TGIF. Arepas Cafe!

18 May IMG_1264

It’s the Friday before I jet off to California tomorrow.  Friends, family, reduced ironman training (I’m committing to 3 sessions only)…it will be nice.  Started the weekend with a trip to Arepas Cafe in Queens to meet up with Kelly and Michael.  The common connection is Team in Training, and Michael and I were co-captains of the Bloomberg team.  I’ve been here a few times with my work team.  Started with the cachapa, which has a sweeter corn outside, then moved on to my Mami of Venezuelan pork, avocado and white cheese.

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White Sangria and the magic green sauce.  Kelly told me that the green sauce in the squirt bottle is well known in all Venezuelan places.  It’s delicious and I can put it on anything.  I first had it at Venezuelan Beach Food in Norwalk, CT.  That was the tag line under the actual name, but that’s what stuck.

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And now I’m home, I’m packing, and I’m ready to fly west!

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The Training Go To: PB&J

16 May IMG_5487

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For all the fun and fancy things I find to eat, there is nothing like a PB&J pre bike ride.  I think I’ve finally gotten the exact components that work for the long haul:

  • Trader Joe’s sprouted bread:  nice balance of fiber and protein.  I like the texture.  
  • Trader Joe’s boysenberry:  I like the seeds and it’s a little tart, but sweet
  • Jif creamy peanut butter:  The Tj’s unsalted is usually my go to.  But the manufactured aspect of the big brands means it’s good for the long ride.  The PB doesn’t get all messy (when I decide to pack a sandwich and stick it in in the bento box on the bike).  I’m working through a container of Skippy this week and think the Jif is sweeter.  So Jif is the new go-to.  Can you tell I like the sweet side of life?

I eat one every Saturday morning.  Sometimes I toast the bread if I’m pulling 2 slices out of the freezer.  And I’m off!  I did notice the bread gets a little “crunchy” after 3 hours of being wrapped in a paper towel if I bring one on the bike.

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The Savory Pie Guy

15 May IMG_5489

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I have a little bit of an “in” with the Savory Pie Guy.  They make a hand held Australian-type savory pie (I hate to say pot pie).  If you’ve been to NYC (or Australia), maybe you’ve seen the Pie Face chain.Just 15-20 minutes in the oven and you’re done!  We had the Over the Moon (steak and mushroom) and the King & I (red thai curry chicken).  Great crust, great flavor.  Very filling.  Not the healthiest thing, but worth the splurge.

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Mad Sq Eats. Yum. Yum. Double Yum.

11 May IMG_1224

It’s the annual Mad Square Eats on a little triangle near Madison Square Park.  Got a call from my guy who was already there, so dropped off the work stuff at home and headed over for some dinner.

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It was packed!  I think it’s an after work go-to for some areas businesses like Credit Suisse.  We started with 2 brisket sandwiches from Mahem & Stout.  Mine was topped with blueberry siracha and pickled onions.

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The we shared some chicken wings of the Bon Chon variety (really crispy) at Hong Kong Street Food…

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And then ice cream from Dream Scoops. Mark knows the proprietor so we got a free cone.  And it was so good, we went back for a 2nd (and paid).  Tried salted caramel, milk & cookies and dark chocolate.  I’m not going to feel guilty about this either, we have a 2 hour preview of the Mont Tremblant bike course on the computerized bike trainers on Saturday.  Just fueling up!

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Check it out:  Mad Square Eats

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Spring Spring Spring Flowers

8 May IMG_1187

I can’t help but snap a picture of flowers in the city. Tulips in front of the post office, in the planters by Madison Square Garden, on 20th street on the way to the gym…

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Levain Bakery & Pink Pants

5 May IMG_1204

Cookies and pink pants?  They have nothing to do with one another.  I just wanted to document my bright pants!  Bought these last weekend at my sister’s and have worn them twice already.  I’m not usually looking so put together on a weekend, but was coming from my Institute for Integrative Nutrition conference at the Time Warner Center. Had a great afternoon of seeing Dr. Andrew Weil and Alicia Silverstone.  The latter didn’t convince me to become vegan, but Dr. Weil was great.

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So after Mark picked me up post conference, we walked north for a stop at Levain Bakery.   It was 5 and I was hungry.  So we ate dessert first.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, but…I had biked 50 miles yesterday morning and figured what the hell.  Followed that up with fries with dinner.

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I’ve always wanted to try a Levain cookie.  When you walk down the steps into the little kitchen, you can SMELL the baking and the chocolate.  And we went for a big fat cookie.  Right out of the oven.  Ooey and gooey.  Chocolate with chocolate chips.  More like a lava cake, or warm brownie.

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Schmakery’s….Mmmm Cookies!

3 May IMG_1024

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We’ve been to Schmakery’s twice now.  Both times with a Google Offers.  It’s hard to pass up a cookie opportunity.    There are several flavors, all warm and right out of the oven. I like the peanut butter cup because it’s also sprinkled with just a little bit of salt which brings out the flavor.   We’ve had the maple bacon twice. Delicious.  It’s like eating breakfast in a cookie.

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Check ‘em out!  Schmakery’s:  www.schmackarys.com

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