Hearty and Happy at Alobar Long Island City

By: Finance Foodie

When I was living in Manhattan four years ago, my first thought on a Friday night usually was not, "Hmmm, I think I'll go to Long Island City for dinner." Fast forward to present time and my thoughts have changed. Long Island City over the last few years has really developed into a destination that, dare I say, is kinda cool and worthy of a Friday night. A walk down Vernon Avenue, the main strip, and one will find cute bistros and hip bars with an equally trendy crowd.

Snacking Right to Get Slim for Summer 2012

By: Finance Foodie

Now that the weather is literally over 100 degrees, it's time to break out the short shorts and tank tops - cause baby it's warm outside! However, showing more skin means I gotta be trim - I'm sure no one wants to see a muffin top (unless it's edible) walking down Newbury Street. And as many of you may know, I'm a hardcore snacker - and it's only gotten worse since I started my internship (those afternoon slumps really hit especially hard in the office setting). But luckily as a food writer, I'm fortunate enough get the first dibs on all types of cool new foods - including the healthy ones. So here are some of my favorite snacks (all under 200 calories per serving) that taste great while keeping me at a feel great weight - along with daily exercise, of course. 

Hot and Cold: Taste Testing McDonald's Spicy Chicken McBites and Chocolate Chip Frappé

By: Finance Foodie

McDonald's - never shy on menu tweaks and limited time promos - recently introduced two new items on the market as part of their "Flavors of Summer" campaign: the Spicy Chicken McBites and the Chocolate Chip Frappe. Long time followers of financefoodie.com know my preference for McD's when it comes to fast food and that I'm always the first in line to try any new product!

First up we have the Spicy Chicken McBites. After the huge success of the original Chicken McBites (my review of the original here), McDonald's decided to bring these babies back - but with a touch of pizzazz. These crispy pieces of juicy white meat chicken are perfectly seasoned with spices that may seem mild at first bite but gradually start burning up the mouth after a few poppers. To be honest, these are pretty much just the old Chicken McBites with heat. Being a fan of all things mild and non-spicy, I definitely miss the original and wish  McDonald's would bring those back instead. Like the previous version, the Spicy Chicken McBites are available at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide only for a limited time and available in three sizes: Snack (3oz - 310 calories), Regular (5oz) and Shareable (10oz). 

Chef's Summer Grill at Maggiano's Little Italy Boston

By: Finance Foodie

Even though I am one that appreciates dining at exotic and exquisite restaurants, there are some days when I crave simple big portions of comfort food. Having grown up in the suburbs where chains are a way of life (family dinner nights at Red Lobster were a staple in my household), I usually try to eschew these establishments now. However, there are some fantastic chains that I still continue to visit - mostly because the food is just so darn good - and let's be real, there wouldn't be chains of these places if there wasn't a demand for their consistent across the board cuisine.

Freida Pinto Tells All (and More!) on Her New Film, Trishna!

By: Anne M. Raso 

Financefoodie.com was lucky enough to get to talk to Freida Pinto--the actress most legendary for her work in Slumdog Millionaire about her new Michael Winterbottom directed flick, Trishna--about two star-crossed lovers. Stunning dark-maned Freida is one of the few Indian actresses who has made it into mainstream Hollywood thanks to her stunning looks, the ability to choose classy projects, being "low maintenance" (as she was described by Winterbottom to me) and general elegance in both her movement and fashion sense. Freida has been with Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel (six years her junior) for a long time now, and we slipped in a couple of personal questions even though we were supposed to keep the questions about Trishna--her latest film set in India which is based on Thomas Hardy's tragic romance English literature classic Tess--but with modern-day Indian morals presented.

Freida Pinto. Photo: Anne M. Raso

Twitter Savvy Ben & Jerry's Scoop Truck Giving Away Free Ice Cream Across the Nation

By: Finance Foodie 


You know you’ve had that sudden urge for an afternoon pick-me-up treat, something sweet and refreshing, only to realize that you’re too busy to step out of the office for a few minutes and satisfy your craving. With Ben & Jerry’s latest outreach effort, you’re in luck! With a little social media savvy-ness and a worthwhile cause, you could have Ben & Jerry’s come straight to you to serve up scoops of peace, love and the company’s brand new, refreshing Greek Frozen Yogurt - just in time for an afternoon spring fling. 

High Marks for Highpoint Bistro and Bar NYC

By: Finance Foodie 

Since I am living in the Chelsea area this summer, I felt it would be a shame to not experience at least one or two of the local restaurants in the neighborhood. Strolling down 7th Avenue on balmy summer evening in search of a place to escape the heat and get some nosh, my friend and I stumbled upon Highpoint Bistro and Bar - a cute and casual New American cuisine-themed spot on the corner of 23rd Street.

Meat Feast at Le Marais NYC

By: Finance Foodie

During my Wall Street days, my fellow banker friends and I used to treat ourselves (on the weekends where we managed to escape the cubicle) with food trips to the finest steakhouses in Manhattan. From Delmonico's to Wolfgang's, we'd drink, chat and dream of the day we would never have to bind another pitchbook.  Even though most of us have luckily moved on from that rat race, the tradition has remained. This weekend, we decided to try Le Marais for lunch, a Kosher-French butcher shop/steakhouse combo located in the heart of the Theater District.  

From Ringo Starr Art to Steel Pier Amusements: Fun In Frantic Atlantic City

By: Anne M. Raso 

It was an honor to be invited to the grand reopening of the newly renovated (and highly legendary) Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Well, the place has a little father to go because although $21 millions has already been put into the restoration of the Pier—which had everyone from the Three Stooges to the Rolling Stone grace its former satin-curtained stage—the reopening only marked the first phase of the Pier’s grand re-emergence onto the AC cultural scene.