The Blue Stove

Pies seem to be the next dessert trend, and The Blue Stove in Brooklyn makes great versions of the classics that are beautiful and delicious. This strawberry rhubarb pie has a flaky, light crust and the combination of tangy and sweet is perfectly balanced.

Gummi sculptures

How cool are these gummi sculptures from YaYa Chou? They're based on questions of commodity and consumption - and they also make me want to go out and buy a bag of my own...to eat.

Liebe

I'm so excited about the recently opened Liebe, an Indian fusion spot in Nolita. I tried the leibe roll with vegetables wrapped in a buttery, slightly sweet Indian pancake. It came with spicy and smoky sauces for extra punch as well as raita. The chickpea salad was incredible - it was bright and refreshing with cilantro. This is a meal I'll be returning for time and time again.

The corn salad was also delicious - and spicy!

The pistachio ice cream was a nice surprise - it was super creamy, almost like custard, with a layer of pistachio on top.

Williamsburg takeout: Pies 'n' Thighs

Pies 'n' Thighs lives up to the hype: the fried chicken is unbelievable with extra crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat. The pulled pork sandwich also impresses with a smoky flavor and cole slaw topping. The sides are also excellent - the biscuit is buttery with the perfect texture and the collard greens have just the right amount of spice.


The blackberry lemon pie was pretty and very tangy, the milder blueberry sour cream pie that looks like an empanada was a little sweeter.

Heartschallenger

How adorable is this pink truck? It's been parked next to a playground in Nolita for the past couple of months and I had to stop by to check it out. The Heartschallenger truck offers frozen Japanese treats like strawberry mochi and popsicles in flavors like Ramune, along with a select few American popsicles in interesting flavors.

Miette

Miette in San Francisco might be the most adorable and irresistible sweet shop I've been to. The walls are covered in jars of brightly colored candies and it's stocked with good chocolate and other treats from around the globe. They also have the loveliest baked goods - specifically the old fashioned cupcake, a super dense and moist chocolate cake topped with smooth, bright white Italian meringue and a decorated with a tiny red sphere. It's a must on every trip to the city.

La Esquina

Most of the time I order pancakes or french toast at brunch, but the waffle at La Esquina is the exception. It's thick, soft and comes sprinkled with cinnamon and disks of butter coated in sugar - it's irresistible.

The light watermelon hibiscus agua fresca is refreshing and a great compliment.

Fiat Cafe

I love a high-concept brunch, but sometimes it's nice just to have simple, reliable weekend morning food. This is why I love Fiat Cafe - the cafe is low-key and the menu straightforward. To start, they bring a basket of croissants and pan au chocolat with jam.

The pancakes are straight-up, light and fluffy topped with fresh fruit and a steal at $5 - an easy treat I'll be going back for.

The Crispery

The ultimate rice krispie treat: a giant square of marshmallow rice with layers of marshmallow fluff, chocolate chunks, caramel and pretzels in the center from The Crispery. It's pure sugar overload in the tastiest possible way.