Summer Sunshine

EL*AY*SI*

 

This Summer has been so kind to us, I wonder why? I guess it's nature's way of making up for the brutally cold Winter. All I know is that I'm not complaining. Riding my bicycle around the city with the sun on my face while enjoying the Summer breeze. -What more can I ask for? 

Today, I was riding home on my bicycle when I decided to cruise around LIC and was lucky enough to catch the sunset. 

 Dear New York,

 Please enjoy the last days weeks of Summer and let the sunlight burn a happy hole in your heart.

Fun-size hugs & kisses,

Angel

State of the Nation Visit

 Washington Pose

RED, WHITE & BLUE 

Visiting Mr. President at the White House

Introspective at the World War II Memorial

Kisses from the U.S. Capitol

Behind ever successful man is a Fashionista

Washington D.C. has officially become my destination for bike-riding and food tripping.  

One restaurant I stumbled upon while riding around Foggy Bottom (between The White House and Georgetown, South of Dupont Circle) was called Founding Farmers (FF). It was Saturday night and the restaurant was packed. The waiting time was one hour (definitely worth it),  so my friend and I decided to take ride to Jefferson Memorial to pass time.  

Founding Farmers is must go when you are in Washington D.C.  The restaurant concept is farm-to-table, all ingredients are organic, creative and the comfort dishes were impressively tasty.  I love that everything in the restaurant was made from scratch by the farmers union. From pasta to soda, they're all organic and homemade. Over-all our dining experience was phenomenal, excellent food (that we had to order a second entree) and wait-staff was intuitive and knowledgable about their menu.  I would absolutely come back here when I'm in D.C. In fact, I also tried the other restaurant by the Farmers Restaurant Group for brunch the next day. The restaurant is called Farmers Fishers and Bakers, located at the Waterfront in Georgetown, which was equally amazing. (I'll be talking about this on my next blog entry)

FOUNDING FARMERS

http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com

1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20006

Bacon Lollies

Cinnamon-brown sugar glazed bacon

    Satisfied my craving for Chicken and Waffles 

          with the BEST in town.  

    Sides: homemade mac n' cheese and broccoli (sautéed in beef tallow)

Dry Rub Boneless Ribeye for Second Entree at Midnight

-xoxo-

With love from the Nation's Capital,

Angel

Brooklyn-Queens-Express(B-Q-E)

With Love, From Queens to Brooklyn

 Cycle Chic

Standing Still..

Sunnyside, Queens Street Art

To me, NYC is not just the Appetite City, 

but also the Artists' Mecca

Brooklyn Flea-Williamsburg

90 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open on Weekends: Saturday-Smorgasburg; Sunday-Brooklyn Flea

http://www.brooklynflea.com

Bare Necessities
https://www.brooklynroasting.com/

When in Brooklyn, I always find my way back to my first love..

A slab of thick bacon

(pair it with Luger's Old Fashioned Steak Sauce)

“If you knew to ask for the bacon, that was how we knew you were a regular.” 

PETER LUGER. Home of the BEST Porterhouse. -Often imitated, but never duplicated.. 

Steve Tarpin's Key Lime pie at Peter Luger



Nature Feels

BLISS

(at BBG's Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden)

Alone in the garden wearing my grandmother's trousers..

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.. 

Dream in Heels

Life is a pleasure with me by your side...

                  

What's Growing On?

Springs flowers always bring Springtime showers, but that is no excuse not to admire the local blooms and blossoms. To me, Springtime means Cherry Blossoms. There's something special about them as they represent femininity, beauty and the fragility of life. Regardless of whether you have a green thumb or not, spring flowers are a big sign of the season. They remind us of hope and that it's never too late to begin again, no matter what season we came from.

"I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.."

-Pablo Neruda

Cruisin' for Bruisin'

ROBIN EGG BLUE

"Let's sit and talk awhile.."

Hold on tightly, let go lightly..

Blue skies over the Freedom Tower

Ride & Roll My Blues Away

Last Sunday was a beautiful day to be on a bicycle. The perfect mild temperature with sun shining through blue skies, made me go bike riding in the city. I started cruising in Midtown Manhattan and when I reached Columbus Circle, I randomly bumped into an old friend. We decided to catch up and chill by Lincoln Center's Revson Fountain. After our brief meet up, I continued my bike ride. Riding on the West Side is my favorite bike route, I entered on West 72nd Street of the Riverside Park and rode south and enjoyed freewheeling in my comfortable Yosi Samra flats on the scenic Westside Highway bike path to Battery Park. I love riding on this traffic-less bike path along the Hudson River. I continued cruising until I reached South Street Seaport where I found this cute Fiat. I wanted to put it in my pocket and take it home with me. -This is what I love about discovering New York City on two wheels, I stumble upon random cute things along the way. 

"Race for Pink Slips"

I rode my way back on West Side Highway, and when I reached Pier 82 on West 12th Avenue, I cut through West 45th St. to get back to Midtown. After (3.5) hours of riding my bicycle, I felt hungry and developed a sudden craving for Ramen. I thought of going to my favorite ramen joint, Ippudo  (also considered to be my 2nd home) on W 52nd St. and 8th Ave. As I was riding on 11th Avenue, I passed by this huge industrial looking commercial space which looked like a fancy upscale food-court, I was intrigued and immediately fell in love with its motto: EAT.DRINK.RIDE.PLAY.COOK. 

Gotham West Market is the new Food Hall to check out in Hells Kitchen. It offers an impressive array of food choices plus a bike shop (Velo). -Need I say more? Oh did I mention, you can pick up groceries and take up cooking classes at The Brooklyn Kitchen. I could probably spend the whole day at this place, but since it was getting late and I was already starving, I only got to do the EAT part (and will definitely come back to DRINK.RIDE.PLAY and possibly COOK.) -It's truly a heaven for a Feinschmecker on Wheels like me.  http://gothamwestmarket.com

  Roasted Garlic Mazemen-Fully Loaded

(nori, dashi + chicken broth, egg, sundried tomatoes, chasu pork)

Try Ivan Ramen's Slurp Shop for your Ramen quick fix. Unlike like the other Ramen joints, such as Ippudo and Hide-Chan which use tonkotsu (pork) broth, Ivan Ramen uses chicken broth and rye noodles. The one I picked was Chef Ivan Orkin's most talked about dish, it was good, but it might be too rich and intensely flavored for me. In my opinion, it's comparable to Hide-Chan's dark garlic broth Ramen. I will definitely come back to try their Classic and Shio and Spicy Red Chili Ramen and their rice bowls. 

Country Ham Board with Biscuit
 (Cannibal is the best place to satisfy your charcuterie cravings)

Fun-size hugs**

Until our next date..  Ride Along With Me..

When in doubt, pig out!

BABE

Whether it's for brunch or dinner, I make it a point that whenever I am in D.C. to visit
THE PIG located in Logan Circle at 1320 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.
www.thepigdc.com

SPOTTED PIG

Eating a whole pig is not new to me. Lechon (slow roasted pig over a pit of charcoal) is a mouth-watering Filipino tradition that is often the centerpiece of any joyous celebration. Although, I must admit I have never dissected nor ate off of a pig's head before. As I was going through the menu, The Pig's Head immediately caught my attention. I had to convince my two other friends who were skeptical about it for two reasons: It might be too overwhelming for us 3 girls, as it serves 4-6 people and it was too heavy for dinner at 10 o' clock in the evening! The manger who happens to be our friend was waiting for our decision, and gave us a couple of minutes to discuss. I simply told my friend who was celebrating her birthday, "It's your birthday, go big or go home!" -And I guess, you know what happened next.

Bourbon Happy Hour @ The Pig DC

$6 each or $7 bourbon flights (4 different types of bourbon all at one)

Didn't make it to the Happy Hour, but I got to meet 

SIR OINKS A LOT 

(bacon bourbon, pear puree & ginger beer)

From Farm-to-Table to Fine Dining 

As if the porcine head was not enough.. 

CHARLIE PALMER STEAK DC 
101 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 
http://www.charliepalmer.com/charlie-palmer-steak-dc/

Great Food, Excellent Customer Service & Spectacular Views of the Capitol.

On our way to dining room, we could not help but get drawn to the floating glass cube, which housed the restaurant's impressive wine collection.

"There is champagne, and there is Krug"

Yellowfin Tuna Tartare

(Avocado, Soy & Lime Emulsion, Sesame Flat Bread Cracker)

Truffle & Bacon Twice Baked Potato

Pancetta Roasted Brussel Sprouts

(I usually pair my Porterhouse with Creamed Spinach, however I chose the greens

to balance it out. -Or simply my attempt at make myself think I'm eating healthy)

                                                                    Porterhouse
                       (Bacon Lardon, Cippolini, And Morel Mushroom)

 At the end of the evening, after our main course, much conversation and the last drops of the Krug bottle, the sommelier recommended us to have a sneak peek of the rooftop. We were escorted by a gentleman to the rooftop terrace, which has spectacular views of the Capitol. 

Rain or Shine, Night and Day, I will ride...

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." -Albert Einstein

As recommended by my local friend,this life size statue of Albert Einstein can be found on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences. (apparently not all know about this.)  It's hidden, but it's quite easy to spot if you're checking out the Lincoln Memorial, which is how I stumbled upon it while riding my bicycle in the rain.