I haven’t been able to get enough of this banana/pumpkin/peanut butter oatmeal combination. No lemon curd this time, but still so good!
Ari happened on a cute little cafe in Tribeca called Cosmopolitan Cafe. The walls are made of old wood paneling, and it’s lined with books. The space was the first Lady’s Waiting Room in New York! There was a little sign by our table that said the cafe is a place to read, write and enjoy. No laptops, please! I wanted something simple, so I just got a tuna melt. Sorry for the low lighting!
We went for a Tasti nightcap… dare I say I enjoy The Lite Choice more?!
Last night, my family and Caitlin’s went to I Trulli for Restaurant Week. It was trulli fabulous. We started out with a Southern Italian white wine that my dad picked.
They served focaccia with the freshest, fluffiest ricotta cheese spread I have ever had.
For my appetizer, I ordered the burrata: creamy centered cheese with puntarelle salad.
My mom and I split two entrées: cavatelli: Pugliese Flour Dumplings, Broccoli Rabe and Toasted Almonds (the almonds were such a good touch!)…
… and spada: Swordfish Gratinato, Dora’s Braised Kale, Bottarga. Both were delicious, but the swordfish almost melted in my mouth. MMM.
For dessert, I had one of the best-and most interesting-things I’ve ever tasted. Fichi d’India : Cactus Pear Parfait. It was layered with what tasted like tapioca made with condensed milk. Heaven on earth. It came with a lacy honey cookie.
Total foodgasm. Two RW meals in one week? Big success!
This morning I got up late (even by my new standards) and made pancakes for breakfast using the Multi-Grain Baking & Cooking Mix I got at Trader Joe’s, oh, six months ago. I decided to make His & Hers pancakes; I made Ari’s with the recipe on the back of the box, and made my Pumpkin Chia Pancakes for myself.
Pumpkin Chia Pancakes
Serves 1-2
- 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Multigrain Baking & Pancake Mix (or other whole grain mix)
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- 1/4 cup skim milk
- 3 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 2 tsp chia seeds
Whisk ingredients together until smooth. Coat pre-heated pan with cooking spray and pour batter (amount depends on how big you want your pancakes to be) in pan. Once edges begin to set, flip with a spatula and cook until both sides are slightly golden.
I topped my pancakes with cottage cheese and agave, and ate them with a side of tempeh bacon.
At the last minute, I added 1/2 a banana to the mix. Make these now! They are so, so good.
Ari would like you to know that his breakfast was also “Part of A Complete Breakfast.” He liked the tempeh bacon, but said it had no right to masquerade as the real thing.
I’m off to the ballet. Check in tomorrow for a race re-cap!
Have a safe and lovely evening 
Burrata cheese is on my top 10 list of favorite foods… I’m truly obsessed with it! Good luck on the race!!!
Oh man, that’s awful that Paul Rudd was disappointing. He seems so cute and funny!
I just can’t get over how incredible an opportunity Restaurant Week is for you New Yorkers. That food all looks so delicious!
I love burrata cheese…the best place I’ve had it was Ago. I think you have an Ago in NYC…check it out if you get a chance.
Girl your pumpkin chia cakes look great…and the swordfish almost melted in my mouth. MMM….yeah, that could un-vegan me
I had to laugh bout your comment re missing the secret santa and valentine b/c you thought you were so up on things….girl, I read like 50 blogs a day and still managed to miss the santa thing. Had i not been a faithful reader of janetha’s every, single, post…i woulda missed the vday one too. dont feel bad!
xoxo
I’ll be in the city next week, do you have any “must do” suggestions? I’m there relatively often, but so seldom ask for ideas!
(And I’m not sure if I told you I’ll be moving to Hoboken in August, so I’m sure I’ll be asking for more help then too!)
ohh man those pancakes look great!
i love your oat combination- i need to try it soon!
Soooo jealous of all your eats!! Pumpkin+banana+pb=heaven. If you like Ina Garten, I know she has a recipe for Pumpkin Banana Mousse. And those pancakes are makin me drooool!! I’m going home this weekend, so I should definitely give em a shot!
So what was Paul Rudd supposed to be doing? lol He’s not a comedian per se, so I’m surprised he has a show.
Anyways, I think I know of that Italian restaurant… never been, but I used to walk by it all the time and it looks so nice! I’ve got to check it out one day.
What a great dinner! definitely foodgasm!!!
i’m loving the look of the dessert you had there! such a deep reddish purple color!
Wow everything looks delicious!
Pancakes look great!
So much yum in this post! Love the looks of that focaccia with the ricotta cheese spread- oh my goodness! And I can always go for some froyo
Pancakes are the best weekend breakfast. I may need to whip up a batch when I get back from teaching this morning. Hope you have a great day girl
Your pancakes look so good, especially with CC!! I’ve come to the conclusion that NYC has the best restaurants. Every time you post a meal from a restaurant, I always long for it!
I would love to be in NY for restaurant week one year- your dinner looks incredible! As do the pancakes…cottage cheese and banana (rockstar!) are such a great combo. I usually eat it with granola- pancakes are on my list to make! I am usually half asleep when I wake up for breakfast these days so stay clear from the stove!
Okay, reasons I envy you include…
You make the most bangin’ bowl of oats every morning (except I do wanna try that lemon curd addition–you’ll have me craving it next time i see it!), fancy cheeses are my faveee–and that fluffy restaurant ricotta sounds divine!!, you have the cutest bf who adores you dearly, you do weekly fam dinners out on the townn, and you made PANCAKES!!! Love that.
Have a great Sunday Katie!!
ugh i’m mad paul rudd wasn’t good! and i totally forgot that it was restaurant week! i feel like i always forget it haha which is so silly bc one of the best desserts i’ve EVER had came from it!
Those pancakes look so delish! Bookmarked for sure:)
yummy restaurant week pick, I am going to Crema!
your pancakes look amazing!
and yes, I love the Lite Choice!
Just found your blog and I love your eats! I’m an NYC-er, too
Il Trulli looks AMAZING…I’m going to One if by Land, Two if by Sea on Tuesday for RW and I can’t wait 
The pancakes look super yummy too…can’t wait to keep reading!