Happy & Full

Casa Mezcal

Casa Mezcal
86 Orchard Street
New York, NY

Shaun and I were picking up Babycakes for a friend's party and we decided to explore the neighborhood; maybe grab a quick bite to eat.  We found Casa Mezcal to have a very warm and inviting decor but could use some elbow room if you aren't sitting at a booth.  After sitting down we felt that it became a very loud bar atmosphere.  Definitely not the place if you are looking for a quiet dinning experience.  However, we were very pleasantly surprised by how good the food is.

They have one of the best guacamole and chips!

Taco Camaron is shrimp with avocado and chipotle mayo sauce on corn tortillas a cafe portal classic and favorite which was super delicious.  It is served with a green salsa and red smokey salsa. Both are very flavorful and add a little punch to the taco.  They hand make their own corn tortillas!

This hidden gem has great tacos!  Each bite is packed with a great combination of flavors.  I bet if their guacamole is super yummy their salsa must be excellent.  We'll have to go back to try the salsa!

The Chocolate Room

The Chocolate Room
86 Fifth Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 

I think I was momentarily in heaven at The Chocolate Room. We weren't completely satisfied with dinner, so Shaun made an executive decision to stop at The Chocolate Room for dessert and boy did it turn a frown upside down!

The minute you walk in here, you are hit with the magnificent smell of chocolate!  Who doesn't love chocolate? Especially, dark chocolate!  I couldn't resist, I ordered a dark hot chocolate with a marshmallow. They make their marshmallows the same day, just take a look at the hunk of fluff floating in my cup! 

Shaun had the classic hot chocolate which was also a delight.

Now the main event!  We chose the peanut butter cheesecake special. The plate was decorated with dollops of chocolate sprinkled with pretzel bits and sea salt.  The cheesecake was topped with fresh whipped cream and oreo cookie crumbs.  I was especially delighted to find an oreo cookie crumble on the bottom of the cheesecake. We give this peanut butter cheesecake four thumbs up!

Who can resist this delicious temptation?!  I think that it is time for you to go to The Chocolate Room and indulge a little!  I know we did.

Negril Village

Negril Village
70 West 3rd Street
New York, NY 

Have you ever had Caribbean food?  Well, you better try this!  Every dish is packed with immense flavor at Negril Village. Eating out is always an adventure, so why not try something new and different?  On this particular evening, I tried Sorrel which is a juice made from a plant that they cook down; it has a very distinct taste that words simply cannot describe.  The Codfish Fritters appetizers are fried batter-cakes served with an avocado salsa. It has a crispy shell and a delightfully flaky center.

I had the Curry Goat Stew which is tender organic goat meat stewed in house blend curries with whipped sweet potatoes.  I loved the flavors in the stew and the sweet potatoes are yummy. 

Shaun had the Ackee & Saltfish which is Jamaica’s National dish served with boiled green banana, dumpling, and fried sweet plantain. This signature dish is certainly unique and with an abundance of flavors from the saltfish this dish is a winner!

This meal was so delicious that we were still reminiscing about it the next day! So if you are adventurous and want to try something a little different from your typical Saturday night out, go to the Negril Village and let your tastebud do the talking.

Blue Water Grill

Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West
New York, NY

Great place for brunch! Blue Water Grill is known for their superb seafood dishes.  The building used to be a bank and it has the large windows and high ceilings; definitely a gorgeous interior.  They also have a jazz room downstairs, so check out their website for special events calendar.

Nothing screams brunch more than a nice tall mimosa and Samuel Smith's oatmeal stout.  Everything on the menu sounds delicious and we were tempted to order more than our stomachs could hold.  However, we decided to go easy and ordered the Charred Octopus Salad to start. This is an absolutely refreshingly delicious salad with marinated peppers, crispy chickpeas, and preserved lemon vinaigrette.

The Crab Cake Benedict with spinach and hollandaise sauce was perfectly cooked.

Citrus Vanilla Creme Brulee with an orange shortbread cookie. I love the sound of my spoon cracking the top of the carmelized sugar! The contrast between the crunchiness of the sugar and the smoothness of the custard is a sweet goodness in your mouth.

We were definitely happy & full after this amazing meal!