Down in the Town: Niche - Lunch Tasting!

A quick heads-up for you guys -- Niche is doing a Lunch Tasting on August 10th (next Wednesday) to push out their lunch menu! Unfortunately, I'll be out of town that day but it's still a great opportunity to try out their menu and sample some of their delicious complimentary offerings! Seats ARE limited - it's a cozy place and I'm sure it will fill up fast! One day, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, free food, first come first serve, dayummm. Poster below!

The New York Chronicles (NYC): Shake Shack (Madison Square Park, UWS, Theatre District)

A couple days in and my trip to New York was already off to a flying start: I had been to a Broadway show, visited the museums, had a slice of heavenly pizza, and topped the Empire State! All I needed to seal the deal was a real American hamburger - Heck if it was good enough for Tony Stark after 3 months of captivity, I damn well want one too! And it's not hard to see why: few things in life are more satisfying than a burger - simple, hearty, and starting at $4.50 - what more could you want! That said, I usually find it difficult to endorse chains (run of the mill food, frozen tasteless meats, and so forth), but Shake Shack is an exception. With locations all across New York City (I got a chance to stop by their Madison Square Park, UWS, and Theatre District locations) and the East Coast, they still remain true to exactly what it takes to make a good burger; no compromises involved!

Enter the freshly ground 4 oz. beef patty. Top that with a blanket of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes (onions and pickles at your discretion). Sandwich between two halves of a soft baked bun and you're done! Genius, isnt' it? Defying-ly simple, yet completely satisfying. You tell me, doesn't that sound delicious? 

Now, back to Shake Shack. The first thing you'll notice and printed in big block letters along the wall in a motto-esque warning, "Stand For Something Good." Wonder what that means? Well, let's dive into an illustrative example, shall we? Let's say.. per chance, you decide to visit Shake Shack around 3 pm. Depending on the location, chances are that there will be a line out the door. That's fine, a lot of people like afternoon snacks, right? Let's try again, 6 pm? Dinner time.. good luck. 11 pm? Surely, it still can't be busy at 11! Actually, that corresponds with when the Broadway shows are letting out so guess what? Yup, still packed! It becomes rapidly apparent that Shake Shack is a busy busy chain and you will most certainly be waiting for your burger. *BUT* the wait is well worth it. Stand for something good! I'm serious.

(Left to Right: Madison Square Park, UWS, Theatre District)
What's IN: Double Shackburger!
The extra patty is worth it and doubly delicious, trust me!

Out and About: Heritage Festival! July 30 - August 1, 2011

Hello all! With summer in full bloom and August just around the corner, you know what time it is! That's right, Heritage Days and this year, Servus is proud to present the 36th annual incarnation of the festival! Sporting 62 pavilions worth of culture, heritage, and of course, food (!), this is one you won't want to miss! I'm sure to be around over the next few days (July 30 - August 1) so I hope to see you guys out at all the festivities! And as much as it shocks me to say, it's not just about the food *gasp*; there's tons to check out from cultural performances, entertainment, and beautiful crafts! Enjoy the sunshine (finally!), grab your friends and hit the festival, you won't regret it!

P.S. My personal favorites include elephant ears and bubble tea (Taiwan booth) from previous years!

Thank You!

Ahem! I have an announcement! *begin drumroll* I've been blogging for almost 3 months now! 90 days and 30 blog entries, plus you can check us out on Urbanspoon too! *applause* At this point there should be a chorus of cheers, you know physically tangible energy and all =) ...just kidding. But while that might not mean anything to many of you, more importantly, I would like to take this time to recognize and thank all the people who have supported me thus far! All my blog viewers - you know who you are - give yourselves a pat on the back! Without you, I'm nothing! ...seriously. So keep reading and keep telling your friends about me! Thank you as well to everyone who has helped make this blog happen - family, friends - you guys are the best! Regular posts resume tomorrow!