Summer Catch Up: La Duree Macaroons, Picnic/Nap in Central Park, Bronx Zoo and San Gennaro

Summer Catch Up for Gigi and Michelle’s Bucket List

Gigi and Michelle Wind Up on a Date – May 17^th

Ever hear of UVA – great spot!  Correction – great date spot, wish we would’ve known.

The Friday started with crossing La Duree Macaroons off our bucket list.  Gigi and I each got 4 macaroons. 

Gigi – Lemon, Marie Antoinette, Pistachio, Rose Petal

Michelle – Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Hazelnut

Definitely different taste buds.

After taking an overload of pictures of the store like out-of-country tourists, we made our way towards dinner.  Unable to contain ourselves, we stopped mid-walk to dinner to taste test the little delicious colored treats.  Totally understandable. 

Gigi and I arrived at dinner at UVA and luckily didn’t have to wait for a table at this popular Friday night date spot.  Escorted straight to the back porch, a candlelit table awaited. 

1^st course – Caprese Salad and Pizza Foccacia with artichokes and smoked mozzarella

Michelle’s Dinner: Cavatelli al pesto, fancy way of saying shells with pesto and ricotta

Gigi’s Dinner: Gnocchi with creamy black truffle and chive sauce

To finish it off we split sponge cake with nutella spirals with hazelnut ice cream and vanilla sauce.  Literally the best dessert we’ve ever had.

The most entertaining part of the whole experience was the awkward first date couple at the table next to us.  From the first date awkward silence to first date questions and even the fight over the check (where she wound up paying), we heard it all.  The restaurant was an absolutely do-again for us but I’m not too sure about them. 

Clearly not having had enough, a Duane Reade stop on the way to the movie theater for sour patch kids was necessary.  To end what one might call the perfect date as the highly functional friends, we happily watched Star Trek Into Darkness while finishing our La Duree Macaroons and sour patch kids.   The total experience was totally worth the 2 points!

Picnic/Nap in the Park – August 4^th

If anyone knows Gigi, you know she has a nap obsession - from $20,000 napping pods to napping on a bench in a random park.  When she added this to our bucket list, I thought – I’m never going to do that.

 August 4^th, my cousin Maggie planned a birthday picnic in central park.  A small get together and everyone brought a little something to eat and drink.  I brought Gigi.  I had gotten home that morning from one of my crazy Jersey Shore weeks and after a 3-hour nap, I dragged myself out of my dark cave room and to Central Park.  I proudly typed step-by-step directions for Gigi to find me, which Gigi did compliment me on!  After socializing and downing some hummus, crackers, banana bread and a ton of blueberry white chocolate chip cookies, I found myself exhausted on the blanket.  Next thing you know I was waking up – I must’ve dozed off.  Gigi got some shut eye too so we figured why not award ourselves 3 points for a nap and picnic in Central Park.  Happy Birthday Maggie!

Bronx Zoo – August 17^th

When you’re all grown up, you can order whatever you want from the concession stand!

Lions, Tigers and Bears Oh My!  This was one of those bucket list items that was added the day the plan was made – but rightly so since every New Yorker needs to go to the Bronx Zoo once and it was Gigi’s first time!

The day started with me proposing the idea and getting an immediate yes from Gigi.  We were to meet at the 149^th street subway stop to transfer to the 2 train and naturally both running a little late, we got on the same time in the exact same car.  Since we also both forgot to look up the actual stop for the zoo we were grateful when the subway came above ground and we could use our technology again! 

Once we got off the subway it took us a good 10 minutes to figure out which direction the zoo was.  Finally in the zoo with our tickets, we spent a good amount of time looking at our maps so we can plan the most efficient route to walk – dorks I know.  First stop bison – real lively creatures.  Then we saw the sea lions that spend all their days swimming in circles.  We also went in the House of Reptiles and House of Monkeys.  After all that we were famished and had to get a funnel cake with ice cream and Reeses pieces.  This is where Gigi discovers “When you’re all grown up, you can order whatever you want from the concession stand!” 

We spent a good chunk of time after that watching the bears and polar bear, hoping polar bear Gus would do something exciting...

...but that didn’t happen.

The best animals at the zoo were at Tiger Mountain.  We watched the tigers fool the humans for 30 minutes.  Since there are two viewing windows the tigers would hang out on one side then all together walk in the back like they were going to the other side but instead they would hide and go back on the same side and all the humans would be gone thinking the tigers walked to the other window.  But those tigers didn’t trick us for long! 

Remembering how much fun the monorail was, I suggested waiting on the long line to go on.  Gigi realized it was called the monorail because it ran on one rail.  Go Geeg!  After waiting on line behind the most unattractive (sorry to be harsh) and weirdest group of friends, we made it on the monorail and got to see the elephants, rhinos, deer, hippos and other fun stuff.  By the time we got back, the park was about to close.  Being sneaky, Gigi and I decided to take a detour route to the exit only to discover all the animals were gone.  Where did the animals go?  To end the day, we went to an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side and got delicious froyo.  Total of 5 points!

Last Minute San Gennaro

Another last minute bucket list addition but a requirement for anyone who loves food festivals.  Since we are just that good, we planned to meet on the last car of the N train at 49^th street and it worked out perfect.  Getting distracted with Gigi’s shopping needs, we stopped at a few stores on the way to the festival.  When we made it to San Gennaro, I decided it was probably a good idea to snack on some spinach pie on the walk to dinner since we were so hungry.  Gigi, the Yelp Queen had to find the BEST restaurant to eat in Little Italy and Benito’s it was. 

Since Gigi planned on taking a four-month vacation from being a Vegetarian while in Paris for work (more on that later), we got a puff pastry calzone with sausage, peppers and cheese.  It was delicious but not as good as my chicken parm and Gigi’s Gnocchi.  Trying to walk off dinner, we searched for dessert and bought the “best cannolis” to eat later from Ferraras.  For our after dinner snack, we got Fried Oreos and Zeppolis.  Overall we gained great knowledge of the Italian culture, knowledge of the best Italian restaurant and cannolis and also a good 5 pounds each and 4 points each!