Rayuela

Been busy with other goals in life... too bad I can't keep up the update in this blog, I will try my best!

I tried Rayuela some years ago (check my earlier entry) and miss their super yummy homemade bread. So here I come again! (oh, make the reservation via opentable, you will earn 1,000 points toward your dinning check)

There is the nice bar section

165 Allen Street, New York, NY

(212) 253-8840 

Website

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Babycakes

What makes cupcake different from one another? What makes Babycakes' cupcake so delicious?

The frosting is so smooth, and the best part is it's not super sweet! Babycakes offer gluten free cupcakes as well. At the moment I don't know what gluten is, however, I think I am so blessed that I don't need to know what gluten is.

The awards and my half eaten Lemon cupcake :P

The store counter.

Babycakes (map)
248 Broome Street
New York, NY 10002

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The Stanton Social

My last post for 2010!
I am grateful that I am able to try so many cuisines this year with the person I love~ ♥ I believe that it's not only the food, but also the moment that we share makes the dinning experience enjoyable. Let's discover more goodies for the year that follows ♥

We passed by this restaurant the other night, the environment looked great, we decided to come back, and here we are.

Little treats from the house, some kind of coconut dish. Sweet and soft.

First dish is Maryland Jumbo Lump Crabcake 'Corn Dogs’... hmm, it's like corn dogs without the meat

One of my favorite is this Rhode Island Style Lobster Roll. Large lobster meat and fresh, small portion tho >__<

Then is this Old School Meatballs - basil & ricotta 'manicotti'.

I think this is the signature dish, the Stanton Social Beef Wellington, filet mignon wrapped in puff pastry, with foie gras sauce. It's either this dish or the waiter, when they bring this on, I swear there is a strong smell of truffle oil. Back to the dish, it looks like those Chinese roasted pork puff pastry (maybe that's where the idea comes from). Frankly, the taste is not very impressive, the meat doesn't go well with the foie gras sauce, and the sauce is salty. :(

In comparison, this 'Chicken n' Waffles' with corn and maple syrup is much better. The syrup and corn give the dish a sweet taste.

I am 80% full by now, but how can I skip the dessert. This is Chai Crème Brulee and spiced misfortune cookies. When the waiter brings us the Chai Creme Brulee, he forgets the cookies, we are joking maybe that's where the misfortune comes from. :)
Both are good.

For everyone who sees this post, I wish you a healthy and wealthy fortune New Year!


The Stanton Social (map)
99 Stanton Street
New York, NY
(212) 995-0099

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Blue Elm

Been there a while back, they already changed their menu since I went, but I want to go back again for their other flavors!

It was a small place, yet kinda trendy. I went there as a group of 7, had pretty good food and good time.

I saw their menu online, the "Shared plates" section somehow made me think it's a groupy place, but not quite, not even their food had large portion. However, I still suggest this place for groups, to share the food and share the cost (o'u≦o)☆彡

The Pan-Seared Scallops with peas and sweet corns, my all time favorite, sauteed and soft, deeelicious~


The Crab Crusted & Rsted Portobello Mushroom. Yeah.. the blood sauce somehow looked weirdly pink in the photo... Little salty.


The Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, I tasted the tuna, where was the yellowfin?


The sashimi cocktail, too small to share, but it tasted good~


The Cotes d'Agneau, my friend said it's the cod (one of my love), and they ordered 2x, may I have 1 more piece? :P


The ribs, you couldn't go wrong with these!


The Kobe Beef Mafe Aux Legum, wonder if they still have this. I think I had 2 potatoes from this pot... :( also some very spicy pepper inside. My friends who had the meat said it was very good..


The Creme Brulee with strawberries on top and fruits inside :P


The Chocolate Explosion, another name for Lava cake XP


The Hazelnut ice cream and...


The Mocha ice cream~~

Blue Elm (map)
198 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002

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Rayuela

A fantastic place! Oh, and it's one of the gay-friendly restaurants :D

I got here before the sunset and I just love the light in Rayuela! What a wonderful scene here on the 2nd floor



Their website has more pictures of the interior if you are interested :D


Rayuela was celebrating their 3rd anniversary in June. This post is about their special menu for this (and now they have the restaurant week menu! You should go try it if you like my pictures!!) This was the Amuse, "Yellow tomato gazpacho infused with saffron and Chilean carica sprinkled with garlic toasted casaba", whatever that means, it was DELICIOUS! Tasty and refreshing.


Ceviche of Erizo con Vieras, it was sea urchin and scallop ceviche with a delightful sauce.


This Caracol con Navajas was another great surprise to your taste bud. The lychee-coconut citrus sauce went so smoothly with the sliced conch and razor clams. ♥


I got to mention their homemade Pan De Yuca (Colombian Cheese Bread) with olive-infused butter on the side, the bread was freshly made of yucca flour, cheese, milk and butter, so rich and so moist that you wouldn't dare to not finish it!! (yeah.. I usually don't eat the bread in order to save my appetite)


Here is a closer look at the center of the Pan De Yuca, the smell of cheese.. and butter.. and ... (*￣▽￣*)


alright, back to the courses, Surena Coquera, "Lemongrass-ginger coconut soup with shrimp, scallops, octopus and clams, sprinkled with tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeno" The picture said it all!


The Pato con Pera Salvaje, Breast of duck (Got to admit I couldn't tell it was duck breast..)


"Tamarind glazed short ribs served with foie gras infused polenta, and a double cooked egg. Topped with lobster chimichurri" The ribs were a little dry to me, but different people have different taste, you may find it taste good.


"Pan seared dorado with sweet potatoes puree and jumbo lump crab meat" They cooked the fish well! Even my bf who avoid fish as much as possible finished half of this!


Dessert, yes, the dessert! Don't you think that was too much?! Avocado custard garnished with poached tamarillo.


And the Chocolate pudding with Acai mousse & berries. The orange ones were the groundberries, ha! I recognized them!

It was really a great dinning experience and would like to come back for other dishes (≧▽≦)

Rayuela's website (map)
165 Allen Street, New York, NY‎

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