Mini Cupcakes!

Ok, so if you had a quarter and a cupcake, which one would you eat? Personally, I’d eat the cupcake, but if it was the SIZE of a quarter, I’d eat at least TWO!

At Baked By Melissa, a boutique cupcake shop popping up all over New York City, you can be sure that you will be popping these little guys into your mouth all day long if you had a box of them.

These bite size pieces of heaven come in a variety of flavors. Please see picture below! There is a disclaimer on the website mentioning that they only use peanut butter in their peanut butter cupcakes. So if you have a peanut allergy, there are no peanut flavorings, or almond flavorings in any of the other cupcakes. But please note, that all the cupcakes are made in the same facility and in the same kitchen, so if your peanut allergy is severe, it may be best to find some other yummy cupcakes!

Allergy Info:
Peanut Butter products are ONLY in peanut butter cupcakes, all others are peanut free!
All sealed Baked by Melissa products and packages are certified Kosher

Foodie Rundown:
Cinnamon – seriously melts in your mouth, tastes like a cinnamon coffee cake, with frosting and yummy cinnamon filling
Peanut Butter & Jelly – If my mom made me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like this for lunch when I was in middle school, I would have eaten 1,000 of them a day!
Cupcake of the Month – Snow Covered Pretzel – You know those days when you’re craving something salty, and then sweet, and you take pretzels and dunk them into melted chocolate, THIS cupcake, is sweet and salty and captures the best of both worlds. Wish this could be a standard cupcake because it was delicious!

Locations:
Soho
Union Square
Grand central
Fashion District
Upper West Side
Times Square
Columbus Circle
Gramercy
Financial District
Don’t live in NYC? Baked by Melissa SHIPS NATIONWIDE!

http://www.bakedbymelissa.com/ 

Flex Mussels

No need to work out for this dinner! Flex Mussels has done all the leg work for you! With its 2 great locations, 1 in the meatpacking/Chelsea area and the other on the upper east side. Indulge in a menu full of mussels, mussels and oh wait, more mussels! *Disclaimer – do not go here if you are allergic to seafood, shellfish, or mussels. There is a small portion of the menu with the title “non mussels”, but it just wouldn’t be the same. For those of you who love a good pot, and yes, I said POT of mussels, go with a spouse, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, another couple, or a bunch of friends, and enjoy flex mussels for a great trendy dinner experience!

Allergy Info:
Seafood allergy is a no go!

Foodie Rundown:
THE MEXICAN - chipotle adobo, chorizo, calamari
ITALIANO - calamari, roasted garlic, red wine, tomato sauce
BRUSCHETTA - San Marzano tomatoes, lobster, marinated tomato, croutons (top picture)
And my ultimate favorite – BISQUE - lobster, brandy, tomato, garlic, cream (bottom picture)

Make sure you order a side of fries, mussels aren’t complete unless accompanied by some fries!

Locations:
13th between 6th and 7th
82nd between 3rd and lex

http://www.flexmusselsny.com/

Let’s Go Knicks!

Since we’re quickly approaching basketball season, I figured I’d put out a review on one of the worlds most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. The Garden is working on an approximate $800 million renovation, which is taking three stages to complete. But what has thankfully already been completed, is the addition of many new and delicious food vendors throughout the Arena. (For a complete list see the NY Times Article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/dining/madison-square-garden-gets-a-new-menu-with-its-upgrade.html?pagewanted=all)

The Daily Burger serves burgers on English muffins (that somehow don’t get soggy?). Don’t forget about the bacon/onion jam. The regular burger will cost $8.65 while the cheese burger with the jam will cost you $9.95. Now why does Foodergie pick this up as an allergy alert? Because in the tiny corner of the menu displayed above the counter, there is a note that says that the bacon/onion jam contains shellfish! The good news? You can order the burger without the sauce, and add your own condiment at the stands at the garden.

Allergy Info:
Shellfish in the bacon/onion jam
Allergy Friendly

Foodie Rundown:
If you’re not allergic to shellfish, the burger with cheese, with the bacon/onion jam is outrageous! You’ll feel like you stepped out of the garden and into one of Drew Nieporent’s restaurants. Oh wait, you kind of did?! (Drew is also the owner of Tribeca Grill, nobu and Centrico – just to name drop a few).

Location:
200 level concourse of Madison Square Garden

Atkins Sushi??

So when I lived in Murray Hill, my go to sushi spot was Nomado 33. It wasn't until after I moved that i realized they had carb free sushi! At Nomado 33, not only are the ingredients fresh, prices reasonable and sake bombs are only 10 bucks, but they also can wrap any sushi in cucumber instead of rice. Yes, you heard me, cucumber. There are a few cucumber rolls on the menu, but for a small charge, they will wrap any roll in cucumber (just ask)! It is fresh, healthier and quite refreshing in the summer time. I had never even thought of trying it until my friend was on the Atkins Diet, but this is great for anyone who is trying to stay away from carbs and wants to have some sushi.

Allergy info:
Carb friendly (cucumber wrapped rolls - pictured)
Nut friendly
Allergy friendly

Foodie Rundown:
Pizza Roll (for the hearty appetite, this roll is HUGE, I get it without eel, because eel creeps me out, but the flavors are amazing, also it looks like pizza! (*note – this roll cannot be wrapped in cucumber) (pictured on top)
Snow White Roll (white tuna, spicy mayo, avocado, crunch, topped with snow crab
If they have the Tuna Dumpling as a special for an appetizer, get it, it will make you smile
$10 sake bombs (1 full beer and a small container of sake)

Location:
Murray Hill – 33rd between 3rd and Lex

Live in the area? Nomado offers (for take out only) free edamame for orders over $20, free california roll for an order over $30, and a FREE special roll for orders over $50!

www.nomado33.com

I heart the Burgh!

Now the one thing that NYC doesn't have is Nakama -Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar! Nestled in the Southside is a sushi and hibachi gem with what seems like a never ending martini menu. If you're headed to Pittsburgh for business or pleasure, or so happy to live there, I'd suggest two things: a Steelers game and Nakama!

Allergy Info:
Please tell your server of all allergies as hibachi is made on a shared surface
Vegetarian options available

Foodie Rundown:
Hibachi shrimp and filet mignon and you'll leave happy! Don't forget to ask the chef to do the famous volcano and if you're lucky he will sling shot broccoli into your mouth

Locations:
1611 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203 (Pittsburgh's Historic South Side)

The Capital Grille

Located all around the US, Capital Grille has a reputation for serving nationally renowned aged steaks. The food and décor are matched at elegant perfection and the service is always at the highest attention.

Allergy Info:
Allergy Friendly
Not vegetarian Friendly

Foodie Rundown:
Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes – this tasted like a mozzarella stick but instead of breading, it is wrapped in prosciutto, get to share, but you may not want to after the first bite!
Capital Grille Chopped Salad – everything but the kitchen sink! Definitely order to share because this salad is huge, unless your appetite can fit this and a steak, so take your time
Lobster and Crab Stuffed Shrimp – All in the title and more, butterflied shrimp stuffed with fresh lobster and crab, lightly breaded and served for your taste buds to enjoy. What an outrageous seafood loving entrée
Filet Mignon – No Fat, perfectly cooked, cannot go wrong
Sides:
Lobster Mac n Cheese
Grilled Asparagus
And don’t forget the Au Gratin Potatoes – full of potatoes, cream and cheese, topped with lots of bread crumbs!

Locations:
New York City
Philadelphia
Seattle
Boston
DC
Miami
Orlando
Houston
Atlanta
Chicago
Las Vegas
LA
JUST to name a few…for the complete list – check out the location link!
http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/locations/Main.asp

Travel Thursday - Hey Cupcake!

Guest Post by Gina Oliva – Thank you!

Today we’re traveling to Austin, Texas. Although Austin is weird, (if you’ve been you totally know the saying), but gourmet cupcakes are never weird especially at Hey Cupcake!

There are simple flavors ranging from Vanilla to Chocolate, to 24 Carrot and Michael Jackson. The best is that they offer gluten free options, such as Pina Colada. A tropical paradise for those who are gluten free! Oh and if you’re in the area, and you go to their website, or click on the link here (http://www.heycupcake.com/index.php), you can enter your email address for a FREE cupcake. Yes, I said FREE!

Allergy Info:
Gluten Free Cupcake Option

Foodie Rundown:
Pina Colada- Trying to fit in with the Austin mentality of fitness and healthy eating, I choose a Gluten Free cupcake after a delicious dinner at South Congress Café across the street. I was not expecting much, just that I would not feel as bad for my decision to say “Screw It” and eat a cupcake. It was well worth it. Hands down no one would have known it was gluten free. After taking my first bite, my second bite was even better. To my surprise the cupcake was filled with pineapples to make the cupcake even moister. The only deduction was that the icing was super sweet. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (would rather eat another bowl of pasta than dessert ;)), so I would have preferred more of a cream cheese frosting, such as the one they have on their delicious red velvet cupcakes, which are not gluten free. The Pina Colada cupcake was as close as I could get to pretending I was on a beach and a great example of how eating gluten free does not always match up with the stereotypes associated with it.

Locations:
Everythings bigger in Texas…
North Austin
South Austin
Four Points
Braker
San Marcos