The I Fork ladies are no dummies. We know that anything involving the best BBQ in the country is serious business. We've been training and we're ready for the BBQ event of the year. The Big Apple BBQ Block Party. From past years experience the I Fork ladies know the Big Apple BBQ requires a plan, a big plan, a battle plan. Dawn and Lauren awoke at 6:00am on Sunday, June 12th. They prompty put on full suits of camoflage, dropped and gave em twenty, and ran through tires. They then met at headquarters (i.e. 23rd and Madison) and made their plan, their plan to conquer Big Apple BBQ...in 24 minutes. The following takes place between 10:57AM and 11:21AM. Events occur in real time>
 
10:57:  Divide and conquer: Lauren lines up at Salt Lick. Dawn lines up at Ed Mitchell. Walkie talkies were in hand (a.k.a iPhone Facetime)
 
11:05: Lauren procures a plate and stealthly runs through the crowds, Salt Lick sausage and beef brisket in hand, to line up at Blackjack BBQ

11:07: Dawn reports to Lauren from Ed Mitchell, "The whole hog line is on the move."

11:11: Lauren meets Dawn in line at Ed Mitchell with Blackjack pulled pork shoulder and Salt Lick goods in hand.

11:12: Lauren and Dawn finish both meals. In one min. cause we're dangerous.

11:13: Drive by Pappy's Smokehouse covert rib operation.

11:14: Lauren leaves and does a soldier crawl to get in line at The Original Fried Pie Company 
 
11:14.27: Dawn makes it to front of line at Ed Mitchell's. She spots Lauren with her night-vision binoculars and runs to meet her with whole hog in hand.

11:15: Lauren is intercepted by a friend with a cute baby. Conversation ensues. Lauren sweats and looks at her watch. "How the HELL am I gonna get outta this," she says to herself.

11:15.32: Dawn notices via iPhone Facetime that Lauren is in trouble. A phone call is made with a fake emergency.

11:16: Lauren breaks free and retreives fried apricot pie.

11:17:00: Dawn and Lauren house the pie like their lives depend on it. Because they do.
 
11:17:02: Dawn and Lauren finish the pie.
 
11:17:03: Dawn and Lauren decide to part ways again - Dawn to Big Bob Gibson's and Lauren to the Bourbon patio at Eleven Madison Park.

11:17.30: The line at Big Bob's Is long and Dawn doesn't know how she is going to get this done.

11;18: Meanwhile at Elleven Madison Park, Lauren orders two Peach Bitters from the Bourbon Bar and anxiously awaits Dawns arrival.

11:19: Dawn puts her camoflage suit in action and sneaks to the front of the line. No one could see her!
 
11:19.42 Dawn approaches the front of the line. The 8 dollars for her sandwich is prepped in her sweaty palm and she knows its game time. She orders, sauces and manages to grab some wet naps all in a matter of seconds. The sprint to the finish is a challenging one. With the sting of BBQ smoke in her eyes, she arrives to meet Lauren just as the cocktails hit the table.

The time is 11:21.

You might be looking at the title of this post and thinking to yourself, “Good Friday, good God, that was a month ago!” You are correct in this and we at I Fork have some explaining to do. You see, so good was this Good Friday food adventure that we are only now resurrecting from our food comas to tell our tale.

It started out your typical Good Friday. Dawn, Lauren and Anne met at their favorite place of worship, Banh Mi Saigon, a Little Italy Banh Mi hotspot. This jewelry-store-in-the-front/sandwich-shop-in-the-back is the perfect place for lunch and mourning of the crucifixion.

At first, Dawn got distracted by all the jade bracelets and ivory rings, but Anne and Lauren led her to the sandwich section of this establishment whereupon the ladies stood in wonder and awe gazing at the impressive menu of Banh Mi options.

They settled upon the barbecue pork sandwich and the traditional Banh Mi (with ham and pate). Both sandwiches were prepared on toasted baguettes with cucumbers, cilantro and pickled carrots and daikon. These sandwiches are made to order and delicious.

With our Banh Mi cravings satiated and new jade anklets, we ventured out onto Grand Street. Then, unsure of what to do next, we asked ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” There was only one answer. He would have a second lunch. Confident with this answer, we marched west into Soho to the Calexico food cart.

Calexico, winner of the 2008 Vendy awards, offers up delicious burritos, quesadillas, and tacos, prepared with love and care by attractive dudes with perfectly disheveled hair.

We opted for the Carne Asada tacos and the Chipotle pork quesadilla. The tacos were served on a warm corn tortilla with grilled skirt steak, avocado salsa and pico de gallo.

The Chipotle pork quesadilla consisted of a toasted flour tortilla with cheddar, monterey jack, and delicious, juicy pulled pork and pickled onions. It came with a chipotle mayo dipping sauce which the Calexico boys appropriately call “crack” sauce. So addictive is this sauce, Dawn has spent the last month a rehab facility in Northern California.

Now we were sitting on a nearby stoop, minding our own business, enjoying the lovely day, the day that the Lord had made, when all of a sudden a fight broke out at the parking lot next to us. Being the inquisitive ladies we are, we scooted over to be closer to the action. Apparently, an irate driver of a blue minivan had been told to “Calm down” by the parking attendant. How dare they!? This prompted her to go on a 15 minute rant much to the chagrin of her embarrassed teenage sons. We listened in with keen interest (obviously).

After the drama had subsided and the minivan had screeched away, we asked ourselves again what Jesus would do. We decided he would head over to Kee’s Chocolates for a tasty little dessert. Kee’s is a delectable, little chocolate shop on Thompson Street. Their chocolates are rich and smooth and well, perfect. Our choices included a green tea, white chocolate truffle, a pecan, dark chocolate turtle and a few other heavenly delights.

Finally, three hours later, and filled to the brim, we decided to practice some moderation and STOP eating. This was not an easy choice, but sometimes one must choose the difficult path. Just like Jesus.

Banh Mi Saigon
198 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013 - (212) 941-1541

Calexico
(For location check out their website)

Kee’s Chocolates
80 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012 - (212) 334-3284

Marie Claire has an arsenal of exercise tips on their website:

*20 Best Fat Burning Moves (complete with video instruction)
*45 (45!!) Best Body Tips
*Get Flat Abs Fast
*Bikini Beach Workout

AND MORE!

Here at I Fork, we take a more realistic, goal-driven approach to getting fit. And now we present:

I Fork New York's Running Tips for the Drinking Woman aka Run to Drink

Summer is coming up ladies, so it's time to get in swimming costume shape! But here at I Fork, we know how hard it is for a modern woman on the go to find the time to work out AND have a social life, so why not build them in together! Lauren and Anne have started this program with great results.

We recently met in Prospect Park in Brooklyn for a friendly jog with the goal of cocktails and food at the end. In fact, that's the only reason why Anne even bothered showing up. Begrudgingly, Anne met Lauren at the midway point between their homes in Prospect Park to run the rest of the loop together (which is a little over three miles). We can do this!

Let's be honest for a second...Prospect Park is GORGEOUS, so it was actually nice for both of us to be outside running our little tushies away.

But about halfway through, Anne was about to give up. "It's too much! I can't take this! There were supposed to be cocktails!"

Lauren snapped into Drill Sergeant mode: "MAGGOTS!"

Anne: "It's just me?"

Lauren: "Whatever! Listen up! You can do this! Think about the salad and sandwich and Belgian frites! THERE WILL BE COCKTAILS!"

Anne: "OK LET'S GO!"

We finished the loop (hooray!) and were ready for some food and drink. Luckily, one of our favorite places is nice, cool-down walk away from the park: Press 195.

Press 195 is known for their wide selection of pressed sandwiches, hence the name, but they also have some amazing cocktails. Right off the bat (after chugging a ton of water), we ordered two strawberry lemonades with Citron vodka.

The menu is a little overwhelming, but the staff there is so helpful and they can point you in the right direction...which was the case this time around.

Lauren: "I...don't know...too...many...choices!"

Anne: (eyes glassed over) "Uh?"

Waiter: "How about an eggplant parm to share? And this delicious Mediterranean salad?"

A&L: "AND FRITES, WE MUST HAVE FRITES!"

With our Belgian fries, we also ordered a garlic aioli and a honey jalapeno mustard.

They were perfection. Perfect balance of crisp and salt. Perfect to completely counteract all of the exercise we had just done.

The salad was fresh and delicious (and on the healthier side with chicken, feta, olives, carrots and yum galore) and the eggplant parm was warm, comforting and drool-worthy.

So, that’s it folks! The Run to Drink (and Eat) Method that has proven for centuries to be the best way to lose those extra pounds around your waistline and then promptly build them back up!

Good luck! And happy eating.

Press 195
195 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY - (718) 857-1950

Everyone loves an underdog, we all want to cheer for the little guy, all ladies want to make sweet love to Rudy...wait, is that just us?

When I Fork New York heard that Starbucks, you know that mom and pop coffee shop that is on every block in Manhattan, was selling cake pops, we instantly felt as though hometown favorite Momofuku Milk Bar  had been unfairly unseated.

For those of you not up on the current food blog trends, the Cake Pop or Cake Truffle is the new cupcake. Which means it's the exact same stuff in a different shape. Have your cake (in whatever shape you want) and eat it too!

We found, however, that not all cake is created equal. The cake truffles at Momfuku are the perfect combination of salty, sweet and slightly crispy on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside. Essentially, they taste like a dream! The Starbucks cake pops just lack heart. And we I Fork ladies demand our cake be full of heart. Basically, in terms of comparison between the giant and the little guy, well, Sinead O’Connor said it best:

It's been seven hours and fifteen days
Since we last went to Momofuku Milk Bar

I go out every night and sleep all day
Since we tasted those delectable cake truffles

Ah ah ah AH AH!

Since you been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose: Magnolia, Crumbs, Sugar Sweet Sunshine

I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
`Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you, cake truffles.

It's been so lonely without you here
I miss you birthday cake truffles

Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me, Milk Bar, where did I go wrong
I could put my arms around every cake I see
But they'd only remind me of you

I went to the doctor n'guess what he told me
Guess what he told me
He said girl you better try to stuff your face with cake truffles
No matter what you'll do
And that’s the truth

`Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you, pretzel cake truffles (yes, that’s a thing!)

Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
Especially the Starbucks cake pops

Momofuku Milk Bar - 207 Second Avenue (at 13th Street), New York, NY 10003

Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Konnichiwa!

It's Fat Tuesday, the day that every girl gets to eat pancakes and no one will ever judge her. EVER. Ever. It's a rule! So, don't judge us. Also, it's International Women's Day, so you really can't judge us. That goes against feminism and everything sacred.

Anne and Lauren were tweeting up a storm about pancakes and women, so they separately ventured out for pancakes to fill their lady stomachs.

Lauren went for the traditional pancake at Tom's in Brooklyn.

The pancakes at Tom's come with three (YES THREE) types of butter: cinnamon, strawberry, and mango walnut. Uh, yes thank you.

Anne was feeling a little more adventurous and a little more international, so she decided to get an okonomiyaki from the Sunrise Mart in Midtown.

Okonomiyaki is a pancake made of an egg / rice flour batter. It contains shrimp, cabbage, grilled pork, scallions, and is topped off with ginger, a plum sauce and mayo. Sounds weird! But trust us, it's delicious! They make 'em fresh here everyday!

We fully accomplished celebrating Women, Pancakes, Internationaism, Fatties and FOOD!!!!

Tom's - 782 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, (718) 636-9738

Sunrise Mart - (several locations, but Anne went to the Midtown location) 12 E 41st Street, New York, NY, (646) 380-9280

Today most New Yorkers are celebrating the end of the worst month of the year: February. February is the month when it has been winter for too long, when translucent, pale, sickly New Yorkers wander the streets in worn out rain boots, scraggly scarves, and perpetual scowls on their faces. They look ahead to March with hope, vigor, and wonderment, knowing that better, warmer days are ahead. (Anne would like to respectfully disagree with the opinions of I Fork on this issue. She was born in February; therefore, she loves this month more than any other month).

But today, on this, the last day of February, the I Fork girls are in mourning. For today ends one of the most sacred events of the year: The City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival. For the uninitiated, City Bakery, a purveyor of arguably the best, thickest, richest hot chocolate in NYC, offers a different flavor of their delicious brew everyday this month. Flavor offerings vary from the expected (Espresso, Darkest Dark, Caramel) to the unusual (Beer, Tropical, Bourbon, Spicy Fig) to the downright mysterious (Super Bowl, “What would Faulkner drink?” Moulin Rouge, Ode to the Polar Bear).  We don’t understand what some of those even mean. Intrigue! Fantasy! Chocolate dreams and puppy dog kisses!

Dawn and Marielena were so excited for this event, and they did not want to miss one single flavor. So, they pitched a tent in front of City Bakery and camped out for the month. For the entire month.

They bared the cold, the rain, the wind and angry warnings from the NYPD, all for their love of this delicious chocolate beverage.

City Bakery really knows their stuff, every single new flavor complimented the chocolate perfectly. Whether it’s Ginger, Vanilla Bean, Banana Peel or Sunken Treasure you cannot go wrong.

So finally, on this day of reckoning, Dawn and Marielena had to pack up their tent with heavy hearts, full bellies, and some serious lactose issues. And thus begins the countdown: 337 days until February 1, 2012. Sigh.

City Bakery
3 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-366-1414

Zac Young the pastry chef at Flex Mussels opened a temporary donut counter at Zocalo in Grand Central Terminal. The donuts would be available for ONE WEEK ONLY, the week of January 24, 2011. Anne and Lauren went one star-crossed afternoon and ate everything Zac had to offer between the two of them. This letter is the result of Zac taking his donuts away.

An open letter to Zac:

How??? How could you do this to us?? You came in with your sweet, delicious, hot donuts, and then you just snatch them away?!? We hate you. We hate you, because we love those donuts so much. What did you think was going to happen? That we were going to stand idly by while you loaded those gorgeous donuts full of amazing fillings???

That we were just going to sample these churros, and then forget about one of the happiest moments of our lives????

Is that what you thought would happen?

We want you to know that we're doing terribly since you left us. We can’t eat, or sleep, or even enjoy “Law and Order”. All we can do is think about those lime-filled donuts that made us feel beautiful.

We’re about to get drastic Zac. Lauren is threatening to go vegan, and Anne is swearing she’ll give up gluten, if you don’t bring back the goodness of the spiced chocolate-filled donut.

Help us Zac. Bring back those tasty donuts and we’ll call all this off. We can go back to the way things used to be. We can go back to eating sugar and laughing and enjoying life! We can go back to being in love! With donuts! Your donuts! Please!

Sincerely yours in fried dough,
Anne and Lauren

PS. These donuts came to us in plain cinnamon sugar, spiced chocolate, blueberry-Tamarind , lime, and salted cajeta (caramelized goat’s milk). COME ON, ZAC! YOU'RE KILLING US!

Pork is patient, pork is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Pork does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
--Corinthians

'Tis the most romantic day of the year, the day millions celebrate with roses, Champagne, heart-shaped candies, sweet nothings whispered by a roaring fire, Chris DeBurgh's “Lady in Red” on repeat (the video is weird, but the song...amazing), and the most romantic symbol of all, the hot dog.

The I Fork gals celebrate every holiday in style and Valentine’s Day is no exception. We curled our hair, applied festive lipstick and convened at Bark, in Park Slope, for Champagne and hot dogs, a match made in heaven.

Love looks not with the eyes but with the taste buds.
-- Shakespeare

Bark has an excellent selection of dog toppings. The hot dogs themselves are quite delicious and snappy. Lord knows we love a snappy dog! The toppings add a “boom” punch in the face with flavor.

In addition to two straight up, classic dogs, we opted for the Bark Dog topped with sweet pepper relish, mustard and onions and the Bacon Cheddar Dog, which we affectionately call "heaven on a bun."

'Tis better to have loved hot dogs and lost, than never to have loved hot dogs at all.
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Come live in my tummy and pay no rent, salt-and-pepper fries.
-- Samuel Lover (amazing name)

Hold on. We need a moment to discuss the baked beans...ah, oh, the baked beans! They had an amazing homemade flavor that any lady would swoon over. They are tangy, sweet and just plain ol' delish.

Nobody puts baked beans in a corner!
-- Dirty Dancing

Because we have never claimed to be ladies of moderation, we also tried the Crispy Pork sandwich, which was listed on Grub Street's 101 Best Sandwiches list. It was insanely good. It definitely earned its keep on that list! It was packed full of salty pork flavor with an extra kick of spice from the coleslaw and pickles. This sandwich is a must! As in you must fall in love with it! We sure did!

And in the end, the love you seek, is equal to the pork you eat.
--The Beatles

True words. True...words. Sigh.

The evening was magical! Lives were changed and love was found...

Shall I compare thee to a summer's dog? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
-- The Shakes (aka Shakespeare)

Pork means never having to say you're sorry.
-- Love Story

A pickle is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness..unless it's in my tummy.
-- Keats

To love another sandwich is to see the face of God
--Victor Hugo

We were perfectly content to spend this Valentines Day just us ladies and our hot dogs. We didn't need a man to define us or break our hearts this year.... 

But then, there he was...Josh, Bark's dashing proprietor and I Fork's dream guy (cue appropriate soundtrack: "Dreamweaver").

You had me at hot dog.
--Jerry Maguire

He sauntered up to the table and presented us with the best Valentine’s gift a bunch of dessert craving gals could ask for: a tasting of experimental new milkshake flavors! (We're keeping the details a secret, but trust us when we say DELICIOUS AND AMAZING! Way to be a genius Josh!).

Bark was truly a Valentine's Day treat thanks to Josh and his delicious dogs. We plan on going back soon. Very soon.  But seriously, Josh, we miss you. A lot. Why haven't you called?! We MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!

Never let go, Josh. Never let go.
--Titanic. And our hearts.

Bark Hot Dogs - 474 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 - (718) 789-1939

The lighting was low. Beer was flowing from the bar. The tables were covered in gingham tablecloths. Everyone was filled with excitement. The scent of fried foods was wafting from the kitchen. Sexy people were all around. Rush was playing in the background. And we were ready to rock our faces off!!!!

I Fork New York showed up at Bill’s Bar & Burger in the Meatpacking District expecting a delicious meal, but we never thought we would end up making the most amazing 90s video of our lifetime. SLASH GUITAR SOLO!

For our opening act, we slammed some Jalapeño Bombs.

Our appetites were whetted, and we were ready for the starring act. Buuuurgerrrrs! Blarrrmmmooo! PHIL COLLINS DRUM SOLO!

Duh duh duh DA dum dum DUM! CYMBALS!

The burgers were exactly what we were looking for: no frills, juicy, with back stage passes, inexpensive, and head banging-worthy. This is the part where we make our music video.

Alright. I guess the meal is over now. …Except it’s not!!!! Encore! Encore! Encore!  JOHN PAUL JONES BASS SOLO! Bud bum dum dum ba duuuummmm......

Ok, seriously. We are done. DONE. What’s that? SECOND ENCORE! SCREEEAAMING ANN WILSON SOLO!!!!! WAAHHHHAAHHHHHH!!!!

And like all good Rock Stars...we couldn't keep it together...

All-in-all Bill's was ROCKIN'.  The burgers were tasty and just right size. Bill's is a great joint to check out if you are in the area and are looking for some cheap eats and a "rock out with your flock out" time. Ch-ch-ch-check it out!

Bill's Bar & Burger - 22 9th Avenue, New York, NY 212-414-3003

There is also a Rockefeller Center location that is gargantuan (16 W 51st Street, New York, NY 212-705-8510).

Hot [hot] / adjective - having or causing a sensation of great bodily heat. Ex: He was hot with fever.

I Fork New York has a fever for toddies…of the hot variety. On these cold winter days, we do nothing but sit around and drink hot toddies. Oh, you hot, hot toddy.  Hot toddies are credited to our Scottish brethren and were adapted by the American Frontiersman as a way to cope on those cold nights in the vast American plains.

One night, the I Fork ladies were cold.

Cold [kohld] / adjective - lacking sensual desire. Ex: She remained cold to his advances.

We ventured off into the winter night in separate directions, much like the Frontiersman of yore, in search of toddy, hot toddy. Not all toddies are created equal. Some use Scotch whiskey, some use bourbon, some add cider, some add tea, but the result is always the same: a hot, delicious treat that will knock you on your ass.

Anne blindly stumbled into Alchemy in Park Slope shouting “TODDY ME!”

They serve a classic toddy – Scotch whiskey, hot water, honey, lemon with cloves and a cinnamon stick to stir it all together.

Lauren found herself at Char No. 4 in Carroll Gardens thirsty with desire of the toddy’s delight.

Bourbon Insider Hot Toddy – they mull their own cider, and combine that with Old Taylor bourbon and top it off with lemon, ginger, and a surprising slice of apple.

Dawn, fully dressed in ski gear, jaunted into Lodge in Williamsburg desperate for the taste of a toddy.

They serve their toddy with a twist – Scotch whiskey, hot water, honey, lemon with cloves, a cinnamon stick, and the super secret ingredient – Amaretto!

Marielena just couldn’t bear the cold, but luckily she conveniently had all the fixings for her homebody hot toddy.*

First, she poured honey into the bottom of a mug, then added boiling water and an improvised teabag full of THE BEST TEA (Kusmi Tea’s Prince Vladimir blend). After steeping the tea, a shot of brandy joined the party followed by a couple squeezes of lemon.

Ah, perfection!

We made it through the cold night in our warm and cozy corners in the American Frontier aka Brooklyn.

Alchemy
56 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY - (718) 636-4385

Char No. 4
196 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY - (718) 643-2106

Lodge
318 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY - (718) 486-9400

Kusmi Tea

*Marielena would like you all to know that she was actually drinking her hot toddy in the cold Sundance Film Festival air while promoting Babyland.