Big Daddy's

...has two locations. I visited the one near NYC's Union Square on Park Avenue South and 19th Street and had a turkey club sandwich ($11.95) served with Terra chips.

Chat n Chew

...is located in NYC's Union Square at 10 East 16th Street.

"J" and I both had the wedge salad with sliced steak (bleu cheese and tomatoes) for $13.25/each with a ginger ale $2.25/each.

Then we shared an apple crumb a la mode ($6.95) and a slice of coconut layer cake ($6.45). As with most of our meals - the dessert was the best part!

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.

Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

I did not make up this name. This is a real ice cream truck that parks on 17th Street near Broadway in NYC's Union Square.

During this visit I had the Monday Sundae - twist vanilla ice cream, nutella lined waffle cone, dulce de leche, sea salt and whipped cream ($6)...yummm!

And I got the last one of the day!

"J" had the Cocone - vanilla ice cream with toasted curry coconut flakes. Not too spicy with just a hint of curry ($4).

Ice Cream Cooking Demo

Rosa Mexicano held their annual Ice Cream Festival Cooking Demonstration on July 17 at their NYC Union Square location.

They had a table of beverages (coffee, tea, pomagranete juice and water) laid out for the attendees. And a second table had Rosa Mexicana brand tortilla chips and 3 types of salsa.

The class was approximately one hour and there was a raffle to win an ice cream maker.

Two of their chefs (James Cawley and Joe Quintana) demonstrated how to make ice cream, pistachio macaroon cookies and tomatillo-blueberry compote. Afterwards all attendees were given tastes of blueberry swirl ice cream on pistachio macaroon and vanilla ice cream with strawberry cornflake "crisp". Yummy.

Yama

Yama is located near NYC's Union Square at 122 East 17th Street. Although they have 3 other outposts this is the original and best location.

"J" and "K" shared the appetizers: Beef Aspara-Maki (broiled asparagus wrapped in shell steak) $8.75 and Hamachi-Kama (broiled yellow tail with teriyaki sauce) $8.75.

"P", "M" and I shared the Sushi and Sashimi For Two ($65) that comes with salad and/or miso soup. We also had three special rolls: I Like Eel ($14.75), No. 5 Fresh Salmon, scallion and spicy mayo and No.7 scallop, flying fish rose, cucumber, avocado & spicy mayo ($8.25/eaach).

And "P" had an order of sea urchin (2 for $7.75)

The sushi is always fresh and tasty. The portions are very generous. The spicy mayo is great, but not too spicy.

Vintage Irving

...is located at 120 E. 15th Street in NYC's Union Square area.

"A" and I both had a bottle of Lindeman's Pomme beer ($16/each) - it tasted like cider. Yummy.

ABC Kitchen

...is located in NYC's Union Square area at 35 East 18th Street and is connected to the retail store, ABC Home.

Immediately after being seated we were served fresh bread, olive oil and the tiniest beets (but they were very bitter).

"A" had a glass of riesling ($12), Portabella mushroom appetizer ($8) and Kasha Bow Tie Pasta with veal meatballs entree ($21). The Kasha gave the pasta a nice crunch.

I had a glass of house made Ginger-Lime Soda ($5), daily special soft shell crab appetizer ($12) and Organic Crisp Chicken with mashed potatoes ($21). Soft shell crab is one of my favorite foods and this was fried nicely so it had a good crunch to it. The Chicken was pan fried and although it did not have a coating it was, indeed crispy.

For dessert "A" had the Vanilla Chip Ice Cream Cake vanilla sauce, almonds & substituted the orange sorbet with chocolate ice cream ($7) and I had the Sundae salted caramel-peanut ice cream, candied popcorn, whipped creme fraiche & chocolate sauce ($8).

The food was very good and the decor was eclectic.