kick the darkness: eating through the heart of new york city part two

The Vagabond Cafe is a cafe that well suited my needs as a writer, and I deliberately sought it out.

They have wifi and outlets to plug in your laptops, and couches and soft chairs, away from the tables to make yourself comfortable. I read about it under Great Places in New York City for Writers and knew that you could also get wine and beer. Important.
Savory and sweet crepes seem to be their specialty but I selected the Smooth Criminal, a roast beef panini with swiss cheese, carmalized onions and a garlic vinagrette accompanied by a very becoming 2009 Rioja, Koden de Luis Alegre, and a Charms lollipop.

Mille Feuille in the Village has some of the best New York made macarons as ranked by Serious Eats New York, and it is just around the corner from my sister's apartment to boot. I picked out this selection for Dee and I to sample later that evening.

triple vanilla, pistachio, passionfruit, salted caramel and chocolate praline (my favourite)

Tuesday night, I got home before my sister, and she had the keys. I used this excuse to try the Ethiopian, and Eritrean food at the Massawa which is on the corner directly across the street from the apartment. The food was incredibly filling and flavourful. I chose the Massawa combination platter and was provided with a generous serving of chicken, beef, lamb and two vegetable selections, a spicy green salad and chick pea puree. I am glad my sister arrived shortly after I was served, so that I could split the meal with her. She also had their honey wine specialty, so I got to sample some of that delicious nectar.

The next day was earmarked for my exploration of the north tip of Manhattan. I got off to a bit of a late start and ended up exploring Inwood Park already hungry for lunch. I was lured by this restaurant at 4973 Broadway afterward, by a promise of brick oven baked pizza.

when you see this combo on your table, you know you are in New York city pizza joint

oregano, hot peppers and garlic powder

what was the price for a fat slice of Sicilian? $2.99

more delicious than it looks

Later that evening i meet Melanie for Cuban food at Cuba. and yay! We were in time for happy hour and five dollar sangria.
We had eaten here before February 2010, during a world wind weekend, and though their seasonal ceviche was not up to the orgasmic heights, that I remember, the food was still delicious, plentiful and the service there is absolutely stellar. A quick revisit of my post from 2010 vividly illustrates that there has been a change in the food.

my ceviche this year AND

in 2010

Melanie's dinner now AND

then

(see luv, i told you, you ordered the same thing)

strawberry cream cheese empanadas in a strawberry coulis with vanilla ice cream

This dessert is perhaps the most delicious dessert i have ever had in a restaurant. The inside of each crisp flaky empanada had warm melty sweetened soft cheese and flavourful fragrant strawberries. Yummers.

I enjoy the menu selection, and the warm and festive atmosphere of Cuba and I would gladly go there again.

Thursday's dinner in Williamsburg

One of the day's specials, a pint of Kostritzer Schwartbier (mamma mia!) buffalo meat dumplings in browned butter on a bed of tender buttery red cabbage with poppy seeds and sage

cost: $13 a special I was directed to by the extremely helpful and patient wait staff

Radegast Hall and Biergarten

loud and festive German style dining

Friday morning's overpriced cappucino at Max's Caffe on Amsterdam

$4.30? bitch please

delivery for the next door wood fired oven

Dylan's Candy Bar on 3rd and 60th

the wallpaper in the ladies room

Dylan's Candy Bar sells a dreamy amount of candy, obviously as per their name, on the lower and main floor. They also sell cupcakes and booze, on the top floor again, as per their name. i got cupcakes and coffee because, i am a shmoo and didn't know that the play on the word bar actually meant booze house or I would have certainly chosen a liquid dessert instead. Sigh.

The cupcakes were delicious tho, particularly the mini carrot cake. Thanks Jae, for helping me make my selection. Unfortunately what was given to me as a macchiato was in reality a latté. A drink that must be the polar opposite of my desire. Coffee is the one arena that I would like my servers to be absolute snobs about the correct contents of the different espresso drinks.