VittlesVamp

Not Just Cigarette Iconography Anymore: Camel Milk Chocolate

So, my archaeologically-inclined pal Kristin went to Oman on an expedition and decided to bring me back a treat from the Middle East. Some Turkish Delight, perhaps? Nah. That's too common place. Kristin opted for something much more exotic -- Camel Milk Chocolate.

My first thought as she handed me the bar was that "Camel" was simply the name of the brand, not unlike the popular cigarettes.

That wasn't the case.

Camel milk is real. And, apparently camel milk contains five times more vitamin C than cow milk, less fat, less lactose and more insulin.

Who knew?

Well, Middle Easterners have known this for centuries, but I guess I'm more than a bit late to the game.

Late or not, I was intrigued. But, how would it taste?

All in all, it was delicious. There was something hauntingly rich and robust about the bar. I could hardly resist another bite, and another, and another.

Will camel milk chocolate be taking the U.S. by storm soon? I hope so. This would be a "desert storm" -- or better yet "dessert storm" -- I could get behind.

Hello, Dolly!

Rain aside, summer is here. And for those lucky enough to live in Brooklyn, that means it is time to dig into Italian ices. Mind you, I've never been fan, always turing to sorbet or ice cream when I need a frozen confection fix.

But that's all changed, after being driven into the depths of Mill Basin by my pal Anne. Once there, I was introduced to a Brooklyn fixture - Dolly's Ices.

Superstorm Sandy forced the owners to move from their iconic stand to a nondescript storefront on Avenue T, but have no fear. The ices are nothing if not iconic unto themselves! Intensely flavored, icy, smooth and absolutely wondrous, these might supplant my love for ice cream this summer. Above, is a combination of Dolly's Cannoli, filled with bits of crumbly Cannoli shell, and Pistachio which is punctuated with green nutty nuggets.

So -- damn -- good.

So, if you are lucky enough to live in Brooklyn -- or anywhere in the five boroughs -- I recommend a trip to Dolly's this summer. You'll be glad you said "hello!"

Totally Worth The Hype

No, I am not talking about cronuts!

I'm forgoing pastry for meat today. And, we're talking some serious meat.

Have you seen that picture above? That is some fine smoked brisket from Mighty Quinn's at Smorgasburg. Prior to yesterday, the lines seemed insurmountable. (Then again, I've never stood on line for a cronut, so what do I know about lines?)

Thankfully, I arrived in Williamsburg early enough that the wait for this barbecue mecca wasn't terrible at all. Fifteen minutes, and suddenly I was treated to this glorious hulking sandwich...

The meat was smokey and tender. The brioche roll had been dipped in the brisket's own juices before the slices were piled on thick. The sauce was piquant and ever-so-slightly tomato-rich. The pickles were crisp and vinegary, as was the small mound of slaw atop.

Yeah. This is a sandwich to love. Now, I think I might need to brave the lines at the Mighty Quinn's new two-star restaurant in the East Village. That said, I'm sure it has nothing on the behemoth line at Dominique Ansel's Bakery for the cronut-crazed masses.