A few great eats in NYC

Check out my cozy and quaint picks for a nice date or small family outing in NYC.

 

First on my list is a trendy little spot called Peter’s Since 1969.  Peter’s is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 168 Bedford Avenue.  It’s pretty easy to get to.  Just take the L train to Williamsburg and get off of the very first stop, which is Bedford avenue, and you’re literally seconds away once you exit the station.

 

 

With its southern style fixin’ Peter’s is perfect for a dinner date, small gathering of four, or just solo.  Their specialty is French rotisserie chicken, which comes with 2 complimentary sides, and a slice of focaccia bread.  I’ve been quite the groupie at Peter’s lately.  My usual dish is the ½ Rotisserie Chicken, sautéed spinach, and macaroni and cheese.  Now, if you’re vegetarian, don’t fret, Peter’s accommodates vegetarians as well with their Veggie Meal.  The Veggie Meal consists of three side dishes.  Did I mention the huge selection of vegetarian choices…up to 9 options! 

 

The thing I really love is that everything is prepared in these huge red crockpots right before your eyes.  If you’re trying to trim down the waistline, don’t let the southern style cooking scare you.  The food is not overly seasoned, and everything is baked, broiled, boiled, or grilled.  It’s a healthier version of southern cooking.  And don’t worry about proportions the pricing because you’re given an ample amount of proportions for such a cheap price, an estimated bill for one ranges between $9-$12.  Yes…this dining experience will save you lots of money, which is good around the Holidays.

 

Of course there’s more to know about Peter’s however, I want you to experience it for yourself.  So stop on by Peter’s and let me know how much you loved it.

 

Peter’s Since 1969

168 Bedford Avenue (between N. 7^th & N. 8^th Sts.)

Brooklyn, NY  11211

718.338.2811

www.peterssince.com

Natural Beauty

The National Park of the Chapada Diamantina is one of the most fascinating natural parks of Brazil. The mountain scenery contains an extraordinary variety of ecosystems, like Cerrado, Mata Atlantica, and Stone fields, Caatinga. The bromeliads and orchids find a privileged ambiance, adapting themselves to the differences in climate and altitude. The mountain tops reach a height of 5,660 feet and they offer shelter to the Jaguatiricas (local breed of feline) pumas, mocós (local rodents), deer’s, teiús (local reptile) and seriemas (local little ostrich) .

The massive quartz pieces, have undergone and resisted erosion, forming towers of minerals known as “TEPUY” by the local Indians of the Maracas and Cariris tribes, who dominated the region before the arrival of the first settlers or bandeirantes, around the year 1750. The most astonishing tepuis reach a height of 4,830 feet and they run across the municipalities of Palmeiras, Lençois e Mucugê . Read more

Hot Wheels

Looking for a cheap way to travel? If you’ve already realized renting a car is the least expensive and most efficient option, you might be able to save yourself extra money by NOT renting a car from the airport.   I’m talking discounts greater than 50%.Airports are easy to get to and around, but they are also costly. Car rental companies charge additional “Airport Service Fees” of around $10-15, to say nothing of how much it costs you to get there.   At the airport, the companies are all competing with one another and with such high consumer demand, they can all pretty much agree to charge the same high prices. Off-site rental companies are looking to do business and might have a special discount in addition to much lower standard rates.

For a weekend rental (Noon Friday-Monday) of the same Standard car, at the same company in the New York City area, here are a few calculations… Read more

The New Shockoe Bottom

I remember growing up in Shockoe Bottom, located east of downtown along the James River, in my hometown of Richmond, VA.  Before the millennium ages, Shockoe Bottom was the more industrial part of Richmond, where many goods were loaded and unloaded.  Apart from the industrial feel, for me, Shockoe Bottom was like a gregarious countryside Caribbean Island.  Within a five block radius you were surrounded by several small family owned businesses and the largest Farmer’s Market.  There would even be, on rare occasions, a man on a mule or tugging a cow, passing through.  The people of Shockoe Bottom were a community of friends, whom bonded well and supported each other’s businesses. And I remember my Dad’s business, Pacific Seafood Market, located at 19 18^th St. 

 

On a recent trip home (to lend a hand in my mom’s latest entrepreneurial venture) my burning desire led me to revisit Shockoe Bottom, the community which felt like immediate family during my adolescent days.  It’s been over 17 years, since my Daddy, sold his Seafood Market, and that was probably the last time I visited the neighborhood and stepped foot into the market, and boy has a lot changed.

  Read more

Ayê orum - Sisterhood of the Boa Morte Celebration in Cachoeira

Central to a program composed of all night vigils, masses, processions and Samba de Roda, is the sisterhood of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte in Cachoeira. The commemoration is held annually beginning on the 13th of August and continues until 17th. The festival of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, founded in 1821, is one of the most important religious traditions in Brazil, which represents today a living document of the African experience in the new world.
The commemoration was begun at the beginning of Abolition and preserves those ties to the motherland which are characteristic of freedom-seeking African-descendent people. The ceremonies are rare and very rich, from the clothing and jewelry the women use in each ceremony, to the food offered at the house of the sisterhood, and the Samba de Roda which personalizes the non-religious part of the festival.
This devotion of the Sisterhood of Boa Morte was begun in the senzalas where the slaves came together at the end of day and seized the the opportunity to the discuss abolition, and to pray for the slaves who died during the struggles for the freedom. They asked Nossa Senhora to end slavery in Brazil.
Want to see this celebration in person? Email tbailey@escapetogether.com or call 1-877-980-1717 to get more information.

Bembé of Santo Amaro/ The Candomblé of Freedom.

The drumming of the rhythm of the orixás is heard coming from the municipal market. For three consecutive nights, the steady beat celebrates the stength of Afro-Brazilian culture in the region of Bahia around all Saints’ Bay, known as the Recôncavo. It echoes throught the squares, streets and alleyways of Santo Amaro da Purificação.

It is the sound of 100-year-old tradition, Bembé do Mercado, the only Candomblé ceremony that takes place in outdoor public space, the Municipal Market. Candomblé high priests known as babalorixás and priestesses known as ialorixá, as well as the spiritual sons and dughters “of the saints” from 40 different Candomblé houses and ethnic groups, meet to commemorate the end of slavery in Brazil in 1888.
The Bembé is a linguistc corruption of the Word Candomblé, does not have the slightest link to subservient gratitude to Princess Isabel for abolishing slavery. Instead it stands as a piece of historical evidence of the popular revolt against captivity. “It is the Candomblé of freedom.”
The sacred atabaque drums beats on the nights of May 10, 11 and 12, heralding and holding vigil over the offerings left by Candomblé worshipers and followers at the market. On the morning of the 13th, fireworks and the aroma of lavander signal the hight point of the festival, when people carrying baskets filled with gifts for Yemanjá and Oxum form a procession to Itapemba cove, on the beach in the Acupe district.

Sushi and Mojitos

Heading to Radio City music hall for a concert we wanted an inexpensive restaurant that would provide a relaxing environment at the end of a long workday. Located on 49th between 6th and 7th Avenues is a small Japanese restaurant that met the bill.

Iroha offers friendly service, fun cocktails and great customer service. It was a cold night and our group was seated at a table near the door. we were greeted with warm towels to wipe our hands shortly after sitting down a nice welcoming feature of our choice.

We decided to start with cocktails and the Shiso Mojito has made my Perfect Mojito list. It is made of Japanese shochu liquor, citrus rum, fresh shiso mint leaves and lime. It was refreshing and delicious. It was so great I had two! We also had a Peach Lemonade sour (peach juice, lemondae, and Japanese shochu liquor. It is not as good as the Mojito but still tasty.

The food was also great and we tried the Salmon steak box, Tebasaki Kawari Age (which are crispy chicken wings with garlic flavored soy sauce and sesame seeds) Udon white wheat noodle soup with mountain of vegetables and rolls from the sushi bar.

It was all great and we loved the experience. A great choice for a meal near Radio City or just a night out in NYC.

IROHA Restaurant

152 W. 49th Street
between 6th and 7th Avenues
New York, NY 10019
212-398-9049

The Grill From Ipanema: A piece of Brazil in the heart of DC

Brazil is one of my favorite places on earth.  I love the people, the music, the culture and the food.  During the week of Carnaval, I was especially missing Brazil and wishing I could be in the thick of the parties and parades.  Instead I was stuck in my hometown of Washington DC, so a friend and I decided to take the 10 minute walk to one of my favorite spots in DC to get the feeling of being in Brazil.  We went to the Grill from Ipanema.  Located in the ethnic melting pot that is Adams Morgan, the Grill from Ipanema is a restaurant, bar, and occasional dance club that makes you feel you are in a café on Copacabana beach or Salvador de Bahia.  Featuring food, drinks, music, and staff from all over Brazil, it is a great introduction to Brazilian culture and cuisine.   

On this particular evening my friend and I started out with a cocktail to get us in a festive mood.  We opted for the marucujinha, a very refreshing and delicious cocktail made with passion fruit juice and cachaca, the sugar cane liquor Brazil is famous for.   It was so good that we had to have two more.  It was carnaval after all!   

For an appetizer we split the casquinha de siri which is sautéed crab with olive oil, garlic, tomato, cilantro, onion, and green pepper, and topped with roasted yucca flour.  It was quite tasty, but the dish was a little on the small side so I wouldn’t recommend sharing.  I was craving a moqueca, one of my favorite dishes from time spent in Bahia.  Moqueca is a seafood stew prepared in a blend of palm oil and coconut milk with fresh cilantro, tomato, onion, scallions and green pepper.  Grill from Ipanema serves two variations of moqueca with the choice of eight different kinds of seafood.  We chose to split the Moqueca a Baiana with shrimp.  It came bubbling in a clay pot with yucca puree served on the side.  This version had more of a tomato based stew than the versions I’ve eaten in Brazil, which are heavier on the coconut milk.  Still, the moqueca was absolutely delicious and generous enough to split.   Drinks and Appetizers typically cost $7 to $10 a pop.  Entrees hover around the $20 to $25 range 

The Grill from Ipanema also has one of the best happy hour deals in town.  From M-F 4:30-7:00pm you can get amazing caipirinhas for $3.99 and good deals on appetizers on appetizers as well.    

I have always received great service at the restaurant, which is saying a lot for DC.  This isn’t a city known for good customer service.  I don’t ever feel rushed at the Grill from Ipanema.  I’ve had four hour meals here without any problem.  Also, be sure to come during the warmer months when you can dine alfresco.  It is fantastic people watching.   

Grill from Ipanema is a little taste of Brazil with super friendly people, a great vibe, and tasty drinks and food.  If you love Brazil as much as I do, this is the place for you!   

Busboys and Poets

Imagine a place where you can grab a sandwich, attend an open mic, have a cocktail, pick up the latest books by America’s leading black intellectuals, attend a lecture by a nobel laureate, and plug-in to free wi-fi.  Well, you will find all this and more at Busboys and Poets in DC’s vibrant U street/Shaw neighborhood.  Named after a reference to famed Black poet, Langston Hughes, Busboys and Poets is not just a restaurant, it’s a community center.  Busboys and Poets makes no secret about promoting progressive values, but you will find everybody and their mama here.  Looking around during a packed Sunday brunch you will see Howard University students, young white hipsters, and older Black ladies with their pastel hats and church suits.   

I almost always inevitably show up here for at least one meal when I have out of town guests.  They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night food at reasonable prices.  It’s a fantastic spot for brunch and is packed on weekend mornings.  The menu is eclectic and global.  The food is consistently good and everybody will find something they enjoy.  The baristas are top-notch, and the coffee is always perfect.    

Busboys and Poets hosts daily events.  On any given day you can attend a film screening, lecture, open mic, concert, or networking event.  They also were quite popular during election season, and lines formed down the block to get in for debate and inaugural parties.   

Busboys and Poets business is so booming that they opened two more locations in the DC area, but I am loyal to the original on 14^th street.  If I ever leave DC, Busboy and Poets will be one of the places I will really miss.  There is a vibe and energy here that is so unique. Few places these days are as community focused and there is always something going on here, interesting people to meet, great art to look at, and good times to be had.   

2021 14th St NW 
(between N U St & N V St) 
Washington, DC 20009

202) 387-7638

www.busboysandpoets.com

Desperados Mexican Restaurant

I used to live in Texas and occasionally I long for Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes that seem to be so hard to come by in my current city. So when my friend suggested we visit her favorite local Mexican restaurant (Desperados) while I was in Dallas, I was more than willing to go along. Margarita lovers should not miss their award winning “La Margarita”. Served on the rocks the mixture of fresh lime juice, Sauza Commerativo, Cointreau and a little something they keep as their secret, it is the kind of drink summers and lazy days were made for. Needless to say they were so tasty we had a few. But they also have sangria for those of you looking for a non tequila drink.

The Tortilla soup is a traditional broth with homemade tortilla strips and vegetables. I have had better tortilla soup but my main dish was enough to make me call this place my new favorite spot. The Desperado Taco is typically served with beef or chicken but tonight’s special was a shrimp version. Two crispy flour tortillas enclose gooey melted cheese and the seasoned shrimp. Combined with pico de gallo and this dish is enough to make you wonder why you ever ate a taco anywhere else. My friend had the fish tacos, a fried catfish taco with cabbage and Desperados signature “mayotle” sauce. Both dishes are served with sopa de frijol and rice.

The thing that I long for most when I am needing a Tex-Mex fix are sopapillas and once again Desperados did not disappoint. Made in house and served with butter and honey they were the perfect conclusion to the meal.

There are two locations for Desperados and if you go to the Texas Fair they always have a booth. They also are located at Texas stadium, so Dallas Cowboy fans and enemies can take advantage of this local establishment while enjoying the game.

Desperados
4818 Greenville Ave @ University
214-363-1850
desperadouno@sbcglobal.net

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