YEE HAW!

Step out of the City into a country delight. Hill Country BBQ offers some of the best BBQ in New York City, and is fun for the entire family. Get family style sides to share, or little ones to keep to yourself (you all know what I would do!). This is an interactive restaurant so don’t think you’ll go to Hill Country to be wined and dined. Bring your cowboy hat, your appetite and have a few beers and enjoy this fun and casual BBQ place in the heart of Flatiron.

*Remember, don’t lose your meal ticket! You could be charged $50 for that baby! So keep it on your table at all times!

Allergy Info:
Meat lovers!
No nuts
No fish
Mostly gluten free
Sorry vegetarians, this place is not for you!


Foodie Rundown:

For the Meat:
Pork Spare Ribs And Beef Ribs – I can never remember which of the ribs I love more, so every time I go, I get one of each! They are absolutely great, and they are huge!
Brisket – My boyfriend loved the brisket, said it was delicious and fall apart delicious
Original Sausage - Can never go wrong with sausage, take that as you wish.
Market Chicken - ok so for those of you who follow the blog, I don’t really eat chicken. But my mom ordered the Market Chicken, and I took a little taste, it was outrageous! Succulent and juicy, with lots of BBQ sauce and a slice of white bread. Welcome to Texas!?

For the Side:
Longhorn Cheddar Mac & Cheese - I’m pretty sure everyone loves mac & cheese as a side, and if you don’t, well that’s just not good (pictured)
White Shoepeg Corn Pudding – this is like corn candy! I love this stuff, I’m pretty sure it’s seasonal, but it is always the first side that I get when I go
Green Bean Casserole w/ Durkee Onions - just like mama’s green bean casserole!
Skillet Corn Bread with Ancho Honey Butter – 1) you always need to have corn bread on the table at a BBQ, 2) the ancho honey butter is melt in your mouth delicious! It has some cinnamon and honey and it is just outrageous! Smother it all over the corn bread like you would in the deep south, it’s ok, no ones watching! (pictured)
Hot German Potatoes
Confetti Cole Slaw

For the Dessert:
Banana Cream Pudding - when you think you can’t eat any more? Make sure to order this dessert, as my boyfriend said, “I think this may be the best banana cream pudding I’ve ever had!”

Locations:
NY – 30 W. 26th
DC – 410 Seventh street NW

http://www.hillcountryny.com/

Travel Thursday!

Psych! Today we are traveling to Colombia without actually leaving Manhattan. Palenque is a food truck with gourmet Colombian delicacies. The food is made using only the best eco-friendly and organic ingredients and has vegetarian and vegan options as well.

What is an Arepa? You might ask…It is a bread patty made from corn and water (Palenque offers brown rice or quinoa based patty’s as well). Arepa’s can be topped with arugula, queso de hebra, beef, chicken, shrimp, seitan (wheat based and vegan), portobello mushrooms (vegan), organic vegan Italian chorizo or organic vegan chipotle chorizo! And if you think that’s not enough! They have organic vegan chipotle mayo (made with soy), guacamole and chimichurri-cilantro sauces!

Allergy Info:
Organic
Vegan
Vegetarian
Nut free!

Foodie Rundown:
Organic Chipotle Chorizo Arepa– A fan favorite according to the truck. This vegan, vegetarian, chorizo arepa, on a corn based patty, was outrageous. It was full of flavor and definitely packed a nice little spicy punch!

Beef Arepa on a Brown Rice and Sesame Patty – same great flavors as the chipotle chorizo, with a little less of the spcies! Absolutely delicious, the patty was nice and crisp, and both were thoroughly enjoyable!

Location:
Their Schedule is located here: http://palenque-schedule.blogspot.com/


http://www.palenquehomemadecolombianfood.com/

Thirsty Thursday!

Before we wrap up this great summer full of dinner, drinks and allergy friendly food, make sure you get in one last slushy this labor day weekend! Kelvin Natural Slush Co. has all natural slushies with sophisticated flavors in our favorite location on wheels, a truck!

Some flavors that they have are Spicy Ginger, Tangy Citrus, Green Tea and Black Tea. These are then mixed with real fruit puree, chopped mint and basil, and other mix-ins that they have available.

Follow them on twitter or give them a call and find out where they are located! Follow us on Twitter or call the “slush” phone 1.646.200.5083

Allergy Info:
All Natural fruits and flavors - All Kelvin Slushies are proudly made with highest quality all natural ingredients
Gluten Free
Nut Free
Allergy Friendly

Foodie Rundown:
Slushy of the day:The Arnold Palmer ( ½ Tea, ½ Citrus, with a Pomegranate mix in)

Location:
Follow Kelvin on Twitter @KELVINSLUSH

http://kelvinslush.com

Cake Heaven!

If you like savory, delicious, melt in your mouth cupcakes and cakes, then you should order your next birthday cake or cupcakes from the Buttercup Bakeshop. I have not tried all the flavors (I really wish I had!), but I do know that the Bakeshop was very accomdoating with my peanut allergy (when I had one). Normally, peanut allergies prohibit the ordering of cakes and cup cakes from normal bakeries, but when I called the Buttercup Bake Shop they promised me that the batter I had chosen had no almond flavoring or nuts of any kind and that any nuts or peanut butter frosting would be kept entirely away from my cake.

What’s even more exciting is that this place delivers anywhere in Manhattan for a small delivery fee. So order your mom’s next birthday cake here (yes, that’s what I did), and I promise it will go over great. The website even allows you to do all the ordering and the customization of colors and text on your cake online! I know you foodies like technologically advanced food websites, who doesn’t?

Allergy Info:
Peanut friendly and DELICIOUS!
*Please note there are nuts in some of their cakes, but the bakery is cautious and happy to accommodate people with allergies, this does not mean that they are completely NUT free!

Foodie Rundown:
Buttercup Golden Layer Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Icing – I know I say this a lot, but I really think this will change your life, I’m not kidding this time!

Locations:
973 2nd Ave (between 51st and 52nd)
White Plains, NY

http://buttercupbakeshop.com/

That’s so Jenn!

Today’s blog post is about another blog! Blogging about blogging, I like it.

That’s So Jenn, is a blog that blogs about foodies, who like to cook, unlike MY blog which is just about foodies who like to eat! Here you can find great and amazing recipe’s, along with a fabulous sense of humor that will have you rolling in your seat. That’s So Jenn – Confessions of a Foodie has great allergy options as well. Tonight, go home and make Jenn’s healthy and delicious Homemade Veggie Pizza!

Note* Gluten free friends, replace flour with gluten free flour for the same great recipe!
http://thatssojenn.com/2012/07/24/thats-so-jenn-ingredient-challenge-night-1-homemade-veggie-pizza/

Allergy Info:
Veggie Pizza is great for gluten free and vegetarians, nut free, seafood free and meat free!

Foodie Rundown:
Ooops – I made something delicious post! This is my favorite, and as I was a taste tester of the ooops ice cream that was created, I have to say, it was delicious! Here’s an except to get any idea:
“I continued this innovative mindset when I once forgot the egg in my potato latkes turning them into what we called ‘Chanukah hashbrowns’…or the time I left out the butter in my oatmeal, chocolate peanut butter cookies and wound up with the perfect snack for my vegan mother…or how my crumbled layer cake became a beautiful trifle. And the list goes on.” – That’s So Jenn!
http://thatssojenn.com/2011/11/12/oops-i-made-something-delicious/

Location:
Instead of giving you Jenn’s address which would be highly inappropriate, I will point you to her website!
www.thatssojenn.com

Now if you like what you see and you think this blog is great, LIKE it on FACEBOOK! And don’t forget to vote for Jenn to be named Taste of Home's Mrs. Holiday! You can vote up to once a day through Sept 7th, vote and share, spread the word! - http://www.facebook.com/tasteofhome/app_308553629224079

Alta-nate menu!?

At Alta in the W. Village, they cater to making sure that people with nut allergies and those that are gluten free can enjoy their dinner as much as anyone else. For those chefs that like to use nuts in their food and not tell you, is scary. For those of you who can’t eat gluten, it’s hard for you to go out to eat. But Alta – proves this theory wrong.

For example, at Alta for dinner one night, I mentioned that I had a nut allergy. Out comes this “nut free” menu! Talk about a VIP feel!!! I started to notice that some of the items were not on the menu. But when I realized that the lamb meatballs weren’t on there, I asked the waiter why. Turns out the chef likes to use a type of walnut or pine nut in the chopped meat for the meatballs. Something that is not stated on their regular menu.

So for the nut allergic and the gluten free, this place is great! (well, let’s be honest, for everyone this place is great!). The regular menu has over 40 items of small plates! Go with a large group and get every small plate on the menu for $480 bucks. Sounds like a lot, but you’ll get over 40 plates of food.

Try the sangria – it’s fabulous.

Note: Alta only takes cash and American Express. So bring your boyfriend and a wad of cash!

Allergy Info:
This place has a nut free and gluten free menu! What could be better?

Foodie Rundown:
Although I haven’t tried every dish, due to allergies and or lack of stomach space, here are some favs:
Pulled Pork Empanadas
Brussel Sprouts (can you tell this is a theme of mine?)
Pastrami Ravioli
Fried Goat Cheese
Grilled shrimp and chorizo skewer

Address:
West Village (64 w. 10th st)

http://altarestaurant.com/