That Wasn't Chicken =/

LMAO!!!!!!!!!

This picture really made me think, has anyone ever eaten something, whether out of pure hunger or just greed lol, that you KNEW was either:

1.  The worst possible thing you could eat (but hey its probably the most delicious too)
2. Covered in nasty bacterias (our bodies are strong though so we believe it can fight the germs off)
3. Definately wasn't what it was being advertised to be (see pic above for reference haha)

I know I defiantely have!! Oops =/

I mean my fellow New Yorkers, what about the dirty water dogs from the carts you can find all over NYC? I mean if you think about it, how long has that water been sitting in there? Where do they clean it? Do they dump it out throughout the day and refill or is it sitting there from morning to night? How many of these guys do you see wear gloves when they are making your hotdog?? I ask myself these questions all the time....especially when I'm about to walk up and get one!!! I mean the thought may be gross, but the truth is when I'm hungry, I'm hungry and those hot dogs are SLAMMIN!!!!!

And remember the E-Coli outbreak at Taco Bell? Where all of a sudden Taco Bells across the nation were "no mans land" and they even had to close down for awhile? Guess who was still eating there even after the outbreak and before they closed? Guess who was at the drive - thru THE DAY it opened back up? Yup, it was me! Taco Bell is La Bomba and no one is keeping me away!

Don't Judge Me!

And what about the picture above?? Like I've said in one of my previous posts, NY has the BEST Chinese restaurants! Period! Don't try and debate me on this one cause i don't care, you will lose! However, some of NY chinese restaurants have been in the news for lets say, not using the correct "edible meat" in their dishes. Have these accusations stopped anyone from eating here though? NOPE!! I will continue to order Chicken and Broccoli for the rest of my life!!!

Has anyone else had similar nasty eating experiences? Or am i the only nasty fat ass??

HA!

National Cheesecake Day!!

OK, im back! To say this week has been so stressful and busy would be an understatement! I know i slacked on my Wendesday ~Eat Up, Drink Up or Shut Up~ post so i promise next week i will double the recipe goodness!!!

OK! Moving on!

HAPPY NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY!!!!!!

I'm going to admit that I am not the biggest fan of cheesecake, however, for some reason Oreo Cookie Cheesecake really really gets my tastebuds jumping!!! So today, I will take part in this beautiful holiday and have a slice =)

For anyone else that would like to take part in the festivities today the

will be serving up slices of ANY cheesecake on their menu for half price all day, all night! I believe they have over 20 different types, so just go and run wild!!!!

For all of you New Yorkers, our most famous cheesecake establishment

located right in Brooklyn will be celebrating their 60th Anniversary and National Cheesecake Day by serving up free slices of ANY cheesecake with a purchase of a lunch or dinner entree OR serving ANY cheesecake slice for 60 cents!!! Their slices usually go for about $6!!!!!

Unfortunately, I won't be in the area today to enjoy a Juniors Oreo Cheesecake since it is the BEST in NY!!!!! But I will be enjoying one at the Cheesecake Factory =)

For more information and to find a Cheesecake Factory by you, visit their website Here

To drool over Juniors delicious Cheesecakes and for more information about one of New Yorks most famous establishments visit their website Right Here

**Spotlight Friday's**

Nero D'Avola

46 Gansevoort St

New York NY10014

Close your eyes...imagine you're at Brunch...you order an entree and a mimosa. You finish eating your meal and drinking your mimosa and suddenly the waitress comes over and refills your mimosa. She continues to do this over and over and over again without you even requesting it! 3 hours and 30 mimosas later you get the bill and realize you were never charged for the 30 mimosas. Now open your eyes...cause this is EXACTLY what you would get during brunch at Nero D'Avola.

My wonderful friend and I (let's call her La Fashionista) go here for our monthly drunken brunches. Seriously, for $24.95 you get an entree and UNLIMITED Champagne, Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers for 3 hours!!!!!! They never rush you out or water down the drinks. They're nice and strong, just how i like it! And let me repeat...for 3 hours!!!! There's really nothing like walking around lower Manhattan tipsy in the middle of the afternoon. It's really something everyone should at least try once...or twice...three times...you get it.

Now, not only do you get a meal and UNLIMITED drinks for a poor college student (like myself) friendly price, oh no, the fun doesnt stop there, you also get a live DJ spinning all your favorite Let's-get-on-the-tables-and-dance music! Oh yes, every Sat & Sun from 12-4pm, you can get an UNLIMITED drink and DJ Brunch!

This is my FAVORITE NYC Brunch Spot!

If you're visiting NYC you cannot leave without experiencing a Nero D'Avola Brunch. I recommend the Eggs Benedict and Mimosa.

Nero D'Avola get the Official Cupcakes & Caviar Stamp of Approval for its Dancing Drunken Brunch!

For directions and to see their menu please visit their website: Nero D'Avola

He Knows Me so Well =)

I've been pretty stressed out lately and just received an email from Don Pepe with nothing but this picture.

It seriously just made my day! He knows me so well =)

**Spotlight Friday's**

The Eatery at Tullulah's

12 4th Ave

Bay Shore, NY 11706

Photo Courtesy of Foodie Girl

I first discovered this restaurant earlier this year, when my bf Don Pepe and I were on this whole "we-need-to-eat-at-BYOB-restaurants-all-the-time phase. We had just discovered a great one in the village and were DYING (literally) to find one on Long Island. Immediately I turned to my handy dandy Google (I'm not sure what i would ever do without Google) and began searching desperately for "BYOB restaurants on Long Island."

BAM!

The Eatery at Tullulah's website pops up. It was literally almost like the heavens opened up, and the birds started singing. We didn't waste anytime. The very next night we bought a HUGE bottle of wine and headed straight to their door. What a pleasant surprise.

Ambiance: The Eatery at Tullulah's kind of reminds me of a small chic restaurant you would find in Soho. Dark paint and art on the walls, and a chandelier greet you as you make your first step through the window paned door. Some Bob Marley played softly in the background, immediately giving me a chill relaxed vibe.

Food: AMAZING!! I mean theres really no other word that can describe the taste orgasm i received while i was here. We tasted the Chorizo, the hanger steak, the Sesame Soy Chili Wings (so spicy but too delicious to put down) and the smoked Gouda mack n cheese (so cheesy, mouthwatering). They come in Tapas style, so they can easily be shared. Oh and did I mention this place was BYOB? Let me repeat! BYOB!!! Yes, you can bring YOUR OWN bottle of wine and they will provide the glasses and corkscrew and bucket of ice for chilling if needed.

I mean how much better can it get?

Awesome food? CHECK. BYOB? CHECK. Great ambiance? CHECK.

I would definitely recommend this place for a great date with that special someone or to celebrate a special occasion. BYOB and Dinner are on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm - Midnight.

I am definitely a BIG fan of The Eatery at Tullulah's and give it my official Cupcakes & Caviar Stamp of Approval =)

Tullulah's

TADA! II

I've decided I'm going to start another weekly posting in addition to my Wednesday's "~Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up~ post.

Every Friday I will spotlight a different restaurant I have been to and have fallen in love with. I will give my review, my favorite dish, and where they can be located. These restaurants will have the official "Cupcakes & Caviar" stamp of approval.

Let's call it.....

**Spotlight Friday's**

"Mommys Time Out"

Every month my fabulous aunts and I get together for a wine and cheese night. You know, a little drinking, eating, distressing, venting, gossiping session. Extremely good for your mental health! At least I think so.

We had about 4 bottles, but this one stood out to me amongst the others! "Mommy's Time Out", Pinot Grigio. Before last night I wasn't a huge fan of Pinot Grigio. It tended to be a little dry for me, and I like my whites sweet! However this was PERFECT! Not too dry not too sweet, the PERFECT balance. Plus, the name and the picture on the bottle really made me laugh. Or maybe i was already tipsy from the 5 glasses i had just drank and that made me laugh. Either way, I officially put my stamp of approval on this wine.

So, if you're ever wandering around the liquor store wondering what to bring to a dinner party, looking for a good wine to unwind with or if you're like my aunt and have 3 kids and need a "time out" yourself, pick up a bottle of Mommy's Time Out. It will not disappoint!

~Eat Up, Drink Up or Shut Up ~

In honor of France's Bastille Day, today's recipe will be french themed!

STRAWBERRY CREPES

[ Photo courtesy of My recipes ]

Oddly, my first time eating a crepe was in May on my vacation in the Dominican Republic. I know, French Crepes in DR, weird. But I guess that's just how they roll. One of my mornings there I tried a Strawberry Crepe and it was like heaven on a plate! Luckily I was able to find a really really easy recipe to share with you, in hopes that you experience the same heavenly experience I did.

Ingredients

CREPES

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup skim milk

1/3 cup water

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon white sugar

1 pinch salt



FILLING

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

3/4 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1.In a large bowl, beat together egg, milk, water and oil. Beat in flour, sugar and salt until smooth.

2.Heat a medium, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place a ladleful of crepe batter into center of pan, tilting to coat the bottom. Cook until golden brown on one side, turning once, 2 to 5 minutes. Continue with remaining batter.

3.In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

4.To assemble, spread some melted chocolate on the lighter side of one crepe. Place a line of overlapping strawberries down the center of the crepe and roll it up. Top with whipped topping and drizzle with a bit more chocolate. Repeat with remaining crepes.
 
 
The full recipe along with reviews and pics can be found Here

Break Me Off A Piece Of Meat

I LOVE New York! There are VERY few times I ever wish I lived elsewhere. However, this would be an exception, mainly because I'm greedy, fat and can eat meat like no ones business! (I apologize to my vegetarian friends, but I cant help it)

The restaurant chain Carl Jr's has decided to come up with what I can only describe as a "Fantabulous" ( Fabulous and Fantastic, I should copyrite this ) idea. The Foot Long Cheese Burger!!

Photo from Foodbeast

Sadly, the closest Carl Jr is on the west coast, so I can only use my imagination and think of the deliciousness that comes from a bite of this genius creation. PLEASE if any of my followers live on the west coast, try this and just let me live through your lucky taste buds!!


I first spotted this on Serious Eats but you can read one mans entire photo journey tasting this burger at FoodBeast

Disaster Lunch!!

There's very few times i get to EVER leave my desk while I'm at work. The only time this is possible is LUNCH TIME! Probably my favorite time of the day. And the time of day that gets me recharged and put back in a good mood!

So today I decide to take a nice drive in this beautiful NY weather we are having to our local Panera bread for a sandwich and Broccoli Cheddar soup. ( I usually HATE HATE soup but I think there might be crack in this one because I LOVE it! ) I wait on a line for 20 MIN, finally and excitedly get my food, take the nice drive back to work, sit at my desk, open my bag, pull out my sandwich and BAM!!! My first reaction..."what the F*** is this??" There it was, lying on my desk, this cold, practically empty, looks like its been sitting for 5 days sandwich!! Where's my chicken? Where's my bacon? WHERE IS ALL THE GOOD STUFF?? The I open the luxurious Broccoli Cheddar soup that has never failed me, and BAM! It's cold like they just took it out the fridge! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?? They are lucky that i couldn't leave my desk again and go and complain, cause it probably would have went something like this:

Panera lady: How can i help you?

Me: I hope you can help me better than the last retards

Panera lady: Oh my, what happened?

Me: (opens bag and shows her the disgrace) Would you eat something as crappy as this?

Panera Lady: (silence)

Me: I didn't think so, Bitch go make me my sandwich!!!!

HAHAHA!

Reluctantly, instead I tried to eat it and got grossed out and threw it away, forced to eat a vending machine pop tart  =(

 Now i am not usually this aggressive, but there are 3 things people should realize never to mess with:

1. My family

2. My Money

3. MY FREAKING FOOOD!!!!!!

DAMN YOU PANERA!!!!!!

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

Whoa!! Let me start off by apologizing for being about almost 2 weeks late with my weekly Wednesday recipe post. So much has been going on, I haven't even had the chance to find the best recipes to share with you! But fret no more, I'm about to give you probably THE best food creation since Ice Cream Cupcakes (OK maybe that's only the best to me =) )

I admit, I have not tried this recipe myself, YET!

Now some of you may know, that I watch the Food Network like it is my religion. I'm a loyal worshipper every Saturday and Sunday mornings like no ones business. So it's no surprise that of where I grabbed this recipe from. They have never left me disappointed!

BUFFALO-CHICKEN MACARONI & CHEESE

2 personal reasons why I pretty much believe this is the best recipe ever!!

1. My favorite comfort food is baked macaroni & cheese. I've been known to pout if I'm at a BBQ and no one leaves any for me. I've been to jump up and down if I go somewhere and they are serving it. I've even been known to eat the leftovers for breakfast. I think you get the point, I LOVE it!
2. I LOVE Wings! Meaty, Juicy, Slightly Spicy, covered in Buffalo Sauce, wings!

Do you get it yet? These geniuses have actually figured a way to combine these two delicious dishes into one luxurious meal! Please someone give them an award!

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the dish

Kosher salt

1 pound elbow macaroni

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped ( Personally, I would do without the celery)

3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken ( So simple, supermarkets always sell these already cooked, sometimes already shredded)

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup hot sauce (preferably Frank's)

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons dry mustard

2 1/2 cups half-and-half

1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)

8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

2/3 cup sour cream

1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) ( Cant find these? Any plain breadcrumbs would do.)

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese ( I hate blue cheese, I would definitely find a substitute)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.
Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.
Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

For the full recipe and other scrumptious meal ideas please visit My Favorite Website.

Salud!

It's Good For Your Soul

Anyone who knows me well, knows I go to food like it's my therapist. When you think about it, they don't call it comfort food for nothing. Why pay for an overpriced therapist, when you can indulge in a delicious pint of Ben & Jerry's, or break off a piece of luxurious Hershey's with Almonds, or sip on a LARGE glass of vino or strong margarita? It's comforting to know that these things will always be there when we need them, we can lay our hearts on the line and our innermost feelings in front of them without ever being judged, they don't talk back and their only goal is to make sure we are completely satisfied. That is why, for women, when we cant afford to buy new shoes (lets face it that is our other comfort), we nearly ALWAYS choose to communicate over food and alcohol. Recent heartbreak? Let's meet up for drinks and venting. Just got laid off? Come to my house for dinner and venting. Depressed? Lets go drinking and dancing and get our mind off things. Got a new job? Lets celebrate at the closest bar. Graduating? Let's throw a party with so much food we will have to roll you out.

This is just one of the many reasons why I love food and why I appreciate a good drink. Its the epicenter of encouragement, of getting through a bad breakup, of stimulating conversations, of new ideas, of overcoming obstacles. But most importantly it brings people together.

"Make Cupcakes, Not War"

I want this shirt RIGHT NOW!!! It's sold out everywhere I look! Please someone find it for me!!!!