Frankies

I got many great gifts this Christmas, but one of my favorites is this new cookbook from the two Franks behind one of my all-time favorite restaurants of the same name, Frankies Spuntino.  Although I have never made it to the original location in Brooklyn, I happen to live near their second one on Clinton Street on the LES of Manhattan.  Whether my mother is in town amd we are making dinner plans or its weekend brunch with the girls, Frankies is always a failproof choice. 

Addictive food with an Italian-American bent and a warm, inviting atmosphere make it the perfect spot for pretty much any situation that involves eating.  Which is why I was so beyond psyched when I found out that they were coming out with a cookbook and I would be let in on the secrets behind some of my favorite recipes straight from the pages of their menu.  

This "Kitchen Companion & Cooking Manual" is proof that some of the best tasting food is often simply prepared using fresh, but not necessarily expensive ingredients and will transform you into a great home cook, whether you are cooking for yourself, your family or entertaining for friends.  Some of my personal favorites include: Cipollini Onion Vinaigrette, Lentil Soup with Smoked Bacon and Sweet Potato Ravioli in Cheese Broth.

A Taste of Greece (on the Lower East Side)

I discovered Boubouki one day walking home from work.  Occupying just a tiny stall within the Essex Street Market I wouldn't have noticed its existence if not for the chalkboard menu outside listing the deliciousness available inside.

The fresh, homemade greek food at Boubouki is the product of Rono Economou's passion for making the food she grew up eating, but with a more modern approach.  It is simple, utter perfection.  During my initial visit several weeks ago, I decided on the classic spinach pie with light flaky layers of phyllo dough and a new take on beet salad topped with feta cheese.  As soon as I was finished eating, I was already thinking about what I could barely wait to eat on my return trip.

For my second visit, I decided to again have the spinach pie and beet salad, but to also try the feta flatbread. While it looks fairly simple, the combination of textures and flavors is anything but.  The thin crispy flatbread is charred just slightly at the edges and topped with meaty cubes of feta cheese.

I am already thinking about my third trip back where I must try the Baklava, or maybe the carrot cake, or whatever the new seasonal menu addition may be.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-6pm (take out only) at Essex Street Market, Essex & Delancey Streets, Booth #18

Best Brunches in NYC

I was just featured on Stylecaster again!  This time in a story on the best brunches in NYC, check it out here.


I've always been a big fan of a lazy weekend brunch, but for those of us lucky enough to live in NYC, we all know that brunch here is entirely different than it is anywhere else.  In one of the most expensive cities on earth, you can usually have a great meal and 3 cocktails...all for only $20!  There are a lot of amazing brunch spots in this city, but here are a few of my favorites around my LES neighborhood, starting with my Stylecaster pick, my beloved Clinton Street Bakery.


Clinton Street Baking Company
You won't find any free mimosas here but there is another reason why there is a mob of people standing outside every Saturday or Sunday, rain or shine, at this iconic LES breakfast spot. The huge, fluffy pancakes are the real draw here (you have your choice of blueberry, banana walnut and chocolate chunk), but the buttermilk biscuit egg sandwich is also very much worth the wait. Go early, put your name in and head across the street to Café Pedlar for a cup of Stumptown coffee to sip while you wait.

Macondo
The "Open Mimosa Brunch" at this Latin tapas spot from the people behind the other popular neighborhood spot Rayuela is not to be missed.  From 11am-4pm you can pair items like huevos rancheros with three freshly-squeezed, exotic fruit mimosas of your choice.  The purchase of one food item and a mimosa will get you two more mimosas free!

Essex
For $20, you get to choose from a lengthly menu of delicious food options like my favorite "Mexican Matzo Brei (scrambled eggs with tortilla crisps, monterey jack, avocado, black beans and pico de gallo) and the requisite three mimosas/bloody marys/screwdrivers.  The vibe is lively and raucous making it a super fun spot for a girls brunch or a continuation of your Saturday night party.