Matcha Bar

Matcha, a ground up powder made of high quality green tea, has been the new health craze in NYC. From matcha lattes to matcha baked goods and even matcha smoothies, NYC has a coffee equivalent craving for all things matcha. Matcha Bar has opened a Manhattan location which makes it much easier to get your matcha fix.

ABOUT

Opened by Max and Graham Fortgang, they're one of the few matcha-focused cafés that are changing the matcha game with quality and service. They serve their own brand of ceremonial grade matcha (the highest grade) that they get from Nishia, Japan. They're extremely welcoming and are happy to answer any of your matcha-related questions. If you're looking for good quality and real matcha (not Starbucks), this place is a good place to start.

INTERIOR

The window seat is the best seat in the house, with pillows and lots of room for a group. The large windows, which are open on nice days, let in the perfect amount of natural light. It's smaller than their Williamsburg location but still has the same chill, retro-esque vibe that makes them unique.

DRINKS + TREATS

They have different types of matcha drinks and there's something for the traditionalist and the new-comer.

A few unique drinks include:

-Peaches and cream matcha (w/ almond milk)

-Cucumber mint matcha

-Cinnamon maple matcha

I have yet to try all their treats, but so far their matcha macaroons and matcha cacao bars have my heart. If you're craving something more savory they also have sandwiches avaliable.

**Large iced matcha + large iced peaches and cream matcha (w/ almond milk)**

Join the matcha family by using the hashtag #matchafam, grab a stamp card and a couple matcha bar stickers while sipping on your delicious cup of matcha goodness.

You can find Matcha Bar Chelsea at 256 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011

x Yzabelle

Swiss Water Pop-up

Coffee has a special place in many people's lives. For me, I love the invitingly warm aroma that's like a hug from an close friend. It's a comforting yet stimulating drink, that somehow helps create an intimate atmosphere.

Earlier this week, my friends and I took an impromptu trip to American Apparel but were then enticed by Swiss Water's pop-up. Walking by I could just smell the coffee and I had to stop by; The bitter aroma lured us in.

ABOUT

Ever have those moments when you want coffee but can't because you have to be up early? Me too. Specializing in decaf coffee (yes, decaf), Swiss Water aims to serve the best possible tasting coffee without the caffeine. There are times when I want to unwind with a cuppa and still be able to fall asleep. I've never been one for decaf coffee but Swiss Water has changed my outlook on it.

All their coffee is organic, fair trade and is decaffeinated naturally, no chemicals are used.

INTERIOR

Set in a minimalistic studio, their pop-up allows you to experience their coffee in different forms: cold brew, black and speciality made. Each station allows you to explore the background and versatility of the coffee. If you have time, you can also take one of their coffee classes then sit back and unwind to the live DJ. If not they have covers available.

DRINKS

At the moment they have three blends of coffee: Panama, Ethiopia and "Wink."

Panama (Paso Ancho): Stone fruit, caramel, milk chocolate

Ethiopia (Duromina): Peach, brown sugar, black tea

"Wink" (Blend of Brazilian, Ethiopian & Guatemalan coffees): Chocolate, creamy, delicious

Lattes, cappuccinos, mochas..anything your little coffee lover heart desires, they'll make it for you--Latte art included.

The final station we visited was the grinding station. Swiss Water lets you choose your favorite blend, they then blend according to your coffee maker (french press, chemix, etc) and pack it for you to take home.

I had a wonderful experience at Swiss Water and I'm hoping to go as many times as I can before they close. If you're interested in buying their coffee, they will be selling them at cafés around NYC such as Joe's Coffee and Café Grumpy to name a few.

You can find Swiss Water's pop-up at 300 Lafayette St. in Soho across the street from REI. Their pop-up closes up on November 8th. They're open daily from 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

For more info, check them out here. Be sure to use their hashtags: #artwithoutcaffeine and #swisswaterdoesny on instagram.

Happy coffee drinking~

x Yzabelle

The Whitney

I have fond memories of The Whitney. I remember the numerous visits my mom and brother took me to as a child. One of my favorite things was their workshops, specifically the sewing one. It was then that I learned how to sew and make my own pillow, some of which I have to this day. I was ecstatic and excited when I found out about the construction and opening of the new Whitney. *This is part three of the photo series from my mom's birthday (Check out the others here and here).*

Check out the new Whitney at 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

All photos by me.

Camera: Canon Powershot ELPH 130 IS

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,

Facebook

Instagram

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

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.

Website

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.