Le Pain Quotidien The Le Crookie

One of my favorite places to stop when in the city is Le Pain Quotidien and my last trip was extra special! The baked eggs is one of my most go-to favorites. 

They just came out with what they call a "Le Crookie" which is a cross between a croissant and a cookie. From their website: 

The 'Le Crookie' is made with our airy plain croissants and filled with a gooey-edible choc chip cookie dough, snickerdoodle cookie dough or chocolate cookie dough, twice-baked until perfection.

The desserts here are always to die for and it's a great place to have a light dinner as well. The Le Crookie is in baskets 4 and 5 above.  These had to come home with me. 

I choose the chocolate le crookie and snickerdoodle le crookie 

They are quite amazing, and very large. I cut them in half, and froze to enjoy a few times. They freeze very well. 

The taste was amazing, I felt half at a time was just enough as very sweet. As much as I love chocolate, I felt the chocolate was a bit too sweet. The snickerdoodle was actually perfect for me. They are so flaky as you can see in the photo above. If you are a dessert lover, be sure to stop for these when in the city to try as I am not sure if they are a special item or on the regular menu. It is a good idea to heat them a bit in your toaster oven or convection oven as it really gives them that nice gooey taste. 

Le Pain Quotiden has many locations throughout the city so check their website or Google maps to see if they are near where you will be when visiting 

Please be sure to follow me on Instagram for lots of photos and activity of my travels to NYC. I would be delighted to see you there, be sure to say "hi" 

                             Instagram / Facebook/ Bloglovin/ Pinterest / Twitter  

10 Best Breakfast Spots in NYC

Breakfast is a very important meal of the day. In New York City, it is pretty much a most wonderful event. When I travel into the city for the day, and I see folks on the bus with McDonald's breakfast, I kind of cringe. Why not wait until you get to the best city in the world for some most amazing breakfast selections!

For me, when I travel, a bit part of that is trying new places and tasting new foods I cannot get at home. Try to remember when you visit NYC to experience something you have never had before. Go to a different restaurant each visit, check out a new area of the city. You will be surprised how exciting that will make your trip become!

These restaurants are some of the best for breakfast, wonderful selections you will probably not find at home. They are not in any order as that would be unfair, but they are:

1.  Norma's 
2.  Rosemary's 
3.  Maison Kayser
4.  Sarabeth's 
5.  Sant Ambroeus 
6.  Le Pain Quotidien
7.  Cafe Sabarsky
8.  Locanda Verde
9.   Balthazar
10. Clinton Street Baking

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes at Locanda Verde 

To be assured not miss a post, sign up for each one to be emailed to you HERE. Be sure to check for your Feedburner confirmation email, or your subscription will not be processed. Your email is not sold or shared with anyone. Thank you so much for visiting! 

Le Pain Quotidien Yummy Selections

Just another friendly reminder for you to check out places when in the city you have never been before. The only place I will allow myself is Starbucks but that is usually when I am awaiting for my bus to go home or I need to re-charge my phone/camera. Le Pain Quotidien is a wonderful place for breakfast, lunch, light dinner or snack while in the city. They do have plugs as well for you to charge your devices which is so important when traveling. This is not a sponsored post in any way, just a place I enjoy when in the city and want to be sure you know to pop in. 

The most amazing fresh granola and fruit for breakfast 

Totally amazing quiche as well 

The best CAFÉ AU LAIT that you will ever find 

Their sandwiches are called tartines which are open faced and totally delish 

Avocado toast with corn and shrimp makes everyone happy 

I love smoked salmon and this was really wonderful with a scoop of ricotta 

When you are in the city and in need of some type of food, be sure to look for a Le Pain Quotidien as they have many locations throughout Manhattan. You will not be disappointed in the least!

To be assured not miss a post, sign up for each one to be emailed to you HERE. Be sure to check for your Feedburner confirmation email, or your subscription will not be processed. Your email is not sold or shared with anyone. Thank you so much for visiting! 

Would be thrilled if you gave me a follow here: 

Instagram / Facebook/ Bloglovin/ Pinterest 

A NYC Foodie Post to Begin 2017

Can you believe it is 2017? Where did 2016 go exactly? It went pretty fast for me, I was quite busy last year. I have so many neat posts to show you, having spent my first Christmas in the city as well as New Year's Day. One of my favorite places is Maison Kayser. I took a friend there for the first time New Year's Day and she was blown away. Remember to always pop in places you never heard of when visiting New York City, or any new city for that matter. You could be missing out on some amazing creations!  

I never met anything at Maison Kayser I didn't like.  

The holiday log looked just amazing!  

Edible works of art is what I cal them  

Doesn't that look like a happy table?  

CROQUE-MADAME 

HOUSE-SMOKED HAM, MORNAY SAUCE &

GRUYÈRE CHEESE TOPPED W / AN ORGANIC

SUNNYSIDE- UP EGG 

Life doesn't get any better than a Croque-Madame! 

Le Pain Quotidien is also a place I frequent while in the city. Wonderful quiche here! 

This avocado toast with shrimp was perfect for lunch or a light dinner 

Le Pain Quotidien has some of the best lattes you will enjoy 

Dylan's opened a shop near Union Square and I was thrilled to see below: 

Dana's Bakery macarons I have ordered online but nice to know can pick up when in the city 

Pastry can look like a work of art, when you use the right photography app like Prisma 

Dean and Deluca is another place I pop in often, they are near Port Authority and a great place to chill waiting for my bus 

Hope you didn't view this post on an empty stomach. If so, I do apologize! 

What is your favorite foodie place to go in New York City ? 

To be assured not miss a post, sign up for each one to be emailed to you HERE. Be sure to check for your Feedburner confirmation email, or your subscription will not be processed. Your email is not sold or shared with anyone. Thank you so much for visiting! 

Would be thrilled if you gave me a follow here: 

Instagram / Facebook/ Bloglovin/ Pinterest 

My 12 Go-To Spots in NYC

As much as I tell you to visit different places when in New York City, I do find certain places that I tend to go to on a regular basis when I am there. I usually get a bus in for the day, and the bus leaves me off around Madison Avenue and 48th Street. I tend to patronize places in that area for the convenience of it all. When you do find a place you like, say for dining, you feel comfortable going back because you know it’s wonderful. I do like the idea of walking in a place and knowing exactly where everything is, where to go and what to do. It just feels nice.

Le Pain Quotidien is for sure one of my faves. They have many locations in the city, and they are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. Sometimes I don’t want to spend a large amount of money for dinner, or I just want something light, this is always a fantastic choice. I prefer this to say, Starbucks, because I have a Starbucks in my hometown, and I like to visit different places when in the city.

The Food Court at The Plaza Hotel is a place I visit pretty often. I love The Plaza, it’s so gorgeous and has so much history. I have had afternoon tea many times at the Palm Court, never been disappointed. The Food Court is so fun, I love all the selections, but prefer it on a weekday than the weekend, weekends are just so crowded. I like the newer places they have added, and still need to actually try a few of them yet. A nice varied selection of food items from caviar to pizza to crepes. My kind of place!

TopShop is a favorite shopping place. I was thrilled when they opened on Fifth Avenue, because the other location in Soho was not as convenient. They do sell online, but it is fun to pop in and see what new items they have available. I like this store because it's original, based in the UK, and they are not in too many US places. 

The Pomme Palais in The Lotte New York Palace hotel is a gem. The pastry and savory foods are to die for, and it’s a good place for me to grab a bite while waiting for my bus home. I also like to use their bathrooms, you must remember to use the hotel lobby bathrooms when needed. They are always going to be clean and you don’t have to worry about it at all. The crab cake sandwich is oh so tasty and a St Honore makes you grin from ear to ear.

Christie’s is one of my favorite places. A total gem of an auction house, so much history, and it’s FREE! The location in Rockefeller Center is very convenient, and you never know what you will find when you pop in the place. One time I went in, they were doing the auction for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, I had the opportunity to see a stuffed Trigger! It was pretty darn amazing, and I was able to take photos as well which was even more awesome! I attended the historic Elizabeth Taylor auction at Christie’s, and it was something I will remember forever. It was epic, classic and just over-the-top. We had to pay to attend this one, it was well worth it, and I wished I had bought a second ticket to go one more time. The folks who work at Christie’s are some of the nicest people; they do not make you feel uncomfortable while admiring the historic items on display. If you are a jewelry lover, you can see some most amazing displays of gems, they almost look too much to be real!

Metropolitan Museum of Art is a place I have been going since I was a little girl. I can never get enough of it, and now that I am actually press for the museum, it blows my mind! It is such an honor to be press for one of the best museums in the world. Every exhibit is done with total class and elegance. I was lucky to see the Alexandar McQueen exhibit here, it was really more like an art exhibit than a fashion exhibit. The above photo was taken from the roof, a place when it is a nice day, is a MUST see! 

City Lobster and Steak is a frequent restaurant due to the location. I am a HUGE seafood lover, and their choices are always very yummy. They also offer pre-fixe selections for lunch and dinner, which is helpful if you are looking for a better meal deal. They are pretty popular for those seeing a Broadway show, but I think once you have dined here, you will be back for more. Their salmon just melts in your mouth! My faves are the City's Lobster Chowder, New England Jumbo Seared Scallops and Housemade Profiteroles. I am officially hungry now.

Baked by Melissa is probably an obsession of mine. I guess I could be obsessed with worse things! These little cuppies are so darn tootin’ adorable! They make for a great gift to bring back to family and friends, which I do often. I like them because of their size, and they are such a nice small treat to enjoy. They have good taste as well, their February 2016 cupcake flavor is "Cannoli". Don’t be afraid to try the ones that are covered in chocolate, they are such a treat! I am going to be trying their new macarons soon, and cannot wait to tell you all about them. They have added more locations in the city, which makes it easier to pick them up to take home, or just eat while you walk around the city!

Grand Central Terminal is a classic New York City instutition. A great place for a bit of shopping as well as dining is why I love stopping here often. You will find wonderful choices for dining in the lower level, as well as the food market. The food market is great to purchase some items to take home, or back to your hotel to enjoy. I love the fact that you have all these top-notch selections under one roof, makes it easy for a group to dine if they are all looking for different cuisines. It’s a fun place to people watch as well, which I often do when just taking a break from walking all over the city.

Café Sabarsky – A MUST when you are in the Upper East Side, possibly visiting the Met perhaps. A coffee house as those found in Vienna, Austria. I am obsessed with anything Vienna, and I do need to visit there one of these days. This café is located in a museum, the Neue Galerie, home to the famous gold lady painting Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) by Gustav Klimt . You can have breakfast, lunch or an early dinner here. The desserts are works of art, makes you feel bad eating them, but you must and the savory is pretty darn good too! The way they present you the coffee is first class. I can’t recommend this place enough and I am anxious to visit again very soon!

Sant Ambroeus is an Italian heaven. I first experienced this place in the Hamptons location. I had dinner with a few friends while on a day trip there, and it was just out-of-this-world! Everything here is done right. They have a few locations in the city, one is near the Met which is a great option for dining before or after your visit. You will find pastries here that will blow your mind, and are fantastic to take home, or give as gifts to family and friends. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here and with the nice selection of locations, you have some flexibility. I know you will thank me for alerting you to this place! Your welcome!

Bloomingdales and 40 Carrots is probably one of my most FAVORITE places in the city! I have been going here since I was a little girl, and it is still magical for me when I walk in those doors! Bloomies to me just screams NYC, and nothing beats going to their flagship shop on Lexington Avenue. Their accessory, handbag, jewelry and shoe departments are probably my favorites. 40 Carrots has evolved since I started going there, but I still feel they should have made it much larger. It is so busy most of the time, better on a weekday than a weekend, but it’s worth it to wait in line to enjoy a meal. The yogurt is heavenly, and the peanut butter has to be my favorite. I like the salad trio which gives you chicken, egg and tuna salad to enjoy. The pretzel rolls just make me smile. Whoever invented the pretzel roll, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

What are your favorite "go-to" places in New York City ? 

To be assured not miss a post, sign up for each one to be emailed to you HERE. Be sure to check for your Feedburner confirmation email, or your subscription will not be processed. Your email is not sold or shared with anyone. Thank you so much for being a reader of this blog! 

Instagram / Facebook/ Bloglovin/ Pinterest