Manhattan Bites!

I am not sure I even liked the food very much at Milon 2, but man is it worth checking this place out.  Plus, I didn't get sick so I guess that's a plus!  Still trying to figure out what is triggering crazy stomach aches after each meal.  

I wish I could recommend this place for the ambiance and the delectable food, but I doubt I can do either.
All I can say is....You seriously have to go here.  

Milon is located on 1st avenue right adjacent to the always lovely Caravan of Dreams.  You can't miss it.  There are 3 Restaurants total, two upstairs and one downstairs and there are men outside screaming and yelling at you to pick their restaurant for your dining needs.  Go up the stairs and to the left and enter...well...I don't know...enter a sort of hellish nightmare in a space as big as an airplane, no overhead room and packed to the brim with the most amount of lights ever.  How this place is not a fire hazard, I don't know.

I felt like a video may be the best way to share the craziness with you. Dominic took a video with his phone, so pardon the poor quality...at least you can see how ridiculous this place is.

Tip: say it is your Birthday and the lights flicker on and off and crazy Birthday music plays. Let's just say it was a lot of people's "Birthdays" that night.







The only thing that remotely saved this place in terms of my tummy were the Banana Pakoras, which I had never had before.  They are like a fried plantain basically, but with the tamarind sauce on them, they are pretty freakin' tasty.  If nothing else, go there, say it's your Birthday and order these.  You won't be disappointed.

Well, maybe you will be disappointed but you will definitely have had an experience!

Happy Dining!

xoh!

d

Winter Warmth

1. Clementines. My very favorite winter citrus fruit.  Did you know that clementines are good for your complexion?  One more reason to buy a bag! 

2. This awesome owl inspired hooded scarf.  I love wrapping myself up in something super cozy. I am going to make one!  

3. I still need to learn not to leave the house without my Nikon.  I love Nikon cameras so much.  Next up, invest in a new fun lens! 

4. I rolled a log for miles and miles in Maryland to use as my bedside table and I absolutely love it!  Free furniture!  A heck of a lot cooler than paying 450 for it...but do what you want guys. 

5. Raccoons!  There are a few raccoons in Prospect Park that I just adore.  I think I am going to paint one to hang in my apartment.  By the way, the one raccoon is named Henry, the other one is Shayla.  They are in love.
Deal with it. 

6. A new picnic basket for foraging.  I love how Kaylah from the Dainty Squid hunts for her mushrooms with a picnic basket...so sneaky! 

7. Let's not forget our reusable bags in the Wintertime....what with bundling up, putting on gloves and scarves...it's important not to forget that those little things make a big difference. 

8.  This owl pillow is a great gift for your favorite avid reader.  Or me, if you are so inclined! 

xoh!

d

Lake Placid Trip

This weekend I drove upstate from Brooklyn through windy dark roads and steep climbing hills.  I was pretty sure that the drive was absolutely beautiful, if only I could see through the pitch black.  I'm not going to lie, I love driving at night and am always up for adventure, but I was a little worried as my little Cabrio hesitated and protested on some of those big hills.  Remind me to renew my AAA membership.  

The hours of driving, and even getting pulled over and ticketed were totally worth it. I guess my car is too loud....apparently mufflers are not optional. 

The views in Lake Placid are spectacular, and it was so nice to be absolutely surrounded by nature and take a break from the hustle of the city.  

A group of us gathered together to make a music video; of which I am not allowed to give a behind the scenes sneak peak...just yet.  I will say this...it was a lot of fun and I am really excited to see how it turned out!  

Malomar is always incredibly happy in the woods, he loves to be surrounded by nature.  I am lucky because he can be left to run around by himself for hours and he always comes back when he is called.    For Malomar, it was even better this time because he had friends to play with!

Meet Bobbi Jean, a sweetheart who couldn't get enough of playing fetch.  Malomar and Bobbi played around for hours on end and didn't seem to tire out at all.  

Back at the house, there was this little cutie, who was too old to go running around in the woods but still had a lot of spunk in her.  She is sixteen years old and probably blind, possibly deaf but was still scooting around and playing with Malomar and Bobbi.  She is adorable!  

~~~

While the boys and girls were setting up I took some time with my camera and took some photographs in the woods.  I love all of the colors and textures in nature and the combination of new growth with the death and renewal that happens in the Fall.  The leaves turn colors and fall to the ground to fertilize and compost new growth, the nutrients pouring back into the land.  I think Fall is a lovely time of year, and this process is absolutely beautiful to me.  

It was much more chilly up in Lake Placid than it is in Brooklyn.  I finally broke out my beautiful all white cashmere dress that I have been absolutely terrified to wear.  I am incredibly clumsy, and so white and dry clean only is a scary combination for me!  Paired with some jeans, boots and of course my favorite asymmetrical sweater I was super warm and cozy. 

I am literally dying from not showing you behind the scenes photos from the shoot.  They are crazy cool....but patience is a virtue, right? 

Hope you had a beautiful weekend as well!

xoh

d

Farm Love

In honor of The ioby Benefit tonight, I thought I would do a farm love roundup.

~Here are some Farm Fall items that inspire me!~

1. Farm Fresh Milk. If you are going to drink it, at least get it local!

2. Baked Acorn Squash. One of my favorite Fall meals. (I use olive oil instead of margarine/butter)

3. Wouldn't this barrel make an awesome side table?

4. Brandon Schaefer Animal Farm Print

5. Eickhoff Orange Farm Blazer

6. Yew Tree House Antiques-19th Century English Elm Farm Table

xoh!

d

NYC: Benefit Tonight

I am so so excited to head over to the ioby Benefit tonight at Brooklyn Brewery. 

If you are unfamiliar with ioby, (which...shame on farm lovin' grassroots hypin' Brooklyn me, I was)...here is an intro video and a little bit about them! 

(from the ioby website)

The event is being held at Brooklyn Brewery: here is the flier and also some links in case you happen to be in the NYC area, and happen to not already be planning to go.  Even if you can't attend, or aren't from NYC: check out their website and concept: it is really exciting!

Thursday, November 3, 7-10pm

The Brooklyn Brewery

79 N11 Street

Brooklyn, NY 11249

Tickets

From ioby:

Grab a pint of Brooklyn Brew, right from the tap. Sidle up to some local activists. Wash down tasty edibles from local restaurants with ioby’s signature cocktail, the Neighborhood Nectar. Trick out your eco-apartment with ioby’s killer curated auction items. And you can get down with some very special guests, and help us hoot and holler for the 2011 Heroes In Our Backyards, the ioby project leaders that exemplify the ioby spirit of dedication to community, environmental innovation and tireless dedication. This year we are honoring the following Heroes In Our Backyards:

Bk Farmyards
Velo City
Sustainable Flatbush
The Community Association of Tompkinsville Park Promoting Arts and Fun (CATPAF)
Dred Scott Bird Sanctuary
Jackson Heights Green Alliance
Prospect Farm
Astoria Park Alliance

In addition, we have a great respect and would like to officially honor the great work of our dear friends at Local Spokes, a coalition of nine organizations brought together to make safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists in the Lower East Side and Chinatown, as well as our dear friends at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability for their dedication to making our great city even greater.

xoh!

d

Heidi Klum Halloween

Okay, so I have a new ultimate Halloweener to aspire to.  Every year Klum outdoes herself in terms of her Halloween Costumes, and sometimes she so completely unrecognizable that it is amazing.  What says ultimate bad ass more than completely transforming your hot ass self into something...well, not? 

This makeup and costume inspired by the bodies exhibit is totally killer.

Check out the time lapse video and oooh and ahhh and wish you were so cool! I know I did!

xoh!

d

My Favorite Raw Dressing!

I love citrus fruits so much, and honestly almost overdose on clementines when they are plentiful in the markets.  I battle back and forth often between eating local food and trying to keep as much variety in my diet despite the efforts it may take to get an avocado or orange my way in NYC. 

I do have a bit of a confession to make.  I am a vegan who doesn't actually like salads.  It is a common theme for someone to say, "Oh, we can go to this restaurant, there are great salads there." and for me to turn my nose up and immediately reject the idea for another place...please please don't tell me I am going to eat a salad for dinner!  

The book, Raw Food Real World changed my whole world around salads, and provided me with my absolute favorite salad dressing.  I literally get so excited to eat a salad when I know I am putting this refreshing and creamy dressing on it.  I will still forgo the restaurant salads with their often processed, or just plain balsamic (yuck!) dressings...but salads have become a very common and healthy lunch or even dinner for me armed with this recipe!

I woke up early the yesterday morning, and whipped up some of my favorite dressing as I drank chai tea (I am trying to cut back on coffee...we'll discuss that later). 

You can tell how much I love this book by how "loved" it is.  It is always kind of gross, but also kind of charming when a cookbook has cooking stains on it, right?  Or is it just gross? 

~Here is the recipe!~

(from Raw Food Real Life)

1 avocado - peeled and pitted
1 cup orange juice - freshly squeezed
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons lime juice - freshly squeezed
1 green onion
1 tablespoon chopped yellow onion
1/2 small jalapeno - seeded
handful of cilantro
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

(I usually use much less evoo and can even forgo it, but it does make the mixture nice and emulsified if you choose to use it)

Add all ingredients, except EVOO, in blender and food processor and blend until smooth.  With the blade still running, slowly add olive oil until the mixture emulsifies. 

Keeps in the refrigerator,  I recommend using the dressing within about 2 days. 

except for the avocado and citrus, everything else is from my local green market. 

this melamine citrus reamer gets SO much juice from the fruits!

before

after

Seal in an airtight container and refrigerate.  Will keep for about 3 days, but I think it starts to taste less fresh after 2. 

My typical salad:  sprouts, radishes and green lettuce with curry cashews on top, all from my local Farmer's Market.

Hope you enjoy this recipe, I know it has converted me!  

xoh!

d