Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

After a great dinner in NYC's Meat Packing District, "M" and I were looking for a little dessert - preferably in the form of ice cream. We walked through the West Village and were delighted to see the Van Leeuewen Ice Cream Truck!

"M" had a small cone with Ginger and Chocolate and I had a small cone with Palm Sugar and Pumpkin Pie ($3.95/each). Yummy...it hit the spot!

The Meatball Shop

...is located at 84 Stanton Street on NYC's Lower East Side.

"C" had the daily special with spicy pork meatballs with mushroom sauce and tossed salad ($9).

I had the daily special with beef meatballs with tomato sauce and tossed salad ($9).

Then we topped it off with an ice cream sandwich ($4) - chocolate ice cream with one brownie cookie and one coconut macaron.

Christian Dior

I like the scaffolding that camouflages the renovation of the store on NYC's 57th Street.

Shake Shack

Just our luck..."E" and I only wanted a concrete and there was a short line for food at the original Shake Shack located in Madison Park. This would have been a great time to eat a burger, but since we only wanted frozen custard we went on the B-line and straight to the window. We each ordered a Shack Attack ($6.75/each) - chocolate custard, hot fudge, chocolate truffle cookie dough and valrhona chocolate chunks, topped with chocolate sprinkles. Yum!

Xiao Ye

...is located in NYC's Lower East Side and I wanted try it because of their Cheeto Fried Chicken - brined in buttermilk, battered in Cheetos and served with chili organge marmalade dipping sauce ($13).

So I dragged "C" with me and we ordered the fried chicken which was more like nuggets (breast meat) and neither crispy nor Cheeto-y. I was disappointed because there only seemed to be a light dusting of Cheetos.

We topped it off with a Taiwanese Flat Booty Cake - pancakes with spicy lychee condensed milk sauce, crushed peanut, lychees and fresh whipped cream ($12). This was like a Chinese riff on breakfast. The pancakes were fluffy and light.

The drinks were the main attractions (as this more of a bar than a restaurant). I can't even remember what I had because it was pure vodka poured over a mountain of shaved ice topped with lychees. Whew!

Ralph Lauren Women

...the new store opened last on NYC's Upper East Side at 72nd Street and Madison Avenue.

To say it is a mecca of all things Ralph is an understatement. I felt like I was on the set for Equestrian Today or Hamptons Magazine.

Grub Street Food Festival - Part 4

And now for the desserts!

I had to try a fried pie from Melt Bakery. I was torn between the apple and pumpkin, but since it was a blustery Fall day and I've had fried apple pies before I chose the pumpkin ($5). It was fried on the spot and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Yummy!

Then I couldn't resist trying a coconut lemon tartlet from Grandaisy ($4). It was a substantial tartlet - very moist and more coconut than lemon.