5.28.2010

Friday: The Gateway to Three Days of Freedom


Pretzels!!!! They are BACK!  I just had a pretzel from Sigmund's the other day, after reading about it a couple months back - sooo timely.  I want to make them, and also, these House Made Buns.  And I loooove this salad from the Post chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, avocado?!?!).  

It has been quite the decent week in food-related news and blog posts, but daaaamn it has gone by slowly.  I'm at work thinking "mypoolopensthisweekend, mypoolopensthisweekend.  why is it not the weekend."  Lather, rinse, repeat.  On to the news!

Totally forgot to share the news about the first Chipotle in Europe!  Hopefully not the last... (hat tip LB!).

This man has been going to Sardi's for 77 years.  That's loyalty.  My mom has lunch there about once a month, and now she wants to find him.  Cute!

The 2010 XTreme Eating Awards make me feel yucky.  Speaking of stuff being bad for us (just about everything), here are calorie counts on our favorite grilled specialties.  

Agree with the Atlantic article here.  Too often "veggie" means "portabella mushroom in between slices of bread," which never was and still is not my cup of tea.

This article from the Times about looking past the children's menu definitely stirred up some discussion this week.  Personally, I ate off of either the children's menu or the appetizer list for a long time--in fact, I still sometimes eat a combination of appetizers.  The reasons were numerous--I didn't really eat meat until I was in college, my parents weren't super adventurous themselves, and we ate at home most nights.  Also, when I think about young children (maybe 6 and under), it seems like whatever is put in front of them is barely eaten, just moved around and taken apart.  I'm not dropping entree-sized dollar bills on that situation!  Interesting article, but what we eat is also a statement of culture and economics.

Speaking of picky eating, my dear friend wrote this sassy blog post (is there any other kind?) BEFORE the Times printed that article.  Timely with a recent discussion among friends about To Send It Back, Or Not To Send It Back.  

Washington Post's Spring Dining Guide - sort of interesting, but sort of not.  It's nice to revisit things, but Vienna Inn?  Really?  I do remember back when Georgia Brown's used to be more of a big deal and frequently recommended.  Now half a star--ouch!   In more local news, ever wonder what happens when servers gone bad take your credit card to pay the bill?  These "Slim and G" characters sound shady.

Dino did pretty sweet duck dinners earlier this week.  I wish I knew about this quackery earlier. (This is a common complaint of mine. I find out about things the day of or so close to the day of that a) I have other plans, b) the tickets, if required, are sold out, or c) there are no reservations available.  It makes the blogs and web sites that offer this info way less useful.) Luckily, Dino decided to add a few more dates for June.  QUACK!

A few more blog posts:
- What in the chocolate...this chocolate hazelnut nutella ganache nonsense from Culinary Concoctions looks amazing (thanks SS)
- Strawberry Brown Buttery Bettys from Smitten Kitchen.  I basically want to take to some white bread with a rolling pin
- A mojito with a somewhat unlikely combo of ingredients from Corcoran Street Kitchen.  YUM.

OK you all, that's pretty much it.  Oh, and also, I decided I'll be hosting a Top Chef Recap once TCDC starts airing.  That means I'm vowing to watch it ON TIME (starting June 16).  And the post will have spoilers--after all, it's a recap.  If you haven't watched yet, just save the post for another time.  That's why I do with HIMYM


Graduations, running, drinking, gettin' some culture, brunching, etc.   Enjoy your 3-day weekend (or 4-day if you're lucky) however you choose!!!

5.26.2010

Ichiban Sushi

Where do you meet a sister staying in Annapolis?  You need an in-between kinda place, like Bowie! I even told my sister about how it's BOO-ee, not Bowie like David

The Yelp on this was mostly good, with a few not-as-positive, something about when the switch occurred from hole-in-the-wall sushi joint (good) to pricy "bistro" with the renovations (not as good). 

The seaweed salad was delightful.


My sister had the Tum Yum Goong soup, a spicy lemongrass broth with shrimp, knotted noodles, and baby bok choy.


Roll-wise, we shared the Alaska (salmon, avocado, cucumber), the Dragon (eel, cucumber, avocado), and the Spider (crab, cucumber, scallion).  The Spider was big and crunchy, probably the crowd favorite.  But I could also eat any eel roll all day long.  Mmm, slithery. 




We liked it! The service was a little iffy--I was asked if I wanted anything to drink before I opened a menu, so I said I wasn't sure yet.  The server returned about 5 seconds later to ask me again.  Also, he kept asking me if I wanted more water then going away with my glass for a while.  Come back!  Thirsty over here! 

I know almost nothing about most out-of-Beltway eats, with the exception of some Annapolis fare.  But you have to take risks, you know?  Also, Bowie Town Center has tons of stores and stuff, so some pre- or post-sushi shopping is definitely in order.  Dairy Queen makes a fine dessert.

Ichiban Sushi Asian Bistro
3921 Evergreen Parkway
Bowie, MD

Ichiban Sushi on Urbanspoon

5.21.2010

Friendship (Heights) Friday

I'm having a personal dilemma about whether or not I should get the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment from Amazon or Crate and Barrel.  Notice the $20 difference, then combine it with the fact that I have C&B gift cards, so it would be "free."  But wouldn't it be better to pay less for the item and use the C&B for something else?  Perhaps presents for upcoming weddings, and additional table linens that I neither need nor have the proper table for?

Enough of my boring problems, let's get down to the week:

Yet ANOTHER Whole Foods opened in the Bethesda--Georgetown Corridor.   We Love DC, Mango & Tomato, and Two DC all checked it out on preview night.  We went the next night to check it out and pick up dinner.

I feel strongly that all supermarkets should have mushroom displays that show them in their natural habitat.



 Burger area - mmm bison!!!


 We headed to the Shish area. As in, kebab.


Lamb kofta with tzatziki, veggie salad, and stuffed grape leaves.


Beef shwarma with tabbouleh (thumbs up!) and rice.


Pretzel roll.  I couldn't help it after thinking about this  and this for a while.  


MacarONs, silly WF.  MacaROONs are our coconut friends.


Towers of sweets!!!  Macarons of all flavors and colors!


 Caaaaandies!  Not sure who Sandra Boynton is, but I bet her quote is right above there...


The bear-filling station.  Adorable.


BTW, I meant to share this with you earlier: an article from the Kitchn (via T) about how the name Whole Paycheck may be a tad unfair sometimes, depending on what you are getting.  I had a nice time at the new Foods.  It was packed, and the place was huge and full of treats and fun that Clarendon (and teensy River Road) can only dream about.  The only thing I really wanted but didn't get was a popsicle.  I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities this summer to wander over for dessert (or a post-run frozen treat!). 

Also, I made these cookies from State Dinner tonight, and yummmm.  Thanks @ElyssaK!

So I only have one baking sheet that fits in our new (smaller) oven.  Instead of baking in two shifts, I put a few in a large muffin sheet.  They came out just fine, in their own special shape.


Enter the cream cheese filling....


Now that I've gone on and on, here are a few notable links from the week:  Selling babies for beer.  Toasted coconut chocolate chunk cookies from Eat, Run, Read.  I like these little caviar topped apps from Mango & Tomato (especially the semi-homemade nature of it--good for a hostess with little time).  How about those hoe cakes at Art & Soul (and how about Angela for passing the notoriously difficult California bar?!), from I Flip For Food. I want to go to Pies 'n' Thighs just because of the name, from The New York Times

Enjoy the weekend people, whether you're in town visiting the newly named Andean bear cubs or heading out of town for a little foodfest.

5.20.2010

Lists Galore! Most Recommended, Favorite Dishes, and To-Eat

Sometimes I make listsPersonalized Google Maps, library wishlists, and all of that jazz.  Below are some lists that may make it easier to narrow down your dining options.  I'll intersperse the pictures relevant to the list IN BETWEEN as not to disrupt the sanctity of the list.  The first rule of listmaking is that we don't talk about listmaking.  Wait, no, wrong movie.


Let me know what you would add!  I somehow ended up with 9 for the first two.  And also, because I love you, all of the To Do list restaurants have links to the web sites.


9 Frequently Frequented (and Recommended)
2 Amys
Cafe Atlantico
Corduroy
Palena (if you don't get the fry plate and roasted chicken, lie to me and tell me that you did)
Poste
Ray's Hell-Burger
Ray's the Steaks
Vermilion
Zola

 Ravioli at Cafe Atlantico
 
9 Favorite Dishes of the Past Year
These are my favorites from this past year, where I look back and say WOW.  That was interesting, and delicious, and I want to do it again. I'll break it down by meal.

Brunch
Smoked brisket hash at South Congress Cafe - Austin, TX

Starters
Shiitake veloute at Volt 
Pea and parmesan soup at J&G Steakhouse
Conch fritters at Cafe Atlantico
Lamb meatball sliders from Zola

Lunch 
Turkey salad sandwich at Jetties

Dinner
PIZZA at DiFara's Pizza - Brooklyn, NY
Cavatelli with rabbit ragu and fava beans at B&B Ristorante (ok, barely a year ago!) in Las Vegas
Ripieno basilico from 2 Amys  (most recently consumed in March.  Before that, December.)

Brisket hash at South Congress Cafe

Turkey salad sandwich at Jetties

On My To-Do List (excluding places where we have pending  reservations):
Againn
Black Market Bistro
Café Green (their web site makes weird things happen to my computer, I don't like it)
Café India
Cava
CommonWealth Gastropub
CityZen
Eatonville
Eola
Ethopic
Granville Moore’s
Kushi
La Ferme Restaurant
Los Cuates
Masa 14
minibar
Obelisk
Oyamel (for brunch - been for dinner, want the migas)
Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza (Ten-Frien, I'm looking at you!)
Potenza
Spices
Surfside (J has been THREE TIMES. WTH)
Sweetgreen (what?! I’ve never had a salad from Sweetgreen. Only fro yo. I want it!)
Tabard Inn
Taylor Gourmet
The Inn at Little Washington (special occasion, where are you?)
Vinoteca
Westend Bistro

5.18.2010

PSA: There Are Pretzels Inside My M&Ms

Sometimes I feel like if I haven't gone to a new restaurant lately (but instead, indulged in typical favorites, quick fixes, and homemade feasts), I have nothing to share with you all.  But that's simply not true.

Whenever I casually mention the pretzel M&Ms, someone nearby usually shrieks "WHAT?!" in utter disbelief.  But it's true.  And I feel compelled to tell you about it so you are not one of the blindsided masses.  There are teensy itty bitty pretzels coated with a candy shell.  They are crunchy and delicious.  This bag is not from the Mars company, but from B



Close up on the shot of the pretzel/m.


This bag may not be open, but that doesn't mean I didn't crunch on these little bugger all night long at a recent gathering.  I like them more than regular M&Ms, which aren't really my deal.  I like peanut, but peanut butter is my favorite.  Just look at that sassy lady M&M on the bag!

So anyway, the lesson is: look around for these if you want to try them, and if you love them, buy in bulk.  We all know what happens when you fall in love with an awkward spinoff candy---it disappears, and you mourn. 

I hope this brought a little sunshine to this otherwise dreary 3-day patch (tomorrow hasn't happened yet, but we know it's not looking good, guys). 

5.14.2010

The F in Friday Stands For fHappy fHour


We've been making our own cocktails.  Above is the Moscow Mule.  After checking them out at Bourbon Steak & The Gibson, we were eager to make our own!  BTW, Goya Ginger Beer is WAY strong--we cut these with some seltzer.  But if you need to clear your sinuses, hit it up straight! 

This was a great week.  It started with J&G Steakhouse, and it's going to end with Babies this weekend.  BABIES!!!

Let's recap some weekly news and happenings:

This might not be news, but I had the May Shake of the Month at BGR - chocolate covered strawberry.  It was delicious (are you surprised?).  Coincidentally, that's the name of my favorite flavor at Thomas Sweet.  Or is it a coincidence...

Now really, on to the articles.  Our house is full of pretzels, mostly because of J.  But I'm a huge fan of pretzel chips, and I also looove hot pretzels.  They are SO FILLING, and they are warm and soft on the inside, a little crispy on the outside--just wonderful.  I give you: the sandwich on a pretzel bun.  

My other Times favorites this week are:  The White House pastry chef is awesome.   Go Burger is the name of the BLT spinoff coming to Dupont Circle.  And French onion soup for vegetarians (!). 

Feeding yourself is one thing, but what about your cats and dogs? And because I mentioned dogs, I should show you my dog-niece and her dog-aunt, basking in the sun in the Garden State.  Wow, only Kassidy can make Sophie look big.


Ahem!  Moving along.  We (along with everyone in their right mind) love How I Met Your Mother.  This week showed Marshall representing our so very true obsession with mini hot dogs, mini cheeseburgers, mini pizzas--basically "any food at all that would make [us] feel like a giant."  Excellent episode.

I was tickled to see some celebrity chefs on Treme!  Chang, Ripert, Colicchio, and Dufresne (Wylie, not Andy)--and they namedrop Besh to excuse their lack of reservation. Puh-leez, guys, like you need an excuse?  We love you, you're adorable pretending to act and everything.

BROOKIES (brownie cookies) from Bakerella.  

Cookie Dough Fudge Cheesecake.  I could never, ever make this without either bringing it to a party or hosting one myself.  It would be incredible straight out of the freezer like a frozen creamy dream come true.  (from Eat, Run, Read).

This is drinking related--for those who have had trouble unlocking their doors after a long night.

I'm going to work on a Top Recommended list for a post next week--the places I've been to a bunch of times, enough to recommend frequently without hesitation.  Get psyched.

Enjoy your weekend!  Hopefully the weather is good enough for at least one outdoor brunch.

5.13.2010

Cupcake Fail (Is The "Fail" Thing Over?)


Homemade cupcakes, by the lovely C.  Maybe I should have stuck to those for J's birthday.

Instead, like 2,794 other people, I bought the Groupon for a dozen delivered cupcakes from BonaFide Cupcakes (a delivery-only establishment) for $20.  A few months back I made the decision to send a friend returning from maternity leave a dozen Georgetown Cupcakes for about $40, instead of the two dozen minimum required by Curbside Cupcake for only slightly more because I know and love Georgetown Cupcake (P.S., that order was easy, delivery on time, cupcakes impeccable in condition and taste). 

I figured I'd just try BonaFide out with this Groupon - it's a great deal, and I could throw it onto J's birthday by sending them to work.  A little extra surprise. 

As these Yelp and Urbanspoon reviews show, BonaFide had a tough time getting its act together post-Groupon.  I read those on my delivery day morning, but I felt confident nonetheless. After all, when I ordered, they admitted they were super crazed and wouldn't be taking orders until after X date.  Luckily, J's birthday is X date + 2!  Perfect!  I ordered, it was confirmed, and then 10 days later at delivery time, no cupcakes.

No one really answers the phone, so callers have to leave a message.  I e-mailed and called several times as we neared the fourth hour after the scheduled delivery time.  I received a call that was like a comedy of errors, stating the wrong date and wrong company building.  Am I on candid camera?  I was told that for sure it must have been on one of today's delivery trucks, which were almost through with their route.  But alas, who knows, because the system was down.  "Can I call you back?"

Despite giving my telephone number to call back, BonaFide called J, who until then was oblivious to his never-to-be-seen surprise cupcakes.  He was told to call back to reschedule.  I called back immediately, and of course left another unreturned voicemail. 

The next day, nothing.  No cupcakes, no calls.  Another voicemail left, another e-mail sent.  After close of business I notified Groupon of the problem.  I'm pretty sure it's not the first they heard of it.  Groupon immediately agreed to cancel the Groupon and refund my $20.  By tonight (Thursday) my refund posted.  I haven't heard from BonaFide since Monday mid-day when the system was "down," despite my e-mails and calls.

I understand that the Groupon caused an influx of business--that's what it does!  But if you can't handle the orders, don't accept them.  A day (or two!) of leaving voicemails and sending emails to get NOTHING when I was trying to give a gift was Not Awesome.  It's not the worst thing that ever happened to anyone in the world, but it's a pain in the ass.

BonaFide Cupcakes
By all means, if you find a way to have them deliver your order and you get to taste them, do let me know in the comments how they tasted.

BonaFide Cupcakes on Urbanspoon

5.12.2010

J & G Steakhouse

So the other day I was having dinner with Hamid Karzai....oh wait, no, I was NEAR his hotel, but he didn't actually join us for dinner.  I assume he was at the Willard, security was hott right thar.



The W Hotel, formerly Hotel Washington, is home to a rooftop bar with quite the view.  The White House looks teeny next to the Treas from this angle!  It tickled me a bit that the Elevator Bouncer checked our IDs to head up to the rooftop, but no one checked 'em when we got our cocktails at dinner.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a man with a plan....to open delicious restaurants all over the place!  We may not be Paris, Bora Bora, or even Las Vegas (I'd rather be in DC than LV any day!), but we're one of the most recent additions to the JG family.  Like Bourbon Steak, the place has steak in the name, but the menu is so much more than that (links to Washingtonian & WaPo reviews show I'm not alone in this line of thought).

Drinks:  Dark & Stormy, New York Sour. 



The spring pea soup with parmesan was unbelievable.  GORGEOUS, smooth as silk, and the flaaaavors and the teeeeextures, for real.  I obviously dig pea soup--when done well, it's so so so happy.  The sweet pea puree was an awesome contrast to the thick, foamy parmesan area.  I kept tasting them separately, then together, then separately...ok, I had a little too much fun.


J had heard good stuff about the calamari - it was a big portion, but very light.  CRUNCH.


The halibut (with scallion and chili sauce, basil and celery) was quite tasty.  LB recommended it, and the fish was nice and light.  Lightly crispy top, as you can see.  And the fun underneath would make an awesome tapenade--I'd like to spread that on a cracker, you know?


J's lamb, cooked medium, with a side of root vegetables.  The first bite I had wasn't as good as the next two--those were awesome (I think the first happened to be a more done bite, and I'm all about the pink).  Very simple - seasoned with salt and pepper, then a dried black olive breadcrumb situation (this was light--if you're anti-olive, no worries).  The result was a yummy, charred, smoky, super delicious lamb dish that was so good I almost didn't want dessert because I wanted the last taste on my tongue to be that lamb.  The texture was what it should be--not chewy, not gritty, just perfect.  Root veggies were root veggies--but the puree underneath them was awe-inducing.


A bit of dessert.  Light and fluffy cheesecake with some "exotic fruit compote and sorbet."  Pineapple?  Passionfruit?  Mango?  Something, or maybe a mixture.  I didn't care for the sorbet, but the cheesecake was very good, and adorable.  And A+ to the staff for listening attentively when I said it was J's BIRTHDAY!!!!  Happy day to him.


As we pondered our meal and awaited our check, a gentleman next to us was going on and on to the server and then the manager about the Caesar salad.  Apparently his lettuce was very soggy, and it was unacceptable, and he wouldn't recommend that people return.  J and I exchanged glances that said Who Would Get a Caesar Salad With This Freakin' Menu, Is This Guy Out Of His Mind.  Then we joked about my 19-year-old cousin who orders a Caesar salad wherever he goes--he's a connoisseur.  We'd have to put it to his test to really find out if this guy was right!   For what it's worth, the manager was very receptive to the criticism, and managed the complaint nicely. 

Service was great--our server recommended the "signature" dishes, which were all ones we had heard about beforehand from other blogs and friends.  He wasn't pushy on the drinks, but definitely was encouraging for us to drink more. The line between being attentive to empty glasses and wanting to up our bill is a fine one, and he got a little close.  But I liked him.

We had a wonderful meal, and a wonderful time.  We'll be back! And yes, my photos got increasingly darker as our window seat became irrelevant--night time, a pox on you!

J&G Steakhouse
W Hotel
515 15th Street NW (Penn & 15th)
Metro: Orange, Blue, & Red Lines to Metro Center (or O&B to McPherson, or Fed Triangle...)

J&G Steakhouse on Urbanspoon

5.07.2010

Friday I'm In Love


...with turkey salad.  Oh that?  It's my delicious turkey salad wrap from the Maryland Food Co-op.  It could have used twice the turkey salad, but I could add whatever I wanted veggie-wise and--um--it cost about $3.40.  I splurged on a bag of chips.  

What a week!  It was a blast to finally make it to a Food Blogger Happy Hour.  I was a bit late, and people were kind of sitting all around in already-settled conversations, but I still managed to meet the lovely folks behind Eat, Run, Read; I Flip For Food; DC Loves Food; DC Fud; Eat By Tweet (aggregates tweets by official restaurant accounts by city so you can get news and specials, it's pretty sweet); The Frozen Fix (inspired me to finally get this KitchenAid attachment); Seeking CB, and maybe a few others? 

A few people at the happy hour asked me if I cook.  I do!  We do!  [In reality we really assemble more than cook, but you know.]  We go out once or twice a week.  You may recall that when I started blogging I was a poor student in an unpaid internship.  I frequently accomplished harrowing feats of frugality, including The Summer Of Bringing Lunch Every Single Day Without Fail.  Basically, I don't share recipes because it's all simple stuff that we didn't invent.  We make the same favorite things over and over.  Nothing like this or this or this or this.  Unless we're entertaining.

Speaking of cooking, Inkpad made the compost cookies, yum yum yum yum yum!  I finally got to try them, and I didn't have to dirty a dish : ) I know for a fact that she included pretzels, toffee chips, and potato chips, among other items.


This week in the food-related Internet:

Angela & Mark at I Flip For Food went to Minibar by Jose Andres!  Looks completely amazing--I want to go eventually, but I have no idea when!  It remains on The List.

I want a wood-burning oven in my kitchen (an OMG moment from WSJ).

Everyone's favorite Top Chef judge (not to mention accomplished chef and restaurateur) is talking about the importance of being local, creating jobs, and avoiding chemicals.  High five, chef!

FREE ICED COFFEE on May 11 from participating Dunkin' Donuts, my favorite.  (via @frijolita). Ya'll, today I tried the 99 cent iced coffee that 7-11 has been screaming to me about--yes, screaming.  I drive past a 7-11 and there's a huge tarp/sign advertising it.  Basically, it's as if you took the supersweet frozen coffee blended thing and let it melt.  SO sweet, re-dairy-ified with who-knows-what kind of milk or cream (!), and just yuck.  I just want good coffee--cold.  With milk.  Not skim. 

Maybe Ben's should start serving The Mother In-Law (via WWDTM blog).  What?! A tamale playing hot dog?!

DIY cake platter out of old/different stuff! (Thanks InkPad).

I have to go now, because someone brought home cupcakes from the recently-opened Frosting ("A Cupcakery Bakeshop").  They all look pretty darn good, and the flavor selection is sweet...um, awesome.  "Campfire" has a graham cracker bottom, chocolate ganache layer, and DAMN marshmallow frosting.  Update: I also indulged in the carrot cake.  Both had super moist and delicious cakes and really tasty frosting that wasn't too sweet, a complaint J reserves for Something Sweet.  Interesting flavors and textures, too.  What a pleasant experience!



This isn't food related, but it should improve your weekend.  Have a great one!

5.04.2010

NYC is my lunchspot: CRISP & Macaron Cafe


Lunchtime in NYC.  It can be as simple as a hot dog or maybe a bit more fancy (hey, you can get a deal mid-day!).  On a recent trip, there was no subsequent suggestion that would steer me away from the original proposal: CRISP.  With two locations in Midtown, this environmentally- and health-conscious eatery is servin' up some quality falafel sandwiches that are delicious, filling, and downright good-looking.  Keep in mind that only the one at 3rd & 43rd is open on weekends--that information might come in handy, folks.


How adorable is the packaging?  My falafel is IN there!


That rogue lettuce leaf is too cute.


I had the Parisian: tomato spread, goat cheese, roasted peppers, and red onions.  GORGEOUS.  DELICIOUS.  I'd never really had flavors like this with my falafel, because usually it's a tabbouleh/tzatziki kind of situation, a Mediterranean vibe.  Suspicions confirmed: goat cheese makes everything better.  The falafels here are nice and light, crispy on the outside, and airy on the inside.  My sandwich is HUGE: these pitas have 4 or 5 balls in 'em! 


This is sister's falafs, the Africa: North African peanut sauce, sweet potatoes, corn salad, green onions, cherry tomatoes.  A little spicy, so if you like it hot, the Africa may be for you.  You can have your contents in a pita, or served OVER a salad but still with a pita (whole wheat or white) on the side.


And by the way, the fries are great.  Also: the menu notes for you which house-blended tea pairs best with what meal.  For serious!

I can't get over it.  I love lunch

CRISP
110 W. 40th Street (btwn 6th & Broadway)
684 3rd Ave (corner of 43rd)

Crisp on Urbanspoon

So I needed to bring something back for the old man (sorry about not bringing you back anything from Bouchon).  So macarons it is!



That's pistachio, nutella, coconut, caramel, and two dark chocolates. Yum.  These were pretty good, but they had nothing on Bouchon's ganacheyness.  The cookie part was a little chewy, and the filling didn't make me want to shout praises from the rooftops.  But a cookie is a cookie, and I'd eat them again.  This joint also has some good looking lunch options, but the seating is Sparse with a capital S.

P.S. A note to my friends on the Bolt Bus: Sorry I didn't share.  That was mean.  I know you saw the cookies.

Macaron Cafe
161 W. 36th St

Macaron Cafe on Urbanspoon