Well, Let's Get Started.

Well, yesterday began with an excursion to Dinosaur Barbecue up in Harlem. My friend, Chris, came along and was very excited about this little foodie day trip. Luckily, the place wasn't too busy, so we sat right down. To tell you the truth, the place smells a bit musty. Perhaps a remnant of the building's previous use. Not sure, just a bit odd. Started out with a plate of the wings half Mild, half Hot. Not bad! At least they were big. We also ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes. They tasted right; tangy with just the right crunch. Then, on to the serious eats! We both had combination platters with Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket and Elgin Texas Sausage with side dishes of Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Baked Beans and Collard Greens and Corn Bread. Ribs were well flavored even thought they were a tad dry. Brisket and Pulled Pork tasted a bit ordinary (I feel my buddy agreed). But, that Sausage, was delicious; with just the right balance of barbecued sweetness and smokiness. Baked Beans were good (spicy), Sweet Potatoes were not sweet enough for my taste (Chris Loved 'em!!), and I hate Collard Greens (but, my friend gobbled them up). Corn Bread was moist and savory. A bit too savory for my taste, although, I always want Corn Bread to be a little piece of dessert I get along with dinner.
After paying the bill and washing ourselves up in the places roadhouse style men's room we made our way up the 90 or so steps to Riverside Drive and into my NYC Food Hauler (2009 Green BMW X5) for our trip downtown to find dessert. After seeing a mouthwatering picture of the Strawberry cake at Clinton Street Baking Co. I decided that would be the next stop. And, after finding a 2 hour parking spot on Houston St. (lucky us!!), we made a beeline to the place. Welcomed at the door by a very friendly waitress we were seated amidst a line of banquette style single tables topped with plates filled with heaping piles of glorious looking and smelling Pancakes; giant Biscuits topped with Scrambled Eggs topped with Melted Cheddar Cheese and Gravy and mounds of Hashed Brown Potatoes. But, it was 3:00 in the afternoon! Does everybody sleep this late in the East Village?? The missing Strawberry Cake (We don't have it TODAY) was replaced by about a quarter of a nine inch Chocolate and Raspberry Layer Cake which had just the right amount of moistness and sweetness not to be bland and accompanied by a delicious Cappuccino. But, for me, and for Chris, who didn't care much for the cake, dessert needed to be more.
So, off to Schiller's down the block and around the corner for the best dessert downtown; the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Never disappointing, this lovely little disc, looking not unlike an inverted cupcake and topped with a ladle full of the butteriest and sickeningly sweetest (in a good way, of course) Caramel Sauce was brought over to us with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream (to cut the sweetness, I love it!!). Slightly warmed, every bite is like this warm breath of Toffee goodness in one's mouth. Just, the best. Certainly enough to finish off this lunch. Dinner to be discussed later....