Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sugar, Spice & Blogger Meet-Ups! February 17th

A lot of you have been asking me about meet-ups and whatnot, and I've been planning to do a blogger meet-up at Wild Ginger for a long time now. So, if you would like to come to a future Wild Ginger meet-up, please e-mail me (see advertisement on the right). Let me know when you'll be in town (or if you already are living in the NYC area), and when you could make it. Because I want to try to arrange it when some out-of-towners are here too! I'll be updating you guys once I get a better idea of when to have it, so keep checking back! I'm going to be having my own private dinner there this Saturday for my Birthday (I think).

Now, on to the eats... and because of Maggie (from Say Yes to Salad), I have a new restaurant to tell you about! She told me to check out Spice the other day... there are several locations in NYC, and the restaurant is owned by the same company that owns Sea Thai Bistro, so they're very similar and she thought I would like it. Turns out... she was RIGHT! I actually ended up trying TWO of the Spice restaurants this week! One in Chelsea, and one in the Union Square area (see pics below!). So thanks again for telling me about these restaurants Maggie! :) Now, here are some of my eats over the last several days...

Breakfast from the other morning...


A Naked Juice and a Clif Mojo PB & J Bar.

Lunch was at the Spice in Chelsea (at 8th Ave. & 20th St.). And just like Sea Thai Bistro, you get a free appetizer, which is always a plus in my book!


I got their spring rolls... these were very similar to Sea Thai's... same sauce and everything! But I actually prefer the way Sea Thai presents them, because they aren't already in the sauce. These were a little cold because of this. Good though, none the less.


I got the broad black noodle dish with tofu. Again, it's pretty much the exact same thing that I got at Sea Thai. The portion here seemed a bit smaller though... it was actually just the right amount!

After lunch I stopped in New London Pharmacy, which is an "old school" pharmacy in Chelsea. Not at all food related, but I liked how the store had pet cats in it! :)


Later on I had some brownies... I made some more Ghiradelli ones... they were on sale this week, and I was depressed... don't judge me! lol


Yesterday's breakfast was some cran-apple juice and a s'mores Luna bar.


We had more snow yesterday, and it was actually kind of a mess out! Peanut enjoyed looking out the window at it though!


For lunch I made my own egg mcmuffin with organic egg whites & american cheese on a sandwich size english muffin, with some baked chips alongside.


For dinner I made my own "colorful" pasta creation with mini bow-tie pasta, peas & carrots, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes in a marsala sauce (with parmesan cheese on top-- of course!). This was excellent!!


Today I was running some errands in Union Square, so I tried the Spice nearby (at East 13th St. & University Place, which is just below Union Square Park).


For something different I tried their vegetarian vegetable dumplings. These were REALLY good! I decided to get them because you can't get this appetizer at Sea Thai Bistro-- only the Spice restaurants have them.


I couldn't help but get the same broad black noodle dish because it's so delicious! I've become addicted to this for whatever reason. lol

So, I really like the Spice restaurants as a whole. The Chelsea one was much quieter and empty, so I liked the atmosphere more, but despite how busy the Union Square one was, the food was really fresh and excellent. I can't believe I've lived in NYC all these years and never went to them until Maggie pointed it out to me! lol Life is funny like that, because they are literally scattered ALL over the city... there's ones in the East Village, Astor Place, and Uptown too.

And for the "sugar" portion of my blog, aside from the brownie (above), I also got a black & white cookie from this organic/natural stand in the farmer's market in Union Square that I always go to!


That's all for today! And don't forget to e-mail about up-coming blogger meet-ups! I'm composing a list of people who want to go, and then I'll sort something out soon.

I'll leave you with Peanut cleaning himself. :)

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am already excited about going to Wild Ginger with you when I am next in the city. And, Quantum Leap, Peacefoods, Candle Cafe (again!) and Red Bamboo. Oh, and Curly's!

Spice sounds great- I had vegetarian vegetable dumplings at Sea Thai- did they take them off the menu? :( I LOVE veg dumplings!

Maggie said...

How weird - they never put them in the sauce already for me. Can't wait for our next meetup :)

MJC said...

Ellie ~ When are you coming back to NYC? Give me an e-mail! :) I guess they did take them off the menu, because the only ones Sea Thai has now have meat in them, I believe.

Maggie ~ That is weird! Let me know when you can make our next meet-up!

Bliss Doubt said...

Omygosh, I love the kitties in the pharmacy, just like in Europe.

Your photos are looking good with your new phone camera.

I found the best new chocolates at my local grocery store, John Kelly truffle fudge bars (www.johnkellychocolates.com) and Lake Champlain Chocolates "five star candy bar" (www.lakechamplainchocolates.com). Both brands are smaller and thicker than conventional candy bars, fudgy, and so delicious, 2 oz. each, 2.69 each, yikes. But I'd rather have two ounces of this delicious stuff than a 16 ounce regular candy bar.

Mom's eggplant parmesan looks like proof that you're her best valentine.

MJC said...

Bliss Doubt ~ I have seen the five star candy bars here, and you're right, they are good! Where in Europe are you btw?

Anonymous said...

ASIAN food is bomb. i love it. except thai food, because i ate it in thailand and got sick. ew. =D

love your pictures. =D

Anonymous said...

i would love to go for a blogger meet up with you but that would probaby only be in the summer when i come to NY! so please bare with me till then ;)
i love the s'mores luna! it's my favorite of them all

MJC said...

Neela ~ I'd LOVE to meet you too! We can plan our own get together in the summer then. I'm glad you plan on visiting though, because you live so far away I didn't know if we'd ever get to meet!

Healthy. Happy. Well. said...

How fun! I wish people met up in Kansas!

Diana said...

Ah, black and white cookies...one of the best things NYC has given me. :) Spice is great--I work near the Union Sq. location and it is a good standby for office lunches.

Gabriela said...

So funny- I just walked by the US spice on my way home from the movies! I've never eaten there, but it sounds great :) I just sent you an email about the meet up. I can't wait!

Caronae said...

Girl, sometimes you just need a really good brownie! Ghiradelli is the best! I made chocolate coconut snowballs tonight and it totally hit the spot! I'll be emailing you...

MJC said...

Gabriela & Caronae ~ Got your e-mails and responded! :)

Diana ~ Maybe we could do lunch there then one day! I'd love to go back again soon!

lauralei said...

i love the kitties - i have to admit i skimmed over the food to find your cat pics :)

MJC said...

^^I'm not offended! lol I'll try to get more for the next post, but he moves around so fast now!

Tori said...

You really love spring rolls girl!! I think I see some in almost every post. :) Brownies look awesome! Great cure for depression Lol

MJC said...

^^True. I probably have them once a week at least! :)

Anonymous said...

Your bow tie pasta looks so colorful and cheerful... I am tempted to replicate it!

I wish I could go to Wild Ginger. Hmph. :p

<3 <3

Bliss Doubt said...

Marina, I'm not in Europe now but I have lived in France, and I still travel quite a lot. On my last trip to France (Provence) I arrived late for lunch at a small restaurant, after 2pm, so part of the room was cordoned off, and there was a cat sleeping in the middle of one of the tables. You still see people's dogs and cats in the windows of their offices, and even alongside the mannequins in department store windows! I just love seeing it. We're too sterile and germophobic here in the US.

Missy said...

Excited for this meetup! I can make it any time probably! I have to try Spice! People always order it at work but I've never tried it!

MJC said...

Missy ~ I already put you on the list because I figured you and Maggie were going to attend. :) We can go to Spice anytime you want! Probably the Chelsea one since it's closer to your work, right?

Just Me said...

Man I wish I was in NYC seems alot of the coolest bloggers live there and Orlando.. :)

What is up with everyone and pizza this week, I am having a serious craving now :)