scaling the precipice like a couple of mountain goats

My fiancé and I recently took a trip up north into Maine. Neither of us had been to the Pine Tree State before and were eager to see some moosen take in some awesome sights...and perhaps a bite or 50 of lobster.

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herwig's

Do you like pork products, or simply pigs in general? Are you a glutton for verbal (and, in some instances, physical) punishment? Most importantly, do you have a sense of humor and a hunger for fine, filling, and flatulent food?


If so, this place is for you.

I made my way down to State College, PA, over Labor Day weekend to spend some quality time with my family. My brother, who's currently living there, has stumbled upon quite the unique and extraordinary restaurant--it’s called Herwig’s, and it’s magnificent. The cuisine is all Austrian, all the time, and although I can’t speak from personal experience, it’s all authentic too.

Aside from the delectable dishes, which I’ll describe momentarily, one of the draws of this place is its utter disregard for manners and niceties. The servers and cooks aren’t afraid to bully the patrons, and do so with wild abandon. They’ll even pelt you with plush pig toys when you're not looking.

It’s all in fun, though, and it all is fun. Particurlarly enjoyable is the eating portion of the experience. The options are handwritten on a chalkboard in German, and there's no pointing and ordering--they make you say what you want, no matter how badly you butcher the pronunciation.

Here’s what my party of four ordered:

Hax’n—a whole pig’s leg, sauerkraut, and knodel, expertly-consumed by my brother:

For the record, he only allowed me enough time to take two pictures, which was kind of him but explains why you don't see the porker's limb in all its glory. The sauerkraut is a favorite for him, but he's learned that there are limits to what his system can handle...

Bratwurstplatte—two brats, potater salad, and sauerkraut, handled nicely by Merlin:

His only disappointment? The place is BYOB, and he had none.

Rosmarin Schweinsbraten—rosemary roast pork, sauerkraut, and potato salad, which completely conquered Mamster, who had to shamefully ask for a box:


Mariniertes Huhn—grilled chicken breast, tater salad, and a green salad, which I’m proud to say fit nicely into my belly:

The seasoning of the chicken was wonderful, and the pat of herbed butter on top certainly didn't hurt. I really enjoyed the potato salad--it was mostly smooth with an occasional hunk of soft tuber, with hints of mustard shining through.

We were all pleased, and aside from Mammy’s shameful display, we were all members of the Clean Plate Club. Herwig's is good eats.

Other highlights of my trip to State College included burgers, all cheesed up and straight from the grill...


...and grilled corn--can the rods of golden kernels get any better? I vote no.


I also scored a bounty of tomatoes, potaters, and squash, canned green beans, salsa, and dilly beans, jams, jellies, apple butter, applesauce, and a good dose of lovin'. Even though I've been living 700 miles away for about two years, my Mamster still takes good care of me.

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pardon the interruption

In an effort to break up the butternut squash monotony, I bring you this public service announcement:


Beware of gelatinous sugar (of mania-inducing levels) cleverly disguised as a burger.

Although blatantly obvious upon closer inspection, this could easily be mistaken for a burger at first glance...


...if you've never seen a real burger.

No, a burger it is not. It is, in fact, a marshmallow designed to look like a burger, and it is pure poison:


To say that it would have you bouncing off the walls would be an understatement.

In other news, my rental car a couple days ago was a PT Cruiser, one of the most hideous automobiles ever created (in my opinion). Ridiculously enough, the clock inside was analog:


Who does that?

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brooklyn bridge and sweet sorrow

Our last hurrah in the city was a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.


Manhattan truly is a magnificent place, even under ominous skies.


As a fitting end to the trip, we went to a lovely little bakery called Crumbs. Mixed feelings abound (how can anyone hate on butter and sugar?), but I thought there were oodles of appetizing choices. After much deliberation, I settled on the caramel apple cupcake:


I got a face full of icing with that first bite, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. I also liked the surprise waiting for me inside:


(cinnamon-y baked apples elate me)(especially when surrounded by moist cake and topped with abundant heavenly buttercream frosting)

Jamie opted for the peach cobbler muffin:


(gots ta love that crumb topping)

Katie immediately knew what she wanted--the cappuccino cupcake:


(topped and filled with a rich coffee-flavored icing)(and apparently a rogue red sprinkle)

I had been resisting, but can now be counted as a fan of cupcakes.

I can also be counted as a fan of New York City (Manhattan, at least), mostly because I had an awesome tour guide, a terrific travel companion, and lots of good food.

One last food note: After putting Katie in a cab for the airport, James and I stopped at The Hummus Place on our way to the train station. What a glorious place (as many can attest), this center for all things hummus. I got hummus with tahini, and I can tell you that the people seated around me on the train were shooting me some looks, either from pure envy or a distaste for the smell of garlic. Sorry, fellow travelers--it tasted fantastic and I wasn't stopping for anything.

Thank you so much, James! In the words of my favorite he-man-turned-actor-turned-governator, I'll be back.

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bistro brunch and marvelous market

Our last day began with brunch at a classy French bistro called Pastis. We were given the choice to be seated inside or outside, and opted for the more peaceful, more people-watching-friendly outside. (After all, we were right down the street from the Food Network office space, so you never know who might stroll by...)


Still stuffed to the brim from my glorious meal at Mesa Grill, I chose a lighter meal of granola with fresh berries and yogurt:


(thick yogurt, crunchy granola, and sweet, luscious berries)

Jamie got the croque madame:


(hearty bread, plenty of cheese, and a nice, runny egg)

Katie, cheese fan extraordinaire, ordered an omelet stuffed with herbs and lots of goat cheese:


(it came with crispy fries, too)

About 85% through our meal, the sky clouded over and the rain began. Fortunately, we came prepared...


...and were able to stay relatively dry until they could find a table for us inside.

After brunch, we headed down the street to the famous Chelsea Market. There are lots of bakeries (including the Fat Witch Bakery, which offered free brownie samples and is therefore awesome), as well as multiple shops and markets.

The Italian market (Buon Italia) is full of great stuff. They have many, many varieties of cheese, which means Katie was in heaven:


I was also in heaven, for they have pretty much every bean known to man...


...and chocolate. Lots o' chocolate:


They had oodles of fresh produce at the Manhattan Fruit Exchange--things like squasharinos...


...peppers...


...some questionable merchandise...


...and a few things I couldn't identify:


Anybody?

Update: Okay, one of my favorite Greeks, Peter of Kalofagas, tells me it's coconut. I'm slightly embarrassed. :)

There were no run-ins with any Iron Chefs, but it was still an incredible experience.

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bobby flay, ya done good

When Jamie asked me if eating at a Bobby Flay restaurant would tickle my fancy, I told her that would be an understatement. She must really love me, because she booked reservations at Mesa Grill soon afterward.


Upon being seated last Saturday night, I immediately became completely and totally captivated by the menu. There were so many options that sounded right up my alley, and, as usual, I had a hard time deciding. Don't worry, I was quite pleased with my final selections.

I apologize for the blurry pictures--I didn't want to waste time fiddling with the camera. Me and my buds wanted to eat!

The bread basket, a nice variety:



(blue corn muffin = excellent)

My appetizer was black bean soup. It was so creamy, slightly sweet yet still spicy, and utterly delicious.


Black Bean Soup with Toasted Cumin Crema + 3 Relishes of Tomato-Serrano, Avocado-Tomatillo + Grilled Red Onion

The cumin crema gave a terrific smoky flavor and the three relishes were all wonderful, with my favorites being the fiery tomato-serrano and the smooth-like-buttah avocado-tomatillo. So, so good.


(Look at that chunk of avocado. Just look at it.)

My entree was a chile relleno:


Cornmeal Crusted Chile Relleno filled with Roasted Eggplant + Manchego Cheese with Sweet Red Pepper Sauce + Balsamic Vinegar

The filling was so luscious and flavorful, and spiced perfectly to boot. I didn't need the salt shaker at all!


(the innards)

Jamie and Katie each got a queso dip:


Goat Cheese Queso Fundido with Rajas + Blue Corn Tortilla Chips


(cheesalicious)

James also got the ribs:


Barbecued Country Ribs with Mango Habanero Glaze + Green Onion Peanut Relish

Katie also got a smaller chile relleno...


Anaheim Chile Relleno filled with White Cheddar Cheese, Black Beans + Rice

...and the mashed potatoes with cilantro pesto:


(the only disappointing dish of the evening--not enough pesto!)

Jamie's friend Leslie joined us and got the mushroom grits, promptly proclaiming that they were quite possibly the best thing she'd ever put into her mouth.


Creamy Wild Mushroom Grits with Poached Egg, Charred Serrano Sauce, Cotija Cheese + Blue Corn Tortilla Crisps

I don't care for mushrooms, but I have to admit that they were extremely tasty. I've often heard dishes described as complex, and now I can honestly say I know what that means. It was a lovely marriage of flavors and textures.

This was a super exciting and satisfying experience for me. Great food and great company--ya just can't beat it with a stick.

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a picnic in the park and a plethora of playthings

(Just so you know, I have no qualms about abusing my knack for alliteration.)

Saturday began with a picnic in Central Park. This wasn't just any ol' picnic, oh no.


It was, to put it mildly, a Middle Eastern extravaganza. We got takeout from this lovely little gem called Pyramida.


The fella behind the counter was more than happy to take our large order, and even recommended a white bean dip that turned out to be one of our favorite buys.

We got tabouli...


(very fresh and herbacious)

spanikopita...


(a unique take on the classic and pretty darn tasty)

white bean dip...


(soooo very creamy and not too garlicky, with plenty of paprika)

baba ghannouj...


(not my favorite, but still yummy)

hummus...


(a wonderful consistency and lovely flavor)

pitas...


(thick and soft and fabulous)

and of course, baklava...


(some of the best I've ever tasted)


(a baklava beginner...it's safe to say that she enjoyed it)


(it's safe to say we all enjoyed it)

We spent a good hunk of the day lingering over the picnic, reminiscing about the past and even learning a few new things about each other. It was really great.


(I love you gals!)(Yes, that's me on the right, not some random vagrant.)

Properly fed and enthusiastic, it was time to do some walking. We saw some awesome, almost So-You-Think-You-Can-Dance-worthy break dancing...


...some large jewels...


(Jamie claims she would be willing to sacrifice her education to own this ring from Tiffany's)

...and toys. Lots of toys.

FAO Schwartz is an amazing toy store. If I had visited as a child, I would've been beside myself with glee. As an adult (well...let's go with semi-adult), however, my main goal was to see The Big Piano:


James found a friend...


...and Katie found a fitting hat:


A couple of loons, these girls.

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