I’ve been known to walk a long way for ice cream. Such as this day, when I walked from the west side of Central Park, at 95th street, to 1st avenue and 82nd street just to check out Emack and Bolio’s and satisfy my ice cream craving. (Tip: I actually advise doing this as then your ice cream is totally guilt-free.)
This ice cream chain out of Boston specialises in wacky flavors, and are the originators of the “flavored cone” (think waffle cone covered in Fruit Loops, Fruit Pebbles or Oreos). I’m a huge fan of ice cream with big chunks of goodies in it, which is why, after reading a review describing them as similar to my long-time love Ben & Jerry’s, I badly wanted to check them out.
The flavors (they boast 100 per year) are indeed wacky. Flavors on the menu include “Caramel Moose Prints” (I’m guessing caramel … and moose?) and “Cosmic Crunch” (vanilla with caramel, choc chips, nuts, toffee, cookies pieces).
The staff were super friendly and happy to hand out as many samples as I wanted to try. I sampled “Purple Cow” (black raspberry with white and dark choc chips). It was delicious, but I was in the mood for something a bit more chocolatey, so I settled on “Serious Chocolate Addiction” (chocolate with chocolate chips and fudge chunks — single scoop, $4.25). I was told that these are two of their most popular flavors, and I can certainly see why. The chocolate ice cream had lots of big chunks of other chocolate goodies, swirled in a rich, delicious ice cream base.
We sat on stools and people-watched while we enjoyed our ice creams. Note: there are only bar stools at the window to sit on. No chairs and tables indoors. You can, however, sit outside on the bench with your stroller parked in front of you.
Last bite: A fun place to stop for some seriously funky ice cream. Delicious treats for adults and kids alike.
On a stupidly hot day, we were dying for an indoor space with super strong air-conditioning, where Cheese could also run around. We caught the A/C train straight up to 81st street to check out the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM).
The CMOM is a five-story paradise for kids. Each floor contains either permanent or special exhibits, which are highly interactive, and suitable for children of all ages— from birth on up. Cheese, at 22 months, particularly loved the “PlayWorks” exhibit, featuring a fire truck, MTA bus and a giant talking dragon who “eats” letters.
Riding atop the letter-eating dragon.
Other exhibits of note included an outdoor water play area in summer, a mural wall for kids to play on, a sand pit, a soft play area for babies and a Dora The Explorer rainforest world (with a jungle canopy and play exotic animal exhibits for kids to discover).
We went on the 4th of July holiday and it was not overly busy, which you’d expect on a public holiday (maybe everyone was out barbecuing?). You’ll need to check your stroller at the entrance, so bring a carrier for kids who aren’t strong walkers. Also, there are easy-to-access bathrooms with change tables available.
After working up an appetite we ducked into Cafe Lalo across the street (which is worth a visit on its own any day!) for a snack.
“Lalo’s Special”: frozen yogurt with fresh berries and an apple turnover.
Since it was so hot, we each ordered the “Lalo’s Special” ($11.50). It’s a bowl of frozen yogurt with your choice of berries, fruit or nuts, and a fresh-baked breakfast pastry of your choice. We both ordered ours with the berries and went with an apple danish and cranberry scone since they were only two remaining pastries. As always, the yogurt was perfect, with the fresh mixed berries giving sweet zings of flavour to the tart yogurt. While the pastries weren’t our first choices (I’d usually go for a pain au chocolat, and Alec a plain crossant), they were delicious. The apple danish was flaky with big chunks of apple, and the cranberry scone was densely packed with sweet bursts of cranberry.
We let Cheese share our dishes—she loved the yogurt and berries most of all.
Cafe Lalo is actually known for two things—desserts (they have over 100 whole cakes, pies and tarts available), and for a famous scene in the movie “You’ve Got Mail“, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. As such, it’s always packed, either with lovers of sweets like myself, or busloads of tourists—who showed up at just the same time we did that day. The tourists mostly stayed in the front of the cafe to order a dessert to go, so it wasn’t as obtrusive as you’d expect.
Parisian interior.
The interior—with its walls covered in Toulouse Lautrec-esque prints—is charmingly Parisian. If you block out the decidedly non-European voices around you, it’s easy to imagine you’re in a cafe in Paris.
Taking children to Cafe Lalo is a mixed bag. They’re not especially set up for kids, so come prepared for your visit —you’ll need to leave the stroller outside, and be sure to speak up and ask for anything you need for your child.
Last bite: Drop by for a snack or dessert for a touch of Paris on the UWS. Kids are welcome—order them a pastry or share a “Lalo’s Special” for a fun afternoon (or morning) treat.
Stroller storage: You can’t bring your stroller inside, but they’ll store it for you somewhere mysterious under the restaurant. Easy access: No. Quite a few steps. Change tables: No. The bathrooms are pretty small. Kids’ menu: No, but there’s so much to choose from, from bagels and muffins to steamed eggs or homemade waffles.
Cafe Lalo
201 West 83rd St. (between Amsterdam Ave. & Broadway)
New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 496-6031
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-2am; Fri 8am-4am; Sat 9am-4am Sun 9am-2am. Holidays until 4am.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
212 W. 83rd St (between Amsterdam Ave. & Broadway)
New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 721-1234
Hours: Sun-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-7pm. Closed Mondays.
Now that Cheese is always on the go and eating out is getting harder, we love to stop by Vive la Crêpe whenever we pass through SoHo. Sometimes we grab a crêpe to go, and sometimes we sit and eat if it’s not busy. Vive la Crepe satisfies all of our needs during this period of our toddler’s life—quick service and tasty food we can easily eat while chasing a dizzyingly fast kid.
Cooking station.
I always order the same savoury crêpe—the Number 3 (Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil, $9). It’s huge, but not massively filling—the perfect meal for when you’re kinda hungry, but not in the mood to eat a heavy meal. The mozzarella is fresh and the batter is just sweet enough without being overly sweet and taking over the other flavours.
Number 3 – Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil, $9
What’s great about a crêpe is that you can eat it with just one hand—either while seated (the luxury!) or while chasing a toddler who looks similar to the disheveled monkey below.
Cheeky monkey.
On this most recent visit we asked if they could make something for our toddler that was small enough for her to hold and eat by herself (since toddlers are all about being independent). They obliged by making Cheese her own complimentary plain pancake out of the crepe batter.
Complimentary baby crepe.
Cheese loved having her own crepe/pancake to hold and to chew on.
Kid on the run.
Last bite: As always, Vive la Crêpe is a fantastic place to grab quality food if you’re in a hurry and want to eat one-handed, or if you’re in need of a casual, light lunch while out with your kids.
Highchairs: No. Stroller storage: No. There is a small space next to the counter where you can fold a stroller, or if it’s pretty empty inside you can park the stroller next to your table. Easy access: Yes. One step to get in. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No. But they do take special requests.
Vive La Crepe
51 Spring St. (between Mulberry St. & Lafayette St.)
New York, NY 10012
Price: $
Phone: (646) 484 6897
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-12am, Sun 9am-12am
Summer to me means one thing—the unrelenting search for the city’s best ice cream. My current fave is Ample Hills, which I discovered when they opened up a concession stand at Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The concession stand in the park usually has about eight flavors, but I was curious as to what frozen delights I would find at the actual Ample Hills Creamery cafe in Prospect Heights. We made the pilgrimage to Ample Hills Creamery one hot summer’s day to check out the full shebang. The name for the creamery came from a Walt Whitman poem, who liked to wax lyrical about what an awesome place Brooklyn was back in the 1800s (he was an early adopter). The poem goes: “I too lived. Brooklyn of ample hills was mine…” And thus, Ample Hills Creamery was born, using only the freshest local and hormone-free ingredients. The dairy and eggs come from farms in upstate New York.
The first Ample Hills ice cream was sold out of a cart to concert-goers in Prospect Park. It didn’t take long for an ice cream cult to form and grow to the point where a shop was needed to keep up with the demand.
The creamery itself has a lot of space inside—tables, chairs and a little play area for kids in the rear. It’s geared towards people buying a sundae and sitting down to chat, rather than ordering a cone and taking it to go (although you can do both, I’d recommend enjoying your ice cream while taking in the quirky ambiance inside).
The Ample Hills flavours border on the wacky and wild sides, such as their Cotton Candy (which is slate blue), Salted Crack Caramel and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, which has giant chunks of butter cake mixed into the ice cream.
Their speciality is the “Build a Sundae” ($7.60) — a warm, homemade brownie, topped with your choice of 24 kinds of ice cream, whipped cream, and sprinkles. Buy it to share between at least two people, it’s pretty big.
My Ample Hills staples are Sweet Cookies ‘n Cream, Sweet as Honey and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. A single serve is $2.75, a double $4.35. I usually get one cone to share with Cheese but lately she’s been eating the lion’s share so pretty soon she will likely need her own.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake on top, Sweet as Honey underneath.
After eating our ice cream, we take Cheese to the back section of the creamery, to play in the kids area. It’s thoughtfully planned out with a play kitchen and shop front — selling ice cream, of course — and a bookshelf filled with kids books on ice cream. Cheese is in heaven. We’re stuffed with ice cream. Mission accomplished.
Some fake ice cream after the real stuff.
Last bite: This ice cream shop serves seriously delicious, naturally and locally-made frozen treats. It’s the perfect respite from a steamy summer’s day — plan to sit in for a while, eat up, and let the kids play.
A day trip to Coney Island for most people is about sun, fun and hotdogs. For us however, it is all about pizza at Totonno’s, which is quite possibly the best pizza in New York. Big call, I know. But Totonno’s has plentyofpress to back them up over the nine decades they’ve been open, as one of the best pies you’ll get in NYC.
Let’s back up a bit: After hearing about the Totonno’s reputation soon after we moved here from Sydney, we were determined to put their pizza to the test. So we decided to make a day trip of it, beginning with pizza and ending with a visit to the nearby NY Aquarium.
We were a bit wary after walking through a few Coney Island back streets, past auto-mechanics, to a nondescript storefront that opened to an old-school diner. Was this really home to one of New York’s best pizzas? We were dubious, but decided to stay and try it out anyway. Note to readers — our visit and these pics were taken before the hurricane, and before Totonno’s remodeling following the disaster. The pizza however, is exactly the same.
Waiting for food in the low-key dining area.
Totonno’s is not a fancy place. It’s more like your grandma’s 1970’s-style kitchen—no frills tables and chairs, old pictures on the walls, and the menu spelled out in tiles above the ordering window. The service was also similar to what you’d get at your grandparents’ house — friendly and casual, with a strong likelihood that one of the owners themselves would be serving you. (Totonno’s is owned by three siblings; Antoinette Balzano, Frank Balzano and Louise Ciminieri; whose grandparents opened the restaurant.) Totonno’s was closed for five months after Hurricane Sandy ripped through Coney Island, opening again on March 24 to the rapture of locals and tourists alike.
The pizza itself is MASSIVE. Absolutely huge. We ordered a large, plain cheese pizza ($19.50). Of course we ate every single last bite. With a pizza that good, it’s a crime to leave a sad little crust behind. And yes, it is as good as it’s reputed to be. The crispy dough, the perfect layering of delicious tomato sauce, and the dollops of fresh mozzarella cheese: Heaven. Go to Coney Island, just for this pizza. If you want something not-pizza, go somewhere else, as this is the only thing they serve on the menu. Add extra toppings for $2.50 each.
When we visited, Cheese was too young to do anything except gnaw on a pizza crust, which she highly enjoyed anyway. They did have a highchair, but we opted to hold her in our laps.
Coney Island beach.
After stuffing yourself with amazing pizza, walk on down to the Coney Island boardwalk to check out the beach and do some people watching.
New York Aquarium, Coney Island
Then wander on down like we did, to the also recently re-opened NY Aquarium (at Surf Avenue & West 8th Street) and get up close and personal with some seriously cute sea life. The aquarium also suffered a beating during the hurricane and is still being rebuilt. Several of the animal exhibits have reopened, like the penguins, sea lions, otters and walruses.
Last bite: A family-owned pizzeria that loves families. Scarf down some of the best pizza in NYC, then check out the also recently re-opened New York Aquarium for the perfect day trip.
As a vegetarian, a good (non-meat) meatball is hard to find. Obviously. When I read that The Meatball Shop served vege meatballs as well as a wide range of vegetarian sides and options, I was there the next day. Or a few weeks later, when I got the chance – doesn’t sound as good though, does it?
Only signage is on the top of the building.
The Lower East Side Meatball Shop is right near Alec’s office, so Cheese and I dropped by one Friday to take him to lunch. I walked right past it twice before realising it had no signage at ground level. Look up people, so you don’t look like the fool I did.
Tick the boxes.
I adore any menu where I can pick and choose exactly what I want. I especially love when I can tick boxes so the server doesn’t get confused by my accent.
Putting in the order.
We chose the naked balls (snigger) and two sides – mashed potato and steamed spinach.
Street seating.
It’s worth noting here that we had an outdoor table as it was the best option with Cheese. The interior looked a bit small to squish in with a toddler and all of her gear. The helpful staff did store our stroller somewhere though – perhaps through some door that opened up into a magical portal of extra storage space.
Vegetarian meatballs, side of mashed potatoes, steamed spinach and regular meatballs in the background.
The food arrived really quickly . It didn’t look like a huge amount, but afterwards I was so full I thought my stomach would explode.
Cheese tucks into the mashed potatoes.
We gave Cheese some of the vegetarian meatballs and spinach, but all she was interested in was the mashed potato. What can I say, the girl loves carbs. Last bite: The Meatball Shop is for carnivores and herbivores alike. Come hungry, pack light and be prepared to squeeze in and eat big.
Highchairs: Yes. Stroller storage: Minimal. Easy access: It’s a bit tight, but no stairs. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No.
The Meatball Shop, 84 Stanton
84 Stanton St
New York, NY
Phone: {212} 982 8895
Prices: $$
Hours: Sun-Thur 12pm-2am, Fri-Sat 12pm-4am
In this new section on the site, the Brunch With My Baby editors will highlight items that makes their lives as parents just that little bit easier.
We’re kicking off our new BWMB Loves section with Babiators! I love these sunglasses for Cheese because they stay on her tiny face, she can’t destroy them, and Babiators have an amazing policy where they’ll replace the sunnies if they’re lost or broken.
Want your own pair of Babiators? Enter our giveaway to win your choice of Babiator sunglasses.
The competition opens 12am Wednesday, July 31st, 2013, and closes Tuesday 11:59pm, August 6, 2013.
Baked is a Red Hook bakery created by entrepreneurs, Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, with their dream to “Open a great American bakery that is not a cupcake shop”. Baked was born in January 2005 in the neighborly neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. It is now so well-known that people from all over Brooklyn and even Manhattan trek out to Red Hook (hey, there’s not much transport, it’s totally a trek!) just to try their treats.
The cafe is cute and cosy—with a long line snaking around the register of fellow cake-lovers. The booth cross-benches are filled with people on laptops and friends catching up over snacks.
With such a huge selection of treats, it’s difficult to know what to try. They’re well-known for their giant marshmallows, and, even though they didn’t want to be a cupcakery, their cupcakes are known to be pretty good too.
Where the magic happens!
We sat in a booth at the back where we could park the stroller behind us. The kitchen is next to the tables, with an open glass window to check out the baking in progress. Older kids will enjoy seeing their favourite treats being made before their eyes. Cheese just wanted to smash the glass jars.
Coca-cola bunt cake
I chose the intriguingly named “Coca-Cola Bunt Cake“. Disappointingly, it only had the slightest hint of Coca-Cola flavour in the icing—otherwise it was just another delicious chocolate cake.
Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese.
Alec tried the Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese as he’s not a big cake-lover (I know, right? How are we even married?!). He said it was delicious and would order it again.
Trying the bunt cake.Disappointed she’s not getting cake. Chocolate and Banana Scone.
We ordered Cheese a Scone of the Day in chocolate and banana. It was a good scone, but sadly Cheese just wanted the cake, of course.
Last bite: Join the rest of New York and take a day trip to Red Hook for delicious baked goods from Baked. Allow time for wandering around the quaint houses and parks in the area—and perhaps get the ferry home!
Highchairs: No. Stroller storage: Minimal. Easy access: No. There are a few steps to get in. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No.
Baked
359 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 222 0345
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat-Sun 8am-7pm
While food festivals are ideal outings to take a baby, toddler or older kid to, they can also be chaotic and overwhelming.
Here are our tips on how to survive (and hopefully enjoy!) a food festival with kids:
Pack your bag in advance. Lots of face wipes, water or milk bottles, bibs. Snacks, or possibly even an entire meal for the kid, incase the food takes too long to buy. Don’t forget sunscreen and a picnic blanket if there is no seating area at the event.
Bring entertainment for the child—a ball or baby doll stroller for restless toddlers, or something new your baby hasn’t yet seen.
Scope out what food vendors will be there or decide in advance what kind of food you are in the mood for so that there is a meal game plan of sorts.Remember, babies and toddlers have a very brief window of time in which they will tolerate, well, anything. Especially when it comes to you enjoying a meal.
Arrive early. We can’t emphasise this enough. If you are unable to get this step right, be sure to mind the following ones, or you might as well head straight home, feeling hungry.
When you first get there, have one person take the baby and stake out somewhere to sit. Find tables and chairs, or put down a picnic blanket on the grass.
Have the other person forage/hunt for food.
Note! The Food Hunter may have the urge to take her time browsing ALL of the food stalls and enjoy her time away from the baby. Don’t give in. Time is of the essence. If it’s a busy day, choose the shortest line. Lunch decision made.
Dramatic backdrop at Smorgasburg.
That’s it! You made it! Enjoy your food, lounge in the sun (or, if you’re like us, take turns chasing your toddler while your partner lies in the sun), and congratulate yourself on successfully taking your family to a food festival.
Looking for a food festival to try? Our fave is Smorgasburg DUMBO—with Jane’s Carousel and several playgrounds nearby, it’s the most kid-friendly food festival we know of.
What’s your favorite food festival to visit during the summer?
Today’s Brunch Special is courtesy of Kopal Goonetileke, co-founder of PishPosh Mommy—creators of stylish products that help you organize your life with a baby. Kopal lives with her husband, Malcolm, and her three children, Hariel (age seven), Kanya (age five) and Kyelle, (age three and a half). The family currently lives in Westchester, after having moved from San Francisco five years ago.
Kopal and her family.
How would you sum up PishPosh Mommy? We design and develop products that provide functional organization for stylish moms.
How did PishPosh Mommy begin? The PishPosh Mommy vision began in San Francisco in 2007 when I met my now business partner, Jenny Hong. We were two new moms who were equally frustrated by the lack of stylish solutions for carrying and organizing baby gear. We loved our new lives as mothers, but we didn’t want to feel sentenced to years of lugging around bulky, unattractive diaper bags! We created the Carryall, an innovative bag organizer that transforms any bag into a diaper bag. We sourced fun, modern prints for our bags and named them after our favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Kopal and the Carryall.
Tell us about your products—why do you consider them “must-haves” for moms? Our signature product, the Carryall, allows your favorite handbag, tote or beach bag to function as a diaper bag. The Carryall also adds simple, stylish organization to any bag or stroller. We have a variety of chic prints to suit the tastes of any mom.
The PishPosh Wet Bag is our multi-purpose solution for all things wet. And with kids, let’s face it, something always gets wet! The bag’s uses grow right along with your child, from infant cloth diapers to toddler training pants to big kid swimsuits. The front pocket holds dry items while the water-resistant, leak-free main pocket keeps wet things contained. Moms can even use it to store make-up or toiletries for travel or quick trips to the gym.
Other great accessories by PishPosh Mommy include the Diaper Clutch, PishPosh Pad and arriving this fall, the Changing Clutch, Nursing Cover and large size Wet Bag.
You have the perfect gear for taking kids out and about. When did you start taking your kids out to eat in restaurants? We’ve been taking our kids to restaurants since within a few weeks of bringing them home from the hospital. It became a little more challenging once we had our third, but we believe it’s important for them to experience different cuisines and also to understand how to sit and wait, especially when sometimes they are the only kids at the meal and Malcolm and I are socializing with other adults.
What have you found are the easiest/hardest ages to eat out with your kids? When we had only one child it was always pretty easy to eat out. Then when our daughter came along it became a little more challenging especially since she is a pickier eater. From the age of about six months until three there were a lot of really quick eat-and-run-type meals in restaurants. Now that our kids are all over the age of three, dining out has become enjoyable again and we strive to avoid electronic devices to entertain the children unless the dinners run more than an hour.
Any stories of an especially successful eating out experience with your kids? Choosing a restaurant that is kid-friendly, or going at a time when the restaurant isn’t busy has always worked in our favor. Of course, a good server is always a bonus. We had one experience where our server actually took the kids back into the kitchen so that they could see their meal being prepared and it was fantastic! Not only were they excited to eat but they had so much to talk about during the entire meal.
Fave local restaurants/cafes to eat out with the kids? Landmarc in the Time Warner building is a great place to take kids. We also love Mary’s Fish Camp but it’s small so better to go during off hours.
Fave spot to stop for treats? We love 16 Handles Frozen Yogurt where the kids get to pull the handle and then add the toppings, so it’s like make your own sundae every time!
Do you have any eating out traditions with your family? We love to eat out on Saturday mornings after soccer. Lunch time menus usually offer more kid-friendly choices, and there are less crowds, making it a stress-free way to start our weekend!
Fave spot to go for special family occasions or events—but where kids are still welcome? Southern Hospitality has great brunch, and if you can get the back room for your event it’s perfect with kids so that they can run around while the adults relax.
Number one tip for other parents when eating out with kids? Fill your Carryall or Diaper Clutch with coloring books, crayons, stickers and don’t forget the wipes! If your little one is still in diapers then don’t forget your PishPosh Diaper Clutch. It looks just like a regular clutch but fits diapers and wipes, and even comes with a changing pad so toting your little one—and his/her gear—into tiny NYC restaurant bathrooms becomes a little more manageable. And, finally you will definitely need your PishPosh Wet Bag in case there is a food or drink spill. The dry pocket will hold that extra change of clothes and you can safely hide away the soiled clothes in the wet pocket until you can get home to wash them. The Wet Bag has a snap wristlet so that you can attach it to your stroller or to another bag easily.
Check out the PishPosh Mommy range below. Order your favorites at the PishPosh Mommy online store and enter the code “BWMB25” for 25% off your purchase, valid until 7/31/2013.
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