Lavinia at Home

A great place for seafood in NYC with lively atmosphere and extensive seafood selections at reasonable prices. We tried this place without making reservations and were seated right away. The Sunday brunch and prix-fixed menu is good and includes a 3-course meal served daily from noon to 4 p.m. It’s a bargain for $17.95 where you can choose from 3 different soups, main courses (e.g. lobster roll or crab cakes) and house made ice cream or sorbet (the lemon was really good). It’s also served with mini-muffins and biscuits. The service was good too; our waiter was attentive.

For over ten years, the City Crab and Seafood Company has been serving up seafood in the heart of New York’s Gramercy Park/Flatiron district. Located at 235 Park Ave South (Tel. 212-529-3800), City Crab and Seafood Company is the perfect place for a relaxing lunch or dinner. The room is bright and attractive, with huge windows facing Park Avenue South and features a bustling raw bar off to the side. The décor is nautical with bar tables and stools and booth-style tables on the ground floor. City Crab is also a popular place for celebrations and private parties on their upper floor. Patrons can also enjoy live music on the ground floor such as jazz during Sunday brunch. With their selection of seafood and decent prices, I plan to go back again. I would recommend it.

If you’re a big fan of Mexican food, you have to try Rosa Mexicano. This is not a restaurant for commercialized Mexican food, but rather for upscale dishes. Try their amazing guacamole and one of the delicious signature pomegranate margaritas. Guacamole is made table side in a traditional stone bowl and you choose how spicey to make it. I would recommended it (Guacamole en molcajete).The tortillas are prepared on a griddle in the back of the dining room and served warm together with the guacamole.
The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is festive. I would go back again. Service is warm and helpful as well. Rosa Mexicano has been serving high-end Mexican cuisine for over twenty years and has several locations in NYC. We went to their location at 1063 First Ave. (58th St.) Tel.: 212-753-7407. Make a reservation; it was very busy even on a Monday night.

If you’re looking for an amazing burger in Manhattan, you need to go to the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien hotel—especially if you like made-to-order, grilled burgers with the “works” at reasonable prices ($6.00 to $6.50 tax included). Located in an upscale midtown hotel (118 West 57th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues; Tel. 212-245-5000), this hidden hole-in-the-wall gem is obscured from view next to reception and a heavy velvet curtain. It’s only marking is a neon image of a burger. Locals working in the area flock to this cash-only place for lunch, so go early or late in the afternoon (before 12 and after 2 pm Monday through Friday) if you’re looking for a seat; seating is extremely limited.

Food is the attraction, not the atmosphere. Most take their orders “to go” back to their office or to Central Park if the weather is nice. Otherwise, expect a line and at least a five-to-twenty minute wait; it’s well worth it. The menu is very simple: burger, cheeseburger, grilled cheese, fries, dill pickle, brownie, soda, beer, lemonade, water (milkshakes after 3pm only) and that’s it, but YUM is it good! Burgers are grilled on the outside and juicy on the inside, offered with a selection of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo on a bun; the thin french fries are fabulous and if you wait ‘til late in the afternoon, the vanilla and chocolate milkshakes are phenomenal. Burgers are not huge, but not small either. So order a burger with the works and some fries and prepare to enjoy. We give this burger place 5 stars for food and affordability. Don’t expect service to be great. Nonetheless, I can’t wait to go back! My mouth is watering just writing about it. Good luck finding it

Spent a few days in Virginia and had a wonderful time – what a great state and a quick ride will get you into Washington DC too. And if you haven’t seen the new World War II Memorial, it’s a must. Mark your calendar and visit this beautiful site. It moved me to tears. What a beautiful tribute to all brave men and a symbol of the price we paid for freedom. The DC area is so majestic and offers a memorable journey into our past; one of my favorite spots is the Jefferson Memorial. No matter what, I always make a quick visit to it.

Enjoyed a day in Georgetown. It’s a great “young town” with wall-to- wall shopping and eating. The restaurants are wonderful; one of my favorites is Neyla’s. You should try it if you enjoy Mediterranean cuisine; the chef is amazing. Then I was off to Leesburg, Virginia, a old town with antique stores and teashops with a great old world feeling.

Something you must do if you are a wine lover is visit the Virginia wineries. It’s amazing; there are over 90 wineries in Virginia, and the wine is wonderful, one of my favorites that I was recently introduced to, was a red wine by Chateau Morresette, Sweet Mountain Laurel, another if you like white was Sarah’s Patio by Chrysalis Vine yards, and if you are interested there is a wine Festival Sept 30th; Oct1st, it’s a worthwhile adventure.
They say Virginia is for lover’s, so before you pack that bag and enjoy all that wonderful state has to offer check out our web site at LaviniaLingerie.com
There are some lovely items you ladies should just never leave home without ….

I would like to share with you one of my favorite Middle Eastern desserts called Mahalabieh – a white pudding

1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup corn starch
1/8 tsp. salt
2 3/4 cup milk
orange blossom water to taste
pistachio nuts or silver almonds (the nuts are for decoration)

Mix the first three ingredients together in a pot slowly adding the milk. Bring to a boil slowly, constantly stirring over a medium heat. As it thickens add a drop of orange blossom water to your taste. Pour into dessert cups and sprinkle with the almonds or pistachio nuts to decorate. I prefer to crush the pistachio nuts to a powder before using.
Refrigerate and serve cold.

Enjoy the sweet nectar, the fruits and wines of Virginia.

“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit” Kahlil Girbran

It’s April, when the promise of spring is just beginning and plants are awakening from their winter sleep. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. I love to go outside in the garden–it’s my place to enjoy the beauty of nature and escape. Just the thought of the fragrance makes me smile. If you don’t have a place to retreat like this, make one. Buy yourself some plants and bring a garden into your home. Explore the possibilities. Grab a book and go to the coziest place in your house. Put some music on, light a candle and take a long soothing bath. Find that special something to rejuvenate yourself. The spring season can do that for many people. Have you noticed it too? There’s a freshness to the air. Clothing is lighter. Joggers are out–walkers too. Mothers are pushing baby strollers through the park. Children are jumping to get of the house and play.

So, let’s get out there in the spring air. Walk, run and jump with excitement. And, if you want to go out with added performance and style, check out our spring line of lingerie and exercise wear – it’s great for yoga, dance and the gym too. Visit our website to see Lavinia Lingerie & Activewear.

P.S. – I discovered a great new recipe last month, which is delicious and easy to make. And if you know someone who can’t or won’t eat dairy and animal products, it’s a perfect treat.

Holiday Cake

2½ cups flour
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup oil
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup orange juice
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup water
1cup raisins

Combine the sugar and oil, add the orange juice, baking powder and water.
Add dry ingredients. Spray a 9″ x 11″ pan and pour in mixture.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes.

Make it happen!