How Harlem Does the South: Amy Ruth's

We started our Saturday at Amy Ruth's up in Harlem.



The menu boasted comfort, cuisine, courtesy, and culture.

And Amy Ruth's lived up to this.

Complimentary cornbread, peach juice ($4.00), lemonade ($4.00).

The cornbread was a tad on the dry side, but the drinks were exactly what we needed on a warm day.

Amy Ruth's names all of its entrees after notable African-Americans, including Barack Obama, Al Roker, and Al Sharpton.

The Nate Robinson -- BBQ spare ribs + two sides ($14.25).

Tender, smoky, and flavorful. Mac 'n' cheese and buttered corn were fab.

The Ludacris -- four fried chicken wings + two sides ($12.25).

Golden fried crunchy yumminess. Candied yams and cheesy grits rocked.

Worth the trip to Harlem. Good food. Good service. Good prices.

While we were in the neighborhood, we visited Serena and Blair's Ivy League stomping grounds. Yes, that was another Gossip Girl reference.

After taking photos of one of the many law schools that rejected me, we headed back down to tourist central.

If you watch Project Runway, you may recognize this billboard featuring contestant Gretchen's winning navy jumpsuit early this season.

I embrace being a tourist. It means I can say I adore Times Square.

Hot Diggity Dog: Gray's Papaya

There is no better place than New York City for late-night eats. After a Yankee game, we stopped by Gray's Papaya on the Upper West Side (2090 Broadway between 72nd and 73rd) before heading back to The Empire Hotel.

How could we pass up the Recession Special? The franks were lightly charred and had a lovely snap. The papaya drink was cold and sweet but not too sweet. When we got back to The Empire Hotel, I wished we'd gotten four Recession Specials!

I guess I should give you some pics from the Yankee game. As I've said before, the food at Yankee Stadium is atrocious. (Hence, our post-game visit to Gray's Papaya.)

We love visiting stadiums in other cities. For some reason, my baseball boyfriend, Ichiro Suzuki, is almost always visiting the same town that I'm visiting. I am convinced it's fate.

The Mariners killed the Yankees. In particular, my baseball boyfriend kicked ass. I was proud to be wearing his All-Star t-shirt, much to the dismay of everybody else in the Bronx

Brasserie Meets Tavern: DBGB Kitchen & Bar

After going crazy at Eleven Madison Park, we filled the rest of the weekend with far less expensive food. We happened to be in town during Restaurant Week, so we took advantage of this at DBGB Kitchen & Bar.

According to its website, DBGB is Chef Daniel Boulud's "new lowdown downtown place where the French brasserie meets the American tavern."

The Restaurant Week prix fixe three-course lunch cost $24.07.

Chilled ratatouille soup, roasted garlic and chevre crostini, crispy basil.

Cool and refreshing for a hot, humid day in NYC.

Pâté campagnard -- country-style pâté with pork and chicken liver.

Rich and salty.

Chanterelle and corn lasagna, Parmesan and chicken jus.

Some fantastic pasta. Substantial yet not overwhelming midday.

Yankee burger -- 6 oz. beef patty with iceberg, tomato, and Vidalia onion on a sesame bun, Essex Street pickle, and fries.

Damn good burger with possibly even better fries.

Hazelnut praline and chocolate cake, hazelnut biscuit, chocolate sauce.

More hazelnut than chocolate -- just the way I like it.

Raspberry yogurt sundae, anise marshmallow, raspberry coulis, whipped cream.

Really liked the marshmallow, but the rest was pretty standard fare.

We enjoyed our meal (and the deal), but I've since been thrice informed that we erred by not getting DBGB's famed sausage. I now take this opportunity to advise you not to make the same mistake. Get some sausage at DBGB!

Even without any sausage, DBGB Kitchen & Bar provided us a lovely reasonably priced meal to fuel our walk down to and around the financial district.

I can't get enough of this city. There's something to see everywhere you go.