H. Dessert Truck - 5 star Desserts by the Curbside

Last stop on the Food tour: Dessert Truck!

Time for some proper dessert. The Dessert Truck is currently stationed on 3rd Ave. at Saint Marks Place. Right by the Starbucks, so you can grab your coffee to go with your fancy schmancy dessert.

I've been wanting to try the Dessert Truck for a while, but with all the plethora of dessert choices in the city, plus the other sweet trucks circling Manhattan (I'll get to those later), I never found the right moment.

Thank goodness I finally tried it! It was delicious. Amazing something so good and so fresh can come out of what is essentially an RV. Take that Le Cirque!

5 star dining without the pretension or the price.

They serve both hot and cold desserts, all for the price of $5 bucks. Not bad, considering frozen yogurt will set you back at least $5.75!

One tip though- get there on the earlier side of the evening. By 10:30pm, perfect dessert time if you ask me, most of the selections were sold out.

We settled on the chocolate bread pudding and the creme brulee. I'm not sure why these weren't sold out as well since they were fantastic. Definitely can compete with any dessert place out there and with the benefit of eating it wherever you want.

Dessert Truck also has some unique flavors for the adventurous...like a bacon creme anglaise option to go with the chocolate bread pudding. Wish I had noticed that before I ordered!

Like I said...everything in life is better with bacon.

Ahh...well there's always next time.

And with Dessert Truck, there will definitely be a next time.

Dessert Truck
3rd Ave. at Saint Marks Place, New York, NY
http://www.desserttruck.com/
Check website for new locations

G. Caracas Arepas - Thanks again Bobby Flay for the tip!

So again, I got the tip from "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" to go to Caracas Arepas to sample true authentic Venezuelan corn arepas.

I'm telling you, Bobby Flay knows his stuff...

Turning around the corner from Crif Dogs, we found Caracas Arepas spilling out with people left and right.

The tiny restaurant on 93 1/2 East 7th looks quaint and cozy, perfect to bring a date when you want her to think you are "in the know."

For us though, we were on a food tour. No time to sit down. Lucky enough..up the street at 91 East 7th, they have a tiny takeout box where you can order up arepas to go.

Faced with a ton of choices (17 different fillings to be exact!) we went with a traditional classic: Number A-8, the De Pabellon - a corn arepa filled with shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains and aged cheese.

Now just a tip, make sure you decide what you want before going to order. This place is crowded and there is little tolerance for watchers and idlers.

And...be patient, as the sign in the shop says "this is not fast food. good food takes time"

But folks, trust me it's worth it. At first glance the arepa looked a little like a version of a slider. One bite in, and it's the best slider you've ever had.

Probably cuz it's not a slider, but that's besides the point. The crispy corn patty stuffed with melt in your mouth beef, beans and plantains combines together with a spice and punch that leaves you wanting more. In a vain attempt to describe it, I'll say it's kind of like a sloppy joe with a twist.

Brings back childhood cafeteria memories of sloppy joes. Except they sure didn't taste this good.

Carcas Arepas
Takeout
91 East 7th St. New York, NY
212-228-5062
Dining Room
93 1/2 East 7th St. New York, NY
212-529-2314
http://www.caracasarepabar.com/

F. Crif Dogs - Perfect for when you have the Late Night Munchies....

If you know what I mean. And Crif Dogs knows what I mean.

Time for a greasy, salty infusion after the sweetness of ChikaLicious.

Crif Dogs is a local hangout in the East Village, specializing in hot dogs with anything and everything you could ask for.

It's like hot dog heaven.

Popular dogs include the Spicy Redneck - a bacon wrapped dog with chili, cole slaw and jalapenos, and the Chihuahua - a bacon wrapped dog with avocado, sour cream and you have to add the salsa (extra 50 cents).

Surprisingly enough, all the dogs I like have bacon...

Like I said, everything in life is better with bacon.

In this case, even more so. The bacon adds a surprising crispness to the dog, adding a whole other taste sensation.

Love it. Love it. Love it.

And while the shop may be a little intimidating due to its über alternative vibe, the servers are fun and gracious and will help you navigate the saliva inducing menu.

P.S. Enter the phone booth and if you are "cool" enough you may gain entrance to a chill bar downstairs where you can extend your crif dog experience.

Crif Dogs
113 Saint Marks Place, New York, NY
212-614-2728

E. ChikaLicious Dessert Club - Best Vanilla Bean Soft Serve in the City

After the gooey goodness of S'Mac, it was time for a sweet detour.

Off to Chikalicious Dessert Club! This is a tiny, unpretentious shop located across the street from the famed ChikaLicious.

It's sort of like a ChikaLicious "to go," serving up tasty bread puddings, cupcakes, crème brûlées , and of course, the much talked about Vanilla Bean Soft Serve.

After reading the following article in the New York Times...I had to try it for myself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/dining/23soft.html?8dpc

My verdict? Sorry Mister Softee...there's a new sheriff in town. ChikaLicious is serving up the best darn Vanilla Bean Soft Serve on this side of the Mississippi.

You can taste the essence and even the crunchiness of Vanilla Beans throughout the swirl...truly a decadent snack.

And without the customary 1 hour wait of its sister across the street you can count on me to be back...and back....and back again.

Bye Bye ChikaLicious...Hello ChikaLicious Dessert Club!

ChikaLicious Dessert Club
204 E. 10th St. New York, NY
212-475-0929
http://www.dessertclubchikalicious.com/

D. S'Mac - Who doesn't like Mac'n'Cheese?

Next stop on the list - S'Mac, or Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese

I can eat mac'n'cheese for every meal, everyday. Doesn't everyone love mac'n'cheese? So what better place to go than a place that just serves mac'n'cheese!

S'Mac is a cozy place in the East Village where they serve up the mac'n'cheese just like at home, but with a grownup twist.

You can get your macaroni regular, multi-grain or even gluten free! What has this world come to?
Plus, you can choose from 14 different cheeses and add your own ingredients from a vast list including everything from cilantro to tuna to even shiitake mushrooms!?!?

We stuck with one of Sarita's recommendations: Alpine. Gruyere cheese and slab bacon.

Need I say more? It is my opinion that everything in life is better with bacon. That goes double, no triple, no quadruple for mac'n'cheese.

The mac'n'cheese comes out on sizzling cast-iron skillets...it's hot hot hot! Not that I'm complaining :)

Plus it comes in 4 sizes: Nosh, Major Munch, Mongo and Partay! Depending on the combination, the Nosh runs anywhere from $4.25 - $6.75 for the gourmet Alpine version.

Not bad when many fancy shmancy NYC restaurants are serving it up for double or triple the price.

Treat yourself to the perfect comfort food for any night of the week.

Just do it.

S'Mac
345 East 12th Street, New York, NY
212-358-7912, 212-358-7917
http://www.smacnyc.com/

C. Plump Dumpling - Lives up to its Name

After PB&J, we needed somethin salty. Next stop: Plump Dumpling.

Here we got a quick bite with an order of 6 plump dumplings - meat dumplings pan-fried.

All I can say is "mmmm."

Brown and crispy on the outside, juicy and fat in the inside. They definitely aren't the skinny, scrawny dumplings you get at a lot of Chinese joints.

These are the real deal. Dumplings for the soul.

Plump Dumpling
299 E. 11th St. New York, NY
212-254-2868
no website

B. Peanut Butter & Co. - Gourmet PB&J?

Next stop: Peanut Butter & Co.

Our thought would be that the creamy peanut butter could help subside the burning sensation from Kati Roll. We were right. It was the perfect sweet after salty combo.

We ordered the Fluffernutter - a simple concoction of melted marshmallows and peanut butter. So simple, why didn't I think of it?

It came out on a plate sliced in half with a side of carrots and potato chips. However, there was one fatal flaw....The bread wasn't toasted!

Isn't that weird?
Maybe I'm the only one who likes it toasted?

The perfect afternoon snack?
I think so.


For $5.75?

Not so sure.

I think next time I'll just make it at home.

Peanut Butter & Co.
240 Sullivan St, New York, NY
212-677-3995
http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/

A. Kati Roll - Way to start off the Food tour with a Bang!

First stop on the food tour was Kati Roll in Greenwich Village.

From what I can tell, Kati rolls are kind of like an Indian version of a burrito,wrap or pita. Funny enough the wrap also reminds me of the scallion pancakes you get at Ollies.

I know that sounds weird, and I quite possibly am butchering it, but basically they are thin, crispy rolls filled with meats or veggies, cheese and egg.

We got the Unda Chicken Kati roll - filled with spicy chicken, egg and onions. What was interesting was that it definitely had a spicy kick to it...but you almost didn't feel the burn until it hit as an aftertaste. This can be dangerous if you eat quickly (which I do) and might leave you scurrying to the counter for a refresher...

Tip - Milk is the best remedy to dilute the burning sensation. Beer, soda and water do no good.

Guess it goes back to the saying "Milk does a body good..."

Kati Roll
99 MacDougal St. New York, NY
212-420-6517
www.thekatirollcompany.com/

Food Tour in the City - Recipe for a great Friday night...

Last night I finally did a "food tour" criss-crossing the island to sample classic cheap eats spanning different ethnicities and genres...

(Courtesy of Google Maps I've mapped out our path for easy replication - click on it to make it easier to read since we aren't owls).


A. Kati Roll
B. Peanut Butter & Co.
C. Plump Dumpling
D. S'Mac
E. ChikaLicious Dessert Club
F. Crif Dogs
G. Caracas Arepas
H. Dessert Truck

A good friend put together a ridiculous itinerary starting off at Kati Roll in Greenwich Village to the Dessert Truck parked in the East Village...with many many stops in between. Now I know you may ask, "how can one eat so much?"

Well, I thought the same thing (even though I've been known to eat like a trucker)...

The trick here, the real key - Go with a group of your best pals and...just order one dish at each place and share among your party!

It's basically like having a dinner full of all the best appetizers! After all, isn't the best part of dinner the appetizers? Just a taste always leaves me wanting more in the best way...

No bashfulness here...dig in, bite in, snack on...no room for squeamish germaphobes!

This is a "must do" for anyone new or old to New York and a great way to sample all the diversity the city has to offer. After all I've been in New York for 5 years and this is the first time I've done it...

Who said you couldn't eat for under $30 bucks in NY?

Prepare your appetite because I think each place deserves its own posting, So here we go....