While on vacation in NYC, I made it a point to mark the Milk Bar on my Google map of “places to eat”. Between me, my sister, and Alex, we were able to try a bevy of talked-about sweets including the cereal milkshake, compost cookie, crack pie, corn cookie, and b-day cake truffles.

Clockwise from top left: Crack Pie, Milk Bar bag, compost and corn cookie, birthday cake truffles

I wasn’t thrilled with all of the treats, but the cookies were definitely the highlight. The compost cookie is the perfect balance of multiple flavors/textures — sweet, salty, crunchy, soft, chewy — while incorporating unique ingredients like potato chips and coffee grounds. I also loved the corn cookie which was like a mildly sweet corn muffin-meets-sugar cookie concoction. The crack pie, on the other hand, was a bit too sugary. The sticky and rich caramel custard with the chewy crust was overpowering after the first few bites. Similarly, the birthday cake truffle was extra sweet, although much more manageable in such a small size. All of the items matched perfectly with a sip or seven (yes, that good) of the cereal milkshake, which tasted exactly like you’d imagine (a frozen version of the milk at the bottom of your favorite breakfast cereal bowl).

All in all, it was a bit of a Goldilocks-type of excursion, but I finally found cookies that were a perfect fit for my sweet tooth. In fact, they were SO delicious, I’ve been contemplating buying the Milk cookbook just so I can steal their softly-baked secrets!

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Not only was the food amazing, but the little vendors and shops were charming and full of treasures. We were able to sample some delightfully crisp local apples and spicy fresh jams, all while perusing the individual jewelry vendors, craftsmen, and artists along the avenue.

Sights and flavors at the Eastern Market

Lucky for us, the Eastern Flea Market was also on the same day and we had the added pleasure of dragging my boyfriend Alex on an endless vintage shopping spree! (really though, Alex loved the flea market, just not the multiple hours of shopping with us gals)

Vendors at the Eastern Flea Market

Between the dining, shopping, and beautiful day in the sun, we all had a memorable time at the Eastern Market and Flea. I’m surely planning a visit back (they have lovely cheap vintage jewelry plus a great little Tavern along the street) and would highly recommend the market and flea as a destination for tourists and locals alike.

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I realize that we are pretty spoiled here in San Francisco, but there is something exciting about the food scene on the east coast. From creative ethnic food to strict traditional fare, the sheer volume of undiscovered hole-in-the-wall joints and world-renowed restaurants always bring me back. I’m no Magellan, but I’m on a constant hunt to find the lesser known spots and revisit some classic favorites when I’m on the east coast. Here are a few of the most memorable bites from my recent foodie-vacay (snapped with Instagram). Enjoy!

Best bites from my Instagram journeys in DC and NYC

1. Fried Chicken Big Biscuit w/Gravy from The Cardinal - East Village, NYC

2.  Tostones Mochimeros from Caracas Arepa Bar – East Village, NYC

3. Grilled Corn Mexican Style from Habana To-Go – Nolita, NYC

4. Mayan Chipotle Mac from Macbar – Nolita, NYC

5. Boneless Chicken Breast Kabob Plate from Food Corner Kabob House - Dupont Circle, DC

6.  Classic Beef Pho from Saigon Shack - Greenwich Village, NYC

7. Crab Pizza from Artichoke Basille’s Pizza - Chelsea, NYC

8. Mini Hazelnut Dolci from Eataly - Flatiron, NYC

9. Cheeseburger, Fries, and Vanilla Milkshake from Burger Joint (at Le Parker Meridien) – Midtown West, NYC

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Top 2: Shots in the photobooth with my dad, Bottom 2: Silly times with my stepdad

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Famous Dave’s BBQ has become a consistent pit stop for road trips down south. In fact, it’s no longer just a coincidental meal on the road, it’s a strategically planned out event that Alex and I refuse to skip when we’re crossing through Gilroy. The decor is delightfully cheesy, and the food has never disappointed.

Menu and basket of sauces

The key to the goodness is in the sauces. They offer 5 traditional sauces and 1 kick-you-in-the-face hot sauce. As a devilish trick to make your mind explode, I’ve listed out the flavor profiles:

• Rich & Sassy – A traditional BBQ sauce with great tang and a bit of honey (a fantastic staple)
• Sweet & Zesty – Molasses based BBQ sauce with lots of sweetness and a flavorful punch (extra sweet but great when mixed)
• Georgia Mustard – A smoky spin on the traditional honey mustard (not my favorite, but a good change from the rest)
• Texas Pit – Tons of pepper and spices go into this smoky sauce (great peppery flavor if you love dry rub)
• Devil’s Spit – A punchy and spicy sauce with a touch of sweetness (my ultimate favorite sauce at Dave’s)
• Wilbur’s Revenge – KICK IN THE FACE habanero BBQ sauce (they serve this in a tiny tiny cup for a reason, fellas)

Chopped pork, corn muffin, side of jalapeno mac and cheese

I can never seem to get past the trifecta of Georgia chopped pork, a sweet corn muffin, and the side of mac and cheese. It’s just the perfect combination of guilt, self-hate, and embarrassment that everyone seeks in BBQ… right? Well either way, it’s delicious. Yes it’s a chain, and yes there probably exists better BBQ in the Bay Area, but for me, this place is a gem and I look forward to road trips as an excuse to get my Q on.

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Though I had never been, I was excited to try something new and, lets’ face it, surround myself in the company of beautiful and hilariously fun male friends. We started the night with a few pitchers of fresh fruit margaritas. Now my body can’t handle much tequila, but I did enjoy a sip or two of the generously boozy drinks from my boyfriend Alex’s glass. In between the whispers about our studly waiter and the intellectual conversation on a friend’s psychology research, we shared some pretty tasty bites.

I wasn’t able to capture all of the food in it’s clean and simple Mexican charm, but I was able to snap a few shots of my favorite dishes.

Clockwise from top left: Ceviche, Guacamole, Smores Nachos

The ceviche was tart and perfectly cooked with the bright addition of mangoes and crunch from thin tortilla chips. The guacamole was very different than most I’ve had before. It was sans-tomatoes, which made it much more decadent and thick. Then there were the sinfully sweet smores nachos. Who would have thought that crisp cinnamon sugar chips, chocolate sauce, and torched mini marshmallows could be so delicious? Actually, scratch that. Who wouldn’t be all over this combo?

The night was a huge success and everyone had an amazing time. Maybe it was the margaritas. It was probably the margaritas. Either way, cheers Danny! Happy 24th! Looking forward to many more birthdays, and many more trips to Velvet Cantina!

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This is where you guys come in: I NEED RECOMMENDATIONS!

If you have a deliciously unknown hole-in-the-wall or a famous little food spot in the DC or NYC metro areas, please share in the comments below! I will also accept great little shops or other must-visit sights and activities. Ready, set, comment!

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Mom and her two crazy girls

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With various locations in the East Bay, Mission, and Western Addition, it has the neighborhood street cred with fantastic accessibility. I have only been to the Divisidero location, though I’d encourage you to try out the one closest to you– I’m sure they’re all good. Little Star does not offer your light and pretty Italian-style pizza. This is the kind of cool pizza joint you go to for casual brewskis and a tasty slice (or 3).

Top: Outside sign, Bottom: 'The Classic' Pizza

Although I almost always get the ‘Classic’ deep dish (sausage, mushroom, onion, bell peppers), their thin crust pizzas (like the pesto one) are delicious too. In terms of flavor, I think what sets Little Star apart from other deep dish places (like Paxti’s) is the crust. While many places get the texture and thickness wrong by making it too flaky or biscuit-like, Little Star keeps their crust crispy, thin, and full of the cornmeal-y grit that stands up well to the heavy toppings.

They also serve a few other items aside from pizza, like a caprese salad and spicy chicken wings, but you’d have to tell me how those are. When I’m at Little Star, my entire food-capacity goes strictly to pizza (and maybe a beer).

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When you’ve lived in the city as long as I have, you really do need your hipster fix every now and again. For this, there is only one cure: Enter St. Francis Fountain.

St. Francis Fountain

St. Francis Fountain dishes out tasty bites and a healthy serving of ‘hip’ with their incredible supply of vintage candy, a kitschy interior, and a contagious attitude of indifference. The menu is an extensive variety of diner favorites, with the warm nostalgia of a mom and pop shop.

This was definitely an appropriate spot to meet up with old college friends Aiza and Amanda, since the food was just as comforting as their company. As a trio, we are not the easiest to please since we’re a mix of picky, vegetarian, and gluten-intolerant diners, yet surprisingly, the menu catered to all of our tastes.

Left: Jalapeno Cornbread, Right: Biscuits and Gravy with eggs and potatoes

I ordered a biscuit and gravy breakfast plate which was filling and amazingly flavorful. The potato hash was filled with bits of green and red peppers, onions, and a heavy hand of spices. The biscuit itself was not particularly memorable but the gravy was buttery, luscious, and packed with pepper. My friend Aiza got the griddled jalapeno cornbread and it was quite an experience. It was like a solid block of butter in the best way possible, with sweet corn and a bit of heat.

This place puts other greasy spoon diners to shame. Not only did it satisfy my unwavering love of breakfast, it also got the approval of my vegetarian and gluten-intolerant friends, with a dose of ‘hip’ to last us until next year. However, even though we’re good on the hipster front, I doubt we’ll be able to stay away from this tasty little joint when the insatiable greasy spoon urge comes back.

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