Friedman's Lunch

...is located inside NYC's Chelsea Market at 75 Ninth Avenue. I had a craving for fried chicken, but one of their fryers was being cleaned so the waiter offered me their gluten free fried chicken - using rice flour. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised - it was very crispy and I couldn't tell it was gluten free. The mac n cheese was not.

Neither was the delicious chocolate bread pudding a la mode. This generous serving was served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Halcyon Flavors from the Earth - NC

I had the pleasure of having a business dinner at this Uptown restaurant located at 500 S. Tryon Street in the Mint Museum.

My party started with a cheese board ($14) and the Nest of spaghetti squash ($9). "J" and I had the Short Ribs ($19) while "A" and "C" had the Cider Pork Chop ($22).

For dessert we shared the Almond Bread Pudding ($7) and Doughnuts and Coffee ($8) - tiny beignets with a chocolate espresso pot du cream.

Delicious!

We loved the open kitchen and reclaimed wood tables and lighting fixtures. Plus the view over S. Tryon Street was very pretty.

Hyman's Seafood - Charleston

Hyman's monopolizes most of the entire block on Meeting Street, but their Seafood restaurant is located at 215.

I tried the she-crab chowder ($5.50) which was creamy and thick and the shrimp and grits appetizer ($8.95) was also creamy and the grits were fried cubes.

I topped it off with sweet tea ($2.25) and bread pudding ($2.95). It was good and served warm with whipped cream.

I also sat at a table where (Hyman's claims) Neil Diamond and Martin Sheen had both sat as well.

Husk - Charleston

...is relatively new and located at 76 Queen Street. Chef Sean Brock is known for his famous his local ingredients and cornbread - Anson Mills cornmeal, Happy Cow Creamery buttermilk, Thornhill Farms eggs and Benton's bacon. The cornbread is baked and served in a 6 inch cast iron skillet along with smoked pimento infused butter.

I ordered the corn bread ($7) along with Crispy Chicken Skins ($7) - which is just the skins fried to crispy perfection and served with honey - to start along with a glass of sweet tea ($2.25).

Then creamy Sweet Potato Soup ($9) served with duck confit. And finally, Heirloom Bread Pudding ($7).

Everything was delicious!

Dessert Truck

I finally caught up with the Dessert Truck in NYC's East Village on Third Avenue near Astor Place.

I tried the chocolate bread pudding with bacon custard sauce ($6) which won in the Food Network's "Bobby Flay Throwdown". It was yummy and moist, more like a cake than bread pudding.

The bacon sauce was not as flavorful as I expected.

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).