Handbags are my fave accessory!

Take a break from the cold today and check out Manisse at Henri Bendel. Stop by and say hello to handbag designer Julia Djaafar as she presents her snake skin clutch collection on Thursday, January 24th - Saturday, January 26th and Monday, February 11th - Wednesday, February 13th from 10am - 8pm.

Henri Bendel New York, 2nd Floor
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(56th Street and Fifth Avenue)


More Info: www.manisse.com / www.henribendel.com
Find Manisse on Facebook.

Heavenly Dessert!

Went to Serendipity 3 in New York City a couple of nights ago. What a treat! Highly recommend the Frozen Hot Chocolate and Forbidden Broadway Sundae. Words can not explain how delicious.

Sundays are for Brunching: Corcho Wine Room

Another great brunch spot in Uptown Manhattan is Corcho Wine Room,  a small, cozy wine bar tucked away on Dyckman Street near Broadway. Corcho brunch is a la carte and one of my absolute fave brunching spots. It's close to home, small but inviting and the staff is extremely attentive. Not that many people know about Corcho yet, so it's not crowded. You don’t have to wait long for a table and you don't feel like you have to eat and run (which defeats the purpose of brunching).

 

Prices are pretty great too. Entrees run $7 - $10 and portions are a good size. It's filling but not overwhelming. My favorite menu item is the Croque Madame, ham and Gruyere cheese layered between brioche gratinee, topped with a sunny side up egg and a side of salad.

My partner in food crime seems to want to try poached eggs in every spot! Once again, she ordered with trepidation and was pleasantly surprised. At Corcho you get two poached eggs sitting on top of a warm brioche with crispy Serrano ham, coated with sage sausage bechamel gravy. Yum!

Corcho brunch offers unlimted Mimosa and Sparkling Sangria with your meal. If you want to add on, you get an entree plus cocktails for $21.99. It's a nice deal! My favorite brunch cocktail is the Guava Mimosa.

When I started brunching at Corcho we were there for hours, being refilled with the yummy Guava Mimosa. As usual, all good things must come to an end.  I've found that as brunch spots get more popular, the time limits begin on the unlimited cocktails. Now, there’s an hour limit to the Mimosas and Sparkling Sangria, but they do an excellent job refilling your glass. You can probably squeeze in 3 maybe 4 solid glasses.

I didn't have dessert last time I went to Corcho, but if you have room for it you should definitely indulge. Also, you must try the Corcho Fries (topped with parmesan and rosemary).  We usually order a side for the table, they're simply too good to pass up. 

I have one request. Once you've settled in, look up at the ceiling. You'll find a lovely surprise. Let me know what you think about it. 

For more info on Corcho Wine Room, visit www.corchowineroom.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

MTV's Washington Heights

MTV's Washington Heights premiered tonight and I'm not impressed. Maybe I haven't given it a fair chance and need to watch a couple of more episodes.

It certainly isn't like the Jersey Shore, but I was hoping it would be a little more exciting and representative of the Heights that I grew up in and still live in. I had mixed emotions of seeing my beloved neighborhood on TV. Most people just want to see Washington Heights, more specifically Dominicans, represented properly.

I want to give the show another chance so I'll continue watching. I've been told that the show picks up and I hope they're right.

For more info on the show, visit www.mtv.com. New episode of Washington Heights airs next Wednesday at 10pm EST.

New York City Restaurant Week

One of my favorite times of the year is quickly approaching, NYC Restaurant Week! Get ready for good eats at Manhattan's trendiest and best restaurants from January 14^th – February 8^th. Enjoy a three course lunch ($25) or three course dinner ($38) Monday - Friday. Some restaurants offer weekend deals. 

Some of my fave spots:

(Calle Ocho)

(Mesa Grill)

(Marble Lane)

I’d start planning out my restaurant week ASAP. For a full list of participating restaurants visit www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek.