A Burger for Any Budget

While I am not a meat-centric gal, sometimes the craving for a burger strikes.  When it does, dozens of places may come to mind, but these two stand out amongst the rest.

Shake Shack is a New York institution, which has rapidly spread its reach across the nation and even beyond.  When I first moved here, Shake Shack was as close to a shack as a NYC food establishment could be with one small kiosk in Madison Square Park where patrons lined up {sometimes for over an hour} to sample something from the roadside-style menu.  Now, with Shake Shacks scattered throughout the city, it is a breeze to grab a cheeseburger whenever the craving strikes.

     
While many may prefer the ShackBurger which features the {not so secret} ShackSauce, I opt for the single cheeseburger {antibiotic and hormone-free} piled high with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle on the potato bun.  I know that west coasters praise In-N-Out, but Shake Shack has the go-to burger in my book.

When you want to splurge, Minetta Tavern is the place to visit.  When you walk in, you enter what I think of as classic New York - black and white checkered floors, tin ceilings, red leather banquettes.  Black and white photos line the walls, making you wonder who dined here decades ago.  While there are many items on the menu worth trying, I highly recommend their famous Black Label burger.  I typically am not a burger purist and instead add all of the possible accoutrements.  This burger was different though - prime dry-aged beef, caramelized onions that melt into the meat, and a sesame brioche bun.  It was simple, delicious, and craveable.

       
The Black Label burger costs a pretty penny, but it is worth it when you want to treat yourself.  Shake Shack, though, is easy on your budget and still satisfies the craving.  Find out for yourself and report back :)

Escape to New Orleans

This time last year, we were eating our way through New Orleans.  Very spontaneously, we planned a trip within just a few days, scooped up our parents since neither set had ever been, and we were on our way.

We had just two nights to explore the city -- and that was our only regret.  We arrived at the Hotel Modern in the Warehouse District, dropped our bags, said a quick hello to Miss Scarlett, and dashed off to our first stop.

Miss Scarlett

Butcher happened to be within walking distance of our hotel and was the perfect way to begin our tour of New Orleans.  This sandwich shop paid homage to a time when butcher shops thrived as part of a family's regular shopping routine.  Upon entering, we were greeted with sounds of the 50s - the likes of Elvis Presley and Little Richard - where you can't help but sing along.  I was transported back to my grandfather's butcher shop, dreaming that this is what it would have been today if it still existed.  I immediately knew that my parents would truly enjoy this pitstop and in fact, the entire group did.  My favorite was the muffuletta, a New Orleans classic, which certainly hit the craveable mark.

The food tour did not stop there.  We did not have enough meals in the day to sample all of the treasures of New Orleans, but we hit upon a few.  We devoted our time to walking between all of the sites, making sure sprinkled our walks with plenty of food stops to refuel.  While we stopped at some standbys such as Cafe Du Monde for beignets and Verti Marte for po-boys, we also took a gamble on an Italian restaurant called A Mano.  Not exactly what we had envisioned for our New Orleans experience, but it became a highlight {unfortunately, I learned it has since closed}.     

We ended our stay with the big brother of Butcher, Cochon.  The meal was delicious, but the muffuletta still wins the craveable prize. 

Introducing the craveables

As someone who lives in a city with restaurants, cafes, and bakeries dotted block by block, the options of what and where to eat next are truly never-ending.  Some of my friends, in fact, vow to never {or nearly never} eat at the same place twice.  I, on the other hand, am drawn back to my standbys because at least one item has lured me time and time again.  One word describes the exact feeling that these foods have the power to evoke - craveable.  After trying countless restaurants over the years, this is how I measure a restaurant now - did I have anything that I craved days or even weeks later?    

On a rainy day like today, I want to share the first of my craveables.  A cappuccino and a doughnut - a perfect pairing, especially these.  And they just so happen to be within close proximity of one another so that you can easily marry the two.

I recommend you start with the cappuccino from Oslo {422 East 75th}.  Otherwise, you may devour the doughnut just a few steps out of the bakery.  There are plenty of superb coffee shops in NYC, but the Oslo cappuccino has something different than the rest.  There is a depth of flavor which I do not find in most others.  Try it - you'll see.

Then, head up to Orwasher's {308 East 78th} for a hand-filled homemade-jelly doughnut.  If you do not normally like jelly doughnuts, know that neither did I.  This version converted me and has now ended up on my craveable list.  Go early because many others apparently have this on their list, too.