Chelsea Market Part Deux

One rainy afternoon Matthew and I ventured to the Chelsea Market in search of an adventure.

We found green juice (greens, ginger, lemon, pineapple).

A delicious sticker.

A post workout shake to-go (banana, cashew milk, carob).

And Anthropologie.

If I had unlimited money to spend, I would have purchased one of each apron. I just love aprons!

Look at these cute notepads!

Dinner Planning

Grocery List

Packing Checklist

I bought this notepad for jotting down recipes, as both of my recipe notepads are completely full.

What exciting adventures have you been on recently?

NYC Restaurant Reviews

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Matthew did a little jig this morning in honor of all of the Irish ladies out there.

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NYC is known for its food. Naturally, we have spent a lot of our time researching restaurants and eating. Here are some noteworthy restaurants that we have visited so far.

Spice Market

We ate dinner at the Spice Market our first day in Manhattan. It was cold and rainy and we did not want to venture far. So, this restaurant kiddy-corner from the hotel was a perfect fit. The food was good, Allan enjoyed spicy shrimp and noodles and I had chicken curry. Both were delicious. However, the restaurant was not baby-friendly and they did not have a highchair for Matthew.

Pastis

We have enjoyed breakfast (twice) and dinner here. It is an amazing restaurant with lots of clean options (egg white omelets, whole grain toast, fruit, organic salmon). The service is impeccable and I highly recommend this restaurant!

Swich

A simple sandwich and salad shop with sustainable options. I wasn't blown away by my salad - simple and easy to pick and go.

Better Burger

Quick delivery! The burgers were average and reminiscent of fast food. I had a chicken burger on a whole wheat bun and Allan had the beef burger with baked french fries. The burgers were dry and the fries were moist and not crispy. It satisfied our hunger and that's about it.

The Green Table

Very good gourmet, organic food located in the Chelsea Market. Not waistline friendly, but a delicious indulgence. I ordered the roasted organic chicken breast with braised greens and buttered spatzle and Allan had the GT Burger. Both entrees were very good.

Hale and Hearty Soups

I enjoyed a small mixed greens salad and half of a hummus wrap. The wrap was to die for and the mixed greens were just that - nothing special. This was a delightful lunch.

Amy's Bread

Matthew and I enjoyed lunch at this cute bakery twice. The first day I had a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with pest mayo - it was incredible! Matthew especially liked his nibbles of whole wheat pesto bread. Our second visit I enjoyed a delectable beet and chickpea salad with a delicious whole wheat roll. Matthew especially liked the whole wheat irish soda bread.

One Lucky Duck

Delicious! I cannot boast enough about how much I love this cute takeaway cafe. Green juice, shakes (carob latte), malomars, chocolate macaroons, cinnamon crispies... YUM! Needless to say we have been to the Chelsea Market location SEVERAL times and will be visiting again today to pick up a smoothie.

Pure Food and Wine

This is the one restaurant in Manhattan that I was most excited to visit. However, I was extremely disappointed by the food. I ordered the Prix Fixe lunch: Mediterranean salad, Lasagna and Tiramisu. The salad was very average and I got very sick after eating the lasagna. I spent the entire night in bed last night weak and sick to my stomach. On a positive note, the tiramisu was soft and chocolaty - better than any other tiramisu I have every had.

Slice

An organic and health conscious pizzeria serving up intriguing and delightful slices, personal and full-size pizza. I ordered the The Miki on honey whole wheat crust and Allan had The Guru with marinara sauce. The Miki was definitely better than the The Guru.

Good Restaurant

Delightful! This was one of the best meals that we have had! I enjoyed the Roast Chicken with bacon, kale and sweet potatoes and Allan had Fish Tacos that came with the most delicious squash creamed corn that I must reproduce at home.

What is the best meal that you have had a restaurant lately? What made it so memorable?

Bon Appétit!

Almost every morning we eat breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien. The service is terrible, but the food and espresso are organic and simple - just the way we like it.

Allan and I tend to fall into ruts. It's in our nature. We are creatures of habit. When something works we just go with it.

Le Pain Quotidien (which I have a difficult time pronouncing, so I just call it "Le Pan") is  conveniently located 1 block from our hotel and is on Allan's way to work. The decor is simple and modeled after a parisian sidewalk cafe. I like the quaint, simplistic nature that allows the food to shine.

Every morning I study the menu as if I have no clue what I am going to order.

Then I order a single Americano with a side of organic skim milk, one complex carbohydrate (oats), one protein and one fruit.

Oats

Organic steel cut oatmeal
topped with stone fruit and house made granola

Organic steel cut oatmeal with berries

Protein

Soft boiled organic egg with whole wheat miche
Matthew always eats the Miche

Plain low-fat organic yogurt with berries

Are you a creature of habit or do you prefer to run wild?

I Could Walk 500 Miles...

... and I could (not) walk 500 more.

On Saturday, we walked from our hotel (at 13th Street) straight north to the Theatre District and Times Square.

Through the southern portion of Central Park, where we sat on a bench and dined on eats from Pump Energy Food.

On to Park and Madison Ave's in the Upper East Side to the Guggenheim Museum (89th Street).

Back through the northern portion of Central Park to the Upper West Side, where we fell in LOVE with NYC. We fantasized about moving to the Upper West or East Side and pondered which area we liked best.

It was time for an afternoon snack, so we stopped at Juice Generation. Allan had the Pacific Pineapple and I had the Peanut Butter Split. YUM!

We then walked back to through Times Square. This was a BAD idea - it was packed with wall-to-wall people this time around.

South through Chelsea and back to the Meatpacking District.

We then dined at Good Restaurant in The Village, which lived up to its name.

In our fantasy life where we move to NYC should we relocate to the Upper East Side or Upper West Side?

Lent

Growing up I had several Catholic friends who would give something up for lent. We were Lutheran, so my parents never asked us to go without.

However, for the past few years I have considered giving something up for Lent, but never made the pledge to follow through. However, now that we have a baby, I feel like it would be a good lesson to instill in our youngling.

But the real question is WHAT should I give up? I figured that because I am a foodie and value eating, the item in question should be food-related. However, I want it to have a deep emotional connection, something that is a fair representation of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us on the cross - something that I would truly miss. In addition, it would be nice if by omitting this item from my diet I would actually be improving my health. Here are some of the options that I considered:

• Chocolate - eh... an easy choice, as I have been known to regularly indulge in my beloved Green and Black's organic 85% dark chocolate
• Wine - I am still breast feeding, so I have not been enjoying wine regularly
• Sugar - a definite contender... however, we will be in NYC for another week and I really can't control the exact ingredients in everything that I will be eating, so this might be difficult
• Coffee - I only enjoy a single Americano each morning, so it's not a significant sacrifice

After much deliberation, I decided to give up all simple sugars and refined flours completely. I do strive to keep most sugar and white flour out of my diet; however, out of convenience they have started to creep in... mostly because I have not been making the time to cook and bake items myself.

But all of that stops when we get back home from NYC. Until then, I will ensure that I am making conscious food choices at every meal - asking questions, making special requests, etc.

I am back down to my pre-pregnancy weight; however, I am not as lean as I was pre-pregnancy and I know it is because I have not been completely dedicated to my workouts and eats. Today I rededicate myself and would love to see you do the same.

"Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?" Luke 9:25

Did you give something up for Lent? If so, what was the most difficult thing that you have ever gone without?

Good Morning from NYC!

Hello strangers!

Matthew and I accompanied Allan on his business trip to NYC. He is here for an Über fancy Target photo shoot while Matthew and I are working from the hotel and site seeing.

Before leaving Minneapolis last week, I stocked up on clean goodies at Trader Joe's for the plane and hotel room, because the closest Whole Foods is 1 mile away and I knew that I wouldn't have time to run there every day. :) So, we have organic dry roasted almonds, dried mango, unsweetened trek mix (in single serving baggies), a box of Cherry Cashew Pure bars, organic apples and organic bananas.

I absolutely LOVE these bars!

We have been visiting lots of amazing restaurants in the Meatpacking district and Chelsea - many of them organic or sustainable! Pastis, Spice Market, One Lucky Duck, Le Pain Quotidien, Swich and The Green Table to name a few!

Our first night here it rained cats and dogs, so we geared up and walked the mile from the Hotel Gansevoort, where we are staying, to the Whole Foods in Chelsea to stock up on baby items and bottled water (a necessary evil).

By the time we were back to the hotel Allan was soaked, but I managed to stay quite dry in my new North Face rain jacket and boots.

Matthew also stayed dry in the stroller and its new rain gear.

Allan has the nice camera on the photo shoot with him, but when he gets back tonight I plan to download all of my yummy food pics and post them.

Matthew and I are running out of things to do that are baby friendly and within walking distance, so I would love to know your favorite pastimes in NYC - organic clothing shops, site seeing, clean restaurants, etc.

What should we do for the next week???