bonding over BRUNCH: Maysville

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Some things can definitely catch you by surprise, like how fast time flies. The years blend and bend until you have no concept of how long it  has really been. And then you all sit down, eventually—staggered arrivals—and the faces are so familiar and nothing has really changed, but at the same time, so many things have. It’s a feeling when you come together like time has forgotten to move but events have transpired and developments felt.

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But it’s at that table at Maysville in the Flatiron District, eating super sweet and cakey citrus glazed doughnuts as an amuse-bouche to the amuse-bouche, drinking orange saturated mimosas, you realize it all feels the same. Immutable time.

Your brunch bites are secondary to the conversation flurrying around the table as future plans are divulged and pasts stay where they belong. Something about the crisp winter sun streaming in, reflecting in the mirrors, echoing the clean lines, has taken things out of context but each note is recognizable.

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Pretty French toast, sticky with honey, tangy like orange and smooth as ricotta tastes sweeter out of habit. Warm tones and thick slices bring comfort and a little piece of home, made special with golden honey and bronze orange marmalade.

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Bitter Brussels sprouts, gravy heavy sauce Mornay and salty smoked deli ham, comes to life with shared laughter and secrets. Taboo and leftover memories are eliminated with a thick brick of fried grits and its warm creamy center, echoing the textures of the crisp green leaves of the Brussels sprouts and the decadent sauce.

Chef’s Breakfasts are made less ordinary with birthday plans and getaways and stroller talk. Eggs over-easy, eggs scrambled— same difference, when there are more important details to discuss and crunchy potatoes to forget.

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You linger after the eats and mimosas are long gone and questions of ‘what’s next’ and ‘when’ cross your minds and reach your lips. No set plans in place, but you all know there will be a next time before too long, another chance to evade time and pick up where you left off.

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re.CAP: YELP's for lovers & friends

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The Yelp Elite Event, Yelp’s for Lovers & Friends, was absolutely delectable. The beautiful restaurant, Maritime Parc, made for a perfect venue for the Valentine’s Day inspired event. The place is gorgeous with incredible views, contemporary décor and a knack for the delicious.

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Beautifully orchestrated bites were passed around to the yelp elites and their guests. Each taste underlined and highlighted the aesthetic and the culinary vision of the restaurant.

A singular seared scallop rested on a tangy sauce with a delicate moment of micro greens, lush, elegant, and faultless.

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Rounded mounds of briny and succulent lobster risotto floated on wooden spoons, chewy and luxurious and studded with fatty chorizo.

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Oyster shells served as the ideal vessel for meaty grilled oysters drowning in cream with creamy leeks and salty bacon.

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Each slider with a buttery bun, caramelized onions, quality beef and special sauce was like sinking into something solid and familiar.

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Fat crab dumplings swam in pretty teacups, doused in sweet and spicy broth and floating goodies with an exotic flare, similar to the braised pork belly “Kung Bao” style.

The bar offered mixed drinks that were fresh and tropical, boasting pineapple and tequila, gin and sunshine, and rum with a red wine float. These cocktails spoke to the curated seafood landscape of the menu.

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The exquisite tasting was rounded off with sultry desserts. Bite-sized hot fried dough rounds filled generously with blueberries and ricotta cheese, brought on sophisticated sweetness, while the sticky toffee pudding with nuts and fruit evoked strange comfort.

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We were so lucky to get another taste of Maritime Parc and chat with other Yelpers and their guests. The event only made me want to visit the eatery again for a proper Valentine’s Day date night.

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MangiaMore: SNICKERDOODLES

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I am always on a quest for a delicious cookie (like really, who isn’t?), but this time I was craving snickerdoodles. You know like those soft Mrs. Fields cookies that you used to get on winter days during long shopping excursions at the mall. I was dying for that feeling.

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Of course when I googled “soft and chewy snickerdoodles” a recipe from Averie Cooks pops up (This happened to me before when I was trying to finish up some leftover pumpkin puree!). I stumbled on her post on The Best Snickerdoodles, and after comparing it with a few other recipes, I decided to ditch the other ones and trust Averie.

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These were easy to throw together, though, the worst part was waiting “at least one hour” for the little balls of goodness to firm up in the fridge. A tumble in the prepared cinnamon sugar, made these cookies what they are: snickerdoodles.

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Of course right, out of the oven, I dusted the cookies with even more of the cinnamon sugar, allowing it to seep into the warm cookie and connect with the almost under-baked center. That extra oomph took these cookies over the top. There’s no such thing as too much cinnamon sugar, amiright?

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Once the beauts baked and cooled, they lost most of the fluff advertised in the recipe. But they were still chewy, soft, and mind-blowing. The dynamic duo of brown and white sugars added layers of sweetness and helped to create that pliable texture. And that extra cinnamon sugar coating made these cookies the things of dreams.

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I got exactly what I was looking for. Too bad only one batch (about 16 cookies) is not enough!

--> What’s your favorite cookie recipe? Are these sweet and spicy cookies in your repertoire? Would love to hear from you and try out those tasty recipes!

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