dolceloves.

The weather unexpectedly dropped to the high twenties to low thirties the night I arrived in Manhattan.  So when my friend Derek insisted we go to Momofuku for some hot and tasty ramen, he didn’t have to ask me twice.  Momofuku (which means lucky peach) is currently one of the hottest spots in town.  That means that there’s usually a waiting period before you can sit on a crowded table that you share with strangers who all want one thing…NOODLES!

Visit Momofuku at 171 first ave. nyc 10003 (between 10th & 11th).

Be careful it’s HOT!  I love noodlesMomofuku tries to get all their ingredients locally and made when ordered.

I love noodles as you can…or can’tsee!  Everything about the ramen was delicious…from the noodles to the locally grown vegetables.  The broth was a bit salty for me so I had to add some water.  But it was worth the trip.  Thanks Derek!

Derek and I just finished with our lunch.  Boy were we stuffed.  Now it was time to pay a visit to SOHO and do some shopping…

I’ve always tried to be environmentally friendly – bringing my own shopping bag, buying recycled products, or politely informing others that they just littered.  What’s most effective for me is to bring my own shopping bag wherever I go – grocery store, the open market, or most importantly..while SHOPPING!  DOLCE wants you to be more environmentally friendly to help Mother Earth by purchasing your very own RuMe bags (just seen in People’s June/July 2009 edition of Style Watch).  RuMe bags are the newest “no-waste” trend to explode this summer!  This eco-friendly bag is the best on the market today..Yup, so TRUE!  The Original RuMe can hold up to 50lbs and the Mini RuMe can hold up to 30lbs!

Regular RuMe $15…this one can hold up to 50 lbs!

These bags are great for traveling too!  These bags roll up and have a velcro strap closure. And you don’t have to fret.  These bags are so STYLISH!  You can find them in many different colors and graphics.  Which one do you want?

Mini RuMe $12.50…this one holds 30 lbs!

Even better…this bag is machine washable.  

A friend of mine gave me my very first bag of Tate’s cookies five years ago.  I couldn’t believe it!  I devoured the entire bag by the end of the day.  These cookies are famous for their signature, crispy texture but soft and chewy on the inside.  Let me warn you that they’re quite addicting.  From that day on, eating a bag of Tate’s Chocolate Chip Cookies became a tradition when I’m in the Hamptons! 

The Victorian style bakery is located in Southampton.   But if you can’t make it there are other locations you can buy them from.

A cookie lovers dream..from white chocolate macadamia nut and oatmeal raisin cookies, but I only have eyes for a bag of the chocolate chip cookies. They’re crispy and buttery, rich but not overwhelming, they simply melt in your mouth… and just one is never enough!  

Now, you can make your very own cookies! Here’s the recipe…

“Tate’s Chocolate Chip Cookies”

(Makes ~40 cookies)

2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

a teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) lightly salted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed

1 teaspoon water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs, beaten

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (use Nestle…)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk the flour, soda and salt together in a bowl.  In another large bowl, mix the butter with a wooden spoon to lighten it a bit and then mix in the sugars.  Add the vanilla and eggs to the butter mixture.  Stir in the flour mixture until just combined and then fold in the chocolate chips.  Using two soup spoons, drop the cookies 2″ apart onto two nonstick or greased cookie sheets.  Bake for 8 minutes, rotating the sheets after 4 minutes.  Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Bon Appétit!

Homemade chutney, crispy dosas (pronounced dough-sa), and savory Indian spices are mixed all together to create a memorable lunch at the Hampton Chutney House.  This Indian style restaurant is sure to satisfy your hunger with their delicate dosas that are stuffed with traditional or Western combinations—such as spiced potatoes and curried chicken or grilled asparagus with roasted pepper and goat cheese—and paired with freshly made chutney.  And, they have vegetarian dishes too.  You’ll leave feeling satisfied!

If you can’t make it to the original Hampton Chutney House in Amagansett, you can visit their second location in Soho – 68 Prince Street.  You can find homemade jars of chutney to take back with you….yum!

The dosas are extremely large but you’ll want to eat every bite.  It tastes even better with mango chutney..my favorite. 

Did you make your shopping list for this summer?  Sunblock..check.  Havaianas flip-flops..check..Did you forget some of Summer’s HOTTEST Trends?  Well if you did, I’ve got a few things on my list to help you look your best. You’ve gotta look GORGEOUS because you never know who you’ll run into!

Tie-dye is back!  And, in so many different styles.  Gypsy 05′s beloved maxi dress goes retro this season with the 60′s tie-dyed prints for the ultimate boho chic.  If your mantra is “less is more”, why not try a subtle tie-dye trim?

Tie-dye garments were often worn by hippies back in the 60′s and 70′s and was still present decades later.  It has once again taken the fashion world by storm.  

Braids are no longer for hippies and little girls..it’s back with a whole new look.  Give yourself a refreshing look for summer by showing off that gorgeous face of yours.  

It’s not about how big your braid is..it’s all about braiding sections of your hair.  Add a French braid hair band effect along the hairline or have the braid loose and pin it back around the head to add texture and ‘spark!’  It’s so simple and quick..even you can do it.

Wanna braid your hair?  Here’s how…divide a section of your hair into 3 even sections.  Cross the right hand section over the middle setion.  Pull all the sections away from each other to tighten the plait.  Cross the left hand section over the middle section and tighten the plait again.  Continue the process alternating right and left sections over the middle section, tightening each plait as you make it.  Secure the end when finished.

Zippers are one of the hottest accessory this season.  You’ll seem them everywhere..hobo bags, leggings, and LnA zipper pocket tee which is selling like hotcakes!  DOLCE is expecting this tee next week…the white version sold extremely well that we’re getting it in black!

Why are fedora hats so popular?  We can thank Frank Sinatra and Indian Jones who wore fedora hats back in the 50′s and gave it the uber-cool sophisticated appearance. But, it wasn’t until the late 70′s when Diane Keaton wore the fedora with her masculine style of fashion that women began to wear it themselves.   Today, these make the perfect accessory for summer.  They’re super cute and provide a little protection for our face.

What’s on your list this summer?

By now, you should know that my fashion style gravitates towards an everyday wear incorporated with the latest fashion trends.  Because who am I kidding?  I don’t have to dress fancy everyday, just sometimes. Besides, I love being comfortable yet stylish all at the same time.  Not every one of us has a glamourous lifestyle that allows us to dress like the rich and famous.  Simple tops with eye-catching accessories are all we need to get us by during the week. This is why DOLCE will be carrying linQ to fit your everyday needs.  The collection mixes a little bit of fun, flair, and sexy all in one! And the best part is…it has a naturally comfortable style, lightweight fabrics and delicate details that make the pieces truly unique and exclusive.  All the better!

I don’t know about you, but I love to eat in the morning, afternoon, evening, AND during the wee hours in the morning….especially fries.  My favorite hot spot in Manhattan is POMMES FRITES located in the East Village. POMMES FRITES is all about the fries and exotic sauces.  The authentic Belgian fries are made from freshly cut potatoes and twice-fried to golden perfection. They’re slightly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside..just the way I like to eat them.  And, you can select 25 specialty sauces to dip your fries with.  

You can find POMMES FRITES at 123 2nd Avenue between 7th Street and St. Marks Place. This place is a tiny hole in the wall where many of the locals hear about it through word of mouth. There’s usually a little line but the wait isn’t too long.  And if you decide to eat here, there’s a seating area with hole in the tables to place your fries in them while you eat.  

If you decide to eat on-the-go, you’re in luck.  The frites are served in paper cone topped off with your choice of sauce.  Here is an order with a combination of sweet mango chutney mayo.  Don’t worry about the calories, you’ll burn them off while walking through the city.

It’s a tough decision to select which sauce to dip your frites in.  You’ll have to scroll through 25 different sauces..Vietnamese Pineapple Mayo, Roasted Garlic Mayo, Rosemary Garlic Mayo, Sweet Mango Chutney Mayo, Wasabi Mayo, Sundried Tomato Mayo, Horseradish Mayo, Pesto Mayo, Dill Lemon Mayo, Smoked Eggplant Mayo, Pomegranate Teriyaki Mayo, Parmesan Peppercorn, Blue Cheese, Peanut Satay, Mexican Ketchup, Curry Ketchup, Dijon Mustard, Barbeque, Sweet Chili, Sambal Olek (Hot Chili Paste), War Sauces (Frite Sauce, Peanut Satay & Raw Onion), Curry Ketchup Especial (Frite Sauce, Curry Ketchup & Raw Onion), Irish Curry.  If this doesn’t satisfy your hunger, you can always get your traditional ketchup and mustard….but, how boring. And if you can’t make a decision, you can always order more than one sauce.

Today is just one of those days I wish I could eat soup dumplings for my poor, sore throat.  I don’t know of any restaurant in Honolulu that makes them just as tasty as the ones from Chinatown Brasserie in Manhattan.  I love their dim sum and their special soup dumplings…probably because each one is handmade by the chef. One bite of these and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been here before.  You’ll be happy to hear that the restaurant also offers pan-fired and crispy roll dim sum selections at both lunch and dinner.  On Saturday and Sunday,  an extensive list of 40 dishes is offered throughout lunch…yumm.  My mouth is already watering just talking about it. 

Chinatown Brasserie is located  on 380 Lafayette Street.  Don’t be fooled…this place gets really busy during lunch and dinner.  It’s a great place to invite a bunch of your friends.

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This soup dumpling is quite special.  Inside, you will find the meatball mixed in with the tasty broth.  You drink the soup first and then pop the dumpling in your mouth.  Don’t let these dumplings fool you…trust me, they’re not ordinary.  Be carful…they’re awfully HOT! 

This year’s all about the loose fitting tees…obviously inspired from the special man in our life whether it’s your dad, husband, or man friend.  Oh, how I love these tees because of the style (they still look feminine), comfort (you’ll want to wear it all day), and they’re extremely soft to the skin; especially the ones by Nation Ltd.  With this collection, you don’t need much to look fabulous. Just throw on a top and you’re ready to go out.  And by the way, it will be available in June!

Malibu Burnout Sweatshirt

It’s the style of a sweatshirt, but lighter.  This loose-fitting, super-long sleeve burnout sweatshirt is incredibly soft and perfect to pair with your jeans!

California Tee

This tee drapes over the body to give it more of a feminine appeal without clinging to your body.  The oversized raglan fit represents California casual that can be worn off the shoulder for that  accidental sexy look (it’s okay to show off your bra strap…just a litle).   

Key West Tee

The one size fits all tee is lightweight and super comfortable to wear with your skinny jeans or leggings this summer.  Also, the big bold stripes will surely turn heads.  To alter the look, simply add a belt to accentuate your waistline.  Now you’ve got two different outfits!