Meeting up with Cecif in NYC (with pics)

Yesterday, I met up with cecif in New York City and we had lunch at Peanut Butter & Co. in Greenwich Village.
We both opted for the Stewart's sodas. I had the Key Lime which was pretty good and cecif went for the Grape which she said paired quite nicely with a peanut butter sandwich.
Cecif with her "Elvis" sandwich (grilled peanut butter, banana, honey and bacon) with chips and carrrot sticks. She was really digging this!
I had the "Special of the Week": Crunch Time peanut butter and Pumpkin Butter on white bread with chips and carrot sticks. When the counter lady brought it out, I could really smell the pumpkin in it and it had a very nice spicy, fall flavor to it.
Billyboy, enjoying lunch.
After lunch, we made a stop at Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side for some cookies and a stroll in Central Park. Sorry about the poor quality of this shot. It looked great in the viewfinder! I was so excited eating my cookie, I forgot to take a picture of it!
Cecif, outside Levain. It's just a tiny place and mostly grab and go, but the cookies are really, really good! $3.75 for a cookies is a bit steep, but they are pretty substantial and it's mostly a special treat for me. I think both of us had some good parking karma going on, because we were able to find good spots in both neighborhoods very close to where we were eating.
We parted ways as cecif had to get on the road. I noticed the newest Shake Shack just a few blocks away, so I walked over there to check it out.
They sell a number of different shirts and have a "green", eco-friendly theme going on with recycled materials being used for the tables and other part of the shack.
I love these onesies! There is usually a big line outside the original location in Madison Square Park.
A few descriptions of what is what at the Shack.
Some of the specials. The chestnut shake and the hot chocolate with custard sound mighty tasty to me.
My "Bird" dog Shack-ago style: an Usinger's chicken and apple bratwurst, dragged thru the garden. The poppy seed bun was soft and they had the usual Chicago suspects on it: sport peppers, pickle, relish, chopped onions, mustard, tomatoes and celery salt. The tomatoes were on the skimpy side, but everything else was spot on. The sport peppers are on the bottom and I really love them! The spice just smacked me i the face right away! The relish isn't the classic neon green, but rather from a local guy, Rick, who started a company called Rick's Picks and he'll pickle just about anything. Good stuff! I had an interesting experience when I went to sit at my table.  I got my order and the guy at the table next to me had a camera on a tripod and was snapping pics of his food as he works for a local newspaper.  We had a nice conversation about food photography.  He gave me some really good photography tips and his card if I had any more questions.  People kept coming up to him asking what he was doing as he was trying to take his shots.  
I'm pretty sure these fries are not hand cut, but they were excellent. Super crispy outside, very creamy inside and perfectly salted. A most excellent accompaniment to the brat.
While walking to the 2 train near 72nd Street, I passed a new outpost of Grandaisy Bakery on 72nd Street right next to Gray's Papaya.
I stopped in for a slice of Pizza Cavolfiore (cauliflower pizza with gruyere cheese). Pretty good, although it think it would be better earlier in the day just as it came out of the oven.



Cecif, thanks for taking a some time out of your busy day to share a bit of Roadfood with me!

billyboy, I believe you got the hang of it posting on this new software. You're photos are super. Good to see Cecif back in roadfood action again. I suspect Elvis slathered on a bit more peanut butter and bacon on his sandwiches than Peanut Butter & Co.

How cool!  

Question because it's too little for my eyes:  What is a Concrete?

I've never heard of it before.

Your paring of sandwiches with drinks is outstanding, but really gets me is those fries!

Crispy crinklies are the fries of my dreams.  OMG! I wish I could get someone to make those here.

Loved that PeanuButter place!  but those fries..........OH, MY!

Two of my favorite Roadfooders getting together for a true Roadfood meal.  Great stuff!  Thanks for sharing billyboy!

That PB&B&H&B (banana, honey, bacon) was FABULOUS!  Three thumbs up.

As soon as I download 'em I will add a photo or two! Great seeing you Bill, and YUMMY food!

mar52


How cool!  

Question because it's too little for my eyes:  What is a Concrete?

I've never heard of it before.

Your paring of sandwiches with drinks is outstanding, ...

As Bill well knows, I look forward to his answer about "Concretes"! (I only learned recently myself...)

And fwiw the grape soda with PB sandwich was awesome.

And I dunno if Elvis could FIT more PB on his bread! It was dripping, loaded with goodies... very impressive.

billyboy and cecif -

Nice choice of stops!  It's great to find a cooperative camera person.  Recently, at Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique in Chicago, while on quest for billyboy cupcakes, they were filming also but were stictly hands off, not friendly.

I love quirky pizza combinations like those!

billyboy and cecif -

thanks for the trip report.
the brat looks awesome.

A concrete is a super super thick custard with the flavor you choose mixed in.  We have a place here in Holly Hill, Fl that makes them..You can literally turn the thing upside down and nothing will happen!  Hence the name concrete.  That's how dense and thick it is.  You put your spoon in it and it doesn't move.  They are delicious!

I watched them make mine and they take the custard (I was just informed it is custard - Thanks  6 Star) add the fruit flavor (I like blueberries and syrup) and place it under a mixer.  The vanilla turns blue and of course tastes like blueberry really thick custard.  I mean really thick!

What I am not sure of is if the base vanilla custard is already super thick or does the mixer chilled it down futher when they introduce the fruit flavoring and mix it?

 I believe Ted Drew's in St. Louis was instrumental in creating the popularity for these concretes.  The one I had here in Holly Hill..I think the name is Shakes?  It is a franchise.  I hope they make it.  The custard is very, very good.  We also have a Ritter's that is excellent.  But they never use to make concretes..Maybe now they do?  That is a franchise out of Indiana and they have terrific soft serve ice cream. 

Well custard is heavier than typical soft serve to get the desired thickness.... Isn't there a place out of Philly or Chicago that is famous for it's custard.  Khor's or something like that?  We had one in Ft. Lauderdale at the Riverwalk and it was terrific.  Their logo is blue lettering on white and they promote the machines as being their own invention.  Who knows...
 
Thanks again 6 Star.  I do love frozen custard.  Never realized that was what they were using for these concretes.

Cauliflower pizza?  I have seen it all.  It's really good breaded and fried with cheez sauce so why the h not?  Thanks guys!  I bet you had fun.

I think technically, a Concrete is made from frozen custard, not soft serve, which helps account for its thicker texture.

I forgot to mention one last stop I made, at City Bakery in Chelsea for this "Baker's Muffin" ($3.75). I get one of these about every 3-4 weeks and it is the best muffin I have ever had!
There is a lot going on with this. First, It's like pull-apart bread where you can pick it apart piece by piece and the top it just totally crunchy. Once you get to the inside, it is soft and moist, but not sticky and only has a subtle sweetness to it. A wonderful balance of apples, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon provide lots of flavor and texture and make for one heck of an addictive sweet treat!
davyd, yeah I'm pretty sure Elvis had more than a fair share of these sandwiches, especially the "Fool's Gold Loaf"!
 
mar52, to echo what baah ben said, the concrete started in St. Louis at Ted Drewes and is a really extra thick type shake made with custard. Danny Meyer, who owns the Shake Shack grew up in St. Louis and wanted to bring the concretes he grew up with to the Big Apple.

Cecif, I had a feeling you might like PB & Co. and Levain Bakery. I still can't believe the parking!

Nancypalooza, Grandaisy also has a zuchini pizza (wicked good!) as well as others such as fennel, celery root, potato with onion and champagne grape with anise seed pizzas. Check out the website for pictures of them uncder "Products". Just some amazing stuff. http://www.grandaisybakery.com/pizza.html

Yeah, Bill, I forgot to mention the parking! You thought it was my kharma and I thought it was yours (did I get that right...?!).  LOL! We had great parking luck.

Concretes are indeed the Ted Drewes' specialty, even though it doesn't say so I always had the impression that's where it was "invented". (And custard it is.)
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=296&RefID=296

Working on photos...  (edit: Flickr not cooperating, so maybe in a.m.?!)

Did the peanut butter salmonella scare get you in the mood to eat Peanut Butter & Co?

I don't know that Ted Drewes invented the concrete, but they surely popularized it in the midwest.  Interestingly, there was this little tidbit on the history section of Ted Drewes' web site:

According to Ted Jr., the success of the operation has brought it nationwide attention in the form of offers to franchise the stands. He said such offers pour in quite frequently. However he has never agreed to franchise and he says that he never will.

"It is a matter of quality. Franchising could lead to mediocrity," Ted notes with a shake of his head.

Ah, yes.  Ted Drewes, Jr. - Original Roadfooder!

And, cecif, it is good to see you back around.

Great report Billyboy! So, the local paper photography guy was giving YOU tips?? 

Maybe it should have been the other way around, your pix are terrrific, and from what I've seen in some local handout papers they could learn a thing or two from you.  I'm speaking in general terms of course, maybe your guy WAS good.

Thanks for the report and nice to see Roadfooder Cecif in your backyard, and finding parking as well!

Looks like you guys had a great time strolling around the city. I've been away too long myself.

I'm waiting to return when the weather gets a little warmer (if that ever happens)

Jeepguy

The salmonella issue only applies to the processed stuff (ie peanut butter crackers etc) not the real stuff in a jar.

Thanks!  So it's not a pudding like custard, but rather a soft serve ice cream type of custard.

Sounds like I need a few to cement our relationship.

They haven't made it out west.  Can't say frozen custards have either.

Those pictures just jumped out at me-awesome photography.You sure know how to pick good food.The cauliflower/gruyere pizza especially caught my eye. Thanks for another fine report.

Flickr appears blocked, but so do a few other things (oddly not Kodak). Afraid I have either malware or a worm. I'll be back in this space after I solve the problem!  Sigh.

Hi Billy!
 
A great report!
 
You always capture the "spirit" of NYC...in so many nice & interesting ways!!
 
Rick is a great guy! He is a legend at the Union Square Green Market. He loves what he does, is very enthusiastic about his products, and they are great.  I have not seen that  relish, in his product line. I wonder if it is a Shake Shack exclusive.

Hey Billy, you should try "Death by Peanut Butter" the next time you go to The PB Co.! It's my son's fav! 2,000 calories of ice cream and peanut butter w/ all the topping! It's dope!
     And, how could you NOT walk two blocks over to Bleeker St.? Rocco's pastry shop, Murry's Cheeses, Faccio's Deli, John's Pizza, Ottomanelli's butcher shop, Joe's Pizza, ALL on the same block? And, did you know they opened a Five Guys Hamburger Joint on 7th. and Bleeker?
 We have to get together.

OMG!!!!  A chesnut shake?  How did I miss that?

I want one now!

I'm so deprived.

Jeepguy- PB & Co. has a notice on their website that their peanut butter products are not involved in any of the recent recalls.  I'm a huge fan of the place and cecif had wanted to to have lunch there for some time, so it just made perfect sense.

TTM- I like Ted Drewes' philosophy!

Ken8038- the photographer was pretty good.  I was checking out the food photos on his website:   www.danielsburnstein.com 
 
CCinNJ-  I've hit Rick's stand a few times at the market and I'm always impressed with what he is able to pickle and the really bold flavors.  I'm glad Shake Shack decided to support someone local. 
 
Richard-  "Death By Peanut Butter", you say?  I was just there last month and have a pic of it in the "My Tastes of NYC" thread.  I can't seem to copy and paste the pic from the computer I'm on right now.  We actually parked on Bleecker Street and walked past all of the places that you mentioned, but we just didn't have time to stop in.  I'm quite familiar with the Five Guys on 7th Ave South.  I think they're putting up a plaque in my honor next week! 

Billyboy and Cecif

great report, i got to gets to NYC again your reports (Billyboy) are killingme here in the bleak cincy area

I was in New York during the holidays and the old Sullivan St bakery @ 78 Sullivan St. is now a Grandaisy. I liked the old place better. Is Grandaisy a local chain?

Okay I finally got Flickr to work and so I'm adding a few photos, billyboy. Sorry so slow. Hope this works (first time new format!)...

My interior shot of PB&Co

[cool! it previews immediately!]

And my Elvis sandwich, yummmmmmmy:


And a shot of my delicious - if pricey - chocolate & peanut butter chip cookie:
sorry for the quality, couldn't get better...


And finally my New York vs. New Delhi moment.  I saw this sign and had to pretty much stop traffic to get a photo...
    

Obviously New York left , New Delhi right... (I wish I had one of the many that said "Honk Please!")

Over n'out.

Cecif,

Flickr came through A-OK. I think I am going to have to give Flickr a try now that I can upload directly to it from Mac iPhoto 09 without an intermediate export step.

Now I am Jonesing for an Elvis sandwich.

Ooooooooo, that califlower pizza looked like something special...I want a slice!!!