Eating out with Instagram: NYC & Brooklyn Edition

At the end of January I went to New York City (for the first time in almost two years) to visit my good friend Jenny and her boyfriend Chris.

I really had no plans (very unlike me). I was just looking forward to spending a lot of quality time together, maybe doing some shopping and relaxing.

The one place I really wanted to go to, however, was Talde. I thought Dale was awesome on Top Chef and I wanted to check out one of his restaurants for brunch. And we did!!
We took the Subway to Brooklyn and had an incredible brunch at Talde.

While waiting for our table, we hung out at the bar and ordered drinks. Jenny and Chris really liked their Bloody Marys garnished with pickled ginger. After getting over the disappointment of not being able to have a mango bellini, I was surprised at just how much I liked a mixed berry one. It was pretty, bubbly and sweet and had just enough of a kick to make me slightly woozy (it doesn't take much).

As for food, we ordered a bunch of dishes to share. My favorite ones were

KOREAN CHICKEN WINGS & WAFFLES – coconut brown butter syrup

TATER TOTS – sriracha ketchup

BREAKFAST RAMEN – buttered toast broth, honey-glazed bacon, six minute egg {not pictured}

After brunch and checking out the Brooklyn flea market, we made our way back into Manhattan and stopped at Cafe Green for a quick dessert of macarons. The cassis flavor was my favorite! {This was actually the same place Jenny took me and Anna the last time we were in NYC.}

Sunday Jenny and I took a bus to Chinatown and had dim sum at Oriental Garden. Of course it's best to have dim sum with a large group of people so you can try a bigger variety of dishes, but Jenny and I managed just fine! My favorites were the pork buns, the mini bok choy and the pork sui mai.

My last night in New York we decided to cook. I made a salad with mache, orange segments, candied pecans, figs, blue cheese and pickled red onions.

Chris made cioppino and home made bread! Jenny is a lucky (and deserving) girl.

On Monday I walked around the Union Market and Eataly and then had lunch at Republic.

I chose Curry Vegetable bowl with rice noodles, coconut milk, tofu, snow peas, carrots, fried shallots, cabbage, broccoli and cilantro. It was so perfect for a cold and snowy day!

Hope the next time I don't wait two years before visiting New York! Thanks Jenny and Chris for a fun weekend!