Tag: food

Otto Strada, New Restaurant in Hoboken

1 Comment

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

A few months ago, Otto Strada opened up its doors in Hoboken. If you are looking for delicious Italian food and good ambiance, this is your place. My personal struggle when visiting an Italian place is that I am never sure if I am going to want pizza or pasta, but Otto Strada had solid choices for both desires.

Another plus? It’s BYOB, bingo!

I also expanded my Italian vocabulary by learning that Otto Strada means Eight Street, which, voila, is where this new spot is located. Ah, the genius.

Although my food comma kept me away from ordering dessert, I was drooling over a gigantic dessert calzone. That’s right, calzone for dessert. I was creeping, but I could not look away from the Nutella drizzling from the inside of this wonderful thing. I recommend you leave room for dessert, highly encouraged.

image (3)

One of the specials for the day: a delicious pesto with roasted tomatoes

image (2)

My boyfriend is trying to learn to take food pictures, he is getting there very slowly, so cut him some slack! – Pollo alla Milanese con Prosciutto: breaded chicken pounded thin, pan seared, topped with prosciutto, homemade mozzarella and tomato bruschetta over a bed of arugula tossed with a lemon vinaigrette

[Brunch] The Elysian Café

Leave a comment

The fact that I love brunch is nothing new, so when last week various articles came out saying that bottomless brunches were illegal, you can imagine I started freaking out. Big thanks to The Huffington Post for letting me know that it’s going to be ok by sharing the State Liquor Authority’s statement here.

To celebrate, today I tried out brunch at Hoboken’s Elysian Café. (Mind you, this is not in New York City and I actually just drank coffee, but in the books it’s still brunch!) I had never been to this place before, it’s actually very cute. Turns out The Elysian Café is the oldest continually operated bar/restaurant in Hoboken. I have not had dinner there yet (hint hint to my boyfriend) but I can imagine that with the antique ambiance and the live music they have some nights, it has to be really nice.

Processed with VSCOcam with h3 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Egg White Omelet with Spinach, Tomato, Goat Cheese and a side of Lyonnaise Potatoes (Yum!)

Processed with VSCOcam with m5 presetClassic Eggs Benedict

An Unexpected Valentine’s Day

Leave a comment

20140215-110557.jpg

Surprise bouquet at the office, delicious candlelit dinner at the fanciest restaurant with the finest bottle of wine and a night out dancing and strolling by the water…

That was not my Valentine’s Day.

I have been sick for the past week, but don’t worry I will not bore you (or disgust you) with the details.

Somehow, I was still able to have a pretty damn sweet Valentine’s Day. Boyfriend brought me flowers and some grape juice, which I enjoyed in a fancy wine glass while I ate a dairy-free and fairly unseasoned pasta on my freezing kitchen. I could not eat chocolates or any other sweets for that matter and all the dancing I did was from the kitchen to the sofa, where I killed that grape juice while we watched nothing else but the Valentine’s Day movie (permission to gag).

Yes, I was upset about the food choice and evident lack of wine and cheese. Yes, I wish we could have done the long weekend road trip we originally planned, but you know what?

Sh*t happens and you still are able to smile. I wasn’t able to stuff my face with complicated dishes, fancy cheese and gulps of wine? Eh, I saved the calories?

In all seriousness, I’m grateful I could even eat. I also had love, which is kind of the point of this so-called Holiday, so why was I complaining? Oh yeah, because I am obsessed with cheese.

I Love Brunch.

Leave a comment

I especially love Sunday brunch.

There’s something magical about having no rush to get breakfast and the security of knowing you will be able to get bacon no matter what time you are seated at your table is simply delightful.

I know it’s only Monday, but the idea of a good breakfast can make me happy at any point of the week.

Cheers to good food and a new week!

photo (17)

Classic scrambled eggs, baked pancakes & an exquisite oyster omelet.

Sunday Brunch @ Prune in NYC  – Totally recommend this place!

 

Vacation mode, not that I’m bragging or anything.

Leave a comment

Still in vacation over here. Enjoying some time in my beautiful Puerto Rico, can’t really complain.

2014 is right around the corner, but right now I’m enjoying the “now”.

20131226-170718.jpg Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico – Seriously one of my favorite views in the whole island.

20131226-170735.jpg

20131226-170800.jpg Up in the mountains of Adjuntas, having lunch with a sweet tropical breeze.

20131226-170827.jpg

20131226-170839.jpg Delicious mofongo, stuffed with skirt steak and other wonders. Basically, plantain gloriousness in a plate.

20131226-170846.jpg Playa Sucia in Cabo Rojo. “Sucia” means dirty, but believe me, this beach is far from dirty. Guess we like irony?

So basically, been busy with family and tropical adventures but I shall be back in the tundra that is New York and face reality. 2013 has been pretty sweet, so some stories are in store.

Cheers everyone, Happy Holidays! (At least in Puerto Rico it’s still the Holidays)

Sometimes, I Bake

Leave a comment

Last year, my friend Lindsay and I won our office holiday bake-off under the creativity category. Pretty sweet little reindeer cookies, if you ask me.

This is how the cookies looked at the recipe website…

 

This is how our cookies turned out. Not that bad, considering I owned an android camera at the time.

reindeer cookies

2012 Winners in the creative category – Cristina Nogueras ©

This year, when my office announced we would be having another bake-off to celebrate National Dessert Day (which by the way, it’s a thing) I knew I had to retain my title as the creative cook. My coworker Lina and I decided to team up and get creative.

Mind you, this comes from the girl that knows how to cook, however, limits herself to the same five basic recipes. I have big ideas in my head, but they always somehow end up as some variation of chicken, rice and beans.

I knew flavor was not going to be my strength, so we went for creativity. Thanks to the wonder that is Pinterest and the many amazing and creative human beings out  there, I found a twist-off to my favorite childhood dessert: Tierrita Dulce.

photo


Rest in Bliss Vanilla Pudding – Photo & Edits Cristina Nogueras ©

I took some creative license rights and decided to call our creation: Rest in Bliss. I know, I’m no artist, but I’m really humbly proud of the results.

Plus, guess what?

WE WON!

Yes, that’s right, this girl over here is the current two-strike undefeated baking champion! (May I say we did not even have to technically bake anything?)

What’s the recipe for success? We literally followed the instructions on the Jell-O vanilla pudding box and added food coloring. Then we crushed a bag of cream-less Oreos and added layers of Oreos to the bottom and top of the cups. I know, rocket science. We added gummy worms to give it the Halloween look and Lina went all out with the frosting drawings in the vanilla wafer cookies.

Besides bragging rights and high-fives (which are always welcomed), we also received a nice bottle of Aviation Gin! Thinking of going classy and trying out some nice cocktails soon.

Desserts & cocktails? Not bad, right?

aviation

Cristina Nogueras ©