8.10.10

New York City - Unique Eats

We came across this program called Unique Eats on Cooking channel which featured best places to dine/snack. Of particular interest was the episode where desserts were featured and so when we planned our trip to NYC we had to put this on the top of to-do list.

Babycakes

Though this place is a vegan bakery, the cupcakes and donuts we had were very very delicious. We tried Red Velvet, Chocolate cupcakes and a Lemon-coconut Donut. The cupcakes were yummy and moist, though I was not crazy about the frosting. Beet juice was used to achieve the color in the Red Velvet cake. The donuts are baked not deep fried and the best I ever had including the frosting. Since the frosting is made from flour it is healthy as well.

Crazy staircase apartment building - was the intention to have a private emergency exit for each apartment? ;-)

Four and Twenty Blackbirds
This pie shop is another hidden gem in Brooklyn. The restaurant itself felt like a refuge from the hustle and bustle of NYC. The interiors were warm and made us feel very cozy. We did not take any pictures of the pies because we simply forgot and digged right in as soon as they arrived! They are not masterpieces to look at but out-of-this-world to eat. We had Salted Caramel Apple, Honeyed Fig pies and a Savory pie with egg plant. Honeyed Fig was our absolute favorite and for a moment I thought I was passing out. The girl at the counter was surprised because we had one slice after the other with the last one to go.



Van Leuween Icecream
Parked at various locations in NYC, the color of the truck itself makes you want to have the icecream. Yet another place like Babycakes and Blackbirds who believe in honest goodness of natural and best ingredients. We tried Earl Gray and Hazelnut+Chocolate flavors. Earl Gray was simply the best, aromatic and floral. Some of the reviews I read complained about the flavor being muted but really the icecream is made out of basic ingredients and no additives. Read their interview at Etsy.

Another must visit is the new Eataly, a european style market founded by Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich to bring gourmet food to NYC. The market features products that you may not find in any of the Whole Foods and the likes. Also, there are several food stations that you can dine at.



Shots of Chrysler and Empire State buildings from Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library.


One thing I look forward to when in NYC is featured Arts for Transit on the subway trains. Here are the "excerpts" of the two I took in a moving train.


Have a great weekend.

- Kalyan

3.10.10

Udaipur - City of Lakes

In 1568 again when Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor (story from my previous post - for the third and last time, the rajput men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost this time too) Udai Singh left the fort and founded Udaipur.

Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes and the beauty of numerous palaces around the lake seem to be enhanced especially when the lakes are full after a good monsoon season.

Lake Palace (now a hotel), is very captivating and romantic to look at. I have seen couples having a dinner in the middle of the lake on a floating platform with food/drink being ferried from the hotel. Very fancy! The palace served as a royal summer palace to escape the heat.

Parrot resting on a tree at sunset with hills and lake palace in the background:
City Palace complex, huge and overlooking the lake is stunning when lit at night.
Kitchen utensils from that era:
Mirrors and inlaid glass lattice work:
View of the lake from the terrace of the City Palace:
City Palace in the background and Lake Palace in the foreground:
Monsoon Palace, served as a resort and observatory to the royalty, at 3100 feet, the views are distant and stunning. I kick myself everytime I see this picture because I did not pay attention and the right window got chopped. Otherwise, it would have been a perfect picture. Jag Mandir Palace, another lake palace where Shahjahan (who built Taj Mahal) took refuge here as he rebelled against his father Jahangir to become a hier to the Mughal kingdom.
We came across this vibrant and colorful folk art in a crafts village:
The Mahout took naps all of afternoon on this female elephant which is named Raju (meaning king?!). We fed her few bananas:
Hope you are all having a crisp and lovely fall weekend. Have fun.