The Living Room

We ended our superb Hamptons trip with brunch in a super cute restaurant called The Living Room. It really did feel like we were dining inside the cozy living room of someone's house and I also loved the porch swing outside. Our bloody marys came in super cute glasses and were the perfect start of the day. My eggs benedict were unfortunately a bit overcooked but the hollandaise sauce was delicious. A cute spot for brunch if you are in the area!

The Living Room at the Maidstone 

207 Main St

East Hampton

NY 11937

The Dock House

We went to a cute little seafood spot called The Dock House after a full day of drinking and it was the perfect meal to soak up all the alcohol. The lobster roll was fresh and sweet and the fried clams were also well seasoned and meaty. They have a great assortment of seafood and the chefs can also prepare them in a multitude of ways!

The Dock House
1 Long Wharf
Sag Harbor
NY 11963

Hamptons BBQ

Ahhh I have so many posts to do! I've been totally slacking but will be trying to update more in these upcoming weeks! I am going to the Hamptons again this weekend but these pictures are from when the weather was warmer :)

Race Lane

I have been dying to go the Hamptons for the summer and F was able to squeeze in an amazing weekend trip full of delicious dinners, brunch, and wine tasting at a beautiful vineyard. Our first meal was dinner at Race Lane and we sat outside in a super cute garden. The food was delicious and our server was also very friendly and ensured that we had a enjoyable evening.

Octopus - Tomato Confit, Kalamata Olives, Parsley, Pickled Red Chili
The octopus was very tender and I loved the addition of the olives and the tartness of the pickled red chili.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras - Rhubarb Chutney, Kumquats, Brioche, Vanilla
J and S had never tried foie gras before and I knew that we had to order this and make them the perfect bite. Foie is one of my favorite dishes and this rendition did not disappoint. The foie was very creamy and decadent and the kumquats were perfectly sweet and the rhubarb provided the needed tartness to offset all the richness. 

Beef Carpaccio - Wagyu, Arugula, Reggiano, Lemon Aioli, Capers
I only had a small bite of this but remembered it to be a very solid dish. Nothing special, just a very well executed classic beef carpaccio. 

Buffala Mozzerella - Prosciutto di Parma, Cantaloupe, Basil, Apple Balsamic, Lemon Olive Oil
The presentation of this dish was lovely and I loved how the cantaloupe was cut into little orbs. Once again this was solid execution of a classic combination of flavors and it did not disappoint.

Hamachi Crudo with Jalapeño and Citrus Dressing
The fish was fresh and the dressing was not overpowering but the jalapeño was WAY too spicy as they did not take away the seeds.

RL Burger - American Wagyu, Red Onion Jam, Spiced Bacon, Aged Cheddar
I had a small bite the burger and it was delicious. The patty had a great meaty flavor and was also very juicy. The bacon was very thick and the spice was a really nice touch. 

Sea Scallop - Parsnip Puree, Maitake Mushroom, Zucchini 
The scallops were perfectly seared and the parsnip puree was creamy and delicious. I did not like the maitake mushrooms as they were a bit bland. 

Striped Bass - Pan Seared, Swiss Chard, Fingerling, Heirloom, Tomato, Saffron 
I did not try this dish but the presentation was beautiful. 

Vegetable Risotto - Leek, Squash, Zucchini, Mushroom, White Wine, Reggiano 
The risotto was perfectly al dente and the sweetness of the fresh vegetables was the star of the dish. 

Organic Roasted Chicken - Yukon Gold Mash, Haricot Vert, Pancetta, Au Jus
The skin was crispy and the meat was very juicy. The flavors were also on point and the mashed potatoes were buttery and smooth.

Parmesan Truffle Fries 
This was probably the most disappointing dish of the night. The fries were soggy and no one likes soggy fries :( 

Lobster Mac & Cheese 
This was such a hit amongst our dinner party! The mac and cheese was delightfully cheesy and luxurious and there were also very generous chunks of lobster meat. The crunchy panko crust was also amazing. I also wanted another order of this! 

Overall I had a lovely time at Race Lane and would definitely come again! The atmosphere was lovely and the food was also very good. Thanks to everyone who helped with the lighting for the pictures :) 

Race Lane Restaurant 

31 Race Lane

East Hampton

NY 11937

Les Halles

Les Halles is a french restaurant that is famous for their steak frites and for having Anthony Bourdain as its former executive chef.

Escargots - Snails Roasted in Garlic Butter 
The snails were plumb and I loved soaking up the garlic butter with my bread. I also enjoyed how the snails were already out of the shell because sometimes I have difficulty extracting it and almost have a Pretty Woman moment. Having the snails out of the shell also allows the garlic butter to seep into the snails and result in a stronger flavor. 

Salade d’Auvergne arugula, endive, bleu d’Auvergne, roasted walnuts and apples with walnut vinaigrette
I loved this flavor combination and this salad was definitely needed as we had a lot of meat and fries.

Steak Tartare - Lean Top Round, Ground to Order
I really liked how this was ground to order and made table side, that was definitely a nice touch. The meat was a little too minced for my liking but the taste was on point. 

Foie Gras Poëlé aux Pommes - Foie Gras Sautéed with Apple, Walnuts, and Calvados Sauce
Guhhh this was delicious. The foie was smooth and fragrant and the apple's sweetness balanced that richness of the foie perfectly. 

Coq au Vin - Rooster Braised in Red Wine, Bacon, Button Mushrooms and Pearl Onion
This dish was incredibly well done and I was very impressed with the complexity and richness of the flavors. It tasted like how red velvet feels if that makes any sense. The pearl onions were very sweet and the chicken was juicy and tender. 

Noix de St. Jacques Poêléesaux Champagne - Pan Seared Scallops with Artichoke Barigoule and Champagne Cream Sauce
The scallops were seared perfectly and were plump and juicy. The artichokes were also able a great accompaniment to the scallops. 

Confit de Canard - Crispy Duck Leg Confit, Frisée Salad, and Truffled Potatoes
The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat was juicy. I still think Balthazar's duck confit is still #1 as it is just so incredibly flavorful and delicious but this is also well done. 

Overall I enjoyed the meal and think that this is a nice option when you want well executed French Brasserie fare. Balthazar is still my favorite but it is usually more difficult to get reservations so this would be a nice second choice. I also did not get the steak frites so I would definitely be happy to come back to try their iconic dish.

Les Halles 

411 Park Avenue South

New York

NY 10016

Levain Bakery

Levain Bakery has some of New York's most legendary cookies but I can't believe it took me so long to finally try them! But maybe its a blessing in disguise because if I knew how delicious they were earlier I would be the size of a small island by now. The cookies definitely lived up to its hype and I have been gushing about them to my friends since that first magical bite. These cookies really hit the spot because during thesis crunch time and M and I definitely needed this for brain fuel.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
I've tried every flavor and my favorites are this one and the raison oatmeal! The peanut butter and double choco? is also very good but I think its just due toe personal preference. The cookies are so incredibly soft and fudgey it's truly every bit as delectable and scrumptious as the picture looks. 

Look at how big they were! (And ignore how big my eye bags were... it was finals season T_T) 

Levain Bakery 

167 W 74th Street

New York

NY 10023

Bar Kogi

I love korean fried chicken and Korean food in general so I was excited to try out Bar Kogi which is one of J's favorites places since he lives right across the street. We ordered a bunch of other stuff as well but I was only able to snap pictures of two of the dishes because I got lazy :p The wings were yummy but I still think Turntable Chicken has the best korean fried chicken in NYC.

Tekbokki with Extra Cheese and Ramen 
Carbs and cheese are my favorite things (and fries haha) and while we were told that this preparation was not traditional I really loved it. It was quite spicy but the sauce was balanced nicely as it was also very flavorful and sweet. The amount of cheese was ideal and I love the sprinkle of scallion on the top. 

Overall I enjoyed the fun and casual atmosphere of Bar Kogi and definitely would be happy to return. It is a great neighborhood spot for a quick and yummy bite.

Bar Kogi

952 2nd Avenue 

New York 

NY 10022