Levon's Obsessions

A gal whose obsessions lie within fat, sugar, carbs, caffeine, and beverages that could strengthen the heart or seal up a wound.

05 Sep 2012
5 Comments

Istanbul – Brooklyn, NY

I was working in the Bath Beach part of Brooklyn the other week and had been craving Turkish food for a while and decided to try Istanbul.  I had passed this place a few times and curiosity led me inside.  They have a sit down/dine-in restaurant and a separate take-out venue nearby on the same block.  It was relatively busy when I went into the take-out part of Istanbul, but busy generally means safe and popular.  From the looks of the exposed glass shelves of meat, I figured it was definitely authentic Turkish food.

The meat and the desserts were overwhelming as I went back in forth in my mind about what I was going to order, then not order, then go back to ordering again.  I’m referring to the infamous “I have no idea what I want because it all looks so good” game.

When the time finally did come for me to place my order I very randomly went from looking at the meats in front of me to opening the menu and choosing the first thing in front of me.  The Kubasili Pide for some reason was the first thing that stuck out.

About 15 minutes later, the pide filled with filet mignon, green and red Hollad peppers, and tomatoes & onions came out. It was tasty.  The bread was fresh, and I’d have to guess all the ingredients were also.  After that I decided I couldn’t leave without taking some Baklava.

The Baklava was extremely rich in taste and sweet enough to be packaged with just one.  It truly was a lot for one person. None-the-less, I was happy.  I had a serious sugar rush, but I’m convinced it was needed after that Kusbasili Pide.  I would certainly go back to Istanbul, but would definitely try out other parts of the menu.  Particularly the parts with eggplant.

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Posted in Food and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
04 Sep 2012

Rice to Riches – NY NY

So Mott and Mulberry Street has this really bright and catchy, niche storefront that exclusively houses rice pudding.  They have drinks too but we weren’t feeling that adventurous, plus we had already come from dinner.  Rice to Riches is one of those spots that is easy to pass during the day but hard to miss at night.

With window front phrases like..

It’s hard not to be lured into this place.  Me anyway.  Alluring it is.  From the bright fixtures and the energetic staff, to the massive assortment of flavors..

And if there’s any type of guilt trip momentary revelation then.. Let them tell it..

So why not???

Asking for a sample at the least is inevitable when walking into this place.  I’m pretty sure I counted at least 21 flavors.  I tried the Fluent in French Toast and the Coast to Coast Cheesecake.  I believe my FPIC sampled the Hazelnut Chocolate Bear Hug.  It was quite a treat, given the fact that rice pudding isn’t exactly at the top of my “have to have” list.  I don’t think rice pudding will surpass the cupcake trend as of yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw a few of these in LA.  It was a fun surprise for the evening, and I think next time I’m in Nolita I’ll stop in and try the Take Me to Tiramisu or Category 5 Caramel.

Posted in Sweets and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
03 Sep 2012
2 Comments

Happy Hour Obsession of The Week – Pera, Soho NY

So me and my closest NYC friends / crew did our quarterly meet-up and ventured off to a really awesome Mediterranean spot in Soho called Pera.  Pera has a really innovative happy hour menu with great pricing.  I mean with cocktails like Bicycle Thief and small plates like fried mussels, you know you’re in for a surprise.  Getting trapped in traffic caused me to miss the excellent happy hour deal, but thankfully my good friends still had some food left for me to nibble off of.

They ordered the Fried Mussels and the Smoked Eggplant with Garlic Yogurt (2 items for $6 = $6 total).  The dip was good.  Pera had a fairly decent selection of other tapas (or meze rather) choices for happy hour, but the lovely gridlock at the Lincoln Tunnel caused me to miss out on their discounted segment of the menu.  My crew mentioned the Pera Rickey cocktail being extremely good but since I was tardy for the happy hour party, I went with one of the regularly priced cocktail items.

The regularly priced agave-type drink that the bartender suggested was amazing.  Pricey but amazing enough for me to order a second.

So there you have it.  A great Mediterranean selection at great happy hour prices, and an ambience and outdoor garden that will make you keep coming back.  Just make sure you come before 7:30, cause they ain’t cheap..

 

Posted in Drinks, Food, Happy Hour Obsession of The Week and tagged , , , ,
23 Aug 2012
1 Comment

Brooklyn Moon Cafe – Ft Greene, Brooklyn

A friend and I decided to branch outside of the Habana Outpost box for a change and explore the rest of Fulton Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.  We dipped into a small cafe called Brooklyn Moon Cafe, and because Fort Greene has excellent places to eat we figured it wouldn’t be that much of a crap shoot.  Well spinning the Wheel of Foodie Fortune landed us on the “Spin Again” slice in the wheel.  Lucky for the open window front, excellent weather and the fact that my FPIC and I were in the midst of a socio-political debate while sipping on some insanely strong cocktails, it was easy to overlook the fact that the food was incredibly bland.  All of it.

 

I had the Fried Whiting with Mac n Cheese and what was supposed to be Sweet Corn as my side.  Although my company and the scene was great, the food was not.  The macaroni looked great in appearance with the color and all, but fell incredibly short on taste.  The fish had a very crumbly type breading and kept falling apart and had absolutely no seasoning, and the corn possibly was dumped directly from a Stop & Shop can without jazzing it up with at least butter or pepper of some sort.  Although not impressed with the  food, the very timid server was polite, and the open store front and the abstract art made for a relatively nice ambience.

All in all, if you want to be a part of the Fulton strip, Fort Greene mix and sip on something with a kick, here’s your spot.  Eat first though.

Posted in Food
07 Aug 2012

Damien Woody of NY Jets Eats 2,500 Wings

In the midst of the “Rex Ryan losing control of his NY Jets” rant today on ESPN Talk Radio, the conversation took an interesting turn when the topic of food came up. They were interviewing former offensive lineman Damien Woody, and somehow the conversation diverted from play politics to him and the entire offensive line once eating 2,500 wings. Wings as in the chicken wings at the bar that occasionally given the right day one can shamefully admit to orderering 12. Well try 250. 250 for yourself and not for the entire bachelor party later on that day. That’s exactly how many were portioned off for each of his teammates. So who has the ultimate chicken wing obsession??? The former NY Jets offensive tackle whose weekly grocery bill is probably over a thousand dollars. That’s who.

Photo Source nypost.com

With this Nephilim type appetite along with his wife and 7 kids, their local grocery store is officially declared recession-proof and will probably never go out of business. So next time you think you’re being a badass by upping your 8 piece order of chicken wings at your local BW3s, BBQs or Wing Stop (depending on where you live), know that you are not..

Photo Source Helmet2Helmet.com

I see why my dad used to joke about me having the appetite of a linebacker..

Posted in Celebrities, Food and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
01 Aug 2012
3 Comments

Chelsea Manor Martini Fest NYC

At the suggestion of Living Social, NY Cocktail Mixers will let you do as the Romans do… or did.   They have a $40 admission special to a 3hr Martini Fest  Mixer.  It’s weekly on Saturdays from 8 to 11 (pm obviously) at Chelsea Manor.  The special includes five martini tastings, two full cocktails, and appetizers (an $80 value). Watch as expert mixologists battle to create the best martini and sample five signature drinks, such as passion fruit, mango, or piña colada martinis. Then, sip down two full versions of your favorite concoction, and pair them with tasty apps. You can do all this in the Chelsea Manor – well Chelsea Manor’esque type ambience with a glass bar area and crystal chandelier with the dj doing what he does..

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Photo Source - Chelsea Manor website

So buy your ticket today while the deal lasts!!!

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Photo Source - Chelsea Manor website

Find out more: http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/3/deals/408202-martini-fest-admission? ref=NYCMDeal080112_3_2614email422877

Posted in Drinks, Food, Late Night Spots and tagged , , , ,
01 Aug 2012
2 Comments

Pizza Capri – Hyde Park, Chicago

Chicago has a portion of my heart and is truly one of my favorite cities to be sent to for work or play.  Hyde Park nostalgically reminds me of my circa 2000 Washington, DC moments.  The vibe is amazing.  I was led to a pasta jewel called Pizza Capri.  Apparently this place is known for its popular pizza choices, but due to my pasta obsessions that’s what I inevitably ordered.

 

I had the Pasta Shells with Salmon sautéed with crimini and portobello mushrooms, simmered in tomato cream sauce with garlic and shallots.  It was amazing.  Someone in the back did their heavy cream justice.  It was tasty, hearty, and included some of my favorite things – mushrooms, garlic, and salmon.  It’s always nice to see chefs play around with a vodka sauce.   My FPIC had the Creamy Garlic Chicken Fettuccine tossed with Italian parsley and parmesan cheese in a parmesan garlic cream sauce.  It was equally amazing.

I enjoyed it enough to actually go back a few days later for dinner again since..

..And because

This time the server convinced me to try something else.  I’m a stubborn foodie and oftentime habitually stick with what I know.  In this case I took the server’s suggestion and tried something that wasn’t even on the menu.

This dish had fettuccine in an alfredo sauce that was laced with nutmeg.  Borderline stroganofish but with an Italian twist.   It was significantly different than the last vodka dish but good.  It had mushrooms, spinach, parsley, certainly nutmeg, and chicken and noodles.  It was good.  And like the previous visit, generous portions with a very unpretentious vibe.  Great spot. Next time I’ll try to curb my pasta addiction and get the deep dish.

 

 

Posted in Food and tagged , , , ,
31 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Wasabi Fusion, Minneapolis

With flavorful tuna, crab and shrimp rolls and enticing tempura cheesecake, Wasabi Fusion is one of Minneapolis’s Japanese hidden treasures.  Wasabi Fusion is the sushi, hibachi and bar part of the dual Japanese restaurant of Wasabi, that consists of Izakaya and Wasabi Fusion.  They are located at S. Washington Ave downtown Minneapolis and are conveniently located across the street from the aLoft Hotel that I always stay at for work.  I haven’t tried the Japanese hot pot items at Izakaya but will say that the sushi at Wasabi is very good.  It’s vibrant, colorful, and rich in taste as you would expect with authentic sushi.  Most importantly, it’s fresh and has good texture.

The 9 piece sushi combination of the JC Roll with the spicy tuna, king crab, shrimp tempura and avocado was pretty filling, and made it impossible for me to try anything else.  One thing is definite though, the fried cheesecake tempura is a must next time I’m there.

Photo Source Eatjackson.com Blog

That is if I’m not in the mood for something a little more exotic.  Then naturally I’ll switch gears and head over to the sister restaurant Izakaya..

Posted in Food and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
27 Jul 2012
5 Comments

BusyBites Food & Fashion NYC

Union Square’s Wix Lounge housed a food fanatic’s dreamspace not to be confused with what is usually their workspace, last night.  The Brooklyn Bakery hosted event consisted of multiple vendors showcasing their latest menu items.  The food and beverage sponsors were from Kumquat Cupcakes, Oaxaca Tacos, Greensquare Tavern, Alchemy Creamery, BK Winery, Herb N Zest, and Brooklyn Brewery.

My first stop was at Greensquare Tavern which had some of the most amazing tuna tartare in addition to some other really wonderful treats.
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The server was quite approachable, easy to talk to, and quite passionate about the business.

Next stop was Herb N Zest’s table.
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Then I migrated over to the Oaxaca section where they had three various tacos – chicken, beef and potato. Since my food ticket only allowed one taco, I decided not to crapshoot it on the potato and therefore stuck with the chicken.
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For sweets, Kumqwaat provided the nicest little cupcake treasures. They were perfect. That’s pretty much all I can say. The salted caramels were pure joy.
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Posted in Food and tagged , , , , , , , ,
26 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Busy Bee Bagel Cafe Brooklyn

This busy bee decided to stop at the hive for a quick swig of honey on her lunch break yesterday, and she did so in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.  Politiced with the owners of the newest cafe on Fulton St and Classon Ave, Georgie and Jewels guided me through their crafty menu.  My eyes were fixated on the coffee flavors though.

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They had a white chocolate iced coco that was to die for. Topped off with a shot of espresso, I was in queenbee heaven. This was all after devouring my tuna salad wrap.

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Good lunchtime snacks, perfect coffee, great convo, and quite fitting ambience for the Clinton Hill crowd. Busy Bee Bagel Cafe was a nice find.

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This busy bee will definitely be back.

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Posted in Coffee Shops, Food and tagged , , ,
24 Jul 2012
2 Comments

New Brazilian Obsession – Bossa Nova LA

I saw an online banner on the hottest restaurants in LA the other day and immediately thought of my late night Sunday Greystone Manor excursion that immediately led to Bossa Nova in Hollywood a while back.  After a typical long night that one would expect of promoter etiquette, table service politics, and several bottles of adult juice at this extremely selective supperclub, quite predictably a post club food run was inevitable.  Berri’s is normally my first choice when running the streets late night in the city of cherubs.  However a new love was found that night thanks to one of my friends and her recommendation of what is now one of my favorite Brazilian spots in W. Hollywood.  I have frequented both the Sunset and W. Pico locations several times since, and am consistently satisfied.  I can always rely on a refreshing conversation with the hostess staff while waiting on my carryout order to take back to the hotel, and the food itself is absolutely incredible.  Depending on when you go, it’s not at all surprising to run into several noticeable celebrities, artists and industry types.  For the most part though, it’s a very family and couples friendly environment.  Food-wise I always gravitate towards the pasta due to my first incredible virgin Nova experience.

This was the Sunset Pasta w. Asparagus, boneless Chicken Breast, Onions and Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce.  It was very generous in portion, and it was exceptionally good.  I’ve also had their Tiriri Pasta..

Although a quite tasty dish and very popular according to my new hostess friend, it doesn’t pack as much flavor as the Sunset pasta.  The Sunset has a little bit more zest.  Their menu is amazing so you really can’t go wrong with any choice.  This I promise.  There’s nothing like fresh pasta made with fresh ingredients after a night of  **clearing throat** organized industry chaos.  So next time you’re in W. LA or any part of Hollywood, try it out.  Be careful though, you just may have a new Brazilian obsession in LA.

Posted in Food, Late Night Spots, Levon's Top Obsessions and tagged , , , , , , , ,
23 Jul 2012

Lunch on the New Haven Pizza Hut

Because Mama Mary’s Soul Food was closed (on Mondays apparently), I wandered off to the next closest soul food shack on Whalley Ave in New Haven, CT.  This was only to approach a counter and dining area with no one in it.  Possible tumbleweeds.. I pretty much took it as a sign that I needed to just cut my losses and head to the first chain within reasonable distance. So after thinking about that wonderful P’zone commercial from after about a million episodes of Family Guy, I shot into the local Pizza Hut. Well the food fairies were clearly creating all these prior obstacles to inevitably lure me into this place, because the minute I walked in, it was filled with tables of food. All I remember was them saying something about them having a store opening and to help myself to whatever I wanted.  …for free. So there you have it  folks. I’m writing about the Pizza Hut on Walley and Tour to let you know my lunch was on them today. Shout out to the  glorious food angels that led me here. I got my veggie P’zone and more today..

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Posted in Food and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
20 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Fox Restaurant Concepts Blanco, Phoenix

As I mentioned before, my foodie palate is non-discriminate based on visual, and whether it’s brown paper bag or expensive dishware I like what I like.  If I haphazardly stumble across the next great food item, I owe it to you – my readers, to inform you of such hallmark discoveries.  In this case my major discovery was at the moment, truly seemed like the country’s best quesadilla.  For me a quesadilla is a safety net.  Whenever I go to a new Mexican spot without the luxury of time or patience to experiment with their menu, that is exactly what I order.  So when I found Fox Restaurant Concepts Blanco at the Phoenix Airport, I ran up to the little “to go” section of the restaurant and ordered the Three Cheese Quesadilla with the chicken.

Having a boarding flight, with little time to waste before they called my section, I ate it straight from the box.  When I tell you this was one of the best, actually scratch that – this was the best chicken quesadilla I have ever had in my life, I tell you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  For one, this quesadilla did not just come with your standard Monterey Jack and Cheddar, but with a three cheese blend of Oaxaca, Asadero, and Manchego.  It also came with pico de gallo and Crema Fresca.  I rarely find quesadillas made with Manchego.  That may have been what possibly put me over the edge and made me look like a homeless person that just received their first meal of the week waiting at the gate.  So there you have it folks, Fox Restaurant Concepts Blanco, conveniently located at the very busy Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.  Serving you the best quesadilla in all of Phoenix, if not the nation.

Posted in Food, Levon's Top Obsessions, Restaurant Reviews and tagged , , , , , , , ,
17 Jul 2012
5 Comments

The World’s Most Amazing Wedding Cake

So I’ll start off by saying, in no way, shape or form am I alluding to any type of monumental milestone in my own life.  Not for current discussion anyway.  However I happened to stumble across the most incredible wedding cake that I had ever seen in the form of a dress.  Seeing this gown made me investigate deeper to see if there was any competition that could come remotely close to this level of art.

First I found Cake Central’s wedding dress cake which had a one shoulder, simple yet elegant number with minimal embellishments.  They even went as far as listing instructions which is pretty amazing.  I’m just not sure what bridezilla would have a fraction of the time or remaining brain cells left to make their own wedding cake…

Photo Source Cakecentral.com

Then there was the beautiful ballroom, princess gown piece made by Cakes We Bake with a very simple yet classy, dusted sugar layer for its finish.

Photo Source Cakeswebake.com

..But my wedding cake dress investigation didn’t end there.. As I looked and looked and looked, I became far more intrigued with this idea of a wedding cake shaped like a bridal dress.  It was and still is absolutely fascinating.  Being in the single world for so long, you simply don’t think about things like this.  So the next couture mega pastry I came across was from Christina Smith.  Her detailing was more on the draping side than flat patterns and embellishments.  The draping was that of a Valentino, Dior or Lacroix pattern.  It was truly one of the most beautiful pieces I had seen.

Photo Source Christina Smith

I then discovered a piece with a very pre-dark Alexander McQueen feel to it at Perfect Wedding Day.  Being that he has always been one of my favorite fashion designers, it’s very difficult to not get completely distracted from the ultimate cake, which was the inspiration behind this wedding cake blog entry in the first place.  None-the-less, it is a very, very well thought out and well constructed couture piece..

Photo Source Perfect Wedding Day

After seeing Christina Smith along with a Perfect Wedding Day and the other extraordinary pieces, one would find it hard to believe that there was a cake that was yet even more stunning.  So beautiful that I wouldn’t for the life of me be able to imagine someone at one point cutting it during the reception….

Photo Source Foodista.com

This stunning work of art from Foodista almost brought me to tears.  I can’t begin to imagine how many hours or work was put into this breathtaking piece of edible art.  The intricate detailing in the lifesize bodice is remarkable.  Even up to the top where the cake almost identically resembles that of a regular dress form. This is truly the world’s most amazing wedding cake in the form of a bridal gown that I’ve ever seen.  I searched and searched for the sculptor and only found several links that used the image.  So for now, we have no choice but to label the cake designer as anonymous.  If I’m ever blessed to have something like this at my own wedding, you guys will be the first to know.  That is a promise..

Posted in Edible Art, Restaurant Competitions, Sweets and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
16 Jul 2012
2 Comments

Happy Hour Obsession of The Week – Rosa Mexicano, Washington DC

The happy hour obsession of the week goes to Rosa Mexicano in Washington DC near the Verizon Center.  Although I have been to countless Rosa Mexicanos – Union Square NYC, LA Live, Fort Washington’s National Harbor, Chevy Chase MD, etc etc, the staple location in my mind is the one near the Verizon Center in DC.  It was the first one to open outside of NYC, and delivers the same signature guacamole that everyone flocks to nationally..

Photo Source Hauteliving.com

 ..and the authentic, upscale Mexican cuisine in the stylish and trendy, yet festive atmosphere that we have all come to love is also offered on a happy hour menu.  This including half off select appetizers and drinks.  They also offer Taco Tuesdays featuring their new signature tacos and cocktails..

Some of their happy hour menu items consist of Queso Fundido $4, Flautas de Pollo $4, Ensalad del Mercado $3, Tacos de Pollo $4, and Tacos de Panza con Callos de Hacha $6.  For their happy hour drinks they offer half price margaritas, Sangria pitchers, tequila shots and beer ranging from $3-14

So next time you’re near a Rosa Mexicano, do yourself a favor and take advantage of their excellent happy hour if not at least their prize winning guacamole.

Posted in Drinks, Food, Happy Hour Obsession of The Week and tagged , , , , , , , , ,

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