So...it's been awhile, and I've missed writing about my favorite hobby, but the truth is...my favorite hobby wasn't being my friend. Long story, but the ending is the important part...we've decided to make-up and are learning to be best buddies again!
New York City was the best place to test our friendship and boy, did I test it!
I can't remember all of the wonderful foodie experiences, but I can name a few stand-outs!
Stand at 24 E. 12th St. btwn 5th & University Ave. - standburger.com
I have GOT to show you a pic of the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes. Don't ask me HOW they do this, but I can taste it as I write this and as soon as I get home I'm going to start practicing. Although I don't think it's possible to top this! I guess I could also mention the burgers. And then there's the mashed sweet potatoes...but just ask the homeless woman about them...another long, but hilarious story that I will take to my grave! ;-D
I guess you've figured out by now that I won't eat a meal unless it's an experience in some way. And fast food such as, well, I'm not sure if I should name names, but we ALL know what I'm talking about...well, they just are NOT an experience worth putting in your mouth - EVER - but street food, well, that's a WHOLE different experience! I'm not sure if Melissa's Miniature Cupcakes - bakedbymelissa.com - counts as street food as it does actually have a window on a building, but you do have to stand in line on the sidewalk, sometimes for quite awhile, to purchase these delectable bites of heaven! If you're being very frugal, you can get 2 bites out of them...but then, that's just messy. One bite. Yep! That's the answer.
A box of 25 will cost you $20. An amazing bargain. Of course, we wanted to take a box to my daughters roommates, so we had...yes, HAD to purchase a box of 6 ($5.50) for us to consume on the step down the sidewalk. No water and we didn't waste the time to find any...just plopped down at the first available stoop and swallowed 6 cupcakes. Did I say they were just bites? I did, right? very small...see?
Another fantastic find was just luck. Usually when I'm in the city I spend hours upon hours doing foodie research, but we were starving and just across the street were about 15 restaurants from Vietnamese to Indian to Chinese to Burgers, etc... and it was one of those moments I hate when everyone is getting cranky because they're hungry, but noone wants to take the responsibility to make the decision on the place! UGH! So...I looked and saw "Yummy House" at 76 Third Avenue and 11th St. - yummyhouse.com - Now, HOW can you go wrong with a name like that? It was genius! And quite possibly the best curry dumpling noodle soup I've ever had...which is never...but I will definitely have it again! And fast!! And amazing!!! The crab wonton was super-filled and the fried rice was perfect, especially considering we ordered and were served in about 7-10 minutes! I LOVE NYC!!
Now, here are some of the quick highlights...
The best of the best list...by Punky!
Best sushi: Morimoto
Chelsea area, awesome decor and don't leave without going in the bathroom stalls! haha 88 Tenth Ave. near 16th St. - morimotonyc.com
Chef Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame! Try the prix fixe menu that he puts together nightly and you'll never go wrong! Pictured here is the Toro with condiments at the bottom and you eat it with a wooden paddle. Awesome!
Best pizza: Lombardi's Pizza (sorry e!)
32 Spring Street - firstpizza.com
Opened in 1897 just down the street and is an icon of the city. I can't say enough about this place. In fact, I think I talked about it before so I'll let it stand on it's own! When you're done eating pizza cross the street to have dessert at my next entry...
Best comfort food dessert: Rice to Riches
37 Spring Street btwn Mott and Mulberry - ricetoriches.com
Again, I think I talked about this from my last trip, but it's worth mentioning - ALWAYS!
Best stick to your teeth dessert: Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West - brguestrestaurants.com
This is a pic of the Chocolate fudge-pecan tart with pretzel crust...nothing more needs to be said. Oh! Except their actual food food is well worth the dining experience also. Make this a must if you're in Union Square!
Best CHOCOLATE EVERYTHING: Max Brenner
several locations - maxbrenner.com
I went to the one at 141 2nd Ave., but there a couple more. I also first experienced this fantasy in chocolate while I was in Sydney, Australia a couple of years ago and was thrilled when they opened here in NYC. Although the truffles aren't the size of baseballs like they were in Australia, the rest is pretty outstanding. From chocolate soup to chocolate pizza to french fries with cocoa and red pepper spice. It's an amazing experience. S'mores, ice cream sundaes, cold drinks, hot drinks, you name it and they have it! If you can't stay, just go in the store and buy your chocolate in a syringe to shoot down your throat...no kidding! They also have chocolate body lotions! :-)
Well, it's a Sunday now and do you know what that means? Dim sum in Chinatown, silly!! So, off we went to Ping's Seafood at 22 Mott Street. They serve from the carts or from trays they carry to your table and speaking of tables...unless you bring your whole family, be prepared to share your table with someone else's family! It was really fun! We were seated at a table for 8 and there were only 2 of us, so at first I was confused that they thought we were with a larger group, but here came an Asian couple behind us and she said it is their custom to be seated family style. She and her husband were great and explained some of the things they ordered that weren't on the menu so we could try them also. Then 2 more Asian girls my daughters age were seated with us and they also gave their thoughts on things we should try that we hadn't before. We have had dim sum many times before, but this was a totally new experience and one I really look forward to repeating. We learned so much and were WAY too full to try everything they suggested, but we have a list for next time! Overall, one of my most enjoyable meals in the city this trip!
So I wouldn't be thorough without talking about today. I heard about a place that makes their own pierogies and I just had to go. Turns out, so did everyone else! The best part is that it's only about 2 blocks from where my daughter lives so it'll become a staple of my NYC experience now. Veselka in the East Village at 144 2nd Ave. - veselka.com - had a choice of different fillings and you could choose 7 for $9.95. We shared potato, cheese, sweet potato, sauerkraut and mushroom, spinach and cheese and TWO goat cheese and arugula. As an appetizer, I had the Borscht (cold beet soup!) and we shared the seasonal special was Cheese blintzes with roasted peach sauce...yummm. We rolled out of there!
Just a few hours later we caught an early dinner at a place that is sure to be a favorite, although we definitely got the feeling that we were strangers in a sea of regulars. It is on the completely other side of the island, The Spotted Pig in West Village at 314 W. 11th Street - thespottedpig.com - and I had one of the most decadent meals I think I've ever consumed. Seriously!
I'll start with appetizers...Deviled eggs. Sounds simple enough, but they add something special to them and again, it calls for some playing around in the kitchen when I get home because they were really a wonderful start. Then, Devils on Horseback. These were plump prunes stuffed with a chunk of pear and wrapped in a VERY thin slice of bacon and baked. I have tried these at home just wrapped without filling them, and I've tried them filled with a chunk of parmesan, and both are good...but these were outstanding. They must've been fresh as opposed to the dried prunes I've used and I believe are used at the other restaurant I've tasted them at.
But then...dinner came. I ordered the Sheep's Ricotta Gnudi with Brown Butter and Sage. I will try to explain, but I don't know if it's possible. It was a shallow bowl with approximately 10 'balls' or cheese-filled hmmm...I can't say gnocchi although I can't think of another way to describe it. But that just is too heavy. These were like pillows of soft incredibly flavored ricotta in a bowl of butter. Brown butter that made you want to cry, or laugh, or scream out Hallelujah!! I was transformed...that is until about my 5th one... then I felt like I was going to blow up! So, in retrospect, share this dish! haha!! My daughter had the Prosciutto and Ricotta Tart with Marjoram and it was also heavenly. The atmoshere of this establishment is very laid-back and it made me want to move here and become one of them. A wonderful family neighborhood and beautiful old brownstones that feel warm and comforting in the big city.
Well...I only have one more day of this trip, but I'm sure there'll be more to share. Hope you enjoyed it... if anyone actually reads this. I've tried to take some suggestions and added the websites and addresses so it wouldn't just be about what I ate, but a reference for you when you travel. I hope it helps and please write me if you get the chance to explore any of these fine eateries!
Next, I'm headed to Chicago, so I'll let you know what the scoop is for the Windy City when I get there!!
