I’m a little hesitant to write about Crepes Du Nord, tucked away deep in the Financial District.  After all, there only 3 or so tables, and once the word is out it will be even more challenging for me to find a seat!  However, the crepes are so scrumptious I just had to share…you’re welcome.   Crepes Du Nord has an extensive selection of both savory and sweet crepes, with a selection of bistro items bisecting the two – but I was here for crepes!  See for yourself:

I was in a sweet mood, so I ordered the Berry Chocolate crepe (first picture), with fresh raspberries, Nutella, and vanilla bean ice cream.  I’m a “dessert for breakfast” gal, so this was right up my alley!  The white flour crepe was delicate and the Nutella and raspberries created a rich and tangy bite.   I had to finish this off pronto, so the ice cream wouldn’t melt – it’s just the right thing to do.

My eating buddy decided to go the savor route, and ordered the signature Crêpes Du Nord – with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and dill creme, with a hearty buckwheat crepe. A tangy salad completed the dish.

If you like smoked salmon, this is the crepe for you.  The dill creme complemented the fish perfectly, and the slightly nutty flavor of the crepe went so well with the eggs and fish. Yum!

With such a tiny storefront, it’s easy to walk right by Crepes Du Nord without even noticing it.  But trust me, that’s a mistake you don’t want to make; if you do, you’ll be missing out!  Stop by for a cozy weekend brunch, and let me know what crepe you end up choosing!

Cute and cozy atmosphere with delicious crepes!

Crepes Du Nord

17 South William St. (@Hanover)

212.422.9500

Are you a crepe fan? What are your favorite crepe fillings

For this week’s Fun Fact Friday, I’d like to share some video I took of the lion dances at the Chinese New Year celebrations in NYC’s Chinatown last month!

Did you know:

The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the businesses it visits.

As you can imagine, the lion has a lot of stops to make during the Chinese New Year! Have a wonderful weekend!

Have you seen a lion dance before?

Every once in a while, I come across an oldie but goodie.  Crif Dogs, a casual hot dog joint that I frequented in my college days, is one of those old friends.  Offering unique hot dog toppings with names such as the Spicy Redneck and the Morning Jersey, Crif Dogs is great for lunch, dinner or that late night snack.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera on me, so I used my good ol’  smart phone – excuse the graininess!  One of the first things you’ll notice is the mural saucily staring back at you:

Yep. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

My eating buddy and I ordered 4 dogs between the two of us – the first was the Chihuahua – a bacon wrapped dog covered with avocados and sour cream (first picture).   This is one of my faves – bacon-wrapped? Good.  Avocados? Goooood. Sour cream?? Mmmm!  The combo is rich and meaty, and the snap from the hot dog casing prevented the whole shebang from tending towards mushy.  Delish!

For our second dog, we ordered the good ol’ Chili dog – a well done dog smothered in mustard, onions, and their secret chili sauce:

While the chili dog isn’t exactly a ground-breakingly new innovation, Crif Dog’s version of it was very well done – perfectly spicy, meaty and just sloppy enough to necessitate some finger-lickin’ goodness.  Although the Chihuahua was the only dog of the four  we ordered that wasn’t bacon-wrapped (wow, I just noticed this, ha!), it was a hit.

Because I’m not against breakfast for dinner, we also ordered the Good Morning –  a bacon wrapped dog smothered with melted cheese and a fried egg:

Once again – can’t go too wrong: bacon, fried egg and cheese. Delicious. I added some ketchup to this dog, you know, ketchup-with-eggs style, and it didn’t disappoint.

We rounded out our dog selection with the Tsunami – a house dog, bacon wrapped , with teriyaki, pineapple and green onions:

If you think pineapple on a hot dog is a little strange, well – it sure is different, I’ll tell you that.  But surprisingly, the combination was quite refreshing with the meatiness of the hot dog and the fresh green onions.  The one thing I felt could be improved was the teriyaki sauce, which when combined with the hot dog made the whole combination a bit too salty.  Not to salty that I didn’t finish it or anything…

At around $3-5 for a dog, Crif Dogs‘s offerings are slightly more taxing on the wallet than your average dog, but the unique combinations and well-prepared dogs are worth it.  And here’s a fun fact that will make your trip worth it – as you enter Crif Dogs, you’ll spot a phone booth on the left.  Or rather, you think it’s a phone booth…. or is it a secret entrance to a super hidden bar?  Stop by and let me know what you find…

Crif Dogs

113 St. Mark’s Place (btw 1st and Ave. A)

212.614.2728

@CrifDogs

Interesting hot dog combinations, executed deliciously!

I posted this last year, but since I’m re-using this recipe, I’m re-posting it as well!  I made heart-shaped red velvet whoopie pies to bring to work today. They are a hit!

First posted on February 9, 2011.

This recipe from Better Homes & Gardens, though I subbed in cream cheese filling.

You will need:

Pies
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1-oz bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp)

Filling
Frosting
1 8oz package cream cheese
1.5 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb confectioners sugar, sifted (you may not need all of it)

This recipe makes 21 2-inch pies. (NoshGirl Note: No it doesn’t! I stretched mine out and only got to 15. In the land of desserts, that’s a major travesty. Boo BH&G).

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside.

2. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
I know, isn’t this picture soooo exciting? You’re on the edge of your seats, I can feel it.

3. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.

4. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.
Ok, the stirring in of the food coloring was tough. This dough has got some heft to it! I’d say it’s more of a “showing the dough who’s boss” with the food coloring rather than a simple “stirring in.”

5. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.

6. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

Meanwhile, make the filling
7. With an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla extract and combine.

8. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

Once the pies are completely cooled, assemble and you’re good to go!

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day treat?

PB&J Cupcake from Sweet Revenge, mmmm…

February is National Snack Food Month

What is your favorite snack food?

photo via chocolatearth

One of my favorite things about blogging is meeting people who are passionate about food – whether it is a Singapore food fanatic, weekend brunch aficionado or chef of Israeli cuisine.  So, I was especially excited when I discovered chocolatearth, in Brooklyn’s DUMBO. The brainchild of chocolate industry veteran Conrad Miller, chocolatearth‘s  discovers and secures top quality, artisan chocolate from all over the world as well as provides reviews, education and information. To date, it has partnered with over 30 chocolate companies and is growing!  I’ve been learning a lot about the nuances of the large and diverse chocolate industry just from Conrad’s tweets.

This Saturday at 3pm, chocolatearth will be hosting The Trifecta Tasting, where you’ll learn about and sample top chocolates, coffees and teas from all over the world.  Chocolates from Michel Cluziel, Askinosie and my personal favorite, Vosges, will be yours to try.  And I am giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky winner!  An event all about chocolate – yes, you heard correctly!

Would you like to enter?  Just answer my 1 question  – it’s a fun one, you’ll see!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced Friday morning – good luck!

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is one of several places I’ve visited multiple times, only to realize I left my camera at home. One recent weekend, I finally remembered to bring my camera with me on this pizza run.   Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is located on a busy, cobble-stone lined stretch called Stone Street, in the Financial District.  On warm summer nights, the bars and restaurants on Stone street open their doors and after-work crowds take over the tables and benches that line the street.  Now that it’s chilly, the after-work crowd has thinned; however, Adrienne’s still serves its delicious pizza.

The first thing you’ll notice about the pizza is that it’s not your typical pie:

Yep, it’s rectangle pizza, whee!  Called the “Old Fashioned” style, this pizza is a welcome canvas for a variety of toppings on the menu.  This time we went with sausage and mushrooms, a classic combination.  The pie was served bubbling hot, with ooey gooey cheese and copious toppings.  Although I was dining with only one other buddy that day, we put this pie away pronto.   If finishing a pizza is wrong, I don’t want to be right.  Especially when Adrienne’s is concerned. Ha!

Mouthwatering pizza in a trendy setting.

 Adrienne’s Pizza Bar

54 Stone St. (@ William & Pearl)

212.248.3838

What’s your favorite pizza topping?

Melty cheesy goodness!

Today’s fun fact is deeeelicioso!

February is National Fondue Month!

Do you….fondue?

Growing up in New Jersey, diners were the go-to hangout place when I was growing up.  There were 4 diners in my hometown alone! I recently stopped by Jerry’s Cafe – a traditional diner in NYC.  The menu and decor did stir some nostalgia, but how did the food fare?

The first thing I encountered was the zebra-print menu. Me likey:

The zebra print extended past the printed goods – note the wall decor as well!  I think it complemented the red booths perfectly, don’t you? 

I went with the old diner standard – a cheeseburger and fries (first photo).  The fries were delightedly shoestring – yay! And crispy and served piping hot.  I put those away pronto.  The burger was okay-ish – nothing to write home about (or blog about), but good enough.

While I don’t think I’ll return to Jerry’s, if you find yourself with a hankerin’ for some old-school diner ambiance, it is a perfectly good option with passable food.

A typical diner.

Jerry’s Cafe

90 Chambers St. (btw Church/Broadway)

212.608.1700

Did you grow up in a diner town? What’s your favorite diner food?

Penga

Mandy (@MandyWeger)
Spain
“Participating in the #noshgirlparty w/ a glass of Spanish red. It’s perfect for the mild winter we’re having in Spain!”

Marie (@mariemuffin)
“Homemade apple streusel muffin! Delish. Consumed at home for a nice after dinner treat with my husband.”

@cheezplease
New York, NY
“Charlie & I baked Hamburger Mac N Cheese with petite lima beans for our #NoshGirlParty Winter Treat in NJ!”

Kristin (@halffullglasses)
San Francisco, CA
“TJ’s wintry blend w/peppercorns, cloves & cinnamon + tin of chocolate biscuits in bed!”

Kim
A friend’s house in Davis, California
“This is a “warm cookie” shooter – Kahlua, Baileys and Bacardi 151. This adult beverage was a fitting winter treat, since I was visiting my college town this past weekend!”

Serena (@bigapplenosh)
New York, NY
“Truffle parm popcorn for the #NoshGirlParty!”

Thank you, everyone, for participating in the NoshGirl Party!

Which of these winter treats would you like to try?