LKE Travels: From Brooklyn to Boca

Category: #TBT Grub

  • Baked Bear vs. Diddy Riese

    Baked Bear vs. Diddy Riese

    I’ve been out to Cali a few times, and on one trip I was happened upon Baked Bear (in Pacific Beach), and was in LOOOOVE!!  I returned to FL, and my friends told me I didn’t do “it” right, as I had not visited Diddy Riese (more of fan L.A. institution), which of course, made me intrigued.  This trip, I was determined to try out both spots so I can save you time and $$ next time you’re in Cali and want an ice cream-based dessert.

    What do they do?

    They specialize in making custom ice cream sandwiches.  When you walk in, you’ll see rows of cookie flavors and a tray of brownies, as well as tubs of ice cream – you mix and match and create the ice cream sandwich that you want.

    Cookies/Brownies?  Baked Bear

    This is where I have to give mad props to Baked Bear.  First off, they have more flavors to choose from, and they have more overall options. If you want just a warmed brownie or cookie in a skillet type bowl – they got you.  If you want something completely different, they even have donuts!!  Plus, in my opinion, their cookies taste better and fresher… though I do believe Diddy Riese has better brownies – they have a deeper-tasting chocolate.  Baked Bear’s brownies taste more like what I make from the box on a Sunday night – but their cookies more than make up for it.  If you don’t believe me – check out their Insta sites and even websites (you can also check out my photos below – I ordered the same item from both spots, so you can see the difference) – if you don’t think Baked Bear’s creations look more amazing, then we can’t be foodie friends, haha!!

    Ice cream? Baked Bear

    Again, Baked Bear has more flavors and toppings – you can make ridiculous creations if you want.  I’m more of a purist – so I rock with the vanilla ice cream/brownie/cookie combo – but I’ve eaten with folks that go all in, and they tended to think Baked Bear’s homemade ice cream offered more choices.

    Cost? Diddy Riese

    Diddy Riese is slightly cheaper – I believe the sandwich I “made” there was $2 cheaper than the one at Baked Bear – but again, it’s worth the extra cost, imo.  Plus, keeping it real, although I love Baked Bear’s cookies more, there is definitely a strong contingent of folks who are in love with Diddy’s Riese’s cookies – and at only 50 cents each – you can’t really go wrong…

    Lines? Baked Bear

    I’ve gone to both during the weekdays and weekends, and so far the lines have always been longer at Diddy Riese – I believe this is because Diddy Riese is considered more of a Cali institution (it has been around since 1983).  Folks are always willing to wait in line for something that tastes good, and is well known. Also, in all fairness, the line does move relatively quickly, so don’t be put off by the line if your heart is set on Diddy Riese. But to me, I’d rather not have to wait in a longer line, esp as I believe the product is better at Baked Bear.

    Also – just in case this matters to you, as I almost never have cash on me, Diddy Riese only takes cash (at least the location I tried).  Baked Bear takes cash and credit cards – which I’m grateful for.

    Ultimately, there’s room for both in our lives – who ever said “no thanks”, to having too many dessert spots? Not I!  But if time is of the essence, and you can only choose one – go w/ Baked Bear.  As usual…you’re welcome! hahaha!!

  • Restaurant Review: The Boil, NYC

    Restaurant Review: The Boil, NYC

    NYC has more restaurants than any other city I’ve been to – which is every foodie’s dream/nightmare – depending on whether you love or hate too many options.  Now that I no longer live in New York (still a touchy subject for me), it’s almost impossible to decide where to eat when I only visit 4-5 times a year.  But there is one restaurant I must eat at literally every time I fly in – The Boil (2 locations in Manhattan, but I prefer the roomier Waverly Place site), and yes, they take reservations, but are cash-only (ATM located on-premises).

    First off, the demographics – it’s a Cajun seafood spot, so if you don’t like zest or crustaceans, it is not the place for you.  The restaurant has a New Orleans type of vibe and in its offerings – crawfish and a Hurricane drink both take up real estate on the menu, but it also somehow carved out its own unique flair.  You essentially purchase the seafood by the pound – lobster($30), crab legs($23-38 depending on size), shrimp (head on) ($15), crawfish ($15), and then choose the flavor you’re going for – lemon pepper, Old Bay, Garlic Butter, or my personal fave – the Boil Special (which is all of the above).  You can also choose the level of spice you want – I can only go up to Medium, but I have friends that have lost their taste buds over years of using too much hot sauce, and they love the Spicy blend – I have yet to see someone go for the Fire blend, but kudos to you if you opt for it.

    When the seafood arrives, you’ll see why the restaurant equipped you with gloves and a bib.  It comes in a large, plastic bag, dripped in the sauce you chose, and perfectly prepared.  They must literally take the seafood out at the perfect time – consistently…it is never dry, overcooked, or more importantly under-cooked.

    And the drinks?? Delicious, and surprisingly strong.  As a frame of reference, it takes about 2.5 long island ice teas to get me moderately happy.  Yet at this restaurant – one Hurricane or Bayou Juice will make you feel that the price was worth it (the cocktails are between $10-12).

    My recommendation?  Go for the crab legs and shrimp, and get the Boil special.  The sauce is literally perfectly garlicky and flavorful.  Also go for a side of the macaroni and cheese(it’s listed under appetizers, but I ask for it as a side), and if you love carbs – get a side order of pasta.  When your food comes, drop the pasta in the seafood bag (I know…brilliant, right?)  And top it off with a Bayou Juice cocktail. You may not be fooled into thinking you’re in New Orleans, but you won’t care.

  • Peter Pan Donuts, Brooklyn NY

    Peter Pan Donuts, Brooklyn NY

    As you can likely tell I like to eat (and travel).  Some of my friends have asked me: “Are you launching a travel blog or food blog?”…but the truth is – aren’t they connected?  Don’t we all eat while we travel?  Anyhoo – I love dessert more than dinner, so expect to find quite a bit of reviews of dessert spots on my site.

    Doughnuts/Donuts are definitely one of my faves (after lava cake of course), particularly of the yeast variety.  I’ve met a few folks who don’t care for donuts, and I find it stunning every time.  They’re perfect  as they’re soft, have fluffy bottoms, and topped with delicious icing – you shouldn’t go wrong…but unfortunately, I’ve had many a crappy one.

    Now cue Peter Pan Donut and Pastry shop, which is located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn (pretty close to Williamsburg for comparison sake).  I tried their Hot Cross Bun, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry frosted donuts  – I mean, I had to for the sake of the blog, right?

    First, the Hot Cross Bun was delicious – it was soft, flavorful, and sweet – but only get it if you love raisins, as they’re truly throughout.  The chocolate donut wasn’t my favorite, but I have to admit that I’m a chocolate snob.  I like rich, dark chocolate, so it’s hard for me to find a chocolate icing that I’m fond of – having said that, my husband scarfed down the 2 chocolate éclairs he bought, so I think they were pretty good.

    It’s hard to ruin vanilla icing – and needless to say, it was delicious.  But can we talk about the strawberry iced donut??  Absolutely superb.  Again, the bottom was literally perfect – soft, and actually flavorful – you can tell it wasn’t frozen, or full of only sugar.  Rather, you can tell that fresh ingredients were used, and that the batch was made on the same day.  And the icing? To die for.  Sweet and with a hint of strawberry flavor, without including actual strawberry chunks as some folks may love, but I don’t look for in my donuts. If I want fresh fruit, I’ll drink a smoothie.

    Now, for context, I’ve been to Doughnut Plant, and Dough Doughnuts, and I can’t/won’t disparage them – they make good donuts.  But, I’m not really into artisanal or “crafty” donuts.  I like well done, but basic donuts.  I stick to vanilla and strawberry, and when feeling particularly adventurous – marble or oreo flavored ones.  Thus, I can’t base a donut shop’s amazing-ness on their wide selection of flavors.  I’d rather there only be 5 flavors, all basic, but absolutely delicious.  And that is what you’ll get at Peter Pan Donuts. Let me be clear, they have many more flavors than just 5 – but they are an old-school donut and pastry shop, that seems to be sticking to a recipe that has served them well for many years.  I hope they continue to do so!

  • Going Back to Where It All Started – NYC!

    Going Back to Where It All Started – NYC!

    I have not been back to NYC since I’ve decided to become a travel blogger, and I must admit, I’m a bit…anxious.  I have always enjoyed visiting New York, not only because I was born and raised there (so yes, I’m a bit partial to it), but because of all of the possibilities offered.  If you want pancakes for breakfast, Thai for lunch, and Italian for dinner – you’re in luck, and I absolutely love that.

    I have always been able to recommend the places that everyone else knows about – because they know what they’re doing (ie: Junior’s for cheesecake, Grimaldi’s for pizza, almost anywhere along City Island for seafood).  However, now, I feel more responsibility to get it right, and know exactly what I’m talking about so you can all see and taste the food through my lens.

    Thus, on my trip back next week, I intend to re-visit some places that I personally swear by, but failed to ever capture by photo or video: Buddakan, the Boil, and Levain Bakery, visit some places that other people swear by but some how I’ve never been to: Black Tap Craft Burgers, the Sugar Factory, and Patsy’s, and try to make it to some spots that I’ve recently seen or heard about: Hold My Knots, Parm, S’Mac, Tony’s Di Napoli, and the Tipsy Scoop.  I also want to try new bakeries/dessert spots: Two Little Red Hens, Bouchon, 10 Below Ice Cream, Milk and Cookies, etc.  Ambitious, yes, but given that I’ll be in NY twice this year, definitely manageable.

    Unlike other places that I will be travelling to, there won’t be many pics of tourist places – ie: Statute of Liberty, Empire State Building, as I’m not really a tourist in NY. It’s more a second home, so I want to dig deeper than I would in other locales, and find some great spots you can visit that are not ranked #1 on a travel review site.  Look out for my follow up posts soon!