NYC - Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream!

Last night after our Japanese dinner, Zoe and Karie were both kind enough to humor me and get ice cream before our friends Seth and Fernando got into town. As I mentioned, the three of us girls pack in the food so we just had this huge Japanese meal and we promptly walk a few blocks over and get ice cream. Marathon eating is an art form and the three of us manage it well. 

LOCATION: 2 RIVINGTON ST, NEW YORK, NY 10002

Before going to NYC this time around I was reading Bon Appetite magazine and saw this review for a cool ice cream shop called Morganstern's Finest Ice Cream. It turned out to be close to St. Marks Place where we had dinner so we ventured after to get dessert. This place was packed. We arrived around 9pm and the line to this little place was out the door but Zoe is relaxed and insisted that I wanted to try it so we would wait. For almost an hour. For one scoop of ice cream each. At least we had time to digest... 

Now the reason I wanted to make the stop was because this place has crazy cool flavors and there was one that caught my eye. The durian banana. A durian is a crazy asian fruit that has the texture of custard on the inside, is a spikey melon sized thing from the outside, and has a pungent smell you can get a whiff of from a mile away. I love it. It's for sure an acquired taste that isn't very popular but I love it so that's all I really care about.  I had to try the ice cream tho and I was not disappointed. One scoop but it was fantastic and the look of this place is super cute. I wish there was a shorter line and that the workers maybe didn't take 10 minutes to scoop one scoop of ice cream but it was definitely worth the try. 

LOCATION: 125 E 7TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10009

Today was ice cream part two. Because why not have ice cream every day. This time we went to Big Gay Ice Cream because this place has been on my list for at least 2 years and I still haven't had the chance to try it.

Again, Zoe seizes the opportunity and makes things happen so we're off to Big Gay Ice Cream where I order one of the famous specialties. The Salty Pimp. That's right. That's the name of one of their signature ice creams. I had a little trouble getting over the name but once you do it's a great order. The salty pimp is vanilla soft serve with caramel hand squeezed into the little ridges of the custard and then the whole thing is dipped in chocolate. Its the perfect salty sweet combo and I liked it quite a bit. Totally worth finally getting to try it. 

NYC - Oh! Taisho

Made another trip to New York City this time with my friend Michael to visit a few of our friends who moved there recently (aka after graduation). 

I'm staying with my friend Zoe and for dinner tonight she decided on Japanese (because my list for NYC is quite short - but its better that way; more exploring!). We headed to St. Marks Place in Manhattan and walked up and down the street while Karie was on her way. We ended up chosing a little restaurant called Oh! Taisho that Zoe's been to before and said was good. It was. 

LOCATION: 9 SAINT MARKS PL, NEW YORK, NY 10003

We ordered Party Plate A as an appetizer aka skewers of 5 different types of meat (chicken which was a little dry, gizzards, pork skin, pork belly, and beef). I think that was right... Then we ordered a plate of duck to share which was fresh and the perfect amount of fatty and just mouth watering. And then we each ordered a bowl of ramen. Karie and I got the house ramen while Zoe got the version that was the house plus more spicy-ness.  

I only managed a pic of the ramen. The mean platters weren't too impressive looking and we were too hungry for me to attempt at a shot of it. Sometimes eating is more important. 

And boy do we eat. I swear the three of us together results in someone being hungry at all times. We walk around as the three petite little asians that people don't really know what to expect but man do we pack it in. Zoe and I slammed our parts of the meal down really quick. Karie takes time to catch up but she always ends up on par so it works out. Separately we are all super conscious about how much we eat and trying to stay healthy but together, no food is safe. 

ROC - Return to ButaPub

LOCATION: 315 GREGORY ST, ROCHESTER, NY 14620

I mentioned that I would be going back to ButaPub for dinner and that I did!! 

Sophia and I are honestly a little obsessed with this place now and may or may not continue to go back for lunch dates. 

Dinner was delicious. I got a text mid day from Sophia saying she looked at the dinner menu and was beyond psyched. That made two of us. Our friend Julia also came with us  and was less than amused. She said from now on we should just come to ButaPub without her. Apparently this place is very hit or miss. Opinions, opinions. 

We sat down and after looking over the drinks menu all three of us decided on the "Yulia". Partly because it sounded really good and partly because it was named after Julia. What an easy choice. It had tequila, solemo blood orange, amaretto, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, and was topped with a lemon peal. Super tart and citrus-y. Go tequila! 

For dinner I got to have my Oyako poutine - meant as a side dish to share but no one gets between me and my potatoes so YOLO it's dinner. This was a really good poutine. Fries with a chicken confit, kimchi, melty cheese curds, gravy, and of course a wonderful fried egg on top. My egg could have been runnier but overall it all mixed well together. Again, quite salty, which seems to be the tradition for ButaPub but worth it. Drink. More. Water!!

Sophia went the complete opposite direction than me and got a healthy bowl of quinoa with and egg (hers was actually nicely runny) avocado, tofu, and whatever healthy stuff you wanna throw on that. She was in love and in all honestly I really want to try that next time because the bowl looked so good. Next time ButaPub.. Next time.. 

Julia ordered Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos. They looked pretty cute and good. Not her favorite but it's pretty clear her tastes are different than mine so I might give that a shot on day.

Looks like ButaPub may be the place to frequent. At least for me and Sophia!  

ROC - Pizzeria Favo

That's right.. I spent all of yesterday eating pizza. And I feel gross yet satisfied. Don't worry, I went for a run last night. Pizza overload.

My little baby cousins are in town from Long Island so yesterday after work I went and met them for a movie with my Rochester cousin Kristie. We saw Inside Out, went to the playground, then they previously planned to get pizza for dinner. But I had pizza for lunch. I had the biggest slice of pizza for lunch. Failure. 

LOCATION: 3400 MONROE AVE, PITTSFORD, NY 14618

Still, the four of us ended up at Pizzeria Favo in Pittsford. This pizza, was quality. They roll out the dough fresh right in front of you, brush on the sauce, and add your toppings then cook it in the brick oven right there. Perfect. Kristie got a pesto pizza with extra veggies (because veggies are unlimited apparently!), we let the two little kids split a pizza half pepperoni, half cheese, and I got the Vodka Sauce Pizza. It was amazing. I've never thought to throw Vodka Sauce on pizza before even though I'm a fan of it on pasta. Stealing the idea. My pizza had mozzarella cheese, mini meatballs, mushrooms, and peas. My mouth is watering. It was such a great little personal pizza for a pretty good price. The girl making my pizza skimped out on one side of my pizza and ended up putting all the toppings on very lop-sidedly. I'm fairly certain she was new because the other girls making pizza kept trying to make the pizzas before she could get to it. That's okay! The pizza was still good so no harm, no foul. Would definitely come back to this place. It's like Chipotle for pizza! What's not to love. 

ROC - Jitter's Cafe

LOCATION: 3333 WEST HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623

For several years I've been meaning to get to this coffee shop around the corner from RIT all for a slice of pizza. Second year of school, my then boyfriend sent me a picture of a slice of pizza one late night. But this was no ordinary pizza (okay well maybe it was but not completely). He calmly send me this picture of a slice of pizza that was a fair bit larger than his already big hands. I had to try it. What place makes an average round pizza that produces slices bigger than your head?? 

Apparently Jitter's does. This place has been on my food list ever since I got that picture from then boyfriend and two-ish years later I finally made it! It was not easy either. Their hours have changed but no one told the internet because I kept showing up when it was supposedly open and the place was closed and I had no idea what was going on. It happens. But today was a super solo lunch day (so happy to have Jon come back tomorrow! Buddies are nice). So I quickly swung by Jitter's, got a slice of cheese pizza to go, and was set for lunch. This was a no joke kinda pizza either. I'm glad to say two years later, a slice of this pizza is still bigger than my head. I'm pretty happy. In terms of flavor it wasn't anything too special. Super crispy thin crust pizza but the size is what makes it a little more special. I'm happy I finally go to go!