RFFMBT Goes To NYC

If you’ve wondered why there’s been a lack of posts recently, it’s because I took a full on vacation for the first time since forever! I went to Toronto, Canada,  then it was my birthday, and then I went to New York! I usually work while I’m out of town, but this time I decided that I needed time to enjoy and relax. Of course I can’t really relax and not work – that would be preposterous! So I ended up visiting with some of the PR girls that I work with and of course my beloved Chobani!

My trip started off with a drive to LAX and then a flight to Boston and then Newark where my friend Matt’s amazing friend picked me up.

 Right after I flew in, we went to Bubby’s in Tribeca for brunch.
How handsome is this guy?! ^

I had an amazing lentil burger with fresh vegetables, pickled daikon, and carrot on a whole wheat bun. I’ve never made lentil burgers before but I need to! Expect a recipe coming up soon.

Later we went to a bar with a few of Matt’s friends and of course I sat at a table with the lyrics to “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. Too good – I love Disney!

After I saw Matt, I went to stay with my friend Dominique. We were roommates together at FIDM in downtown LA and became inseparable. It was love at first sight. I don’t know if I’ve ever told this story on my blog before, but when Dom and I first moved into our assigned rooms in student housing, we both had the exact same Hello Kitty toaster, and the rest was history. It was a serious bonding moment right there. Hello kitty is responsible for his friendship!

Dominique lives in a cute neighborhood near the Upper West side with her wiener dog Izzie, and roommate Kat. Dom works in fashion (you might recognize her from Bravo’s The Fashion Show). She’s so talented, inspiring, and an incredible friend. Even though we live thousands of miles away, we talk daily, and when we see each other, it’s like no time has passed. Of course we were up until 4am nightly sewing and working just like old times. I love her little Japanese style living room, this is where we had roommie dinner and movie nights together.

I love her little nugget, Izzie! When she was born in 2007, we snuck her into our dorm room and she stayed with us for a few days. Such rebels. She’s such a love bug. I spent most of my trip with my hair up in a huge bun and no makeup. It was seriously H-O-T the sat few days!

Dominique’s roommate Kat made us an amazing dinner the first night I stayed with them. Dominique and Kat love eating healthy, so it was fun to cook together and get inspired. Kat made the best sweet potato I’ve ever had. You may notice, I never make potato recipes on my blog because I have never liked potatoes. I know, I know, some call it weird, some call it lucky haha, but Kat totally won me over with her over the stove sweet potato recipe that I will share on the blog soon.

After dinner I swaddled Izzie and she fell asleep like this for about 20 minutes. I’ve done this to her ever since she was a baby. She loves being cozy! P.S. If you were wondering, Matt gave me those Miley leggings, they’re hilarious and I have to wear them to spin haha.

While I was in NYC I got to meet up with my friend Amy who used to work at Chobani! Amy and I were email buddies when I first started working with Chobani, and then I got to meet her in person at a Chobani dinner over a year and a half ago! We totally clicked and kept in contact, so when I was in NY we had to get together. We went to Pure Food and Wine, which I had been dying to try since Kathy (Healthy Happy Life) told me all about it. Amy is obsessed with the S&M salad, so of course I had to try it. Fresh salad greens, avocado, hemp seeds, dulse, and pumpkin seed lemon dressing served with dehydrated rosemary crackers. I NEED the recipe for those crackers. they’re amazing.

Later that day I met up with my friend Michael in Union square and he took me to La Colombe for coffee. La Colombe has seriously rich, strong coffee. It reminds me on Intelligentsia in Silver Lake, CA. Perfect coffee, no flavors, or fancy things. Just good coffee.

After visiting with Amy and Michael I went and checkout out the Union Square Farmers Market. So much produce and super low prices! If you live near Union Square, you have to check it out. It’s open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8am-6pm.

On my last day in the city I woke up to breakfast made by Dominique.  She’s the BEST! Such a sweet girl!

She even carried my suitcase down 5 flights of stairs. That’s love!

I was invited by my friends at Chobani to visit the Chobani Cafe in Soho. I’ve been wanting to visit since it first opened, and now I’m so envious that we don’t have one on the West Coast. This place is brilliant and designed so perfectly. I was told that Hamdi Ulukaya (the founder of Chobani!) was at Chobani Soho just a few minutes before I arrived and he tried to stay to meet me but had to run to a meeting! I almost cried. I don’t get starstruck, but I had a Chobani fangirl moment. Chobani is one of the fastest growing companies, EVER. It’s safe to say that Chobani is the Apple of yogurt and that Hamdi is pretty much Steve Jobs of the industry. Their technology, direction, enthusiasm, and care have built an unstoppable brand. I have to meet Hamdi next time I am in NY!

I had the honor of meeting the chefs who brought out 3 delicious Chobani Greek Yogurt Creations!

From the savory menu: Mango + Avocado: mango, avocado, jalapeños, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, fresh cilantro, and lime juice, served with blue corn tortilla chips.

From the sweet menu: Toasted Coconut + Pineapple: fresh pineapple, toasted coconut flakes, crushed hazelnuts, topped with light agave nectar.

My absolute favorite: Fig + Walnut: dried figs, walnuts, with drizzled with clover honey.

Dom loved the Fig + Walnut as well!

My favorite part of the cafe is that there is a little Evil Eye embedded in the wall in the upper left hand corner. You wouldn’t really notice it unless you we’re really looking, but it was the first thing that I saw. My Armenian grandmother was obsessed with char atchk (evil eye in Armenian). She carried one everywhere she went, and she made my sister and I have them with us at all times. I still have one on my keychain, and one on hanging on my door in my room. It’s something that’s always been special to me, so seeing it in the restaurant reminded me of my grandmother.

When I was on my way to JFK, I saw this sign to the right of the highway. It was the perfect exit from the city and reminder to always eat real food, which is what this blog stands for.

The second I landed it was back to business for me! I printed out packing slips, shipping labels, and started packing up Eat More Rabbit Food shirt orders for all of my little bunnies! Your support is unbelievable! I still cannot believe how fast these shirts sell! It makes me so happy to know that so many of you are so passionate about healthy eating and rabbit food!

Thankfully I have a super cute assistant to sing “lalala” and smile while I pack orders! My friends have the prettiest babies, I love when Celina and her little one Miss Laila Rose come over to hangout!

I hope that everybunny had an amazing Labor Day weekend!
Now I’m back to packing and shipping Labor Day Sale orders and creating some recipes for this week!

Health & Happiness
xo Catherine