Gone fishing in NYC

Good seafood can be hard to come by in this city. But sometimes on a warm summer evening, that's all you're looking for--a little beachy nostalgia wrapped up in a nice, simple seafood meal. Though I'd heard rumors of terribly long waits (even for NYC), I decided to brave the crowds and met a friend at Mary's Fish Camp in the West Village for an incredibly quaint, delicious dinner. A small, white-washed corner cafe with a few tables, curved counter with bar-stool seating, and more fresh fish options than you could ever imagine. There's something wonderful (and healthful) about simple, clean food and Mary's gets it right on. My friend and I decided to share a few dishes, starting off with a tomato-feta salad with some of the crunchiest cucumbers I've had all season. Lobster knuckles (at left) were up next--freshly steamed, they were so amazing who really needs butter to clutter the taste? For the entree, we split spot tailed bass accompanied by a tasty summer corn-avocado relish. (A nice little boost of omega-3 healthy fats in there!)

If you're on the healthy-eating straight and narrow, this is certainly one restaurant that provides a ton of tasty, lower-calorie and heart-healthy choices. With a daily listing of whole fresh fish, you're able to take the driver's seat and request your preferred cooking method...grilled is always a great call. Tack on a side of fresh veggies or some corn on the cob and you've got a really well-rounded meal. And if you're in the mood for sharing something a little more spurlge-worthy, don't worry, the fried oysters and lobster roll are staples on the menu.

I'll definitely be headed back in the near future. Happy fishing!

Herb gardens go urban

Sometimes you have to make the best of things living in NYC. Having outdoor space in this city basically requires being blessed by the real estate gods...or being lucky enough to have inherited a spacious, rent-controlled apartment from your grandparents or some long-lost relative you met once when you were 5. Unfortunately, I fall into neither of those categories.

So, I thought I'd share a quick, inside look into my attempt at creating greenery within the confines of my apartment. Sure, I'd love to have a sprawling garden with flowers, herbs and fresh vegetables, but the linoleium flooring in my kitchen doesn't exactly fit the bill. Alright, I'm a compromising person. Call me what you want, a culinary dork, a nerdy nutritionist (which I'm not thank you!), but I really wanted to have access to fresh herbs for when I'm cooking, makes a huge difference in flavor. Say hello to my makeshift herb garden on my kitchen windowsill. It's a bit sparse at the moment, but I've got some incredible basil perfect to pair with summertime tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and sweet-smelling mint, great for tossing into salads, marinades, iced-tea etc. Thankfully my kitchen gets lots of sunlight--the herbs are growing at light-speed. I'm planning to add a few other herbs down the road (I'm thinking rosemary and thyme for the fall).

What's the moral to today's semi-random post? It doesn't take much to boost the flavor and healthfulness of your food....no matter where you live. Fresh herbs and spices are a no-brainer!

What mom can teach you...

Everything I know about food and smart eating habits I learned from my mother. I spent the Fourth of July with my family this past weekend, and every time I head back home, this nutritionist gets a nice, quick refresher course. Nope, my mom isn't a health professional, she's never dieted once in her life, she's not nutty about certain 'good' or 'bad' foods (though she loves her cottage cheese...and her chocolate!). She does however, tap into her hunger cues, stock the fridge with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, eats when she's hungry throughout the day and eats normal, real foods...in the right-sized portions for her specific body.
Ok, slight disclosure: she's got a kicking metabolism that could put a high-speed race car to shame, but she's smart about what she eats and she's active. My guess is that from the time of my birth, her habits and the habits she instilled in my family have been a major influence on my own views around eating and food -- whether I realized it or not. And no, we were not a family of super health-food-freaks. There was often a stash of ice cream in the freezer and snacks (healthy and not-so-healthy) in the pantry. The current status of my parents' kitchen leans more on the healthful-side these days, but it's quite likely to find some type of homemade baked goods (this weekend it was my grandmother's recipe for ridiculously good brownies) in the freezer. And the amazing thing is if I go home in 2 or 3 months, a few of those brownies will probably still be there. Blasphemy to think they wouldn't be gobbled up within a week. Many of us can barely bake a batch of cookies without devouring them in a matter of days (thank goodness for coworkers...or the trash can--think back to Sex and the City, Miranda's chocolate cake fiasco).
So maybe it's a generational difference? Maybe our parents and grandparents weren't inundated with shelves of high-calorie snacks, prepared meals, packaged and processed goods and they weren't confused by too many fad diets, supplements and quick-fixes to count? There's something to be said for good, basic food.
So Mom, I've got to give you a small shout out...because when I open up my fridge brimming with colorful fruits and veggies, a hunk of good parmesan cheese, the infamous cottage cheese and yogurt, and other fresh foods, I've got you to thank.