18th AVENUE/LYDIA'S BAKERY - Brooklyn, New York

For my entire life (since the teenage years) this has been the place. Did I purchase often ? the answer is no.

Were they always there and seen as a stronghold of the neighborhood, YES.

Eighteenth avenue Bakery's reputation has grown over and over again exponentially just from word of mouth spouted amongst my loved ones with a repeated ensconcement of appreciation.

Cannoli - I cannot first hand review the Cannoli as I did not have a taste but I hear that the Cake itself was lacking in Flavor and Character. This is reported to be four star and not five, Not Too Shabby.

You can't win them all, can you.

Napoleon - How very interesting this was as I have been on a Napoleon Hunt as of late.

Filled with Boston Cream as opposed to "Cake" Cream (Whippy Cream for those in the know) made this a surprising and welcome Tart to be reckoned with.

Thus far this is an anomaly and one that shall be revisited on my next sojourn.

Seven Layer Pastry - I was so looking forward to this.

 An oversized 7 Layer Cookie in a Pastry form.

Bit of a let down as it was lacking the Amaretto Overtones expected but still a great purchase and Yummy too.

Apple Coffee Cake - And a HUGE piece was sold to me. I didn't ask and she didn't question.

This may have been the crowning achievement of all these Pastries and will I get it again, Hells YEAH.

Nothing bad to say, Just Delicious.

The "Soft Loaf".

I ate this mother all by myself in one sitting.

Cristina had a sample but I ate it all. Delicious and Soft. Marone.

5/16 - Semolina Loaf -

9/1 - An Assortment of...

Cristina was running some errands on 18th avenue so we made a trip to Lydia's for goodies. Cristina got a half pound of 7 layer Cookies and Butter Cookies along with a Chocolate Cannoli, she gifted me a Brownie and Chocolate Eclair.

Chocolate Cannoli - Good dipped Chocolate but not enough Cream is Cristina's review. 

Chocolate Eclair - I chose an Eclair in great part because of the sign in the entryway espousing the greatness of their Eclairs which was absolutely true. Thick Rich Chocolate, Fresh Whipping Cream, Dense Vanilla moist in a pastry style Cake with REAL Boston Creme filling, I am not a Huge Eclair fan but give me a dozen of these and I will surely become one.

Brownie - Just a Quality Bakery Brownie, very dense with proper Chocolate Icing. The Cherry on the Cannoli in the photo was originally from the Brownie but Cristina wanted it.

Cream Puff (Cannoli Cream) - One of the Elder Cakes in the Bakery canon, I know of Cream Puffs from the Shirley Temple/Laurel & Hardy/Little Rascals idiom and I might be wrong on all counts of any mention from the accused on film or recording but yet I had never tried one myself.

Thanks to Cristina's mom for the leftovers but these were quite simple yet gracious of a pastry. Cut an airy Biscuit of Cake in half, Fill with Cream, in the case photo here it is Cannoli Cream, Regular Cream is also available.

Home Made CHICKEN PARMIGIANA - Brooklyn, New York.

This might be my favorite food of all time and always places towards the front when confronted with the "death row/final meal" question.

Home Made Sauce of course and I actually prefer the way that Polly-O Mozzarella Melts as opposed to Fresh Muzz which almost as a rule should be Eaten unmelted right from the plate in my book.

Cristina's Parm Hero.

A couple of Golden Slabs of Poultry perfection awaiting their demise.

FUKI SUSHI (part lV) - Brooklyn, New York

4/10/16 - Gyoza - Gyoza is a Fried Pork Dumpling Japanese style,Better than a Chinese Dumpling as it has thinner skin as the frozen brand you can purchase to make at home.

4/10/16 - Mackerel Sashimi & Eel/Mango (custom made) - The Sashimi is as I expected a bit of Sardine texture, Really worth another order and I dropped a piece so that ends that . Eel/Mango Roll custom made to Cristina's order is Topped with Salty Eel sauce and containing Eel yet the Mango overpowers with a sweetness, Rice out.

4/10/16 - Mango Roll, Avocado Roll (Top L to R) - Philadelphia Roll, Yellow Tail Scallion (Bottom L to R) - The Mango Roll is a bit Sweet for my taste and I was surprised that Oshinko was absent, well at least I tried it but possibly never again, not bad but not great rice out. Raises the question if there is no Fish is it even Sushi ? Well Vegetarians need to eat something
Rice out. Avocado Roll is simply Delicious but a bit boring, however I adjusted my first taste with some - and Wasabi. Philadelphia Roll is what I have come to expect and was a bit of a sure fire thing Rice out. Yellow Tail Scallion is Fishy like Salmon including the texture and Scallions only in the aftertaste Rice out.

8/25/16 - Yummy Roll - And boy was this Yummy.

Considering myself a Sushi novice I still meander the "Roll or Hand Roll" portion of the Menu as opposed to the "Special Roll" area for those of a more experienced ilk but every now and again I take that leap and so worth it it always is, in this case WOW.

Shrimp Tempura, Avocado (in), Spicy Kani (top).

FUKI SUSHI (part lll)

CITTALI TAQUERIA Y PANADERIA - Brooklyn, New York

Pork Sope in the photo above.

Cittali has been looming in the foreground on my "MUST TRY" list for some months now as they are just steps from my apartment and now offer authentic Mexican specialities as opposed to Chulo's which presided in that spot previously and served Peruvian dishes that were not as appealing (Salchipapa's were absent from the menu).

4/3/16 - Chicken Burrito ($8.00) - Of this I was not overly impressed with but the BURRITO was what I had my eye on (for said months) as in "Boy I Must Try One Of Their Burrito's".

Typical fare and no real complaints but the Rice & Beans (which a Burrito mainly consists) were not of absolute perfection and I did have Pancho's (now renamed Coszcal De Allende) only recently of whom did supply a level of perfection.

Upon second leftover helping it was quite better but many things do come into play amongst leftover helpings. Would I get another Burrito from Cittali again,... YES.

Rice, Beans, Lettuce & Crema.

4/4/16 - Sopes ($2.99 each) - Pictured above is one Pork & one Chicken Sope' and boy did this change the game as they were Delicious and of almost perfection.

Lettuce, Crema & Beans in a Corn Tortilla, they flaunt Cheese on the menu ingredients but that was disguised and vaguely abstracted to my dish, in other words where is the Goddamn Cheese !!!.

4/6/16 - Quesidilla ($6.00) - Once again I am not impressed but worth going down the line on the Menu to seek and find.

One Large Quesidilla with an average amount of Chorizo but once again Where is the Goddamn Cheese !!!

A Quesidilla is basically a Grilled CHEESE Sandwich after all.

4/12/16 - Gordita ($2.99 each) -

Cittali Exterior.

Cristina's Chicken Cutlet Combo 3/31/16

Cristina wanted a Fried Veggie Sammich (Peppers, Onions & Garlic) but I also needed my Meat so we decided to add home made Chicken Cutlets. 

So Far, So Good and as far as Good this is what was achieved.

Cristina also prepared this dish from scratch aside from the Frying of the Cutlets aspect.

I am always skimpy on the Oil for health and monetary reasons but Cristina poured it on and do you know what?,...

Golden, Tender, Oily Perfection.

So don't skimp on the EVOO. Life is what you make it.

Just Look At Them.

Rule number one is not to show an eaten product in a Food pic but,...

OH YES.

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPERNICKEL CHARLIE BROWN.

I have been on a Pumpernickel kick for some months now, seemingly sparked by those little hours d'oeuvre sliced party bread seen at all those parties.

Cristina gifted me a mini Loaf of Rubschlager Pump and this is ferociously great, kind of like the little hours d'oeuvre sliced party bread but bigger. These are Westphalian style and dare I say ROCK MY WORLD. 

Stiff & Moldy (not green moldy, texture moldy) they are just like the mini breads they serve as hours d'oeuvre's topped with all manner of everything at a party you may or may not have been to.

Not Just Bagels - 

Supermarket brands - 

5/10/16 - Kaff Bake shoppe (kosher) - 

12/28/16 - La Bella

EASTER 2016

Mini Lobster Balls -