May 2023
Lilia
The wait to experience this Williamsburg Italian treasure was worth it
The section where N. 10th street and Union Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn collide into one sits a middle island with a string of buildings. At the very top of the island is an unexpecting slice of heaven by the name of Lilia Ristorante.
Masked in an off-white brick exterior, light grey accents and subtle signage, to the naked eye it wouldn’t require a second glance. But if you are one of the lucky few to snag a reservation at this humble location, it is likely you will never forget it. As the American writer, James Thurber once said, “beautiful things don’t ask for attention.”
Originating from the Latin word “Lilium” meaning “lily”, Lilia Ristorante’s neutral palate continues into the interior of the restaurant that evokes a soft and feminine aesthetic, very similar to it’s namesake. The walls are stacked with an impressive collection of European wine along with clean white oak shelves used to display the artisanal stone plates and bowls used to serve small, yet exquisite dishes. The northern wall is lined with large windows, filling the space with a natural glow.
Then there’s the food. We ordered with our instincts, and tried our best to choose dishes we think reflected Lilia. We were not disappointed. The only thing we could think about when it was done was what we would order when we go back.
April 2023
Lemon Bars Recipe
Nothing says springtime quite like a bright batch of this zesty and sweet treat
Two-weeks prior to my trip back home to California, I texted my mom a link to Ina Garten’s recipe for lemon bars along with a SOS emoji. I had such a craving to bake, and lemon bars felt like the right way to get into the spirit of springtime.
The final product was delicious. However, we concluded if we could do it over again, we would tweak a few things (less eggs, more lemon, etc.) which the below recipe reflects. Bon appétit and happy spring!
Lemon Bars Recipe
Ingredients for the crust
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Ingredients for the filling
3-4 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
April 2023
Spring Break Destinations for Quiet and Peaceful Getaways
The hunt for a relaxing vacation during a busy travel season
Spring Break has a reputation for being a little, well, crazy. During the months of March-April, it can be expected anywhere warm and pleasant will be busy with college students swarming the beaches or kids’ pools at max capacity.
For those seeking to defrost their bones after a chilly winter season in a place of peace, it can be tricky. Avoiding crowds in sunny climates this time of year requires research and proactive questions such as, “is this hotel adults-only?” or “is this location highly sought-after this time of year?” and my favorite, “how quiet is too quiet?” The answer: there is no such thing as too quiet.
These questions and more have all been taken into careful consideration with the below recommendations for your ideal spring break getaway.
Four Seasons Hotel- Madrid, Spain
The Four Seasons brand is infamously luxurious, but the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is on another playing field. Nestled in the heart of Madrid, the hotel is walking distance from the capital’s most beloved treasures such as The Prado Museum, El Retiro Park and San Miguel Market.
Even with it’s central location in the middle of a bustling city, the Four Seasons Madrid is surprisingly quiet. It’s a luxurious oasis that provides 5-star service the minute you set foot in the lobby. Whether your craving tapas by the indoor pool, lounging out under the Spanish sun or sipping rose at the rooftop bar, this hotel is the ultimate oasis. Bonus is if your room is facing the alleyway, there is a small street quartet band playing classical music throughout the day, which is the perfect background noise for any relaxing holiday.
San Ysidro Ranch- Montecito, CA
There is a reason celebrities and even royalty flock to Montecito in the central coast of California—the chic coastal town is a private and serene haven for those wishing for a quieter life or in this case, a peaceful vacation.
Tucked away in the hillside within Montecito sits the historic San Ysidro Ranch. Once land to Franciscan monks and citrus orchards, the SYR has evolved to become one of the most luxuriously quiet hideaways and has attracted the likes of Winston Churchill, John and Jackie Kennedy (who honeymooned at the Ranch!) Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Gwyneth Paltrow, just to name a few.
The property is engulfed in citrus and eucalyptus trees, French lavender and gardens of wildflowers and roses. Bright pink bougainvillea drapes over the entrance of the hotel which is the perfect greeting upon arrival. There are 38 cottages to choose from all of which include a private hot tub and outdoor space if you so choose to order in-room dining. If you aren’t able to find peace and quiet at the San Ysidro Ranch, then you won’t have much luck finding it elsewhere.
Inness-Accord, New York
For those living in the hustle and bustle of New York City, the last thing someone wants is to head to a vacation that is crowded and noisy like the city. If anything, the chance to smell fresh air, be among nature and hear the chirping of the birds without the screams of sirens and car horns is a vacation in of itself.
Inness is the perfect spot to get away from it all for a day (or two or three!). Just a mere 2.5 hour drive out of the city, the hotel and resort is located on 220 pastoral acres between the Catskill and Shawangunk mountain ranges. From golf, hiking trails, tennis courts and a large saltwater pool to lounge by, Inness is a city dweller’s dream. The hotel offers guests the options between staying in the Farmhouse or choosing one of the 28 minimalist cabins that are amenity havens decked out with Aesop soap, Intelligentsia Coffee and private decks for reading, writing or simply enjoying the silence.
March 2023
The Anti-TikTok NYC Food Guide
Just because it isn’t trending on TikTok doesn’t make it any less extraordinary
Rainbow bagels in Williamsburg, the infamous Dominique Ansel cronut, mini-croissant cereal from L’Apartment 4F, Carbone’s spicy rigatoni —if it’s trending on TikTok or Instagram, everyone’s trying it (or trying to do so).
But what about the other thousands of fabulous restaurants and innovative dishes existing quietly and humbly in a massive city like New York, just waiting to be discovered? The city is bursting at the seams with culinary options, which makes turning to the trends easier than making the effort to find something that isn’t all over your news feed.
The good news is just because something isn’t trending doesn’t make it any less extraordinary and this guide is here to prove it.
1.Daily Provisions- The Cruller
I don’t have a sweet tooth. I would take a savory and salty snack any day of the week over dessert. However, a cruller from Daily Provisions is the exception to my rule. When my husband and I lived in the Upper East Side, I would wake up at 7 AM on Saturday’s and demand we walked the 2 miles across Central Park to the Upper West Side in hopes of being one of the lucky locals who snagged a cruller before they sold out. There is nothing like that first taste of the soft, pillowy dough that is so fluffy, it feels like you are biting into a sugary air. Every month, Daily Provisions releases a new cruller flavor but they always offer the classics such as cinnamon sugar and maple (unless they are sold out!).
If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant is in NYC, I would say without a moment of hesitation: Russ & Daughters. The only way to describe the Russ & Daughters experience is iconic. It’s a NYC legend. Their high-quality selection of bagels, spreads, caviar and smoked fish is so addicting that I almost spent over $30 for one bagel to be delivered to my apartment from their Brooklyn location.
3. Fonda Mexican Restaurant- Grilled Fish Tacos
NYC is good at so many things but so bad at authentic Mexican food. I have lived in New York for nearly 10 years and for the longest time I would say the best Mexican food in the city was at Chipotle. That was until a friend of mine introduced me to Fonda, a modern Mexican restaurant with multiple locations in Manhattan, where I can confidently say I had the best grilled fish tacos in town. I (of course) requested extra sides of spicy salsa which was the right dose of medicine I needed to cure my yearning for good quality Mexican food.
When we moved from the Upper East Side to Fort Greene, a quaint neighborhood in Brooklyn, I was skeptical. I had heard great things about Brooklyn, but I was homesick for Central Park and the comfort of the cafes and restaurants I knew and loved in Manhattan. Slowly but surely, my homesickness faded and Brooklyn grew on me by the way of Miss Ada, a Mediterranean restaurant on Dekalb Ave. Miss Ada is known for their smaller, shareable dishes such as hummus, kebab and shwarma but the lamb merguez, as my husband eloquently explained, is special. The exotic combination of creamy hummus, spicy lamb and warm herbs made me forget for a split second what the Upper East Side was.
Bittersweet is a small coffee shop painted a vibrant green just steps away from Fort Greene park on Dekalb Ave. I had been told by a few people to try it out if I liked coffee (which I do), so one morning, I did. To no surprise, the line was long with neighborhood locals but I was committed to the cause. In line, I overheard a young girl begging her father for a blackberry scone, which made me curious. I ordered my regular — a café au lait with almond milk (the almond milk at Bittersweet is homemade)- and the blackberry scone I had heard the girl cry for. The moment I took a bite of the scone, I knew why she was so emotional. It was still slightly warm from the oven with the perfect amount of fresh blackberries baked inside. The sugar on the outside was gorgeously crunchy but the scone’s dough was soft and moist. When there was no more scone for me to enjoy, I started feeling a little bittersweet.
