Currently viewing the tag: "chelsea"
I spent 5 years of my life working across the street from Chelsea Market, a unique indoor market of some of New York City’s finest culinary upstarts and the homebase of the ubiquitous Food Network. It has been quite some time since I checked Chelsea Market out; I discovered that it had grown quite a bit. A large space that used to be a single store has been converted into several wondrous booths, a sort of “foodie” food court. The court is home to my lunch and dessert destination: Bar Suzette, a crêperie with a vegan/gluten-free batter option, and One Lucky Duck, takeaway raw from the people of Pure Food and Wine. A kind of fantastic way to spend $20.
At Bar Suzette you get to watch your crêpe be assembled. I watched as the man smeared black truffle hummus on a thin crêpe, topped that with some shredded market veggies and drizzled it with truffle oil before folding the light, magnifiscent crêpe about it. These are true crêpes, ladies and gentlemen, and not thick and pancake-like some other vegan crêpes (by name only) I’ve tried. Very well done.
This savory crêpe was so satisfying. The truffle oil pushed me over the edge. I stared into its innards lovingly as a devoured it slowly, barely breaking for sips of my Boylan.
Shredded delight. So flavorful. Bar Suzette offered the vegan batter for any of its savory or sweet varieties. On this, my first visit, I kept it simple and tried their designated vegan Truffled Hummus crêpe.
Next, dessert. The One Lucky Duck Mallomar is probably in the top 25 best treats I ever ate. Raw chocolate-coated grounded pecan wafer with a huge, pillowy dollop of vanilla cream drizzled seductively with chocolate. Phew. I’m going to tease you first with the packaging.
There she is, glistening.
I love me some visible vanilla beans. 
A little chocolate in the corner of my mouth… “Raw Mallomar was here”
So Cocoa V, the swanky short-lived all-vegan chocolate shop, is no longer. Since my first report in 2009 and this more recent post, the space had been cut in half to house the Blossom du Jour, Blossom‘s more casual eatery across 9th avenue. Now Cocoa V’s side of the space has morphed into Blossom Bakery, an all-vegan (my favorite words) bakery in Chelsea. Cp and I had to check it out.
I got the blonde on blonde, as this combination reveals a bakery’s raw talent. Chocolate can make for a easy, no-fail decadent dessert. Vanilla, on the other hand, is more difficult to get right. Blossom Bakery got it right, albeit ever so dry. I loved the frosting which had the perfect blend of oil, creaminess, and a wonderful and slight fine-grain sugar grit. That is the best. I kind of wanted a berry on top.
In fact, this cake would make a fabulous layer for a strawberry shortcake.
Blossom Bakery had a ton of goodies: cookies, full cakes, macaroons, and brownies, as well as a scrumptious-looking S’mores pudding, savory quiches and gorgeous heart-shaped linzer tarts.
I also had a slice of their triple layer German Chocolate cake. So, so good. The slice was 3 or so portions but served unphotogentically in plastic. Blossom Bakery, please buy some pretty plates for the food bloggers!
Of course, a savory bite had to be had at Blosson du Jour. I had a perfecto sandwich: the Filet No Fish… Filet No Fish: a tofu cod cake, v-bomb cheddar, lettuce, and v-bomb tartar sauce. The soft, buttery cibatta with its semolina flour debris, on its own, would have hit the spot… let alone the tarty tartar and the yummy cake of tofu. 9th avenue, you are pretty cool.
When the Bouncing Souls announced they’d be playing discography shows in New York, I was a bit giddy. The years surrounding The Good, the Bad and the Argyle and Maniacal Laughter marks the period in my life where every morsel of discretionary income when to buying and seeing music. And the Bouncing Souls were one of my favorite bands of that epoch. Though I never heard their music after these albums, they had already been cemented as a band that summated my youth and my emerging values: Antiestablishment but with a tongue in cheek. 
From the archives of 1997: Check out the price (and service charge) of the ticket. And my hair growing in from when I shaved it off.
Now, more than a decade later, it was time to revisit these two albums with a friend who was there with me back then. Since, we’ve branched off into two separate universes. But for the night, we were back–sharing glances of excited recognition as we heard the first notes of the songs that meant so much; songs that had shaped; songs that had offered a kindred, a momentary escape from an alienated youth. 
1999 with Josh, on one of the many photoshoots on my purple carpet.
Shows are hard in your 30′s. Especially with so many overgrown man-children “moshing” near the stage. I couldn’t see much of it, just fleeting glimpses of still-dreamy Greg Attonito who thankfully perked up in-between the two albums. The set was only about an hour, as both albums consisted of punk-short 2 minute wonders. Catching New Shirt/Heather Lewis from Weston‘s Got Beat Up was a nice start to the show but uptight, rampant security made it difficult to forget where you were, how old you are and how differently things were “back then”.
At shows now…there’s always a part of me that wants to be home, listening to the songs in comfort. Like Frankie and his Califone headphones.
But I made it through the show, thankful to the proximity of the venue to the L train. With a fished out Metrocard ready as I descended the stairs, I thought of how much has changed. And how much was the same.
An aside: Leadsinger Greg Attonito and his wife wrote a children’s book.
For four months my vegan gal pals have been scheduling and rescheduling a trip to Cocoa V. Finally: we came, saw and left with bloated bellies. But first…
Blossom De Jour, high-end Blossom’s “shrewd” fast food sister, has recently taken space next to NYC vegan landmark, Cocoa V. So naturally, before laying down a layer of cocoa deliciousness, the gals and I needed a strong food base in our bellies. The Skyscraper, Blossom Du Jour’s fantastic veggie burger did the trick. Atop a great-textured and flavorful patty they pile soy bacon, v-cheese, greens, tomato, pickle, an onion ring (!!!) and a very, very special sauce. This is likely the best vegan burger in all of NYC… and I’ve eaten many [here]!
There she is again. Per. Fect.
We split their Mac & Cheese, a subtle-flavored but satisfyingly creamy side.
Cocoa V, the world’s only 100% vegan, organic and fair trade chocolate boutique, is in New York City. [Yes, New York City: my home, my love, my lit concrete "Billy Jean" step... and kink in my neck.] Nowhere else can one find high end vegan truffles, bon bons and barks; caramel and chocolate fondue, toffee and truffles than Cocoa V. Best of all is the quality of said items. Refined, exquisite–their chocolate is art: Look!
Did I mention they have cupcakes? Delicious and moist cupcakes with a buttery icing unlike any vegan icing I’ve tasted. Definitely the best in the city.
We arrived late and many selections were out unfortunately. My bon bon choices: pecan praline and coconut caramel. Rich and delicate little bites of chocolate heaven. Who wants to go in on a cater-sized tray?
CandyPenny and ArtSparrow work the cupcakes and camera while I stare helpless at each bite of my vanilla cupcake.
Click here for my first Cocoa V posting and more scrumptious-looking chocolate.
Candle 79‘s Black Bean Pumpkin Seed Burger (Upper East Side)
Pro: It’s absolutely yummy, polenta fries
Con: It’s also a mush-fest, pricey
Josie’s NYC‘s Organic 3-grain vegetable burger (Upper West Side)
Pro: Quinoa, bulgur & cous cous-oh my!
Con: A bit pricey
Goodburger‘sVeggie Burger (Union Square)
Pro: Separate grill, good quick burger
Con: Mushy
Bliss‘s Tofu Hijiki Burger (Williamsburg)
Pro: Tasty & fresh
Con: Too much bun
Kate’s Joint‘s Broke Back Burger (East Village)
Pro: Great focaccia, reliably good
Con: A bit dry
Village Natural‘s Vegan Burger (West Village)
Pro: Ample veggies on plate, sweet potato fry option
Con: Soy science meat
Atlas Cafe‘s Sunshine Burger (East Village)
Pro: Eh.
Cons: Iceberg lettuce, crumbly served on mushy sprouted bread with 3 potato chips
Cafe Blossom‘s Veggie Grain Burger (Upper West Side)
Pro: Glorious mush-fest
Con: Also a crumble-fest
Green Cafe‘s Vegetable Burger (Midtown)
Pro: They fetched the ingredients
Con: Eh.
Gobo‘s Home-made Veggie Burger (West Village)
Pro: fresh veggies
Con: standard mush texture
Cafeteria‘s Veggie Burger (7 ave & 17th st)
Pros: big, tasty, fresh
Con: crumbly
Oneness-Fountain-Heart‘s Ponderosa Burger (Flushing, Queens)
Pro: Topped with freshness and flavor
Con: Soy science meat underneath
See this food? I have eaten it and it has helped me to move from here to there to have me here typing this to you. See it? I put it in my mouth and chewed. Yeah, so what but: Have you ever paid attention to this process? Followed a bite from one side of your tongue to the other? Tasting texture. Mastication. This is no dirty word. Food touches our insides and all over, giving energy all about its path, starting first at our mouth. What else in the world to we ingest? Like fully and in abundance? Allowing it in. Allowing it everywhere. How is this not a big deal?
Tempeh roll at Dragonfly.
Sweet & sour seitan lunch special @ Em.
The Sag @ Bone Shakers.
All I could eat at Outback Steakhouse, on 5th grade class trip to DC.
Roasted veg sandwich @ the International Spy Museum in DC.
A big ass salad in the cafeteria of the Capitol Building in DC.
Pad Thai lunch special with summer roll and veggie dumpling @ Pad Thai.
That is the question. A good, hearty and satisfying veggie burger is an occasional must. And luckily it they’re pretty much a menu staple at both veg and omni eateries alike. But where to go? A group of vegan field reporters and I bring you this expansive report on the good, the bad and the ugly. In no particular order:
Cafe Blossom East‘s Soy Bacon cheeseburger (Upper East Side)
Pros: Satisfying, juicy, doesn’t crumble, vegan cheese option
Cons: pricey, upscale environment
Energy Kitchen‘s veggie burger (several NYC locations)
Pro: Quick if in a bind
Cons: Mush-fest, bland, Del-Monte veg fest (peas, cubed carrots, lima beans), place uses a ton of disposable plastics
Bliss‘s veggie burger (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Pros: Beets!, big, hearty, fresh & clean
Cons: Earthy, a bit dry
Anytime‘s Quinoa and lentil burger (Williamsburg/Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
Pros: Quinoa, late night delivery, comes with mound of tater tots
Con: Mush-fest and crumbly at the same time
Good Health Natural Cafe‘s black bean burger (Upper East Side)
Pros: hearty, good bite
Cons: frozen patty, chips on the side
Lodge‘s veggie burger (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Pros: Huge, hearty, housemade, lentils, waffle fries
Con: questionable bun
Lucky’s Famous Burgers‘s California Veggie Burger (Chelsea)
Pro: friendly service?
Cons: mushy, Del-Monte veg fest, questionable bun
Better Burger‘s Soy Burger (Chelsea)
Pros: hearty soy protein patty, reliably good, quick and easy
Con: not served hot, maybe sitting around?
Red Bamboo‘s Bamburger (West Village)
Pros: hearty, greasy fast foody fulfillment
Cons: processed soy science meat product, bad bun, bad vegan cheese
Bone Shakers‘s Magnus (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Pros: Hearty, house-made patty, great fresh bread and fixings
Con: I am enamored by this place and have yet to find a critique not overshadowed by their food’s greatness.
Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop‘s Big Mack Daddy with vegan substitutions (Lower East Side)
Pros: Hearty, great fixings/sauces, great bun… um, perfect
Con: I said…um, perfect
Quantum Leap‘s Vegan Grilled Burger (East Village)
Pros: Hearty, vegan cheese option, great fries on the side
Cons: Seems to be a frozen patty, soft bun
Sometimes, because I live in New York City, I pretend I have hit the big time. (I certainly have not, though I have miraculously landed a job last week amidst a city-wide hiring freeze.) Fiscal irresponsibility is a very NYC trait. Surviving a week, a semester, a milestone in the big, mean city makes an occasional splurge on the highbrow and upper-crust seem justified. A taste of the other side of New York: taxis, uncomfortable shoes and fine wine: is a welcome break between the sardine-packed train and grey slush lining the sidewalks. So, though rent for January is not yet secured, fine chocolates and nut cheese take priority.
The girls and I hit Cocoa V, an all-vegan, all-Fair Trade chocolatierery (I made that word up.) in Chelsea that recently opened its doors just a few steps from Blossom. With much to unpack and celebrate, we shared the cheese plate and chocolate sharing plate, $16 and $25 respectively, and also sampled their delicious subtly spiced hot cocoa. The cheese, all from Dr. Cow‘s impressive line of nut-based cheeses, were delicious as I recalled from my own wine and cheese party last year. The portion was slightly skimpy but not when you account for presentation and the classy vibe of Cocoa V. The cashew blue-algae, cashew and hemp seed and macadamia nut cheeses were even more delicious with a drizzle of Cocoa V’s vegan honey, an agave and brown rice syrup concoction. The chocolates were utterly divine and so pretty… and they sell them by the box! I can’t recall the many pieces I sampled but here are some key words: cranberry, crispies, chocolate bark, hazelnut, pistachio, apple, citrus, raspberry, truffle. Cocoa V’s menu also includes desserts like decadent chocolate cake and chocolate fondue with Dandies and fruit. Totally classy and great for a date. Aah, New York’s got itself an all-vegan high-end chocolate shop… take that Portland, Oregon! (Just kidding Portland. You da bomb.)
Vegan Reporting By Location
