Food Archives - The Culture Mom

21Jul

A Night Out at Vatan in NYC and Experiencing Food From Gujurat

Photo courtesy of Vatan.Last week I ventured to Murray Hill to an Indian restaurant I've never been to called Vatan. The experience ended up being an absolute delight and one that I recommend to all of you. Vatan is a traditional Indian restaurant, only it is very unique. They only offer a prix fixe thali style menu ($34 per person), which if you have never had this type of meal, it's a series of small dishes and whatever more you like of each dish, as you can order as much as you like. The cuisine is distinct as it features only vegetarian dishes of Read More

23Jul

Review: Root & Bone in Alphabet City

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Last weekend I experienced an unexpected culinary delight at a restaurant down in NYC's Alphabet City called Root & Bone. I knew I was in for an adventure when I found out that it's owned by Top Chef alums Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, and also because I'm a born & bred Southerner. Yep, born in Atlanta, Georgia. I know a good piece of fried chicken, cheese grits, meatloaf, biscuits and fried green tomatoes when I see them, and for NYC, I can honestly say that Root & Bone not only knows their Southern recipes but their unusual ways of Read More

28Jun

A Night Out in Williamsburg at Pearl’s Bake & Shark

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Last week my 11 year-old son and I ventured to Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a night out of the suburbs. Our destination: Pearl's Bake & Shark, a Caribbean restaurant that specializes in jerk and other Caribbean dishes. It was a weeknight, and with school still in session, I'd say it was a little out of the ordinary for us to venture to Brooklyn, but I was excited....and hungry. My son was, too, so together we braved the traffic and drove to Brooklyn. Were we happy we went? You can say that again. Pearl's is exceptional, both in its quality of Read More

10Jun

Edible Brooklyn: Pazzi Pasta in Carroll Gardens

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Pasta is one of my kids' favorite foods, but I generally try to limit their intake due to its high calorie and high carb content. However, since it's usually on the top of their list, I'm always looking for ways to accommodate their request and I recently found one. It's called Pazzi Pasta, a Southern Italian restaurant in Carroll Gardens, one of my favorite parts of Brooklyn. "Pazzi" literally means "crazy" and I'm not kidding when I call their food crazy delicious! It's rare to find a restaurant that is so intent on using organic, locally grown, Read More

24Apr

Spend Mother’s Day at FIG & OLIVE Meatpacking (+ Review)

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In honor of Mother's Day, FIG & OLIVE Meatpacking in New York City is offering a Mother's Day special on Sunday, May 10th. My mom and I were recently invited to sample the menu in lieu of the special and I'm not lying when I say that our mouths were literally salivating at every bite. I had been to the FIG & OLIVE in Westchester near my home but it was my first time at the Meat Packing location. The restaurant exudes glimmers of the Mediterranean, from the spacious, modern, chic decor from the plants on the wall to wicker armchairs, to the Read More

25Mar

A Mother-Son Weekend in the Catskills

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My son and I recently spent some time in the Catskills. We basically jumped in our car and headed to the mountains for some R&R and a bit of bonding. He loves to ski, so knowing that was part of our plan was a big motivator for him. The Catskills is an interesting getaway choice because it offers so much to do for both children and adults, and we were both up to the challenge of checking it out. Equipped with a full tank of gas, we set out from Westchester for two days of adventure with a group of writers and their children. Where We Stayed Our Read More

26Nov

Why Take the Kids to Long Beach, California

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If you're looking for a vacation with the kids in 2015 that has good hotels, restaurants, a variety of activities for all ages, good weather (all year long), art, culture, shopping, and more, I have an idea for you. I just got back from a few days in Long Beach, California, and I have to say it was the ultimate getaway with my tween. Located along five and a half miles of beach, half way between Los Angeles and Orange County, Long Beach offers great food, cultural diversity, waterfront dining and a slew of options for families of all shapes and sizes. In Read More

09Nov

Walks of New York Presents: A Walking Tour for the Food Obsessed

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Confession: I'm not a foodie. I don't follow world renowned chefs and I don't eat at their restaurants. My kids watch cooking shows on the Food Network and from time to time, I watch with them. But I do know New York City. I've been living here a long time, and I feel the city's pulse. When I was invited on a walking tour, hosted by Walks of New York, celebrating its culture and history from the perspective of one of the country’s top chefs and restaurateurs, Mario Batali, I didn't hesitate. Batali has his home base in Greenwich Village, and I'd heard Read More

24Jul

The Hundred-Foot Journey, a Tale of Food and Travel

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You can't deny the thrill of seeing a film, in this case The Hundred-Foot Journey, that so beautifully weaves together the things you love most in life. About a month ago, Chef did that so skillfully, weaving together food, social media, humor, travel and great story-telling. I left the theater craving Spanish food and was also hungry for more movies with relevance to the times we are living in. It also made me think more about the life of a chef, something I had never really thought about. I was looking for a another chance to do it again. And here Read More

24Nov

Where to Spend Thanksgivukkah in New York City

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This year Hanukkah is coming very early. It starts the night before Thanksgiving which means we have to celebrate during our traditional meal, so for this reason it’s being dubbed Thanksgivukkah. The convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah is happening for the first time in over 100 years this November and there is no better way to celebrate than in NYC. This year there is so much to do throughout the holiday. I've gathered some details here: Eat sweet potato donuts at Zucker Bakery, 433 East 9th Street For Thanksgivukkah, Zucker Bakery on the Read More