Restaurants

This is not your grandma’s rice pudding.

Sure, I may be O.D.ing on the desserts this week, but if the surreal exterior, hilarious signs and mantra “ Diet, Exercise, Die Anyway,” don’t have you curious for a spoonful, then maybe you need your fun chip re-inserted. Rice to Riches, located on Spring Street between Mott and Mulberry (yes, there is a Pinkberry just next door! Snack Attack on one block!) has completely revisited the long forgotten and ignored rice pudding and spun in into a delish dessert unlike any you’ve had yet.

They start with the freshest ingredients possible for a traditional rice pudding recipe and then kick it up a notch (Emeril much?) with fabulous, fun new additions like chocolate, raisins, bananas peanut butter and so many more. It is insane, unusual, and oh, so yummy. Who would have thought rice pudding could come in more flavors than Ben & Jerry’s?!

How much will this put you out you ask? Good question.

A “Solo” is  $5, but I think choosing the “Epic” –you can choose 2 flavors and share with a friend for $7.50 is the best deal. There are larger portions available for big groups too- pudding party anyone?

They Deliver from 12pm-10pm anywhere between Canal – 14^th street and Hudson- Ave. B. You can even send an e-gift certificate and when you check out their very intricate, entertaining website, you might be tempted to send some sweetness to a friend. Check out the fabtastic flavs they have going on now.

We’re all sophisticated, grown women here. We’re completely on trend, the image of style and poise, and we all know how to act like a lady. But every now and then, even the most posh Park Ave princess needs to roll up her sleeves and enjoy some real sloppy, home style BBQ cookin’ and leave the caviar at her penthouse.

I’m a  huge fan of Justin Timberlake and his restaurant Southern Hospitality (1460 Second Ave at 76thy, 212-249-1001). So when a foodie friend promised that Virgil’s served up a hearty helping of the best barbecque in town, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample some.

With a menu consisting of Po’ Boys, Pork Ribs, Biscuits and homemade desserts like Banana Pudding and Sweet Potato Pie, you will not be disappointed by this sweet little spot. And don’t think this grub is just thrown together. The chefs artfully select the woods that the meats are smoked over, to enrich the flavors in these most decadent, delightful dishes. I couldn’t resist the pulled pork, shown here.

Come on down for a bite at their convenient midtown location- 152 W44th Street b/w 6th and 7th. If you’re still weary of getting sauce stains in your manicure, call 212-921-9663 and have yours delivered confidentially ;). 

 A very dear friend of mine is leaving the city this weekend. The hustle and bustle is not for everyone I guess, and I truly respect her desicion- as long as she is happy I’m happy for her. So we decided to drown our sorrows and have our last New York City dinner tonight with some fantastic sangria and tapas at Pipa.

We’re not quite organized enough to reserve a table so we had to wait about an hour at the bar. (NOTE:Learn from my faults please, calling ahead is ALWAYS a great idea). The bar was crowded and some weirdo old guy kept reaching over my chair and knocking my purse down, so I didn’t have much opportunity to take the whole scene in yet.

When we finally got our table and sat down, I noticed that the entire ceiling was dripping in diamonds. There may very well have been a hundred chandeliers hanging from every square inch of the ceiling, dimmly lighting the large room and casting a moody, enchanting shadow. These very unique chandeliers also had price tags dangling between the glimmering crystals. All of these fixtures, as well as the tables we sat at, were for sale. Those clever cats over at ABC Carpet & Home, stocked the casa de yum with glammed out goods all available for purchase. Although they were a bit out of my budget, what fit perfectly into my budget was the delectable tapas we washed down with lots of sangria. We opted for the melt-in-your-mouth scallops, tangy and hot calamari, and fabulous garlic shrimp.

 Parting is such sweet sorrow, but getting full (and a little drunk) at Pipa is definitely a joyous occasion.

Pipa, 38 E. 19th St, 212-677-2233

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby.

Right Round.

Theme restaurants are très cheesy. They invest all their energy into creating a space-age, grease-lightening, or prehistoric atmosphere while the food is so-so, and you end up feeling silly for hanging out in Barney’s V.I.P. room. So when a friend suggested brunch at VYNL this past weekend, I was reluctant, but pleasantly surprised.

All three convenient locations: Hell’s Kitchen, UES, UWS and Chelsea have just enough “vynl” to be funky and fun without drowning you in some roller-disco, tripped out amusement park of a café.

Plates were about ten bucks each, fabulously yummy, and were interesting enough without being weird. The service was great and not one server said “groovy” or offered to take a souvenir photo.

They have generous drink specials Mon-Sun including $3 draft beers and $6 Absolute concoctions- not too shabby for The Vogue Cit-ay.

Grab a bite and see for yourself, or hit their bar for some chart-topping bevs. Click on www.vinyl-nyc.com. Rock on!

Xx

L