Fly

We All Scream for Ice Cream

The Franklin Fountain is an old-school ice-cream parlour here in Philly. Their homemade ice-cream is really good especially in flavors like cotton candy, coconut and peach (which is made from peaches of local Jersey farmers) and you can get any flavor made into one of their unique sundae concoctions. I usually stick with my favorite, which is peanut butter. One of my uncle's used to always say, "You'll never see anyone unhappy eating ice cream." That is so true, because Rahil, her son (Little Pooh) and I could not stop smiling with our afternoon ice-cream treat.

Greedy at McGarvey's

Growing up in Maryland exposed me to the wonderful world of seafood (we have the best crabcakes in the world!!!) Every summer, nearly every weekend, we would go to Annapolis (or the wharf in D.C.) and buy crabs, clams and shrimp and go home to cook it all up for a seafood feast. When I went home to visit mom this weekend we decided to leave the cooking to McGarvey's, my favorite restaurant at the Annapolis Harbor. We went in for a light early evening meal, but it really got crazy, especially when we added the wings (not quite seafood but still just as good). Oysters on the half shell is really her thing, I helped her eat two but still had a hard time with that oyster texture. Clams casino is by far my favorite seafood appetizer in life! Even though we were both stuffed we had to go next door to Storm Bros. for some ice-cream. Oh and I know I look drunk in the picture of me stuffing my face with another buffalo wing, I was...drunk with food.

Fly Brasil: Food

These photos are from Brazilian visitor Atlanta, who, Like me was born in the U.S. but has a Brazilian mother. She shares with Fly some food photos taken at her favorite restaurants in Rio de Janiero. The top picture features cafe con leche, the second is risotto from a restaurant called Santa Satisfação. And the third is acaraje, a Bahian bean fritter (which has some Nigerian influence) from restaurant Siri Mole. I also included a video showing a little insight into how acaraje is made.

Taco Riendo

Here's another great eatery in Philly. Taco Riendo is known for it's authentic cuisine and it's fresh flavors. It's a great lunch spot.

Crêperie Beaumonde / L'Etage

I met up with a friend at this cozy restaurant for crêpes the other day and it was a lovely midday snack. I went for savory, sausage and caramelized tomato sauce (top), while he went for sweet, I think he ordered the lemon in a sugar sauce, can't quite remember. It was a delicious afternoon. Crêperie Beaumonde / L'Etage

Yum

When I'm home visiting it's mandatory for me to do two things: 1. Visit Georgetown to check out the boutiques, and 2. Make a quick stop at the Annapolis Harbor for some of my favorite homemade ice cream. This last visit to Georgetown my mom and I had lunch at the legendary Nathan's Restaurant. It was delicious. We shared the fresh calamari salad, mom ordered the fish and chips and I, the crab cake sandwich. Everything was perfect. Even my mother, who is extremely picky when it comes to eating out, had nothing but great things to say. We would definitely go back.

The Annapolis Harbor is so cute, quaint, and close to where I grew up. Going there always reminds me of summers eating Storm Bros. ice cream and watching the boats dock. Even though it was a little chilly on Saturday I was in dire need of a peanut butter ice cream fix (not flavored, but peanut butter chunks in vanilla ice cream).

Sunday Brunch

Sunday I met up with my good friend, Rahil, who was in town visiting. We headed to one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York, the Meatpacking District, for brunch at Restaurant Florent. This hidden 24-hour spot has a diner-like feel with un-diner-like menus (and prices). Here you can order champagne with your burger and steamed mussels with your eggs benedict. As always, I had my brunch favorite, french toast. Yum!

Settepani

Settepani is another beautiful brunch spot in Harlem, it's my favorite right now. Eating a delicious meal and catching up with my brunch buddy was a perfect way to start my Saturday.

Earlier last week I read in the Amsterdam News about an exhibit at the Casa Frela Gallery called "A Century of Beauty: Celebrating 100 Years of African American Beauty." Coincidentally, it was right around the corner from Settepani, which was perfect. This informative exhibit explores the social, cultural and spiritual evolution of African-American beauty. It was interesting to see everything from illustrations of slaves having to use forks to comb their hair, to the lovely image of the legendary Naomi Sims being featured on the cover of Life Magazine. Please visit the Casa Frela site to see more images from the exhibit.

Brunch...Again

This weekend I shared this favorite meal with a dear friend who is a brunch addict just the same. We indulged at a cute little restaurant a few blocks from where I live called Kitchenette. This place is hecka cute, you forget you're in the city but instead somewhere in the country at a family owned B&B getting ready to pile on fresh jam onto  homemade biscuits. Yum.

Breakfast in SoHo

Hello all, I usually do not post on the weekends but I will not have access to a computer most of the day on Monday so I decided to post a day early.

Saturday I had breakfast with an old friend, Britt, and her friend Andrea (who is now a new friend to me). It was the earliest I had ever been up and out on a Saturday in SoHo. We met at the popular Balthazar hoping for a big brunch spread, but unfortunately it was too early (we were there at nine), they don't start their brunch menu until ten so we settled for homemade donuts, coffee, and I had a roasted red pepper cheese omelet (yum).

As I mentioned before I usually can't stand SoHo because of all the tourists getting in the way and how every store or restaurant is overcrowded, but because it was so early the restaurant was very quiet, the stores just opening for business were empty and the employees were ever so sweet because it was the beginning of new day.

It was so cold I only got one picture of the empty street in SoHo, sorry it's not even that great of a picture.