Best of Latte Art: Chalait

     

Where: Chalait, 224 W 4th St., West Village

What: It can be really hard to tell one cup of New York coffee from another, but at Chalait you’ll never have that problem. It’s green! Actually, it’s not exactly coffee, it’s matcha. Chalait is tiny, but it offers breakfast and lunch items, along with all kinds of matcha drinks, and regular coffees as well.

We got the Greenwich Sandwich and the Miso Butter Toast, along with an iced matcha latte and a regular matcha latte. The Greenwich Sandwich had black bean mash, avocado, tomatoes, pickled onions and carrots, radish, feta, arugula, and Sriracha mayo. The Miso Butter Toast was made up of toast with miso butter and a poached egg topped with black and white sesame seeds, with a salad and avocado on the side. The matcha lattes were not overly strong, which we liked. The whole menu was very fresh and light, but still very filling.

The bright space is surrounded by windows, but there isn’t very much space to sit. If it’s a sunny day outside, like it was when we went, you’re best bet is probably to drop in, grab a drink, and explore the adorable streets and shops of the West Village.

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: 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.

Maman: Best of Latte Art

Where: Maman NYC, 239 Centre St., Soho

What: We may have found our favorite coffee shop in all of NYC. Not only are the food and coffee delicious, the decorations and interior design also make us want to move in and never leave. When you walk in you’ll see the counter with bright, colorful food and desserts displayed. There were quiches, sandwiches, salads, cookies, bars, and pastries. On the wall there is a selection of beautiful packaged products like ketchup, salt, olive oil, and tea. The shop had two areas of intricately tiled floors in contrast to their soft wooden floors. There was a window bar in the front of the store decorated with fresh flowers placed in pretty vases. Towards the back of the restaurant, there was a room full of more tables.

We ordered the salmon and spinach quiche, the brie, cranberry, and spinach tartine, the dulce de leche bar, and a white chocolate chip cookie. We also got a latte and an iced tea. All the food tasted fresh and delicious. The portions were well-sized. The quiche was nice and light while the tartine was warm and crisp. The dulce de leche bar tasted like a cookie with light chocolate pudding on top. Our cookie was thick and crunchy. The coffee and iced tea were spectacular as well. The coffee was served in cups with a range of designs including blue and white floral patterns or stripes.

Because their menu changes everyday, we have an excuse to come back often (and possibly move in)!

Otto’s Tacos: Best of Tacos

Where: Otto’s Tacos, 141 Second Avenue, East Village

What: If you’re looking for a wide variety of options to eat, 2nd Avenue around St. Marks is the perfect place to go. This time, we stopped in Otto’s Tacos for a quick dinner. Otto’s is unassuming and simplistic. Their menu featured five different tacos, five sides, five drinks, and churros. You can add guacamole to any of your tacos for only 45 cents. We got the chicken, carnitas, carne asada, and shrimp tacos, each with a side of rice and beans. All the tacos were similarly topped with onions, cilantro, and green salsa. The handmade corn tortillas were thick and crispy. The tacos may have been small, but they were stuffed with toppings, making it tricky to fold and eat. We found them slightly spicy and dry, but overall they were good.

The interior of Otto’s was simple with wood-paneled walls, hanging lights, and communal seating. The service was extremely quick and friendly. We’ll have to go back to try the churros!

Vive la Crêpe: Best of Crêpes

 

Where: Vive la Crêpe, 61 East 8th Street, Greenwich Village

What: We visited Vive la Crêpe for breakfast one morning, hoping to indulge ourselves in a savory crêpe breakfast. To our delight, Vive la Crêpe offers many varieties of crêpes, including savory, sweet, and omelette crêpes, in addition to a variety of beverages. Both of our choices were filled generously and folded into a warm, fluffy, and thick crêpe. These crêpes were large in comparison to others we’ve had, making for the perfect, filling breakfast.

The 8th Street location was large and open with many tables and bar seating available. The service was quick, so in no time were we sitting down and enjoying our selections. The whisk light fixtures, wood-paneled walls, and Greenwich Village location of Vive la Crêpe put an urban spin on this classic French treat.

Union Square Holiday Market: Is It Worth the Hype?

 

Where: Union Square Holiday Market, Union Square

What: From November 20th to December 24th, the Union Square Holiday Market takes over the southwestern corner of Union Square in a celebration of holiday spirit. With tons of vendors to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect gift for anyone on your list. But, they also have lots of food, which is why we went to see if it’s worth the hype. The food options included Momofuku Milk Bar, Sigmunds’ Pretzels, Bar Suzette, and many more.

We made a beeline for the Wafels and Dinges tent. They didn’t offer any of their savory options or a few other ingredients that are offered on their food trucks. Nonetheless, we still had trouble choosing. We decided on “de throwdown wafel”, which included spekuloos spread and whipped cream, and “de turtle wafel”, which was chocolate, walnuts, and caramel. Both were lightly topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. The waffles were served warmed, making our treats extra gooey and delicious. The walnuts in “de turtle” added a nice crunch to the chewy waffle and the spekuloos was spread in a generous layer. We sat in the park to eat our waffles, but the cold temperatures were almost too much. We suggest walking with your food to see the other booths.

After finishing our waffles, we walked around to check out the other stalls. There were many jewelry, home, and mens and women’s shops. We enjoyed seeing unique items and vendors that carry products you won’t find in other stores.

Once you’ve hit all the big-name stores on nearby 5th Avenue, head over to Union Square Holiday Market to grab some unique gifts while sampling an array of NYC’s fun food options.

 

Le Pain Quotidien: Is it Worth the Hype?

  

Where: Le Pain Quotidien, 801 Broadway, Union Square

What: Le Pain Quotidien offers a perfect morning spot to relax before the hectic day ahead. Their warm, inviting atmosphere, along with their healthy, organic food choices makes LPQ a great way to start your day. We checked out the chain to see if their breakfast selections were worth their health food hype.

We ordered a latte and coffee in addition to the organic steel-cut oats with fresh berries and organic granola and yogurt parfait. Our selections tasted fresh and satisfying. Both of  our orders came without added sugar or sweeteners, allowing us to choose how much we wanted to add. The portion offerings were nicely sized and reasonable for the price. The service was friendly, but slightly slow, considering most people were on their way to work or class.

The interior of their 801 Broadway location was large and open, offering two big communal tables in addition to multiple other small tables. The space was divided into two areas, one designated for sit-down meals while the other, smaller section was ideal for ordering a pastry or drink and the counter to-go. The store was adorably decorated for the season, with colored leaves cascading down the light fixtures.

Overall, LPQ is a relaxing spot to stop by for a health-conscious, but still extremely delicious, bite to eat. Enjoy their many offerings, including lunch, dinner, and dessert, without sacrificing taste for healthiness.

La Esquina: Best of Tacos

Where: La Esquina, 114 Kenmare Street, Nolita

What: At first, La Esquina might not appear to be the Mexican taqueria that you’d typically think of. The “Corner Deli” sign and the tiny size might make you think it’s a regular corner sandwich shop. But, as you approach, you’ll see brightly colors Mexican sodas, windows painted with different menu items, and finally, inside, their menu filled with tacos and side dishes.

We walked up to the small counter and ordered the avocado, carnitas, chicken, and fish tacos along with two Jarritos sodas. They also had salads, soups, tortas, quesadillas, and side dishes such as black beans, grilled corn, and plantains. Our tacos were ready quickly. They were small, but were generously filled with delicious toppings. Two tacos were enough to fill us up, but we’re certain we could have also had side dishes as well.

La Esquina is a three-part restaurant set-up. We went to the small taqueria with bar seating and, in the summer, outdoor tables. There’s also a brasserie and a cafe, all in the same location.

If you’re in the mood for quick and reasonably priced Mexican food in an authentic environment, stop by La Esquina!

Peanut Butter & Co.: Best of Comfort Food

Where: Peanut Butter and Co., 240 Sullivan Street, Greenwich Village

What: Take a trip back to elementary school lunchtime at Peanut Butter and Co. But this time, instead of a plain peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you’ll get to choose from tons of different peanut butter flavors and sandwich combinations. They manufacture their own peanut butter in different flavors, such as Dark Chocolate Dreams and Cinnamon Raisin Swirl. Their sandwich options use these flavors, along with a variety of jams, jellies, and other additions. We ordered The Elvis, which had smooth peanut butter, honey, bananas, and bacon. It satisfied both sweet and salty cravings in one bite. We also ordered The Heat is On Sandwich, which had spicy peanut butter, pineapple jam, and chicken. At first, the jam perfectly balanced out the spicy peanut butter, but after a little while the spiciness became overwhelming. Try it if you can handle a good amount of spice, but if not, stay away!

The shop was painted in a bright and cheery yellow, and was decorated with vintage signs, boxes, posters, and toys. There was a counter where you could order and pay for your sandwich and a selection of desserts and drinks. We got the root beer float, which was delicious and relatively cheap. The seating area was small, but we didn’t have to wait to find a table, even at lunch time. They also sold their peanut butters, jams, baking mixes, and more right in the store.

While there were lots of kids enjoying a more fun version of the classic lunchbox staple, Peanut Butter and Co. will bring out your inner kid, no matter what your age!