Oh, Keste Pizza & Vino… you really could care less about my waistline. Bubbly, crusty, cheesy, piping hot handmade personal pizzas for cheap… have you no shame, sir? Have you no shame? I first discovered Keste by suggestion of my friend Iryna, a self-proclaimed (and Savvy-confirmed) foodie and knower-of-all-things-delicious. She described the myriad toppings and thick, hearty crust. She described the vibrant West Village location and unbelievable smell emanating from Bleecker Street. Really, she had me at “pizza.” So on I went to the multiple award-winning, mouth-watering restaurant. And of all the strange vegan and exotic non-meaty places to which I drag my boyfriend, he was happy to accompany me on this one. The place was packed with families, young couples and the ever-present NYU crowd, sipping wine and enjoying the famed main course. Accolades lined the walls; a sure token of a restaurant well-visited, and Keste’s intimate dining area gave way to an open kitchen, complete with an assembly table and brick oven...
Each time I move about the city (or “change shells,” as I refer to it… which, by the way, has become a near yearly thing), there is very serious work to be done. No, it’s not finding the right furniture or hanging the perfect paintings or meeting the neighbors or making sure the cable works or any of those very necessary things… it is far more vital. Yes. The great search for my new go-to Indian place begins. This time, however, we hit the naan right on the head. (Hah! I crack myself up.) The search began and ended with Aangan: arguably the best Indian on the Upper West Side, and possibly the best Indian I’ve had in NYC...
Hell yeah, it’s vegan. It’s also creamier, richer, fluffier and more chocolatey than any chocolate pudding I’ve ever tasted. It’s also good for you… like, really good for you. However, this pudding has a seriously secret ingredient. You can feel its creamy texture and benefit from all its nutrients, but you can’t taste it… not one bit.
Ingredient X: Avocado.
Cringe, recoil in fear, gag, whatever you need to do… then buck up and make the pudding. Used as a creamy base for any dessert or smoothie, the avocado will become neutral when paired with a dominating flavor. This time: chocolate!
recipe and pics after the jump...
Though I do love dining out on the cheap, there’s something wonderful about a home-cooked meal in the heart of Manhattan. Amidst the insanity this place welcomes and oftentimes creates, there’s a home to be had within it. On a quiet street, on a thunder-stormy night, in a tiny one-bedroom on the Upper West Side, there are scents of cumin and cinnamon and vegetables roasting in a frying pan. This is what I love. In the most impersonal city, it smells like home.
This recipe tastes amazing, and without a doubt, makes your house smell like home. Sweet potato tostadas are a go-to weeknight meal that’s packed with flavor and nutrition. It's a simple family-friendly recipe (serves up to four), or a meal that keeps on giving for two. The flavors work together wonderfully, and the interplay between spices and sweet potato makes for a dish with surprising depth of flavor. And, of course, everything’s better with some bubbly cheese melted on top...
What’s better than pancakes? Pancakes that don’t leave you feeling like a buffalo. Sometimes you just need that hint of carby taste to be completely satisfied. Faux pancake, flourless crepe, sweet omelette… whatever you’d like to call it, this does the trick. It’s hearty, sweet, full of protein and only 158ish calories. Not to mention, it takes about five minutes and really fuels you for the day...
There’s nothing quite like summer in New York City. If one forgoes the insanity of Times Square and sees past the allure of Fifth Avenue’s untouchable goods, there are treasures to be found and genuine exchanges to be had. Just north of NYC’s tired attractions is a special piece of the city that tourists rarely partake in, but is perhaps the truest representation of its distinct culture. I am, quite simply, referring to one of the many neighborhood flea markets: the GreenFlea Market, every Sunday at MS 44 Junior High, on 77th and Columbus. Indian tapestries, African woodcarvings, vintage furniture and clothing, handmade jewelry from local artists… and that’s just outdoors. Inside the school’s sizable cafeteria are some of the most exquisite treasures: litho prints from the 1850’s, hand-lettered illumination text, and much more once one gets to digging. But the most literal “tasting” of cultures and tradition comes from the vast offering of foods: everything from Greek to Louisiana Creole cuisine can be found, alongside fresh produce, wines, breads and dairy from local farmers. But, I found, nothing so beautifully describes the intimacy of the experience better than a single sign this past Sunday, quickly jotted by a marmalade vendor in permanent marker. It read: “Made fresh by my wife and daughter this morning.” I think that sums it up pretty well. (photos after jump)...
Though life on the Upper West Side is surely more tranquil, I can’t help but to return to my old stomping grounds for the single reason I fell in love with it in the first place: the cuisine. Hell’s Kitchen is home to some of the greatest and most varied restaurants, bakeries and markets in Manhattan. So when I want brunch, I don’t want just any ol’ brunch; I want a HK brunch. And there’s no better spot in the area than Eatery on 9th avenue at 53rd street. Deep Southern, Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese… this place has everything. Furthermore, (and surprisingly) they do it all well. Sonny can order a Japanese egg white omelette with shiitake mushrooms, tofu, Japanese eggplant and plum glaze while Cher can enjoy the outrageous stuffed French toast with chocolate-banana cream cheese filling, Vermont maple syrup & vanilla ice cream. Eatery is an embodiment of New York culture, a melting pot of cultural flavors and one darn easy place to agree on. Not to mention, the veggie options are plentiful and prices quite reasonable…
Savvy’s back! And with my grand return come new reviews, new recipes, and brand new digs. That’s right, kids: I’ve moved on up to the Upper West Side. Oh, it feels fabulous… the peace, the quiet, the anti-midtown-ness of it all… And with my move complete and Ikea hajj accomplished, there’s just one thing left to do in this strange new town: Eat. Everything. Buckle (or rather, unbuckle) your seatbelts: We’re kicking off Uptown blogging with the best of the best and the tastiest of the tastiest. I am, of course, speaking of the greatest cookie I’ve ever devoured in my two decades of life on this planet: the chocolate chip walnut cookie at Levain Bakery...
From Pizza Boats in Miami to bottomless cruise buffets to the Bahama staple of rice n' peas, it's been quite the culinary adventure this past week. Though accompanied by my carnivorous boyfriend Adam, I was left to fend for myself when it came to vegetarian grub. On a cruise ship filled with hundreds of hungry individuals, one would think that veg choices are varied and plentiful. *BUZZER* WROOONG!
What's a girl gotta do to get some decent veggies in the middle of the Atlantic? Well, lucky for Savvy, dessert was the best meat-free food I could find. And after a few fantastically expensive mojitos, I certainly couldn't complain...
I'm alive! The semester's over, the birds are singing, and the sun is shining. Gone are the sleepless nights and shouting expletives at my laptop. This newfound freedom can mean one thing, and one thing only: It's Kyotofu soft serve time. Now, when I think "soymilk," the terms "chalky" and "weird aftertaste" usually follow. I shy away from store-bought soy ice cream, as it's expensive and tastes weird. With that, I can honestly write that Kyotofu's soymilk ice cream is some sort of miracle. It tastes dairy. In fact, I'll go so far as to say it tastes better than dairy.
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