Happy Weekend #23

Obviously we're still suffering from some rare, but serious, form of Jet Lag in the blogosphere.

You may only go on vacation for a week or two... or three, but every other weekday of the year is spent in a groove. So, why is it so hard to get back into that groove?

Maybe it's because you're still dreaming about those Pipers crisps you bought on a last-minute whim at the cafeteria of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. What can I say? We have excellent instincts. And so do them farmers.

If any of you know where we can pick these up in the US, please share your secret!

Read THIS WEEK'S UPDATES here:
Ele Cafe
Village Tart


Related Posts: Happy Weekend #20. Happy Weekend #21. Happy Weekend #22.

LADUREE

What's a visit to Paris without some macarons?! We were pretty sad when they told us the macarons would only keep for FOUR days (refrigerated), as we really wanted to bring these delicacies home to share. So...we were pretty bummed we couldn't bring them home, but that wasn't going to stop us from trying them ourselves! ;P

Flavors pictured & tried: apple, pistachio, praline, coffee, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, lime chocolate, passion fruit chocolate, raspberry chocolate

I'm not sure which was my favorite, but each one was soft chewyness with a sharp distinct taste. Oh so good.

If you're ever in the area, you MUST visit their pretty little store and pick up some of these delights (along with their other various eye-watering yummmies)!


Ladurée
Ladurée Champs Elysées
75 avenue des Champs Elysées
75008 Paris

Ladurée at Harrods
87/135 Brompton Road
London SW1X 7XL

Happy Weekend #11

An homage to new experiences and cheap Asian food, here are half of the souvenirs from Tokyo-- given to us by our friendly (well... not really, but in this case I'll concede) Hawaiian. Our Mom's favorite over-the-counter candy, these Kit-Kats come in Green-Tea and Strawberry-Cheesecake flavors. Who knew?! The Strawberry-Cheesecake is reminiscent of Strawberry Pocky, which makes for a stupendous win-win-win situation. Vacation, anyone?

Read THIS WEEK'S UPDATES here:
Kyotofu
Cravings in NYC
Butter Lane
The Norry at Kampuchea
Mad 4 Chicken



Related Posts: Happy Weekend #8. Happy Weekend #9. Happy Weekend #10.

Happy Weekend #10

There's nothing like going to a different country and seeing things, once familiar, different. For instance, take this bag of Icelandic Doritos. How does the familiar flavor, "Cool Ranch" become a "Cool American"? Was something lost in translation? Are "Cool Ranch" flavored Doritos the epitome of a "Cool American"? Was this C.E. Doolin's flava flave? Or, do you read "ranch", think "cowboy", and conclude with "American"? What makes sense? Either way, the Frito-Lay Company manufactures... Cool Americans (and sells them off to other countries).

This week's theme is "Food on the Move" aka "Pics from the Cell Phone, Sorry in Advance!". So, in honor of the New Year, already-failed resolutions, and prayers for a life-changing stroke of luck-- Get Up, Get Out, and Keep It Moving!

May you all have safe adventures.

Read THIS WEEK'S UPDATES here:
SHROOM on The Hunt...
WAFEL ON THE RUN!


Related Posts: Happy Weekend #7. Happy Weekend #8. Happy Weekend #9.

Happy Weekend #8

It's friendly tradition that we bring back goodies from vacation to share with the rest of the bunch. B went to Vancouver right before the holidays and added more sweets to our already aching teeth.

I'd never tried these before, but let's see...maple syrup cookies for breakfast everyday for the past week (to counter our new BonJo coffee from M!), and...the box is now empty. I guess they were kinda good. =P


Read THIS WEEK'S UPDATES here:
Max Brenner
Montenapo


Related Posts: Happy Weekend #5. Happy Weekend #6. Happy Weekend #7.

Max Brenner(s)

This is coming to you almost a few years (yes, YEARS!) late, but Max Brenner's is definitely worth the mention. Since I've exhausted my trips there by going 4+ times in the same year with the same people, it might be a while before this place is recycled and re-posted. So, ENJOY! the Max Brenner Story.

Dark Chocolate Cocoa in Hug Mug, Singapore

It all started in the summer of 2006, on a day where no cloud could be found in the sky. The breeze. The Thai food. The surrounding architecture. All was perfection. What better way to end an afternoon of perfection than with... a perfect dessert? Four years ago (Wow! Has it really been that long?), I was first introduced to Max Brenner (the fictitious Bald Man), tucked into the corner of The Esplanade in Singapore. Never will I forget this first experience of fluffy insides and crunchy outsides, an excess of bananas and milk chocolate drizzle, dark hot chocolate, hug mugs, and, of course, the COCONUT ICE CREAM (with that hint of almond). I dream of this ice cream. I hear "Singapore" and my third thought is, "COCONUT ICE CREEAAAM".

Banana Split Waffle w/ Coconut Ice Cream, Singapore

So, it was with great pleasure that my friends and I heard, Max Brenner would be coming to NYC! When it first opened near Union Square, we went to MB. On the first day of summer, we went to MB in the East Village. Two weeks later, we went to MB. When our Hawaiian came in the winter, we went to MB. Yet, after having had the COCONUT ICE CREAM in Singapore, MB in NYC is just... Vanilla (pun intended). Don't get me wrong, it is an amazing experience centered around great chocolate, particularly in Union Square. (It's a huge tourist trap, but you just want to eat up the lobby and get seated for your meal.) Also there aren't many places where it is completely normal to choose dessert items in place of dinner... As you may see, MB can dazzle at first, but in the next few visits, our enthusiasm for the place coincided with the diminishing plate portions and the proliferating prices. Plus, I still daydream about that COCONUT ICE CREAM in Singapore. Hopefully, when I go back, it won't disappoint. Fingers crossed! Check it out, and judge for yourself. Unless, you already have. In that case, what are your thoughts?

Chocolate Mess, NYC

PS. Forgive the strange white glob above, but it is dark in MB. The Chocolate Mess. It is (really "was", since it shrunk the next time we ordered it) a full size 9" chocolate cake, with chocolate cereal crunchies and caramel sauce sidekicks, and topped with frosting, whipped cream, sprinkles, and fudge sauce. Complete with a spatula to assist gluttony.

PPS. It's been so long since I went here, that the (quieter) location of choice in the East Village (where the Chocolate Mess picture was taken) is now closed. Plus, the menu seems to have changed, and the Chocolate Mess cannot be found. So really, what it all comes down to is that: the image is moot. Boooo but maybe Yay. We'll have to check out the new dishes in the [far] future.


Max Brenner
841 Broadway
(between 13th and 14th Streets)

8 Raffles Avenue, #01-06/08
Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802