A cookiediment!

So today, I started my own Tim Tam hunt. And I scored with caramel Tim Tams at Gristedes! I am keeping this a secret but if you are my facebook friend, you would know where - yep, the location was revealed there.

I ended buying the newer mint milano melts which I thought were too gimmicky but here you go.

This biscuit looks like a fatter half of the regular mint milano cookie, sans chocolate center. The crispiness is definitely there. The difference is in the melted center of minty chocolateness. Although, it was thoroughly enjoyable, I prefer the crispiness of the original mint milano cookie.

Now for the caramel Tim Tams which I was fortunate to find in my local Gristedes. If you don't already know, Tim Tams are the best import from Australia besides Hugh Jackman. They are layers of cookie with a center of caramel, covered in chocolate.

Caramel is yummy. The chocolate is tasty and the flaky layers of delicious cookie and biting into a sticky chewy center of caramel.

And believe me if I find any other Tim Tams, I will stock up!

Another dinner at Chimu's!

Once again, I am behind on posts but as I am the only contributor and also free, you get what you paid for. Ha!
So a few weeks back, another trip back to Chimu was in order. So my BFF and I got ourselves back to the familiar intersection of Metropolitan and Union for more.

Pisco Sour, fried corns, and empanadas

As usual, Pisco Sour was the first thing we ordered along with one each of their beef and chicken empanadas. Just like the first time, they were most delicious.

Unlike last time, we did switch out the main courses.

Tallerin Verde

This time, Barb opted for the Tallerin Verde with skirt steak and more minced garlic in oil. It looked tasty and was served with potato. It seems Peruvians eat lots of carbs.

Aji de Gallina

Take for instance my own order of Aji de Gallina, which with the aji sauce over rice is just divine except there were more potatoes and rice than of the shredded chicken.

Tres Leches

Of course there were leftovers for the next day since we saved room for the dulce de leches crepe and tres leches cake. Both were extremely satisfying for my sweet tooth and sends one into sugar highs for the night.

Dulce de leches Crepe

As usual, service is quick and friendly. But I totally would come only when I feel like getting starchy foods.

Chimu Peruvian Cuisine and Steak
482 Union Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel. 718.349.1208
Hours:
Monday 3:00-11:00 pm
Tuesday 3:00-11:00 pm
Wednesday 3:00-11:00 pm
Thursday 3:00-11:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Saturday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sunday 12:00-11:00 pm

Brunch at Luna

Okay this post is out of sync because I had technical difficulties uploading the pics via iPhone app. Apparently, if you don't hit publish, they will no longer save the pics?! Methinks some writing will be done to the app devs.

Our last morning in DC, we opted for late check out and went to look for brunch. As there was nothing close by, we went off to Dupont Circle and scored at Luna, a kitschy looking place next to the Mad Hatter (I would have chosen this place because I like the name but they were pricier than Luna).

As it turns out, Barb remembered that she ate there before - a while back. And she only remembered once we stepped through the doors...

So upfront - there are no meat substitutions. If you don't like pork or are allergic to pork, then you can't have meat here. 

So that said, they have a small brunch menu full of hearty pork filled meat breakfasts or french toast or omelets.

Waffle with egg and cheese

Barb ordered their waffles with egg and cheese. They did not have meat subs so the pork filled menu was not a good choice for her. However, the waffle looked nice and fluffy and delicious.

A nice hearty platter

Since I am more likely to eat a pork product, I choose their platter - toast with eggs (I like mine over easy) which they served perfectly done and their maple syrup sausage. It was very delicious. My eggs were actually over easy!! Some places overcook them. And the sausage was very tasty - seasoned but with a lovely taste of maple!

Overall, I find this place to be friendly yet fast - a good place to grab a quick bite - just don't come here if you can't eat pork but want meat for breakfast.

Luna Bar & Diner
1301 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
tel. 202.835.2280
Hours:
Sunday -Thursday

8:00 am – 11:00pm
Friday & Saturday

8:00am – 12 midnight

 Brunch on Sat & Sun Only

Ali Baba for lunch

Turkish, anyone? 

In midtown/Murray Hill or just plain Manhattan, you can find a number of decent Turkish restaurants selling the same thing but not quite the same as being in Turkey... But it is indeed decent fare at a semi-decent price for the most part.

As I was craving some Turkish - I decided to order from Ali Baba on 34th St. Usually, I get the chicken adana, which seems to be more flavorful than their kebab. Still nothing beats Istanbul...nothing...for kebabs and bread.

Free but delicious bread

Ali Baba always serves a big - very big serving of bread with their meals. This bread typically is warm, layers of dough and goes very well with babaganoush - an eggplant spread with a garlicky base that is very very good. And I don't like eggplant but I'll eat this...every time!

Babaganoush!

My meal came warm, with salad - and my serving of adana with a big roasted pepper and half a tomato. The tomato goes well with the adana - a nicely spiced piece of white meat chicken. Their rice is most flavorful and delicious !

Chicken Adana with rice and tomato and pepper

Ali Baba
212 East 34th Street 
New York, NY 10016
tel.  (212) 683-9206.
Hours:
Sun - Sat: 11 am - 11 pm

Hello Cupcake, Hello Sugar Coma

Hello Cupcake is a chain of cupcake storefronts which are really cute and minimalistic so you won't find a lot of clutter but they have cute take out boxes and delicious cupcakes.

All this is great if you want a diabetic coma... which I opted for on our last day...

There were plenty of flavors to choose from but I opted for the special - Bailey's Irish Dream since it was almost Saint Paddy's day... Who am I kidding? It was because it had Bailey's in it of course!

Bailey's Irish Dream Cupcake

This cupcake was rich and moist - the frosting was just too sweet but if you like frosting over each bite of cake, then you definitely had enough and then some. It had just a smattering of Bailey's taste but the cake itself was moist and chocolatey. Overall, it is a fine cupcake.

Dulce de Leche Cupcake

Barb chose this cupcake - the Dulce de Leche cupcake, which she enjoyed to the fullest as she ate it all, allegedly. I have not seen this so I can't testify that she did indeed consume the whole thing. :)

And Irish Dream is  a March only flavor so stop by one of their locations to try it before March ends!

Hello Cupcake

1361 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Just south of Dupont Circle, across from the Metro
tel. 202.861.2253
Hours

Mon-Thurs 10-7
Fri-Sat 10-9
Sun 11-6