local foods

 

Local Foods is one of my favorite lunch spots in my hometown of Houston, Texas. They serve a gourmet selection of sandwiches and salads, all prepared with delicious, local ingredients. There are tons of fresh and satisfying options to choose from, including a banh mi, chicken posole, a vegan quinoa burger, and several seasonal salads. My favorite sandwich is the Garden Sammie, which is filled to the brim with Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, local sprouts, pickled onion, tomato, avocado spread & hummus on a chewy Ciabatta bun. You can also get their sandwiches made as salads, so occasionally I do that and add grilled chicken, which is equally tasty! But sometimes freshly baked bread is really where it's at, ya know? It comes with your choice of two sides, and instead of the typical (and boring!) fries or mixed greens, Local Foods offers some truly flavorful and worthy options, like Tuscan kale salad, cauliflower tabbouli, soba noodles, and quinoa!

There's truly something for everyone here, making it the perfect spot for a family and friends get-together anytime I'm back home. Don't miss the freshly baked sweets at the counter when you're ordering! The butterscotch blondie and chocolate cupcake are deliciously decadent and totally worth the indulgence!

 

oddfellows ice cream co.

Oddfellows Ice Cream Co. is a local Brooklyn spot from former wd50 pastry chef Sam Mason that makes some seriously tasty ice cream. I love the old-school ice cream parlor feel, but they mix things up with modern and innovative offerings. Oddfellows pasteurizes their own ice cream base, using locally-sourced, hormone-free dairy, right in their Brooklyn kitchen. This attention to detail allows them to produce some of the highest quality and freshest ice cream around. Their scrumptious flavors range from reinvented classics, like PB&J and S'mores, to totally creative and unconventional, like Miso Cherry and Chorizo Caramel Swirl. Sample several flavors before you decide, and then come back again soon to try out even more. Their menu changes seasonally, and always includes some somewhat crazy-sounding flavors! While I'm typically not one to choose sorbet, Ants on a Log (celery sorbet with peanut butter & raisins) is one of my all-time favorites! Banana Puddin' and Cornbread (can you tell I'm Southern?) are also ridiculously good, with such a great depth of flavor. I also just noticed a new flavor on their menu- Salted Coconut Sticky Rice- and cannot wait to try it out soon. If you post a picture of your treat, don't forget to use their signature hashtag: #errbodylovesicecream!

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!

north fork table & inn

 

We drove out to the North Fork of Long Island for my birthday, and spent a lovely evening at The North Fork Table and Inn. We stayed at the Inn for the night, which was so cozy and comfortable. The restaurant offered plenty of seasonal fare, including many ingredients sourced from nearby farms. If you like eating delicious farm-to-table cuisine, this is some of the freshest you can get. It was such a quick and easy getaway from the city too, but felt like a million miles away. The perfect mental reset and escape to nature- I definitely recommend it. Check out some of the nearby wineries if you have time!

 

qui

 

Ausin, Texas has become quite the foodie paradise. There is a ton of absolutely amazing food to enjoy, and Qui is at the top of many lists. Last time I was in town, my mom and I managed to get a last minute reservation at Top Chef winner Paul Qui's acclaimed restaurant. She ordered the tasting menu and I ordered the vegetarian tasting menu, so that we could taste everything. I loved the influence of various Asian flavors in all the dishes. Everything was impressive, and I cannot wait to return with my husband!

 

contra

 

We had our 1-year wedding anniversary dinner at the highly-acclaimed Contra. The local & seasonal tasting menu did not disappoint, and was beautifully plated as well. I even loved the plates & bowls themselves- so unique! The house-made bread was seriously amazing (we were fighitng over who got the last piece!), and I wish I could recreate it at home! If you are looking for an ambitious, yet satisfying meal featuring contemporary New York cuisine, look no further than Contra. I'm looking forward to trying their newer, more casual restaurant next door, Wildair, as well!