New York City Affordable Places

269 Eleventh Ave., B/t 27th & 28th sts. (212-643-4820)
May 5-16, Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm

Don’t be scared of the unfathomably far west address like I was, the area around the sale is so quiet and clean, unlike the rest of Manhattan, that it’s worth a visit. The Showroom Seven space was gigantic, and filled to bursting with new and almost unheard of designers. I found fabulous dresses by Issa London for $57, bathing suits by Vivia for under $50, $20 Tees by Romeo & Juliet, $80 dresses by Tony Cohen, Tara Subkoff for easy spirit shoes for $30, $95 jeans by Taverniti So that were faded to perfection, and dark skinny jeans by Romeo and Juliet Couture.

Erichson Beamon Jewelry

Tara Subkoff for Easy Spirit

Buttery soft red leather bag by Allison Burns, $200 (The newest addition to my wardrobe!)

Adorable shorts by Konstantina, $45

Don’t miss out on these great and affordable finds!!

You can run all over town to buy fresh ingredients and then spend hours in a kitchen to prepare wonderful treats for guests, or to bring to a party (or even to treat just yourself) – but that takes talent, time, and energy. Rather than risk making something in the kitchen explode, or denying yourself something of quality by eating microwave popcorn – what you need to get are some Crepini products.

With a Crepini, you will encourage people to wonder how you can spend so lavishly on them, and how you got Martha Stewart to cater your event. What is a Crepini, you ask? It is the innovative fusion of a French crepe and a Russian blini. The Crepini was created by the married couple, Eric Shkolnik and Paula Rimer. They’re Russian immigrants who have been living in New York since the 1970’s.

They were both involved (and thriving) in the business world, but after having two sons (Sam and Ari) they finally decided it was time to relax.While relaxing, they were inspired to start baking family recipes. One of these was Paula’s mom’s recipe for a “blini-crepe” – and it proved to be overwhelmingly popular among family and friends. Eric and Paula have since been on a journey to bring the Crepini to more and more people.

I am so very glad they did. You see, I’m unskilled in the kitchen, and I don’t have tons of money to hire a caterer. Yet, I do have an expensive taste in a lot of things.

Now, be honest – don’t you want to be able to have food that you can imagine Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick would have at a fashionable event? Well, at this website we help you find the deals to find an outfit and accessories that would be SJP-worthy, but that’s not all we do. We’re featuring this product because it’s high quality at a more than fair price, completly unique, and utterly fabulous.

I am not just guessing that this is a good product. I was sent Crepini products to sample.* Here’s what I tried:

La Dolce Vita Crepini – Do you know those orange-flavored chocolates they sell in the shape of an orange? These have a similar taste, only far better. “Chunks of the finest dark chocolate interlaced with delicious Italian plums soaked in Grand Marnier and orange zest.” How, in any universe, could that be bad? ($13.99)

Hazel-Raisin Crepini – Are you a chocolate lover? Most people cannot deny their love of chocolate, and I believe it’s unhealthy to even try! (In moderate doses, of course!) Only treat yourself to the best chocolate treats by eating these. Dark chocolate has been combined with hazelnuts, banana, and cranberry raisins to create this sinfully sweet Crepini. If you like chocolate, I can’t imagine you not loving these. (Price: $11.99)

Right now there is a Valentine’s Day special where you can get a package of both of these Crepini treats on sale for under $20.00. Valentine’s Day Gift 12 PC La Dolce Vita and Hazel Raisin Crepini

Click the ‘details’ to read what else I tried!(more…)

If you’re like me, you don’t have much luck when it comes to cooking, baking, or doing anything in a kitchen. You try – but it never quite works out. You can mange to survive on cereal, Chinese take-out, leftovers from restaurants, and using your microwave to heat up soup. But what if you are having your parents stop over from out of town, or you want to plan a special gathering for some of your best friends? Are you going to serve them cereal? No. I think emphatically not.

What you’d normally have to do is dutifully trek out and buy overpriced goodies to make an arranged assortment of foods. And of course, they have to be bought the day of the visit or they won’t be fresh! That leaves you almost no time to clean up and apply makeup. You could swipe some bronzer on while kicking clothes under a couch – or you could buy some Crepinis in advance.

I bet you didn’t think you could be the style savvy woman you are, and also serve stylish food while managing to have a life.

Crepinis are a delightful combination of what happens when you combine the idea for a French crepe with a Russian blini. They look adorable and seriously scrumptious. Go to crepinicafe.com to check them out. I haven’t been lucky enough to try any, but I’m willing to vouch for their tastiness anyway. Make your guests feel like they’re at a private and glamorous event by serving these tasty treats.
These come frozen, and you can put them in an oven for 6-10 minutes, or microwave them for 2 minutes. No one will know they were frozen.

You’ll have your Crepini and eat it too!

You can purchase these on the website, or in select stores. For our New York friends I’m pleased to tell you that you can taste a Crepini for free if you head over to Benedetto’s Fine Foods in Albertson. But you have to do it this Sunday, anytime from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location:
Benedetto’s Fine Foods
960 Willis Avenue
Albertson, NY (New York) 11507-1939

Ask for Eric, Paula or Glenn!

I wish I could go. This is the downside of being the only non-NY writer on F4L!

Ciao for now,

Jessica

Yatagan Kebab House
104 MacDougal Street btw. Bleecker Street & Minetta Lane(212) 677-0952

If you are looking for an inexpensive and quick bite to eat while shopping, or after a bar, try Yatagan Kebab House. They’re open late and make the cheapest and best falafel I’ve had in a long time: $2.50 for a falafel sandwich with hummus, and the falafel was bursting out of its pita. They also make a decent baklava for $1 a piece. Be forewarned – this place is literally a tiny hole in the wall, with only a few tables, so get that sandwich or kebab to go. Anna Bristow