The Butcher's Daughter

Met an old friend today at the new trendy Nolita juice bar, The Butcher's Daughter. Cute name, warm rustic setting, and a lot of kale. We came in starving, and I was excited for some yummy healthy eats. The Butcher's Daughter is more of a juice bar than a restaurant, with some healthy light bites. Everything sounded delicious and we ordered a ton. Unfortunately, I just didn't find anything that tasted as amazing as it sounded on the menu. It was good. I'm just not rushing back. 

We started with Kale Chips. Not the best of I've ever had, but crispy and still addicting. The Smashed Avocado Toast with curry, mustard seed, lemon & olive oil on toasted 7-grain bread was good, but looked better than it tasted. The bread my friend rightly pointed out, was a little mushy, and I didn't dig the curry flavor. The mustard seeds on the top were a nice touch but after a few bites we had enough. Cafe Gitane does a much better version of this.    



I did enjoy the "Best" Kale Salad with baby kale, sunflower seed tahini, avocado, green apples, sunflower seeds and smoked sol de fleur. Light on the dressing, but the flavors paired well together, and overall was a pretty delicious salad. We also really liked the Raw Pesto Linguine with raw squash "linguine" marinated mushrooms, cashew ricotta and house made pesto. The toast that came with it was fresh and crispy and the "linguine" was flavorful and delicious. Get these 2 items. 

Although we didn't finish any of the plates, we decided on a "shot" for dessert and went for the Vampire Slayer with ginger, lemon, garlic, and cayenne pepper. What was I thinking? Not gonna lie, this was not my cup of tea. 


Overall, The Butcher's Daughter is a cute spot for juices, smoothies and some small bites. It was not mouth watering, dream about it at night delicious, and was not cheap either, but everything tasted fresh, the service was friendly and I definitely left feeling "healthy" if not fully satisfied. 


Neighborhood: Nolita / Little Italy 

Bite Mark: **

Good For: Juices & Smoothies, Light Bite

The Butcher's Daughter , 19 Kenmare bet Bowery & Elizabeth  212-219-3434 www.thebutchersdaughter.com

Sun in Bloom

3 questions I get asked on a daily basis since I began this blog:

1. When do I find the time to eat so much?
2. Where do I find out about all these places?
3. How am I not 200 lbs given the amount of food I consume?

The answer to the first two are connected. This is my thing. Food. Eating out. It's where I find my pleasure and what I get enjoyment out of doing. I get a rush of excitement entering a new restaurant and do a little happy dance when the food arrives.
Hence I make it my business to seek these places out and find the time to try them. Whether it's catching up with a friend, dinner with the hubby, out with the family, or just grabbing a bite by myself (I have no qualms about lunching solo). I think it's important in life to make time for the things we enjoy most.

As far as sources, I read a ton of food blogs, reviews from newspapers and magazines and word of mouth. Also, when you are a foodie you connect with other like-minded souls and word spreads about the places worth trying.

Regarding how I stay fit, it's pretty simple. I exercise ( a lot) and understand balance. I love food but rarely snack or eat sweets and dessert. Somehow I manage (for the most part) to find the balance between being happy with how I look (and feel), and satisfying my cravings for amazing food. Green juice every am also doesn't hurt. 

Sun in Bloom. Cute, comfortable, easy place for healthy food on Bergen Street in Park Slope. It's owned and operated by Aimee Follette who as quotes from her instagram page is "changing the world one delicious organic bite at a time".

 In here we use words like vegan, vegetarian, healthy, raw, and live. Not exactly my area of expertise, though I do enjoy clean fresh food, especially after a few days of gluttonous eating. They offer take out and delivery, and have a fridge stocked with fresh pressed juices, salad dressings, soups, and gluten free desserts. All are tasty and flavorful, and you know coming from me that means something.

The past 2 days I've tried to eat "clean" and stuck to my homemade green juice (kale, spinach, parsley, green apple, celery, cucumber, lemon, ginger), whole grains, and lots of veggies. No meat, fish, eggs or dairy. I don't cleanse often enough but when I do I feel energized and amazing. I figured Sun in Bloom was the perfect place to get some additional "good for you food", without having to think (or cook) too much. 

 So Monday morning I drove out to Sun in Bloom, sat down, and ate a delicious Hearty Macro Bowl filled with kale, collard greens, wakame, steamed butternut squash, brown rice, black beans and sesame dressing. It was filling and delicious. I also took home with me the Three Bean Chili, Spicy Sweet Potato Soup (spicy but delicious), and the Lentil Thyme Shiitake Mushroom Soup for lunch/dinner for the next few days. I also got the Tempeh Reuben with housemade sourkraut and live creamy russian dressing, and Bloom "Burger" with with tomato, basil, caramelized onions, and live sunflower dressing. I honestly don't have a negative thing to say about any of it.




This place is great as long as you understand what you are in for. Healthy food is no longer just for the health obsessed nuts, it works for the FOODIES out there too! Like I mentioned earlier, food (and life for that matter) is all about BALANCE.

Neighborhood: Brooklyn, Park Slope 

Good For: detoxing, lunch, take out, vegetarians

Bite Mark: ***

Sun in Bloom, 460 Bergen Street Brooklyn 718-622-4303 www.suninbloom.com