Food Adventuring Around NYC
THE SPOT: This 24 hour iconic doughnut shop has been on my radar for many years – not quite since 1964 when they opened, but close. It recently expanded to a second location near NYU, but the spot on 14th Street has always felt like a local dive. And inside it does feel like a …
The Place: I love, love, love Lisbon. This summer was my fourth time in this amazing city. While most will compare its rolling hills, iconic bridge, and waterfront location to San Francisco, I also think it has a lot in common with New York. I love wandering the neighborhoods to people watch and see the …
The Place: If you spent much time in the FiDi, you know there are all these random little nooks and crannies and many of them are home to secret gems of bakeries, sandwich shops, or coffee bars. It might not be the city’s most exciting food neighborhood, but it has some of the city’s most …
The Place: I had to leave Astoria and come back before I could discover the wonder of Al-Sham Sweets. After moving away from Astoria for over a decade, I felt like the prodigal son returned home. I’m now happily leading tours of the neighborhood for Nice Guy Tours. And in training for it, I learned …
The Place: I try not to go in for viral foods or dishes that are trying to go viral, but I am as curious as the next NY eater. I actually really wanted some soft serve or fro yo or something on a recent sweltering day and of course, the line for frozen yogurt was …
The Place: I believe Diljān had those crazy long lines when they first opened, but they have now settled into being a true neighborhood spot on an unassuming side street in Brooklyn Heights. If you didn’t know this spot was here, you really would miss it. The interior counter is a little dark and oddly …
The Place: If it weren’t for the blackboard on the sidewalk or the intoxicating smells seeping out the door, you’d think Yanni’s Coffee was just a neighborhood third wave coffee shop. And you’d be right. I especially love how this is the one and only location. Yanni’s does not look to be trying to conquer …
The Place: Bub’s Bakery, a completely gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free bakery, recently opened amongst all the other hip trendy food places in Noho. It’s right around the corner from This Bowl and across the street from locations of Los Tacos No. 1 and Levain Bakery. It fits right in with this line-up, featuring expensive pastries …
I imagine most of us like to end (and start) the year with a little something sweet. And truly, from my time in Lisbon, I know the sweet eggy tarts known as pastel de nata don’t really need a special occassion. But since I recently got to try the playful versions at Libsonata in Crown …
THE SPOT: I love Partybus. This is a true local neighborhood bakery where Jacqueline, the owner and baker, is more often than not behind the counter and sweating in the kitchen. She started the business across the street at the Hester Street Fair from a bus her friends coined “the partybus.” The “party” in the …
THE PLACE: We spent most of our time in Bordeaux in the historic Old Town or the trendy Chartrons District. It wasn’t until the last night that we wanted a low-key meal not far from our hotel and so we wandered over to the area surrounding the Basilica St. Michel. That’s where we discovered a …
The signs are everywhere, splattered all over the city that you need to try the viral Dubai chocolate. Have you spent your life’s saving to try this chocolate bar? I don’t get it – what’s all the fuss???
THE SPOT: If you’ve ever taken a train or a bus in or out of New York, you’ve encountered Zaro’s Family Bakery. These take-out spots are an iconic local bakery that started in the Bronx in 1927 and are now mostly found at Grand Central, Penn Station, and Port Authority Bus Terminal. They were once …
I first visited Sundaes Best shortly after they opened. It was a very rainy day and I had to catch a bus. Perhaps the zombie-like staff felt my energy because they did not respond well to my questions and made clear the limitations on sampling. I can’t say it was a great experience. I never …
It does seem like nowadays the best place to get a black and white cookie is not at a German bakery, but rather at a Jewish appetizing shop. The exciting Simply Nova tries to do it all when it comes to New York Jewish food from smoked salmon to pastrami sandwiches and, of course, black …
Bakeries open all the time in this city. It seems everybody is taking the time to let their dough rise and laminate their croissants (and stuff them with all sorts of colorful fruits and nuts). It’s inspired me to burst into song with this parody of Dua Lipa’s hit song Levitating. I present Leavening….
I’m counting down the 10 best dishes I tasted in 2024… As I put together my list of the ten best dishes I tried in NYC, I realized just why I love this city. I didn’t purposely curated this list to be diverse in terms of neighborhood, cuisine, or price point. It just ended up …
I’m counting down the 10 best dishes I tasted in 2024… As I put together my list of the ten best dishes I tried in NYC, I realized just why I love this city. I didn’t purposely curated this list to be diverse in terms of neighborhood, cuisine, or price point. It just ended up …
Some might say everything is better on a stick. Kababs, yakitori, Corn dogs? Most don’t think of candied fruit, but it’s pretty brilliant. I was a skeptic at first (does fruit really need to be covered in sugar), but I gave in to the viral appeal and I’m pleased I did. Tanghulu are a traditional …
I love Rocco’s – I really do. They are a truly authentic, beloved Italian pasticceria in the middle of touristy Greenwich Village. Years ago I wrote about their stellar cannoli, and I still bring tour groups here regularly. Along with their rainbow cookies, pignolis, and napoleons, I also would get a regular glimpse of their …