And the award goes to...

World's Worst Blogger award goes to....

Although I have the same number as hours in the day as Beyonce, there are not enough to get everything done. How does that woman do it?! 

As I'm writing this, two suitcases are laid out, one half unpacked from the long weekend, one half packed for next week. Cab is booked for 5am (the horror) Blogging has been left out in the cold like yesterday's leftovers. Unloved, disregarded and smelling a bit nasty.

I apologise (and digress) one day I will pick up from where we left off. This day (not today!) will come now from my new home, which is very exciting.

Meantime? Here are a couple of photos from M's camera that slipped through my New York round up net.

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Empire Hotel: Photo Contest

The Empire Hotel are holding a photo contest - and you can vote for my photo to win a prize!

You can just click on Facebook, no need to install any apps or annoying things, just click on my ad et voila - you will make me very happy (and means I may be able to go back to New York and write more posts for you!

My Empire Photo Submission - takes you to Facebook

Here's the entry. Not my best photo ever, but captures the magic of being in the Empire

Let me know in the comments if you've voted

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Katz's Deli: A New York Institution

You can't really call this a restaurant review. Katz's Deli is a New York (and American) institution. Immortalised in iconic 90's film 'When Harry Met Sally' for *THAT* scene, people come in droves for the history and the meat.

We arrived quite early so the place wasn't too busy, which is good as apparently at peak times you really need to be on top of your game with the ordering. Luckily we had time to peruse the menu and make an informed decision!

If you can read the sign...do your worst!

M opted for the breakfast menu (it was around 1130am), whereas I had my sites firmly set on the stacked sandwiches. I'm a huge fan of Man Vs Food and Adam Richman, who has also taken this show here. My hope is that Adam will also bring this to London.

Having had brisket the night before at Mighty Quinn's bbq that was unfortunately out of the question. I went for soft salami. The amount he started bringing out was kind of terrifying to me. He offered me a bit to try and it was good - something they must do in the construction makes it amazing. The rye bread, stacking of meat and pickles combined together made a seriously satisfying lunch.

M's pancakes (strangely came with fries) were huge, soft, fluffy and came with plenty of maple syrup. We aren't known for our healthy choices...but to come here you really have to check your calorie counter at the door. Speaking of checking at the door, on entering you are given a yellow stub which is marked off with what you order. Do not lose your ticket! This is high pressure dining!

Once we were suitably stuffed we browsed the photos on the wall. Anyone who is anyone has dined at Katz's Deli. They also ship their famous sausages all over America (but unfortunately not internationally...boo!)

Katz's is near 1st Avenue / 1st Street, which excites me (geek)

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Got My Swag On

As well as lots of eating and drinking in New York, it was also my birthday (sort of) so lots of shopping was also on the cards. I came back a very happy lady...

First, I have been coveting a red Prada bag for longer than is probably healthy - second only to my desire for a Lady Dior. Having toyed with buying one for a good two years, it was high time gave in. Look at my new baby -- isn't she gorgeous?

Now another thing you may notice in this photo? My bad ass coat. This winter I fancied a faux fur, but didn't find one in London that looked (and felt) good enough, with winter being almost over (we pray) I had pretty much given up the ghost on this one.

We were in Elie Tahari innocently shopping for other things when this beauty caught my attention. I'm a bit of a fabric magpie and can't resist touching lots of things in shops. I copped a feel of this and thought it must be real, it is so incredibly soft. A quick glance at the price tag confirmed it was in fact faux fur, and had to be mine.

Wearing my new Prada and Elie Tahari pretty much made me into a New Yorker...in my mind. We're also not calling 'coincidence' that doormen started being much more on call, and someone stopped me in the street and asked for directions - Literally got my NY swag on. This obviously made me very happy. I am such a poser.

Some other lovely purchases? My first ever pair of High-Tops from the Converse store and a selection of Michael Kors clothes (which are my new spring wardrobe staples)

My Michael Kors cardigan 

So, what's your favourite piece?!

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Mighty Quinn's BBQ: Pulled Pork Perfection

Since Pitt-Cue no slow cooked pulled meats have been able to live up. In New York I figured this was all about to change. In the East Village on the corner of 7th Street and 2nd Ave you will find a neighbourhood joint filled with university students lapping up amazing cooked meats and cold beers.

We went on a Sunday evening and the place was packed. You queue up and choose your meat, the favourite two choices are beef brisket and pulled pork. Naturally we went for one of each. The meats are served naked or in a bun. We went bun, but this turned out to be a mistake. This is way too much meat and messy to even entertain the idea of eating it like a sandwich. Go naked laden with slaw and pickled cucumbers and tomato. Heaven.

Try getting that in your mouth

The beef brisket was so tender and soft, with a slight crisp on the outside. The pulled pork was cooked to BBQ perfection. They don't mess around with their portions either. The selection of beers is a great mix from all over the States. We went local for an NY flavour.

The seating is all family style, we sat next to some NYU students who also recommended a bar around the corner called McSorley's Old Ale House, which is the oldest bar in New York. One of the main differences of London vs New York the people are so friendly.

I could go on with pictures like this all day

Highly recommend Mighty Quinn's for the food and getting out of the normal touristy places in the City. We've also been for brisket and pulled pork since being back in London and it didn't even come close. 

After a night eating like locals we went back to the hotel with some enormous cans of Mike's Hard Lemonade and dessert, it was literally as big as my head! It's class all the way with us!

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New York Restaurant Review; Tao

It feels a bit bad calling this a 'review', Tao was until very recently my favourite restaurant in the world. It also houses my most-favourite cocktail ever. Despite knowing all of the ingredients and quantities have never been able to recreate.

Tao, another semi-hidden gem on E 58th Street never fails to be fantastic. We opted to go for lunch, the lunch menu is not just spectacular food but ridiculously good value. We were lucky with our seating, grabbing a bench along the back wall near the all-seeing Buddha. I didn't even look at the cocktail menu - two Tao-tini's were soon whisking their way to us. I really don't get how they can make it so consistently good in New York and Vegas, years apart. I'm baffled that I can't do it too!

These aren't as pink as they look! M's flash making the lovely lighting

The lunch menu has a selection of best selling dishes on, and comes at an incredible $27.50 for three courses. For starter we opted for satay of chicken with peanut sauce and spicy Thai seafood dumpling soup. One thing about some set menus that represent such amazing value - the portions are really small. Not in Tao. The portions are enormous.

After M spent far too long savouring the chicken and peanut satay (I was jealous...my dumpling soup was demolished in about 15 seconds) it was onto mains. M had opted for kung pao chicken with steamed rice. Moi? Asian BBQ fried hangar steak with pepper spiced fries. One of the interesting about having basically steak and chips is eating them with chopsticks. Not your common bed fellows...

The steak was absolutely delicious, so tender and the sauce was amazing, perfect for dipping my chopstick powered fries into. If one thing would have made it more perfect, it would have been more sauce to dip into.

The kung pao chicken was absolutely huge. Enormous pieces of chicken and lots of them. The rice was sticky and easy to manipulate with the chopsticks, and yes I did dip my fries in here too...After this, even I was pretty stuffed.

We had another tao-tini to let the first two courses settle. For dessert there was a chocolate parfait and a banana pudding. M couldn't decide which to go for, so we went one each. The banana pudding was warm and super bananary. The chocolate parfait was like a chocolate ice cream sundae. Both were excessive based on how much we'd eaten, but we gave it our best shot.

Those who say 'yes' have more fun! Too true

Time to burn off some of those calories. 

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