And in the 'How Could I Have Missed This' Category: ChikaLicious!

A restaurant that only serves desserts. That is all I have to say.

Well, no, I'll go on a bit more, given this joint dishes up the things I love best, cakes and pastries and ice cream and stuff. At ChikaLicious, A prix fixe menu allows for an amuse, choice of dessert, and petit fours. Located on the lower east side at 203 E. 10th, I'll be heading there as soon as my blood sugar drops after holiday candy overload. Be sure to check out their Dessert Club, too!

The Few, the Fave Restaurants in NYC

You are never supposed to tell another New Yorker about a great restaurant. Well, you can, but you run the risk of the place being overrun and suddenly your favorite table is always unavailable. But hey, it is tough to find a good nosh spot in this vast city, so I thought I'd jot a few down here (at the risk of ticking off my friends who recommended them. Sorry!) Would love to hear your top restaurant picks, especially on the Lower East Side or Midtown. Here are a few of my favorites:

Soho:
Balthazar: 80 Spring St. 212-965-1212 (French. Amazing escargot.)

West Village:
Alta: 64 W. 10th St. 212-505-7777 (Tapas. Great atmosphere.)
Cafe Asean: 117 W. 10th 212-633-0348 (casual but hip pan-Asian, with beautiful, romantic garden in the back.)

Upper West Side
Isabella's: 659 Columbus Ave. (At 77th) 212-724-2100 (American food. Iconic restaurant.)
Mermaid Inn: 658 Amsterdam Ave. (At 87/88th) 212-799-7400 (hip and happening seafood.)
Blossom: 466 Columbus Ave. (At 82nd/83rd) 212-875-2600 (great vegetarian. Also a location in the Village.)
Josephina's: 1900 Broadway (btw 63/64th) 212-799-1000 (American. Great spot near Lincoln Center.)

East Village
Banjara: 97 First Ave. (at E. 6th St.) 212-477-5956 (Indian food galare.)

Tasti D-Lite: Resistance is Futile

Summer has come to an end, and with it I am hoping for release from the merciless frozen addiction that is Tasti D-Lite. For those non-New Yorkers, Tasti D is a beloved low-calorie, low-fat (and often sub-low taste) frozen soft serve concoction that is kosher with no artificial sweeteners. Billed as a guilt free way to indulge the primal urge for icy dairy treats, Tasti D offerings are perhaps not as healthy as they appear, but sure do hit the spot on a sweaty New York day. But at three bucks plus tip for a small cup (more if you demand chocolate sprinkles like I do) I just can't justify the blissful (but financially sinful) pleasure of it. Stores are almost as plentiful as Starbucks, making the frozen stuff hard to resist. Some say the occasional indulgence is like slathering margarine on your arteries, but I still say it is a superior snack to, say, a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Judge for yourself.

Warning: The relatively new-to-New York frozen yogurt store Pinkberry (aka crackberry), an LA import and favorite of celebs, is moving in around the corner from me on Columbus Ave. Am I doomed to bounce from frozen treat to frozen treat, or what?

First NYC Yoga Experience

Ask most people what they think of yoga and the answer is all zenlike and ethereal. But for this girl with major monkeymind, the mildness of it all takes me straight to clockwatching. Despite my yoga discomfort, I do adore my friend (and yoga teacher) Ann Megyas, so I took in her New York Kripalu Center class tonight down in Chelsea. Thank goodness she is gifted and her style empowering yet gentle, because for the first time ever I actually enjoyed all the bending, breathing, stretching and kneeling that is yoga. As a runner, the series of poses helped release some hard-to-tackle, super-tight hamstrings and hip flexors. Blissed out is a term I can now use with authority.

Ann is Kripalu certified and has a real knack for making the class fun yet centering. At $12 for a 2 hour session it is the best yoga bargain in the city. Check out the series on Fridays at 6:30pm at the Feldenkrais Institute at 134 W. 26th St, or see her for private lessons.

Bonus: Eating exotic burgers afterwards at Brgr at 287 7th ave., where you can actually order a goat cheese veggie burger on whole wheat bun. Luscious!

Art as Food, Food as Art

Art as Food (for the Soul)
It is Tribeca Film Fest time here in the city, which means movies movies movies AND lots of events centered in Tribeca. I'll have more on that soon enough, as I'm slated to take in a few flicks and panel discussions over the next week. But to kick off my first-ever exposure to this cultural phenom, I joined a new friend on TOAST- Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour. The walk offers an inside peek at artists in their natural habitat-their studios and living spaces. The art itself was of varying degrees of good, but then that wasn't the point. Really, the walk is about supporting and celebrating those that keep the crazy creative flavor of New York alive. Thank goodness for characters like Sam Wagner and his pet poodle, Yun Kyung Huh and her delicate pencil drawing collages, and all the artists that opened their doors to us curious folk.

Food as Art
Most of the time, I just eat to eat. But in Tribeca my lunch at Blaue Gans at 139 Duane St. was of a creative German bistro variety. Tasty and light Wiener schnitzel? You bet, along with other delights. Highly recommended. And my Sunday brunch at Artisanal at 2 Park Ave. featured a threesome of cheese (Fleu du Maquis, Livarot & Shropshire Blue) that was decadent and delish. Definitely a must-munch if you are into the artistry of fromage, especially the stinky variety.

Spring, Spirit & the Shake Shack

It is officially SPRING in New York! The sidewalk cafes are full, the dogs are out in force & the park ponds are filled with rowboats. So yesterday was spent almost entirely outside at Madison Square Park for a visit to the Shake Shack. Heavenly yummy burgers, dogs, fries and FROZEN CUSTARD (oh my, oh my my my). The line goes half way around the park, but it is worth the wait. The prices are CHEAP and standing in line on a gorgeous day ain't half bad. And you get to check out the cool public art & music!

Early morning was spent with the lovely Rev. Kimberleigh Jordan at Marble Collegiate Church for the second Art & Soul talk. This Sunday's guest was Mary Gordon, renowned author who often explores Catholicism in novels like Spending, Pearl & Final Payments. This extraordinary Q&A offered intelligent insight into the creative process. When speaking of the balance of discipline & creativity, Gordon likened the muse to a horse that galloped 'round and 'round her house, but if she wasn't standing ready at the door she would never be able to jump on its back. I could go on and on about her brilliant comments on society, the rising cost of living in NYC, the need for discipline when the passion for writing is not fed... but to get a real sense of her spirituality, talent and intelligence it is probably best to read her work.

Food, Glorious Food

This is a town of foodies. Even my local Pioneer 'Super P' grocery store and my beloved West Side Market have better cheese selections than anything I've ever been privy to. But my favorite cooking/foodstuff/coffee destination is Zabar's on Broadway. There may be debate among Upper West Siders about which ranks higher-the infamously crowded Fairway or the space-challenged Zabar's-but I'm just partial to the cheap & chic housewares collection beautifully displayed on Zabar's second floor. Here is a photo homage to the grand design of it all.

CHOCOLATE!

I'm a chocolate junkie, let's face it. And I'm in a town that appreciates it's cocoa. When even the smallest deli sells Toblerones over Hershey's, you know you are among aficionados.

In Soho last night, a shopkeeper recommended MarieBelle , a Parisian style chocolatier located on Broome St. The shop is charming and there is a cafe located in the back. They show (faintly) Charlie Chaplin films on the wall as well as tout the health benefits of chocolate. Apparently, to harness the most from its antioxidant flavanoids, it is best to drink it. Try the Aztec Hot Chocolate, with a Dulce de Leche crepe on the side if you want to be truly decadent.

Also, check out Leekan Designs, Inc. at 93 Mercer St. in Soho. Tons of imports and interesting items, along with beads!!! Be sure to pet their doggie, though he will get upset when you stop and demand more attention!