A perfect place to warm away the winter blues

According to the farmer's almanac, we are in for a long cold winter here in NYC.  So that probably means that you are going to want to have lots of hot beverages to keep you warm.  I have the perfect place for you.  Whether you are looking to have a cup of tea, lunch, a scone or a high-tea menu without all the fuss (and the price tag) of the plaza, go to Alice's Tea Cup.  Nestled into a downstairs restaurant is this absolutely charming, upper west side gem that is still a little bit of a secret I'm glad to say.

Their tea menu is quite extensive and they have every tea imaginable.  The menu has great descriptions of each kind of tea, so that by the time you leave you actually have a better idea of what the differences between all the teas are.  I had the coconut/vanilla, which is a Rooibos tea, otherwise known as an African red bush tea.  It was fantastic.  My server recommended this one, and what a great suggestion it was.

I decided that I would go all out and get "the nibbler".  For $23 you get a pot of a tea of your choice, a scone, one sandwich (not a half mind you) and a plate of cookies.  The menu clearly states that "the nibbler" is just for one, and there is no sharing.  They also have a version that you can share, but as I was by myself, it wasn't an issue.   I chose the pumpkin scone.  It was served warm with cream and jam and it was scrumptious.  I am not sure I remember ever eating a scone that was that warm, but I definitely recommend it.  I think it might have just come out of the oven!  YUM!!  I had the chicken sandwich with granny smith apple and goat cheese on seven grain bread, also amazing and the bottom layer of my tier was an assortment of cookies.  My favorite was the double chocolate cookie.  It was an indulgence well worth every bite.  

The service is fantastic and the place itself is just adorable.  The food taste like it just came out of my grandmother's kitchen.  (She was an amazing cook)  They sell all their teas by the ounce in the front where you can also purchase their scone cookbook or teapots, or even take home a cookie or piece of cake for later. I can't recommend this place highly enough.  It is one of my favorite little spots on the upper west side.  There are very few lunch or tea places I have come across that are as unique as this.   It's cold outside New York, but it's cozy and warm at Alice's Tea Cup.
They have 3 locations:
102 West 73rd
156 East 64th
220 East 81st
212-734-4tea

The best coconut cake in New York City

When I am on vacation (especially if it is the holiday season) I tend to indulge, but it has to be worth the calories!   Coconut cake is one of my favorite things.  When it is good, it is amazing and when it is not amazing I find myself asking why did I bother?  Having searched high and low, I found that there are two places in NYC that you should not miss if you love coconut cake.  They are both different in style, so I recommend you try both.

Believe it or not, Mesa Grill has one of the most outstanding cakes I have ever had.  It is not Bobby Flay's throwdown recipe, but a version of it that his pastry chef Clarisa Martino has perfected.  (Sorry to disappoint you Flay fans)

The desserts she has created are ridiculous.   If you like dessert, you should go there and give yourself a treat.  I also recommend the Mexican Chocolate Pudding.  I don't even like pudding, but this will blow your mind.  However, the coconut cake is possibly the lightest and most flavorful coconut cake I have ever tasted.  The cake is moist, the frosting is light and the taste is mmm mmmm good.   I'm not sure how she did it.  When it arrives you will think that there is no way that you could ever finish this either by yourself or with another person.  However I found myself looking at an empty place and was wishing I had some to take in a doggie bag for later.  It will melt in your mouth and you will feel as though you have just gone to heaven.   Clarisa is an extremely talented pastry chef and Bobby Flay is very lucky to have her.

The second place that you should go to if you like coconut cake is on the upper west side.  Good Enough to Eat is a great place for lunch or brunch.  They have one of the best Turkey Clubs ever.   It also has one of the two best coconut cakes in the city.  It is very different, stylistically speaking, from Mesa Grlll, but it is delicious and worth the calories in every bite.  The frosting is like a cream cheese/butter cream frosting with coconut on top.  It is exquisite.

It is also something that you should expect to get a doggie bag for, as it is rich and probably not something you will be able to finish by yourself, especially if you have had a meal there before hand.  The cake is moist and delicious and will linger in your dreams for weeks.

As I said, I love dessert, but it has be so good that I don't care that I have cheated on my diet.  If you go to either of these places, I can almost guarantee that your visions of sugarplums dancing in your head will include some coconut cake.