Dessert Crawl w/Top NYC Pastry Chef

Four flavors



Chef

 Somehow, even though I am from New Jersey*, I have a disproportionate number of successful creative/artist-type friends from high school who have become well-known musicians, photographers, recording engineers, writers and chefs. One in particular is Jimmy Distefano, the esteemed pastry chef at Rouge Tomate on E. 60th St. across from Barneys. A graduate of the Culinary Institute and some amazing place in France, he makes the best desserts I've ever eaten.  He's worked at several well-known establishments including the Park Avenue Cafe, David Burke & Donatella, Blue Fin and others.  And lucky for me he had the brilliant idea that we go on a dessert crawl last night. How I never came up with this idea myself is a mystery.

We began crawling at Mille-feuille 552 Laguardia between W. 3rd St. and Bleecker in the Village.  The small, bakery-cafe, with white tiled walls and wood flooring is known for its mille-feuille ($3.90) and macaroons ($1.90 each).  The mille-feuille (literally "thousand-leaf) was divine.  The macaroons came in many flavors and we tried five of them: rose raspberry (the best), chocolate praline, coconut, pistachio, espresso (2nd best).  This was new to me, as I had only eaten the coconut macaroons that most New Yorkers are familiar with.  If you have not had "French" macaroons, might I suggest you go here and try some? 

Then we hopped over to the new Amorino on University and W. 10th Street.  A very fancy interior set the stage for some serious gelato ingesting.  Served in a cup or a cone in various sizes, they charge by weight, so you could arguably order 10 flavors in one.  I got a medium mango and pineapple, while the good chef ordered a larger version that included raspberry, yogurt, hazelnut and salted caramel.  His was certainly better, and so I felt I should help him with his once I plowed through mine.  The total bill was $14.50.

Our final stop was Momofuku Milk Bar at 251 E. 13th St. near 2nd Ave. My reco'?  Don't believe the hype.  We got a compost cookie ($1.85) and a piece of crack pie ($5.25) and all I could taste was the sweetest sugar of my life.  Very one-dimensional.  I could have made this stuff, folks, and that is NOT a compliment.  But the lines were long and the money flowing...

*nothin' but love for ya, NJ

April 6&7: IMOGA Private Sale

Yes, it's for kids.  Yes it's in New Jersey.  But isn't that where kids live?  Check out the IMOGA children's clothing sale.

April 6-10: Blow Out Sample Sale at Jaehee Bridal Atelier

It's almost that time of year again...if you are on the hunt for bridal and mother's gowns you may want to consider a trip to Jaehee in Englewood, NJ (close to the George Washington Bridge).  Beautiful, high-end gowns at great prices. I may even have to get married to have an excuse to go myself! Read on for the 911...

Sample Sale - Save up to 75%

April 6-10, 2010

Designers include: Amsale, Amy Michelson, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Atelier Aimee, Badgely Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Clair Pettibone, David Fielden, Elizabeth Fillmore, Jenny Packham, Kenneth Pool, La Sposa, Manuel Mota, Melissa Sweet, Nicole Miller, Paloma Blaca, Platinum, Priscilla of Boston, Pronovias, Reem Acra, Rosa Clara, San Patrick, Vineyard, Stephen Yearick, Damianou, Daymor, Jovani and many more!
Call (201) 541-0077 today for your sample sale appointment!

Upcoming Trunk Shows:
* April 16-17 - Christos
* April 23-24 - Melissa Sweet
* April 30-May 1 - Enzoani

Jaehee Bridal
66 N Van Brunt St.
Englewood, NJ 07631
http://www.jaeheebridal.com/

To schedule your private consultation, call (201) 541-0077 or visit http://www.jaeheebridal.com/ for more information.

Jersey Gardens: Lord & Taylor Outlet Store opens

February, 12th was the grand opening of Lord & Taylor's first Outlet Store at Jersey Gardens.

There will be new bargains every week on in-season fashions and accessories, but for the grand opening there was a 4-day coupon that gives 20% off any item. Unfortunately I'm just posting it now, so it's effectively a 1-day coupon (Monday, President's Day 2010) Here's the link: http://bit.ly/ceQ05t

The new outlet is located at the Jersey Gardens Mall (Exit 13A off the Jersey Turnpike).

Have fun shopping, while I'm WORKING (as usual).

Jersey Alert: BELLE DE NUIT Silk Flowers & Candles at Riverside Square

My calling it Riverside Square goes to show how long it's been...Oh and read the bottom for the Guerilla Shopper insider special!...

Top-notch silk flower designer - BELLE DE NUIT - is holding court at THE SHOPS AT RIVERSIDE, HACKENSACK, NJ (ROUTE 4 WEST ) through New Year's Day.

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 9:30pm (Closed Sunday - BLUE LAWS!!)
BELLE is located inside the mall between Bloomingdale's & The Cheesecake Factory

GREAT GIFTS
BELLE DE NUIT CANDLES: Great scents; three sizes

Special Guerilla Shopper Deal:
Mention Guerilla Shopper + SPEND $100.00 or more = receive a 100% soy candle for FREE.  Yay!

Oct. 7-12: abc carpet & home hackensack warehouse sale

Up to 75% off original prices on upholstery, antiques, theodore alexander, french heritage, traditional & modern furniture, lighting, textiles & accessories, bedding and organic mattreses, modern rugs, handmade orientals, needlepoints, aubussons, flatweaves, shags, mansion sizes, runners, remnants and more...

when: october 7-12

home: upholstery, antiques, theodore alexander, french heritage, traditional & modern furniture: dining, chairs, armoires, sideboards, bookcases, mirrors, office, beds, lighting, textiles & accessories, bedding & organic mattresses
rugs: modern, handmade orientals, needlepoints, aubussons, flatweaves, shags, mansion sizes, runners & remnants
wall-to-wall carpet: wool, sisal, seagrass, coir, berbers, designer & commercial carpet

abc carpet & home – south hackensack
warehouse outlet
400 huyler street
south hackensack, nj 07606
201 641 3400
m-sat: 10-7, closed Sundays
http://www.abchome.com/

BoConcept Warehouse Sale, Oct. 18

Even though - years ago - they screwed a guy I used to work with by promising him that his new furniture would be delivered in a month, which caused him to get rid of his old furniture, by which time they called him back to tell him that his new furniture would not actually be ready for three months, which then caused him to cancel the whole order, which resulted in his having to live in an empty apartment for weeks until he could get furniture elsewhere, I can't ignore a good sale:

WHO: BoConcept
WHAT: Warehouse Furniture Sale
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hours: 10am – 3pm
WHERE: 180 Pulaski Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002

BoConcept Furniture Warehouse Sale: April 12

It's not for a while, it's in NJ, but it may be worth putting this on your calendar if you're in the market for cheap(er) furniture. http://www.boconcept.com/

Bo Concept Warehouse Sale: Bayonne NJ

Don't Go to the 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken, NJ

I attended a great fun wedding this weekend for one of my dearest and tallest friends. The weather was perfect, ceremony lovely, reception most enjoyable...and then there was the after party at the 3 Forty Grill in Hoboken.

This photo may have been the best thing about our experience there - never mind the mediocre $11 drinks and bartenders with major 'tude...how about the fact that the happy newlyweds had reserved a room in advance at the 3 Forty, and upon our arrival found out that almost the entire wedding party and about half of the guests were not allowed to enter the establishment. Why? Because they didn't have their IDs. Except that some people without ID were let in. There were no apologies, no accomodations...just a lot of NO. NO NO.

Now I don't know about you, but, a. this is not Kentucky, i.e. we are not engaged and underaged, so the likelihood that the wedding party was older than 21, and likely older than 31 was a pretty safe bet. And b. I have never been asked for my ID upon entering a wedding party. Have YOU?

This place sucks. On its Web site it even says, "for all of the anti-Manhattanites..." You got that sh*t straight.

However! We continued on to the city where we mingled at the bar at 60 Thompson and got our grooves back. In fact it turned out to be one of the most fun weddings on record, I believe most every guest would agree!

My Clothes are SAVED!

POST-FIRE UPDATE:
I just heard from Fabric Renewal, the dry cleaning, restoration, drapery/shade cleaning company in Bloomingdale, New Jersey that took all of my clothes, shoes, bags, belts, rugs, curtains, sheets, towels, pillows, etc. to be saved, cleaned and refreshed. It worked!

The cost?
$5,694.82

Believe it or not, I am thrilled! Not only that they have billed my insurance company directly, but because I had this sinking feeling that it was going to cost $10k more than that. I thank New Jersey for being cheaper than New York.

Interesting Furniture Sale in NJ: BoConcept

From today's New York Magazine's Best Bets

Bayonne, New Jersey, isn't the coolest shopping destination, but BoConcept is unloading contemporary Danish furniture for 30 to 70 percent off at its warehouse sale. When: 4/14 (10–3).Where: 180 Pulaski St., nr. Port Jersey Blvd., Bayonne, N.J. (201-433-4461).

Lord & Taylor: Coat & Jacket SALE

Hi all, I'm finally back at the command center and wanted to show you the first of many excellent achievements.

The Guerilla Parents ever so kindly braved the jungle, otherwise known as Paramus, NJ, to find me, the Baby Guerilla, a winter jacket of the hooded, waterproof, ski bunny kind. They purchased a jacket at Lord & Taylor that was tremendously fabulous, however was a bit too small for a guerilla.

So in a rare NJ retail mall appearance, the Guerilla Shopper took it upon herself to zoom around northern NJ in an effort to make an excellent exchange. I found the perfect replacement (pictured above) from everyone's favorite, Calvin Klein. Not only does this form-fitting, hooded, down-filled gem provide warmth and style - IT WAS 50% OFF! Meaning that it cost $72.50, which was a big great huge savings for the Guerilla Parents who had spent way too much on their original purchase (but only in an effort to ensure that I had the best guerilla suit possible to stay warm in the winter months - if it ever gets cold!).

So everyone won, and I even got to buy a whole kitchen full of NJ-based groceries with the difference, which the GPs ever so thoughtfully donated. Another huge score - and you NYC dwellers know what I'm talking about when it comes to the allure of cheap groceries. Let's eat bananas!