Rolling in the Deep at The Kati Roll Company

By: Finance Foodie

On the days that I get out of work later than proper dinner time (read: almost every night), I've struggled with finding a place open late enough near my apartment that is not only quick but also tasty. Luckily, I stumbled upon The Kati Roll Company on 39th and 6th. Originating from Kolkata (Calcutta), kati rolls are the number one choice for street snacking in India, not unlike the humble hotdog of New York City.  The Kati Roll Company first opened its doors in New York City’s eclectic Greenwich Village in 2002 with a simple menu consisting of authentically flavored rolls made with hand-ground spices, homemade parathas and freshly grilled fillings. 

Segafredo: Classic Northern Italian Fare...Served In A Space Age Bachelor Pad!

By: Anne M. Raso

I recently trekked to new northern Italian moderately priced eatery Segafredo on the site of the long gone Lone Star Roadhouse at the corner of 13th Street and Sixth Avenue in the heart of Greenwich Village. While I pondered the fate of the 40-foot iguana that used to be on the roof of the Lone Star Roadhouse (which was rumored to have been sold to an outside art collector), I enjoyed the unique ambiance and luscious eats. The sleek modern room seems to have raised deep red velvet polka dots on the bar and banquettes--and gives off that mid century modern "space age bachelor pad" feel while being warm at the same time. There is no fear of a 1950s version of Hugh Hefner resplendent in a plum silk bathrobe coming out to seduce you with the sounds of Mantovani and a glass of merlot from this eatery's extensive wine list! Also, keep in mind that Segafredo is making a big name for themselves serving alcoholic after-dinner espresso beverages--we must try those someday when we can spare staying up a few extra hours due to nighttime caffeine intake!

Chocolate Gifts Galore

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According to wikipedia.org, chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays: chocolate bunnies and eggs are popular on Easter, chocolate coins on Hanukkah, Santa Claus and other holiday symbols on Christmas, and chocolate hearts or chocolate in heart-shaped boxes on Valentine's Day. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate. Chocolate has been the center of several successful book and film adaptations. In 1964, Roald Dahl published a children's novel titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The novel centers on a poor boy named Charlie Bucket who takes a tour through the greatest chocolate factory in the world, owned by Willy Wonka. Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate), a 1989 love story by novelist Laura Esquivel, was adapted to film in 1992. The plot incorporates magical realism with Mexican cuisine, and the title is a double entendre in its native language, referring both to a recipe for hot chocolate and to an idiom that is a metaphor for sexual arousal.

Modern Mexican at Pampano NYC

By: Finance Foodie

Although my summer in the City has been quite busy and filled with long work hours (which has left little time for trying new restaurants), I knew I had to check out Richard Sandoval's Pampano restaurant in Midtown East before my time here was up. Hearing rave reviews about this Coastal Mexican restaurant's fresh seafood and beautiful ambiance from my foodie friends couldn't keep me at bay for long, so I decided to have my supper here last Sunday night. 

Photo Source: Pampano

The Whole Hog at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party NYC

By: Finance Foodie 

Like any good (real) Texan, my mouth salivates at the mere mention of the word "BBQ". So obviously, my attendance at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party this past weekend at Madison Square Park was a must do for my summer in NYC. After all, there's nothing like having great barbecue, listening to music and hanging out with awesome friends to chill out from a long week of work.

A Berry Merry Summer: Taste Testing McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller and Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal

By: Finance Foodie

This summer, berries are everywhere – in food, fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle, berries are a summer “must have.” To capitalize on capture this trend, McDonald’s has premiered two of its newest menu innovations, the Cherry Berry Chiller and Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal,  featuring seasonal berries as on-the-go meals or snacks. I'm always excited to see new menu innovations from McD, so obviously I had to try these two berry babies out.

Magic Jack Plus -- It Really Is Magic!

By Anne M. Raso

I was lucky enough to try a Magic Jack Plus, and I have to say that as the most "non-tech" type in all of NYC, I am very impressed. These days, most people in town pay 35 bucks plus about 8 dollars and different fees for their monthly service. You basically can buy one for about $70 at amazon.com, Radio Shack and numerous other electronic chains, and pay another $19.99 to keep your number and $19.95 per year of service to all 50 states (you can buy international calling credits from them for a budget rate by signing onto the magicjackplus.com website). You get a new number for free, which is another bonus. I was happy to put my to the test to see how easy it was to install, sounds quality and price (which definitely cannot be beat). You also get free voicemail, and HERE IS THE BEST PART--you get all your messages sent as a sound file attached to an email. So you virtually never have to check to see who called the regular way--although you can pick up your phone at home, punch in your number, and get assess to missed calls pronto. Calling into voicemail from outside your house is done the typical way--by setting up a password. If you want to use your answering machine instead of the Magic Jack voicemail, it must be set at two rings and your phone must obviously be attached to an answering machine with a cord (or in the case of a cordless phone, the answering machine is in the charging base that the phone rests on).

Snow White and the Huntsman: Who is the Fairest of All? [Infographic]

In case you haven’t heard, today the movie ‘Snow White and the Huntsman‘ was released. The movie has a star studded cast including Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. While the reviews are just now starting to come in, the special effects, production design and Snow White and the Huntsman costumes are said to be outstanding. Whether you see the movie or not most everyone knows the story of Snow White. And according to the mirror in this fairytale, there is only one woman in all the land who is more beautiful than Queen Ravenna – SNOW WHITE. Believing herself to be the rightful most ‘fair’, Queen Ravenna orders Snow White to be killed in the ultimate tale of vengeance. We thought it would be fun to take a look at these two iconic women in this fairytale. Does the mirror speak the truth? Who really is the fairest? You be the judge. Let’s take a look.

Singapura: Asian Fusion Without The Attitude!

By: Anne M. Raso

I was lucky enough to get to check out Curry Hill's latest eatery Singapura last week. Located at 106 Lexington Avenue, it's dead in the center of all the wonderful and budget-friendly eateries in New York's second most famous Indian neighborhood (the first one being Little India which lines Sixth Street from First to Second Avenues). The bargains, quality and respectable size portions are all hear at Singapura--but the atmosphere is hipper and younger. Did I fail to mention that Singapura is not just Indian cuisine--it's a melting pot of the best of Thai, Chinese, Malaysian and Indian! I bet that Singapura is the only eatery in Manhattan offering this delectable mix! They mention on their menu that their food is more like how a Singapore housewife or food stall owner would cook than a five star chef--they like to keep it real in the kitchen and patrons appreciate that fact.

Potato Curry Puff