Tip: Smorgasburg is held every weekend in the summers with two different locations on Saturday and Sunday. Highly recommend checking it out!
It feels good to be back in the city! The first few days after coming back were tough with baby K having a horrible case of jet lag. Poor kid was still on Bangkok time, sleeping most of the day and then waking up at an ungodly hour at night. At 3 am, he'd be wide awake, wanting to play while all we wanted to do was sleep! Anyway, he has now adjusted to the time difference and we've been able to go out and enjoy the lovely summer that is emerging in NYC. This weekend, Shruti was visiting and we decided to trek over to Brooklyn for the famous Smorgasburg. Known as a food flea market, it literally comprises of a "smorgasboard" of different food stalls. You see all sorts of cuisines (Indian, Ethiopian, Burmese, Mexican, Filipino, Thai, American, etc) and fusion foods. My favorite stall was Masala Tacos. The paneer tikka masala tacos and channa masala tacos were just amazing! What a brilliant idea to blend Indian and Mexican foods together. Overall, we had a great time noshing on different types of foods against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline on an incredibly beautiful, sunny day.
Tip: Smorgasburg is held every weekend in the summers with two different locations on Saturday and Sunday. Highly recommend checking it out!
Tip: Smorgasburg is held every weekend in the summers with two different locations on Saturday and Sunday. Highly recommend checking it out!
Ingredients (makes about 30 cookies):
1/2 cup oil
1.5 cups sugar
1 egg
1.5 teaspoons vanilla essence
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1 15-oz can can of pumpkin puree
Semisweet chocolate chips to taste
Chopped walnuts to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat oil and sugar in a mixing bowl, and then add the egg and vanilla essence. Sift the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt together. Then add to the mixing bowl that contains the sugar-oil mixture. Alternate adding the flour mix with the pumpkin puree, beating well after each addition. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop teaspoonfuls of the batter onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy with a hot drink like cider or coffee :)
I was in New Orleans earlier this week to attend a conference for work. While the days were packed with lectures, my co-worker and I made sure to make the best of the city in the evenings. It was my first time in New Orleans and I was struck by the amount of culture this city has. There were cute restaurants around every corner and smooth jazz commanding the attention of every establishment. I particularly enjoyed Arnaud’s Restaurant on Bourbon Street, which had a live jazz band playing, reminiscent of the 20’s Flapper era. Like any tourist, I hit up Bourbon street, but the true gems were in Frenchmen Street, an area frequented by locals. I happened across the cutest street market there, where emerging artists were displaying their products, which ranged from beautiful paintings to funky furniture.
Finally, any trip to the Big Easy is incomplete without the mention of the food. The Cajun and Creole food were delicious and as a big foodie, I could not help but stuff my face on these cuisines that are hard to come by in the Northeast. Check out all the dishes I ate below! Yes…I realize it’s time to hit the gym now that I’m back!
We’re well into summer now and you’re probably finding yourself reaching for an ice cold beverage every chance you get. Who can bear the thought of hot coffee or tea in this stifling heat? I myself would love to kick back on a hammock on this summer afternoon with a chilled glass of sangria. Of course, it’s not the most “pregnancy-friendly” drink. Luckily, I have a homemade mint iced tea recipe that might just do the trick (and it’ll go really well with the hammock too, though where I’ll find a hammock in the city is beyond me…but a girl can dream!).
My mint iced tea makes for a deliciously refreshing drink and is easy to make - perfect for that outdoor summer party of yours or just for yourself. Believe me, you won’t want to go back to the bottled, preservative-filled, sugar-laden crap they sell in the stores.
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| Pad thai |
A wise person once said, “There is
no sincerer love than the love of food”. I couldn’t agree more. Being
back in New York now after my whirlwind trip to Thailand, I’m suffering from
all sorts of withdrawal symptoms. Food is one of them.
When I visit home, I make sure to check my diet at the door
and embrace all the culinary delights that my mother’s kitchen and Bangkok has
to offer. At home, my mother spoils me with all my favorite home-made Indian
dishes and desserts. And while out and about in the city, I’m a veritable “food
butterfly”, hopping from one Thai food stall to the next! Undoubtedly, among
the things I miss while living here in the States is the authentic Thai food
made with the freshest of herbs and ingredients. What’s more, the boring apple
and banana is soon forgotten for the more exciting varieties of tropical fruits
bursting with flavor, such as pommelo, mangosteen, dragonfruit, lychees,
longans, jackfruit, durian, rose apple, coconut, mangoes, and papaya. Even
though my gastronomical experience in Bangkok often results in overindulgence,
I always return from my trips feeling healthier and more refreshed. Somehow, it’s
easy to let go of the all-too-common habit of reaching for soda, processed
foods, carbs, and sweets that I typically have while living in the US.
As I sit here missing all the foods I enjoyed just last week
on the other side of the world, allow me to share my Bangkok food diaries with
you. Try not to drool too much!
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| Fresh fruit juices of all kinds |
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| Intricate fruit carvings from papaya, watermelon, and cantaloupe |
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| Have you ever tried dragonfruit? |
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| These are not actual fruits but Thai sweets made to appear like miniature fruits and vegetables |
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| Who can resist cupcakes? |
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| Pad khee mao (drunken noodles) and yam thua phu (tangy green bean salad) |
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| Thai crepe-like snacks |
Tell us, what is your favorite Thai dish? And what type of food do you miss most when you're away from home? We wanna know!
Last Friday, I boarded a plane in NYC on a cool spring night...22 hours later, I found myself in hot and humid Bangkok on a Sunday morning (somewhere in the space-time continuum, I lost a Saturday). Aside from the brief disorientation from jet lag (which explains why I'm awake and blogging right now when I should be sleeping), boy does it feel good to be home! Coming to Bangkok is always a treat - indulgence in Thai and home-cooked Indian food that I just can't get anywhere else, quality massages, facials, and other spa treatments that are so inexpensive that you can afford to get one every day, shopping you'll go ga-ga over, and lots of time with family and relatives. It's going to be a short, whirlwind trip for me this time but I look forward to making the most of it.
Coming to Bangkok has definitely made me skip spring and put me in a summer state of mind. These are pictures taken by the pool in my apartment building. Can you tell just how bright and sunny it is outside? I was literally doing a happy dance as I reached for my summer maxi dress, hat, flipflops, and sunglasses! Along with the warm breeze and the palm trees in the backdrop, all that was missing was a jump in the pool...which I did soon after these pictures were taken. :)
Happy Monday y'all! Have a great week ahead!
Coming to Bangkok has definitely made me skip spring and put me in a summer state of mind. These are pictures taken by the pool in my apartment building. Can you tell just how bright and sunny it is outside? I was literally doing a happy dance as I reached for my summer maxi dress, hat, flipflops, and sunglasses! Along with the warm breeze and the palm trees in the backdrop, all that was missing was a jump in the pool...which I did soon after these pictures were taken. :)
Happy Monday y'all! Have a great week ahead!
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| F21 dress, Nine West purse, Piperlime bead necklace, Target hat and bracelets, flip flops from Bangkok |
For me, chai serves up warm memories … of childhood trips to
India when I would sit outdoors with my grandmother on chilly winter mornings
and sip chai accompanied by Parle-G biscuits, of visits to my aunt’s place in
Bangkok where I would look forward to having their spicy, gingery chai with
heavily buttered toast, and of my mother who drinks chai numerous times a day
like it’s going out of style. Every home with its own style and flavor of chai,
every cup a special memory.
So you can see why I wouldn’t take “chai-making” very
lightly. “Chai-making” is an art. It’s the easiest drink to make but also a
hard one to get right. Too many people err on the side of making it too milky,
too watery, or too tannic from having the tea leaves sit too long. There are
two things you have to get right for chai to be good – flavor and
color. I’ve been known to make good Indian chai (humble brag). My credentials?
My chai has been approved by my parents and in-laws, the audience that
typically has the most discerning and critical taste when it comes to true desi
chai!
The weekend is coming and one of the plans we always make with friends is to meet for brunch. Brunch is the best meal one can have - it is at that in-between time of day that you can have sweet or savory, eggs or sandwich, mimosa or coffee, and no one can judge you. Nothing spells the weekend more than enjoying french toast with a side of gossip with your best friends.
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| Source |
DC
1) Scion
Scion became famous in DC after President Obama lunched there with his supporters and signed the menu. A lovely neighborhood brunch spot in Dupont, this is my go-to place when I want to indulge in a scrumptious meal but am unwilling to walk more than 5 blocks. I enjoy the cute outdoor patio and the modern décor, but more importantly, the food is of high quality. The menu offers a range of a la carte egg options. My favorite, though admittedly calorie-laden, is the huevos rancheros.
2) Bombay Club
If you’re looking for delicious and high-quality Indian food in DC, Bombay Club is the place to go. Add unlimited champagne on Sundays and you’ve got the perfect brunch! They offer buffet style Indian food, with vegetarian and meat options alongside sweet Indian deserts. Whenever my friends go, we definitely take advantage of the unlimited food and drinks, and probably overstay our welcome. But how can you not with this place?
3) Tabaq
Tabaq does its brunch basics well, offering delicious crab cake benedicts (my favorite brunch dish), omelettes, waffles, French toast, and $3 mimosas. I also love the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a great view of U street and rest of DC.
NYC
1) Crema
A relatively unknown gem in Chelsea, I'm almost hesitant to share it with the world! Crema has an amazing Mexican style brunch, complete with breakfast style Mexican omlette, chicken chilaquiles, quesadillas, and chile relleno. Everything on the menu is just superb and delicious. The unlimited mimosa brunch offering doesn't hurt either! Crema is also one of those rare places that doesn't need reservations - you almost always get a table right away. That's a big bonus for a brunch spot in the city!
2) Friend of a Farmer
Located in the posh Gramercy area, Friend of aFarmer offers a contrasting rustic style setting. Made to look like an English countryside home that serves up hearty breakfasts, this place reminds you of what a wholesome meal is all about. I love the French press coffee here, and I literally die after their assorted bread and muffin basket. This place serves up several different types of omelette preparations as well, so there is something for everyone's omelette-seeking tastes.
3) Beauty & Essex
Nestled in the Lower East side, Beauty & Essex is almost missed if you walk by it. The exterior of the restaurant is a pawn shop that sells vintage jewelery and other eclectic items. Walk further inside and you'll be surprised by the swanky restaurant interiors and even the bathrooms. One might think it's all a gimmick. But the food is quite exceptional. I just love their soft, fresh-out-of-the-oven pumpkin and blueberry scones, their refreshing kale and apple salad, and brunch pizzettas. Be sure to make reservations well in advance for B&E! We've written about this place in a previous post here.
Now that you know our top selections, we'd love to hear what YOUR favorite brunch spots are in your respective cities. What are your top spots and what places do you suggest we try?
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| Top right: Cold weather, brr! Clockwise: Delicious Greek yogurt from Pylos; Learning bharatnatyam (via); Getting ready for the Empire State Building Run-Up; Watching Cinderella on Broadway; Spicy and tangy papaya salad from SriPraPhai |
Well folks…I can’t quite believe it but my 2-month shopping ban is over. Yes, 59 days of avoiding frivolous purchases, mostly staying away from my favorite stores, and willing myself to look the other way when I saw bloggers wearing cute outfits that made me want to run out and buy the same thing! (I know, I know…#FirstWorldProblems)
So how did it go? Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard. I stuck to the shopping ban tips that I created for myself (as shared here), and I did all sorts of other shenanigans. So much so that I barely had time to think about this shopping ban. Here’s a quick recap of the past 2 months and how I’ve been saving money and doing better things with my time!
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| The original Kati Roll Company at McDougal and Bleecker in Greenwich Village |
New York City is known for its world class restaurants serving up high-brow foods, culinary delights the names of which you can’t pronounce, and cuisines from countries you haven't even have heard of. While that’s all well and good, I contend that you cannot have experienced an honest to goodness meal in New York unless you’ve been to The Kati Roll Company. The Kati Roll Company is the anti-thesis of all that I just described. It’s a hole-in-the-wall which speaks of quiet assertitude, unassuming from the outside but bold in its offering of a disarmingly simple yet wholesome meal inside…the namesake kati roll.
Constant eating is something that goes hand in hand with a trip home to Bangkok. We just can't help it. A few pictures from last night's family dinner at Audrey Cafe and Bistro. It's a cute restaurant in Sukhumvit Soi Thonglor with a chic, French "frou frou" vibe. The menu offerings are varied with continental food though they specialize in Thai cuisine. What was really memorable at Audrey were the desserts. I don't know what we were thinking but we ended up ordering three different kinds of desserts and received complimentary tiramiru bites on top of that. Calorie overload, much? But that goes with the territory when you're on vacation, right? We'll worry about working those pounds off later...:)
Happy Thursday everyone! The weekend is almost upon us and, if you’re anything like me, you start thinking about what your weekend plans will be. I’m actually MEGA UBER SUPER excited about what lies ahead for me this weekend. I’ll be visiting my “adopted” hometown of Austin, y’all! I lived there for several years before moving to New York, and I truly love everything about Austin (hence, I “adopted” it as my hometown in the US – though nothing replaces my hometown of Bangkok!). I am pumped about catching up with all my Austin friends, gorging on Tex-Mex food, absorbing the heat and the Texan pace of life. In between all of that, I will also be attending the 3-day Austin City Limits Music Festival, which I used to attend every year when I lived in Austin. More details to come after I return from my trip next week!
But enough about me, let’s talk about what YOU will be doing this weekend. Here are some recommendations of some goings-on about town:
Madison Square Eats
Imagine a land far, far away where you can enjoy Indian, Mexican, Italian, Lebanese, Chinese, and a number of other cuisines all in one sitting. Well, that land is actually not that away. Nestled in the triangle between Fifth Ave, Broadway, and 24th Street, Madison Square Eats offers a gastronomic haven from food trucks and well-known restaurants around town: Momofuku, Mexicue, Ilili, Graffitti , Hong Kong Street Food, Wafles & Dinges, etc. With the weather getting chillier, your days of hanging out outdoors are numbered. So take advantage of this small and cozy outdoor food festival . Last weekend, my friends and I ended up having a 2 hour dinner there, chatting away over wine, falafel, dumpling chaat, truffle oil & honey pizza, black bean tacos, crepes, and lord knows what else! Get there before it ends Oct 19.
Toshi’s Lounge
After a satisfying meal at Madison Square Eats, my friends and I randomly wandered into Toshi’s Lounge just a few streets away. What a great find! This place has live music every night and is reasonably happening without trying too hard. It hit the perfect equation of “Not too hipster + not too dimly lit + not overly loud = Being able to see the person in front of you and having a decent conversation with them”. I can definitely see this place becoming a frequent hangout spot.
So check these places out and let me know how you liked them. I’ll be back from Austin next week and maybe we can exchange stories from our weekend shennanigans?
Have you
ever been at a table full of wine connoisseurs and felt ill at ease? Do you feel
at a loss when staring at a long wine list at a bar, not knowing what to get? Well,
today’s post is about how to help you feel more comfortable on vino-related matters.
While I certainly don’t claim to be an authority on wine (there are plenty of
other people and guidebooks that can do that for you), I do know of clever ways to help you maneuver around some tricky social situations involving wine. Some
info may be common knowledge, but hopefully you’ll learn something new...
Hello fellow New Yorkers! The sun is shining, the clouds are gone, and the weekend is upon us. What more can you ask for? Well, a fun plan for the weekend ahead perhaps? There are a bunch of activities going on in the city this weekend which should not be missed. Whether you’re looking for something interesting to do or have friends in town to entertain, here are my recommendations for this weekend.
This weekend, the Urban Mantra sisters got to hang out together in the same city for a change! On this sunny yet slightly cool day, we started with brunch at Colicchio & Sons. If you're ever there for brunch, we highly recommend the french toast (brioche pain perdu, as written on their menu). It's probably one of the best french toast we've had in New York, which is saying a lot! The service was impeccable as well.
Food fairs in the city are as much a summer staple as the cafes with outdoor seating, concerts in the park, and smelly streets! Earlier this week, I found myself at an event called Hester Nights. I know what you’re thinking – these summer fairs are a dime a dozen. What makes this one so special? Here’s the lowdown, amigos…
Reason 1: Hester Nights offers a line-up of local, indie food businesses every Thursday at the Hotel Eventi Plaza. It’s open from noon to 10pm, so you could literally have lunch, dinner, and a mid-afternoon snack there, if you were so inclined. And unlike other food fairs, you don’t have to struggle to carry and consume your fruit juice, pizza slice, and taco all while standing; there’s outdoor seating in the plaza with a cool ambiance.
Reason 3: Hester Nights isn’t just about food. There was a stall by Estate Jewels with an eye-catching display of their vintage jewelry collection. I was only planning to browse but instead walked away with a gold chain bracelet I fell in love with (don’t judge, it happens to the best of us). I believe there are different vendors every week.
Reason 4: There was also a party to celebrate the official opening of a retail store called The HESTER. Honestly, I’m not sure I understand this store which has advertised itself as “new retail concept”. The store layout is minimalistic with certain areas occupied with displays by jewelry designers, interior, and clothes designers. Whether all the displays were present as works of art to be admired or for sale was unclear. The HESTER will be open late in conjunction with Hester Nights every week.
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| Clockwise: Joel Fitzpatrick organic towels; DJs at the party; free wine; Kelly Lamb geo-planters |
So there you have it, folks. A simple recipe to spice up
your Thursday night. If you end up going, let me know how you enjoyed it!
With temperatures getting dangerously close to 100 degrees this weekend, all I wanted to do was hide in my air-conditioned apartment, free from the scorching heat and the unpleasant odors that pervade the city in the summers. But that would have been lame – summer is the time to be outside, even if your skin and olfactory senses get burned in the process. Luckily, the Frying Pan ended up being the ideal daytime hangout spot! Docked at Pier 66 along the Westside Highway, Frying Pan is a historic ship that was salvaged and then converted into a bar and grill. Give me some booze and burgers, and I’m a happy woman. Give me a shaded seating spot with a waterfront breeze, and I’m even happier.
One Saturday morning, the Urban Mantra sisters and a couple of friends decided to get brunch at the Lower East side. With so many options, we struggled to pick a place. We eventually settled on Beauty & Essex and…hallelujah! We were able to get reservations just a day in advance! Considering that dinner reservations at Beauty & Essex are next to impossible to get (you have to call a month in advance or be prepared to accept a dinner rez at 5pm), we got pretty lucky with a spot for brunch. If you’ve never been, Beauty & Essex has an interesting set-up. Upon entering, you appear to be in what looks like a pawn shop with charming, old-fashioned trinkets and collectibles. But don’t let that fool you into thinking you’re in the wrong place…
Needless to say, we had a lovely experience at Beauty & Essex and are now trying to get reservations to check out the night scene there. Unless of course, we settle for the night scene at 5pm…
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