Sandwiches of New York #14.

What is it? Ch-ch-ch-chia

Where's it from? No.7 Sub, 1118 Broadway (btwn. 28th St and 29th St).

What's in it? Grapefruit Chia Chicken, Black Bean Hummus and Banana Peppers.

How much does it cost? $12.25 + tax

No. 7 Sub is somewhere that I have been wanting to visit for some time. It's a small sandwich shop in the NoMad/Flatiron district and it's right next to the Ace Hotel lobby. You order your sandwich at the counter and wait for the friendly staff to call your name. As well as sandwiches they have some grain bowls, a few salads and side dishes, chips, along with a selection of sodas and non alcoholic drinks. I came at the height of lunchtime and service was fairly brisk. There are a handful of stools but it's a small space that is pretty crowded and it's kind of dark and dingy. A much better option than eating here is to get your sandwich to go and walk down to Madison Square Park if the weather is good, or stroll nonchalantly into the Ace Hotel lobby and eat there. 

I have to say that I was pretty underwhelmed by my sandwich from No.7 Sub. They have a reputation for unusual and flavoursome sandwiches so maybe I ordered badly... This tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with salsa and it was pretty dull and bland, thank goodness for the banana peppers that livened it up somewhat. I opted for a wholewheat sub and I found the bread to be very disappointing, it was somewhat dry and tasteless and there was a high ratio of bread to filling. The sandwich was a decent size but it was pretty boring and I thought that the price was a little on the high side. 

I wanted to like this place but with so many other great sandwich shops available to me I won't be rushing back here anytime soon.

Sandwiches of New York: #13

What is it? Mortadella Sandwich.

Where is it from? Depanneur, 242 Wythe Avenue, (btwn N3rd and N4th) Williamsburg,                                                    Brooklyn. depanneur.com

How much is it? $10.00 (plus tax)

What's in it? Mortadella, Tallegio, cornichons and Dijon mustard on grilled baguette.

Depanneur is a very nice corner shop/bodega. It sells a whole variety of upmarket condiments, cookies, crackers, cheeses and charcuterie - it's the sort of store that you wouldn't do a weekly shop at but if you wanted the fixings of a super fancy picnic you would be in the right place. It also has a wide selection of 'hipster type' items such as pickles, bitters and granola, much of which is made by local artisanal producers as well as a small selection of homeware and books.

It's a fairly spacious store with rustic decor, a few counter seats in one corner facing out the window and small bistro style tables and chairs outside along the front and side of the store. It's in the middle of Williamsburg but it is off the main drag so during the week the area is not too busy - there were plenty of tables to choose from outside when I went on a recent Tuesday lunchtime. If you don't want to eat there you can walk a couple of blocks to the waterfront which has great views of the city or you could go the whole hog and buy things to take for a picnic in McCarren Park which isn't too far away. 

Inside the shop serve yourself to drinks from the fridges, they have lots of cool (in both senses of the word) sodas, waters and beers, take what you want to the counter where you can order your sandwich and pay. The sandwich menu is on the wall above the till and there's also a tempting array of baked goods such as cookies, breakfast pastries and quiches next to the till.

I waited about five minutes for my sandwich (there were  a few people in front of me) and I passed the time looking around the store until my name was called. I found the service to be fairly efficient and the assistants were friendly but Depanneur does get very mixed reviews about it's service and wait times on social media so maybe I just struck lucky...

And the sandwich? OMG this was a very good sandwich indeed! I already love all the ingredients in it so putting them together in a baguette is pretty much a guaranteed hit as far as I was concerned. All of the ingredients were of exceptional quality and the sandwich was well put together so that I had a little of everything in each bite.  The cheese was tangy, the mustard was sharp and the vinegary cornichons balanced the richness of the mortadella. Finally, the bread was crisp and chewy - hoorah for a proper baguette!  - and it was more warmed than toasted so it wasn't at all dry. 

This was pretty much my idea of a perfect sandwich. It was $10.00 but that seems to be the going rate these days for a quality sandwich, and while I could have eaten more because it was that good, in reality it was a good size.

I can see I will be returning to Depanneur to try more of their sandwiches before too long. Not only is the food excellent I also appreciate that it's in an area of Williamsburg that's a little away from the hustle and bustle of Bedford Avenue but at the same time not too far away from the center of things!  

Sandwiches of New York: #12

What is it? Spinach + Artichoke.

Where is it from? Make Sandwich, 135, 4th Avenue (btwn 12th and 13th streets). makesandwich.com

How much is it? $9.95 (plus tax).

What's in it? Cooked spinach, grilled artichokes and parmesan cream served warm in a toasted baguette.

Make Sandwich is a tiny sandwich shop just south of Union Square. They offer a range of hot and cold sandwiches that are made to order. You may pick from a selection of house sandwiches or pick a variety of ingredients to tailor make your own personal sandwich. Service is friendly and efficient. You order and pay at the counter and the sandwich preparation is fast and streamlined so you don't have to wait long for your order, even at peak times.

In addition to sandwiches there is a limited range of sides: one salad, a slaw, pickles and Zapp's potato chips. If you want something sweet you will can choose cookies or an ice cream sandwich. Refreshment wise there is a water cooler that you can help yourself to, a few 'craft style' sodas and, somewhat surprisingly, a choice of red or white wine or beer. 

The interior space is bright (the front of the store is made of glass) clean and modern with a graphic black and white decor and the efficient open kitchen situated behind the service counter. There are a couple of places to sit outside, a window counter with three or four stools and a standing island in the center of the store if you like to eat standing up (I don't!) It is a nice space but it is tiny and busy so I took my sandwich to Union Square where there are plenty of picnic tables and chairs available.

And the sandwich? I opted for the spinach and artichoke sandwich because I was feeling like eating something kinda healthy... this was very tasty and satisfying but it was a rich and indulgent vegetable sandwich rather than a fresh, zingy, healthy one! The filling was basically a cheesy spinach dip with some jarred artichokes that had been lightly grilled. It was very tasty - even though it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought that this worked very well as a hot sandwich but I think it would be a little cloying to eat cold. The portion size of this was good, I like a fairly large lunch and this filled me up. I must say that while the bread worked well it wasn't what I would call a baguette, it was more of a sub style roll but I didn't mind as it held the filling well, and it worked well as a toasted sandwich. 

New York has a lot of sandwich outlets, but Make has some interesting combinations to offer. I can say with certainty that I will be back here for a take away lunch again at some point soon.

Sandwiches of New York: #11.

What is it? Figgy Piggy.

Where's it from? Barnyard Cheese, 168 Avenue B in the East Village. barnyardcheese.com

What's in it? Parma ham, soft goat cheese and fig jam served on a soft, flat Portuguese roll called a flautta.

How much does it cost? $9.50 (inc tax).

I've been meaning to swing by Barnyard Cheese in it's new location and try a Figgy Piggy Sandwich for a month or so and finally on a warm sunny weekday I did!

Barnyard Cheese's new location is a tiny sliver of a shop. There's a small kitchen at the back and a counter where you order and pay for your food. As well as made to order hot and cold sandwiches they sell homemade soups and salads, baked goods such as muffins and bars, bags of chips, homemade lemonades, sodas and coffees. They also have a nice selection of imported cheeses sold by weight along with unusual condiments, crackers etc, a selection of which would make either a great hostess gift or the makings of a delicious casual lunch or supper. The decor is charmingly rustic but seating is extremely limited - there's a small bench out front and an interior window ledge with a couple of stools, but you are less than a block from Tompkins Square Park which has plenty of shady benches. My sandwich was swiftly made and service was friendly.

I love all of Figgy Piggy's ingredients separately but this is the first time that I have had prosciutto and goat cheese together. There was a generous amount of filling in the sandwich, the prosciutto was nice and sweet and the goat cheese had a fresh lemony kick to it, these two items by themselves might have been a little unbalanced but the addition of the fig jam complimented both ingredients and brought them together harmoniously. The flautta roll was soft, slightly chewy and a little oily (I mean that in a good way), it brought to mind a blander, less airy foccacia, but it served as a good vehicle for the filling. The sandwich was well constructed and it was substantial enough to serve as lunch by itself. 

I thought it was very good value for money especially as the cheese and ham were both of such high quality. I'd give the Figgy Piggy two thumbs up (despite it's somewhat silly name) and look forward to trying some more offerings from Barnyard Cheese before too long!

Sandwiches of New York: #10

What is it? Tunisian Sandwich

Where is it from? Breads Bakery, 18 East 16th Street, just off Union Square.

How much does it cost? $11.43 (including tax).

What's in it? Tuna fish, hard boiled egg, boiled potato, tomato, olives and parsley on a 'focaccia' roll with harissa.

Breads Bakery is a busy bakery next to Union Square. The front of the store has a counter that sells loaves of bread, pastries etc and at the rear there is another counter selling drinks along with a wide selection of pre prepared sandwiches, salads and baked items such as quiches. 

The interior space has an industrial vibe and there is cafeteria style seating at tables and benches. It is set up as a self service cafe, you select your food and pay at the counter and then find a seat. I visited at lunchtime and the bakery was very busy so I got my sandwich to go, if you do so there is plenty of outdoor seating with tables to be found in Union Square which is just meters away. 

I love tuna sandwiches of all sorts and was looking forward to this North African take on a 'pain bagnat', a Southern French sandwich, which is basically a salad nicoise served in a round flat bread roll. I had also heard rave reviews about the Tunisian Sandwich so I'm sad to say that I found it didn't quite live up to my expectations. 

I didn't think that the bread used was the best option for this sandwich, it wasn't foccacia exactly, but it was quite stretchy and chewy which meant that it was difficult to eat without the filling spilling out. The tuna in the sandwich was plentiful and of good quality but the other ingredients were somewhat sparse and except for the olives I couldn't pick out their flavours as the harissa spread, although not exceptionally spicy, tended to overwhelm the other ingredients. The sandwich was a little on the pricy side especially as it was pre made rather than being freshly made to order.

I found the service to be a little impersonal so I wouldn't rush back for a sandwich or a sit down experience, but the breads and baked goods did look very good indeed so I would visit again and try those out. 

Breads Bakery is a kosher establishment so they have an impressive range of food suitable for vegetarians which is good to know and if you near Union Square it is worth stopping by to pick up some interesting bread, breakfast pastries or dessert to go.       

Sandwiches of New York #9

What is it? Cuban Sandwich.

Where's it from? Habana To Go, 229 Elizabeth Street, Soho. cafehabana.com

How much does it cost? $9.75 (plus tax)

What's in it? Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle, chipotle mayonnaise on a toasted Cuban roll.

Habana To Go sits next door to it's 'mother restaurant' Cafe Habana in the heart of busy Soho. Cafe Habana is an atmospheric diner selling mostly Cuban and Mexican inspired food. Cafe Habana is an informal spot that is always busy, it has been a  Soho fixture since 1997. 

Habana To Go has the same menu as Cafe Habana but doesn't have a liquor licence. It is a simple set up with a counter where you order your food and drinks, a long counter with stool seating in front of the window, a couple of tables and some benches outside. It's more of a take out spot than the cafe next door, with it's disposable dish wear, plastic cutlery and glasses, but it's almost always less busy and less cramped.

In the style of a diner there's an impressively large menu served from a small space including a good range of sandwiches, burritos, tacos, burgers, soups, salads and main courses along with side dishes, hot and cold drinks and homemade cookies.

The grilled corn here is famous and I love their iced hibiscus tea but the star of the show and their standout item for me is the Cuban sandwich. The marinated roast pork is delicately flavoured with herbs and citrus and is extremely tender and the other components complement each other perfectly. I particularly like the way the sweet vinegaryness of the pickle balances the richness of the meat and cheeses. 

I hate 'fluff' in the center of breads so I'm always very appreciative of a Cuban roll that flattens out and become all crust when weighted and grilled. My sandwich was nicely grilled so it was crisp and crunchy but not hard or dry. 

This is a hearty sandwich. There's a lot of meat inside and although I ate all of mine (because it was delicious!) you could easily split this between two people and have it with a side dish (or two). 

I'm not a regular customer here but I've been eating Habana's Cubanos a couple of times a year ever since they opened and I always enjoy them - I think that they are a bit of a New York classic. It's well worth stopping by here if ever you are in the neighbourhood looking for a casual bite to eat.   

   

Sandwiches of New York #8.

Once again it's time to share another New York sandwich!

What is it? The Scuttlebutt.

Where's it from? SALTIE, 378 Metropolitan Avenue (at Havermeyer), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. saltieny.com

How much does it cost? $12.00 (inc tax)

What's in it? Feta cheese, hard boiled egg, pickled vegetables, olives, capers, pimenton aioli on foccacia.

I've been meaning to stop by Saltie for some time - finally I did and it was so worth it!

Saltie is a small cafe with a skinny storefront a couple of minutes walk off the main drag in ever popular Williamsburg. Inside it's not fancy and somewhat small but it's an airy space - bright and light. In front of the window and along one wall there's a high counter with some wobbly stools and a counter at the back where you place your order. Sandwiches are made to order and staff call you when they are ready.

There are seven sandwiches that are fixtures on the menu along with a couple of special sandwiches, and a few ever changing soups and salad. There's also a range of cookies and baked goods, tea, French Press coffee and a selection of home made iced drinks along with a help yourself water cooler.

The counter staff were nice and friendly and my order arrived swiftly (I was there at one o'clock on a weekday and it was quiet.)

My sandwich, The Scuttlebutt, was fresh and delicious. The briny, tangy filling was crisp and crunchy and perfectly complimented by the focaccia which was soft yet chewy, The vinegar in the pickles, the oil in the focaccia and the slick of aioli were all perfectly balanced.

There was plenty inside this sandwich, generously sized and satisfying it was easily enough by itself for a breakfast or lunch, and although it was a little messy to eat there were plenty of napkins and hand wipes available so it wasn't a problem.

I thought the Scuttlebutt was amazing, it was a highly enjoyable sandwich.
I will certainly be back and while I would like to try the other sandwiches here this one was so enjoyable that I can see myself reordering it!

Sandwiches of New York #7.

It's been a while since I have been out having sandwiches for lunch due to the Holidays and all the feasting entailed but January signals a return to something like normality and once again it's time to share another New York sandwich!

What is it? Ham and Cheese Hero.

Where's it from? Court Street Grocers, 485 Court Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. courtstreetgrocers.com

How much does it cost? $11.09+tax

What's in it?

Berkshire ham, cheddar cheese, romaine lettuce and 'pickle dijonnaise' on a seeded hero roll.

I have heard a lot about Court Street Grocers and their amazing sandwiches and it is somewhere that I have had on my list for sometime. Recently I found myself near the original store (there are also a couple of newer branches but I wanted to visit this one) and it was around lunchtime so it seemed fitting that I should finally try it out.

The store front is very cute. It looks like an old fashioned grocers and has shelves stacked with imported foods, fancy condiments, pickles and cordials. There's a sandwich counter at the back where they make up your order and you pay at another counter at the front. There's seating inside through an archway and two benches outside, I would recommend you eat here unless you live nearby as there aren't any parks nearby (the shop is practically under the BQE). 

From what I could tell they only make a limited amount of sandwiches daily, there were daily specials, many of which were sold out, as well as more classic combinations on offer. There were hot and cold sandwiches available and also some salads. 

I opted for a very basic sandwich of ham and cheese. The cooked ham was sweet, tasty and good quality, it was a proper baked ham not a deli cold cut, but I wasn't that impressed with the Cheddar cheese which did taste like a type of deli cheddar when I was expecting a strong farmhouse type cheese. The pickle dijonnaise spread, which was a mix of mayo, dijon and dill pickles, added a tangy zip to the sandwich and the Romaine lettuce added a little crunch, crispness and moisture but the star of the show was the hero roll! 

From Caputo's, a local bakery and deli, the roll was light and crispy with enough integrity to hold everything together and it tasted of bread! It wasn't bland or flavourless as a lot of breads can be, it was so flavoursome and simply delicious. 

I enjoyed this sandwich very much, but it didn't wow me and I do think that it was a little on the pricey side. I think that Court Street Grocer's suffers from being over hyped but it is a cute spot and if I'm nearby again I would pop in and  try one of the more interesting combos that they offer.

That bread though... Next time I'm in this part of Brooklyn I will certainly be heading to Caputo's where I will buy plenty of bread and a selection of salumi for a simple (but wonderful) supper! 

Blue Apron.

Have you heard of Blue Apron? It is a subscription recipe delivery service and when you enroll you are delivered a weekly box containing all the ingredients you need to make three meals. 

Ingredients are packed in a chilled box so that you don't have to worry about them spoiling and there are detailed recipe cards provided for each meal. Various formats of the box are available (for two or four people etc) and whilst you cannot select the meals that you receive you can specify dietary preferences and opt to skip a delivery if three meals at home doesn't fit in with your plans one week.

Recently I tried out a box that contained the ingredients for three meals for two people. 

The cost of this box including taxes and delivery would normally have been $59.95 however I had a coupon for $30.00 off and I ordered my box through Ebates which gave me $7.50 cash back so I ended up paying only $22.45.

Above you can see the ingredients that I received in my box. Now lets take a look at the meals and my verdict on them...

Meal #1: Fresh Pimento Cheeseburger with Collard Green and Carrot Slaw.

This was an easy meal to start off with: form the burger and cook it, toast the buns, chop and mix some ingredients together for the pimento cheese condiment, and chop and fry the slaw ingredients.

I made the burgers for this meal but served them with traditional condiments that I had in stock and used the pimento cheese as part of a toasted sandwich at lunchtime the next day.

 The burger was very tasty with a good meat to bun ratio but I wish it had been larger. Mr C&C and myself are hearty eater and could have eaten two of them!

I decided to use the Collard and Carrot Slaw with another meal later in the week and instead served a Cabbage and Carrot Coleslaw which was from another Blue Apron meal from this box - I wasn't a huge fan of the slaw as I found it a little too acidic.I also served a Greek Salad that I made from my own ingredients.

Verdict:

I really enjoyed the burger, but wished it was bigger. The pimento cheese was just okay.

Meal#2: Crispy Chicken Milanese with Warm Brussels Sprout and Potato Salad.

For this recipe you needed to coat chicken breasts with panko breadcrumbs and fry them, make a vinaigrette and chop and cook vegetables for a warm salad.

This is the kind of meal that we would prepare for ourselves normally so we were looking forward to this one! However once again the portions were somewhat scant, although the chicken breasts weren't a bad size the vegetable part of the meal consisted of two celery stalks, five Brussels Sprouts and a one medium sized potato (for both of us not each!).

I cooked a little extra chicken that I had in already and rather than coating it in crumbs and frying it I  simply marinaded and grilled it.

 After cooking the potato I sauteed it to add colour and texture to the salad, I also made the Collard Green and Carrot Slaw and served it warm so that we had two vegetable sides.

Verdict:

I love grilled chicken breasts so this was always going to be a hit. The Collard Slaw was good but the best part of the meal was the Warm Brussels Sprout Salad which I will add to my recipe collection.

Meal#3: Avocado Tempura Tortas with Spicy Turnip and Cabbage-Carrot Slaw.

This meal required that you chop vegetables for slaw and mix them with a simple dressing, cut turnips into 'fries' and cook them, make a tempura batter and use it to fry avocado wedges that you have cut and finally assemble and toast sandwiches.

This whole meal was a fail for us I'm afraid... I don't consider a sandwich such as this to constitute dinner, it is a lunch or brunch dish as far as I'm concerned. There were a lot of steps to take to make the sandwich and the slaw which we had with the burgers really wasn't that great. And finally, I have an avocado allergy so I wouldn't have been able to eat this meal anyway. 

We used the bread from this meal to make toasted sandwiches for our lunches and Mr C&C had the avocado as a snack.

And the turnip? That's  still in the fridge...

Overall.

I am the last person that I expected to try out one of these recipe boxes! TBH if I hadn't managed to get it for such a bargain I wouldn't have as I think that the true price is way too high for the amount of ingredients that you receive. (Having said that I have to admit that the ingredients in the box were all of a very high quality and arrived in perfect condition.)

I enjoyed cooking the recipes and thought that they were a fun way to cook. There was a little more chopping required than I expected so you need to have a few basic skills under your belt as well as a certain amount of kitchen equipment at your disposal. It took me just under an hour to do the prep for all three meals - you can see the prepped food in the photo above - but I do cook professionally.

Personally, I didn't think that inclusion of two sandwich type meals was a good idea - as I presume these kits are geared towards families who rely on take out and/or ready prepared foods and would maybe like to take a break from burgers/sandwiches. There was also a high ratio of fried food items which are always going to be tasty but may not be the best in terms of healthy eating. It would have been much preferable if you could pick all three meals yourself (there is a shortlist as it were of six so you sort of have an idea of what you will get but you can't fine tune your selection). 

 For us the portions were too small but perhaps for families who eat their main meal at work or who have small children who don't eat their share of the meal this isn't an issue.

My final gripe is with the amount of packaging that these boxes contained. I know this is inevitable because of the nature of the box and it's contents but it still felt very wasteful.

On a positive note, if you are a novice cook the boxes could be a good way to broaden your horizons and increase your repertoire and knowledge of ingredients.

Overall it was a fun experience but one that I don't think I will repeat mainly because of the cost and the fact that you can't select every meal.

Are you interested?

 Have a look at www.blueapron.com

Sandwiches of New York #6.

It's time to share another New York sandwich!

What is it? B.L.T.

Where's it from? Eisenbergs Sandwich Shop, 174 5th Avenue btw 22nd &23rd  eisenbergsnyc.com

How much does it cost? $7.00 + tax

What's in it? Bacon, lettuce and tomato, mayonnaise on toasted sourdough bread with a dill pickle on the side.

I love Eisenberg's!

 It is such a classic old school New York sandwich shop/deli, incredibly atmospheric, simply a very  NYC kind of place. With it's long chrome counter, pictures of 'famous' people on the walls, counter men hurling things on a flattop grill and just a lot of general noise and bustle it is everything you expect a New York coffee shop to be. I love to sit at the counter and watch all the action. 

As well as sandwiches Eisenberg's have a selection of breakfast dishes and diner style food but it's the sandwiches that they are known for and what I recommend. There's a whole variety of breads and rolls to choose from and if there isn't anything you fancy on the menu you can simply order your own combination. 

All the sandwiches are good here, Mr C&C likes their Cuban but I inevitably find myself ordering the B.L.T.  There's a generous amount of crispy bacon in here but the thing that makes it a standout for me is the hefty wedge of iceberg lettuce that adds texture and moisture. And it's only $7.00! With a pickle!

If you're looking for a tasty sandwich in a traditional New York setting I highly recommend you stop by Eisenburg's Sandwich Shop.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative CSA Share Box.

I've read a lot about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes recently.

These boxes contain an assortment of organic produce from small farms and I've seen them for sale as subscriptions as well as one off boxes. Obviously the contents of the boxes change all the time so there's an element of surprise which I like as it makes you be a little creative and forces you to cook things that you might not usually make. And of course it saves you a trip to the farmers market as it is delivered to your door.

 I have been curious to try one of these boxes for a while so when I saw a variety of them available via Fresh Direct (an online grocery shopping service that operates in and around NYC freshdirect.com) and they were on special offer and I had a 50% off voucher for a Fresh Direct order it seemed the ideal time to try one out.

I chose a box from Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. Usually priced at $49.99 it was on special offer for $34.99 and with my 50% off voucher the box ended up costing me $17.50

What was in it?

I knew that the box was going to contain 12 eggs, an 8oz piece of cheese, 2 lbs of plain yoghurt and some mushrooms. The seasonal produce was an unknown. My box contained a pint of Sungold cherry tomatoes, a bunch of radishes, some rainbow chard, beetroot and a huge bag of banana peppers.

Dairy.

The eggs were large, fresh and very tasty as was the cheese, which was sharp cheddar made from raw organic cow's milk. The yoghurt has a long sell by date on it and I haven't tried it yet as I have quite a lot of yoghurt already in my fridge.

Produce.

I was expecting the mushrooms to be something more interesting than regular button mushrooms and there were only 8oz of them. The tomatoes were something that I wasn't expecting to find in the box but I love tomatoes in any size shape or form, these were sweet and in perfect condition. Rainbow chard is one of my least favourite greens and there was only five leaves so not enough to make a side dish. Beets aren't something that I buy that often, I don't dislike them but they aren't something I ever crave either. These ones were pretty flavoursome but there were only three of them and two of those were rather small. I've never bought or cooked banana peppers before! After a little googling I decided to pickle most of them and keep some for stuffing which I have yet to do.

What did I make?

I used the radishes and some of the tomatoes, beets and eggs to make Aioli which is a traditional French Provencal meal normally served on a Friday. It is simply a selection of seasonal vegetables with some sort of fish or seafood (most traditionally canned tuna) that is served with a big bowl garlicky mayonnaise. This was a great dinner dish on a warm evening!

As there weren't enough of either the chard or the mushrooms to make anything substantial I used them to make a frittata with some of the eggs. We had this for dinner with some proscuitto and a simple salad.

And finally here are the pickles that I made. Very easy to make, I used a sweet brine and added some red pepper flakes.These are crisp and tasty and we have been eating them in salads and sandwiches and plan to use some on a pizza. I also made some stuffed peppers which I filled with spicy ground lamb and baked in a tomato sauce.

Overall.

Everything in the box was very fresh and the produce was in perfect condition. The cheese was some of the best cheese that I have eaten in a long, long time, it was tangy and rich in taste. 

I thought that the selection of produce was interesting, it wasn't what I would have picked up for myself at the market and I like that it made me think about how to use it up and cook creatively. 

I do think that the box is expensive however. I only paid $17.50 for it once I had applied my discounts which makes it good value for money but it's contents don't represent $50.00 worth of food (which is the normal retail price) especially when you consider that the produce is all in season so it should be cheap. 

I would have been disappointed if I had paid full price for this but if I can get another one at the deeply discounted price I will certainly do so. 

Sandwiches of New York #5.

Time to share another NYC sandwich!

What is it? Mushroom and egg sandwich.

Where is it from? C&B, 178 E 7th Street btw Ave A and Ave B candbnyc.com

How much does it cost? $9.00 + tax

What's in it? Scrambled eggs with fried mushrooms and wilted watercress dressed with a sherry vinegar vinaigrette. 

C&B is a small cafe on the side of Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. This small casual cafe sells hot sandwiches, soups, salads and fashionable bowls as well as teas and coffees. It's a small space, but it's unobtrusive frontage means that it is easy to pass by so you should be able to find a seat. If not they have a bench out front and of course it's slap bang next to the park which has plenty of benches. 

The sourdough bread is light and airy, smothered in butter it is cooked on the flat top griddle until crisp and toasty. 

Then those eggs! I find that eggs are so often disappointing when you eat them in cafes. So often they aren't cooked correctly or the eggs aren't great quality but the eggs at C&B are cooked to perfection, light and fluffy and very tasty. 

The addition of a little sharp vinaigrette to the mushrooms and watercress cuts through the richness of the eggs and butter providing the perfect balance of flavours.

I must admit that when I saw this I had my reservations... I thought it would fall apart when I tried to eat it but it didn't. Not only does it taste great, it's correctly constructed for ease of eating something that is so often overlooked in the city of the over stuffed sandwich!

I love eggs in any shape or form but especially in a sandwich and this was an amazing egg sandwich.

$9.00 is perhaps a little on the high side for a breakfast sandwich but it is certainly worth it. The ingredients are all of high quality and C&B is a charming friendly spot. 

One of the best sandwiches I have had of late, if you find yourself in the East Village looking for a tasty breakfast you should stop by C&B. I don't think you will be disappointed! 

Sandwiches of New York #4.

Time to share another NYC sandwich!

What is it? Yoghurt Koulouri.

Where is it from? Pi Bakerie, 532 Broome Street, Soho. pibakerie.com

How much does it cost? $6.00 + tax

What's in it? Greek yogurt and cucumbers with arugula and Kalamata olives.

Pi Bakerie is a Greek bakery/cafe on the S.W. edge of Soho. 

They have a small range of Greek produce (oil, honey etc) for sale alongside breads, sandwiches, salads, savoury pies, Greek cakes and desserts, such as baklava, as well as hot and cold drinks.

Koulouri is a traditional Greek street food and is simply a ring of bread generously covered with sesame seeds before baking. Here at Pi they are a little thicker than usual and are crafted into sandwiches. The cucumber and yogurt version that I tried was light and refreshing and perfect for a hot summer's day. (There are also Koulouri sandwiches with mozzarella or smoked salmon available.)  While $6.00 is cheap for food of this quality in this area, I must say that if you have a hearty appetiteyou will find this to be on the small side - it wasn't quite enough for me by itself - although it was very yummy and one of the healthier sandwich options around.

The bakery itself is decorated in an original and modern style. It is clean and bright with instagram-worthy copper topped tables and wall mounted drawers piled high with pastries. 

There are tables inside and a few outside and whenever I have visited seating has been available, (Pi is a little off the main drag) so why not stay and enjoy the surroundings?

Order your food and drinks at the counter, grab a table and enjoy! 

Sandwiches of New York #3

Time to share another NYC sandwich!

What is it? P.H.O. #1

Where is it from? Sunny and Annie's, 94 Avenue B. www.sunnyandannies.com

How much does it cost? $7.49 + tax.

What's in it? Roast beef, bean sprouts, avocado, tomato, onion, basil, cilantro, hoisin sauce, sriracha chili sauce on a hard/kaiser roll.

 Sunny and Annie's looks like a typical NYC bodega/deli but they have a spectacular selection of inventive and inexpensive sandwiches. P.H.O. #1 is the sandwich they are famed for and it is truly delicious!

P.H.O. #1 takes the components of Vietnamese Pho and serves them up in a sandwich form. It comes either hot or cold (I have it hot and I skip the avocado as I have an allergy to it - yep, I have totally missed out on the whole avocado toast thing...) and there's also a P.H.O. #2 that has chicken and bacon in place of the beef. Order your sandwich at the counter and it is made to order, service is fast, those counter men are pros! 

I'm a huge fan of asian sandwiches and this sandwich is a great alternative to a Bahn Mi when I fancy a change. The ingredients in the sandwich all go together to make a sandwich that is flavouful and well balanced. There is a touch of spice but overall it simply tastes very fresh. 

It is a good sized sandwich that is filling yet not overly large.  

Sunny and Annie's is a store not a restaurant so there isn't any seating but it is only a couple of blocks from Tompkin's Square Park (which BTW is my favourite city park) so why not stop by and pick up sandwiches, drinks, and snacks for a simple picnic? They are also open 24/7 so if you are craving a great sandwich at any time of the day or night you know where to head to!  

Sandwiches of New York #2.

Time to share another NYC sandwich!

What is it? Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich.

Where is it from? Olive's, 191 Price Street (at Sullivan Street). olivesnyc.com

How much does it cost? $10.50 ($11.43 with tax).

What's in it? Grilled and marinated chicken breast, watercress, tomato, and chipotle mayonnaise on rosemary foccacia.

Olive's is a Soho institution. They recently moved a couple of blocks along Prince Street to a new location but the food and service is the same and they still have their distinctive red benches outside. It's a little expensive overall but it still is one of the cheaper food options to be found in Soho. It always seems to be busy, esp at lunchtime, but the counter service is swift and efficient. There are a few window seats inside and some benches outside but Olive's is primarily a take out spot, so stop by to get the makings of a picnic or take your sandwich and walk up to Houston Street and Sixth Avenue where there are plenty of benches if Olive's limited seating is full.

As for the sandwich, I love chicken sandwiches and the chicken in this is very good - moist and tender and cut from the breast of a whole bird rather than being a cutlet. The watercress and tomato combo perfectly compliment the chicken and the tomatoes here are always very tasty. The chipotle mayo is only mildly spiced and although the focaccia isn't truly authentic it's savory and soft and a little oily (the oiliness is a good thing in my book). While not huge it's a good sized sandwich and the food here is always freshly made so you wont be eating a sad sandwich that has been languishing in a fridge for hours becoming either soggy or (alternatively) dry.

To make this my ultimate chicken sandwich I would lose the rosemary leaves on the bread and add a little lemon to the mayo but all in all it's a tasty sandwich that is perfect for lunch on a warm summer's day. 

   

Sandwiches of New York #1

NYC is full of places that make amazing sandwiches and I love a good sandwich, they are one of my very favourite foods. I'm going to share a sandwich with you every month, I'll tell you what it is, where I bought it and write a mini review. Bon appetite!

What is it? Bahn Mi #1 Spicy (you can also get it non spicy).

Where is it from? Bahn Mi Saigon, 198 Grand Street (btw Mulberry and Mott).

How much does it cost?$4.50

What's in it? Barbecue pork, a slice of Vietnamese pate (which is actually more like a slice of luncheon meat than pate), cucumber, coriander, pickled daikon and carrots - and fresh jalapenos if you opt for the spicy one.

Bahn Mi Saigon is great! 

The baguette is made from rice flour and is light and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. It is a little drier than a traditional baguette but it holds together well. The sandwich is generously stuffed  and the filling is very well balanced in terms of both taste and texture. It's also tightly packed so it doesn't fall apart when you eat it. Served slightly warmed, #1 spicy is generously sized and offers fantastic value for money - it's only $4.50 for goodness sake!

There's a whole range of different Bahn Mi on offer  here - chicken, meatballs, veggie, sardine to name but a few and a fridge with a good selection of soft drinks and a few other food items: some salads, baked goods and excellent summer rolls. There's also a warming cabinet with some fried foods such as spring rolls but these don't look great...

Originally operating a street cart the owner's then had a counter at the back of a tiny jewelry shop in Chinatown. A few years ago they moved around the corner and now it's the opposite way round -  sandwich shop with a small jewelry counter on one side. (I've yet to see anyone buying jewelry here!) 

Bahn Mi Saigon is now bright and modern with service that is brusque but efficient. It's normally very fast and even during the busiest lunch time you won't have more than a short wait. 

There is a counter with stools that runs along the sides of the shop, or you could take your food and eat it in one of the nearby parks.

It's apt to start this series with Saigon's #1 Spicy as it may well be my favourite sandwich in the whole of New York and it's the one that I eat the most frequently.

PopSugar MustHave April 2016.

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly lifestyle box aimed at women that contains 5 or 6 items. It retails for $39.95 inc taxes and shipping but as with other sub boxes you can usually find a discount coupon of some sort online. I used one that gave me $5.00 off (so I paid $34.95).

Although I'm not that much of a subscription box shopper I seem to have a had a run on them recently. IMO Pop Sugar is one of the more interesting boxes as it's not just beauty or fashion orientated and they often include things such as books and edibles - in fact the only other non beauty box that I have purchased was a PopSugar box two years ago.

The theme for the April 2016 box was 'Floral, green, natural, sustainable,fresh, renewal'. I'm not sure how much of the contents fulfilled that theme but I thought that it was a jolly good box and the range of products that it contained made it very suitable for a Mother's day gift.

The Contents:

1. Cravings (a cook book by Chrissy Teigen). Retail value $29.99. 

Although I'm not generally a fan of celebrity cookbooks this is lovely book to browse. Of course, it contains lots of photos of Chrissy but each recipe also has a photo that accompanies it and they are great food shots! I like her breezy style of writing and the recipes are what I would call jazzed up versions of classics - mostly American, but there is also a short chapter of Thai food. It's not a cheffy book but it has lots of recipes for cheesy, spicy foods that look delicious (no dessert or baked goods recipes though). I most likely wouldn't have picked this book out for myself but I like it and it will be a welcome addition to my collection of cookery books.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

2. Royal Apothic Hand Cream. Retail Value $24.00. 

Royal Apothic Hand Creams are one of my very favourite hand creams. This one is fragranced with 'Field Poppy Conservatories' which is a floral figgy scent. As with their other hand creams the fragrance is subtle and the cream effectively moisturises without being at all greasy. This came in a very nice box and I liked that it contained a key enabling you to get the most product possible out of the metal tube.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

3. Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm. Retail value $48.00. 

This night cream is beautifully packaged - from it's fold out box to it's wooden topped jar. This is unlike any other face cream I have tried in that it is a gel to oil formula. Made with botanicals this 'natural' product contains echinacea which is a powerful antioxidant. It has a soothing herbaceous scent that I am sure I will find restful at night. I have only used this once so far but it left my skin feeling soft and hydrated the next day.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

3. Flour Sack Tea Towel by Noon Designs (with a print of 'Lemons'). Retail value $18.00. 

Now I know that it is difficult to get excited about tea towels but I am always pleased to get them as gifts. TBH nice tea towels aren't something that I am going to go out and willingly spend money on especially when they are in the $20.00 price range, so if I can get my hands on them without putting my hand in my pocket they make a very welcome addition to my kitchen! The simple graphic design of this is one that would go with any kitchen. It would also work effectively as a picnic wrapper for baked goods (cakes, muffins etc) or a basket liner.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

4. Canvas Home Salt and Pepper Shakers. Retail value $12.00. 

These are cute - they look like old school enamel ware but are actually ceramic. The typewriter style labelling on these is fun as well. We use grinders rather than shakers for our salt and pepper so these are something that I can't see myself using at the table but maybe I can use them in the kitchen for spices?

Verdict: Thumbs up as I like them but they are superfluous to my needs so will most likely be re purposed or gifted.

5. Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Retail value $4.00.

I like chocolate covered coffee beans as they aren't too sweet. These had melted during transit so they don't look great but they are still edible and yummy.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

6. Bloom That $20.00 gift card. I won't use this card as from what I have read on line it basically covers the cost of shipping an order.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Overall: 

I thought this was a very well curated box. I loved the face and hand creams and the book. The only dud in the box for me was the gift card and that was an extra item anyway. 

I paid less than $35.00 for $136.00 worth of items (I'm excluding the gift card) and I will use everything except, perhaps, the salt and pepper set. 

I am definitely impressed with this box and will be keeping an eye on PopSugar mailings with a view to picking up more boxes if they interest me in the future.

Emma Bridgewater Plates.

                   

For the longest time we have had plain white dinner plates. They go with everything and display food  brilliantly but they are just a little... boring.

I'd been looking for new main course dinner plates for a long time but couldn't find any that I really liked - actually that's a lie - I could but they were ridiculously expensive. 

I knew what I didn't want... I didn't want anything that was too arty, crafty, pottery looking but also I didn't want something that looked like it would be at home at a sit down wedding reception i.e. fine china trimmed in gold/silver.

I wanted plates that were 10 or 11 inches with an indentation so they could hold sauces. I wanted something that wasn't too formal but that I could use for guests as well as everyday and they had to go in the dishwasher. 

Finally I found plates that ticked all my boxes. A selection of Emma Bridgewater designs and I am really pleased with them. They are fun with colorful designs that pep up the dinner table. (I bought a selection of designs that I could mix and match.)They are very good quality and are sturdy without being too thick. 

I bought them direct from emmabridgewater.co.uk 

Most of the dinner plates are around  $30.00 full price depending on the design but there is also an outlet section that has 'seconds' for around $20.00 (I bought some regularly priced plates and some seconds). Also, I hunted around and found an online discount code that gave me free shipping and a discount on the full priced plates.

If you are in the market for new tableware or want a housewarming or hostess gift why not take a look? There are plenty of items and designs to choose from - I'm sure there's something that will tempt you!

Union Square Farmer's Market, Autumn.

At the end of July I showed you what was in season and on sale in Union Square's Green Market.

I had the idea to make four seasonal visits to showcase each season's produce and wanted to post this in October, but the weather has been so mild that there was a distinct lack of Fall produce, rather it was late Summer produce... Now, however, there is a difference in the produce available - take a look...

All kinds of pumpkins, large and small for a pie or decoration.

Leafy 'greens' like kale and chard in vibrant hues.

Classic autumn/winter vegetables such as Brussels sprouts (still on their stalks) and sweet potatoes.

Something more unusual...Kohlrabi or Cape Gooseberries.

Small spicy peppers and the freshest ginger you ever did see!

And meanwhile if you still fancy a pie there are apples and pears galore!

And finally whilst there may not be summer blooms there are oddly shaped gourds for your table and chrysanthemums for your stoop!

I love the rich colors of Autumn don't you? you can find schedules for NYC's Green Markets at grownyc.org