31 July 2007

Press 195

My friend Leonard visited from New Mexico a few weeks ago. We wandered Park Slope in search of the perfect post-dinner hour but not-yet-late-night eating establishment. We passed on the Thai fare at Song and discovered that the V-Spot was done serving dinner. Fortunately this discovery of Press 195.

A simple place with an extensive menu of various sandwiches and appetizers. We opted for the apple with brie and honey and I got the #27 - chicken with bbq sauce, onion, jalapeno, and Gouda. Leonard had grilled zucchini with squash, red pepper and spinach.

I spent a whopping $23 on this meal. It was the perfect evening ender.

Press 195 is located at (obviously) 195 5th Ave in Park Slope. 718.857.1950

15 July 2007

A Two Hour Tour

I've been sitting on this for week because I wasn't sure what to say. Hayley and I went back to Zoe.

I know I know We honestly wanted a fight, begging for it really. We were also hoping that it would go well this time.

We got there at brunch on a Saturday, the place was far busier than I'd ever seen it (including the previous post Piaf visit). The burger that we had so desperately wanted the last time was right in the middle of the menu. This was a dilemma, I was feeling breakfasty this day, but wanted to also make a point of our return trip.

I went with my gut and had an incredible blue corn pancake stack for $12. The pancakes were a lovely purple color with blueberry topping and mascarpone cheese. Hayley had chicken for some dollars I don't know about, it was a touch dry, but tasty. I had a nice glass of iced tea, she nursed a hangover with sparkling water. Zoe doesn't have mineral water, which was problem #1. The second was a lack of mint leaves in my tea...every other table was getting them...Bitches. If these were the only two problems though, I really have to hand it to them.

AND - On our way out they gave us a box of free cookies. A tad suspicious. Maybe they read blogs? It was lucky that we had those treats because we ended up on a boat ride from hell.

Hayley had been on me for a few weeks to go with her on a Circle Line tour around the isle Manhattan. I promised...and the Saturday after the 4th seemed like as good a day as any.

These tours are for tourists. Which we knew. What we were unprepared for was the mind-numbing narration by our 'captain'. Every 5 minutes were were told how 'tragic' and 'sad' September 11, 2001 was. How there was '2' no '3' no '4' inches of debris and soot on everything below 14th street. It went on...one second it was all 'over here you can buy useless crap..and on September 10, 2001 you could have bought some here...'

2 hours of tedium, but with snarky comments.

After the heat of the day I was ready for a drink, but wait a minute! The Snapple cost $4. That's US dollars folks. I ate the cookies with Hayley and watched Lady Liberty recede then reappear while slowly drying up like a cadaver in a desert. I checked my watch against the Colgate clock, wondered about visiting Governors Island, thought about how Battery Park is a pile of trash with grass on top. The whole time I was wishing I had noise canceling headphones and some mint tea.

Zoe is back on my list of good things in SoHo
4 stars for the meal...2 for lack of mint.

Circle Line gets -2 for expensive drinks and stunted narration.

10 July 2007

Taste of Chicago. It is one of the summer's main events. Restaurants from all over the city get together under a hundred different tents to sell three or four of their signature dishes. It's a fair just for food.

Instead of rides; rainbow ice cream.
Instead of games; Cajun chicken with red beans and rice.
Instead of 4-H club and blue ribbons; piles of freshly fried chips covered with homemade barbeque sauce.

The indigestion is unbelievable.

What I particularly like about Taste is that everyone deals with the fact that they drop food on themselves all day. Grazing from vendor to vendor, walking along eating off of paper plates with plastic cutlery, spillage is bound to happen. There's nothing to be self conscious about though, no sir! The smudges of food are badges of honor. "Look at me, I have curry on my sleeve, strawberry sauce on my chest and cheese on my tummy. I am a champion of the Taste."

Mmmmm, mmmm, mmmmm.

06 July 2007

Vin Rouge

I love France! I also love wine. There's a fantastic new wine bar in Brooklyn called Vin Rouge. On 5th Ave and 18th street. Go there, they have deliciousness.