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



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.

FEINSCHMECKER ON WHEELS 

EAT.PRAY.RIDE.LAUGH

On my bike: 

I smiled and laughed till I cried..

I reflected on how blessed I am to be living in this amazing city.

I explored and appreciated New York City like never before..  

I ate everything from hanger steak to Belgian waffles..

I made a few important decisions..

    "I thought of it while riding my bicycle", is reputedly what Albert Einstein said about his Special Theory of Relativity.

Even the genius himself loved it...

Friends are like macarons.. 

One is never enough..

Chic Appetite
(La Maison du Macaron: dark chocolate-Arabic coffee, milk chocolate & caramel fleur de sel and Jacques Torres salted caramels )  

French Stole My Sweet Tooth

(Pistachio flavor macaron, La Maison du Macaron Chelsea)

http://www.nymacaron.com/

It was quarter past seven o' clock in the evening, I  was still riding my bike in the Meatpacking District and Chelsea area when I randomly thought of indulging myself with French macarons. Since I was already in the area, I decided to ride all the way down to 7th avenue and made a right turn on West 23rd Street then I found myself at the doorsteps of La Maison Du Macaron, one of the best places to get a macaron in NYC. (at least in my opinion)  They offer good quality and consistency in flavor and texture. (the best part about this little bakery: there's no line, has a cute seating area and it closes at 9pm)

My other favorite places to get macarons in Manhattan (in no particular order)

Laduree (Upper East Side)

Bouchon Bakery (Rockefeller Plaza or The Shops at Columbus Circle)

Bisou Bisou (West Village)

My Gentle Giant

(Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie, Levain Bakery UWS)

And also on Saturday,  I decided I gotta have my chocolate chip cookie fix. And if I were to satisfy my craving, why settle for anything less when I can have the best.. So, I hopped on my Dutchi and rode it from Eastside to Westside  and from Downtown I went Uptown.. 

Levain Bakery: BEST chocolate chip cookie in NYC -Period
http://www.levainbakery.com/

I call it my Gentle Giant, die hard on the outside, soft and chewy with a choc-full of chips and walnut on the inside.. And the best thing about it, you always get it fresh from the oven.

"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.." -Barbara Johnson 

I enjoy being a girl

And I'm a girl who never leaves the house without my pearl earrings... 

German To English - Feinschmecker
(die) n. epicure, gourmet, lover of fine foods, gastronome, one who specializes in good eating, connoisseur of fine food and drink