I like brunch but hate the crowd and the wait time, so it’s a good thing Allswell does weekday brunch. Unlike their dinner menu, which changes daily, their brunch pretty much stays the same. There’s something wonderful about leisurely strolling into a restaurant, sit down and leisurely eat your lunch and maybe drink three cocktails (which I did).

The biscuits with sausage gravy and fried eggs was excellent. I usually tend to stay away from biscuits and gravy because I’m afraid it’ll get too heavy in my stomach. But Allswell does it really good and it was quite light. I think I needed an extra biscuit to mop up ALL the gravy.

I even got to taste their housemade chicken dogs which they serve during their late night hours. This made a perfect late night snacks, wash it down with a pint!

- Allswell 124 Bedford Ave. Williamsburg

The local food people here are an amazing bunch. When one needs help, everyone will jump in and help. Just like my friends over at Lonestar Taco. When Fany Gerson’s, aka La Newyorkina, kitchen in Red Hook was ruined by hurricane Sandy, they decided to help out by making and selling Besitos Picantes using her recipe from her book, My Sweet Mexico. All proceeds go to help Fany rebuild her kitchen.

Though if Besitos Picantes aren’t your thing, you may want to check out the holiday market at Columbus Circle. La Newyorkina has a booth there selling loads and loads of Mexican sweets like spicy candied orange peels, Mexican hot chocolate, brownies with Mexican chocolate, pumpkin seed brittle and so many more tasty treats.

Buy delicious goods to help someone get back on their feet and at the same time make your tummy happy! Wins all around.

Also, keep buying locally this holiday season.

Now that I work on the Upper West Side, I have to seek out all new places to eat. The one place I knew beforehand that I wanted to try was Levain bakery, for the much-celebrated chocolate chip walnut cookie. I had a little bit of sticker shock when I got there, just after 8am. $4 for a chocolate chip cookie? I was handed a still-warm cookie that weighed roughly half a pound, and got a napkin ready. The cookie was the best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever eaten, and it’s got something for everyone. Like crispy cookies? The outside of the cookie is crunchy and delicious. Like gooey cookies? The interior is gooey and melty. Seriously, I bought another cookie from another bakery about five days later. It was good, but the whole time I was wishing I was eating Levain’s cookie. It has ruined me for all other chocolate chip cookies.

Levain, UWS — 167 West 74th St., NYC

This meal took place right after my family and I ate at Plan Check. So………….I thought we were gonna go light but knowing us (our eyes are hungrier than our tummies) I should’ve known better.

Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe is located in Santa Monica. The space was actually quite nice and the atmosphere was very causal. The counter was lined with baked goods like croissants, chocolate croissants, cakes, tarts…etc and behind the counter were beautiful looking breads all sitting on shelves. The thing to do here is get in line. People behind the counter will take your order and after you pay they will give you a number. They’re not big on people sitting down first since the tables are for paid customers. But there was a sort of hostess, after you pay, to find you a table.

I wasn’t sure what my sister had ordered but I asked for a chocolate croissant. Eventually we were given a table outside on the street. Once the food started coming, I regret eating way too much just 30mins before that.

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When I first heard about UMAMIcatessen, I thought it would be similar to FoodParc where you can go to different stations for different foods. When I arrived, I was totally wrong. It was basically a regular old restaurant but just that they have few different sections that you can order food from (from a waiter). Located in downtown LA, UMAMIcatessen was tailored to the working crowd in the area.

If you’re not familiar with Umami, you will be soon as they are planning to open a restaurant here in NYC. They do pretty good burgers (a little small for me) and damn good tater tots.

On this trip I tagged along as my sister was there to shoot photos for her friend Joy of Oh Joy! You can check out the post here.

Check out what we ate after the jump..
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Last Friday I got invited to the One Girl Cookies Dumbo store opening party. What an awesome January 2012 for my friends, a book and a new store! Their new Dumbo store is nothing like their Boerum Hill store. The new store is airy, has high ceiling and has an industrial feel to it (very appropriate for Dumbo). The store officially opens this Wednesday 2/1 (33 Main St), so make sure to go check it out!

Check out some photos after the jump

Before last weekend I knew nothing lebkuchen. I had never heard of it nor knew such a thing existed. Even taking 3 years of German in high school and a trip to Berlin few years ago didn’t help. Of course all it took, in the end, were tweets from Shuna Lydon and Sarah Simmons and on Sunday I found myself walking home with a box of lebkuchen. So what’s lebkucken? According to Sandy Lee, the master mind behind Leckerlee, lebkuchen is a traditional German gingerbread cookie that has been around for centuries. Apparently they’re crazy about these over in Germany.

Of course the important thing is…how the heck did they taste?! Orange zest! I never really had gingerbread before so I couldn’t compare but Leckerlee’s lebkuchen is quite delicious. The inside is almost cake like filled with spices and other things that make the cookies crazy good. Also the bottom piece of white thing is EDIBLE! From now till the 18th, find these cookies at The Brooklyn Flea.