Playing Tourist in NYC

Welcome new readers!

My friend Amanda is visiting from Boston this weekend, so I got the chance to play tourist with her!

After a tour of SoHo yesterday, we stopped at the very crowded Cafe Habana for lunch.

If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend visiting Cafe Habana, if not for the atmosphere alone. It’s crowded, but it has a very authentic feel to it and it is always hopping!

They’re famous for their corn, grilled and served with chili powder, lime & cotija cheese, which Amanda and I shared.

We each also got a meal. I got Molletes (toasted cuban bread topped with black refried beans & melted cheese served with fresh tomato salsa) and Amanda got a chicken and corn tortilla casserole dish with baked beans. 
Hit. The. Spot.  

After  lunch we did some shopping and I picked up some Baked by Melissa cupcakes for my friend Alex’s b-day!

1 s’mores, 2 cookie dough and 1 tie die. Yum! Amanda and I each picked up 2 for ourselves as well (obvs);)

Then it was off to the birthday party at Sambuca.

Sangria was poured.

And enjoyed….
 
JH!                                      Me!                                    Amanda!

There was a delicious and tangy chopped salad…

A CHEEEEESY whole wheat eggplant pasta dish…
 

And many other lovely looking delights!

…Such as CAKE!

Happy B-day ALEX!

Alright, I’m off to take a Haitian dance class with Amanda at Alvin Ailey! SO EXCITED!

And tonight I’m going to a Super Bowl partay with the BF and friends. I was notified that only “Super Bowl food” will be served, so I offered to bring some healthier fare (mainly so I would have something to eat)!

I’m bringing:

- Homemade Tortilla Chips
- Homemade dip (either salsa or seven layer bean dip, I haven’t decided yet)
- Shrimp and White Bean Salad

*Another thing that I like to bring to a party (but am not bringing tonight) that always is a crowd pleaser is Brie Cheese, just a whole thing of it, opened and topped with apricot preserves. SO DEE-LICIOUS! Bring along some whole wheat crackers and watch it disappear!*

What’s your favorite dish to bring to a party?