Bareburger, Ridgefield CT

After a very late night drinking wine with Jen, all I wanted was coffee. When we woke the girls were already at school/work and we needed to head home. Since I did not want to make a mess of her kitchen, eating was the first stop on the agenda, and even though breakfast was the necessary meal, fresh organic burgers were the perfect way to satiate our empty gullets. Bareburger in Ridgefield CT was the perfect roadhouse to stop at!

The fries with the various dipping sauces were terrific. 

Our eldest child had the regular old burger above.
My favorite part was the awesome goat cheese fritter and pickled grape salad.

Unfortunately I burned my mouth on the cheese (I am so impulsive when it comes to cheese) so I had a hard time eating my sandwich.

I had the chicken and pickle.
It was really good.
Later.
When the burned mouth healed a bit.
Oh look! It's a picture of ME with my sandwich. Photo credit to the eldest.

 I asked the eldest to get a picture of Baby's sandwich. He took a thousand photos,  most of which were blurry, but I really like how this one captured Baby and his zealous excitement about the burger and all it's cheesy wonder. It's a Cheesy picture, a very cheesy picture.

 Just LOOK at all that cheese.

YUM!

Tutti Fruitti

When we left NYC and headed into CT, Baby decided he needed a new pair of shoes. Since H2 got her first ever pair of Vann's in Brooklyn, Baby decided that he needed a pair of nice blue Chuck Taylor Lone stars. My Mother in law took us to the Brass City Mall, and treated us to a lovely afternoon snack at Tutti Fruitti!I can't remember which yogurt flavors I chose other than chocolate, but those Swedisih fish, chocolate covered pretzels, and strawberries are mine.

Cafe Luka, 1st Avenue, NYC

On our last morning in NYC, Dad took us all out for brunch at a nice little cafe around the corner from his apartment. I had my obligatory eggs Benedict.


















I forget what everyone else ate, but the kids milkshakes were FANTASTIC.

Cold Drinks after a very warm 9/11 Memorial

I wish I could tell you where we were exactly. This restaurant has been there forever and was right behind the building K used to work in. Until 9/11.
The restaurant had nice outdoor seating, our backs were to the Hudson, and we had just crossed the (tail end of) the West Side Highway.
It was really nice. Where were we?

Shake Shack, Murray Street, New York, NY

We planned a group visit to the 9/11 memorial. We planned to meet up with friends who work in the area for lunch and they recommended The Shake Shack. I am proud to no longer be a Shake Shack virgin. It was SO good and I don't eat burgers very often! I liked the concept, the artwork, and the menu. The milkshakes and the fries, especially the cheese fries, are awesome!

Floor Picnic, Upper East SIde, NYC

We decided to have a night in so we had a picnic on the floor in front of the TV. You can take the Mainers out of Maine, but not the Maine out of the Mainers.

Dylan's Candy Store

 


















When you spend the day hoofing it all over Manhattan with your kids, its a good idea to have a reward in mind, especially if you starved them half to death having to double back from the park to find and ATM so you can actually purchase the street food you planned! Fortunately I had Dylan's Candy Bar on my mind for several months before the trip. I kept it a surprise for a LONG time and even fooled them by telling them I was looking for a vegetable market. Well that actually happened in Brooklyn, but I used the joke again because I could because really my kids get excited about vegetables. I digress.

Ice Cream was the perfect much needed reward after walking several miles along the city streets and park ways.

Street Food, Central Park, NYC

I love New York City and Central Park is it's heart! There is nothing better than NYC street food and I am so thankful I got to treat my kids to it and have them eat it in the Park.
I love my falafel!
























Baby really got his city fix too. He climbed every rock that the Park had. He adored all the people watching. For us Mainers, getting a sneak peak at spring is the most special part.

My beloved SP had a lamb Gyro and was very happy.

Lily Thai, Brooklyn, NY

An evening of Thai food  at Lily Thai for our last night in Brooklyn.
It was also  another reminder  that I needed to make pickled veggies at home!

Beware of the scotch bonnets in the Mango salad. It's good but they're super hot!

I love my chicken satay!
You know it is a good meal when it ends looking like this!

Best Pizza, Brooklyn NY

 
I'm not sure if it really is the BEST pizza in Brooklyn, but I can say that the pizza with the pickled veggies was SO good. It has inspired me to make my own julienne pickled veggies at home! Another thing I am sure of is how LARGE these pizzas actually are. Here is a man hand for perspective.

And a little girl arm for perspective on the pepperoni pizza!

 Mainers seriously have no idea what NYC pizza is really like. They are missing out!

It's truly a learning opportunity to know that you are lucky if one slice fits on a plate and that there is a way to eat pizza correctly! Thanks SP for modeling!