nix

 

I love that so many restaurants are making vegetables the stars of their menus these days. Instead of simply being a side dish or afterthought, vegetables are the main focus and really getting their time to shine. Nix is following suit with an innovative, seasonal, and vegetable-focused menu by Michelin starred chef John Fraser. Their belief that "eating vegetarian or vegan cuisine should feel more celebration than sacrifice" is truly evident in the unique and flavorful dishes presented. A true highlight of the meal was the acclaimed yukon potato fry bread, which came "highly decorated" with seasonal fixings and was truly satisfying. The cauliflower tempura with steamed buns and house pickles was a delicious vegetarian take on a Chinese classic, the shiitake "cacio e pepe" with heirloom polenta was hearty and comforting, and the freshly baked tandoor bread with Middle Eastern-style dips is not to be missed either. Chef Fraser draws on inspiration from cuisines all around the world, and in doing so creates a highly creative and memorable vegetarian menu that will leave you planning a return trip very soon. 

 

ample hills creamery

 

In honor of National Ice Cream Day yesterday, I thought it appropriate to share one of my favorite spots for ice cream. Ample Hills Creamery is a small batch, all-natural creamery, and all the ice cream is handmade in Brooklyn, NY, They make some of the best ice cream I've ever had, and I love how creative they are with flavors and mix-ins (think rice krispies, oatmeal cookies, cookie dough, pistachio brittle & honeycomb candy)! Some of their signature flavors include: Salted Crack Caramel, Snap Mallow & Pop, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, The Munchies, and Pistachio Squared, all of which I would happily consume any day of the week! . Ample Hills was originally just in Brooklyn, first in Prospect Heights & then Gowanus, but now they've continued to expand into Manhattan, and even have seasonal locations. They recently opened a location in the Meatpacking District, in conjunction with Bubby's High Line, and are offering collaborative pie sundaes and shakes featuring Bubby's iconic pies! Definitely looking forward to trying those soon. On this particular occasion, I went with a scoop each of Coffee Toffee Coffee and Nonna D's Oatmeal Lace, which did not disappoint in the least. Yum!

 

almond butter blondies

Blondies and brownies are both highly appealing to me, and I think there's a time and a place for both. I fall into the camp of "the fudgier, the better", so underbaking is always encouraged! These blondies have an almond butter base, but feel free to use any other nut or seed butter if you prefer. I love playing with different mix-ins depending on my current cravings. This time I went for the never-fail combination of chocolate chips and shredded coconut. Enjoy!

Almond Butter Blondies:

  • 3/4 cup almond butter

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, softened

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1/4 cup almond milk

  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • optional mix-ins: 1/2 cup coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, banana chips, toffee bits, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease an 8in square dish (alternatively, line dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on all sides). In a stand mixer or mixing bowl, mix together nut butter, coconut oil, and sugar until well combined. Add in egg, almond milk and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients until just incorporated. The batter will be thick and sticky. Add any mix-ins last if desired (I love chocolate chips and shredded coconut). Spread batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, and sprinkle leftover mix-ins on top. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until edges have turned golden brown. Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy! Makes 8-12 blondies.

*Adapted from Peanut Butter Blondies in Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.

Useful Tools:

llama inn

Another stellar recent addition to the Brooklyn dining scene is Llama Inn. I love the vibe here, totally approachable and the type of place you'd want to come and hang all day. In fact, they even encourage you to "pop in, stay a while, get to know us" on their website. They're open for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on the weekends, so there's really no excuse to stay away! The menu is Peruvian-inspired, and uses local ingredients to create fresh and seasonal food that is absolutely bursting with flavor. Just look at all the colors in the photos above (click on the pics to read food descriptions too)- such a vibrant and delicious take on Peruvian cuisine!  The drinks menu, featuring cocktails with authentic Hispanic roots and small batch wines, is both creative and refreshing as well. I'm already planning my return trip, but just a heads up- reservations are starting to get harder to come by with the constant buzz surrounding tis place, so plan ahead! Or, stroll in and grab a Pisco at the bar while you wait!