NYC Tastes

There are so many reasons to love Vermont.  The rolling green hills, the fresh mountain air and of course BREAKFAST!  Vermont does breakfast better than any other state.  They have forests of maple trees dripping with syrup, farms dedicated to the best slab bacon, cheese makers in every corner and of course Green Mountain Coffee.   It's hard to go wrong with breakfast anywhere in Vermont, but my current favorite is the Green Goddess Cafe in Stowe. This tiny little spot uses only fresh, local ingredients (most organic) to create breakfast staples that are almost magical.  Like their bacon, egg & cheese sandwich, loaded with creamy Vermont cheddar cheese and thick slab bacon, that somehow stays perfectly crisp in every spot, all on top of a flaky, buttery English Muffin.  A NYC Bacon, Egg & Cheese isn't even in the same category with this perfect sandwich. Buttermilk Pancakes so wondrously fluffy inside with crispy charred edges an...

Remember  when I booked a trip with Delta just because Shake Shack was serving breakfast ?Well that was four years ago and finally I no longer have to travel so far for that wonderful food.  The Madison Square Park Shake Shack just started serving breakfast!!!  Now it's just a quick walk across 23rd Street to pick up this incredible spread- a thick Sausage, Egg & Cheese for Mr. T and a Bacon, Egg & Cheese for me... ...delicious cold squeezed orange juice... ...and a warm cinnamon sugar dusted Apple Turnover from Four & Twenty Blackbirds. Breakfast is available every day but I try to save it as a special treat for Sunday mornings. Life just got a whole lot happier in the AM! Shake Shack 23rd Street between 5th & Madison Madison Square Park New York, NY 10010

Ugh Monday.  It's bad enough that it's cold and rainy outside but the lingering effects of too much wine during Cher's Billboard performance last night has made it so much worse. Seems like the appropriate day to stay under the covers, work from home and order in a delicious breakfast. Creamline is my favorite new spot for a classic NYC breakfast sandwich.  All of their ingredients are sourced from nearby farms meaning everything is super fresh and all natural. I chose to stack these sandwiches this morning because why not   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯     If Cher can turn back time why can't I stack my breakfast sammies? Each sandwich comes loaded with melted cheddar cheese, thick cut sausage or bacon and a perfectly fried egg on an English muffin. The best part about Creamline breakfast- it's served the entire day!  So no matter what time the party lasted until the night before there will still be an incredible breakfast in the ...

I've talked about the creamy eclairs and rhubarb studded  custard  from Patisserie Chanson but my favorite treat in the entire bakery is actually the Black Sesame Kouign Amann. Golden, flaky strands of pastry brushed with butter and sugar than stuffed full of sweet, nutty black sesame seeds.  It makes a satisfying little crackle when it's pulled apart and exposes those speckled pockets of goodness inside.  I love black sesame so these are absolutely perfect for me.  However their Kouign's are also available in plain, gianduja and rhubarb & thyme jam. Mornings are always delicious with Patisserie Chanson in the neighborhood. Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

Ahhhhhh...Sunday mornings without a thing to do should always begin at Daily Provisions.  A piping hot cup of coffee for me and a bright green Iced Matcha for Mr. T perfect for kicking off the AM with some energy. Of course one can't survive on drinks alone so in addition to their amazing crullers a fluffy Egg Sandwich layered with thick cut Berkshire bacon and melted American cheese.  Ahhhh...e asy like a Sunday morning indeed. Daily Provisions 103 East 19th Street New York, NY 10003

When I was in college up near tiny Allegany, New York my friends and I were so deprived for good food that when Tim Horton's opened up we went there for breakfast, lunch AND dinner opening day.  We were like little Tim Horton cheerleaders.  Obviously that seems insane to me now, or at least it did until Daily Provisions opened last week and I've found myself inside the amazingly cute space eating all sorts of delicacies every damn day.  I'm seriously obsessed. They have delicious drip coffee served alongside some of the best baked goods in the city like Everything Croissants stuffed with cream cheese, warm slices of toast rubbed with apple preserves and the flaky Kouign- Amann studded with orange and vanilla. For a more hearty breakfast they offer three types of Egg Sandwiches including an Italian special with peppers and provolone and the classic Breakfast Sausage with smoked Gouda and spicy house wake up sauce; Along with two Breakfast Gougeres ...

I was invited to a great evening once again with the EatersDrinkers group at the brand new location of Gotan in midtown.  This sleek new cafe is churning out some absolutely incredible food and coffee drinks. For those looking to start the day with something bright and healthy Gotan has these gorgeous Chia Seed bowls topped with slices of fresh strawberry and blueberries. Or for something a little bit more hearty some fried eggs with chorizo, kale, butternut squash and cauliflower marscapone. I'm personally a HUGE fan of Shakshuka and order it 9 out of 10 times for brunch.  Gotan's green version is fantastic; studded with big chunks of creamy feta cheese and pine nuts. But Gotan doesn't just stop at breakfast food they do great lunch items as well like this incredible Fattoush Salad... ...and specialty sandwiches like Squash Ricotta, Brisket and Beet with Hard Boiled Egg. If this place was a little closer to my office I could see myself eating here every singl...

I absolutely love having breakfast for lunch and it's even better when it comes on a big, fluffy, cheddar chive biscuit.  Milk Bar, not to be confused with David Chang/Chistina Tosi's dessert spot, is a cute little coffee and tea place in Prospect Heights serving up some amazing breakfast specials all day long. Their classic Breakfast Sandwich is a massive biscuit toasted with Swiss cheese, two scrambled eggs and a thick layer of spicy aioli.  The eggs were absolutely perfect; softly scrambled with just the right amount of fluff.  I added on some thick Double Smoked Bacon for a few extra bucks but this sandwich didn't even need that.  It was simply spectacular being meat free. To be honest I found this place searching some lunch time Momofuku Cake Truffles and Google steered me to this Milk Bar instead.  Sometimes happy little accidents are the best. Milk Bar Brooklyn 620 Vanderbilt Avenue at Prospect Place Brooklyn, NY 1123

I've always been a big fan of the Love Street Coffee truck so whenever I find myself in Astoria I swing by the brick and mortar shop for a bite to eat.  The cozy space has a takeout window up front for on the go ordering and a big space with outdoor seating in back for lounging the sun. My last visit I ordered a breakfast sandwich and it was incredible. Two eggs scrambled with a handful of herbs, three strips of crisp bacon, thick melted cheddar cheese and a touch of mayo.  This is the sandwich hangover dreams are made of...I'm pretty sure it could cure any bad morning. The Love Cafe 32-30 Steinway Street Astoria, NY 11106

Remember that beer I just talked about- the incredible Goose Island Bourbon County Stout?  What I didn't mention was that I had to stand outside in the cold for 2 hours in order to get that beer.  Goose Island decided to do a Black Friday release and suddenly I found myself doing exactly what I said I would never do...waking up at the crack of dawn after Thanksgiving to buy something.   Well luckily that something was incredibly delicious and once the beer was secured we were done for the day.  Time to warm up with some breakfast!  We walked over to The Lafayette and and got a table inside the sprawling dining room.  I've always loved this space.  It's changed a lot since the Chinatown Brasserie days...the front door opens onto a bakery where the smell of warm bread permeates the air, the honey blue tiled walls shimmer in the sunlight that comes streaming in from the big windows overlooking Lafayette Street.  It's such bright, bustling place...