#nycsandwich

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Get yer egg creams here! #eisenberg's #nycsandwich #5thave #sodajerk #eggcream

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I found two new things to chow at the Flea this weekend. 

Lonestar Empire's mesquite, 15 hour-smoked angus brisket sandwich, complete with homemade barbecue sauce, bread and butter pickles, and Texas-style potato salad. I really know nothing about meat--heck, I haven't been eating it most of my life--but this year I've become quite the carnivore. I can tell you this: sinking my fork into that brisket felt the same as digging into that cream pie. The brisket fell apart at the slightest fork nuzzle. I think that means something very good.

Rachel's Pies chocolate cream pie with homemade whipped cream and pretzel crust. Sweet and salty perfection. This was my reward to myself for having to stay inside Saturday afternoon to do work. Best reward ever. I will be spending a lot more time inside doing work this fall if Rachel's Pies is always my payoff.

[eatyourchow-blog]

You see, I love egg salad.

This beaut--with green onion, dill, and bacon--is from AQ Kafe.

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House-smoked turkey and avocado sandwich from the Dutch, in Soho

On Sunday I had brunch at the Dutch, a new hotspot from the chef behind Locanda Verde (love, love, love). The sandwich was delicious--the turkey super juicy--but let's be honest. That's a $15 deli sandwich. The tiny brunch menu seemed a wee bit heavy for sweltering summer (hot fried chicken and cornmeal pancakes?!) but I loved the bright, whimsical design and the buzzy atmosphere. I'll return to try dinner or a cocktail, if I can get a table post Times review.

[eatyourchow-blog]

Enjoy some Americana this weekend. 

Lobster roll, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Brooklyn Flea

[eatyourchow-blog]

Behind the scenes with SCRATCHbread's TOASTbar at Smorgasburg

Smorgasburg is an all food market in Williamsburg from the people behind the Brooklyn Flea. It hosts 100 food vendors--a mix between prepared food stands and greenmarket farmers. It is paradise.

For this venue, SCRATCHbread wanted to do something different--"play with food," as owner Matthew Tilden put it. And so, TOASTbar. The menu is always changing, but we've had inventive open face sandwiches, griddled chai sticky buns, and an assortment of the classic baked goods. We partner with other vendors to seasonally enhance our offerings. 

Smorgasburg has been open for just one month, so things are constantly evolving. I highly recommend you come by for lunch--take the new East River Ferry, which just started running yesterday and will drop off right at the market entrance.

Cooking garlic in olive oil for tomato dunking sauce

Fresh ingredients

Chai sticky buns soaking in vanilla bean creme anglaise, waiting to be griddled

MOZZtoast: Rosemary and sea salt focaccia, stuffed with homemade-that-morning mozzarella, basil pesto, a squeeze of lemon

The Double Bourbon: bourbon wheat bread, a slab of butter, and orange bourbon marmalade from our neighbors at Maiden Preserves

The Garlic-ness: whole roasted garlic bulb with olive oil on sourdough

[eatyourchow-blog]

My favorite veggie sandwich, from Lenny's

Healthy Eating 2011

Like most of you out there, I'm feeling a little gross after holiday over-indulgence. Here's the detox I followed for two weeks last year, complete with some great meal ideas. This year I'm not feeling as terrible, so I'm not going to treat this as a "detox," but more so just a healthy eating boost.

I'm on day three and I haven't had any meat, dairy, or processed sugary snacks or baked goods (my Achilles' heel).

Luckily red wine and dark chocolate (two of my most beloved vices) are good for you in moderation. (Yesterday, the Early Show did a segment about the health benefits of chocolate; read more here). If I have one of these treats in addition to my complex carbs and veggies, I won't beat myself up.

Also, taking a page from Ms. Nadia, I'm now drinking a cup of hot water and lemon juice every morning before I do anything else, as a pre-day clense. Read her article about this here.

Does anyone know the truth about eating fruit first thing in the morning on an empty stomach? I've heard it's good for you--that you absorb more nutrients and it cleanses your body--but I see a lot of contradicting information about it online. Leave a comment if you know the answer, or have any other good healthy eating/detox advice.