For the Love of Europe

BURGER JOINT: AS UNREFINED AS ITS NAME, YET SO APPETIZING

Eleni Menoutis — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:23:00 GMT

I committed the deadly sin of gluttony last night when I decided to indulge in the supposedly "best" burgers in New York for dinner at Burger Joint. All I can say is that sacrificing those calories was well worth every bite.

The overall experience added to the satisfaction. It was similar to my endeavors last week when I visited several hidden restaurants and bars, except this time, the location was concealed inside a posh hotel.

Photo by Joelogon

Jackie and I confidently walked through the busy entrance of Le Parker Meridien, as if we were hotel guests returning to our loft. But of course, when we stepped foot inside the open lobby, Burger Joint was nowhere in sight. I discretely asked the concierge where to go, and he kindly told me to follow the draping red velvet curtains to my right. We turned the corner, and there it was - the bright neon burger.

I felt as if I was in a mom and pop burger joint with New York accents mixed in.

The rules at Burger Joint are plain and simple. Customers are to walk up to the counter and quickly give their order, while surrounded by store-bought Arnold's hamburger buns, jugs of pickles, ketchup and grade A Grey Poupon, and Dracula and Wonder Woman chotchkies. If you don't know what you want, you walk to the back of the line.

Thank God it wasn't too busy because Jac and I needed time to make out the words on all of the handwritten cardboard signs: Cash Only; Step 1: hamburger or cheeseburger, Step 2: how you want it cooked, Step 3: the toppings; and a list of drinks ranging from Sam Adams to frothy milk shakes.

Photo by VirtualErn

"Burger, medium, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, fries and a brownie," I called out. I felt like a fat pro, but I needed to try everything! Jac ordered a cheeseburger with "the works" - lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles - and a Sam Adams.

My paper-wrapped burger was in my hand in maybe 17 seconds; shortly after came my greasy brown paper bag of fries; and then I grabbed a self-serve brownie from the stacked-high brownie bin, all for a mere $13!

Luckily the turnover is nice and fast, so Jac and I were able to snatch a booth in the corner. Burgers, bag of fries, brownie and a clear plastic cup filled to the brim with Sam Adams. Who needs plates, utensils, glasses or waiters? We sure didn't. Napkins and hands are the essentials.

The burgers were so juicy, the fries crispy and thin, and the brownie so cake-like. The expressions on our faces said it all: Burger Joint serves ridiculously good burgers.

From my angle, I was able to get a view of the entire joint and really appreciate its shantiness. With country, oldies and Arab-like music playing in my ears, I scanned the hotel guests, businessmen and walk-ins off the street munching away on their chow. I was cornered by thumbtacked signs, hanging framed newspaper and magazine reviews, Sex and the City, Ratatouille and Cheech & Chong posters, and celebrity signatures ranging from Whitney Houston to Leona Lewis. The total atmosphere was great and made the food taste even better.

After absorbing the entirety of the dive and digesting our delicious dinner, we collected our remnants, chucked them in the garbage, and got up from our comfy booth. Two hungry customers were eagerly waiting to fill our seats.

There is no excuse not to experience the taste of Burger Joint because it's conveniently open all hours of the day. Dress casual, come hungry and enjoy New York's best burgers.

BURGER JOINT; Le Parker Meridien; 18 W 57th St. New York.

Go further: Read about how Paris goes bonkers for burgers.

GRANDMA´S FUNKY JEWELRY BOX

Eleni Menoutis — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:35:00 GMT

Affordable vintage jewelry is usually difficult to find. We all wish we could just raid our grandma's old jewelry boxes and throw on her stash with today's modern fashions. In Pippin, however, it's hard not to walk out with cheap antique charms.

Located on West 17th Street, a block known for vintage, thrift and antique shops, Pippin houses an array of funky one-of-a-kinds. The buyers purchase their entire inventory and restock the boutique with new selections each week.

They've even created their own line, called Reverie, known for its original artwork of combined vintage pieces.

One cool aspect about Pippin is that you'll always know where your vintage finds have originated from. On the white price stickers are the cost on one side and the date of the item on the reverse.

I bought a gorgeous 1930's/1940's bracelet yesterday for only $24! And not only will you find jewelry, but also vintage hats and handbags.

I'm always sure to be bare-skinned when entering Pippin, because I know my fingers, wrists and neck will most certainly be adorned when walking out.

Be sure to peek into Pippin Home, the treasure chest right next door.

PIPPEN; 112 & 1121⁄2 West 17th Street, New York, NY

NEW YORK CITY.....SHH

Eleni Menoutis — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:30:00 GMT

Last night I explored the hidden nooks and crannies within New York's lively city streets. Always be observant when strolling down city blocks, because you just may walk past something worth discovering.

La Esquina

Corner of Cleveland and Kenmare: where people of all paths and walks of life meet for some good ol' corn on the cob - La Esquina-style of course. I was surprised my friend Jac and I were able to snatch a reservation during Fashion Week at La Esquina (meaning "corner" in Spanish), but we managed a 6:30 spot.

We walked into the Cafe-Taqueria and were escorted down a flight of stairs and through the restaurant's aromatic kitchen, where the busy cooks themselves directed us into the cellar - an obscure gothic-style bar and dining area.

The young hostess seated us at our perfect deuce near the rear of the restaurant, facing the surrounding fashionistas and city natives, busboys wearing "Mexico" shirts, and food runners sporting "Obama '08" t-shirts righteously so. One waiter was styling with his tight black vest and white undershirt, tattooed arms and a stripe of blue running through the back of his hair.

Mismatched vintage wooden chairs, FIRE and Corona Extra buckets hanging from the ceiling, stonewashed brick walls, tiled art, and iron gates, all stirred up the medieval-dungeon-feel.

Not only did the hip village staff and equally suited decor create the unique La Esquina atmosphere, the gourmet grub and signature drinks contributed as well. We sampled the savory staples: the grilled string beans, sweet corn on the cob rolled in grated Cotija cheese and chili powder, and Mexican corn truffle quesadillas paired with a fiery chipotle sauce. As for margaritas, over 200 tequilas to choose from with prized ones, such as the 1941 Don Julio, costing as much as $150 a shot!

And if that wasn't impressive and delicious enough for us, our waitress ended our night with a complimentary decadent Mexican chocolate espresso-filled cake topped with crème fresh ice cream - all because she thought I needed to taste the best dessert for my article. The perks of writing for Momondo ;)

La Esquina; 106 Kenmare St. and Cleveland Pl. Soho, New York.

Crif Dogs ... PDT (Please Don't Tell)

Next spot we scoped out was the East Village's Crif Dogs, known for its deep-fried Jersey-style hot dogs and hush hush phone booth.

When you walk into Crif Dogs, it looks like an ordinary hot dog shop with customers giving their orders at the counter, ketchup and mustard bottles on the tables and stools lined up along the wall.

But then you turn to the left and walk into the peculiar phone booth ...

I picked up the white telephone inside and pushed a button. The hostess answered and led us into the small speakeasy, Please Don't Tell. Black curtains, black leather seats, round wooden tables, stuffed animal heads on the brick walls - poor rabbit, bear, raccoon and owl - and lamps above the tables that made me feel as though I was about to get my palm read by a psychic.

The bathroom was even cool. Mosaic walls of shattered glass reflecting everything inside. Then the cool menus: black and leather with the surprisingly recurring Obama theme for the night. A beer was called the Sixpoint Hop Obama! But instead we chose to try PDT's specialty: absinthe.

The waitress brought us the Absinthe Cocktail and the Corpse Reviver #2, which featured the special absinthe spray technique for a faint black licorice aftertaste. Absinthe is definitely an acquired taste.

We couldn't leave without sampling the famous Crif dogs, so we ordered The Wylie Dog, which was a deep-fried hot dog with ketchup molasses, but without the fried mayo (ew!), and The Hummer, a grilled veggie dog topped with hummus, to make our unhealthy snack seem a bit more nutritious. I'm officially an anti-hot dog turned hot dog fan.

CRIF DOGS ... PDT; 113 St. Marks Pl. near 1st Ave. New York

Death & Co.

The last and final treasured cove of the night. A very dark wooden door and bar front mark the cryptic Death & Co. on 433 East 6th St., Lower East Side. My friends and I almost walked right past the man in black standing in front of the dimly lit entrance.

Chandeliers and candles are the only sources of light inside. Sinatra music playing in the background, wood paneled ceiling, wooden floors, black marble tables.

We were able to choose from a menu of sweet, smoky or spicy cocktails. I went with the Spicy Paloma, infused with jalapeno, grapefruit and lime. But Jac's tempura cauliflower with melted cheddar was definitely the highlight of our experience there.

Besides the pretentious waitress and decent cocktails, Death & Co is a good late night place to relax before heading home.

So next time you're about to walk past that average N.Y.C. corner, hot dog stand, or desolate-looking door, pause for a second, and take a look inside.

PASTIS: NYC MEETS FRENCH FLAIR

Eleni Menoutis — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:42:00 GMT

Pastis, a trendy French bistro located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, is one of my tops picks for wining and dining in New York City. My personal favorites are the seared tuna Nicoise salad, the simple french fries and the sinful bread pudding. My drink of choice would definitely be their espresso martini, made to perfection.
The atmosphere is enjoyably loud with locals that come to socialize right after work. The age range of customers is about twenties to forties and fifties and up. It's a mixture of all types of personalities.

Photo by Aturkus

Make sure to make reservations for this leading NYC restaurant because it is almost impossible to be seated without one. And swing by in the summertime to enjoy a coffee break or brunch at their outdoor summer cafe.

Related posts:

Go eat - New York

HESITANT ABOUT HOSTELS?

Eleni Menoutis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:04:00 GMT

After watching the movie Hostel, I'm sure you crossed that idea off from your list of things to do in Europe. But movies are just movies. I stayed in hostels when I traveled to Amsterdam and Barcelona, and those were two of the best experiences of my semester abroad.

The Bulldog Hotel

In Amsterdam, my travel partner Jac and I spent our eight unforgettable - at times forgettable - days at The Bulldog Hotel, literally two steps away from the infamous red lights, an eight-minute walk from Central Station, and a few canals away from the two famous shopping streets and Madame Toussauds overlooking Dam Square. Falafel and donner kebab stores mark every corner, coffee shops are literally every other shop, and bikes swarm the streets.

The Bulldog is a funky, laid-back hostel. The walls on each floor are lined and decorated with a different theme; Jac was obsessed with the drawing on our floor:

The beds are the most comfortable beds you'll ever sleep in, there are lockers to store your belongings, and there’s 24-hour security at the front desk. And right downstairs it has its very own coffee shop! Brown leather couches, DVDs, pool tables, a bar. It was perfect, and so convenient.

There wasn't much availability for the days we were going, so our room ended up occupying twelve people, with me and Jac being the only two girls. A crazy-looking man in the bunk beds across from us was our first impression. As I stared at his wildly frizzy hair and smelt the herbal aroma surrounding him, I definitely thought to myself, "Oh my God, what the hell were we thinking sharing a room with complete strangers?" But he was harmless, and we spent the rest of the trip rooming with these two awesome Scottish dudes and a bunch of normal college guys. Who knows, maybe Amsterdam had just gotten the best of that wacko. It definitely made our experience all the more memorable.
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The Bulldog Hotel
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 220
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Paraiso Travellers Hostel

In Barcelona, we stayed at the Paraiso Travellers Hostel. I know this is a cliché saying, but Paraiso is truly a home away from home.

Paraiso Travellers Hostel is located in the center of Barcelona. It is run by four multilingual (and adorable!) friends who create an intimate, cozy atmosphere for their guests. The hostel is about a 15-minute walk to the beach, within walking distance to La Rambla, and surrounded by restaurants, bars, and supermarkets-all of the necessities.

Jac and I stayed in a 4-person bedroom with two bunk beds, lockers, a sink and a window overlooking the city. Right outside our room was an adorable colorful communal area with couches, free Internet access, a coffee machine (I was addicted to the lattes-sweet hot milk, yum), magazines and a TV. There was a little balcony with two chairs outside the den area where I would drink my coffee almost every morning.

Paraiso has no curfew and no lock-out policy, so there is no excuse for not exploring Barcelona's brilliant nightlife until the early hours :)
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Paraiso
Ronda de Sant Pau, 55-57 Ppal. 1°
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The Gramercy Park Hotel in New York

Eleni Menoutis — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:43:00 GMT

Ever wondered what it would be like to party with the stars? This past Spring break I was able to get a taste.

My sister works at the famous Gramercy Park Hotel in NYC. She cocktail waitresses at the swank Rose Bar in her stunning black Narciso Rodriguez back-zippered dress that fits like a glove on all of the modelesque servers. The atmosphere is funky and laid back, with upbeat lounge music playing in the background. The lighting is very bare; the stone fireplace and tiny table candles create the minimal glow. It's as if you're in ancient times reading the drink menu with candelas. Maroon velvet curtains hang down over the doors and plush rose-colored cloth lines all of the booths, seats and comfy royal-like chairs throughout the bar. Surrounding the discerning celebrities and hotel guests are eclectic murals and paintings that mirror their very styles and pull together the overall modish theme.

The drinks are as trendy as the guests. I tried the rose martini, which literally tasted like I was drinking a flower, the incredibly delish fig martini, and my favorite, the vanilla martini, which came with an orchid floating atop. My friend tried ordering a cosmo and the waitress simply would not let her because there were so many amazing specialty martinis to sample. We then finished off the night with champagne, every girl's favorite. And as we sipped on our bubbly we peered over to the table in front of us and spotted Entourage star Jeremy Piven surrounded by a booth of girls. Later in the night we saw Crash star Terrence Howard in a tight suit and hat and Leonardo DiCaprio's model girlfriend Bar Rafaeli. Supposedly a Sports Illustrated cover model was roaming around as well.

So if you're not a celebrity, model or posh hotel guest, just try working it. Up and coming photographers, businessmen and stars saturate the bar, who I'm sure are more than willing to buy some girls a few drinks. And if you're lucky, you may even walk out with a number :)

GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Tel. 212 920 3300 Fax 212 673 5890
http://www.gramercyparkhotel.com/
Reservations toll-free (US) 866 784 1300

CENTURY 21 MAKES YOUR SHOPPING DREAMS COME TRUE

Eleni Menoutis — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:13:00 GMT

For all you clothes horses out there, I'm sure you can agree when I say that Century 21 is no longer New York's best kept secret -- it's everyone's favorite department store. From major international to American designer brands, the racks are full of to-die-for apparel, and the shelves are stacked with chic shoes and accessories. Ladies, mens, lingerie, juniors, handbags & accessories, shoes, childrens and home departments are all located within the treasured superstore.

Bargain shoppers, rethink your shopping game plans. TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack and Loehmann's may be great finds, but they don't measure up. Century 21's designers, quality and collections are incomparable, and the value for the dollar is unbelievable -- 40 to 70% off merchandise! I once found an adorable Betsey Johnson dress for $43 (€27) and Michael Kors boots for $78 (€49).

Photo by Chor Ip

Make sure to set aside a few hours before entering Century 21. I'd say I average about four hours per visit, at least. It's my go-to for jeans, dresses, tops, bathing suits, shoes -- literally everything. I even purchase my Clinique face gel there!

My blog post does not do Century 21 justice. You'll just have to sacrifice some dollars and time to find out how amazing and addictive this discount designer department store truly is.

Century 21 locations:Brooklyn, Manhattan, Morristown, Paramus, Rego Park (coming soon) and Westbury.

Related articles:

Go shop - New York

GoGo Voyage Ali Laptop Envelopes

Eleni Menoutis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:26:00 GMT

My favorite website, Fashion Week Daily, posted this fabulous find in their "Obsessions" section the other day, and I had to share it with all of you chic travelers out there.

What is one of the most important things for a traveler, especially a traveler who blogs, to bring with them when experiencing Europe? A laptop. And not only a laptop, but a laptop with the most fashionable sleek case.

GoGo Voyage Ali Laptop Envelopes are the perfect cover-up for your portable journals. Choose from black patent, silver, green, tan, or cream and fit right in with the impeccable European fashion.

AVAILABLE: http://www.fredala.com

Related post:

Five travel items one can't do without