Guac Guac Guac

Wholly guacamole! 

Dos Caminos serious have the tastiest guac I have ever eaten. Perfectly fresh with delicious chunks of avocado served with warm, just-cooked tortilla chips. Ahh my tummy is rumbling just thinking of it.

Since being in New York I try to avoid chain restaurants as there are a million and one independent restaurants which I just need to try. But I do make the exception for Dos Caminos. Especially when it comes to brunch. 

Any brunch dish comes with tea/coffee AND a cocktail. By cocktail I mean the frozen prickly pear margarita which is just out. Just like a grown up slush puppy this drink tastes divine but is dangerously alcoholic so take caution if you're having more than one.

Cutie pies's thoroughly enjoying their first Dos brunch experience. 

Yeah I like to play with my food (sorry mummy).






Who needs food after all the guac (and extra chips). 
Yeah these three little piggies do!
C & I went for the Dos Caminos Ranchero whilst E had the mexican style eggs benedict. 

Think. You're typical benny with a dash of chipotle in an XXL portion size. Gosh I love Amuuuuurica!

Not the most photogenic of meals. But hey, the best of them aren't.

And when that ooey gooey yoke burst. Ahhh. Perfection.

And of course a portion of rice and refried beans to top off any Mexican meal.

Click here to find a Dos Caminos near you. 

Despite the mass food consumption and almost having to unbutton my jeans, I couldn't resist a little outfit post on the cobbles of the Meat Packing District. 

One thing that's so great at having friends the same size as you, is being able to share clothes. This gorgeous little peplum top is E's all the way from sunny Sydney. Worn with Topshop jeans, boots & sunnies, Urban Outfitters hat & Mulberry bag.

And now for your daily soundtrack to add that little something to your hump day vibe.

Obao x SELECT

In New York City, it’s almost as if I could eat out every single night for years and not got to the same place twice. Every street, every block, every borough there are restaurants upon restaurants boasting every cuisine imaginable. Last week – with my trusty Select Card in tow – C and I headed into Hell’s Kitchen for a spot of Asian cuisine.

Now this Select Card is a bit of a gem. Giving discounts at tons of restaurants across the city on food and drink for your entire party. The handy Select app also acts as a tool to find affiliated restaurants in the neighborhood whilst also acting as your actual select card when you forget your wallet. What more could you want? 

OBAO is a little fusion hot spot bridging the gap between Thai and Vietnamese comfort foods and adding that luxurious element for the New York foodie. Dim sum, lobster pad thai, pho bo and more, I was salivating just reading the menu. Would ordering one of every appetizer have been too much…?

When C told me she wasn't a huge fan of squid, I was NOT disappointed. More for me! This appetiser was one of the specials of the day. Chilli, salty, crispy, calamari deliciousness.

Now this little beaut was the icing on the cake. Not only did we eat like kings and queens but with the Select Card we got a whole 20% off the entire bill. Eating out in New York is as frequent as catching the subway, so isn't it great to dine at all your favorite restaurants with a cheeky discount from Select? 

How can I get my hands on one of these you ask? So the Select Card is available to buy online (click here) for a year membership it costs $80 or if you'd rather pay monthly its only $10. 

But you for you lucky readers you get a whopping 50% off! Be sure to use exclusive code 'SUPERCALAFASHIONISTIC' as the invitation code when signing up at www.meetselect.com. 

Most users start reaping the benefit after only two uses of the card, and in the city that could be done in a week. So what you waiting for? Click here to get your hands on your very own Select Card. 

And be sure to tag all your foodie pics that you post all over the internet with #meetselect. 

Can't wait to try out some more SELECT restaurants soon. 

Here's Looking At You, Kid

Its safe to say eyes were on me in this Zara number. The sun is shining here in New York and that means it's time for little dresses to come out. After a winter of extreme temperatures and insane amounts of snow, being able to get my pasty pins out couldn't have come soon enough. So now fashion has always been the cause for a conversation starter and this dress is no exception. I heard them all yesterday from "quit staring at me" picking up coffee in Starbucks, "that dress is quite a looker" in the elevator at work, and my favourite "LOOK AT YOU" by some friendly suit in FiDi. That's what I love about clothes. The way they enable you to engage with others and them with you in other ways than just normal small talk. The floor is yours guys, what would be your best pun for this eye-catching dress?

Lure Fish Bar x The Foodie Magician

Last night I had the absolutely pleasure of dining with the infamous Food Magician. 

Yes the man, the myth and the legend himself, graced me with his presence in the heart of Soho at Lure Fish Bar. Below deck in the nautical themed interior emulating the interior of a ship I sat in pure beguilement whilst my mind was blown by both the delicious food and wondrous magic tricks.

Much to many prejudices of New York, proclaiming that all New Yorkers are unfriendly and rude, I am yet to encounter such folk and have been lucky enough to meet such wonderful and friendly people all inhabiting in this fantastic city. Brunch at one spot, coffee at another and dinner late into the evening, yeah I like to eat. As do many of the friends I have made here. And what better to do with these friends, then enjoy each others company over delicious wine and food. 

And where better to dine than a hot spot at which both my friend G and The Foodie Magician know just about everyone in the restaurant, from the sommelier to the hostess. Lure is pretty much a second home to them both. 

Sadly I wasn't in full blogging action and only took a couple of snaps on my phone - with handy lighting from G, who knows just the spot to capture that perfect Instagram shot (click here to follow me on Instagram @georgiabenj).

A delectable platter of some of the freshest sashimi I have ever tasted and some dynamite rolls which - for lack of a better word - were pretty darn dynamite. 

So on this very eve, and seeing as it's The Foodie Magician's favourite, I thought it was appropriate to try uni. 

Uni is sea urchin. 

That damned spiky thing that you stay well clear of, on the beach. 

It is safe to say that I'm also going to be staying well clear of uni on any menu from now on also.

I don't know whether it was the mushy texture, the overtly fishy taste or the fact that I put the entire piece in my mouth  yeah I committed, but it was my very first, and my very last uni experience. 

Nevertheless, despite that slight somewhat nauseating hick up, the rest of the food was finger licking good and I am already looking forward to a return visit.

You can find Lure Fish Bar at 142 Mercer Street in New York or at it's somewhat sunnier location in South Beach, Miami. 

Thanks to G and The Foodie Magician for a magical night, and be sure to follow @foodiemagician on Instagram (click here) and check out his blog NYCfoodie.com (click here).

Toro

New restaurants open in New York on a daily basis, swiftly becoming the new 'hot spot'. Reservations come at a premium and are only available for months in advance. The dining floor is jam packed of only A-list of celebrities and New York socialites. 

Yeah you get the picture.

Toro is one of New York's latest editions. Think Boston meets Barcelona, staking it's claim in South Chelsea. Created by co-owners and co-chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette the former Nabisco Factory has a relaxed yet rather exclusive vibe, whilst boasting a delicious menu and tantalising cocktail list. 

In typical Spanish tradition the extensive menu is comprised of tapas dishes made with regional Spanish flavours and local market-fresh ingredients. Little belly big eyes over here decided to order a few too many dishes hello New York's amazing doggy bags coming in handy at this point, but honestly it was ridiculously tough even trying to decide between the seared foie gras with piquillo pepper or the hand carved iberian jam or even the serrano wrapped rabbit paté? Everything's just so mouth wateringly good.

To top it off we chose to sit at the bar and got to watch the owners-come-chefs hard at work cooking and preparing all these wonderful dishes. 

Having studied the menu extensively before visiting I was planning my meal around that wonderful sounding paella. And by George, wasn't it fantastic.

First off, tortilla española with the most delicious garlic aioli.

The oh so decident and devilishly rich, asado de huesos - bone marrow with beef cheek marmalade. 

And now for the triumphant little number. The paella valenciana. Just unreal. 

Look at that rice, in all it's sticky gloriousness.

So sometimes corn on the cob can be pretty overrated. The actual eating time compared with the timing picking all the bits out of your teeth and getting butter dripping all over your hands. Especially in a restaurant, for me corn is normally a no no. Prior to arriving at Toro a a friend said that I had to get the corn. Well this little recommendation was greatly appreciated, literally finger-licking good. 

With Ken Oringer highly amused by how well I got seriously stuck in, I polished off every single piece regardless of the messy consequences. Thankfully he handed me a huge pile of wet towels to mop up my mucky face/chin/hands/fingers.

Find Toro at 85 10th Ave (entrance at 15th St & 11th Ave) and be sure to book well in advance (click here to book online). Or if you fancy a sponantious trip you could always be lucky and nab a spot at the bar to see the genii chef's at work.