JAMES BROOKLYN

I'm back...I've been so out of it and this madness has to stop! Now that I have some updated technology, it should make it easier to do this! Also going to change up my long posts, and keep it simple!



REASON FOR VISIT: In my neighborhood catching up with friends..
WHAT CAUGHT MY INTEREST: Their amazing chandelier, I can't even explain it, you have to go to see it!
WHATS DIFFERENT: Their dark beer cocktail with a hint of prosecco..yum! different..and yum!
FOOD: Great American Noveau food. Pricy, but good. Small portions-which is not a bad thing.
WOULD I GO AGAIN? Not for dinner, maybe Brunch, their brunch menu looks fab-Duck sausage!! Yummmmmm

James is located in prospect Heights on Carlton Ave. and St. Marks.

A PERFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT PEEP-SOHO!

Saturday afternoons are the new Fridays!! ha! I love them..you roll out bed at noon get some brunch..and then you have the whole afternoon ahead of you!
So my friend Jenelle and I decided to go shopping for the summer....get some cute outfits...I usually don't share my shopping secretes..but OK..its Jenelle..so I showed her a few tricks.
On most summer Saturdays...you are talking about sunshine and getting crowed out (tan for Maria). This past June 14th-Saturday It was POURING!!!!


I used work in Soho on Spring St. I frequently visited a Thai restaurant called PEEP-loved it! so for old times sake, I told Jenelle we should go get some appetizers and cocktails plus it did start pouring....We got the usual Thai faves...Chicken skewers, fried calamari and spring rolls!!YUM went perfectly with my sake Mangosteen Martini!! Our bartender Ben was awesome!! Really sweet...OK people their well vodka mixers were $2!! HALLELUJAH!!!!! Plus their cocktails were $5 they had happy hour the entire day!!!PEEP is located on 117 Prince St, and is cute swanky Thai restaurant...who would have ever though happy hour the entire day!! HELLO!!!

The host was kinda lost as Jenelle put it she had an open back outfit on fit to go clubbing and I think she thought it was 2am!! Oh these young kids and their outfits these days!! SIGH!!....oh an done more thing..make sure you visit the restroom..its one of this psychedelic crazy modern restrooms, where everything is glass, and you can see the crowd but they can't see you!! Very Trippy...but fun!!
I love these friendly bartenders I'm meeting these days, I'm going to have to do a bartender special soon...I have to remember to carry my camera..I'm really bad!! personalized pictures for the next POST is a sure promise!!!

Melt...WITH $10 Akaushi Beef Burger..YUM!

When you get a buger..you might as well go all out and do it right! And if you can eat a burger for $10 made out Akaushi Kobe...why not indulge!

When I told my friends that I found a place that serves $10 Kobe burgers-they were like OMG!WTF!! I'm trying not to ramble with my posts..but I have to share the interesting facts I discover about the foods I eat!! So here's what I found about the Kobe burgers at MELT.

The MELT cow sandwiches are made out of Akaushi cattle(YUM!) are from the Mt. Aso region in Japan. There are only 58,000 and they are a protected breed considered a national treasure of Japan. Kobe is the name of a city in Japan that U.S. troops occupied after World War II. The cattle in that area can be any of four breeds of Wagyu cattle such as the Akaushi (Japanese Red), the Kuroushi (Japanese Black), the Japanese Polled and the Japanese Shorthorn-and thus KOBE BEEF! (Source:Logan Farms)

As you know KOBE is super expensive...but not at MELT!!! eat at the bar, and treat yourself to a burger that will literally melt in your mouth for $10! I got mine with Gruyere cheese...go early get some cocktails on happy hour-its a perfect after work treat! I was here withe some ladies..and Juan (oh another amazing bar tender) really hooked us UP!!

Take the 2 train to Bergen-Melt is located on bergen between 5th and Flatbush.

Back in Business! Brooklyn is Poppin'!

It's been almost a year since I updated this blog...I'm sorry! I'm not going to make any excuses-I was just plain lazy. Then I realized, there are just too many new things and places to see which I should share with ya'll! I'm going to get right into it-Brooklyn is Poppin' this summer! (Sad for people like me rent will be raised soon!). Prospect Heights..and South Heights -please-lets just say its more Crown Heights but ok they are trying to make it PC to encourage folks to venture into the hood!-its all good!!


So my latest discovery and fave spot-Franklin Park-its really hot! We ended up here last week for a quick 1am night cap to bid my friend Moco Auf Wiedersehen.....it was really laid back, loved the interior,awesome art, and laid back vibe! The big plus was the really nice bar tender! I feel like personable bartenders are becoming scarce these days! OK my loyalty to Soda wavering a bit.....I think this may be my new spot for the summer!! OK you can't beat $3 beers at SODA on Sundays though....not sure what Franklin Park has to offer on Sunday...but I'm sure i'll find out soon!

NYC WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK 2007

This is your opportunity to eat cheap at the best restaurants in NY!! Make your reservations NOW!!!!!!! ASAP. It ends 2/2/07 so hurry while it lasts! Check out the featured restaurants @ NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2007

LA-ESQUINA THE HIDDEN UNDERGROUND RESTAURANT

Who would have ever guessed that there was a swanky restaurant hidden underneath a taco shack-well guess what only in NY! La Esquina, is where all the trendy New Yorkers go to feel fab!! The crowd was little young, a lot of kids with daddy's money-but it is something worth checking out...You have to walk through an "employees only" stair way-which seems so shady-and then voila an amazing restaurant in the basement-packed with fashonistas!!It's crazy!! The Patron margaritas are yummy, the food was treat as well. They serve anywhere from skillfully balanced seviches to authentically styled tacos! You do need reservations so make sure you call=I'll make it easy for u guys: Reservations: 646-613-7100. La Esquina is located on Kenmare & Lafayette.

ETHIOPIA @ HELL'S KITCHEN

ETHIOPIAN FAMILY STYLE PLATTER


DON'T FORGET TO TRY OUT META BEER!!! VERY WHEATY AND TASTY!!

OK, people you have to be ready to eat Family style-So if you are worried about cooties..(LOL) Ethiopian food is not for u! The plate usally comes with 6-7 dishes on Ethiopian bread (Injera). Injera is made up of Teff. It is the tiniest cereal in the world. It grows in every climatic region of Ethiopia and Ethiopians are the only people in the world who have cultivated it as a staple cereal. Ethiopian makes great food for vegetarians, so my fellow non-meat eaters def. check it out. You get to sit on some low chairs-a tad bit uncomfortable (which is why all the Ethiopian locals were eating on the regular tables-smart!!) but hey it completes the whole experience. Ethiopian food has great flavors-reminds me of Indian food-minus the spice!! So get ready to WASH YOUR HANDS and sample some flavorful food!! Queen Sheeba is located on 46th and 10th Ave.

ICE PRINCESS @ THE POND AT BRYANT PARK

Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8 am to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 am to midnight Admission to skate: freeSkate rentals $8.75, lockers free, lock purchase $9.00, bag check $6.00.


Apparently my posts are too long and boring to read!! So moving forward, I promise to keep it short and sweet! Here goes-ICE SKATING @ BRYANT PARK! Its so much fun!! A tad bit crowded on the weekend-but its a perfect cous cous date on a weekday!!! Plus you can pretend like its winter!! I'm an Ice Princess!!

MAX BRENER CHOCOLATE BAR... WHO ARE YOU?

Come on New Yorker's, every now and then we need to give franchisees a chance...We get so critical when it comes to the non-trendy chain culture. No need to pu pu and stick our noses in the air at every one of them...Yes, Max Brener is no Jacque Torres, but I thought the concept was pretty neat. Everything is chocolate! Chocolate Pizza, cocktails..they have taken thaT can be consumed and turned into chocolate! Now, folks, yes, its got a little bit of a touristy feel to it, but if you are waiting for the 10pm show acorss the st. @ the Regal theater, and feel like treating yourself ( I mean really treating yourself) give it a shot. I don't need to get into how rich the food is-y'all know its chocolate for godsake, and there is no healthy way to do it-sorry! Go for the real deal!

The service was great..I think our waiter MASON was high he was super nice! We sat upstairs which gave me a nice view of the whole restaurant. It was fun, but I'm def. laying low on treats like this for a while! TRUST I really don't need the extra calories!! The cost of desserts and treats are anywhere from $10-$15. Next stop....Chucky Cheese......just kidding..that's the New Yorker in me!!!


DID YOU KNOW? So Who is Max Brener-I had to google the guy apparently The name is actually a composite of two Israeli marketing geniuses, Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner, who launched the business ten years ago in Ra’anana and sold it to Strauss-Elite (Israel’s version of Kraft), which now operates outposts and franchises from Melbourne to Makati City. Somewhere over the course of spreading the chocolate gospel, the European-trained (and sufficiently bald) chocolatier Oded Brenner has adopted the Wonka-like persona of “Max Brenner.” Let's give the guy some props!

KELLEY & PING SOHO'S ASIAN MARKET

Wanna feel FAB on a Friday night...like you're in an episode of Sex in the City? Well, you can do it, and do it cheap and chic at Kelley & Ping! And guess, what you can tell your friends your go with, that many eposides of Sex In The City were in fact featured at this restaurant. The food was great, portions were right, and it was a different twist on Asian food. Try the Jap Chae (Korean beef noodles) It's light & tasty! Asian food lovers this is your paradise, the menu features a little bit of Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese..all in one! So if you have a group friends and one wants to get thai..the other chinese..you get the idea-its the perfect solution!



Located in the heart of SOHO on Green St between Houston and Prince, its a great place to kick it and indulge in the SOHO vibe! Everyone needs some of that every now and then!