Tag Archives: NYC

Organic Avenue Love Deep Cleanse: Day 2

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day 2 of my 5-day Organic Avenue Love Deep Cleanse.  all juices, no solid foods.

mood:  cautious. it was a monday, so the first day i truly needed to be an active member of society. also, it was the first day of my 2-day conference on learning to “lead with presence”.  scary on more than one level.

activity level:  full day of a leadership conference + a yoga class at night.  i have to admit, there were moments during my yoga class where i was feeling light-headed.  maybe after 2 days of fewer calories, i didn’t have enough to push through a really challenging yoga class.

The Menu: total calorie count (minus the Coconut Mylk) = 715 calories.  i figure the max the Coconut Mylk could be is around 700…if so, we’re talking about 1400 calories.

  • CHLOROPHYLL SHOT (0 calories)
  • COCONUT WATER (86 calories)
  • PEAR JUICE (209 calories):  one of my favorite juices, probably because it’s so sweet and palatable.  but absolutely delicious.  apparently pear is a hypo-allergenic fruit that is high in fiber but less likely to produce adverse reactions
  • MASTER TONIC (108 calories): the very typical idea of a “cleanse” with the cayenne pepper.  not as sweet but very delicious nonetheless
  • VEGGIE VIBE (146 calories): my absolute favorite “good for you juice”. it doesn’t taste (or look) that green, and it’s quite delicious!
  • GREEN LOVE (166 calories):  my 2nd favorite “good for you juice”. while it’s definitely green, i think the lemon and parley cuts through it a little
  • COCONUT MYLK (Org Ave won’t really tell me how many calories are in this, which leads me to believe that it’s really high — also not listed on their website. very suspicious…):  it literally tastes like you’re eating a coconut. delicious!

the verdict:  by the end of day 2, i had a bit of a lull in energy — especially after the yoga class.  but was hoping that it was the worst of it!

Organic Avenue Love Deep: Day 1

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Day 1 of a 5-Day Organic Avenue Love Deep.

baseline:  despite being vegan this past year+, i’ve definitely let some bad habits slip in: two fully-caffeinated sugary Starbucks drinks a day, tons of cooked stuff, candy galore and…oh hi, carbs!

mood:  apprehensive.  based on the above, i was expecting Day 1 to be painful: headaches, moodiness and major bitchiness.  oddly enough, none of it. which leads me to believe the worst is still to come. (yikes!)

activity level:  day 1 was a Sunday, so tried to keep it low key. went to a 90-minute Jivamukti yoga class before i started my cleanse, then lounged around the rest of the day watching bad-but-good movies (Miss Congeniality, Titanic, Twilight)…and also squeezed in a massage. anticipating the worst, i decided to take it easy.

the menu:  i specifically asked for there to be “more” calories, since i wanted to continue my daily workout regime during the cleanse.  today’s total calorie count: 1,054

the verdict: loved the flavor of every single juice today. in the past, i’ve had not-so-great times with some of the green soups, but thankfully, no green soups on this menu! energy levels are decent…but we’ll see what happens tomorrow when i have to go to work and be functioning member of society!

www.organicavenue.com

GRUB: Café Boulud – Chef’s Tasting Menu (September 2011)

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GRUB 411:

  • CAFE BOULUD, 20 East 76th Street, NY NY 10021; (212) 772-2600
  • www.danielbouludnyc.com
  • TYPE:  French, classic
  • PRICE:  $$$$$$
  • QUICKVIEW:  exquisite classic French cuisine, nestled in a quintessential Upper East Side scene.  After eating here, you know why Mr B gets all the props, but let’s just say you definitely get what you pay for.  (my wallet is feeling violated)
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥♥ (but for $$$$$)

FULL REVIEW:

after owning and running a successful specialty food store in Westchester County, it’s no surprise that my parents are both huge foodies.  thus, selecting a restaurant for a special occasion dinner is never an easy feat. so i was stressing where to take them for their birthdays.

but one thing i’ve learned over the years — when in doubt, GO CLASSIC.

Daniel Boulud’s reputation precedes him – he is one of the most successful restauranteurs in NYC, and he has a reputation for excellence.  while his downtown burger joint was a questionable toe dipped in the casual water, i’d never eaten at any of his signature locations.

naturally, Momma & Poppa Park wanted to do the 7-course tasting menu. unfortunately, that meant the entire table had to do the tasting menu. when i told the waiter i didn’t eat meat, he said “is fish OK?”  (i reluctantly acquiesced).  then the waiter asked if anyone had any allergies — i told him i was allergic to dairy.  his panic was palpable.  LESSON LEARNED: it’s nearly impossible to be vegan at a French restaurant.  anyhoo…

  • the tasting menu came at a nice pace.  we were seated around 9:30pm and we were done around 11:30pm.
  • service was solid – attentive without being being a nuisance. plates were cleared as soon as we were done, but no hovering.
  • despite me being a special needs eater, they did their very best to accommodate me, which was very much appreciated
  • food presentation was impeccable and EVERY piece of meat was cooked to absolute perfection.
  • the plates were classic, but didn’t seem outdated – the flavors were clean and articulate.
  • the word of the day: MONEY.  everyone around us were clearly rolling in it, you needed to have a fair amount of it to eat there, and everything tasted exquisitely expensive.

overall, the dinner was a tremendous success.  the Parents Park were really impressed with the meal, which is not an easy accomplishment.  NO complaints!  but again – this is not a destination for the monetarily bashful. another lesson learned: you get what you pay for in life!

DISCLAIMER:  apologies for the semi-blurry photos…i forgot my real camera so had to shoot these with my phone!

PLATE-BY-PLATE

AMUSE BOUCHE:  Risotto balls.  unfortunately i didn’t sample these lovely delicacies, but Momma & Poppa Park enjoyed them!

COURSE 1:  Oysters….needless to say, i didn’t eat this either.  but apparently it was delicious….(still wanted to share the photo!)

COURSE 2: Maine Peekytoe Crab, Grab Gelée, Cauliflower, Lemon, Chives.  this was an exquisite dish – there was a lovely thin layer of puff pastry wrapped around the tiny log of peekytoe crabmeat. it sat atop a bed of minced vegetables, served with puff balls and some creme fraiche.

COURSE 2 (alternative):  Hamachi Crudo, radish, avocado, tomato, basil.  Poppa Park ate this one…he said it was deliciously light and refreshing.

COURSE 3:  Corn and potato soup with pan de mie toast with popcorn.

COURSE 3 (alternative): Eckerton Farm Tomato Gazpacho, prosciutto grissini, avocado, english cucumber, basil. this was a remarkably refreshing, light gazpacho. what really did it for me was the basil oil that was drizzled on top. swoon.

COURSE 4:  Tortelloni with shaved parmesan and mushrooms.

COURSE 4 (Alternative):   Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto, black summer truffles. absolutely delicious – very much appreciated that they made this alternative for me. i would have inhaled an entire plate of it.  the risotto was creamy (not from dairy, naturally), but still delightfully al dente.

COURSE 5: Striped Bass en Paupiette, pommes purée, baby leeks, sauce meurette.  the Parents Park had this one – it looked unbelievable, though.


COURSE 5 (alternative):  Roasted Eggplant Ravioli, smoked ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, garlic confit.  for my almost-vegan 5th course, they made a lovely eggplant ravioli. unfortunately they forgot that ricotta cheese is…well, dairy.  fortunately, i was able to scoop the dollops off to the side of the plate.

COURSE 6:  Cherry Glazed Duck Breast, pommes amandine, wilted arugula, cipollini onions, sauce au poivre.  this was a mini version of their regular menu item – my parents were bowled over at how beautiful and delicious the dish was.  the duck breast was cooked to perfection.  very pleased.

COURSE 6 (alternative): Poached Maine Halibut, poblano peppers, shiitake mushrooms cashews coconut-red curry broth.  for my last savory dish, i got a delicious red curry halibut. clearly, this falls under the more contemporary category of dishes, and to that, i say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  i’m not a fan of watered-down anything.  as someone who personally loves a bold, rich-flavored curry, this didn’t cut it for me.  however, i will say the fish was PERFECTLY cooked.

COURSE 7:  Milk Chocolate Coffee Parfait, jivara mousse, feuilletine crisp, nougat ice cream.  by this point of the evening, i said “screw it” and just ate whatever they put in front of me (clearly any hopes of maintaining any type of vegan diet was completely foiled).  not really being a sweets person, this dessert was adequate.  if anything, it was too sweet, which was unexpected for a mousse parfait dish.

COURSE 7:
Dark Chocolate Mousse, pistachio crémeux, chocolate sablé, pistachio ice cream.  this was an unexpected favorite at our table.  my mom & I (not normally huge chocolate freaks), adored this.  there was a delicious pistachio cakey-thingee underneath the sheet of chocolate…and the actual mousse was perfectly rich without being too decadent, and NOT TOO SWEET!

food pr0n: Fresh Figs with Black Summer Truffles and Truffle Cream (@PureFoodandWine)

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there’s no question: figs are the sexiest looking edibles around. everything about it oozes culinary erotic: from the beautiful rich colors, to the subtle grain of the seeds, to the delicate flavors bursting in your mouth.

and who’s a sexy runner-up to figs? TRUFFLES, naturally. (i’m sure my homegirl @erinmccaffrey would agree)

what do you get when you pair these two bombshells together? FOOD PR0N!

take a look at this seasonal appetizer from my favorite restaurant in NYC: Pure Food & Wine – Fresh Figs with Black Summer Truffles and Truffle Cream

DESCRIPTION: Fresh Figs with Black Summer Truffles and Truffle Cream with red mustard and pea greens, chervil, and pink peppercorn

SEOULDIVA SAYS:  this dish is stunning. delicate, yet flavorful all at once.  the figs bring a lovely, unassuming sweetness, balanced by the light smoke from the beautiful truffle shavings.  both sit on top of this nut-cream sauce that adds a nice tang, with the sprouts to clean the palate.

be sure to visit the fine folks at Pure Food & Wine to try this unbelievable decadence before it’s gone from their menu!!

(thanks to @sarma for sending me the dish description!!)

Pure Food & Wine
54 Irving Place
NY NY 10003.
(212) 477-1010
www.oneluckyduck.com/purefoodandwine

Cheap NYC Facials? Yes, m’am, @ Teana Beauty Center

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I’ve definitely been known to be more of a beauty adventurer. between questionable eyelash perming in Chinatown, to super-cheap-but-great haircuts, to trying Calgel back in 2009…i don’t mind experimenting for the sake of beauty.

The one common theme throughout all my expeditions: price.  do i believe in investing in beauty? for sure!  but i also believe that DEALS exist!! especially in NYC.

my latest beauty adventure: FINDING THE ULTIMATE CHEAP FACIAL.

now let me preface this post by saying that I began my career in beauty working in skincare.  my first job out of college was at Mario Badescu Skincare, where I learned the ins and outs of Facials 101.  Granted, MB is also a fantastic, cheap place to get a really incredible facial for cheap – $65! But truth is, I work/live/play downtown, so trekking it to midtown is not ideal.

i had read several reviews on Yelp about Teana Beauty Center: a tiny, hole-in-the-wall facial spot in Chinatown. All the reviews online are RAVE, so I had to see for myself.  Now I feel very fortunate to be blessed with pretty normal skin – no major problems thanks to good genes (thanks Mom), drinking plenty of water, a mostly raw vegan diet, and regular exercise.  For me, facials are just like going to the dentist: every now and then, you need a good, deep cleaning.

Nestled in Chinatown, the place was small, but quiet. I was put in a room with one other person, but it was fine.  Some things to note:

  • They followed all the basics of Facials 101: cleanse, moisturize, cleanse, steam, massage while you steam, extractions, mask, moisturizer
  • The facialist did not leave me unattended the entire time – she was always doing something. Bueno.
  • They did use a tool for extractions. If you’re used to the Mario Badescu method, where it’s 100% finger extractions, this was an adjustment…and a bit more painful.

OUTCOME:  after the facial, my skin felt the cleanest it’s felt in MONTHS, and was also super smooth to the touch – yay for clean pores!  Unfortunately, I was a blotchy red mess.  I think it may have been because they used a tool for extractions, which was a little more aggressive on the skin.  Again, I’m very used to the Mario Badescu facials where you leave the spa glowing and fresh-faced.

Fortunately, the redness went away completely by the next morning, and my skin was still singing.

The PRICE was NOT to be believed: first-timer price was $25. Let me say that again: first-timer price was $25!!!  They also said that if I bought a package of 10 facials, it would cost $380 / $38 per facial.  (full price is $45 per facial)

SEOULDIVA SAYS:  hell-ass-yes! I would absolutely go back.  But I probably feel comfortable returning there because I don’t have any major or serious skin concerns.  It’s a great place for a quick, cheap cleaning for normal skin. But if you have a specific skin concern, I would recommend going to a spa that can offer more of a comprehensive, medical approach to your facial.

Teana Beauty Center
151-B Mott St
(between Grand St & Broome St) 
New York, NY 10013.
(646) 613-1888
Accepts Credit Cards

trying to eat raw: ordering lunch from Spring Natural, NYC

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those who know me, know that i try not to be pushy.
while i have chosen this raw foodie lifestyle, i don’t want to impose it, or inconvenience other people with it.  i don’t believe in excluding yourself from social situations, just so you can maintain your raw food ways…isolation is no fun for anyone!  you can usually find something to eat on a menu, and make it raw-food friendly by asking them to adjust it.
today, i was ordering lunch with a few co-workers from Spring Street Natural in Soho. in my pre-vegan days, this was one of the best places to order from: all their food is very healthy, with many vegan options for diners.  but i hadn’t ordered from there since becoming raw.
i ordered the Spring Street Natural Taco Salad: red onions, guacamole, sour cream, queso fresco, organic black beans and salsa over organic brown rice; served with tri-color corn chips…but with the following requests:

  • no sour cream
  • no queso fresco
  • no black beans
  • no brown rice
  • no corn chips

unfortunately, they forgot to remove the sour cream…and unfortunately I forgot to ask for no ”salsa”…#heatherfail!
so i ended up scooping out the sour cream, and eating around the slop of salsa in the middle.  methinks i’m going to be ordering from elsewhere later this afternoon!!

Raw Soul, NYC: reppin’ RAW in Harlem!

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GRUB 411:

  • RAW SOUL: 348 West 145th Street, (212) 491-5859
  • WEBSITE:  www.rawsoul.com
  • TYPE:  Raw Vegan
  • PRICE:  $$
  • QUICKVIEW:  A low-key, neighborhood restaurant, Raw Soul is filled with a sense of care & community. Delicious food with a side of Love!
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW
After frequenting Pure Food & Wine, Bonobo’s and visiting Quintessence…there was only one more 100% raw vegan restaurant on the isle of Manhattan left: Raw Soul.
Nestled up in Harlem (145th Street btwn St. Nick & Edgecombe), Raw Soul is reppin’ raw vegan cuisine Uptown, baby!
A very casual environment, it’s set up like a cafe-style establishment.   Customers can either dine in or take out.  Judging by the friendly exchanges and the first-name basis customers…it’s definitely a community staple
Meet Eddy:

Eddy and his wife own Raw Soul.  He’s been a raw vegan for 10 years and he is nothing if not passionate about the lifestyle.  He is the main man behind the kitchen, but he also comes out front to greet customers and pontificate about the raw vegan life.
His philosophy: whether or not you’re raw vegan — his food tastes good!
And I agree with him —  Raw Soul SHINED!  Especially in the dessert category – this is definitely somewhere I am looking forward to re-visiting.
My only critique is that Raw Soul suffers from a common restaurant disorder: Menu Misnomering.  I’m a firm believer in clear communication and managing a diner’s expectation.  A few of the things could have been better-named!
Here’s a breakdown of our meal. (SO sorry, I wasn’t thinking — I forgot to snap photos of the menu, but you can find the basic menu here.  They have a board of Specials that they update regularly.)

  • BARBECUE BURGER: Burger made with walnuts, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, fresh cilantro, red bell pepper, topped with our home-made barbecue sauce, and sprouts, served on napa cabbage or flax bread. This burger was DELICIOUS!  I’m not even a fan of regular BBQ sauce (in my pre-raw vegan days)…and this burger delivered.  It was savory, full of flavor and MEATY.  The Flax Bread — even though it looked like a thin cracker — was actually quite bendy and easy to maneuver.  I appreciated how thin it was, since it allowed the flavors of the burger to shine through! SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥½ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • PLATTER:  your choice of 1 entree + 2 sides. I chose the Enchiladas + Jicama Fries + Jalapeno Poppers.  I’ll break it down piece by piece.
  • Jicama Fries with housemade “ketchup”: These were a recommendation by a fellow diner.  I must admit, I’m a huge fan of jicama — these fries were cleverly smothered in a sweet syrup (maybe agave nectar?) with seasoning.  I wasn’t expecting the sweetness, but it still tasty.  Perhaps just re-name the dish “Jicama Sweet Fries”. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥½ / ♥♥♥♥♥

←tastes WAY delish!

  • Jalapeno Poppers: Ladies & gentlemen — this is the holy grail of yumminess.  First off, I loves me some spicy spicy food.  The jalapenos were fresh so they had a delicious crunch and kick! They were surrounded by some nut meat and crusted!  I would eat these every day if I could! SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • Enchiladas: Two flax tortillas stuffed with net meat and chile, topped with salsa and pine nut cheese, garnished with black olives. I really wanted to love this dish…especially because I love the enchiladas at Quintessence.  Again, I think this dish suffers from mis-naming.  ”Vegetable Crepe” would have been more accurate.  For starters, I would have loved the tortillas to actually have been made with corn or corn meal.  There was no guacamole, nor sour cream.  The stuffing was not flavored with any “Mexican” spices…but consisted largely of vegetables, capers and olives.  (another thing to note: I don’t think the olives & capers were certified RAW – those are really hard to source).  But regardless, the dish was hearty and filling…just not an enchilada. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • BUTTERSCOTCH CHEESECAKE: Since they were out of their black & white cheesecake, we ordered this instead.  SO GLAD we did!  It was perfection. The crust tasted like it was made of walnuts & dates…light & crumbly.  YUM. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • Cookie Dough Ice Cream: If heaven had a dessert, it would surely be this ice cream.  It was hard, well-frozen and had a consistency that was just like ice cream…except it was 100% raw vegan!  The cookies had nuts (walnuts?)…and it was pure JOY to eat. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥