Tag: Roadtrip

Treats of New York

I love going to New York City. I love to walk around, see the sites, go to an exhibit or two, but I really love the food.

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Treats of New York

I love going to New York City. I love to walk around, see the sites, go to an exhibit or two, but I really love the food. New York is one of those places where you can get anything. You can have a long, sit-down meal like we had at Dirt Candy or you can try different things in different parts of the city. There are so many places in New York and it may be overwhelming to decide where to go. Over the years, I’ve developed my list of favorite treats of New York and am happy to share some with you.

Breakfast of Champions

What would be your go-to breakfast in New York City? Many times for me, it’s a good New York City bagel. One of my favorite places is Tompkins Square Bagels with two locations in the East Village. The gluten-free bagels are really good, but the real draw for me is the flavored cream cheeses. My favorites are the sweet flavors like espresso and strawberry, which taste like a slice of cheesecake in your bagel. I’ve waited in long lines to get the espresso to take home, only to be told it’s sold out—it’s that good and goes fast.

Treats of New York
Espresso Cream Cheese in a Gluten-Free Bagel, Tompkins Square Bagels, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Strawberry Cream Cheese in a Gluten-Free Bagel, Tompkins Square Bagels, New York, New York

Holy Carb

A great spot for breakfast and coffee is Bluestone Lane, with locations across the United States. Wherever you are in the City, you’ll probably be able to find a Bluestone Lane nearby. Each location is designed differently, but my favorite is the one on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Situated next to the Church of the Heavenly Rest on 5th Avenue, the cafe has similar vaulted ceilings to the church. I loved it.

Church of the Heavenly Rest, 1085 5th Avenue, New York, New York

Bluestone Lane, 1085 5th Avenue, New York, New York

The coffee and the food were just as good as the interior. I had the “avocado smash” with sheep’s milk feta, heirloom tomatoes and herbs on gluten-free bread. It was almost too pretty to eat. I also love good latte art like the almond milk latte I had. For my breakfast dessert, I could not pass up the mini gluten-free banana bread that was still warm from the oven. In addition to the good food and good atmosphere, the staff is also super friendly. Bluestone Lane serves breakfast and lunch all day.

Treats of New York
Almond Milk Latte at Bluestone Lane, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Avocado Smash on Gluten-Free Bread at Bluestone Lane, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Gluten-free Banana Bread at Bluestone Lane, New York, New York

If we’re on the Upper East Side, we stop at Noglu on Madison Avenue. I’ll stock up on some gluten-free brownies, muffins, baguettes and croissants, which are some of the best I’ve ever had. Sweet or savory, everything is really good at Noglu and it all freezes and defrosts well for when you want to enjoy treats of New York at home.

Treats of New York
Noglu, Madison Avenue, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Spinach Quiche from Noglu, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Mini Pecan Tart from Noglu, New York, New York

Having a Ball

I recently spent the day in New York City with a five-year old, so that drove our choice for lunch. We went with an oldie, but goodie, the Meatball Shop on 9th Avenue in Chelsea (there are other locations throughout New York, as well as DC and Connecticut). This is pure comfort food, which is great for all ages.

The Meatball Shop, 9th Avenue, New York, New York

The Mozz Balls with classic tomato sauce were the first order of business for our appetizer. They were deep-fried, gooey, salty and the perfect size to pop in your mouth for a single bite. For entrees, there is a choice of six different balls (e.g. pork, chicken, veggie, salmon), six different sauces (e.g. spicy meat, pesto, lemon butter) and sides. We ordered the spaghetti (gluten-free is available) and classic balls, the veggie balls with pesto over polenta, and the chicken balls with classic tomato over risotto. It was all delicious, hearty and gave us the energy we needed for a day of walking in the city.

Treats of New York
Mozz Balls at the Meatball Shop, 9th Avenue, New York, New York

Treats of New York
Spaghetti and Classic Balls at the Meatball Shop, 9th Avenue, New York, New York

Veggie Balls with Pesto over Polenta at the Meatball Shop, 9th Avenue, New York, New York

Chicken Balls with Tomato Sauce over Risotto at the Meatball Shop, 9th Avenue, New York, New York

I think Cece enjoyed her spaghetti at the Meatball Shop.

Rice to Meet You

Do you love rice pudding? If so, I strongly recommend you head to Rice to Riches in Soho where you will find flavors like “coconut coma”, “category 5 caramel”, and “hazelnut chocolate bear hug”. It’s a fun place with rice pudding unlike anything you’ve ever had. There will typically be about 20 flavors available at one time (and they will give you samples before you commit). Don’t forget to choose from a dozen of toppings—called “Jesus Droppings”. I had this “coast to coast cheesecake” rice pudding with roasted strawberry topping and it was outstanding!

Coast to Coast Cheesecake Rice Pudding with Roasted Strawberries, Rice to Riches, New York, New York

Rice to Riches, New York, New York

Rice to Riches, New York, New York

Time Fries

A favorite place of mine is Pomme Frites, just south of Washington Square Park. Grab a cone of Belgian fresh cut potatoes and choose from one of over 30 different sauces or poutine with cheddar cheese curds and gravy. Sauces include everything from Thai chili ketchup, sweet mango chutney and organic black truffle. The fries are so good, though, that I don’t think they need much. During my college semester in Ireland, we didn’t want to pay for ketchup, so I learned to love fries with salt and vinegar. That’s how I usually get my pommes frites and they are perfect. 

Fries with Salt and Vinegar at Pommes Frites, New York, New York

Mother of Pearl

Enjoy your fries as you walk through Washington Square Park. To wash them down, make your way over to the Boba Guys on Waverly Street. Boba are chewy tapioca balls known as “pearls” that sit at the bottom of the cold drinks. You can order boba drinks at Thai restaurants anywhere, but this is all Boba Guys do and they are real treats of New York. My two favorites on the menu are the Sea Salt Chocochata and the Strawberry Matcha Latte, which are not only pretty, but refreshing and delicious. There are multiple Boba Guys’ locations in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Sea Salt Chocochata, Boba Guys, New York, New York

Strawberry and Matcha Latte, Boba Guys, New York, New York

Life Savers

The line at Boba Guys was out the door and, at this point, a certain five-year old started to have a meltdown. Crisis was averted by whisking her off to get her treats of New York at Dylan’s Candy Bar in Union Square while I waited in line for boba. It’s amazing how much colored sugar will calm down a child (and many adults, too).

Dylan’s Candy Bar, Union Square, New York, New York

Dylan’s Candy Bar, Union Square, New York, New York

I Scream

There are some fantastic ice cream spots in New York City. An appetite was worked up while we were walking on the High Line, so fortunately, we came across a Melt Bakery food cart. An ice cream sandwich could not be missed, with flavors like red velvet cookie and cream cheese ice cream, snickerdoodles and cinnamon ice cream or this classic with chocolate chip walnut cookies and vanilla ice cream.

Classic Ice Cream Sandwich from Melt Bakery, High Line, New York, New York

I love the New York City chain, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, with locations throughout the City serving ice cream made from scratch in Brooklyn. The vegan options are amazing like this gluten-free cookie crumble strawberry jam with berry compote and mint chip with chocolate sauce. I always look forward to going to Van Leeuwen when I’m in New York. I also just learned that you can order it on-line through Goldbelly…

Vegan Cookie Crumble Strawberry Jam Ice Cream with Berry Compote at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, New York, New York

Vegan Mint Chip with Chocolate Sauce, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, New York, New York

Last, but not least, is the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, with three locations in New York City, as well as Philadelphia. You can choose from different specialty cones, sundaes and milkshakes. My favorite is the ‘Salty Pimp’ made with vanilla soft-serve, dulce de leche, sprinkled with sea salt and dipped in dark chocolate. It’s a fun place to go for treats of New York because how can you not have fun in a place decorated with rainbows, unicorns and the Golden Girls?

The Salty Pimp, Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, New York, New York

Check out the Big Gay Ice Cream Cookbook, which is a really fun read. Parts of the book are laid out like a yearbook, complete with laser beam backgrounds (so happy we didn’t have these at Northeast High School!).

Final Thoughts

There are so many unique, interesting and delicious places to eat in New York City. We used to go up for an overnight trip, but the best thing we did was add an extra night. Not only did we get to see an extra art exhibit, but we got to eat at some new spots and go back to some old favorites. I would love to hear what some of your favorite treats of New York are so I can try them next time. Enjoy!

Eating Lobster in Maine

With an abundance of lobster, Mainers have figured out ways to use it in everything and at every meal.

The Real Housewives Changed My Life

About five years ago, I was a watching the Real Housewives of New York City. Bethenny Frankel stated that she was allergic to fish with fins, but not shellfish and I thought, “Maybe that’s me, too.”  I had tried salmon in the past, but my throat got itchy and my lips swelled up (not in a good way). We would soon be spending a week in Bar Harbor and after an allergy test, maybe I could be eating lobster in Maine. I scheduled the test as soon as I could and soon after my arms were lightly injected with different strains of mold, weeds, etc., the results were in. Yes, I am allergic to tuna, cod and salmon, but I am not allergic to shellfish. Life changing.

I had my first lobster at the Lobster Shack in Perkins Cove, Ogunquit. Fortunately, I was receiving step by step instructions on how to tackle it, otherwise, I would have no idea how to eat this thing. I hesitated with every bite, though, because I couldn’t help think that maybe the allergy test was wrong. Lobster is one of the most common last-meal requests of death row inmates—what if it were my last meal? I had no other choice but to keep trying and get past this fear of eating lobster.  

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

With an abundance of lobster, Mainers have figured out ways to use it in everything and at every meal. We stopped at the Maine Diner in Wells for breakfast. I ordered lobster Benedict on gluten-free bread, which was really good, but I still couldn’t get past the mental part.

Eating Lobster in Maine
Lobster Benedict at the Maine Diner, Wells, Maine

After spending time on Bailey Island, we stopped at the Salt Cod Cafe on Orrs Island for lunch. I went with the lobster salad in a romaine lettuce leaf (gluten-free version of a lobster roll). It was really good, really fresh and sitting on the dock overlooking Harpswell Sound was just lovely.

Eating Lobster in Maine
Gluten-Free Lobster Roll at the Salt Cod Cafe, Orrs Island, Maine

Soon after we arrived to our home away from home in Lamoine, we headed off to Bar Harbor to see the sites and grab dinner at the Side Street Cafe. Side Street is one of my favorite spots because they have a great menu with lots of lobster, Mexican-inspired dishes, sandwiches, salads and great cocktails. There is also an outdoor seating area where your four-legged family members are welcome.

I had the gluten-free lobster mac and cheese, which was amazing. This was the half-portion, which was so big that it took me three days to finish it. This is the dish that put my mind at ease and I finally conquered my fear of eating lobster.

Eating Lobster in Maine
Gluten-free Lobster Mac and Cheese, Side Street Cafe, Bar Harbor, Maine

On another visit to Side Street, I ordered the lobster Cobb salad, which was so fresh and hearty. I used the dressing for the vegetables, but the lobster needed nothing at all.

Eating Lobster in Maine
Lobster Cobb Salad, Side Street Cafe, Bar Harbor, Maine

Five Islands Lobster, Georgetown

One of my favorite places in Maine is Five Islands. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and Five Islands Lobster is so amazing. The lobster is, literally, right out of the water. You can also order fries, onion rings, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, etc, and it’s BYOB.

I really love the surroundings at Five Islands. We drive out there even if we’re not going to eat. A couple of summers ago, we were headed home to Pennsylvania and we took an hour detour so I could take some photos without all the crowds. It was about 8 in the morning, there was a layer of fog on the water and all you could hear were the motors of the boats in Sheepscot Bay. Five Islands was the perfect setting for Bailey’s holiday card that year, which is still my favorite one.

Five Islands Lobster, Georgetown, Maine

Eating Lobster in Maine
Boys and Buoys, Five Islands Lobster, Georgetown, Maine

Eating Lobster in Maine
Five Islands Lobster, Georgetown, Maine

Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth

Another favorite restaurant is the Royal River Grill House in Yarmouth, near Freeport (home of L.L. Bean). It is cozy, designed beautifully and the food is delicious. This is one of the few places I’ve included here that is open all year-round, but it does close at 9pm like many places in Maine. 

On one night we were there, I had lobster stew that had huge chunks of lobster. My entree was grilled steamed lobster and a basket of truffle fries for an appetizer. The truffle fries are a must at Royal River as they are crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and perfectly seasoned. I may, or may not, have eaten the entire basket…

Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth, Maine

Eating Lobster in Maine
Lobster Stew, Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth, Maine

Eating Lobster in Maine
Grilled Lobster, Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth, Maine

Truffle Fries, Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth, Maine

Let’s Taco About It

A great place for breakfast, brunch or lunch in Rockland is the Home Kitchen Cafe. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. Home’s menu relies on local and seasonal products and many items on their menu are made from scratch, including their breads and sweets. Lots of gluten-free options are available. I had these lobster tacos on handmade corn tortillas, which were so good! The lobster was so fresh and melted in your mouth.

Lobster Tacos, Home Kitchen Cafe, Rockland, Maine

Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bernard

If you’re heading up to Bar Harbor, it’s worth making a stop at Thurston’s Lobster Pound in Bernard on Mount Desert Island. Like Five Islands Lobster, Thurston’s lobster is fresh off the boat and the scenery is just breathtaking. The hot lobster dip is delicious and you can get it gluten-free with tortilla chips for dipping instead of pita bread. Dogs are welcome on the outside deck. Since I had a fidgety Boston Terrier to mind, I had the lobster salad that only required one hand to eat. The lobster was so fresh and tender, it didn’t need much dressing at all.

Steamed Lobster, Thurston’s, Bernard, Maine

Hot Lobster Dip, Thurston’s, Bernard, Maine

Lobster Salad, Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bernard, Maine

Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bernard, Maine

On a Roll

If you’re going to see Portland Head Light, look for the Bite Into Maine food truck on Cape Elizabeth. They serve different variations of the lobster roll, including Connecticut-style with melted butter. Maine-style lobster rolls are tossed with mayonnaise and I got mine with wasabi mayo. It had a really nice kick to it and I would definitely get it again. They also serve lobster grilled cheese, lobster BLTs, pulled pork sandwiches and chowders, as part of their menu. 

Wasabi Lobster Roll, Bite Into Maine, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Perhaps one of the most well-known lobster roll places in Maine is Red’s Eats in Wiscassett on Route 1. In business for over 80 years, Red’s lobster rolls really are amazing. We were in Maine before tourist season was in full swing, so we were able to walk right up and order without waiting in a huge line. Depending on when you go, you could be waiting for 90 minutes. The staff are really sweet and serve lemonade while you’re in line and the food at Red’s is really worth the wait. I order the lobster roll on gluten-free bread with a side of fries. I eat all the lobster first, on which I put a little fresh lemon juice to brighten it up. I’m usually too full to eat the bread, but since it tastes like it was dipped in a pound of melted butter, I can’t help myself. If you have room, get some Maine blueberry cake for dessert. Red’s is dog-friendly and the staff will bring treats and a bowl of water for your pooch while you dine.

Eating Lobster in Maine
Red’s Eats, Wiscassett, Maine

Lobster Roll on Gluten-Free Bread, Red’s Eat, Wiscassett, Maine

Final Thoughts

In the early 17th century, lobster was so plentiful that early settlers in New England considered it trash food. Lobsters would wash up on the beach two feet deep and eating lobster was by the less fortunate, slaves and prison inmates as a cheap source of protein. In fact, prisons were only allowed to serve inmates lobster a maximum of three times a week because they considered eating lobster “cruel and unusual punishment”. With the development of cities like New York and Boston and better means of travel, lobsters were able to shed their bad reputation by the late 19th century and eating lobster was acceptable. The first lobster pound was started in 1875 on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine where lobstering is still very important.

Today, lobster is considered a delicacy and is an integral part of the Maine food scene and Maine’s economy. I’m happy to do my part to support it.

Many of the places I’ve included here are only open seasonally, so be sure to check their websites for opening/closing dates if you’re planning a trip to Maine.