meadowsweet

 

Meadowsweet is one of Williamsburg, Brooklyn's best eateries- and the Michelin guide agrees, garnering it one star in both the 2015 and 2016 guides. The restaurant offers a delicious New American, Mediterranean-inspired menu by Chef Polo Dobkin. Chef Dobkin first earned a Michelin star for the previous occupant of the space, The Dressler, which was considered one of the great, original Brooklyn restaurants. He is now back as both owner and Executive Chef of Meadowsweet, partnering with his wife Stephanie, who acts as general manager. She also oversees the cocktail program, which uses herbs from the the restaurant's own garden loft, and is not to be missed. Besides being great at what they do, the couple is also extremely generous and helpful. They've been a great aid to my husband when it comes to running a restaurant, offering beneficial advice and support along the way. Furthermore, the food at Meadowsweet highlights my favorite cuisine, and I never fail to fall in love with the fresh, creative, and beautifully-plated dishes.

 

john's drive-in

 
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What can I say about John's Drive-In? It's our absolute 'must go when in Montauk' place. Always, anytime of year, sometimes multiple times in one trip. It's a no fuss, no frills kind of place- good ol' griddled burgers, traditional onion rings, and malted milkshakes. More appealing to me, however, is the fact that they make their own ice cream from scratch. They offer all your typical flavors, like mint chip & cookie dough, but make seasonal & unique flavors as well (think pumpkin or coffee Heath bar). I'm kind of obsessed, as is evidenced below. Take your milkshake to-go, and enjoy it by the beach!

*Photos by Sean Greenberg as part of our feature on The Weekender Travel

 

chocolate soufflés for 2

These chocolate soufflés for 2 are the perfect dessert for date night, Valentine's Day, or any day! They are served in Staub mini cocotte pots, which makes them look extra fancy too! Although soufflés seem daunting, they can be executed easily with a few staple ingredients, and are guaranteed to impress. Don't forget a sweet & creamy sauce (think créme anglaise or melty ice cream) to drizzle on top! PS- if you want to prep these ahead of time, you can also cover and refrigerate the soufflés overnight before baking!

Chocolate Soufflés:

  • 3 tbsp coconut oil (or butter), softened

  • 1/4 cup cane sugar

  • 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • 2 egg yolks, at room temperature

  • 2 egg whites, at room temperature

  • 1/8 tsp cream of tartar

  • créme anglaise or salted caramel sauce (for serving)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Use 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to grease your cocottes. Coat them lightly with 2 tbsp cane sugar, tapping to remove any excess. Place cocottes on a baking dish and set aside. 

Melt chocolate with 2 tbsp coconut oil over a double boiler, whisking until smooth. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Whisk in the yolks one at a time until smooth. Set aside. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a clean whisk, beat egg whites on medium speed until frothy, about two minutes. Increase the speed to high and slowly add cream of tartar and remaining sugar, beating until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Take care not over beat. 

Add 1/3 of the meringue into chocolate mixture. Gently fold in. Add the remaining meringue and fold in until no streaks remain. Do not over mix. Spoon the mixture into prepared cocottes. Place in preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately, topping with créme anglaise or salted caramel sauce.

*Adapted from Chocolate Soufflé by Real Simple.

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emmer & rye

 

Emmer & Rye is a new Austin hotspot, and for good reason. Their local & seasonally inspired menu is extremely impressive. Even better, they mill their own heritage grains in house, making for super fresh and tasty bread and pasta. They also source whole animals for their meat dishes, and even have an in-house fermentation process to really preserve flavors at their peak. What sets Emmer & Rye apart even more is their offering of dim sum. In addition to their menu of small plates and entrees, carts are rolled around the room offering about 10 dishes that change each night. These really highlight the farmers' offerings of the day, and allow the cooks (and diners!) to have some fun. We got a (large) mix of both menu items and dim sum- I couldn't even snap photos of it all! My husband was really blown away, and even ended up in the kitchen at the end of the meal to meet and thank the chef personally.

 

glasserie

 

Glasserie is a bit of a hike for most in NYC- it's at the very top of Greenpoint. But trust me, it's 100% worth the trip. The fresh and unique take on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is comforting and satisfying. It almost doesn't feel like you're in NYC! Sit outside at a cute table on the cobblestone walkway, or cozy up in the rustic-feeling interior. Whether you dine for brunch or dinner, prepare to be impressed! At brunch, the mezze feast is a must-order: freshly grilled flatbread (with herbs & flaky sea salt-so addicting!) with 10 varying small plates, complete with unlimited refills!

 
 
 

franklin bbq

 

Franklin BBQ is arguably the most well-known and tastiest barbeque in the entire state of Texas. People wait in line for hours just to get a taste of the fatty, juicy brisket. Now, I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest BBQ fan, but I can appreciate top quality when I eat it. My dad got in line around 7:30am one morning, and then my husband came and tagged him out around 9:30am. The doors open at 11am, and they go until sell-out, which doesn't take very long. We got a nice mix of brisket (fatty & lean), ribs, sausage, pulled pork, and all the sides! Plenty leftover for sandwiches later. We got lucky because Aaron Franklin himself was there that day, so we asked him to join us for a picture. So get in line early- bring friends and hang out with chairs and beers- while you wait to get the ultimate BBQ fix!