My husband and I just got back from an amazing holiday getaway to Australia, and while the beaches and summer weather were obvious highlights, the food was absolutely noteworthy as well. One of the places I was most interested in visiting was The Farm at Byron Bay, a lovely working farm with everything from pigs and chickens to sunflowers and macadamia trees. Greens, vegetables, eggs, and meat, all produced and harvested on the lush grounds, are used in the on-site restaurant, café, and produce store run by Three Blue Ducks. We got to eat at the restaurant twice, once for breakfast and another time for lunch, and everyone was thoroughly impressed with how fresh and flavorful their meals were. There was a bit of a wait both times as The Farm is clearly very popular, but just grab a coffee at the café, and take a walk around the beautiful grounds. You may find yourself wandering among the sunflower fields, or get to witness baby piglets feeding from their mother. Another must-visit is The Bread Social, which you can't miss from the tempting smells wafting throughout the space immediately upon entering. Pick up some freshly baked breads or pastries to bring home for later (or now, no judgment). I definitely recommend stopping by if you find yourself near Byron Bay! Click through the photos above for details on some of our delicious meals!
two hands
Let's be real: Australians know how to live well. From their relaxed, beachside lifestyle to their fresh and innovate culinary scene, Aussies know where it's at. Since getting there is not exactly convenient for us New Yorkers, Two Hands is helping bring that vibe to us. I love their focus on healthy but tasty food, served in a community-focused restaurant that is welcoming for all. There's literally something for everyone, with offerings that will satisfy any and all types of eaters. Their small cafe on the Lower East Side is great for a quick coffee and light bite, but it's also nice sit down at their Tribeca restaurant for a more traditional meal. Two Hands is proof that when simple food is done right, not much else is needed! Other than maybe a perfect flat white, that is...
brassicas bowl
charred broccolini // brussels sprouts // kale // hummus // soft-boiled egg // avocado // pickled shallots // seeds
two hands beef burger
cheese // fried egg // pickled cucumber & beet relish // seeded bun // crispy potatoes // housemade ketchup
banana bread
espresso mascarpone // toasted buckwheat // honey
good morning salad
market vegetables // quinoa // pumpkin seeds // goji berries // dates // chickpeas // spinach // cumin yogurt // fried egg
green goddess salad
baby lettuces // green beans // avocado // radish // beet cured salmond // green goddess dressing
magpies soft serve
I love soft serve. I love ice cream too, but I enjoy it even more once it's gotten a bit softer and all melty. I joke that my husband and I share a pint together perfectly, as he loves the cold, hard stuff and eats straight down the middle, while I prefer the edges of the pint that start to melt right off the bat! Magpies Softserve is what many would call "chef-driven" soft serve. It provides the same nostalgic feel of a dip from Dairy Queen, but with super creative and freshly made flavors and toppings. Everything is made in-house in the Silver Lake dessert shop, and you can totally taste the difference in quality. They even offer vegan, non-dairy options, which are equally as satisfying as their dairy counterparts. I went with a swirl of corn almond and Mexican hot chocolate soft serve, topped with almond brittle and chocolate covered honeycomb! Talk about unique, and oh so delicious! Other flavor options include malted milk chocolate, cookie butter (my heaven!), pumpkin, and coffee, and the topping options are just as tempting: graham cracker streusel, butterscotch Rice Krispies, toasted maple coconut chips, and vegan fudge sauce! I only wish they'd open a location in New York! Until then, Magpies remains at the top of my must-visit list when in Los Angeles.
maman
For a a quick and easy, but healthy and flavorful meal, I love stopping by Maman. It's basically the bakery and cafe of my dreams, featuring high quality, locally-sourced ingredients with a always evolving and inspired menu. Pop in for coffee (how cute are their cups?!) and freshly baked breads and pastries, or take a seat and enjoy housemade quiches, seasonal salads, and hearty sandwiches. I'm a huge fan of their unique and flavorful baked goods, including the nutella babka loaf, spiced carrot cake, white chocolate blueberry & lavender loaf, chunky monkey brioche, and the signature 'famous' nutty chocolate chip cookie.
One of my favorite things ever is Maman's cookie dough ice cream sandwich! It uses two slabs of melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough instead of baked cookies, wrapped around tasty McConnell's ice cream. Heaven! I recently stopped in for their new brunch service at the Brooklyn location, and both the waffle-iron hashbrowns (with smoked salmon, avocado & egg) and the roasted cauliflower salad (with kale, dates & egg) were super flavorful and satisfying. I'm looking forward to trying a matcha white hot chocolate this winter!
thin & chewy chocolate chip cookies
I'm typically of the belief that cookies should be thick & chewy, with almost-raw dough on the inside, and a nice, crisp exterior (think Levain Bakery or The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies. However, there's a time and a place for thin & chewy cookies as well. These are crowd-pleasers, and will satisfy all cookie lovers. I love that they spread out into giant discs, even run into each other, but don't get totally crispy inside & out. They maintain that gooey interior that is absolutely key to a delicious cookie. Extra bonus, they're super quick & easy to throw together, so you can satisfy that cookie craving in an instant!
Thin & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup cane sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Cream the butter and sugars together in a stand mixer until fluffy & combined, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and mix until a dough comes together, careful not to over-mix. Fold in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 1-2 hours, if possible.
Form large balls of dough (about 2 tbsp) into balls, then place on the baking sheet and flatten to thin disks. Make sure to leave enough room between the cookies as they will spread when baking. Bake about 12-14 minutes, until golden brown edges form. Let cool on a wire baking rack.
*Adapted from Flat & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies by NYT Cooking and Thin Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Comfort of Cooking.
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sqirl
Whether you live in Los Angeles or not, you've most likely heard of Sqirl. What began as a preserves company five years ago is now one of the most popular breakfast and lunch spots in LA. Sqirl serves a market-driven menu, with reimagined classics as well as super creative specials, all in a tiny space in Silver Lake. My husband and I stopped by on a recent trip to LA, and there were so many intriguing things on the menu we wanted to try. We ended up ordering mostly breakfast, and began with perfect cappuccinos and the highly acclaimed (just browse through Instagram!) brioche toast: a thick slab of freshly baked bread, smothered i just-milled almond hazelnut butter and homemade olallieberry & aprium jam. Talk about a mouthful, and it was so satisfying and delicious. The smoked whitefish tartine was such a unique and complex use of flavors- with smoky eggplant and cilantro powder- I couldn't get enough! For a hearty vegetarian option, the chickpea flour "pancake" is a solid choice, and is perfectly balanced with the creamy labneh and fresh celery salad. Sqirl is also known for their baked goods, and while I surprisingly didn't try any this time, the Malva pudding cake, Sqirl power balls, and Valrhona & Fleur de Sel cookies looked particularly tempting. I look forward to getting a few next time I'm in town, as well as trying out the lunch menu!