Mitzie Mee - Food & Travel Blog

NYC: Cocktails at Osamil

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

After our dinner at Take 31, Tina and I went to Osamil for a drink to round off the evening in style. Osamil is a Korean Gastropub known for modern Korean food and good cocktails. When we were there, everybody seemed to be ordering the Korean Market Chicken, which is a whole fried chicken served with different condiments, and it looked delicious. I regretted a little that we didn’t go to Osamil for dinner instead of Take 31. Not that Take 31 wasn’t nice, but I liked the vibe at Osamil better. Take 31 was great for casual food and makgeolli, but Osamil would probably have been a better choice fora girls’ night out with dinner and cocktails.

I wish we had had some appetite left, so we at least could have tried one of the small plates, but we couldn’t squeeze down a single bite more, so we just had cocktails in the bar. I had the NA-Bee which is a butterfly pea-infused tequila-based drink with a touch of coconut liquor, pineapple, Grand Marnier and egg white. Very pretty and delicious. Felt like I had ordered the most beautiful drink on the menu.

Tina went off-menu and tried her luck with a spicy margarita. The drink wasn’t really a hit, but she was warned in advance that they didn’t have any jalapeños so she only had herself to blame. She ordered another pink drink (I forgot the name of that one) later, and it was nice and fruity.

Osamil also has a speakeasy, Osamil Upstairs, located one stair up from the restaurant. The cocktails and the ambiance are supposed to be really good, so it’s on my list for the next time.

Osamil, 5 W 31st St, New York

November 8, 2023 0 comments

NYC: Levain – The Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

NYC: Bite into Bliss - Levain's Famous Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

When it comes to cookies, Levain is second to none, and if you haven’t yet tried their famous Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie, you’ve been missing out big time. Everything is baked on-site every day, so when you enter one of the Levain shops, you’ll be greeted by the enticing smell of delicious, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies.

Levain started out mid-’90s as a humble storefront on the Upper Westside, founded by two friends, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, both competitive swimmers and triathletes. One day, as they trained rigorously for a triathlon, Pam and Connie sought an energy boost that was both tasty and nutritious. Their solution: the creation of the ultimate chocolate chip walnut cookie.

What makes the Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies at Levain so special?

While most cookies (at least until recently, when everybody started copying Levain) are big and rather flat, the cookies at Levain are thick and chunky. They almost look like chocolate scones, but they are crispy on the outside and chewy and gooey on the inside, just like you want your cookie to be.

At Levain, the cookies are handmade, and the bakers put their heart and soul into each batch, carefully shaping the dough, folding in the chocolate chips and walnuts, and watching over them as they bake to perfection. The original Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie is everybody’s favorite, and it’s hard to find a reason why it shouldn’t be yours too. It’s not too sweet, and the combination of rich, dark chocolate chips and the satisfying, soft crunch of walnuts in one bite is hard not to love.

In addition to the signature Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie, Levain offers a variety of flavors and seasonal items. The cookies are rather rich and filling, so I’ve never managed to finish more than one at a time. My usual strategy is therefore to get one of the seasonal cookies you’re curious about for immediate consumption, and one of the Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies to bring back home.

The photos in this post is from the Upper East Side location, but there are several other branches throughout the city.

Levain, 1484 3rd Ave, New York

November 5, 2023 0 comments

NYC: Nakamura – Lower East Side’s hidden ramen gem

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

When I say Lower East Side and ramen, you’ll probably say “Ivan”, but there’s also another really good ramen place in the neighborhood, and that’s Nakamura. This unassuming gem has been quietly serving up some of the city’s most authentic and flavorful ramen bowls, and today, I’ll be spilling the broth on what makes Nakamura one of my favorite ramen spots in the city.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I usually prefer a hearty tonkotsu broth, but one of my favorite bowls at Nakamura is the vegan XOXO Miso ramen. Though I’ll usually add an egg (they’re always perfect at Nakamura) so it’s vegetarian. The XOXO Miso Ramen is so rich it’s hard to believe that it’s plant-based, and so tasty you wonder why it isn’t drawing any larger crowds. Even though Nakamura is usually busy, especially around dinner time, the shop only rarely gets super crowded, and I guess the location is too far out of the way (right before Williamsburg Bridge) to attract any tourists.

What to order at Nakamura?

Nakamura’s signature broth is the Torigara, which is a light and clear chicken broth that I think most people would like, but if you don’t eat meat, (and also if you do) you should definitely consider ordering the XOXO Miso Ramen. If you’re into tsukumen (dipping ramen, noodles served with a dipping sauce on the side), you should get the Tokyo Tsukumen which comes with a fish-based dipping sauce, and which is probably Nakamura’s most famous bowl, after the Torigara.

Nakamura, 172 Delancey St, New York

November 4, 2023 0 comments

K-Beauty – What is essence?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

To most people in the US, essence is still a relatively new player in the skincare game. However, in the realm of Korean skincare, it has long been a cornerstone of daily beauty routines. From lightweight, watery versions that can double as toners, to thicker, serum-like formulas, essences come in various forms.

The typical application of essence involves cleansing the skin with an oil cleanser and foam cleanser, possibly followed by a toner, and then applying the essence before any other products. A good essence serves as a primer for the skin, preparing it to absorb subsequent skincare products more effectively.

So, is essence the same as toner or skin tonic?

The answer is both yes and no. Traditional skin tonics as we knew them in the ’90s often contained alcohol and stung when applied to the skin. However, modern Korean toners rarely contain alcohol and primarily focus on refreshing the skin, removing any remaining traces of cleanser. Moreover, these toners often include ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and restore the skin’s natural acidic pH after cleansing, when the pH might have turned alkaline due to the soap content.

While essence is quite distinct from traditional toners or skin tonics, it shares many similarities with modern toners. Some people might even choose to skip the toner and instead use an essence with toner-like properties. A good essence can give your skin a radiant glow and enhance the effectiveness of the products applied afterward.

But doesn’t it sound a lot like a serum then?

Yes, it does, and many people use essence as a more cost-effective alternative to serums. However, I personally use both because I believe they complement each other quite well. If you opt for essence instead of serum, keep in mind that essences often don’t contain as potent and targeted ingredients as serums do, especially when it comes to anti-aging.

Interested in adding essence into your skincare routine?

Schwanen Garten’s Antioxidant Treatment Essence is a thick, serum-like essence that can also be used as a toner. It has a luxurious texture which is quickly absorbed by your skin, leaving your skin beautiful and smooth. I apply Schwanen Garten’s Antioxidant Treatment Essence after cleansing my skin and before using Schwanen Garten’s serum or ampoule. The Treatment Essence serves as a perfect base for serums and creams and can even be used under sunscreen for extra skin protection.

November 4, 2023 0 comments

NYC: Little Island – A riverside oasis in the city

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

Little Island opened in 2021, but it somehow stayed completely off my radar until this summer. After brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co., Oluva suggested we go check it out, and I figured, why not?

The island is built on Pier 55 in Hudson River Park, just off the West Side Highway between 13th and 14th Streets. It looks a bit surreal from a distance with those giant tulip shaped columns, and up close, it’s a calm, thoughtfully designed space that feels a little removed from the city around it.

It’s a nice spot, but not somewhere you’ll spend hours. The real draw is the view, both of the sculptural island itself and the Manhattan skyline from the top of the hill. It’s perfect for a short break, a stroll, and a few great photos before heading on.

There are a few kiosks during the warmer months, but if you’re hungry, you’d be better off grabbing a meal somewhere else before or after your visit. The West Village and Chelsea are both nearby with plenty of great options.

If you’re in the area and want a quick escape with great views and a bit of greenery, it’s absolutely worth a visit. And if you time it right, they often have free concerts and events, check the calendar here.

Read my guide to other free things to do in New York City

My guide to everything New York City >>

Little Island, Pier 55 in Hudson River Park at, W 13th St, New York

October 30, 2023 0 comments

NYC: Soon Tofu at BCD Tofu House in Koreatown

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne

NYC: Lunch at BCD Tofu House in Koreatown

On a cold day, there’s nothing more comforting than a piping hot bowl of tofu stew, and BCD Tofu House in Koreatown is a great place to get your tofu fix. As the name of the restaurant suggests, BCD Tofu House is all about tofu, or, more precisely, soon tofu, which is freshly curdled, extra soft, made in-house and served in a flavorful broth. At BCD Tofu House they’ve got different versions with beef, pork, seafood, or veggies, and you can choose your preferred level of spiciness, which goes all the way up to Danger. I’ve never ventured beyond Medium, but if you’ve tried danger, I would like to hear what it was like, and how you survived:)

The tofu stew is served with rice, a raw egg to add to your stew, and a selection of banchan (side dishes), so it’s a filling meal, and I think the portions are the same size for lunch as they are for dinner. The price for the lunch combos are only slightly cheaper than for dinner, but very reasonable, and it doesn’t take long from you place your order until the food arrives at your table, so it’s a good place to go for a quick lunch, even though you have to count in time to wait for the broth to cool off, or you’ll burn your mouth.

Wonder what BCD stands for? It’s short for Bukchang Dong, a district in Seoul, which BCD is named after:)

BCD Tofu House, 5 W 32nd St, New York