New York: ed's lobster bar

Ed's lobster roll

Imagine shopping in SoHo with one of your closest friends. Then imagine stopping for lunch, to eat the most delectable sandwich on the face of the planet. Oooohhhh, and then imagine eating crispy french fries drenched in malted vinegar. Even if you're not in SoHo, run to Ed's Lobster Bar for lunch or dinner. Just make sure you keep shopping, I mean walking, to burn off the calories!

New York: craftbar

Marinated Olives, Marcona Almond
White Anchovy Bruschetta, Soft-Cooked Egg, Braised Leek

My mother-in-law introduced me to craftbar. The restaurant is about simple food with fresh ingredients and is located very close to Union Square. My friend Lauren and I ate at craftbar our first night in the city. We were exhausted, starving and completely indecisive...ended up sharing a number of vegetarian appetizers.

New York: Otto

While on a recent trip to NYC, La Dauphine and I were craving pizza. I recalled that my friend Maria from Fresh Eats had recommended Mario Batali's Otto for a thin-crust pizza. Maria rocks.

La Dauphine and I waited almost 30 minutes for our 10 p.m. reservation and then the service wasn't great (or even good). Luckily, the food made up for it.

Fennel, apple, walnut salad

BEST PIZZA OF MY LIFE: tomato sauce, mozzarella, chunks of prosciutto, Parmesan and balsamic reduction (un-f*cking real!)

Final recommendation: make a reservation...but prepare to wait.

the big apple

Sorry that I haven't been posting lately! We're moving and I'm heading to NYC for the weekend with La Dauphine. Planing to shop a lot and eat a lot, so expect some new material next week.

food blogger friends

One of the fun things about having a food blog is connecting with other bloggers. This week, I'd like to share two great posts from two local blogs!

When Mardi from Toronto's eat, live, travel, write blog found out that she needed to be in Windsor, she asked me where to eat. Due to her downtown location I recommended one of my favourite Windsor restaurants, Mazaar Lebanese cuisine. Check out her photos and review here.

Maria from Fresh Eats is based in Detroit, Mich. A couple of weeks ago, she and her husband traveled to Pebble Beach, Calif. Maria's writing style is so incredibly pleasant plus her most recent post includes of a photo of McDreamy (who kissed her twice on this trip!). Take a look at her California Cruisin' .

Enjoy!

Martha's Vineyard: The Net Result (guest post by David)

Every year my brother-in-law David meets his Uncle Fred, cousin and brother on Martha's Vineyard for a boating trip. I wish we could come along. Hope you enjoy this guest post from David...

We have a tradition of ordering steamed lobsters in advance from the awesome fish store across from the Vineyard Haven marina - The Net Result. They run a terrific business selling fresh seafood as well as take-out prepared foods including sushi, fish and chips and lobster rolls. There are picnic tables outside the store that are always full of customers eating lunch, dinner and whatever in between. We always order the lobsters which come beautifully cooked and stored hot in a paper bag so we can take them across the street to the marina's rooftop patio to enjoy with some nice swordfish that we cook up on the barbeque there. Everything is fresh and caught in local waters nearby. There is some yummy seaweed salad on the side of my plate and a bit of butter to dip with my lobster. The red cup has our traditional beverage for boating: delicious Weiser's Canadian whiskey (now made here in Windsor!) and ginger-ale.

David is a lawyer in Windsor. He enjoys the Grateful Dead, blueberry picking and spending time with his beautiful wife and two lovely daughters. Most importantly, he is a wonderful brother-in-law and friend.

Toronto: Bonjour Brioche

According to the experts, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That's why, no matter where you are, finding your own perfect spot is vitally important.

At home, it's in my kitchen. When in Chicago, I start my day at the Bongo Room. In Detroit, Toast is a favourite. And, in Toronto nothing beats Bonjour Brioche.

Bonjour Brioche is where Torontians go for fresh brioche, croissants, baguettes and latte bowls. Besides the continental fare, check out the daily tarts ranging from asparagus & brie to bacon & cheddar to cherry tomatoes & goat cheese. For the past nine years, no other breakfast place has been able to surpass Bonjour Brioche (at least in my mind). Last weekend, we dropped by early for a healthy meal.

Um...that didn't quite work out. Well, it did for hubby...sort of. He ordered a hearty bowl of yogurt with granola, seeds and fresh fruit. Plus a croissant.

Even though I meant to eat yogurt too, I ended up having my favourite pre-noon meal -- a tart (fig, caramelized onion and gorgonzola cheese, in this case), a light salad and the freshest baguette smothered in butter.

Beat that! And, tell me your favourite breakfast spots. If I'm in the city, I'll try it!

Toronto: Pizzeria Libretto "The Real Thing"

Last Thursday, I left work and hopped on the highway for a weekend in Toronto. We literally pulled off the Gardiner Expressway and arrived at Pizzeria Libretto around 9:30 p.m. I feel fortunate that we were immediately seated. The joint was packed -- much to the dismay of one of the "locals" sitting next to us. I guess before the reviews starting pouring in, he was able to get a table earlier in the evening. whatever!

Menu choices were really tough because there were only two of us and there were a million menu items calling my name. We took our time and began the evening with a bottle of 13th Street 2008 Cabernet Rose which is absolutely perfect for summer pizza.

Buttermilk Calamari, Romesco (a red pepper almond sauce)

Brushette (three kinds: roasted red pepper with cheese, prosciutto, grilled mushrooms)

Pizza: Sardines, Tomato, Citrus Olives, Herbs, Chili Oil

Pingue Prosciutto, Tomato, Basil, Ontario Fiore Di Latte Mozzarella

Pizzeria Libretto is loyal to real Neapolitan pizza, cooked in a wood-fired oven at extremely high heat to achieve a charred, blistered crust (quite honestly, the crust is delightful...I mopped up loads of olive oil with any leftover pieces). They use San Marzano tomatoes and Fiore di Latte Mozzarella, brought in fresh daily. Their pizza dough is made from 100% organic stone ground flour and leavened naturally. Best of all, your pizza bakes in less than 90 seconds in a 900 degrees wood-burning oven, hand built for the restaurant by a 3rd generation pizza oven maker in Naples. In addition, the restaurant is doing their part for mother earth by converting kitchen grease into biodiesel fuel and only serving purified Toronto water and carbonated filtered water.

Sold yet? We will be back! If you're in Toronto this summer, check out the four-course $25 prix fixe menu. It sounds divine.

Detroit, MI: Bourbon Steak

Duck Fat Fries Trio

Some restaurants remain on my "celebrations only" list. Honestly, you shouldn't eat at Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak Detroit on a regular basis. The food is just too rich; in both taste and price. However, it's perfect if you want to do something decadent for a special occasion...like my mother-in-law's 65th birthday! For me, the best part of Bourbon Steak is not the steak. It's the "amuse bouche". Explain to me why all restaurants don't offer duck fat fries to start a meal?!?! In addition, I absolutely adore the appetizer menu. In fact, next time I would be inclined to order only the little plates.

Romaine hearts with white anchovy and black olive tapenade Lettuce cup with crab and spicy louie sauce Kobe beef tartare
~I didn't think I'd like raw meat but now this is one of my favourite apps~ American Kobe rib-eye Side of "magical" mushrooms
~a throwback to my mother-in-law's earlier years (just kidding!)~ Side of blue cheese potato gratin

Late-breaking news: I just noticed something enticing on Michael Mina's The Eating Sweetie blog. You can now enjoy Bourbon's Burger Bar in Detroit, Miami and Scottsdale. The burger bar is complete with beef, lamb, turkey or falafel burgers and milkshakes (with or without alcohol). Sounds like the perfect reason to head to Bourbon without a momentous occasion in mind.

Scottsdale, AZ: Digestif

If you're looking for farm-fresh, creative cuisine in Scottsdale, you MUST try Digestif. I noticed a mention in the Wall Street Journal and did some fast and loose research on Chowhound...that's all it took for me to pick up the phone and make a reservation. Okay, if I'm being completely honest just the word "charcuterie" had me sold!

On July 4, our dining extravaganza began with an introduction from our t-shirt wearing server Joshua (former semi-pro snowboarder, current interior designer, clearly a member of the food & drink obsessed). He explained that 80% of the food at Digestif is organic, bio-dynamic or macrobiotic. Plus, most of the food is sourced within a 20 mile radius. They salt, smoke and cure their own meat; hence the chalkboard offerings of prosciutto, soppressata and terrine. According to Joshua, the lamb chops and the beef rib-eye (from California's famous Niman Ranch) are "ridiculous". Oh, did I mention that they have a person on staff who makes fresh pasta 40 hours per week? So, what did we order?

Pork, soppressata and preserved lemon terrine

In-house prosciutto and soppressata

(the pickled veggies include sunchokes, how cool is that?)

DIY garlic bread

"Farm to table" zucchini carpaccio with preserved lemon, ricotta, pinenuts and parsley

Sicilian Caesar: flash-grilled romaine, tonnato dressing (made with ahi tuna), fried capers Pappardelle with house sausage, fava beans and blistered tomatoes

Famous spaghetti and meatballs

(it's smokier than you're expecting, then again you're in the southwest) Raviolo topped with two of the world's yummiest, freshest, most perfectly cooked Digby scallops Rib-eye from local ranch

(two guys at our table split this 20 oz hunk of goodness, the chef was able to cook hubby's medium rare and the other guy's half was cooked well-done + they plated the dishes separately, which is worth noting) Table salt included kosher, pink Hawaiian and house-smoked in the middle...yum!

Oddly enough I haven't mentioned drinks yet. As you can imagine, a placed named Digestif should have spectacular drinks. Well, it did. Hubby started with a blood orange cosmopolitan (Charbay blood orange vodka, Aperol, cranberry, fresh lime, served up). The rest of us weren't up for cocktails but did enjoy a variety of wines. It was the last night of our trip and I didn't feel like thinking so I let server Joshua pick my vino. With the charcuterie plates, I had a Pinot Noir from Oregon and with my sausage pappardelle a glass of Californian Zinfandel. I wish I could remember the vineyards because both glasses were outstanding.

We didn't order dessert but it was tempting. There was a strawberry-tarragon sorbet and a chocolate pot de creme calling my name. However, willpower won over and we saved dessert for the Sweet Republic.

The meal ended with our bill in a mason jar. Appropriate for canning season, I suppose.

Check out Digetif's menus @ http://www.digestifscottsdale.com/menu.php

Scottsdale, AZ: Sweet Republic

Top five reasons you should visit the Sweet Republic:

1. They guarantee 24 homemade flavours of ice cream and frozen yogurt daily. Flavours may include salted butter caramel swirl (my pick!), basil lime sorbet, cheese course duo, real mint chip, etc.

2. If you get a waffle cone, rest assured that it's about 20 minutes fresh and made on-site.

3. Shop interior was designed and constructed with an environmental conscience.

4. They're famous for their bacon brittle ice cream. CRAZY! It's not always available to the public but if you can swing a cone or a taste, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Rather than tasting like meat, it tastes almost like a crunchy caramel. This reconfirms my love for bacon smothered in maple syrup.

5. The service rocks! We were lost about 10 minutes prior to Sweet Republic's closing time. Devyn and her co-worker were patient with our three phone calls for directions. Moreover, they were funny and friendly when we arrived and didn't rush us out. We even got a taste of their secret stash of bacon brittle ice cream. The service was so good that the MBAs in the car remarked that Sweet Republic was lucky to have employees who treat their business like their own and who made us feel like the most important people on the planet even though they were probably dying to close-up and celebrate the Fourth of July!

Did I mention that they were just voted one of the top 10 ice cream joints in America by Bon Appetit?

Go there.

Scottsdale, AZ: Sushi Roku

Rolls: Toro & Jalapeno, Baked Lobster, Shima

Our plan was to head out for Mexican at Dos Gringos but plans change. We ended up at the W Scottsdale sitting in the lobby bar drinking raspberry mojitos, listening to some great music and watching the local ladies work their pick-up magic. Closer to 10 p.m., we sat down at Sushi Roku for a swanky celebratory sushi dinner compliments of our friends Jay and Sheris. This five year anniversary is getting us a ton of meal mileage!

Salmon Carpaccio in a Black Truffle Ginger Vinaigrette

Honestly, I can't remember everything that our table ordered (too many cocktails!) but I can recall my menu choices:

• "Hanabi" Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice Cakes
• Salmon Carpaccio in a Black Truffle Ginger Vinaigrette
• Spicy Canadian Rock Shrimp with Asparagus Handrolls
• Shima Roll: Shrimp Wrapped Spicy Tuna with Cilantro and Avocado
• Toro and Jalapeno Roll

The evening culminated with more drinks and music at Shade, the W's rooftop beach-inspired hangout. Good food, good friends and fun times! Highly recommend that you replicate this evening if you visit Scottsdale. Thank you so much to Jay & Sheris for an outstanding, ridiculously tasty dinner! It was a fabulous night out! We love you guys! xo

Scottsdale, AZ: Stax Burger Bistro

So, we're in Arizona. Crazy, I know. Truthfully the dry heat is still really friggin' hot but having your own private plunge pool makes it so much more bearable. Last night, we hit Stax Burger Bistro. The menu is chuck full (no pun intended!) with 3 oz. burgers made with fresh daily grinds such as Waygu beef, lamb, turkey, fish, etc.

Our friends started their meal with a root beer or vanilla cream soda, we opted for a Dave's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado.

In terms of appetizers, we began with onion rings and tater tots with chili con queso -- the perfect anecdote to an afternoon of trolling the shopping malls. You should only eat stuff like this after you've tried on all the pretty dresses.
I ordered a wild boar burger topped with caramelized onions and peach bbq sauce. Frankly, the meat was dry and overcooked. My other choice was a turkey burger infused with feta, and green/red peppers topped with provolone, guacamole, grilled pineapple and pico de gallo. Delicious combination of flavours!Hubby ordered a Waygu burger with blue cheese, asparagus tips and caramelized onions. His other burger was a wild boar burger cooked with a curry peanut sauce. He ate both but I could sense that he was not in love as the usual moaning and groaning was absent.Overall, Stax seems like a good place for a quick bite after shopping at Fashion Square Mall but not a destination restaurant. Any restaurant recommendations for us?