Modern Pastry-MA

Modern Pastry
257 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113

As seen on
-Sugar High
-An Italian Christmas with Mario & Giada
-Best food Ever
 
I stopped by Modern, in Boston's Little Italy, for an Italian dessert I was not familiar with. Sfogliatella. I have no idea how to pronounce this but it sure looks delicious. I saw it on Duff Goldman's new show Sugar High. Infinite layers of crispy dough filled with cream. I mean this looked pretty good but I wasn't expecting it to blow my mind. I had the giant cannolis across the street at Mikes but that is a different post. This total blew me away. It was so addictive and crusty crispy sweet. Just so delicate. It expanded my taste buds to a new extreme I have never experienced. If you are in Boston be sure to stop at Modern and Mikes across the street for a giant cannoli.

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches-NY

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches
311 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11201

As seen on
-The Best Thing I Ever Ate
 
Not alot of people are familiar with banh mi sandwiches. They are a Vietnamese style sandwich which is gaining popularity in the United States. Toasty bread packed with cilantro, pickled carrots, diakon, cucumber, and sometimes spicy peppers. The taste is so fresh and so clean. The classic banh mi comes with a pate of undescribable meat somewhat like a canned cat food lol (if you're not familiar with pate). A little on the small side but for $5 you cant complain. I had the classic but hear the pork chop sandwich is amazing. Nicky's was actually picked twice on The Best Thing I Ever Ate in the same episode. A very delicious stop that I would love to revisit. They have 3 locations across the boroughs.

Kilvert & Forbes-MA

Kilvert & Forbes
Quincy Market
200 Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Boston, MA 02109

As seen on
-No Shows

I received the best coconut macaroon I have ever had as a gift. Where did they come from? Boston. I knew the next time I was in Boston I would be getting some of these. Kilvert & Forbes , located in the historic Quincy Market, has huge cookies and brownies and the best dam macaroons i've ever seen. Previously my favorite chocolate dipped macaroons were from Godiva but these are better bigger and cheaper. A walk thru the Quincy Market overloads your senses. With so much good food it is really hard to figure out what to eat. I hear this place has the best chocolate chip cookies too, I haven't had one. For a macaroon lover these are a must! Also for a foodie, Quincy Market is a must for any visit to Boston.

Woodman's-MA

Woodman's
121 Main St
Essex, MA 01929

As seen on
-Hook Line And Dinner

I walked into fried seafood heaven and survived with all arteries intact! It's truly a miracle! The aroma upon entering this joint alone should come with a Lipitor prescription... Woodman's only fries in pure lard. The same way they did in 1914 when they invented the fried clam. Woodman's takes credit for inventing the fried clam in a small strip of Essex called Clam Alley. With one fried clam place after another Essex is the center of all fried clams in the whole country. The clams were piled high at Woodman's and at first glance of my overflowing plate I new I was at the right place. We are talking full belly fresh shucked clams not those wimpy strips you're used to back home. Two dozen fresh fried clams crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Probably the best I've ever had. They come with onion rings and fries. Paid exta for a side of coleslaw and it hit the spot just right to cut the grease. I would definitely come back. This was my special 30th birthday present to myself. I probably could have ate anywhere in the north east and picked Woodman's.
P.S. The film Grown Ups was filmed here. So this is the place to get chocolate wasted!!!

Berkshire Mountain Bakery-MA

Berkshire Mountain Bakery
367 Rte 183
Housatonic, MA 01236
(413) 274-3412

As seen on
-The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Berkshire Mountain Bakery is a wholesale bread paradise in the middle of the Berkshire Mountains. Located just outside of Great Barrington Massachussettes and just south of Lee. This place is simply a bare bones warehouse that delivers fresh baked bread all over the Berkshires. They sell bread out of the warehouse but don't expect much of a store front. They are famous for their chocolate bread. A crusty loaf filled with dark chocolate chunks thru out. This is almost a savory dessert. I found the mini loaf better then the whole big size loaf. I saw this on The Best Thing I Ever Ate and thought wow finally somewhere local ( well an hr away). It is kinda hard to find but well worth the drive. Very scenic and Great Barrington is awesome to spend the day shopping. While there also stop by Rubiners for some cheese and gourmet specialties straight from the city.

The Shaved Ice Shop-NYC

The Shaved Ice Shop
All Over NYC
New York, NY 10002

As seen on
-No shows

This isn't your Snoopy's Doghouse kind of snow cone. I had fully given up on snow cones, until I discovered The Shaved Ice Shop. This version of shaved ice is served smooth and fluffy, like little pillows of ice, almost creamy I dare say! You can select from a buffet of different toppings and create combinations with fresh fruit, ice cream, granola, sugar cereal, nuts, syrups, bits of candy and cookies. Bao Bing is the Japanese art of shaved ice. It’s also quite a show to watch them assemble your snow mountain. They scrape the ice into a fantastic peak and then surround it with all your fixins’, pouring condensed milk onto your colorful avalanche. All of this is yours for only 6 bucks! This was much better then I had thought it could even be simply delicious. The Shaved Ice Shop is at most festivals and events in Manhattan in the summer so catch them while you can!

Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turducken? Cherpumple?
Yes please...My eyes are bigger then my stomach. Societies ultimate incarnation of gluttony. A hen, inside a duck, inside a turkey sounds tasty right?. How about a cherry pie, pumpkin pie, and apple pie, crust and all, inside one cake? Intimidating Perhaps? Even though I was able to eat all this glorious food I am most thankful for my new son Zander.

Arancini Bros.-NYC

Arancini Bros.
940 Flushing Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206

As seen on
-Unique Eats

We spotted Arancini Bros, a tiny storefront that only sells Rice Balls, at the Hester St Fair. For just $3 each you can choose from many varieties of Rice Balls including the ragu (traditional), white bean and escarole (a vegan choice), chicken with fontina cheese, Lobster, even a sweet rice ball made from rice pudding filled with Nutella and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. The selection of flavors offered varies depending on the day. I've had rice balls before but these were by far the best. I had the ragu and the Nutella. Crispy on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside. The dessert rice ball was ridiculous. Just amazing! All in all it was a cheap and very satisfying snack! I plan on going back.

Danny Macaroons-NYC

Danny Macaroons
All Over NYC

As seen on
-No Shows

French macarons have been getting a lot of attention lately. With a new shop opening weekly, it seems like they’re becoming the next cupcake craze. I’m concerned. As a coconut lover, I’m starting to feel like I’m the only person spelling “macaroons” with two o’s and expecting them to be made of sweet, chewy coconut. To my great relief, I discovered this great Food Curated video about Danny Macaroons, a one-man macaroon operation that is coconut at its core. I found Danny himself at The Grub Street Food Fest a few weekends ago. I knew they would crush their French competitors in a fight. The salted caramel macaroon delivers a knockout, a burnt ring of crispy-chewy caramel encircling the macaroon’s base. A coconut mound of pleasure. Take that Frenchies! Dan’s flavors include roasted almond, double chocolate, red velvet, pumpkin, rice pudding, or just chocolate dipped. We thought the carmel was the best by far. You can find these macaroons at select stores across Manhattan or the Hester St Fair every Saturday.

Macaron Palour-NYC

Hester Street Fair
Hester St & Essex St
New York, NY 10002

As seen on
-No TV shows

I love Macarons! Love Love Love!  When I see macarons, I have to buy  them. So seeing this stand at the Hester Street Fair, I knew I had to get these sweet creations.  But everything in moderation! I had heard of Macaron Parlour and knew they  had  a Candied Bacon with Maple Cream macaron!! These aren't the coconut macarons you are probably used to. These are french macarons made with almond flour and have the consistency of lets say a meringue. Bacon in dessert is no longer cutting edge it has been over done a million times. Like most bacon dessert these macarons just tasted like maple syrup which I am not fond of. But with flavors like smores, red velvet, peanut butter cup, cookies and cream etc at least Macaron Parlour is doing something different with a french classic. These macarons are some of the best I have had and seen. So pretty so tasty. If you have never had a french macaron then make sure you try one. They are trending strong and they are here to stay.

Lulu Cake Boutique-NYC

Lulu Cake Boutique
112 8th Ave
New York, NY

As seen on
-Unique Eats

How would you like all of your childhood  favorites done in a more sophisticated gourmet way? We are talking  red velvet Twinkies, snowballs, hoho's, ring dings, ding dongs you name it!!! This place really blew me away. The snowballs and Twinkies are amazing. Red velvet white chocolate dipped Twinkies or chocolate chocolate how about lemon poppy? The snowballs are filled with coconut cream and rolled in coconut. Located in the heart of Chelsea I will definitely be back. So so moist so dense. These Twinkies are to die for...well worth the trip.