411 15th Avenue EWhile admittedly, I have lots of coffee options still to explore in what is known as a coffee heaven, I hadn’t yet met anything iced quite as satisfying as my old Blue Bottle… until we came across Victrola.
A bustling cafe with beards and laptops that made me feel at home, this Capitol Hill favorite delivers lovingly poured exceptional lattes. Happiness.
The Pride of TexasPeople get fanatical about Shiner Bock – a Texas beer that outsiders once freaked over if they ever found it outside the Lone Star state. (Now it’s distributed to most of the U.S. with the exception of the NE).
Hill Country in Manhattan wooed the company for years in order to get it served in their Austin style BBQ joint, because it was so key in defining the Texas culinary experience (they finally won them over and now even New Yorkers can partake in the admired brew).
Unlike many things with such hype, though, Shiner is really that great. It’s slightly sweet, rich and malty but with zero after taste. Drinkable and satisfying.
Seattle Brew in Cans, 550 NW 49th Street Seattle WAHilliard’s modern design and small price tag stand out in the sea of fancy beers at the local grocery. The local brewery is making very good beer though, not just pretty cans, with their refreshing Saison tops my list.
They also have a taproom not far that claims to be all ages.. Maybe a visit is in store.
2901 NE Blakeley Street, Seattle, WA (as well as other locations)While there are many, many local roasters and shops to try in the coffee Capitol, so far we’ve been quite happy with Zoka. Whether using their beans (I like their darkest roast, Tuscan Blend) to make at home or having a latte at their large, comfy, and welcoming shop in the University District, it’s consistently good stuff.
Coffee and Espresso MakerThe AeroPress was my birthday present to myself and like everyone who has one, I love it. I mean, have you seen anything else on Amazon with over 1700 reviews and nearly five stars?
It makes a great cup of coffee in minutes with ease.
Add a frother (I recommend the Cuisinox) and good beans (luckily we’ve moved to the epicenter of local coffee roasters) and delicious lattes in the comfort of your own home are yours.
Thanks, self, for such a useful thoughtful gift!
From Fresh DirectFor those we leave behind in NYC: I think I’ve finally found Fresh Direct’s best every day coffee before we left!
I give you Columbian Supremo French Roast!
So enjoy it. And cherish your FD. I miss it terribly.
674 Manhattan Ave BrooklynOn these frigidly cold past weeks I’ve seen the darkened walls of Beloved more than any others (besides my home). I need to get a few cocktails with Mike and Shaun in before leaving and beat cabin fever so the close location of this new cocktail bar is ideal.
But it’s not just proximity that makes it worth a mention, the drinks are good (the lemony DB Cooper being a personal favorite) and, at least early on in the evening (my days of bar hopping past 9pm are long gone), it’s a nice environment to relax with booze and friends.
Once a Polish-only drinking hole, Beloved fits the mold of the “new” post-Girls Greenpoint. Sure it’s a bit predicable in its schmancy Brooklyn vibe, but it’s also inviting and will service the area’s new generation of cocktail sippers nicely.
At the corner of Leonard and Richardson Streets in BrooklynAn upscale cocktail bar with signature concoctions isn’t exactly what Williamsburg is hurting for, but when it’s as inviting and delicious as The Shanty, it’s more than welcome.
The menu demands tough choices (it all sounds tempting) but so far, everything friends and I have tried has been good enough to recommend. There’s a new seasonal menu already up on their site since my last visit, though, so I can’t direct you to the exact wonderful concoction I enjoyed.
The main reason the drinks here are special is that the bar is actually secondary to the attached distillery run by a team of booze experts. It churns out the Perry’s Tot and Dorothy Parker gins used in the drinks which are also available at local shops.
While your likely to rub shoulders with more than one spirits snob, at least you know your in the right place to get a fantastic cocktail, possibly the best in the area.
BodumDaily coffee shop visits are an expensive habit. Ultimately I had to be reasonable and fulfill my needs with a nifty Bodum French press.
We like to get beans from Upright but am trying to find the best fresh direct has to offer (any advice?).
It’s such a simple device that I can operate it on few hours sleep without anyone getting hurt. Hard to imagine life before it.
From Chow RecipesIt wasn’t easy to find the exact right punch for Thanksgiving. Fruity? Yes, but I wanted it to taste like the holiday season. This exquisite Holiday Champagne Punch was perfect. And while you may be tempted to omit the nutmeg, it adds a delicate spice and is transformed by the mixing of flavors. Use the best gin and champagne possible.