Press Tea

Press Tea, a new tea house opened up near me and I'm obsessed. 

Located in the West Village, the cafe is adorable, with a super friendly staff.

Instead of pouring hot water into a cup with a bag of tea, here, tea is pressed using an espresso machine. 

I've been going back for repeat visits for their tea blends with Mont Blanc Creme (tastes like it's a blend of half and half, some condensed milk, and probably a little salt). Get it sweetened or unsweetened.

Mini sweets, all made in-house.

A cute seating area, looking like it came straight out of an Anthropologie catalogue.

My sweetened Masala Chai with Mont Blanc Creme. Delicious. It's pretty much a liquid dessert. And a couple of small treats (both tasty!), to go with my tea. 

INFO: Press Tea | 167 7th Ave South | New York, NY 10014 | 646.678.3909

Union Square Greenmarket

I live fairly close to the Union Square Greenmarket so every once in a while, I'll take a stroll through to see if there's anything I want to get for dinner. What I usually get are vegetables, whatever fruit is in season, and every once in a while, fresh cut flowers.

Here's what I spotted at a recent walk through the Greenmarket.

Fresh herbs in adorable wooden displays.

Radishes galore! At the end of the day, City Harvest took whatever hadn't been sold.

Crates of beautifully colored apples.

And this! Maple cotton candy.

Crowds were sampling strawberries. 

They weren't sampling these, but check out the size of these scallions! 

I couldn't leave the market without a bag of maple cotton candy. Sweet sweet goodness. 

INFO: Union Square Greenmarket | North & West sides of Union Square Park | 212.788.7476
HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8AM - 6PM

Bien Cuit

Oh, Bien Cuit, I wanted to like you, I really did. I had read good things and the bakery looked adorable. But alas, even though I wanted to like it, I didn't. 

Love their logo and the look of the bakery.

Walk in and there's seating to the left and the baked good displayed to the right.

Harney & Sons tea is served here. I got an iced tea in Winter White Earl Grey, which was smooth and refreshing. Not at all bitter.

There isn't a huge selection but there's everything from savory sandwiches to sweet tarts.

How great does that bread look? I should go back to try the bread.

A total of three baked goods were ordered and I was disappointed in all three. Above is the pistachio roulade and the iced tea. I was hoping the roulade would be light and flaky, but it was heavy and dense. The almond croissant (also dense), and the savory strata both lacked a punch in flavor. 

INFO: Bien Cuit | 35 Christopher Street | New York, NY 10014 | 646.590.3341

Kusmi Tea

Stocking up on rooibos at Kusmi Tea. A rooibos in a 4.4 oz tin and organic green rooibos in sachets. 

There are three Kusmi Tea locations in New York, and I visited this one on 61st Street and 3rd Ave. There's one in the Plaza Food Hall and in Bloomingdales.

Every day there's a sampling of a different tea.

Unlike some other tea shops, all teas are pre-packaged and there isn't an option to buy loose leaf by the ounce. The smallest metal tins have 4.4 ounces of tea so I opt for the sachets (in muslin bags) if I want to give a new tea a try.

There are tea canisters the sales associate can take off the shelves so you can take a whiff and look at the loose leaf teas they sell. 

INFO: Kusmi Tea | 1037 Third Ave at 61st Street | New York, NY 10065 | 212.355.5580

ChikaLicious Dessert Bar

ChikaLicious in the East Village is a fantastic dessert spot, where they serve expertly made and meticulously served sweets on the menu. 

Best for a party of two, since this place only seats 20. 

I usually like to take a seat at the bar so I can watch Chika, the chef and the owner, prepare the desserts. 

The menu consists of a prix fixe for $16 which includes an amuse, a main dessert dish, and petit fours. You choose one of the seven main dessert dishes, which changes every time I go. The amuse and the petit fours are chef's choice, so you get what Chika serves you.

I ordered a personal pot of tea ($3.50) and that came out first. Adorable tea cup and matching saucer for my green tea.

The amuse was a sorbet with tequilla gelatin. So refreshing.

I went with the Banana Tartare on Crispy Kataifi with Adult Chocolate Pudding and White Coffee Ice Cream. I've never been disappointed by anything I've had here, so this was not an exception. Flavors went great together and I liked the different textures from the banana, pudding, and ice cream. 

Last up, the petit fours. I met up with Kathy, so you're looking at two servings of petit fours. One-bites that were light, delicate and the perfect way to finish off the prix fixe.

I can't wait to go back.

Note: They're open only Thursday - Sunday from 3PM - 10:45PM. They don't take reservations.

LOCATION: ChikaLicious Dessert Bar | 203 East 10th Street btw 1st & 2nd Ave. | New York, NY 10003 | 212.995.9511