Kat's 9 Lives

Ever since the infamous show down with Bobby Flay, the Doughnut Plant has been infamous for their Tres Leches doughnut.  This location is the original located down in the Lower East Side.  It's a small shop with very little sit down room compared to the newer location in Chelsea.  A simple and great place to pick up a heavenly snack.  So many great memories from here. It's also a closer walk from the subway.
The best and most tasty doughnut is the Tres Leches, hands down! Who does not love the super moist and mind-blowing cake doughnut that is extremely addicting.  I always bring a dozen or so back home and nosh on these for many days.  If only I lived in NYC! I'd be stopping by as often as I could.  Of course I'd be diabetic by now and poor.  Every time I am in NYC or if Ms. Lin is there, I make sure that I get some delicious doughnuts.  Even if it is frozen and saved for later, I will take it! lol
It was our last day in NYC and we had planned out our sugar-filled list of treats to bring back to friends and families in So Cal.  First stop, Doughnut Plant, and then off to Bisous Ciao Macarons.  We sacrificed lunch in order to pick up all these sweet treats.  Was it worth it?  Yum! We left hungry, but on the train to Newark Ms. Lin and I began munching on them.
Even though they had the Crème Brûlée Doughnut here, I didn't pick one up.  I had it at the Chelsea location and it was not quite what I thought it would be.  The picture makes it look really tasty but for me there was just something missing to make it a real Crème Brûlée for me.  Besides, we were two gals on a mission to take back a good amount of the Tres Leches as they are TO DIE FOR!
They have less choices here than the Chelsea location, but at least they have all the best flavors here.  I love coming to NYC in October because they will have the seasonal Pumpkin doughnut available.  It's the only doughnut for me that is somewhat comparable to the Tres Leches.  Although, nothing is as tasty as their infamous doughnut.
Next, they need to think about moving to the West Coast.  I would be one of the first to line up outside the store and one of many with a few dozen doughnuts leaving! lol
Doughnut Plant
379 Grand St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 505-3700

It was getting really late at night and we had a full day in NYC already but our last stop of the night was at the The Breslin in Midtown West/Chelsea. I will admit that I was a bit skeptical when Ms. Lin suggested this gastropub for lamb burgers. There have been very very very few places where I have actually had a decent lamb burger that did NOT taste like feet. Don't get me wrong, I adore lamb and raw meat but I don't like the heavy herbs that over power the natural flavors and only makes the gaminess unbearable.
Since I have had many bad encounters, I was a bit cautious when she ordered. It was late at night and close to last call so we asked the guy to first put in an order of the lamb burger and THEN I will decide if I will have another one. Ms. Lin and him probably thought I was funny and since they have both had the lamb burger, they knew that the answer would be yes! Not that you couldn't tell from the title of this post, lol.
At first I was in a sour mood because nothing else on the menu appealed to me and the prices were mid-high for stuff that I did not want to eat. Prices in NYC always tend to be higher, but since I was not here for a real meal and I am surrounded by tons of great eats in this city I was hesitant to order the other dishes. Luckily I just waited to try the lamb burger and didn't!
If I wasn't so full from all the eating around NYC, I wish I stuffed another burger down the gullet! The Lamb Burger ($21) was topped with feta and served with cumin mayo and thrice cooked chips on the side. I am glad that the mayo was on the side because I don't really like cumin. The fries were piping hot and well seasoned. I really enjoyed the presentation on the cutting board. We cut the burger in half and I was delighted that the center was reddish-pink. It was a juicy, sensuous, and flavorful burger that completely melts in your mouth! Be sure to eat it while it is piping hot and before the juices leak out onto the bun. **Gobble Gobble**
We started the night off with the Caramel Popcorn ($5), which I thought was cutely presented. The name tag and date of birth was a great idea. It wasn't quite what I expected it to be and the caramel was quite sticky and chewy. For me, it was just okay but I did really like the packaging.
I have never heard of a Scotch Egg ($8) but Ms. Lin was excited and wanted to order it. What? I was a bit skeptical because I thought it was a bit pricey for something that has the word egg! For those who know me, I am not a big of eggs and wouldn't order it but I am glad we did. This was surprisingly tasty! Instead of a hard boiled egg inside, it was a nicely poached runny egg encased by meat then batter and fried to crisp perfection. Yum! It was crispy and savory. I actually thought the combination was very nice and was tempted to have another one. The portion size was pretty decent too.
We debated about another appetizer/snack and we decided to order the Beef and Stilton Pie ($7). The server described it as beef and cheese inside a tasty crust, so we thought sure bring us an order! I wished we ordered another scotch egg instead! Of course I wouldn't have known without trying so c'est la vie. The flavor of the beef was decent but there wasn't much cheese inside. To me it was just alright.
All in all it was a hip and tasty gastropub. They definitely sold me on their lamb burger and scotch egg! The menu might change often but I hope they keep those two on the menu! Ms. Lin was a little reserved about this place because it had been a while since she'd been here and since she was introducing this place to me, she wanted to make sure I'd like it too. Luckily, the burger was just as good as she remembered. Proving that when something is good, it can still taste just as good years later and not just be a memory.
The Breslin
16 W. 29th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 679-2222

Where else can you find some of the finest culinary delicacies but inside the wonderful city of Manhattan? I tried La Maison Du Macaron, which comes highly recommended but I wasn't too impressed by the filling. As I had mentioned in the previous post, I would reveal the best macarons I had on my recent trip NYC. Bisous Ciao Macarons was definitely the best and most memorable. Not only were the macarons beautifully presented, they are also elegantly packed so that you can easily give it away as a gift.
I definitely saved the best for last. It was the last day we were in the city and we made sure to pick up all the best snacks we could so that we will be swimming in heavenly eats for the next few days. We made sure Bisous Ciao Macarons was one of the last stops. Little did we plan on the fact that we needed to consume all 12 pieces in less than an hour before we parted ways for our flight. I was in macaron overload after we polished of the box! lol
Was it worth it? The macarons were the same price as La Maison Du Macaron, but I felt a much better value. I felt they were more delicate and the fillings were crafted to perfection. The flavors were more tantalizing to our palate. I am all for unique but sometimes you can't forget the simple flavors that can knock your socks off.
Ms. Lin and I both agree that the Salted Caramel was simply divine. The caramel was so smooth and velvety that it literally melted in your mouth. If they sold salted caramel candies, I would definitely buy it. Unfortunately La Maison Du Macaron was sold out of that flavor when I went, but based on the other macarons I had there were nowhere near as memorable as the ones I had at Bisous Ciao Macarons.
I liked that they offered the Jasmine + Green Tea and Salted Peanut + Grape flavored macarons. Simple twists to traditional favorites. Again, their fillings are very delicate and smooth without being overly creamy or buttery.
All in all I am really glad I ventured off and found Bisous Ciao Macarons in the Lower East Side. I really enjoyed the delicate texture of their macarons and well thought out fillings that truly complemented the shells. It's not that close to metro, but it's worth the trip to try something new. If you have friends who really love macaron and Paris, I would definitely recommend that you stop on by to pick them a beautifully wrapped box of tasty macarons as a gift. Of course don't forget to treat yourself to a bigger box for being a thoughtful friend! ^_-
Bisous Ciao Macarons
101 Stanton Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 260-3463

The Doughnut Plant has been a coveted place in my heart since my first trip out to NYC. From the first time Ms. Lin told me about how the owner bested Bobby Flay on his show with his infamous Tres Leches Doughnut, we were hooked after one bite. That was many years ago and now they have expanded leaps and bounds with a new location near Chelsea.
This new location is super hip with funky doughnut decors that will knock your socks off. I simply fell in love with all the doughnut pillows on the wall. In my mind I can see a picture of Homer Simpson standing there with his mouth wide open and drooling! Oh wait, that was me! =) I'd be on cloud nine dreaming about doughnuts if I slept on those cute pillows!
Here you have space to grab a nice cup of coffee or a huge glass of milk to go along with your tasty doughnuts!
Of course my favorite doughnut is the Tres Leches, hands down! They are so moist and flavorful! Even if you bring them back to California for friends and family. They hold up pretty well and taste almost as great. Locked inside the sugared shell is a heavenly moist cake doughnut. I am not sure what magic he uses or what kind of drugs are inserted inside the doughnut to maintain the flavor, moisture, and tastiness! So addictive that it will keep you coming back for more!
Once you start, you can't stop! I have Ms. Lin bring it for me every time she goes to NYC. She has even frozen the doughnut in the freezer until I come up for a visit to finish them off. They might not taste as wonderful as a fresh made doughnut by then, but I'd gladly eat them! Yup, they are that tasty. Those in the know, really know! ^_-
From my previous trips, I have always liked the Pumpkin Doughnut. It's not quite as moist as their signature doughnut but I love the pumpkin seasoning. The little pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch to each bite. They only have it around certain seasons, so be sure to pick it up while you can.
They have a new treat called the Salty Peanut Doughnut that looked tasty. Sadly, I made the mistake of giving the doughnut to friends before I got to try it. So I will have to return again to sink my teeth into that tasty morsel!
Another new item they had was the Crème Brûlée Doughnut that I was intrigued by and high hopes for because of my devoted passion to the Tres Leches. There was a nice caramelized shell on the top, but I felt that for the price it was a bit tiny and that the flavor of the doughnut was not there. I say stick with what they are known for. It's fun that they are trying new things but this fell a little bit short for me.
All in all, I still LOVE and ADORE the Doughnut Plant! I just wish that he would open up one here and I'd visit it every day! That man really knows how to make one fantastic doughnut that will keep you dreaming and fantasizing about it. No wonder there are so many doughnut pillows on their wall. He knows what you will be thinking about in your sleep. lol

P.S. Someone send me or make me those doughnut pillows!! Nom Nom!!

Doughnut Plant
220 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-9100

After an interesting lunch at Eleven Madison Park in NYC, I decided to venture out into the area and pick up some delicious treats to take home. At first, my only goal was to get the best donuts around town. Since I am only in NYC for such a short time, I had to make sure the time was well spent and filled with yummy treats. There were a few places that looked really tasty but I ended up coming to La Maison Du Macaron. For some odd reason I was on a macaron high. Maybe I missed Paris too much?
From the outside it looked like a tiny store but there’s actually an area for patrons to sip on coffee and enjoy their fresh pastries or macarons. I felt that the staff there wasn’t very friendly and not very inviting. They had the attitude and vibe that says, “Just hurry up and order.” I was a little hesitant in taking photos openly, but at least I wasn’t met with any resistance there. Still, the overall vibe was not pleasant.
They had a nice selection of macarons. The colors were very vibrant and enticing. For their Fall Collection they offered some interesting flavors. I decided to try their Caramelized Pear Walnut, Nougat Lavendar, and Black Fig. To be honest, none of these were really any standouts for me.
Since I went after lunch, they ran out of the Caramel Fleur De Sel for the day so we didn’t get any of Ms. Lin’s favorite flavor. It must have been popular, so I will have to try them out next time. I asked if they had anything else that was like salted caramel, but they only had a lollipop with that flavor.
My favorite flavor was the Rose Lychee Liquor because of its subtle rose flavor intermixed with the aromatic fragrance of lychee. They have quite a few flavors mixed with alcohol and champagne in particular. Personally, I didn’t really enjoy the ones with champagne because they had a bitter after taste.
Beware of the Pistachio Fleur D’Oranger. It might look pretty with the dual color shell, but the flavor was just a bit off.
All in all the macarons here were a decent size and the shells had a nice chewy texture. My biggest qualm was that the filling was very buttery and almost a little too much. I know it is weird to hear me complain about something being too buttery but I felt like the butter flavor overtook every bite. Not all macarons were overpowering. I think the more fruity flavored macarons were the safer ones. The prices felt a little steep, but I think it is just NYC for you. A dozen macarons were $30. I went to 3 places for macarons on this short trip and they were ranked number 2, but not that much better than number 3. So who was number 1? Well, you will just have to stay tuned for updates about my NYC trip. O=)
La Maison Du Macaron
132 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 243-2757