Drive Everywhere Syndrome Challenge

One thing I've noticed since leaving urban life and transitioning to Garden City is that DES, Drive Everywhere Syndrome, is rampant. Even those suburbanites who've left city life and say they miss walking everywhere have fallen victim. This could be for a variety of reasons- convenience, things are naturally more spread out in the burbs, comfort, the euphoria of having ample parking, etc. 

Mmmm... Beer

A friend once told me that it's worth a trip to Belgium just for the beer. I think you can say the same for Waterzooi on Franklin Ave in Garden City: The beer alone is a reason to go. But the food doesn't take a backseat to the beer. Picture buckets of mussels, an extensive Belgium beer menu and great "frites" served with real mayo.

The restaurant looks like it belongs in the West Village. When you look up at the garage door hovering overhead, you could also be in the Meatpacking district. The ambiance was great- cool decor and lighting. If you're looking for a place to wear your trendier NYC clothes in suburbia, add Waterzooi to your list.

As for the food, there were so many combinations of sauces and toppings for the mussels, it was a tough decision. The bouillabaisse style- topped with shrimp and lobster in tomato/crab broth- was delicious. Of course they were served with crusty bread for dipping (not quite Dom's bread in Hoboken, but who cares when you're dipping into yummy seafood broth with a delicious Belgium beer on the side?). I drank the Sophie, which had a slight citrus flavor and was very tasty. It paired well with the Waterzoii entree- jumbo shrimp, lobster, little neck clams, mussels, sweet corn and yukon golds in a creamy broth- which was fantastic. I look forward to trying the escargot, oysters, steaks, lobster mac and cheese, and Belgium waffles for dessert... so many interesting options on the menu, plus friendly service, cool ambiance, Belgium beers... I will definitely be back.

What is GC wearing? (Sept. edition)

What is GC wearing?

I didn’t know what to expect fashion-wise when I first moved here. I had heard a variety of things that would send an urban girl running such as “you can’t wear the same thing twice” and “the women wear tennis skirts every day”. Well, I was pleasantly surprised.

Summertime revealed a lot of very simple, casual dressers. Whoever was not away at their summer homes was around town in shorts and tees, casual summer dresses and sandals. The sports fields had much of the same casual look. But the start of school has revealed a whole different fashion animal that did not disappoint- distressed jeans, skinny jeans, cool scarves, awesome shoes and great bags- with a notable Louis Vuitton presence.  I’ve also spotted a fair amount of studs (on clothes, shoes, accessories) and bright colors. Everyone seemed to bring their A-game to the start of the school year and I’d say the crowd is definitely well dressed and on-trend, but not overdone. Although I’m not a fan of the cold weather (or football), I am looking forward to seeing what fall fashion brings to GC.

Pizza Taste Test: Umberto's Cheese vs Grandma

So I had a few people at my house on Monday night and decided to order some pizza. I've heard Umberto's on Jericho Tpke in New Hyde Park is the place to beat, so I ordered two pies. I thought it would be fun to taste test two pies- the regular cheese and the Grandma pie which, I recently learned, originated on Long Island. I've had some pretty good, dare I say... fabulous, Grandma pizza and I was excited to try Umberto's- the local favorite.

When the pies arrived, the cheese pizza looked great but the Grandma didn't look like a traditional Grandma. Yes, it was square, but it appeared thick and cheesy- like a typical cheese pie. I was wary.

I first tasted the regular pie and it did not disappoint. I wouldn't tell you it's the must-have pizza of all time, but I wouldn't NOT recommend it. It definitely held its own. Then for the Grandma- it was a disappointment. It was thick and very cheesy- as I suspected- and didn't have garlic or thick chopped tomatoes on top. It had regular pizza sauce and what seemed like an abundance of cheese- like your everyday slice. It was heavy on the basil, as most Grandmas usually are, but it lacked the other ingredients that a real Grandma should have- square thin crust, light on the cheese, crushed chunky tomatoes and fresh garlic.

I have to say that I was underwhelmed with Umberto's Grandma pizza but would eat their regular cheese pizza again. Maybe I've been spoiled by great Hoboken and NYC pizza for too long. As for good Grandma pizza around GC, the search continues. Any suggestions?