Minty Fresh Scouting: Sundaes and Cones

July 11, 2014 by Laura Messersmith in Scouting

Sundaes and Cones in East Village | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Sundaes and Cones in East Village** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

Everyone needs a summer project; a goal to work toward over the hottest months of the year; a plan that will give meaning to an otherwise lazy series of days. I considered this question carefully and arrived at the most obvious answer: visit as many ice cream shops as possible in search of the best Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream. This is a super-timely search because July is National Ice Cream Month. Convenient, right?

You might be wondering: why Mint Chocolate Chip? Mainly, because it’s my all-time favorite flavor, and because most shops offer an option that combines mint and chocolate. I’m willing to consider gelato, shakes, and 'novelties', but ice cream is really what I’m after.

My second stop on this delicious adventure was Sundaes and Cones in the East Village. Based on the information I had going in my hopes were high, perhaps too high. S&C calls their flavor Mint Chocolate Chip, but information on the formulation and process was, ummm, non-existent. Color me suspicious. I found myself underwhelmed and the ratings tell the tale…

Mint Chocolate Chip by Sundaes and Cones | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Mint Chocolate Chip by Sundaes and Cones** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

The Scientific Part:

The five criteria are Flavor and then the four “Cs” - Color, Creaminess, Chips, and Charm. I wish I could come up with a cool acronym, but I'm stumped.

I like a little kitsch matched with great ingredients, so my preference is for pale green ice cream with intense mint flavor and deep dark chocolate shavings. Yes, I realize that this doesn’t make them ‘chips’ per se, but then they’re more smoothly incorporated with the ice cream. I’m giving extra points for a whimsical setting or special experience.

Flavor – strong, syrupy minty-ness. I doubt this was achieved naturally. (1 of 5)

Color – bright green color that leapt across the line too far into kitsch for me (2 of 5)

Creaminess – almost fluffy?, but still nice and smooth (3 of 5)

Chips – large shavings of semi-sweet chocolate (4 of 5)

Charm – not much effort put into the shop itself, but cute benches out front (1 of 5)

Total Score: 11/25

Scouting: Greenflea Market

July 04, 2014 by Laura Messersmith in Scouting

Greenflea Market | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Greenflea Market** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

Every once in a while one of those lazy, not-much-going kind of weekends comes along when there’s plenty of time to do a little browsing through New York’s flea markets. I love the sense of discovery that comes from carefully surveying a booth that’s packed to the brim and the flashes of nostalgia when I spot something familiar from my childhood.

But let’s be honest - the dizzying array of souvenir postcards, 80s lunchboxes, vintage sunglasses, and mid-century doodads can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Luckily, I went into last Sunday’s Green Flea Market with a clear mission: search for new additions to our kitchen and “tabletop” collections as they call it in the Pottery Barn catalog.

As I’ve taken more pictures of recipes I’ve been looking for ways to complement the final dish with a place setting that contributes to it’s appeal and continually keep the photos interesting… Are you tired of the white plates with blue stripes yet?

Sometimes it’s contrast that makes an image pop - a delicate tart on a stoneware plate - while other times a giant steak looks just right in a rustic cast iron skillet. There were some solid contenders in the schoolyard at PS 87 - I was definitely tempted by the mother of pearl butter knives and the earthenware bowl in particular. But, the search continues, so those blue and white plates will still be in heavy rotation for a little while longer as I continue to search for great finds around the city. Stay tuned!

Minty Fresh Scouting: Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

June 28, 2014 by Laura Messersmith in Scouting

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream in Soho | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream in Soho** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

Why Mint Chocolate Chip? Mainly, because it’s my all-time favorite flavor, and because most shops offer an option that combines mint and chocolate. Lastly, even in the dead of August it still tastes refreshing. Wouldn’t want to be derailed by something too heavy like butter pecan, right?

My first stop on this delicious adventure was a Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream truck in Soho. Their flavor is called Mint Chip describes as follows:

“For this American favorite with add Organic Peppermint extract from Oregon to our custard, along with rough cut little chunks of 72% Askinosie chocolate. These smaller chips melt perfectly as you enjoy your scoop, creating the perfect mint and chocolate flavor explosion!”

Mint Chip by Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Mint Chip by Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

Some Thoughts on Ratings:

I like a little kitsch matched with great ingredients, so my preference is for pale green ice cream with intense mint flavor and deep dark chocolate shavings. Yes, I realize that this doesn’t make them ‘chips’ per se, but then they’re more smoothly incorporated with the ice cream. I’m also giving points for a whimsical setting or special experience.

The Score:

Flavor – mild minty-ness, lightly flavored (3 of 5)

Color – pale, pale cream. No green dye here… (1 of 5)

Creaminess – very smooth, didn’t melt like crazy even on a hot day (5 of 5)

Chips – medium size, dark chocolate (4 of 5)

Charm – adorable truck set on a quiet Soho street (5 of 5)

Total: 18/25

Scouting: Broadway Bites

June 20, 2014 by Laura Messersmith in Scouting

Broadway Bites | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Broadway Bites** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

I had a high expectations for my visit to Broadway Bites – my trip to its sister market Madison Square Eats last month set the bar preeetty high. Luckily BB is more than up to the challenge.

I applied my experience from MSQ: scouting the vendors in advance (check), bringing cash (check), light breakfast & long walk (check, check). The walk is key by the way - both for building up an appetite and for balancing out all the great ‘bites’ there are to try. I tried to convince Mike to play hooky from work this afternoon, but he was too responsible, so I’m still looking for that buddy. Now accepting applications!

Broadway Bites is a market that “brings together New York City’s most popular chefs, small culinary businesses and artisan producers, setting them up with outdoor kitchens in the heart of Midtown.” It runs through August 1st and then again this fall from October 1 – November 14th, so there are lots of opportunities to check it out for yourself! Here are some recommendations to get you started:

Brooklyn Taco makes an excellent chilorio brisket taco – the beef is tender and the pineapple salsa, cheese and crema are a great compliment, especially with final squeeze of lime.

Mason Jar NYC is rocking Southern inspired food and I loved the pulled pork egg roll - delicious pork and crisp veggies all in a freshly fried wrapper and dipped in spicy, tangy Asian BBQ sauce. Yum.

Breads Bakery helped me understand why entire episodes of Seinfeld were based on Chocolate Babka. I was offered a sample and it's what I’m bringing for all future hostess gifts.

Onigiri by Tampopo onigiri are Japanese rice balls, think: giant piece of very loosely wrapped maki sushi – seaweed, rice and in my case the salmon and scallion filling. I always like sushi on hot days and with a splash of soy sauce this was a fresh, light dish.

La Newyorkina's frozen Pink Lime popsicle was lightly sweet and refreshing the perfect finish to a delicious lunch on a hot day.

If these don’t tempt you, or you missed Madison Square Eats some of my favorites make an appearance at Broadway Bites - Arrancini Bros., La Sonrisa Empanadas, Melt, and Roberta's are all back for more!