Back To The City

Every time I go to NYC, it’s an adventure. As a Bostonian, there are endless “new” places to explore, obviously the already-trendy restaurants that opened last week, but also the old standbys. You might’ve seen my earlier post about Katz’s Deli, a place that’s been serving pastrami sandwiches since 1888, but that I first visited this past winter.

With that said, I’m getting to know my way around. (Continue reading for lots more food photos…)

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to check out Chelsea Market, the cavernous, indoor foodie Mecca with a bunch of specialty stores (butcher, baker, candlestick maker), that also plays host to The Food Network. Check out one of Eat With Me’s favorites, Food Curated, for a piece about Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, the butcher there.

While at Chelsea Market, I ate at Friedman’s Lunch, an outstanding fresh & local, home-style restaurant. Feeling like I’d already over-consumed that day, I fed myself a grilled chicken salad, which consists of mixed greens, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and Gorgonzola. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a light salad, but I loved it. The person I ate with dined on fish tacos and I experienced food envy.

I made a stop at one of my favorite Washington Square spots, Peanut Butter & Co, a name you might recognize from your grocery store –in addition to a full menu of peanut buttery savory and sweet options, this company also has a wholesale component.

A La Danielle crepe from La Grainne Cafe, ham and cheese with an egg!

A trip to NYC would not be complete without a visit to Wondee Siam for some real Thai – none of that sweet and not-spicy crap. Real Thai, as served at Wondee Siam, is food so spicy and just a little sweet that you can’t stop eating it. Everyone knows their own tolerance for spicy food, but let me assure you that real Thai food shouldn’t give you much of a problem – the biggest cause of stomachaches is all of the grease that goes into the American versions of these dishes. Challenge yourself with a Papaya Salad, extremely spicy, but also very fresh. I bet it won’t cause you any problems.

Finally, I tried out Chinatown Brasserie for a dim-sum brunch – which reminded me of my earlier post on dimsum. Enjoy the photos!