Follow video blogger Nick Dee as he checks out The Lite Choice a soft-serve ice cream company throughout New York City that serves only all-natural and organic ice creams that are low in calories and fat and have NO corn syrup or artificial additives! This ice cream is seriously delicious!
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Upon first arriving in the city as a freshman at NYU, the excitement of the city’s environment enchanted and drew me in as it had famously done for so many others. All the things that draw people to New York—its large crowds, the promise of meeting new people, the aromas and shouts that rise from the streets—convinced me I was at the heart of not just any city, but the epitome of a cosmopolitan utopia whose movement offered endless possibilities.
After a semester of pursuing the premed track, however, I began to find myself wearing of the commotion outside. Union Square, once an exciting intermingling of sights and sounds, was now a site of chaos to be avoided. The fellow passengers on the subway became overbearing, and the cars increasingly claustrophobic. Expounded by the stress of classes, internships, and jobs, my friends and I began to find the constant movement outside made living in the city a trying experience.
I had never attended a yoga class coming to school. Rather, I used to joke about and tease those friends of mine who religiously attended classes at the local center. I lumped it with trends such as the obsession with organic food—a middle class affirmation of their bohemian alternativeness.
After weeks of daily exposure to the urban environment, the monotony of my class schedule began to affect both my body and mentality. Along with returning to my dorm exhausted, I began to grow more anxious about my assignments. By the time a fellow classmate told me I could attend a $5 yoga class at Life In Motion, I was perturbed enough by my lack of energy to try the form of exercise I had long dismissed as a passing craze.
That yoga is an exercise of both mental and physical capabilities is key to understanding why participants profess leaving with a new sense of balance. By targeting specific muscles and areas of the body, instructors force people to focus on their bodies and let outside concerns fall away. As I followed the directions to stretch and reach, any thoughts not related to stabilizing my body “sunk into the floor’, as one instructor aptly put it.
To move about the city and face the affronts to personal space it often requires a certain degree of internal composition that can be especially difficult for students to attain. The greatest benefit of the class was forcing me to recognize how compromised this balance had become. To fully take advantage of the city, one must at times distance oneself from the flux of bodies and ideas that make it dynamic.
-Sabina, Student Maximus Blogger
NYU 2013
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Upon entering Pudding Stone, favorably located in the crest of the West Village, not only did the weather beg for such a chic, open-air dining experience, but my coin purse was happily chiming to this wine bar’s student-friendly pricing.
The decor of the restaurant is trendy, yet not obnoxious: One interior wall is brick, cleverly pocked with hollows where candles flicker, and the opposing wall is adorned with four Marilyn Monroe prints by Warhol. The electro pop music in the background weaves both the ornamentation of the restaurant and the commotion of street together. Along with indoor tables and stools at the classy bar near the far end of the establishment, sidewalk seating is also available. I chose to sit by the open windows, which on an unusually warm April night, offered a gentle breeze, completing the relaxed dining scene.
For my appetizer, I ordered the crab cakes with lemon remoulade. A couple of years ago my mother and I attempted to make our own from scratch, but unlike Pudding Stone’s perfect combination of crispy outside and moistly flaky inside, our homemade creations were just a little burnt. Pudding Stone’s perfect crab cakes sat atop a crisp house salad embellished with sliced mango and partnered with a dollop of tangy tartar sauce. Although only one cake sat on my plate, I could have easily devoured three more.
Now even though Pudding Stone is known for their impressive wine list, I decided to save that for the entrée. Instead, I chose to have a bottle of Colomba to compliment my appetizer. A white ale brewed with spices, it was a nice alternative to the darker, more bitter stouts I typically have; it was a lighter, sweeter breed.
I have long come to the realization that I am, to the highest possible degree of the title, an utter salmon junkie. With this acknowledged, choosing my next plate was simple: wild Alaskan salmon with eggplant puree. When asked what temperature I wanted it, I went with medium so as to keep the fine balance of raw and overdone in check. My dish was presented with a healthy dose of freshly steamed asparagus, a splash of eggplant puree to cradled the fish, a side of hot sauce for extra flare, and a lemon wedge for that oh so necessary zing.
I’ve had a lot of salmon in my 22 glutinous years of life, and I can sincerely say that Pudding Stone prepared my dish without flaw. Its tender, slightly- salted meat made my mouth water before even my first taste. Its accompanying puree was light and tangy. I was afraid it would overpower the flavor of the salmon, but it was divinely complementary. To be honest, I could have foregone the dab of hot sauce on my plate. Its spice reduced the taste of the salmon, but it provided a variety, so I went along with it. That and c’mon, who doesn’t love hot sauce?
Not ordering a glass of wine at Pudding Stone is like going to Hawaii and skipping the beach — you’re missing the best part. At first the wine list was a bit intimidating, but my waiter was very helpful and gave me a few sound suggestions. I ended up choosing an Ella’s Blend grenache, a French red wine. The grenache, a widely-planted wine grape, gave it exceptional body and a sweet fruitiness, which, paired with the salmon, made for an all around delicious meal.
No dinner is complete without dessert, and I had been dreaming of crème brûlée throughout the entire meal. Crème brûlée, French for “burnt cream,” is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of 
caramelized sugar. While I waiting for my dish (which I should mention arrived in five minutes flat), I replayed a decadent scene from my all-time favorite French movie “Amelie,” in which the main character gains a little too much pleasure from cracking the surface of her homemade crème brûlées. I was hoping that my dessert would be just as ripe. Happily, it was. The surface was perfectly crisp. Breaking through the sweet shell, reaching the creamy bottom of warm custard, and feeling the opposing textures in my mouth, was, in one word, heavenly.
I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Pudding Stone. With a relaxed ambiance and plenty of wine (nudge, nudge), it is ideal for a snug, romantic date that won’t leave you broke.
-Angela M, Student Maximus Blogger
Baruch ‘09
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The other night, I had the sincere pleasure of dining at Eight Mile 
Creek on Mulberry Street in SoHo, an Australian grill. I accidentally
walked downstairs into the bar located below the restaurant, which was
nicely lit, and had a friendly bartender who pointed me in the right
direction back upstairs.
When I finally went upstairs, I was greeted by my server, Sarah, who
asked me if I wanted to sit outside in the garden or inside the
restaurant. I figured that since this was one of the first nice days of
the season, I would sit outside. It was a little chilly, but the garden
was heated, and had a retractable roof; it felt like a mini Australian
Superdome Café, but much quieter. It was decorated with red brick,
wooden tables, and a few plants, not overly crowded, but not sparse.
Sarah came up to me, asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I asked
for water, which she brought out in a carafe; a nice touch for someone
who was thirsty instead of having to wait to have water refilled. I then
ordered Coopers Sparkling Ale, which was nice and light, a bit hoppy but
had a hint of sweetness. Basically, this was no Bud Light, and thank
goodness for that.
When she came back, she told me about a few of her favorite dishes. I
decided to try two appetizers and a side of sweet potato fries, 
one
small dish for my appetizer, one for the meal, saving room for dessert. I knew I loved sweet potato fries, so I ordered them, they came out piled high with sweet chili and crème fraiche, which added a bit of tang and freshness.
For the other two dishes, I had a hard time deciding between what I
should order, as everything looked good. Sarah suggested that I try the
mini-meat pies appetizer, which had two mini-meat pies, two sausage
rolls, and two vegetable dumplings. The first thing I noticed was how
perfectly baked these pastry crusts were. Soft, warm, flaky, it made
most other pastry crusts I’ve had, even in France, look like Dunkin’
Donuts. Not to mention, they were washed down with that Coopers Ale I asked for earlier. Meat pies were filled with ground beef and spices, sausage roll with mild sausage and onions, and the vegetable dumplings,
which really surprised me. Filled with parsnips, potato, peas, carrots,
and a bit of cheese, there were something I was not expecting, but glad
they happened.
For my main dish, I ordered Poached New Zealand Green Lip Mussels with
garlic & herbed white wine, and tomato sauce. I’ve always enjoyed
mussels, but they were never my go to seafood. They came out warm,
presented in a fanned circle with an orange wheel and quartered cherry
tomatoes that were as red as the Republicans. I tried one of the mussels, and it was ok, but when I paired it with the sauce, it was
fantastic. I ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc, from New Zealand,
called Otto’s Constant Dream. Nice amount of sweetness, definite fruity
notes, and a bit dry. The sauce wasn’t thin, but rather chunky, and the wine and mussels paired very well together.
And then I asked for the dessert menu, but instead Sarah asked me if I
would be interested in her favorite. Not really knowing what that would
entail, I decided to trust her, and she did not let me down. She brought
me the sticky date pudding with homemade ginger ice cream and caramel
sauce. Wow, a perfect balance of flavors and sweetness. The date
pudding, which is not like Jello, but more like cake, was not too sweet,
but mixed very well with the caramel sauce. Then there was the ginger
ice cream, which was creamy with little bits of crystallized ginger. I
was very full, but wished I could continue to eat more.
A few things I need to try when I go back are: the red pear, walnut, and
prosciutto with citrus vinaigrette, Emu Carpaccio, the Aussie Burger
(which comes with the lot, or cheese, fried egg, beet, pineapple, and
bacon), and a rack of lamb.
I asked Sarah about the story of Eight Mile Creek. She told me it was started by two brothers, and was one of the first Australian restaurants in NYC. A thing I found really interesting about the cuisine is that it has many influences, from British, to Asian, to the indigenous food of Australia.
I heartily recommend going to Eight Mile Creek, the meal I had
altogether with 20% tip (which the restaurant, and my server definitely
deserved), would have cost me 60 bucks. Not cheap, but nowhere near as
expensive as I would have expected to pay for food of that quality. This
place is perfect for friends, dates, or even by yourself, but you really
should take someone here. It has great food, an awesome atmosphere,
great service, and a great garden to eat in, perfect or this newly nice
weather.
– Chris, Student Maximus Blogger
NYU ’10
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No longer are they only useful in the supermarket checkout line. Thanks to Campus Clipper coupons, there’s no reason why you have to do a double take when you get the check.
When I first moved to the city, I knew I had to do a better job of budgeting when my uncle upbraided me for admitting that I’d been to restaurants that charge $3 for Cokes.
On more than one occasion I’ve used fuzzy math to estimate my tab before requesting the bill, omitting from consideration the price of an extra drink or dessert. When I realize with a jolt that the one-two combination of the 8.875% tax and 15% tip cause some serious inflation, not only are my fifth grade math skills called into question, but I’m left with a bill that throws my weekly budget out of whack. Here’s where the beauty of coupons comes in.
Let’s take an example: there’s this excellent Thai restaurant in my neighborhood, Sura, and thanks to a coupon, a cash-strapped student can get a $6 Pad Thai or red curry. The restaurant boasts dark, moody lighting, and plenty of Southeast Asian trademarks, including elephant and Buddha figurines. Soon after the hostess showed me to my seat, a full bottle of tap water appeared on the table. As I was in the mood to drink something a little more sophisticated than my usual fare, I opted for a Coke, which came in a tall, slender glass. And my shrimp Pad Thai, much to my surprise, arrived in a classy black bowl. The noodles were full of flavor, and the shrimp impressed me with their size and taste.
One note of caution: discretion is key. Though it may be tempting to shout it from the rooftops—that is, the joy of the discount—I wouldn’t recommend telling it to someone who you’re trying to impress. My sister once described how she was turned off by a guy who decided to take her to an upscale Chicago restaurant because he had a coupon for it. But even if I’m with a date, and have to clandestinely hide the coupon behind my credit card (classy New York women tend not to gravitate to guys who like to save money), it’s well worth it. Though “budget” is not one of the sexier words in the English language, a dinner bill under $10 for one, or under $20 for two, leaves one feeling satiated and remorseless.
-Adam, Student Maximus Blogger
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Just passing by Regional, you might be first surprised at its popularity on a Sunday morning. While my friend and I were glad to have such a great, free brunch at Regional, I could not help thinking what a good choice it would be for my friends and I to have a Columbia graduates party at this Italian cuisine restaurant.
Regional is located at 2607 Broadway, twenty minutes walk away from Columbia Morningside Campus. It is decorated in bright colors, simple but charming post-mordenism style, with an absolutely cozy atmosphere. You will need to wait for a little while if you want to try a gourmet, fancy brunch including everything from sandwiches to omelets and burgers to pancakes with unlimited refills of mimosas and margaritas. What’s most important is that at Regional, the price is quite acceptable and you will have a special Italian food experience that you will seldom find other places in New York.
Since I already tasted the mimosa at Regional, I have to tell you how much I love it. Just buy one mimosa or bloody mary and you will find yourself drinking the alcohol with orange juice nonstop. Nothing can be more attractive than having a fresh and soft mimosa with a blueberry pancake, a spinach salad with goat cheese. and a Scottish salmon omelet. The goat cheese in the spinach salad was especially tasty to eat with the mushrooms and eggs in the dish. The inside blueberry of pancakes provide much food for thought. And you will definitely fall in love with the rich and thick flavor of Scottish salmon, ham and fried eggs in the omelet.
While enjoying humming jazz music at Regional, you can have both considerate service and many other special treats. You can either choose to have $25 three-courses on Tuesday or have an $9-for-all-pastas on Monday nights. And as for me, I love this restaurant’s appetizers more than I can express.
Come over to Regional and have a party!
-Xixi Fu, Student Maximus Blogger
Columbia University
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I suffer from this condition. Oh – it’s nothing serious. Just one that causes me to crave some sort of Japanese food at least once every other week. My stomach growls, my mouth salivates, my eyes water and my fingers tingle if I don’t get my teriyaki fix.
Unfortunately this has some negative ramifications against my budget. Every time I splurge on sushi my wallet sighs in discontent. Poor students like me simply aren’t designed to takes such luxurious liberties with their food budget!
So imagine my unrestrained glee when I find out about the 15% discount for students in Sushi Yawa. Now I can dine in style and save for other things. Like.. more sushi.
Nora Adams
NYU ’12
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So I’ve recently started working for Student Maximus Magazine as an intern. My role here is to spread knowledge of the magazine to other college students and to get them interested. Everyone knows that living in New York City can be (is) very pricey, but imagine doing that strictly off of the weekly allowance given to you by your parents. Well, that is what myself and many other college students in this city are doing. Now it is true that we don’t have to pay rent and most of us have a meal plan, but what about when you want to go out? Maybe to try a new restaurant or shop at a new boutique or do basic activities that “used” to be apart of our weekly schedules? Like tanning, getting your hair and nails done, or yoga? As a college student, if we are given the opportunity to not only enjoy those activities again, but to save money while doing it we will and be unbelievably happy about it.
That is exactly how my friends responded when I introduced them to the Student Maximus Magazine and all the AMAZING discounts and coupons that are offered inside it. One of my friends loves doing yoga. Its her opportunity to relax and cleanse, so when I showed her the coupon in the magazine for the Bikram yoga at Bikram Yoga Manhattan, offering 30 days for $30 , she was so excited and couldn’t wait to use it (which she did 2 days later). I also gave some magazines to a group of girls who live down the hall from me. They couldn’t wait to thank me for them when they saw the coupons for the airbrushed tanning (in preparation for Spring Break). As for the rest of my friends, including myself, we could not wait to use all the coupons that offered any form of a discount on food. They recently tried a sushi restaurant that offered $3 off of your meal. We also have plans to use the coupons offered for the pizzerias, diners, and dessert spots in the city. Any opportunity to save money is a good one.
-Leah Davis-McNeill
Pace University 2013
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Like most other men in my young twenties, I have to get rid of my left over take-out or homemade meals about every two weeks. Most of the time I don’t even look at what I am throwing out, but every little brown paper bag that crinkles as I grasp it is like an awkward second date: It was really nice the first time, but then I thought about what you are like “with age”, and don’t need another taste.
But I’d rather have a bad second date than a second day’s helping of rice. There is nothing worse than second day rice from a takeout container. Even if the curry or Mongolian Beef might make it through a stint in your microwave, the rice will come out like the gravel at the bottom of an aquarium.
So here are a few tips to make your left over Chinese, Indian, Mexican, or any other cuisine commonly associated with take-out, go the extra mile.
1. Save the sauce. Always ask for extra sauce. Just put those soy, duck, ketchup, mustard packets to the side. You can use them for later for any number of things, but it’s always good to keep some around.
2. Buy staples. No, don’t attempt to eat the metal version unless you are Optimus Prime, and even then, they won’t provide much sustenance. Having rice, noodles, even Ramen around means that you can take that curry that’s been staring at you in the fridge and add it to a fresh grain, which will make you feel like you just ordered it.
3. Buy in bulk. Dr. Pepper flows through my veins just like the Botox in Joan Rivers’ veins. I used to buy it in 20 oz. bottles, or even twelve pack cans. However, a 12 pack can will run you upwards of 5 dollars (and I live in Brooklyn, I can’t imagine what it is in Manhattan). Let’s do the math. 12 oz. x 12 cans = 144 oz. A 2-liter bottle has 67 oz of soda. Those cost you about a $1.50. So, by buying three 2 Liter bottles, you already save money, not to mention limiting your impact on the environment if you recycle bottles.
4. Plan ahead. Buy washable Tupperware containers. Usually take out is more than enough for one person. At my favorite cheap Indian place (Curry Heaven on Grand and Union in Williamsburg), I just serve myself enough to eat on my plate. Then, I put the rest in a Tupperware container, put it in the fridge, and BAM!, I have lunch for tomorrow. As long as you don’t mind eating the same thing, you can save tons of money just by portioning out your food before you eat. Not to mention, it’s a great way to control those calories.
Those are just a few ideas of ways to save money, but now I want Curry Heaven. Thank Vishnu a meal only costs 8 bucks.
-Christopher, Student Maximus blogger
NYU ’10
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I’ve had many food obsessions in the past. There was one year where my palate demanded avocado encounters practically every day. A sprinkle of salt upon its green flesh was all I needed to fulfill my appetite. The daily feasting ending within a few months time. I can also finely remember my gummy bear enriched days. Being the strange kid that I was / am, I’d have precise ways of devouring them: a beheading at first, followed by a cruel foot-munching session. My unhealthy relationship with the bears ceased following a destructive binge I got caught up in one night.
Now of all the foods I’ve ever came across, chickpeas have yet to disappoint me. Despite them being the central ingredient in heavenly falafels, I haven’t become too involved with them. Or maybe it’s just because I smirk a little whenever I hear their cutesy name, hence stopping myself from disliking them by overindulging.
By this time you’ve probably already concluded that I am a complete nutcase, and quite truthfully, I don’t mind it the slightest bit. All in all, I enjoy a good falafel. I also enjoy not having to spend a lot of money on my falafel. If you share my sentiments, you MUST visit Pita Joe. Claimed to have the best falafel in NYC (not to mention their 20% student discount and their organic ingredients), Pita Joe is positively any chickpea lover’s dream.
-Angela M, Student Maximus Blogger
Baruch ‘09
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Student Maximus 