Biting The Big Apple

 

Shortly before Christmas I was visiting one of my favourite cities again - New York... Almost two weeks seemed like plenty of time but as usual in the end there was not enough time but we all know it is good to leave something on the list for the next time.

Only being back there I realized how much we managed to see when visiting the Big Apple for the first time and just for 5 days. So this time around was more about filling in the blanks and shoulds of the previous time in a very relaxed manner. One of "the shoulds" was The John Dory Oyster Bar on the corner of the 29th and Broadway. Even though we didn't have a reservation and the place was packed we managed to get seated in 15 min and could enjoy a lovely meal. As the name suggests itself - it's more of a bar where you can have a glass of wine along with small portions of different seafood dainties. Check!

By the way just now and just by accident I found this site  immaculateinfatuation.com which looks like a great guide for New York restos' scene.

Next thing on my list was to find some good jazz club so after I made some inquiries we headed to the place called The Smalls Jazz Club in the West Village (not to mention that this area is full of lovely bars, restos and coffee places) which according to the guys we were asking the directions for was "really small" which it kind of was but it was also very cosy having even their own cat laying on the table and the owner who knew where Latvia was making a witty jazzy reference to Cole Porter's song "Let's Do It" where Letts are actually mentioned. There are usually at least three sessions per night, on w-ends even four starting at 4 pm. Check!

I was nicely surprised by some casual chain dining restaurant called Joe's Crab Shack (corner of Broad and Lafayette St, Newark, NJ) we found ourselves in when popping in for a drink after watching NHL game and freezing while waiting for a lift. I wish we could have stayed longer to try their menu but this is one of those things on the list to be left for the next time. Great interior, great presentation of food and drinks and all together - a great ambiance. 

Joe's Crab Shack

To conclude this short insight (mostly lustful indulgence in the world of food - AGAIN) I will post some more visuals from that lovely pre-Christmas time sharing also the absolute winner - "Carol of the Bells" as the soundtrack of our New York trip. This song in different versions was following us everywhere.

Better Than Ice Cream

can be only your self-made ice cream. I was watching Mr Jamie Oliver with his 30 Minute Meals and there it was - fast to make, healthy and tasty. My little niece being "no day without an ice cream in summer" type of individual was my target "group" in order to make her addiction/habit a notch healthier and as she headed back to the kitchen for the second round I was rejoicing.

So here it goes:

(frozen) berries approx 500 g

(in our case all organic picked by our own hands in a garden 

50 m from the shore of the Baltic sea)

natural yogurt 500 g

3-4 tablespoons of honey

That all goes into blender, then in an appropriate container and then into the freezer. And it is exactly that simple. 

And this is how it might have looked if it was made from blackberries and if I had my camera with me. Pinterest comes in handy.

The only critical comment I could pay was that I didn't like the ice flakes forming in the ice cream but maybe if I'd put a sour cream with higher fat percentage instead of yogurt (any other suggestions, folks?) that would not be the case so this is to try out.

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

(Couple of days late but still :)) Unlike the years before I made a whole list of resolutions for this one. And the good news is that I am actually sticking to it. I literally felt how the energy shifted just before the New Year, especially after having a rather crappy last part of the year, and I was full of determination. Must be the energy of the horse - this one feels like mustang :) And now it is finally here. So wehee - let's sit tight in our saddles and have a great ride!

Curious

August Osage County

 Her

Chinese Puzzle

Thanks For Sharing

Nymphomaniac

The Great Beauty

I Give It A Year

Sellebrity

   

The song of the day (and of the year!)

May it be the tune for the next year of our lives :)

Always been a fan of Pharrell, another proof - why. For 24 h of happinness press here

The song of the day

3 good things or "trīs lietas - labas lietas"

Summer is officially very much over, even autumn is left with trees that almost have no leaves. Well I have to sound very cliché but really - where does the time go?! It literally flies! And being very busy most of this period I realized that I have not mentioned three good things - places of Riga's restaurant scene which I discovered during August and which I definitely wanted to share with. To my great surprise things have changed pretty much since then even in that department. We do live in a fast changing world. Even within two months you can become outdated. But nevertheless here they are:

Bibliotēka No 1 

Very sophisticated yet very welcoming and friendly restaurant where chef is not letting to escape the kitchen any plate that looks less than a piece of art and has no potential of exciting every taste-bud on your tongue. Even though we came in just for a late afternoon coffee and desert we were served and treated like princesses. Thumbs up for not being stuck up and being classy at the same time.  

I heard that they've changed the chef recently but hopefully the quality of food is as good.

3 Zivis (3 Fish) bistro

(14, Smilšu Str., Old Town, Riga)

 

which to my great disappointment has been transformed into 3 Naži (3 Knives) during these months changing a concept from fish bistro to Scandinavian and Baltic cuisine but hopefully keeping all the best things of 3 Fish bistro and integrating them into 3 Knives concept. Should not be too hard considering the fact that fish in both our cuisines play quite a key role. Have to re-check and will get back to you. Now only memories of 3 Fish bistro...

 3 pavāri - Tam labam būs augt (3 Chefs - What's Good Will Grow)

Oh, my, in one word - GREAT - service, ambiance, food - my friend's tuna steak was to kill for! It is a place where meal is treated as a performance, a delight, a process to enjoy. Definitely going there again very soon. And this time it is going to be MY tuna steak :)

Labu apetīti!