the inside painted wainscotting and white tin ceilings this spot is seductive in it's cuteness. Similar somewhat to the Farm, their other restaurant Pommes de Terre distinguishes itself with creative Frenchish cooking and a knowlegeable and friendly staff. I started with the cauliflower soup with rock shrimp for $5 which was velvety smooth, rich and delish. House churned butter and a nice, fresh old school baguette baked in the Bronx went well with the rich soup. Next up was the dry grilled aged ribeye with sauteed spinach and potato gratin for $23. Perfectly cooked, but missing the bone the dish was freshly cooked to order. Other options included grilled salmon, and a pan cooked chicken with Middle Eastern add-ons that appeared to be the popular dish that evening. The star of the night was dessert. All desserts are $5, a true Brooklyn bargain. The caramel-banana pot de creme was a caramel pudding with caramelized banana(creme brulee style) top was absolutely killer.
Must Go!

Flatbush Food Co-op

Flatbush Food Coo-op is one of the few co-ops that you do not need to be a member to shop in though memberships are available and food is discounted to members. Even members are not subject to the mamouth amount of rules like the Park Slope Food Co-op which I have shopped in many times courtesy of members though never joined because of the rules and crowds. This store moved a few months ago to a former supermarket location on Cortelyou Rd. across from the subway and it is huge and shiny with great organic produce, fair trade coffees, deli items, beauty items and more. I liked it in it's former tiny, sort of run down old location, but the new one is huge and during the week, uncrowded. Organic white corn just before the start of corn season is $1.29, a whole aisle of organic produce though not cheap is cheaper than say Whole Foods. Soups, like sweet potato and black bean are there to take away as well as salads or make a sandwich to go. Fair trade coffee is $8.99 a pound that is a steal. Pics to follow.
Must Go

5 Napkin Burger

There is a battle royale brewing on 9th. Ave between 44th. and 45th. with two restaurant giants. In one established corner is Marseilles groundbreaking a few years ago for it's french fare. Next up, is Nizza owned by the man behind Nice Matin on the Upper West Side whose Meditteranean fare is always consistently good. Now the Marseilles owner stakes his claim on the opposite corner with 5 Napkin Burger, a sort of cliche title considering the eclectic menu. I admit not to eating the juicy looking burger with ripe red tomato or the crispy, appearing fries instead opting for something more continental. Before I get to the food, this big corner space is decorated in white tile(very popular these days) and with multicolored cushioney banquettes as well comphy vintagey style chairs and a few black booths. Industrial style lighting shines down from metal bars holding light bulbs. Also, I found the service to be excellent something I read negatively about on other blogs. Now for the grub- I ordered the raclette a German/French specialty and having eaten raclete a dozen times in Deutschland, this bore no resemblence except for the goey, rich raclette cheese on top with chopped pickles or cornichons. The potatoes used were idaho completely wrong for the dish as well as a lack of quark(yogurt and cheese) or sour cream as a condiment. The cheese was raclette and is the same as the name of the dish and it cost $9.50. The main was a pasta primavera a strange choice for a burger joint, but this dish for $16.50 with marscapone cheese was one of the most perfect ever eaten. These guys are pros and the perfectly cooked al dente pasta was served with a mix of perfectly cooked veggies like asparagus, broccoli and zucchini, and peas with marscapone cheese which added a rich decadent flavor. Next time, I may opt for the juicy cheddar, bacon burger if I am feeling in the mood for beef.
GO!

SWEET MELISSA BAKERY

Adorable bakery in Central Cobble Hill, Delish passionfruit cheesecake and hand rolled chocolate croissants. Just a note, the next door creamery which Time Out alluded made their own ice-cream so does it's name does not make their own ice-cream it is Hershey's from Pennsylvania I was dissapointed to learn. Skip the ice-cream store and choose a sweet treat at the bakery instead.
Go!

BRIGHTON BAZAAR

Say "da" to this enormus smorgasboard of Russian food and many kinds of borscht including borscht with meat, white borscht, cold and hot borscht, all housemade. My lunch here last week included cold borscht with a small selection from the buffet including veal meatballs and boiled new potatoes with dill. My lunch cost $5 with soup and buffet. Other dishes include stroganoff, Russian postato salad, blini galore. Selections of specialty cheeses, herrings, salamis etc. as well as fruit are available at this local mainstay.
Go!