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.

Pier 9

"J" and I tried the newly opened Pier 9 restaurant located in NYC's Hell's Kitchen at 802 Ninth Avenue.

We started with the lobster macaroni and cheese ($12) which was not what we expected. It was 6 rings of pasta covered with "cheese fondue" and topped a small nugget of lobster.

"J" had the lobster roll ($24) and I had the Chicago style lobster hot dog ($17) which was a lobster and shrimp "hot dog" topped with lobster (salad) mayo with peppers, lettuce and tomato. Both were served with limp fries.

For dessert we had the S'mores donut ($8) which was a full size donut covered with marshmallow fluff and topped with chocolate ice cream.

The food was just okay, but the setting made you feel like you were by the water - clean and white with sail cloth room dividers.

Brookwood Farms - NC

I stopped for dinner at Brookwood Farms located in the Atrium of the Charlotte Douglas Airport while waiting for my flight.

I had the pulled pork sandwich with one side (mac n cheese) for $8.95. The sauce had too much vinegar and the mac n cheese was mushy. It was a shame because NC is known for its barbecue.

David Burke at Bloomingdale's

After a little shoe shopping at NYC's Bloomingdale's at 1000 Third Avenue I stopped in at David Burke for their 3 course prix fixe dinner for $25.

Right after being seated the waiter delivers a warm cheese popover - yum!

I started with the rich and cream mac n cheese (love the crunchy panko topping). Then I had the lobster cobb salad (with 1/2 lb of lobster, avocado, bacon, bleu cheese, cherry tomatoes and olives). And for dessert I had the Nutella Chocolate Mousse with vanilla gelato and salted caramel. It also had a small biscotti perched on the top. But I wonder why it was served in a Samuel Adams glass.

I washed it all down with a bottle of Pellegrino ($4). This is a good deal and the food is always good.

Markt

...is located at 676 Sixth Avenue in NYC's Chelsea.

"A" and I shared a bottle of Lindeman's Framboise -raspberry flavored ($15), the daily special appetizer of sliced filet with tomatoes and micro greens ($16) and macaroni gratin ($16) - a delicious little casserole of mac n cheese.

And we shared the Dame Blanche ($7) - vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and whipped cream; and the warm Chocolate Tart with pistachio ice cream ($10) - a warm molten chocolate cake. Delish!

Charle's Country Pan Fried Chicken

I visited the fabled Charle's in NYC's Harlem at 2839 Frederick Douglass Blvd with several friends. I was glad I was with a group because the neighborhood is intimidating at night. Several men were loitering on the sidewalks - talking, smoking and drinking out of brown bags.

There was no one sitting in the miniscule dining room and the 7 of us monopolized the place - all ordering the All You Can Eat Buffet for $13.99.

Even though it was a cafeteria style - you stand up in front of the counter and point to the foods you want while the server behind the glass plates your food - the women who served the food took each plate from behind the counter, walked it the 3 feet distance and placed it at each of our tables with a "here you go, honey".

The fried chicken was good, especially when the fresh round came out and the skin was still crisply and the meat piping hot. The pulled pork was dry (it did not seem to be a good seller as other "to go" customers were not ordering it).

"P" didn't like the smothered turkey wings. "K" liked the regular barbecue chicken.

We all agreed the mac n cheese and mashed sweet potatoes were the best sides. I didn't like the cornbread because it didn't really taste like corn.

The meal also included drinks - your choice of lemonade (too sweet), iced tea (okay) and punch (which none of us tried).

After a second plate we were all too full to have the included dessert of banana pudding.

Sweetiepie

...is a darling little restaurant/dessert cafe located at 19 Greenwich Avenue in NYC's West Village.

It's decorated in bright pink and white and perfect for a girl's (young and more mature) gathering for comfort food and sweets.

We started with cockails $12 each: "A" had the Nutty Russian (khalua based) and I had the Sweetiepie Mojito (rum, raspberries, mint, lime, brown sugar and soda).

Then we shared an appetizer of homemade potato chips and creamed avocado dip ($9). The chips were thin and crisp.

"A" had the scrambed eggs in a nest - 2 parmesan baskets ($14) - the eggs were good, but the baskets were chewy. I had the mac n cheese with american, sharp cheddar and parmesan ($15) - it had a nice crispy breadcrumb/cheese crust.

For dessert we shared a Cookie 'Screamer - 3 scoops of ice cream (your choice of any 3 flavors; we ordered chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip and vanilla), rainbow sprinkles, crumbled homemade chocolate chip cookies and hot fudge ($13) and the trio of micro cakes ($12) - 3 Barbie size frosted sponge cakes (chocolate, lemon and vanilla).

We watched as a birthday party of girls devoured a Sweetiepig - sponge cake, whipped cream, bananas, strawberries and 18 (yes, that's right - 18) scoops of ice cream for $75!

10 Downing Food & Wine

This is both the name and address of this seasonal American cuisine restuarant located in NYC's Greenwich Village.

"J" ordered a ginger ale ($3) and I had a glass of Muscadet ($9).

We started by sharing the daily special appetizer of lobster mac n cheese ($11). It was more creamy and not as cheesy as expected which reminded us of fettucini al fredo.

"J" ordered the lobster and crab salad ($14) and shoestring fries with truffle salt ($7) for her entree.

I ordered from the $35 3-course prix fixe Restuarant Week menu and had the smoked salmon carpaccio with shallots, beets and arugal and the pan roasted diver scallops with sauteed clams, cauliflower and tarragon. And for dessert the lemon panna cotta.

"J" ordered the cinnamon doughnuts for dessert ($9) - they were 4 donut holes served warm with orange marmalade (too bitter) and a sauce which we couldn't taste the flavor.

Overall the food was good, but the noise level too high.