75 – 71: WAKE Me Up, Before You Go

Time Out included one or two dishes that were “complimentary”, but always involved the purchase of a much more expensive prix-fixe or chef’s tasting menu. While I loved everything about the wakame butter at Corton, I wish it hadn’t cost me $85 to spread it on some toast.

The shot of chocolate soda is complimentary at 2nd Avenue Deli and it doesn’t matter what you order. You can just get a bowl of soup and then get presented the “digestif” with the bill.

The soda is made using some fountain seltzer and homemade chocolate syrup. It’s rich and sweet, but light and refreshing. When you don’t want a dessert but want something a little sweet to cap off the meal, this is a genuine surprise.

And just like the big comforting sandwiches and kosher food at 2nd Avenue Deli, the soda made me feel like a little boy. A little boy who wanted a bigger glass. Price: Complimentary with meal

74. POUROVER COFFEE at STUMPTOWN TASTING ROOM

I’ve never been a coffee drinker. I’ll have a sip here and there because I actually like the flavor of coffee. But I just never drank it as a ritual.

Also, I don’t love hot drinks. I know, I know. Get iced coffee. But I don’t love milk based drinks. I know, I know. Get it black. Well, it’s all just too much and while I appreciate a good cup of coffee for the flavor, I find no good reason to start indulging at this stage of the game.

But I discovered Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Oregon (it’s now everywhere in NY) and read about the Tasting Room out in Red Hook. No iced drinks, no milk. What was I to do?

I watched as the baristas brewed a cup of Honduras Finca El Puente (you can choose from a number of different coffees) from a Chemex, an old fashioned drip coffee pitcher. I didn’t quite understand the physics of what went on. But it made the coffee light and drinkable. Almost reminiscent of tea. It had a light, earthy, fruity flavor to start with and then finished with some stronger coffee and chocolate notes.

I’ve never had such a complex and light cup of coffee in my life. Good thing I live nowhere near Red Hook or else I might end up just another coffee drinking zombie.

Photo courtesy of: gizmodo.com.au

73. COFFEE YOGURT at FORTY CARROTS

SADLY, FORTY CARROTS IS NOW CLOSED.

Years ago, when I first moved to New York (we’re talking almost 10 years ago), somebody told me that the best frozen yogurt in the city was in the basement of Bloomingdales. Weird, right? I had to try it.

I was a little put off when I sampled it (for $5!) and found it to be overwhelmingly tart and not sweet. This was way before Pinkberry and the like accustomed our palate to actual frozen live cultures.

The Bloomingdales cafe (called Forty Carrots) has since moved to the 7th Floor of the department store and I have fallen in love with their creamy, flavorful, not too sweet frozen yogurt.

They come in a variety of flavors with any number of topping options. But I stick to my usual: Carribean Coffee. It’s slightly sweet, almost smoky, and is reminiscent of a fresh cup of coffee (with lots of milk or yogurt). The generous small cup is enough for a light lunch or a delicious midday snack.  Pinkberry who?? Price: $4.50 (small)

72. CHOCOLATE SOURDOUGH TWIST at AMY’S BREAD

Chocolate in the morning (or any time really) is always a good thing, but you want to make sure not to overdo your sweet intake before noon. Not that I’m really up much before noon.

Amy’s Bread offers so many great pastries from incredible sticky buns to perfect cheese biscuits. Maybe the lightest of their options are their twists. They’re sort of like a mini-bagel in spear form. But not nearly as dense or heavy as bagels can get.

What’s great about their chocolate sourdough twist is you get that chocolate fix without overdoing it. The savory sourdough mellows out the pudding like flavor of the chocolate chunks (and there are plenty of them). It’s a chewy bready chocolate experience.

And of course, you don’t have to only eat these in the morning. If I were you, I’d get one with breakfast, one with lunch, and one with dinner. Too many carbs is a whole different issue. Price: $1.35

71. ESPRESSO ICE SHOT at CHIKALICIOUS DESSERT BAR