My husband and I just got back from an amazing holiday getaway to Australia, and while the beaches and summer weather were obvious highlights, the food was absolutely noteworthy as well. One of the places I was most interested in visiting was The Farm at Byron Bay, a lovely working farm with everything from pigs and chickens to sunflowers and macadamia trees. Greens, vegetables, eggs, and meat, all produced and harvested on the lush grounds, are used in the on-site restaurant, café, and produce store run by Three Blue Ducks. We got to eat at the restaurant twice, once for breakfast and another time for lunch, and everyone was thoroughly impressed with how fresh and flavorful their meals were. There was a bit of a wait both times as The Farm is clearly very popular, but just grab a coffee at the café, and take a walk around the beautiful grounds. You may find yourself wandering among the sunflower fields, or get to witness baby piglets feeding from their mother. Another must-visit is The Bread Social, which you can't miss from the tempting smells wafting throughout the space immediately upon entering. Pick up some freshly baked breads or pastries to bring home for later (or now, no judgment). I definitely recommend stopping by if you find yourself near Byron Bay! Click through the photos above for details on some of our delicious meals!
chewy molasses ginger cookies
These are a winter favorite in my house! Or I guess just with me, as my husband isn't a big fan of molasses (his loss). Either way, I love the warming, comforting flavors of molasses, cinnamon, and ginger. Like most cookies, I tend to under-bake them just a tad, since they will continue to cook after being removed from the oven. These just scream "holidays" to me, and are also a crowd-pleasing treat to bake for any cookie exchange you might be attending this season! Enjoy!
Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground all spice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup turbinado sugar, for coating
optional mix-in: 1/2 cup candied ginger, dark chocolate, pumpkin purée
Preheat oven to 375 F. Cream butter and both sugars together in bowl of stand mixer until fluffy. Add in egg and molasses, and mix well. Gradually add all dry ingredients, mixing to combine. Fold in optional mix-ins, if desired. Chill dough for at least one hour. Put remaining sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into balls, dip into sugar, and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely. Makes about 32 cookies, just under 1 oz. each.
*Can be made vegan by substituting a flax "egg" for egg, and coconut oil for butter.
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double zero
It's not hard to find good pizza in New York (hello Paulie Gee's and Roberta's!). But vegan pizza?! Now that's another story. My best friend is a registered dietician and vegan chef, so whenever she comes to town, we hit up all the vegan hotspots. Double Zero, a plant-based pizzeria from esteemed chef Matthew Kenney, was at the top of our list on her most recent trip, and after indulging in quite a few pies, I'm so glad that it was. The organic, veggie-heavy pies are unique in their seasonal flavor profiles, and are cooked to perfection in a traditional wood-burning oven. From their innovative take on a farro-fennel "sausage" pie, to a classic spicy marinara arrabbiata pizza with shiitake "bacon", to a white pie with roasted corn and baby kale, all the pies I tried could easily stand up to their more standard meat-and-cheese counterparts. As a non-vegan myself, one of my favorite things about Double Zero (other than the deliciously charred yet chewy crust!) was their delicious take on cheese. None of that gross, gummy, non-melty "cheese" you typically think of, but rather freshly made nut-based cheeses like smoked almond ricotta, cashew mozzarella, garlic or herb macadamia ricotta, and chili cashew cheese. They were all super flavorful, and lent a nice textural component to each pie.
Pizza is not the only thing on the menu, however, and I definitely recommend you try some of their fresh salads or pasta dishes, like the farro bolognese with beet-zucchini spaghetti and mint pesto! Desserts were obviously on the agenda as well, and both the tiramisu and bread pudding were creamy and decadent, as they should be. Feel free to scroll through the slideshows to see more of our delicious meal. Even my extremely omnivorous (read: meat lover) husband was satisfied with this meal, which I consider a great success. I look forward to going back to Double Zero again soon for more tasty, yet healthy plant-based cuisine.
two hands
Let's be real: Australians know how to live well. From their relaxed, beachside lifestyle to their fresh and innovate culinary scene, Aussies know where it's at. Since getting there is not exactly convenient for us New Yorkers, Two Hands is helping bring that vibe to us. I love their focus on healthy but tasty food, served in a community-focused restaurant that is welcoming for all. There's literally something for everyone, with offerings that will satisfy any and all types of eaters. Their small cafe on the Lower East Side is great for a quick coffee and light bite, but it's also nice sit down at their Tribeca restaurant for a more traditional meal. Two Hands is proof that when simple food is done right, not much else is needed! Other than maybe a perfect flat white, that is...
brassicas bowl
charred broccolini // brussels sprouts // kale // hummus // soft-boiled egg // avocado // pickled shallots // seeds
two hands beef burger
cheese // fried egg // pickled cucumber & beet relish // seeded bun // crispy potatoes // housemade ketchup
banana bread
espresso mascarpone // toasted buckwheat // honey
good morning salad
market vegetables // quinoa // pumpkin seeds // goji berries // dates // chickpeas // spinach // cumin yogurt // fried egg
green goddess salad
baby lettuces // green beans // avocado // radish // beet cured salmond // green goddess dressing
magpies soft serve
I love soft serve. I love ice cream too, but I enjoy it even more once it's gotten a bit softer and all melty. I joke that my husband and I share a pint together perfectly, as he loves the cold, hard stuff and eats straight down the middle, while I prefer the edges of the pint that start to melt right off the bat! Magpies Softserve is what many would call "chef-driven" soft serve. It provides the same nostalgic feel of a dip from Dairy Queen, but with super creative and freshly made flavors and toppings. Everything is made in-house in the Silver Lake dessert shop, and you can totally taste the difference in quality. They even offer vegan, non-dairy options, which are equally as satisfying as their dairy counterparts. I went with a swirl of corn almond and Mexican hot chocolate soft serve, topped with almond brittle and chocolate covered honeycomb! Talk about unique, and oh so delicious! Other flavor options include malted milk chocolate, cookie butter (my heaven!), pumpkin, and coffee, and the topping options are just as tempting: graham cracker streusel, butterscotch Rice Krispies, toasted maple coconut chips, and vegan fudge sauce! I only wish they'd open a location in New York! Until then, Magpies remains at the top of my must-visit list when in Los Angeles.
maman
For a a quick and easy, but healthy and flavorful meal, I love stopping by Maman. It's basically the bakery and cafe of my dreams, featuring high quality, locally-sourced ingredients with a always evolving and inspired menu. Pop in for coffee (how cute are their cups?!) and freshly baked breads and pastries, or take a seat and enjoy housemade quiches, seasonal salads, and hearty sandwiches. I'm a huge fan of their unique and flavorful baked goods, including the nutella babka loaf, spiced carrot cake, white chocolate blueberry & lavender loaf, chunky monkey brioche, and the signature 'famous' nutty chocolate chip cookie.
One of my favorite things ever is Maman's cookie dough ice cream sandwich! It uses two slabs of melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough instead of baked cookies, wrapped around tasty McConnell's ice cream. Heaven! I recently stopped in for their new brunch service at the Brooklyn location, and both the waffle-iron hashbrowns (with smoked salmon, avocado & egg) and the roasted cauliflower salad (with kale, dates & egg) were super flavorful and satisfying. I'm looking forward to trying a matcha white hot chocolate this winter!
