Little Sweet Shoppe

...is locagted at 74-01D Metropolitan Avenue in NYC's Borough of Queens in Glendale.

I tried a cream "Italian" ice - chocolate brownie dough - cone for $2. It was very rich and tasted like lite ice cream instead of "ice". There were nice thick chunks of brownie.

Txikito

...is located at 240 Ninth Avenue in NYC's Chelsea.

"A" started with a glass of Zurrakapote - white wine sangria cocktail ($9) and I had a glass of Sidra ale ($9) which is closer to a wine.

"A" had the Txiki Txanpi - shrimp and mushroom grilled cheese ($8) and the Rusa - potato, egg and tuna salad ($9). The grilled cheese were doll size and the salad was good, but the tuna part was a little salty.

I had the Foie Micuit - terrine on toast ($10) and the special Conchillo - roast suckling pig ($30).

The foie was rich and delicious and the pig had crisp skin and was moist.

And we shared the Torta - Almond tart ($8) which was light and delicious.

Bobby Van's

We dined at the 135 W. 5oth Street location near the Theatre District.

Jackie just had the Summer Salad in an entree size ($12.95) and the bread basket. She had Bread Pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream ($11.05) for dessert.

I had the Restaurant Week $40 3-course prix fix:

Summer Salad - blend of Napa Greens, Wild Cherries, Walnut Brie cheese and Berry Vinagrette

Lamb and Wild Mushroom Ravioli tossed with Truffle Sherry Sauce

Tartufo

And we both had ginger ales ($3.95/each).

Kings of Pastry

This new movie is about the Meilleurs Ovrieurs de France (Best Craftsmen) competition for baking.

It was an interesting documentary about three of the finalists. It also makes you appreciate french pastry in a whole new light.

Rosa Mexicano Chocolate Demo

"J" and I attended this free cooking demonstration in the NYC Union Square location at 9 E. 18th Street on 9/25.

Chef James Cawley demonstrated how to make chocolate masa for chocolate tamales filled with chicken picadillo, Mexican chocolate chip banana bread, Milk Chocolate Mouse and Mexiccino.

Audience members received tastes of each dish - yum and copies of each recipe.

Mermaid Oyster Bar

...is located at 79 MacDougal Street in NYC' Greenwich Village.

"E" started with a glass of Muscadet ($11), "J" with a glass of Barbera ($11) and I with a glass of Proseco ($10.

For appetizers "E" had the shrimp cocktail ($13) while "J" and I had raw oysters:

Kumamoto ($3.25/each)

Kusshi ($3.25/each)

Wellfleet ($2.60/each)

Fanny Bay ($2.85/each)

Pemaquid ($2.85/each)

"E" had the Beer Battered Cod n Chips with coleslaw and tartar ($20)

"J" had the Bucatini with baby clams, garlic, parsley and olive oil ($19)

I had the sauteed jumbo lump Crab cake with whale fries, tartar sauce and coleslaw ($20)

Ubeknownst to me Mermaid Oyster Bar does not offer any desserts, but they do serve a complimentary petite chocolate pudding with whipped cream after dinner. Along with their famous fortune telling fish. Place the fish in your palm and your fortune depends on its movement.

Free Manicures

...were offered to promote the tv show "The New Adventures of Old Christine" in NYC's Greenwich Village at Spa Belles at 301 Avenue of the Americas.

"J" and I both received manicures and free emery board. But the salon had run out of the free bottles of OPI nail polish.

Mexican Food & Corn Seminar

This free seminar was held on 9/23 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in NYC's Financial District at 1 Bowling Green in the US Customs Building.

It was part of the 7th Annual Mexico Now Celebration in NYC.

The chef/owner of Zarela made the presentation and afterwards there was a tasting of crab and huitaloche (corn fungus), tacos, and other treats.