Oh Joy Eats

casual italian in {new york}...

Located in Tribeca, Locanda Verde combines a rustic ambiance with casual, yet spectacular, Italian food. I had heard great things about the place and found it to live beyond my expectations. We loved everything we had including the Orecchiette {2nd photo, with homemade duck sausage, broccoli rabe and piave cheese}, Broccoli Rabe Sausage Grinder {3rd photo}, and their amazing homemade bread {top photo}.

Final thoughts...4.5 out of 5 happy ladies! If weather permits, sit outside for some great people watching.

{photos by Oh Joy}

a montreal bagel in {brooklyn}...

When I heard about Boerum Hill's Mile End, I had no idea what this "Montreal Jewish Delicatessen" would have in store for me. Low and behold, this may have been one of the best bagel experiences of my life. Having had lived in New York for many years, I've had my fair share of New York bagels {the best in the States if you ask me}. But I've never laid my eyes or taste buds on the Montreal style bagel.

Montreal Bagels are hand rolled, par-boiled in a honey infused water, and then baked in a wood-burning oven. I'd describe the texture as somewhere in-between a bagel and a soft pretzel...dense, yet chewy...crispy and soft. Amazing.

{photos by Oh Joy}

a cookie monster in {new york}...

I spent most of last week in New York for a family wedding and had a chance to take a few small food adventures which I'll post about this week. First, I had to share the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookie {dark chocolate gooey goodness} from Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side and the Compost cookie {pretzels, potato chips, coffee, oats, butterscotch, chocolate chips} from Momofuku Milk Bar in the East Village...yum!

{photos by Oh Joy}

{lust list} popbar...

...handcrafted gelato on a stick at PopBar in New York....looks delicious, but have not gone yet!

{photos by Popbar}

{taste tested}: cupcake stop...

When asked if I wanted to be part of a beta group try out one of the first deliveries of cupcakes from New York's Cupcake Stop, I said yes faster than a kid running from class to recess. The popular cupcake truck will soon offer nationwide shipping, and being that I live just about as far from New York as you can get in the US, I was prepared to open up the box of sweets and see how they made their way across the country overnight.

oh joy eats lunch with {dwellstudio}...

This Happy Lady often wonders what other people are eating for lunch. Last night's leftovers, quick bodega bites, or a fave mid-day restaurant? So to quell my curiosity, I'll be asking various folks in the design and food world what they're having for lunch on any given day. It's a visual food interview of sorts paying homage to an often neglected, under-appreciated mid-day meal. Enjoy!

little ones...

First there came cakes...then cupcakes...and then their offspring took over. Mini cupcakes are the newest phase of the cupcake revolution with some shops selling their cupcakes only in miniature form. The bite-sized treat allows for more flavors to be taste-tested and consumed in larger quantities which is a quality I highly encourage. One of my favorites, Kumquat Cupcakery in New York was the first I came across that sold mini gems of cake goodness. With flavors like Maple Bacon and PB Banana Honey, I could gladly consume a dozen in one sitting. While I haven't tried this West Coast version, the mini's from Cuppie Love in Los Angeles look delish and super sweet, too.

{photos above by Kumquat Cupcakery {top row} & Cuppie Love {bottom row}. For those of you in San Diego, the newly opened Cups sells all their flavors in mini size, too!}

chile & chocolate in {brooklyn}...

This Saturday, October 3rd is the Chile Pepper Fiesta at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. From 12-6:30pm, enjoy music and dance from chile-loving regions around the world. Indulge at the Chocolate Chile Cabana, where you can sample goodies and meet some of today's most exciting, red-hot chocolatiers including a few of my faves Mari's New York, Whimsy & Spice, Kumquat Cupcakery, Mast Brothers, and more...

mean beans...

I first discovered Rick's Picks a few years ago during a rooftop party at Mari's house and have been a die hard fan ever since. While my heart melts for traditional pickles, my favorite of Rick's Picks are these Mean Beans. Serve with a burger or with a medley of other treats on an antipasti plate...umm!

Available here or at your local Whole Foods.

bits of heaven...

Without a question, my go-to "thank you" gift is a baton box of Mari's New York artisanal brownies. Rich, fudgy, and beautifully packaged. With flavors like caramel sea salt, Thai coffee, and coconut...it's a treat for your taste buds as much as a visual feast for the eyes.

{fun fact: we designed Mari's logo! photo by Lee Clower}