Knee-High Boots & Buvette

I woke up Sunday craving Buvette. I texted Natty to go for brunch, and after church we headed there with an extra Fran in tow, Ms. Meredith. We had to wait a bit, Buvette's popularity is definitely rising, but eventually got a table at this West Village staple. It was worth the stint in the cold to come inside to the tantalizing scents, busting chatter and warm hues. 

Look at the precious new custom coffee cups they got!  

We started with the Croissants. The order is served with a spoon filled with butter and jam.

Next, came the eggs. The Jambon Cru never gets old - Steamed Eggs, Prosciutto and Parmesan over toast. 

We also got the Croque Madame - I refer to it as a fancy Ham & Cheese with Egg. And who can resist their Roquefort Butter. It is literally butter and roquefort cheese mixed together with cherries. 

Temps in the city have been fluctuating a lot. It is like the city can't decide if it is ready for Winter or not. The best way to manage your wardrobe during the changing temps, is to play with layer lengths. My look for Sunday was a long shirt with long boots and a short jacket. 

This incredible coat is BB Dakota. I picked it up at the Piperlime Store. 

Top: Zara / Leggings: Club Monaco / Boots: C. Wonder / Sunglasses: Kate Spade / Necklace: Speakable

Over the Knee Boots are very in this season. I was hesitant to give into the fad, but I stumbled upon these beauties on sale (under $100) and could not resist. 

What fashion fad do you want to give into, but don't want to spend a fortune on? I'd love to hear!

- Naturally Ginger

Buvette with Mom

I told you it was coming. 

A dinner at Buvette post.

Before you say, "not another post about Buvette", Mom was in town, and I couldn't resist introducing her to my favorite little spot. 

I love when my Mom comes to visit. Even at 29, there is nothing like being taken care of by your mama. Everything is just a little extra special when Mom is around...you can go to that restaurant you've been wanting to try but didn't want to foot the bill for, it's an excuse to play tourist and visit multiple museums in one day, and cabs are always the preferred method of transportation. 

My beautiful mother.

We had to wait a bit, but ordered a bottle of their French Chardonnay to pass the time.

We started with the Aligot. It is melted cantal cheese, potato puree & smoked ham over a thick piece of bread. Probably one of my favorite things on the menu.

Next, we salivated over the Duck Rillettes. It is described on the menu as spiced duck confit. Smeared over a warm toast, it is melt in your mouth delicious. They pair it with a few olives and caperberries, which provide a spicy and salty compliment.

Next came the Poireaux en Vinaigrette or leeks in mustard vinaigrette. A little vegetable was necessary. The leeks were cooked just tender enough to pull apart with a fork, but still had a slight crunch.

We ended with the Cassoulet, pot of slow cooked duck, pork & beans, & the Moules a la rouille, steamed mussels with garlic toasts. 

I love the Cassoulet. I tried cooking cassoulet a few years ago and failed miserably. I was so scarred by that experience I have yet to try again, but Buvette's version sets a high bar to live up to. 

The mussels were interesting. They were steamed and then stuff with an herb bread crumb and baked. The sauce was delicious, but all the steaming and baking left the mussels a bit dry. I think it is an acquired taste that I don't have. 

Nonetheless, it did not keep us from finishing EVERYTHING.

Merci beaucoup Buvette for another satisfying meal.

Bonne nuit! 

Spring has Sprung in NYC

In my opinion and mind, Spring has sprung here in NYC. Though the weather forecast would like us to believe else wise, I'm holding onto the hope that Spring is here. Bright colors, open toed shoes, no scarves...I can not wait!

Every year I start to feel restless for warmer weather about this time. The issue is, we (or at least I) continually fall for the weather trap. See what happens is, we get to it almost being April and the weather consistently remains under 45 degrees, and we wonder why we didn't plan a long weekend getaway to some tropical climate to warmer soil. But then, the temperatures warm, and it gets really hot...too hot...and smelly, and we long for cooler temperatures. This is the point that we forget how we felt March 24th, longing for warmth and a cabana on the beach. 

So, I'm at the point where I am just believing that Spring is upon us. Anyways, by date, we are in the season.

This Saturday actually felt like Spring! After an event in Brooklyn (blog post to come later this week), I knew two things about my day...I needed food and I needed to be outside. A couple of Frans and I headed to the West Village (aka my fantasy future place of residency). 

After some wandering we focused our direction towards lunch at Buvette. I haven't blogged about Buvette yet, but this is my favorite restaurant in the city. I'm sure there will be many more posts to come, but here is the first. 

I was introduced to Buvette by Hannah via her boyfriend Bryan. For awhile they kept saying we had to go, so when we finally did, I fell in love on the spot. Buvette is a French inspire gastroteque off Grove Street. Chef Jody Williams crafts up seasonal menus with French and Italian influences. Every time I walk in I'm transported to Paris (where they - Buvette - actually recently opened a restaurant)...the culture, the food, the romance. I will never pass up an opportunity for a meal here. 

Since it was so beautiful out, we did not mind the short wait. 

The restaurant only seats about 60 people, so if you aren't good with crowded spaces, you might want to prepare yourself for a meal at Buvette.

Today, we are having brunch. 

I will talk about dinner in a future post. 

The menu is composed of small plates which are meant to share. For lunch there are a number of options including Sur Le Pounce, Tartines, Oeufs, Charcuterie, Fromagerie, Patisseries (including homemade Croissants), and Les Croques. 

We settled on a Pouilly-Fuisse to share which paired nicely with our lunchtime feast. 

Mer & Han both ordered the Steamed Eggs - prosciutto and eggs over toast with shaved parmesan. I decided on the Crepes Jambon Fromage - a crepe baked with ham & brie. 

Feeling fabulous and full, we decided to take a little walk with the sun.

 

Our walk led us through the streets of the West Village to the Meatpacking District. Packed with restaurants and shopping, this upscale area was bustling with people. 

After meeting up with a Toya & Natalie, we popped into The Standard Grill for a late afternoon refreshment. 

Really getting into the Spring spirit, we toasted to the first Rose of the season. 

 

I love the memories that I have and the life I get to live. It is days like these where not much happens, but true enjoyment of the city takes place, that you feel refreshed and encouraged to keep going. The smallest bit of sun warmth, the pink hue of the sky as the sun sets over NJ, the laugh of my friends walking behind me. These are the moments where we don't have to take things so seriously and it is easy to just feel blessed.

i love you NYC.

xoxo
d.eileen