Mitzie Mee Blog

NYC: The Deconstructed Latte at Coffee Project

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

Deconstructed Latte at Coffee Project, New York

I discovered Coffee Project NY in East Village by coincidence a couple of years ago, when I was walking around the neighborhood. The tiny shop didn’t look like much from the outside, but through the window, I saw a couple sharing what seemed to be a line-up of coffee cocktails. It looked too good to ignore, so I stepped inside and ordered whatever that couple was having.

Turned out it wasn’t cocktails, but the Deconstructed Latte consisting of a glass of espresso, a glass of milk, a glass of ordinary (reconstructed?) latte and a glass of sparkling water. The staff told me to drink the sparkling water first to clean my mouth. Afterwards, I should drink the glasses in the following order: Espresso, milk and latte. I could eat the biscuit, which also came with the coffee, whenever I wanted.

Espresso is usually too strong for me, but this one had a smooth, almost chocolatey, flavor. After gulping down the milk, I was left with the same taste in my mouth, as if I had been eating coffee ice cream. That’s a big Yum! in case you wonder. Furthermore, the individual shots of milk and espresso worked to fine-tune my taste buds, so when I was drinking the reconstructed latte later, the flavors really popped out.

I also had a canelé, which was amazing. Back then, I used to see them everywhere, and I really developed a taste for the cute little French pastries with the caramelized crust, and the sweet, gooey core. I checked the menu online at Coffee Project NY, and I’m not sure the canelés are still around. I hope that I’m wrong, because the canelé I had at Coffee Project is among the best I’ve ever had. I would have liked to stay longer (and maybe have a canelé or two more), but the cafe was closing, so I finished what was left of my reconstructed latte, and walked out with strong intentions to come back again soon.

Coffee Project, 239 E. 5th St, East Village, New York

October 16, 2023 0 comments

NYC: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn – What to order?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

Dinosaur Bar-B-Cue - Where I go for barbecue in Brooklyn - New York City Blog

I’ve been in love with Dinosaur Bar-B-Que ever since Stephanie and Leah introduced me to the place more than 8 years ago, and whenever we’re meeting for a night out in Brooklyn, the first stop is almost always bound to be the Dinosaur.

At the heart of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que lies a commitment to fresh, homemade, and high-quality ingredients, where the tradition of Southern BBQ takes center stage. Dinosaur has also built a devoted community of patrons, and Leah and Stephanie have both told me how they used to order take-out from Dinosaur during the pandemic, because they wanted to support the restaurant and make sure the restaurant didn’t close.

I have no idea how Dinosaur Bar-B-Que got its name, but one could easily think it’s from the portion sizes, which are huge. When Leah, Steph and I go to Dinosaur, we usually order the 3 meats combo, which come with 2 sides, and which is enough for three people, but we would nonetheless end up ordering extra beef brisket, because it’s so freaking good, plus a couple of extra sides, because deciding on just two sides is impossible. The ribs are also very good, and the full rack (12 ribs) comes with 4 sides, so if you’re into sides and if you like ribs, that combo is also a good choice.

What to order at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que?

The beef brisket is amazing. It’s juicy and tender and something you definitely don’t want to miss. The ribs are also good and so are the chicken, and the pulled pork, but what really stands out is the beef brisket.

If you’re into fried green tomatoes, you might also consider ordering those as an appetizers. While the ones at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que aren’t the best I’ve ever had, they’re decent, and it’s nice to start out with something less heavy to counterbalance the following meat feast.

Regarding the sides, it very much comes down to personal preferences. When we’re at the Dinosaur, we try to stir it up a bit, but mac and cheese and potato salad are usually among the sides we end up ordering.

If there’s room for dessert, the Peanut Butter Pie is a good, though rather heavy choice, but you can always share with the rest of the table or bring the leftovers home.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a big restaurant and they also got outdoor seating, but the place is busy on most nights so I would recommend booking a table in advance, especially on weekends, if you want to have a saying regarding your preferred seating.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 604 Union St, Brooklyn, New York

October 15, 2023 0 comments

Kopitiam – A Malaysian coffee shop in New York City

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

NYC: Kopitiam - A Malaysian Cafe in the Lower East Side

Kopitiam is a charming Malaysian cafe, drawing its inspiration from the traditional Malaysian coffee shops, also known as kopitiams. In Malaysia, these cozy, unassuming spots have been the go-to places for people seeking comforting food and a sense of community. Kopitiam used to be located in a small shop on Canal Street, but that one closed, and a new, and bigger Kopitiam opened on East Broadway.

The food on the menu is mainly small plates and snacks, with a good selection of both sweet and savory items and they’re serving Malaysian breakfast all day. At Kopitiam, no additives or artificial coloring are used, and the ingredients are sourced directly from Malaysia or from nearby markets. Kopitiam also has a good selection of traditional Malaysian hot and cold drinks, and if you’re a coffee drinker, I would suggest you get one of the Malaysian coffees with condensed milk, which are sweet and delicious.

When I’m at Kopitiam on my own, I can never choose between Nasi Lemak and Kaya toast so I often end up getting both, but ideally, you should go to Kopitiam with a couple of friends, and order a bunch of different things to share.

When I had lunch with Julia at Kopitiam, she suggested that we ordered the Pandan chicken which is minced chicken triangles wrapped in pandan leaves and served with sweet chili sauce, and lobak (two deep fried five-spice pork rolls wrapped in beancurd sheet, cilantro, sweet chili sauce). I had never tried any of the two before, but they were both delicious, and something I would want to order again, so what am I going to do when I’m visiting Kopitiam on my own next time? I think I’ll need to bring more friends so I can order all the different Kopitiam dishes that I’m craving:)

A bit about Nasi Lemak and Kaya Toast

Nasi Lemak is considered Malaysia’s national dish but it’s also a popular dish in Singapore and Indonesia. Nasi Lemak is usually eaten for breakfast and consists of fragrant coconut rice served with accompaniments like crispy anchovies, roasted peanuts, hard-boiled or fried egg, cucumber, and fiery sambal sauce. The sambal at Kopitiam is made in-house, and you can add additional sambal to your Nasi Lemak for $1.

Kaya toast is toasted white bread slathered with butter and kaya, which is a sweet, creamy spread made from pandan, coconut milk, sugar, and eggs. It has a slightly floral, delicious flavor and a beautiful green color. Delicious together with a cup of strong tea or coffee.

Kopitiam, 151 E Broadway, New York