After a busy and delightful afternoon of beading my friend Christie and I were in need of nourishment in Norwalk, CT. Thankfully The Stand Juice Company was just around the corner and completely quiet on a mild winter Saturday. During the week you can tell that based on location and offerings this place gets busy; downtown, next to a yoga studio, and adorably rustic.
Read MoreIt certainly has been a while since my last post. I wish I could say it was for a good reason but it was a whole slew of bad ones, one right after the next, most of which have been resolved. That aside, I was happy to visit the newly opened Dig Inn in Rye Brook. The popular New York City enterprise made its way to Westchester, satisfying the need for more healthy, environmentally friendly choices in the Hudson Valley.
Upon entering you can't help but admire the minimalist design. Cool neutrals, which are echoed in their beautiful bowls, tiny potted succulents on the tables and a rear seating area with a gorgeous skylight that I'm sure is nothing short of inspiring in the morning. The staff was ready to please and there was no shortage of customers.
Set up in a "Chipotle" fashion, the customer creates their own bowl containing one of four bases: a farro mix (rave reviews from my fellow diner), a miso noodle (good, but spicer than expected), brown rice (flavorful and hearty), or simple mixed greens. There are a number of sides that follow including tender maple and sriracha roasted Brussel sprouts, an intriguing cauliflower with capers and raisins, and a fresh lemony broccoli. The available proteins are thoughtful variations of chicken, tofu, steak, and chicken, which makes the "fast food" approach seem a bit more elegant We were all very pleased with the quality of the food and so stuffed that I skipped dessert! We all know I do not skip dessert!
Being opening day there were of course kinks to work out. The brown rice was taking longer than expected and certain menu items were not offered at this location despite being listed. I did notify customer service and received a very quick, apologetic response and apparently some "goodies" are coming my way (thank you, Katie!)
Overall, Dig Inn brings fills a much needed void in Lower Westchester and should have no problem attracting and maintaining business. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I'm looking forward to a return visit to Dig Inn. Until the next dish, ciao!
At a recent team function that required dessert, someone handed me a large paper bag that looked rather unpromising. The wrinkled bag was heavier than I expected. I wiggled back a corner and saw cookies as large as my face releasing a wonderful mix of aromas that ranged from ginger to paprika. Where did these come from? I wonder. I found a receipt under some crumbs at the bottom that read, "What's for Dessert?" I thought I was the one asking the questions here but it turns out the owner, Cindy, has been asking and answering for a quite a while now.
Read MoreI didn't quite understand the whole "California Dreamin" thing the Beach Boys had going on all those years ago, but now? Now I get it. I wasn't even in Southern California. I was in and around San Francisco and it was PERFECT. Simply perfect. So perfect that I have to divide my trip into two posts. Sonoma was the first leg of my trip and it could have been both legs, heck, it could have been the whole body. By day two I was committed to finding a way to spend all of next summer out there, paychecks permitting, but to me it'd be worth going broke.
Read MoreComing home from this vacation was tough. I hadn't posted in two weeks, I realized I didn't get to post as much as I wanted this summer, and there was barely anything to eat in the fridge upon my return. I probably should have just stayed on vacation. I found some new eats in the Westerly area that definitely would have made my stay worth it.
Read MoreHi everyone! I’m on spring break and using this glorious amount of time to explore/taste/savor as much as possible. While I love my eastern corner of the state, I often find myself wandering west toward the Hudson River towns scattered throughout the hillside. Maybe I've got that American spirit to keep moving west, to seek out new and uncharted territory. I'm always looking for the next great meal or anything else that will expand my gastronomic horizons. It's my own Mani-fresh Destiny (Cliché? Maybe. Spot on? Definitely)
Read MoreFirst things first, these are not my pictures, the photo credit can be found here. If I snapped pictures of every label I tried my phone would probably have a hangover. Anyway, Awestruck Hibiscus Cider. Flamingo pink, rippling with exotic hibiscus notes and a zing of ginger, it's the only thing I want to drink between April and forever. The problem? They're not found anywhere in a 50 mile radius of me. At least right now. They're currently based in Walton, NY but my fingers are crossed that they'll make their way south soon. VERY soon. If you see this anywhere near you make sure you try it. Promise me you will. Look, even the guys with us enjoyed it. They might not admit it but they did. Keep an eye out and remember, you heard about it here first!
Read MoreHi everyone, thanks for stopping by! This weekend I took a long overdue stroll through my local farmer's market. As I popped in and out of familiar stalls I found my path cut off by shoppers swarming one particular vendor. Some on tip toe pointing at distant items, some hunched over and peering through a display case of baked goods, still others rifling through coolers of nifty soups and spreads. Just what on earth was this place? I looked up at the bold red sign and read, Flourish Baking Company.
Read More
