NY Bites Abroad: Eyescream and Friends, Barcelona

  

 

Where: Eyescream and Friends, Paseo Joan de Borbo 30, Barcelona, Spain

What: Sightseeing and beach-going can get tiring, especially under Barcelona’s hot sun, so you’ll probably want to cool down with some ice cream. Located in Barceloneta, right by the beach, Eyescream and Friends serves shaved ice with toppings and candy eyes, making each cup of ice cream an adorable and personalized creation.

Start by grabbing one of the cardboard cupholders located at the front of the store. Then work your way back, choosing 2 toppings and a shaved ice flavor. Flavors included chocolate, strawberry, mango, vanilla, and more, and toppings ranged from gummy bears to condensed milk. Your ice cream will get a set of sugar candy eyes, and then you can add the toppings onto the bowl. The experience of making the ice cream was fun, but the result was even better. The ice cream was light but very flavorful, and the toppings added a good contrast. One of the bowls we got had chocolate shaved ice, chocolate chips, and condensed milk, which provided the perfect contrast of smooth and crunchy. Although there is no seating inside, you can take your creation outside where there are benches along the street.

Eyescream and Friends is definitely a unique and fun alternative to to all the other gelato and ice cream stores in the city!

NY Bites Abroad: Borough Market, London

Where: Borough Market, London Bridge, London

What: We stopped by Borough Market after hearing all the hype, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Borough Market offers every staple of British cuisine alongside dishes from European countries, like Spain, France, and Italy that lie across the channel. Combine this array of prepared foods with the lively and colorful atmosphere and the market will be your favorite place to visit in London. In addition to the dishes you can purchase, Borough Market also offers fresh produce, meats, fish, and bread at various stalls throughout the space. Many vendors offer samples, allowing you to slowly eat your way through the market.

On our visit, we tried one of London’s classics: the salted beef sandwich with mustard and gerkins on rye bread. While this sandwich may sound simple, the flavors, and size, offer an incomparable lunch meal to anything we’ve ever had. We also tried a burger on fresh brioche, white wine sangria, and some turkish delights. All of our selections were reasonably priced, prepared quickly, and left us wanting more of everything.

Whether you’re a tourist or a London local, Borough market has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this foodie’s paradise!

NY Bites Abroad: Le Cocó, Madrid

Where: Le Cocó, Calle de Barbieri, 15, Madrid, Spain

What: Located in the cute neighborhood of Chueca, just around the corner from the area’s main square, Le Cocó’s bright blue door and windows will be sure to catch your eye. The large doors lead in to a bright and roomy dining area. We went for lunch, and were immediately seated and given menus on clipboards. Le Cocó offers everything from breakfast to dinner, but we stopped in for lunch. Their selections mix traditional Spanish foods with options like hamburgers and fish and chips.

The meal started with bread, and we were surprised when the waitress brought us a giant tub of butter with four butter knives. Next, our mini hamburgers and french fries came. The four burgers were tiny but full of flavor. Two were topped with bacon, and the other two had tomato and onion. The burgers themselves were juicy and cooked well. The fries were nice and crunchy, and the meal came with two little individual bottles of ketchup and mustard. We opted for dessert somewhere else, but their dessert menu contained treats like cakes, sorbet, and tiramisu.

With their large tables and comfy benches with pillows, Le Cocó is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a nice meal in an adorable setting and area. They also change their menu every so often, so you’ll be sure to find something new to try every single time you go!

 

NY Bites Abroad: The Orangery at Kensington Palace, London

Where: The Orangery, Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London

What: When you’re in London, you’re obligated to enjoy an afternoon tea. On our visit, we made a reservation at The Orangery, located in the middle of Kensington Gardens and short, picturesque walk from the tube station. The grand, brick building sits next to a beautiful garden, complete with sculpted hedges and a vista of the park. The Orangery offers seating inside, as well as outside, underneath billowing umbrellas with a view of the garden. Once inside, floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate the restaurant’s white tiled floors and walls with natural light, making it seem as though you are outside, too. Combine the adorable tableware and excellent service, and The Orangery will become one of your favorite places even before you’ve sampled the food.

For tea time, The Orangery offers multiple prix fixe menus. The most basic includes tea sandwiches, biscuits, and desserts with tea. We opted for the next step up, sampling some traditional Pimm’s. For our teas, we tried the Traditional London Blend and Spearmint, both of which were brewed with loose tea leaves and in individual-sized teapots. Our sandwich sampler included wraps, a salmon and cream cheese bite, cucumber and mint sandwiches, and egg salad rolls. Our biscuits were served with strawberry jam and clotted cream. For dessert, The Orangery’s offerings included strawberry yogurt, a lemon mousse, a chocolate and espresso cake, an almond and caramel cookie, and a raspberry filled pound cake. While the desserts were slightly underwhelming, the sandwiches and traditional biscuits had us loving tea time. In addition to the tea time menu, The Orangery offers individual drink, meal, and dessert options.

If you’re in London and looking for a reasonably-priced and traditional tea time spot, look no further than The Orangery at Kensington Palace!

NY Bites Abroad: Mamá Framboise, Madrid

    

Where: Mamá Framboise, Calle de Fernando VI, 23, Madrid, Spain

What: Spain has its fair share of delicious pastries. But sometimes you just want a classic French croissant, macaron, or pastry. Mamá Framboise has all of these, and more. Their adorable shop has a counter that displays all of their gorgeous pastries. But if you sit down, you’ll get a menu complete with drawings of what each pastry is made up of, plus more options like crêpes, milkshakes, coffee, and tea. They have a savory menu as well, with sandwiches, quiches, and salads.

We went for an afternoon snack, and ordered a chocolate croissant, a raspberry croissant, a chocolate eclair, and a caramel eclair. The croissants were amazing on their own, but the toppings took them up a level. The chocolate one was covered completely in a layer of chocolate and topped with cocoa nibs and cocoa powder, and had a little chocolate on the inside too. The raspberry one had raspberry jam inside, with powdered sugar, raspberry flavor, and nuts on top. The eclairs had crunch toppings, which went perfectly with the creamy inside.

The shop is nice and large, with floral wallpaper, chalk drawings of different pastries, and rustic tables and floors. It’s situated in the Alonso Martínez neighborhood which is filled with unique restaurants and shops, so make sure you wander around the area after you’re full.

Mamá Framboise is the perfect place to sit with friends, a good book, or some work that needs to get done, in a gorgeous space that makes you feel just like you’re in a quaint little Parisian pastry shop.

NY Bites Abroad: Maso A Kobliha, Prague

 

 

Where: Maso A Kobliha, Petrská 1551/23, Prague

What: Maso A Kobliha offers traditional British food in the heart of Prague. The cafe combines farm-to-table style with an industrious, yet chic environment that is common to many cafes here in Prague. Their front dining room, furnished with mismatched chairs and tables, is filled with natural light and simple decorations, including fresh flowers, chalkboards, and pops of color. Additionally, the cafe has a courtyard garden where you can enjoy your meal outside.

Their menu features many small plates, meals, side dishes, and deserts. Some of the offerings included a scotch egg, bubble and squeak, and corned beef hash. They also offer daily specials. On our visit, we tried out the sausage and potatoes, salmon and avocado tartine, and beef and pork chili. All of our selections were well-sized and beautifully presented. The chili was served atop a baked potato alongside creme fraiche, making for a satisfying comfort meal. The salmon tartine tasted fresh and tangy. After our lunch, we had to try out the koblihas Maso A Kobliha is known for. These “donuts” are a traditional German pastry filled with vanilla cream and coated in sugar. Served on adorable eclectic plates, these treats were rich, filling, and a bit messy. Despite the challenge in eating them, we all wanted one more!

Stop by Maso A Kobliha with the intentions of trying one of their koblihas, but stay and be pleasantly surprised by their traditional and delicious menu.

NY Bites Abroad: Odette, Paris

  

 

Where: Odette, 77 Rue Galande, Paris

What: If you’re visiting Paris, your first instinct will probably be to head straight for all the croissants, macarons, and eclairs you can find. But there’s one more pastry we think deserves to be on your “must try” list, and it is Odette’s choux à la crème, better known as a cream puff.

But this isn’t your usual cream puff. The pastry comes in 9 different flavors, ranging from classic vanilla to green tea, coffee, and pistachio. Each is topped with a layer of fondant and dusted with a little powdered sugar, making it even cuter than it already is. When you take a bite, you get the thin but fluffy surrounding pastry, the thicker cream, and the sweet top, combining into the perfect pastry.

Odette is located just a short walk from the Notre Dame cathedral, so it’s the perfect break after an afternoon of sightseeing. You can eat upstairs, or outside on one of their streetside tables for the perfect people-watching perch. The service was great, and you can also get a variety of drinks to go with your pastries. These adorable treats also come in boxes to go, making the perfect gifts. We can’t wait to go back and all the rest of Odette’s flavors!

NY Bites Abroad: Horchateria de Santa Catalina, Valencia

      

Where: Horchateria Santa Catalina, Pl. Santa Catalina 6, Valencia, Spain

What: Valencia is most commonly known as the birthplace of paella. But if you’re looking for something a little sweeter, you have to stop by Horchateria Santa Catalina to get a taste of all of Valencia’s most famous dessert offerings. The restaurant is famous for its horchatas, a nut milk drink invented in Valencia, its buñuelos, fried doughnuts typically dipped in thick chocolate sauce, and its fartones, croissant-like pastries that are often served with horchatas. They also offer a variety of other pastries, drinks, and ice creams.

When we went, we ordered a well-rounded sampling of buñuelos, chocolate, a horchata, a farton, and a cortado. The service was quick, and our waitress brought everything to our table on a plastic tray. The buñuelos were light but crunchy, and got just enough sweetness when they were dipped into the chocolate. The horchata was creamy and delicious, but it is definitely not a drink that everyone will like. If you like almond milk you’ll probably like it, but its worth a try if you aren’t sure! The farton tasted great plain, or dipped in either the horchata or the chocolate sauce.

Even with two floors, Horchateria Santa Catalina was completely filled. Luckily, you’ll never have to wait too long for a table because people finish their snacks quickly and the service is fast. If you’ve been sightseeing all day, Horchateria Santa Catalina is the perfect place to sit down, refuel, and get a taste of classic Valencian desserts.

NY Bites Abroad: Angelato, Prague

Where: Angelato, Rytířská 27, Prague

What: We stopped into Angelato on one of the first beautiful spring days here in Prague. After closing for the winter season, Angelato recently reopened, and after hearing all the excitement about its delicious gelato, we had to try it out. We were met with a light-filled, quiet shop that was sparsely decorated but still felt welcoming. While there is limited seating beyond the small table and counter space, the open doors and large windows invite you to enjoy your treat outside on the cobblestone streets of the city.

The shops offerings range from classic gelato flavors like chocolate, hazelnut, and tiramisu to sorbet selections such as mango and lime. We tried out the pistachio and walnut gelato on a sprinkle cone and the coffee gelato on the peanut and chocolate cone. Both were rich in flavor, although the texture more closely resembled ice cream than gelato. While our choices were a bit pricey, the portion sizes are more generous than surrounding gelato shops. Additionally, the shop also offers coffee, tea, milkshakes, and affogatos.

If your looking for a simple and sweet treat on your way Old Town in Prague, look no further than Angelato!

NY Bites Abroad: Salon des Fleurs, Madrid

     

Where: Salon des Fleurs, Calle Guzmán El Bueno, Madrid, Spain

What: Salon des Fleurs is a combination of a perfectly curated floral shop, a quaint teahouse, your favorite bakery, and a gorgeous gift shop. From the bright flower displays outside to the giant windows with hanging lights inside, everything about this cafe is picture perfect. Their menu consists of about 10 different teas, including whimsical flavors like Strawberry Champagne and Mint Chocolate. They also had an assortment of cakes and cookies. We ordered at the counter and sat down in the main seating area, which included pink chairs, sofas with plenty of pillows, and abundant natural light. There is also a basement that was closed off while we stopped by, and a loft that had tea sets, books, and more for sale.

We ordered the Apple Pie and Salon des Fleurs teas, along with the double chocolate, red velvet, and carrot cakes. The Apple Pie tasted like apple spice, and would be perfect for fall. The Salon des Fleurs was sweet and floral. The cakes were good for Madrid standards, though not quite as sweet and moist as cake in the U.S.

If you want to feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale, go grab a cup of tea at Salon des Fleurs!