On the Side

Image Credit: Netflix

One of my favorite movies of all-time is When Harry Met Sally. And one of my favorite scenes is when Harry, played by Billy Crystal, explains the difference between "high-maintenance women" and low-maintenance women" to Sally, played by Meg Ryan.

Harry: There are two kinds of women: high-maintenance and low-maintenance.
Sally: Which one am I?
Harry: You're the worst kind. You're high-maintenance, but you think you're low-maintenance.
Sally: I don't see that.
Harry: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with the house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you.
Sally: Well, I just want it the way I want it.
Harry: I know. High-maintenance.

Like Sally, "on the side" is a very big thing for me, and I want my food the way I want it, too.

Something Lacking at South Gate

Ever since I started food blogging, I've had more and more people ask me for restaurant recommendations. Normally, I'm flattered that they feel my opinion is worth a damn. They expect me to know what I'm talking about. But, with the millions of restaurants in the world, and the thousands in New York alone, I can't possibly have an opinion about them all. Sometimes, I just want to relinquish all decision-making responsibilities to someone else because the pressure mounts and I get anxious that I'm going to recommend a place that will ultimately be a disappointment.

Such was the case with South Gate.

Free Treats from Cinnabon to Ease the Pain of Tax Day

Image Courtesy of Cinnabon

Are you looking for some sweet relief from the stress of filing your taxes? On Monday, April 18 (otherwise known as Tax Day), participating Cinnabon bakeries will be giving away two free Cinnabon Bites to each guest. To get in on this action, just head over to the nearest Cinnabon location between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. It's that simple!

Panera Presents New Menu Items

I don't remember exactly when Panera Bread came into my life, but I do remember becoming hooked after my first meal there. Like countless others, I was lured in by the hypnotic powers of their Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl. When I moved to New York City and away from the suburbs, one of the things I was sad about was not being able to run over to Panera and lose myself in that soup. (Yes, I'm serious.) It wasn't long until I began associating going to Panera with going home to visit my family and friends back in Connecticut. Well, just imagine the joy I felt when I discovered that there is a Panera less than five miles away from my apartment!

An Easy Espresso with the Nespresso CitiZ

As evidenced by the row of appliances lined up in my kitchen, I have a serious addiction to coffee. My first summer job was at the local coffee shop in the center of town, so my love affair with coffee began when I was in high school. Now that I'm an adult, I've made sure that I have ready access to coffee at home by way of my Mr. Coffee coffee maker, Krups coffee grinder, and Keurig MINI (courtesy of my boyfriend's parents).

And then the intensity of my addiction changed with the delivery of one little package...

Hunting for Treasure at The Brooklyn Kitchen

Image Courtesy of The Brooklyn Kitchen

After enjoying a leisurely Sunday brunch in Brooklyn with my friend Mary at DuMont, we convinced ourselves we weren't full and began walking in the direction of Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop. Mary was jonesing for a donut, and since I had never been there before, who was I to stand in the way of a woman with a craving? On our way, we made a quick stop in The Brooklyn Kitchen. Just as I was embarrassed to admit that I don't eat in Brooklyn as often as I should, I'm equally embarrassed to admit that I had never been to The Brooklyn Kitchen before. (Of course, that means I've also never been to The Meat Hook, the butcher shop that's housed in the same space.)