I confess...I am a snacker

I have tried over and over again to eat only three meals a day but no matter what I do I can't seem to break my snack habit.  I have also tried to only eat fruits and veggies in between meals...but let's be honest...that doesn't work either.

I LOVE snacks and am always on the hunt for the best new snack items (I actually think I may cry when the triple-double oreo hits shelves).  

Some of my recent finds are as follows:

They are all healthier than oreos, I promise!

ROLD GOLD EVERYTHING BAGEL PRETZEL RINGS

These pretzels have all of the flavors that remind me of Sunday morning bagels but without all the guilt and they're a nice change from the average pretzel mini-twists.  You may want to invest in some gum though, they have both onion and garlic in them!

POPCORNERS

I tried these popcorn chips for the first time on a JetBlue flight from NYC to Ft. Lauderdale (they were complimentary, YAY JetBlue!) and I was immediately hooked!  PopCorners come in five flavors (Kettle, Sea Salt, White Cheddar, Cheesy Jalapeno, and Butter) and I have made a point of trying all 5 flavors. Obviously kettle is hands down my favorite because as we all know I have a thing for salty-sweet snacks.

CIAO BELLA SORBET BARS

If you are currently in NYC then you know how important it is to stay cool during the current heat wave.  I love these pops because they're delicious, cold and refreshing but don't weigh you down like ice cream can.  Ciao Bella only has two flavors of sorbet bars at the moment (Blueberry Passion and Blood Orange) but both are incredible. If I absolutely had to choose one over the other I would go with the Blueberry Passion (it's sweeter).

PETER PAN WHIPPED PEANUT BUTTER

I know, I know, peanut butter is not a snack food (unless you are like me and eat it with a spoon) but a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is DEFINITELY one of my old snack time stand-by's.  I love this whipped peanut butter because it has the taste of real peanut butter but the calories and fat of the reduced-fat varieties.  Also, because the PB is whipped it is easier to spread and doesn't rip the bread! (I hate when the bread rips on a PB&J sandwich)

This item is nearly impossible to find in NYC so if you know where I can get it PLEASE let me know so I can go and buy an entire case!

Ca Va

For all of you who haven't visited me in a few days you may not know that it is NYC RESTAURANT WEEK!!!

This week I went to Todd English's Ca Va for a delicious 3-course restaurant week dinner with my best friend Emmy.  I have been to Olives, another Todd English restaurant, in Union Square and absolutely loved everything I ate so I expected the same from Ca Va... some parts of the meal were incredible while others left a bit to be desired.

WARNING: There is nothing healthy about the following meal.  The food at Ca Va was decadently rich and I may need to eat fruits, veggies, and egg whites for the rest of July in order to balance it out.

APPETIZERS

MINE: Tarte Provencial

A flakey, buttery puffed pastry topped with creamy tomato marmalade, olive, chevre (I love goat cheese!), and fried artichokes.  Everything about this tarte was perfect except the artichokes... they were a bit over cooked and not really worth eating.

EMMY'S: Classic Lobster Bisque

I'm not going to lie, this was more of a tomato soup than a lobster bisque but it was delicious either way. I could taste the lobster stock used in the soup but I wish there had been some actual lobster meat to make it a bit more special.

SHARED: Truffle Mac N' Cheese

I am going to dream about this mac n' cheese for the rest of my life!  When Emmy and I sat down and saw this on the menu we contemplated whether we actually needed an extra dish but after tasting this I knew we made the right decision!  The pasta was covered in a smooth, creamy, gooey, cheesy, truffle sauce and then covered in cheese and breadcrumbs and baked until crispy.  This was pretty much heaven on a plate.

MAIN COURSE

MINE: Hand Rolled Penne

Boy does Ca Va know how to do pasta! This hand rolled penne was tossed with succulent pieces of rabbit and a buttery fragrant sauce chasseur.  I loved how rustic and hearty this dish was without feeling too heavy.

EMMY'S: Poule BBQ

I hate to say it but I didn't like this dish at all... The chicken was overcooked and rubbery, the BBQ sauce had far too much curry, and the lyonnaise potato salad was really a frisee salad with 2 slices of potato in it.

DESSERT

MINE: Cinnamon Creme Brulee

I enjoyed my entire meal but I really could have just eaten the truffle mac n' cheese and this creme brulee and called it a day.  There is just something so exciting about breaking the hard caramel topping on a creme brulee.  This dessert was so perfectly thick, rich, and sweet with a spicy hint of cinnamon.  THEN, on top of it all this, it was served with a side of berry macadamia biscuits.  After I ate the crunchy topping off of the custard I couldn't help but dip the biscuits into the remaining cream, I did everything but lick the plate! (and to be honest, if I had been in the privacy of my own home I probably would have used my index finger to get every last bit out of the dish)

EMMY'S: Blueberry-Lemon Cheesecake

I thought this was fine but nothing special, however, Emmy really loved it.  I guess I'm partial to a NY style cheesecake and this just didn't meet my expectations.  To each his own...

So, there you have it, my Ca Va restaurant week experience.  If you decide to try it out I'd recommend eating my meal from start to finish and skipping everything that Emmy ordered. SORRY EM!

Ralph's has arrived in Manhattan!

If you're not from the Northeast then you've probably never even heard of Ralph's Famous Italian Ices...but, if you have had the pleasure of enjoying their amazingly creamy ices, but don't want to drive to Long Island or New Jersey to enjoy them, then you are in luck!!!

Ralph's has just opened their first Manhattan location on the corner of 24th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Ralph's takeout window is nestled into the side of a building but even without a full store they still carry a huge selection of their famous water ices, creme ices (which are like sherbet), ice creams, shakes, sundaes, and smoothies.

Ralph's has all of the traditional Italian ice flavors (cherry, chocolate, stawberry, etc.) but my favorites are their creme ices!

Don't be fooled by these photos, this is NOT ice cream.  When I stopped by Ralph's in Manhattan I ordered the Vanilla Chocolate Chip Creme Ice.  It was so smooth and creamy that I actually had to make sure that I wasn't given the wrong thing.  Best of all...Ralph's water ices and creme ices have significantly less fat and calories than ice cream.  This cup of vanilla chocolate chip has only 104 calories!!!

Visit Ralph's website to view a list of all of their famous flavors as well as nutrition information for select items.

NYC Restaurant Week!

Today, July 11th, marks the beginning of one of my favorite weeks in New York food... 

NYC RESTAURANT WEEK!!!

From now until July 24th you can enjoy hundreds of the city's finest restaurants at a fraction of the cost!  Many high-end restaurants will be offering pre-fix three-course menus for $24.07 at lunch and $35.00 at dinner.  

Now, I try not to make a habit of spending $35 for dinner, nor do I eat three courses every night, but as you know I like to splurge once in a while and what better way to do so than to try incredible restaurants that I normally would not be able to afford.

Visit www.nycgo.com to check out a list of all participating restaurants and their menus.  Then make sure to visit www.opentable.com to make reservations... the best places always fill up quickly!

Friend of a Farmer

Sunday brunch is my favorite meal of the entire week and it is something that I look forward to beginning on Monday morning.

Yesterday for brunch I discovered a country cafe right in the middle of New York City!  

Friend of a Farmer, located on Irving Place btw 18th and 19th streets, will make you feel like you've gone to an upstate country home for the weekend without ever having to leave the city.  The atmosphere at Friend of a Farmer is warm and inviting and it is the perfect compliment to their delicious food.

You know that for me size matters when it comes to food portions and that is half the reason why I love brunch so much. Brunch is an excuse to eat 2 meals at once without feeling guilty!!! 

Friend of a Farmer does not disappoint when it comes to size and yesterday I started my meal with a hearty slice of Zucchini Bread and Strawberry Jam.

The crust on the bread was crisp and sweet and the inside was soft and savory.  This zucchini bread was almost amazing enough that I didn't need a meal...ALMOST...

For brunch I ordered the Healthy Farmer's Omelette.

This huge egg white omelette was filled with salty feta cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes, and sauteed spinach and was served in a sizzling skillet with onions and home fries.  I actually requested to substitute green for the potatoes but my lovely waitress decided to give me both! YIPPEE!!!  

My bright green salad was served with a delicious and light roasted red pepper vinaigrette.

Friend of a Farmer doesn't take reservations for Sunday brunch so make sure to get there a bit early since the line can get quite long.  TRUST ME, it is worth the wait! (and when it's hot outside a waitress will bring you a glass of water while you stand in line)

I chose to order a healthy omelette to balance the zucchini bread that looked so delicious that I just HAD to try it.  However, I glanced at the table next to mine and the Farmer's Special Sandwich and Mac and Cheese both looked TO DIE FOR! The sandwich was a gigantic open faced grilled cheese and tomato sandwich while the mac and cheese looked oh-so-creamy because it was made with 4 cheeses and bacon!  I think next Sunday might need to be a splurge day...

Rev'd Up Pi

If I were stuck on a desert island and could only have one food for the rest of my life it would be pizza.  I consider myself an expert when it comes to finding the best pizza in NYC and after 7 years I feel pretty confident that I've tried all of the famous pizza places in the city (and have yet to meet a pizza that I didn't enjoy!!!)

Knowing my obsession with this Italian specialty you can imagine my excitement when I heard that a healthy alternative opened up in NYC! 

 Rev'd Up Pi (on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 31st Street) calls themselves the "first healthy pizzeria in New York"!  Their low-cal and low-fat Pi's are made with a fiber rich whole wheat crust, homemade low-fat cheese, and sauce made from organic tomatoes.  They also offer various gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options.  PLUS, their pizzas average at 170 calories per slice so you can enjoy them guilt-free... HELL, you can even enjoy 2!

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical that a pizza made with low-fat cheese and whole wheat crust would be as delicious as a cheesy, gooey, greasy slice of NY pizza but after trying Rev'd Up Pi I am definitely a convert.

I tried a few different slices and my absolute favorite was the "Lean and Mean Pi".

The "Lean and Mean Pi" is a cheese slice covered with delicious turkey pepperoni.  This Pi satisfied my need for a traditional pizzeria experience but at only 200 calories a slice it is a diet bargain!  The slice was still really big and I didn't even notice that it was low-fat!

If you are anything like me you know that 1 slice of pizza is never enough so I obviously had a 2nd.  For all of you vegetarians make sure to try the "Vim and Vigor Pi".

This vegetarian and dairy-free Pi is loaded with artichokes, zucchini, peppers, onions, eggplant, and mushrooms.  With all of the piled on veggies this huge slice is a hearty meal that you can enjoy for only 100 calories per slice! WOOHOO!!!

I loved trying these pizzas with lots of toppings but if you are more of a plain slice kind of person then make sure to try the "Full Throttle Pi". This more traditional margherita style pizza has 180 calories per slice and is still packed with savory tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil.  

MMM...I can't wait to go back to Rev'd Up Pi to try even more of their healthy and delicious pizzas as well as their other Italian specialties.  

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

July 4th is one of my favorite days of the year because it is a great excuse to get together with friends and family for a picnic or BBQ (AND it's a 3-day weekend, woohoo!).  I live in NYC and barbeque grills are few and far between but I never let that slow me down. Today it was warm, the sun was shining, and I spent the day picnicking in Central Park. 

Of course it isn't July 4th without a few patriotic snacks and I LOVE anything red, white, and blue.  I started with four main ingredients...

Fat-free whipped cream, cinnamon graham crackers, fresh strawberries, and fresh blueberries.

For today's picnic I packed all of this up, threw it in a bag with some ice packs, and brought it to the park with me. 

BUT, if you're staying in and want to impress some guests here are 2 quick and easy crowd pleasing ways to use my favorite red, white, and blue foods.

QUICK AND EASY BERRY PARFAIT

1. Wash strawberries and blueberries and cut strawberries into quarters.

2. In a clear plastic cup alternate layers of crushed graham crackers, strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream. 

THAT'S IT! This parfait is so easy, delicious, and refreshing! It's so light it won't weigh you down in the heat either.

To relax and cool you down after a long day try my...

ICED BERRY COCKTAIL

I start this off by making fun berry ice cubes! 

1. Throw a few berries into an ice tray filled with water. Store in the freezer until solid.

2. Put ice cubes in a glass and add 1 jigger vodka (1 jigger = 1.5 ounces), 4 ounces diet cranberry juice, and 4 ounces of either club soda or water.

For a more kid friendly option you can omit the vodka or if you're not a big drinker you can use these fruity cubes to add color and flavor to a tall glass of water. 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!