ABC Kitchen

When combining a farm-to-table restaurant with an aesthetically pleasing locale you get the beautiful space of ABC Kitchen. Not only is their decor pleasing to the eye, but their food is as well. Every ingredient on your plate comes from local farmers with a majority hailing from Hudson Valley. ABC Kitchen changes the way you eat with locally sourced ingredients and combines them in a way that makes you think, "why didn't I try this combination sooner?"

Ranging from grilled fish, to roasted veggie burgers and a juicy beef burger, ABC has multiple options to entice your palate.

While aware of the farm-to-table movement, ABC Kitchen was my first taste of "fresh from the farm," at least in a restaurant setting. What I enjoyed was not only the atmosphere, but ABC kitchen was able to combine multiple aesthetics (farm-to-table, modern, and rustic) with one vision: fresh, quality food that bursts with flavor--no gmos, no pesticides--just good, honest, and clean work by the farmers.

At ABC Kitchen a burger isn't just a burger, it's a burger that, from the beginning, has had care put into it. Everything at ABC is grass-fed and organic, reassuring New Yorkers that what they're putting into their body is indeed, good food. Grass-fed means exactly what it sounds like, with the animals being given a quality diet.

Farm-to-table, organic, grass-fed, non-gmo, etc, etc is not just a temporary movement--it's a movement towards the way things used to be and it's a movement towards the way things should be. Healthy and clean doesn't have to taste bland or disgusting, but at ABC Kitchen, you'll find that their seasonal menus challenge this stereotype.

**Shaved raw fluke, crushed olives, dill, lemon, and chilies**

ABC Kitchen can be found at

35 E. 18th street, New york, NY 10003

Have you ever had a farm-to-table experience?

x Yzabelle

Perry St.

**The restaurant is situated right across from the water, which is perfect for watching the cotton candy colored sunset.**

Dreamy. Delectable. Enticing-

three words that I would use describe Perry St. The decor lends itself to the natural sunlight that filters through their wide, glass windows, setting the stage for each dish. Before we sat down to eat, we were invited to bask in the simple and modern aesthetic of this beautiful restaurant.

Housed in an apartment building (Hugh Jackman's, fyi), Perry St. is another delicious Jean-Georges restaurant. The restaurant is the work of the father-son duo: Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his son, Cédric. It's known for their tasting menu: Taste of Perry St.; you're served multiple courses, plus dessert, in order to experience the well-rounded flavors not found on the regular menu. It's good to note that when one person at the table orders the tasting menu that the rest of the table must order it as well.

**Each table is decorated with vases of flowers**

**Compliments of the chef: sesame crusted asparagus**

The complimentary appetizer from the chef had a hearty, roasted flavor from the sesame seeds. The crunch in each bite was addictive and had me reaching for more, until I realized there were no more left.

L to R: sochu smash, bramble, and vodka thyme lemonade — **L to R: sochu smash, bramble, and vodka thyme lemonade**

The drinks were fresh and light, not heavy in the least. You can order the drink as is or request substitutes, they're happy to make a mocktail if you don't drink. There were many more cocktails to choose from (along with wine), but we felt a lighter drink would compliment the dishes in contrast to a dessert-like drink. The drinks here offered a variety of unique combinations and reminded me of the drink menu at ABC Kitchen. Both menus are equally delicious.

**Chilled tuna tartare with serrano and pickled daikon**

Warm bread was served to the table along with butter and crystal salt on the side. At Perry St. you're served the bread by piece (no bread basket here), ensuring stomach room for your courses. Before we knew it, the tartare arrived artistically plated; The tartare felt quintessentially summer with the pickled daikon and fresh tuna. Usually served with crackers, the puffed rice in the dish replaces it. This being my second time having tuna tartare, this one takes the cake/tuna (sorry Landmarc).

**White asparagus, parmesan cheese, basil, edible flowers, and hazelnuts**

Vegetables and hazelnuts are a whirlwind combination, something I also found at ABC Kitchen. The blanched white asparagus acted as a blank canvas for the colorful herbs and flowers. Topped with shaved parmesan and shallots, the dish carried multiple flavors that work together beautifully: the nuttiness from the hazelnuts, the saltiness from the parmesan, the spiciness form the pepper, and the freshness from the herbs and flowers all work together to create a heavenly experience. This dish has expanded my horizon in edible flowers and displays Perry St.'s use of fresh, natural ingredients.

**Lobster thermidor with gruyere, shiitake mushrooms, and tarragon served with kale salad**

A classic, lobster thermidor is a French dish that dates back to the 1880s and it's made its way to Perry St. in 2016. This version of lobster thermidor is a mixture of Asian and French flavor, with the earthy shiitakes and pungent gruyere. The shell was hot, the cheese was boiling--creating a decadent aroma with the melange of vegetables and herbs. You can opt out of the cheese if you're lactose intolerant or are not fond of gruyere.

**Roasted crescent duck with turnips, celeriac, citrus, and a ginger-chilli sauce**

This dish is a celebration of the Asian influences that Perry St. has. Ripe, fresh fruit and herbs paired with melt in your mouth, roasted duck reminiscent of the flavors found in Chinese cuisine. The citrus was bursting with flavor and was a sweet compliment to the peppery ginger-chilli sauce.

**Chocolate pudding with lightly whipped cream and crystallized violets**

To end the tasting menu, the dessert is homemade chocolate pudding with whipped cream, topped with crystallized violets. The violets smelled and tasted fragrant like violet gum/mints (check Duane Reade) but that was no where in comparison to this. The violets do not pop like one might expect (like pop rocks) but crunch with every bite. The chocolate pudding was a dark and bitter contrast to the sweetness of the violets. The whipped cream was a marriage between the two, no sugar was added (I think) and tasted nothing but fresh, airy, and light. At times while eating this it's easy to forget that you're eating flowers, but the bowl is big enough for you to savor and enjoy not only the flavors but the experience.

While the tasting menu looked small due to the presentation, it was far from it. We were very full at the end of our dessert and satisfied on deciding on this over the regular menu items. If Perry St. decides to change the dishes served on the tasting menu, I would be happy to order it again. I look forward to coming back for brunch and lunch, especially when the longer summer days are upon us.

If my brother and/or Siu read this--thank you for a memorable and delicious birthday dinner.

Happy feasting,

x Yzabelle

Sweet Summer

One of my favorite summer essentials is ice cream, the quintessential summer treat. Who doesn't love a scoop (or two) on a waffle cone? One thing I was looking forward to being back in Milwaukee was the frozen custard. It's smooth, thick and delectably creamy consistency is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. Milwaukee, WI is known to have the best custard and you can take my taste buds' words for it. I also got to try The Purple Door, which had delicious beer ice cream.

**Vanilla + chocolate custard in a dish**

**Butter Pecan Praline + strawberry custard**

**Malted chocolate + Eastside dark beer**

What's your favorite flavor?

x Yzabelle

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream

If you've ever heard of Morgenstern's or seen it all over Instagram, one thing is for sure: it's really good ice cream. George and I made the trek down here, despite the super humid weather it was so worth it. I love the vibe of the place and how it's set up like a retro soda fountain (I have a thing for retro things). Treat yourself ("yo' self") and make sure to bring enough cash. P.S.: It's cash only but you'll be happy that you went to the bank.

What's your favorite ice cream place?

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream at 2 Rivington Street,

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All photos by me. Camera: Canon Powershot Elph 130IS

x Yzabelle

Chinatown

The other day I met up with some friends in Chinatown, with the plan to grab $1.00 dumplings and jumbo-sized bubble tea. Btw, it's way bigger than Starbucks' trenta (Warning: not for the faint of heart). Arriving early, I had the opportunity to explore Chinatown as if I was seeing it for the first time. Here are the digitals I took, film will be coming soon.

**The owner let me take a picture of her cat.**

Have you guys ever visited a place as if it were your first time? Where? I'd love to know.

All photos by me. Camera: Canon PowerShot Elph 150IS

I'm wearing a J.crew denim jacket (similar), vintage DKNY crop top, J.Crew trouser joggers (similar) and J.Crew cotton tote

x Yzabelle

PURE Thai Cookhouse

If I had to pick my top five favorite cuisines, Thai is one of them. With one of my fave Thai places closed down I'm still on the lookout for good, authentic Thai. I think I'll be adding PURE to my list... And the cheesy Thai pop music is a plus.

Green Papaya Salad with raw, salted blue crab

PURE Thai Cookhouse can be found between 52nd and 51st on 9th avenue.

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A Little Bit of Spain

Forever 21 moto jacket, J.Crew cashmere scarf, T by Alexander Wang cardigan, J.Crew long-sleeved shirt, Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Acne Studios boots, Vintage Dooney & Bourke bucket bag — Forever 21 moto jacket, J.Crew cashmere scarf, T by Alexander Wang cardigan, J.Crew long-sleeved shirt, Pilcro and the Letterpress jeans, Acne Studios boots, Vintage Dooney & Bourke bucket bag

The day after my birthday was truly a day for the senses. It was uber windy in West Village and before heading to dinner we spent a good amount of time at Anick Goutal, taking in all the wonderful smells. It was still a little chilly so I dressed up in layers. My outfit was simple, but I left it up to my accessories to add a little bit more oomph. I always pass this beautiful tiled mural when wandering Greenwich, the vibrant blue just evokes that rustic European charm. Definitely one of the hidden gems we have in Manhattan.

As for Spain...It's somewhere where I've always dreamt of going. And Salinas has brought a little bit of Spain to New York City.

When I walked in, I was overcome by the amount of flowers that they have in the restaurant. They're everywhere! The flowers were so fresh and so fragrant, I wished that I could take one (sadly, you can't). There's an additional fee ($15) for taking a flower, but that shouldn't stop you from visiting. These flowers are flown in once a week from Portugal, so they're pretty special.

View from our table. We were lucky to get a corner booth table.

For drinks we decided on sangria, available by the glass or pitcher. My brother and Siu ordered the sangria roja and I ordered the sangria seca rosada. The sangria roja was made with Spanish red wine, brandy, orange liquor, and peach liquer. The seca rosada was made with Spanish rose, black pepper infused vodka, orange liquer, and peach liquer. If sangria isn't your fancy they have a variety of cocktails and wines. Next time I'm planning on some cava.

For our appetizer, we ordered the plato charcutero which contained a variety of cured meats, served along with their eggplant-fig compote and bread crackers. In addition to this, we also ordered Iberico ham and a half-ounce of Manchego cheese. I couldn't name which meats were which, but they're all different. One was smokier, one was spicier...it was a flavor explosion. With the spanish guitar and lounge music playing, I was ready to book a flight.

One of the best parts of our meal, even though I loved it all, was the paella. For all my paella lovers, it's one worth trying. The way it works at Salinas is that it's charged per person, about 30 dollars. This works perfectly so you don't get too little or too much. We ordered the Nuestra Paella with bomba rice, free-range chicken, sepia, sea scallops, head-on prawns, clams, mussels, and chorizo. They also offered an option to make it more authentic, by having the rice a little crunchy. The rice was still soft, with a little added bite-- the texture makes a difference.

From L to R: Chocolate Y Pistacho (Siu), Mousse Fundiente (me), Arroz Con Leche Con Membrillo (Anthony)

Can you guess which dessert was mine? The one in the middle was, even though the one on the left has the candle (oops). No worries though, all the desserts were delicious. If it's yours or a loved one's birthday, mention it if you make a reservation.

Their small desserts packed a punch, with the focus being flavor and presentation versus size; it felt much more special.

Salinas' coffee was not the typical machine brewed cup o' joe. Thick and frothy, their coffee is flavorful and strong; it made me want to get up a little early every day just to use my french press. The coffee was served along with milk and if you're not a black coffee drinker like myself. The fun part of the after dinner coffee: frothed milk. We had to scoop the milk out and plop it onto our coffees.

What Chef Luis Bollo has done is bring a little bit of Spain to NYC. If you're looking to take a trip for your senses check out Salinas. Plus, it's intimate and romantic; perfect for date night. P.S. I'm trying to convince my boyfriend to take me here (here's to hoping!).

Salinas can be found at 139 9th avenue

xoxo,

Yzabelle

*Photo cred to my brother and his awesome iPhone 6+ et moi.

Borrowed from the Boys

This post is a throwback, going way back to my brother's birthday. His birthday was in August, smack dab in the middle of summer. We trekked out on a hot and muggy day, definitely a day that called for comfort. But comfortable doesn't need to be boring, gone are the days when these two words were joined. This brings me to my outfit of choice on that day: comfortable, simple, and effortless.

Rag & Bone Tee, J.Crew jeans, Ray ban wayfarers, Ann Taylor snake stilettos, Vintage Coach belt, Michele watch, Zara bag — Rag & Bone Tee, J.Crew jeans, Ray ban wayfarers, Ann Taylor snake stilettos, Vintage Coach belt, Michele watch, Zara bag

Wearing something tight on an extremely humid day is a no-no, unless, you can bear it or already do (props to you). I steered towards throw-on pieces -- jeans and a tee, with a twist. Everything I was wearing was mine, minus the belt; it's my brother's. These two are closet staples and essentials; everyone has jeans and a tee. It's what you do with it that turns it into something okay, or something wow. Add your personality and make it your own.

Before I get to the birthday brunch, I have a little funny story to tell. First things first, ever watched The Wedding Planner with J.Lo? If you haven't, go and see it; it's a cute rom-com. But movie aside, I had an iconic Wedding Planner moment, i.e. getting my heel stuck in a grate. Even better, a worker with a trashcan, along with a huge crowd of people was headed towards me. Talk about adrenaline pumping! So, future note to self and readers: no stilettos when walking the High Line. Now, on to the food.

We had brunch at Cookshop, a greenmarket-driven restaurant that's not even a couple of blocks from the High Line. Starting off with drinks, they have a good-sized drink menu -- alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Siu and I opted for fruit mocktails, mine wasn't as sweet for a reason: jalapeños. Yes, you read that right, jalapeños. I've never had a spicy, fruity drink before, but it wasn't too spicy that it was off-putting. If you visit and they have it, give it a go.

Our appetizer was their lemon curd beignets. I've never had beignets before, real beignets from New Orleans. But, if they taste like these, I want more. Not too heavy, and still light and airy, these were little pockets of sunshine. The meyer lemon curd was tart and refreshing-- perfect for a hot, muggy day.

Siu's peach … — Siu's peach pecan french toast

Siu and I went the sweet route, while my brother went with savory. Either way, you're bound to get something delicious. My pancakes were huge; I don't think the picture do them justice. If you're worried about the ricotta (cheese, in pancakes!?), you won't taste it. Think about it as a flavor enhancer, for both the lemons and blueberries. Like the drinks, the french toast was sweet and tart. Add in more depth with the pecans, giving the meal a nutty and roasty flavor-- perfect with the sweet and tart peaches. My brother's salmon egg hash was perfectly flavored with a variety of herbs, and they didn't skimp on the smoked salmon. The biscuit served with his meal was soft, break-apart, buttery goodness.

I love the greenmarket and rustic approach to Cookshop's food. You can just tell when something's made in a cast iron skillet or griddle. Not going to lie, a part of me felt like a cowboy whilst eating. Maybe it was the decor, music or cast iron but all of this evokes an American Western charm. So, I guess I'm calling this good ole' cowboy food, just taken up a notch.

Cookshop is located past the High Line at 156 10th avenue at 20th street

*Note: Cookshop changes their menus seasonally, some items may, or may not still be on the menu.

xoxo,

Yzabelle

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Café Visits: Café Grumpy

Grumpy is anything but. Tucked away from busy avenues, it can be hard to spot. If you're on the lookout, keep an eye out or you might miss it!

Grumpy could be considered a hipster or hipster wanna-be haven. It was more of the casual vibe that I enjoyed, other than their drinks. Like Stumptown, they had lots of pastries from other bakeries and retailers but they had some of their own as well. I was eyeing their banana bread but sadly it sold out.

My favorite drink of choice here has been their hot chocolate; the pretty design was a plus. Latte art isn't just for coffee anymore! Not your ordinary hot cocoa I'd say, it's creamy and rich without being too heavy. They also had a good selection of tea, the peach blossom tasted clean, elegant, and light; Perfect hot or iced.

Now, what makes Grumpy a little different is their approach to technology. They recently put a no laptop policy into action and this includes Wi-Fi. So my fellow writers and bloggers beware! If your work requires an internet connection you might have to look elsewhere. But I honestly think this adds to their charm. Without your tech you're forced to speak with your friends instead, but hey, good coffee goes well with good conversation. The music they play is mellow enough that you can still read your book. And it's pretty cool to see people actually talking rather than staring at their screens.

Check out Grumpy at W. 20th bwtn. 7th and 8th avenue.

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Café Visits: Bibble & Sip

Want the perfect latte art in the form of an animal? That's what I found here at Bibble & Sip. Tucked in-between a busy avenue and hoards of restaurants, my friends and I found this little treasure.

What caught my eye was their logo and slogan, cute and sassy? Count me in. Their play on words are ingenious, and we did BS the whole time (no, not that kind). When you walk in you're hit with a pleasant aroma-- drip coffee and baked goods. Everything is baked on the premises and a majority of their desserts are tea-infused. If you love earl grey and/or green tea you're in luck. Matcha or earl grey panna cotta, cream puffs, cakes... i.e. a tea lover's heaven. If you're not getting your treats to go make sure to come in at a good time, seating can be hard to find.

Definitely get their lavender latte and matcha jasmine latte it is worth the hype. You can really taste the jasmine and lavender in the drinks. Other than their signature drinks, they have an extensive menu of different types of coffee and tea. I could just hear the apple green tea calling me...

I was a little jealous of the girls next to us with their cute latte art. But I think they requested a specific design (bears!), so that's something I'm going to ask for next time.

Check out Bibble & Sip at 253 West 15th, bwtn Broadway and 8th avenue. Also check out their Facebook, twitter and Insta. They post up photos pretty often, and everything looks so delicious.

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Café Visits: FIKA

For those who know coffee I'm sure you know that New Yorkers run on the stuff. And even though there are about two Starbucks' on every block or so, my heart lies with the smaller, more independent coffee places. Referring to my very first post on my blog "Coffee Shop Vibes," I feel these coffee shops can provide a different kind of environment, one that I don't really find with chains. What I also really love is that because they're more independent, often times you won't get the same look or feel; these places really make it their own, with the customers leaving their mark on the cafe, whether it is the music or energy.

This long ramble brings me to FIKA. Not only are their products good, but they also have aesthetics to a tee. Boy, am I happy that this location opened up. I love this one, more so than the others because of the space, cool jams, and industrial modern design. Cue a combo of 90s Eric Benét, J-pop, and chill lounge music. With the changing weather (hello sunshine!), the space will be even more gorg with their wide-open windows.

FIKAs are popping up around Manhattan, with another location a few blocks away from this one. If you visit, I recommend the Swedish cinnamon bun- one of the things that they're known for.

What kind of café settings do you guys seek out?

This FIKA location is located around West 15th and 6th avenue, directly across the street from Think Coffee.

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Downtown Hangouts

This past week I've been downtown for my food cravings. But the wonderful thing is that you don't know what you'll find; and that's what downtown left me with. A lot of people have their usual hangouts- coffee shops, bars, restaurants, etc. The usual for coffee downtown is The Bean, but due to the freezing weather (we're at 20 degrees now!) it was packed. My boyfriend and I checked out other ones within the area with no luck. But luckily, we found Everyman Espresso with one table to spare.

It's one of the quieter coffee shops I've been to (maybe off hours?), but I definitely enjoyed it. We managed on: one ham and cheese croissant, soy cortado, and a café mocha. An hour or so later, we wondered why we've never discovered this place before. I loved the addition of the various playbills and papers on every table- they acted as the perfect props for my photos. They know us bloggers and instagramers so well!

But we can't all survive on coffee alone (though it does help). I finally paid a visit to Beyond sushi, somewhere where I've been dying to go.

*Spicy mango roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces*

*Might mushroom roll with enoki and seaweed hand pieces*

La Fiesta roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces — *La Fiesta roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces*

I've been meaning to get back into my healthy vibe for quite some time, and I thought some vegan sushi would do the trick. Now some are skeptical (including my friends)- "What is vegan sushi?" and "Is it even good?!" It was good boy was it good. I wanted something tropical/beachy and decided on the spicy mango roll. My friends had the La Fiesta and Mighty Mushroom roll.

The greatest feeling (asides from eating well) was that my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm happy to share with others that healthy food can be delicious too. Beyond Sushi has become an instant favorite, I'm thinking about it right now! Their sushi is definitely a culinary inspiration and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot. Maybe some recipes in the future?

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Blue Smoke

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and weekend. Sorry for being MIA... my Halloween plans left me exhausted and with a slight cold. It's been a tea and Emergen-c kind of weekend. I think it's the constant change in temperature; right now it's hard to decide on what to wear. But I think the best solution is to dress in layers.

*3.1 Phillip Lim sweater coat, Club Monaco button-up, H&M jeans, Acne Studios boots, vintage clutch, J.Crew gloves*

Blue smoke is not only the name one of my favorite restaurants, but it's also the color of my coat. It's something I immediately reach for when it gets nippy. It's not only warm, but also a statement in itself. I love the extra edge it adds to whatever I'm wearing.

After the photo shoot with my friend I headed down to East village to meet my boyfriend for lunch. He took me to Weschler's- a place known for their beer and brauts.

We didn't get beer, but we did try an assortment of what they had to offer. I got the platter that comes with two brats of my choosing and two sides (pretzel and sauerkraut). My boyfriend decided on a pork and veal sandwich, fries, and pretzel on the side. No sauerkraut for him (he hates vegetables). The place was intimate when we went, but my boyfriend said it can get pretty packed in the evening. I'm looking forward to trying one of their dark beers and their famous currywurst next time around.

Before ending the day, we spent a good amount of time at The Bean. Every time we head over to The Bean it's always full, there's only been another instance in which we actually got a table. We considered ourselves lucky, especially since it was Halloween.

Other than Starbucks, if a Bean is in the area more often than not you'd find me going there instead. They really know how to make a mean cappuccino. Since it was Halloween everyone was dressed up, including some of the workers. Children also came and went trick-or-treating, alas no coffee for them! The cherry on top was the dog dressed up as Chewbacca.

What did you guys do on Halloween?

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Down by the Bay

Kettle corn stand. The original had the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

My brother and Siu surprised me with a trip to Oyster Bay for the 31st annual Oyster Festival. We took the LIRR and it was an about an hour ride. It felt like Summer all over again-with carefree days spent with good company. I consider this the last hurrah for Summer even though it's gotten pretty chilly and it's already fall. Oysters and fresh seafood just scream Summer. There were various family friendly rides, but the main attraction for us was the food. We started out with Wild Bill's Olde Fashioned Soda. Their sodas are homemade and made with pure cane sugar. When you buy the mug you get unlimited refills throughout the day, we purchased the insulated mug to ensure our drinks remained cold. The flavors included orange soda, birch beer, root beet, sarsaparilla, diet root beer, ginger ale, and vanilla root beer. The sarsaparilla and root beer were my favorites. The mugs are quite big but it makes for a good souvenir. Lots of people at the festival had them, and more than once was I asked whether it was alcohol (not here folks!). I believe drinking was allowed but only off the festival grounds, but there were other non-alcoholic beverages available if soda's not your cup of tea.

The kettle corn was so good I forgot to take a picture! They had samples of each flavor available but I enjoyed the simplicity of the sweet and salty. As for the pretzels, the pictures don't do them justice. They're huge! I'd say as long as a person's face, and the pretzel was bigger than my brother's. They made the pretzels throughout the day and had them grilled before handing them out to customers. This is what I wish a NYC style pretzel would taste like.

They oysters were served with cocktail sauce, but there was a wide variety of condiments. I enjoyed them the best with a squeeze of lemon, yuzu sauce, and the spicy Korean cocktail sauce. These were definitely worth the hour and a half wait (eek!), I could have eaten WAY more than five (you can't just have one). We were tempted to get back on line to get more oysters, but the line got even longer towards the end of the day.

There were two adorable Alpacas, and I only got one of their names (Bella). I got to pet her and they were very friendly and sweet. Initially Siu and I had thought they were toys, they were so still-then they moved! Lots of blankets, vests, and other clothing items were sold by the farm. We also ended up seeing lots of unique things such as handmade lace and artisanal cooking and baking mixes. The handmade lace was all made by this sweet woman, who not only made doilies, but shawls, hangers, and anything you could imagine. We didn't get to try the English pastries but they were selling out pretty quickly (missed out on the black currant cake). But I ended up purchasing a few cheesecake mixes and dip mixes that I plan to make soon. The booth that sold the mixes are based in Vermont, they have their own Inn which has outdoor and indoor activities. If I ever get to go I was to try kayaking and their cooking classes. If their mixes were delicious I could only imagine what the food at the inn tastes like.

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Coffee Shop Vibes

I love coffee shops. There's something about the intimate setting that can spark unexpected conversation. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to finally visit Rex; I've been wanting to stop by for quite some time. Rex is small compared to some Starbucks', but makes up for it with the music, atmosphere, and coffee. My friends and I tried their cortado as well as their cookies (chocolate chip and peanut butter). Their cookies were flavorful and moist and I'm looking forward to trying their other baked goods. As for their cortado, it's one of the best ones I've had other than Abraço's in East Village.

When the Starbucks or my favorite café is crowded I'll definitely be stopping by for some good coffee with a book intact.

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