Dessert from Doughnut Plant in NYC

My fav time of year - pistachio donut season at Doughnut Plant!  I had to get a bunch, plus a lemon donut, which was incredible as well.  Definitely best place to get donuts in NYC.

classic Vanilla Bean

Lemon 

all the amazing yeast donuts I got

the BEST - pistachio yeast donut

Home-made adobo pork chops with veggies

I marinated pork chops in my adobo sauce and air fried them.  They came out pretty juicy and very flavorful.  Made some potatoes and green beans along with it and had a delicious, quicker dinner than if I fried the chops or made them in the oven.

Lunch from Pokebab in NYC

I order another poke lunch from Ritual from another spot Pokebab.  My bowl was fine but had limited toppings and was nothing memorable.  Still, can't complain about $1 poke.

Regular Classic Poke Bowl - Ahi Tuna, Scallion, Seaweed Salad, Cucumber, Chili Flakes, Edadmame, Roasted Sesame Oil, Sesame Seed, Hawaiian Salt, Red Onion, Masago, Radish Sprouts and Fresh Ponzu.

all mixed up

Lunch from Roti Modern Mediterranean in NYC

For another $1 Ritual lunch, I tried Roti for some middle eastern food.  The food was delicious and fresh and didn't make me feel heavy after, but the portion was on the small side, so I think I'd be disappointed if I paid actual money for this amount of food. 

Chicken Roti Rice Plate - Tomato & Cucumber, Feta Cheese, Pita Crunchies, Tahini Sauce 

Also came with a pita

Plate all mixed up

Brunch at Buddy Who's in Jersey City, NJ

My family and I like to go to Buddy Who's a lot for brunch, so the result is that we often order the same thing and I don't bother re-photographing since it's a bit monotonous.  This time I got the chicken parmm which was huge, and the sweet potato fries were almost like potato sticks in terms of how thing and crunchy it was.  Not a healthy meal but delicious nonetheless.

Chicken parm with sweet potato fries

Brunch at Burger & Barrel in NYC

Had a couples brunch at Burger and Barrel in Soho.  Great boozy brunch options though they didn't give us much extra time.  Their burger is well known and it was delicious and definitely worth trying.  Would definitely come back for dinner or another brunch.

Double Barrel burger with fries

Insane double burger barrels - two 4oz patties, american cheese, fried onions, pickles and secret sauce

The award-winning Bash Burger

Bash Burger comes with onion and bacon jam, american cheese and special sauce.  No pickles for me

Inside of the bash burger

Lunch from Poke Green in NYC

For another $1 Ritual meal, I got poke from Poke Green. Another solid poke option in my work neighborhood, and generous free toppings.

Spicy Ahi Tuna bowl - Ahi Tuna, Sweet Onion and Cucumber Mixed with Our House Made Spicy Mayo, Topped with Masago and Tempura Crunch Flakes.

It got pretty spicy!  Challenging to finish

Lunch from Sons of Thunder in NYC

I ordered poke at Sons of Thunder for $1 Ritual deal.  Tasty fish but didn't feel super full after.  SOT doesn't have much in terms of toppings compared to other places.  Still, can't be mad for $1.

Half and half poke bowl - White Rice, Ahi Tuna, Salmon, Shoyu Sauce

Home-made chicken adobo with vegetables

I marinated chicken thighs in my adobo mixture and air fried the chicken.  I made cauliflower rice with broccoli and had some fresh cherry tomatoes to balance it out.  The chicken was super flavorful, tender yet the skin was very crispy.  I liked the cauliflower rice too; it felt much lighter.

Dinner at Honshu Sushi in Jersey City, NJ

Dan and I got take-out from Honshu Sushi.  They have a delicious cheap salmon skin roll and I love their katsu too.  Their happy hour is great too but hard to catch.  Our fav sushi spot in the JC area.

all our food

Katsu entree with white rice

Yaki Udon with chicken

Two salmon skin rolls and yellowtail scallion roll

Lunch from Blue Park Kitchen in NYC

Tried Blue Park Kitchen, another farm-to-table fast casual place where you leave feeling full and healthy-ish but pricey.  My bowl was close to $20 which is too much for a frequent lunch, but the food was good and got to catch up with my former boss.  If you feel like splurging and still being healthy, a good option.

Steak and Coconut Bulgur - coconut bulgur, grilled kale, peanut curry sauce, mixed mushrooms, grilled steak, spiced peanuts and toasted chickpeas and herbs.  $13.50 plus I got a drink so was like $17 or so

Brunch at Greene Hook in Jersey City, NJ

I've said it many times, but Greene Hook is definitely our go-to spot in JC, and one that even my difficult-to-please parents enjoy.  You can eat healthy if you want although they have plenty of good and constantly changing comfort food options.  This post contains a couple of different brunch visits.

Korean BBQ ribs with gochujang bbq sauce

Fat Joe - breaded chicken, bacon, mayo and American cheese

Poutine

Huevos Rancheros - rice, beans, tomatillo sauce, avocado, sour cream, and cotija cheese

3 eggs with bacon, home fries, roasted tomato and toast

Eggs benedict with ham, poached eggs, hollandaise with mixed greens

BLT on toasted sour dough with mixed greens

Fish tacos with slaw, avocado, cilantro, and sriracha.  Insanely spicy, I couldn't eat it

Little slider.  Tasty but not filling since I couldn't' eat the too-spicy tacos

Veggie Burger - only disappointing thing I can recall having.  Definitely home-made but very mushy and not that flavorful esp considering all the other options out there

Mixed greens salad with beans, egg, egg, potato and basil.  Very similar to a Nicoise salad

French Dip sammie with onion rings

Brunch at Villa Cemita in NYC

Had a veryy boozy brunch at Villa Cemita.  The food itself was delicious and they kept the drinks flowing.  I was a little full from breakfast but this sandwich also was very filling.  Great spot for brunch!

Brunch cemita (sesame seed bread, black beans, scrambled eggs with chorizo oaxaca cheese and avocado, with spiced fries

close-up of my cemita

veggie version of the cemita.  Look at all that cheese! So good

Churros for dessert yum

Sangrias and mimosa

Dinner at Tim Ho Wan in NYC

Kavita and I went to the second outpost of Tim Ho Wan in NYC in midtown.  Somehow we only waited five minutes, which was amazing.  The dim sum was great, but I'm surprised it reached Michelin level.  The service was good but not incredible, and I've had some more memorable dim sum dishes in C-town.  A solid spot but not sure of the hype other than you can't get michelin food this cheap.

Menu placemat

These pork buns were prob my fav part of the meal

Inside of the pork bun.  Great mix of sweet and savory and the dough was almost empanada-like

Har Gow (steamped shrimp dumpling) - always my second fav dim sum

Steamed Rice Roll with shrimp and chinese chivess

Inside of the steamed rice roll

Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai - my fav dim sum always.  Really good but not the best of my life

Pan fried noodles - not my fav.  Kind of bland and I didn''t love the texture

Steamed beef balls with bean curd skin.  Again didn't love this.  Didn't like the texture and the meat itself was just ok