photos courtesy of thewanderingeater @ flickr It’s hard not to fall in love with Bis.Co.Latte, the Hell’s Kitchen café that specializes in literally hundreds of hand-made biscotti. The narrow shop quietly occupies the corner of 47th and 10th ave and doesn’t particularly make a fuss about being there. No grand signs, no gaudy exterior- just the ridiculously amazing smell of fresh cookies from their in-house bakery. Biscotti, Italian for “twice baked,” are oblong, crunchy little cookies that are perfect for dunking into whatever you please. And if you thought the Bis.Co.Latte biscotti were only almond flavored, think again. From Chocolate Chunk Orange Pecan to Marsala Wine with Black Pepper (yup!), this café shakes up tradition by concocting new and exotic flavors daily...
Today, my friends, is a good day. As I stomped along 9th avenue through the grey snow this morning, I noticed a gleaming reflection on a 53rd street windowpane. Shielding my eyes to the blinding light, I inched closer… much like a minnow attracted by a lure. Peering through my gloved fingers, I squinted to make out the glorious sign plastered on the crude storefront: Holey Cream: Outrageous Donuts & Ice Cream. Coming soon.
Yes, fellow eaters, it is true. On that fateful street corner a dream is born. I don’t know how. I don’t know when. All I know is it involves donuts and ice cream… and I will be the first in line.
photo by Gavin Thomas. Today is one of those days where all I’d like to do is cozy up with a nice book (translation: LOST season 5 DVD) and stay put. But a savvy girl’s gotta eat, and braving the NYC weather is just another obstacle to good eats. After scanning my poorly stocked pantry, I decided it was time to man up and venture out into the winter wonderland that is Manhattan. So, I piled on 15 lbs of clothing and waddled over to the greatest place on Earth: Westerly Natural Market...
Hungarians do pastries right at Hungarian Pastry Shop on 111th and Amsterdam. The cozy shop boasts dozens of cakes, strudels, cookies and tarts, all baked from scratch in-house. And don’t let the name throw you off- they prepare everything from chocolate-filled French croissants to Turkish Baklava. There are also some delicious coffee concoctions, including “Viennese Coffee:” espresso, steamed milk, and whipped cream (yum). Aside from the worn wooden chairs and tables, the menu selection is scrawled on white wooden planks displayed about the storefront, adding to the rustic feel of the place...
photo courtesy almondme via flickr Now, I've heard of a Dunkin Donuts/ Baskin Robins joint franchise, and even the ol' KFC/ Taco Bell combo... but come on. Luggage? And fake ice cream? Together? Yes, friends, it is true. As surely as Tasti-D-Scientists tirelessly slave over new artificial flavors of whipped air, there proudly stands a Tasti D Luggage (as I warmly refer to it) on the corner of 8th and 55th. I really don't know what to say, other than if you need to catch a flight and also need to stash as much fake ice cream onto the plane as possible, this place is for you. For the other 99.9% of the population, have a good laugh and stroll another 10 blocks to Kyotofu and enjoy the best espresso dark chocolate soymilk soft serve of your life. But more about that later...
I had quite a tasty lunch yesterday at Thai Market on the Upper West Side. It’s on Amsterdam between 107th and 108th, and pretty much always packed. Luckily, my hankering for Thai began obscenely early in the morning, so we arrived before the crowds.Now, I’m going to let you in on a little secret about lunch in NYC: it's the best deal you’ll ever find. Even the most expensive restaurants have decently priced lunch specials, and the decently priced restaurants have ridiculously cheap lunch specials. And since the portions are just as gigantic as those in the evening, you’ll fill up quick and save the rest for dinner. BOOM! A 2 in 1 for half the price- that’s definitely some savvy dining...
photograph courtesy of flickr user pabo76 So I figured I'd kick it off with the most awesomely unexpected restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, and easily my new favorite: Kashkaval. Named after a yellow sheep's milk cheese, Kashkaval, nestled between 55th and 56th on 9th ave, is a wonderful surprise of a Mediterranean tapas bar. By day, it operates as a darling little cheese and gourmet food shop, offering up over 100 varieties of cheeses, olives and the like. But when the sun sets, this place turns into the ultimate date spot. But you didn’t just hear it from me! Get to this place early or you’ll be waiting in line with every other young couple in midtown...
I've been wanting to do this for quite some time.
As a relatively new New Yorker, I admit I've been a tad shy about exploring my surroundings. My initial move was to the FIT campus in the summer of 2007 to begin my studies as an Advertising Design major. Accompanying a single avenue on 27th street in Chelsea, FIT was my little safe haven from the uncharted waters of the big city.
I was nervous…and nerves were certainly not conducive to a big appetite. The whole thing was all so new to me: college, new people, new surroundings- I figured I’d better stick to the familiar. And as a rib-eating finger-lickin’ carnivore, it was a cinch to find cheap eats in the comfort of my little avenue. It really was in the winter of 2007, when I decided to become a vegetarian, that I shook my uncertainty and the fun began.
Entering the world of vegetarianism was like stepping into a magical culinary Disneyland (you know you liked that analogy). Tempeh? Seitan? Nori? Quinoa?! Say wha? My palate had never experienced such flavors and textures. Gone were the premonitions of eating salad and mushy tofu for the rest of my life. I had stumbled upon something greater- something way more fun and undoubtedly tastier. In my search for awesome vegetarian food, the invisible comfort barrier of 27th street came crumbling down and I finally began to explore my true new home: Manhattan.
My goal within this blog is to share with you my favorite city finds without spending a fortune. A college girl’s gotta eat, and who says she can’t eat like a queen? With so many great deals and hole-in-the-wall treasures, it’s impossible for a savvy girl to starve in the vegetarian Mecca that is Manhattan. I’ll also share great recipes I’ve picked up for when you’re in the mood to cozy up and eat in. Finally, I must make it known that I have a deep affinity for empty carbs (breads, cakes and the like) so a good number of posts will be dedicated to these things.
Please feel free to comment and share your own experiences. I’ve been here for three short years, and I have so much more ground to cover and eating to do. Since I currently reside in Hell’s Kitchen, much of my posts will center on midtown Manhattan- but I often explore in my free time. So let me know what’s good!
Thanks to all and I’m looking forward to a delicious adventure.
NOTE:
my camera has decided to go into a temporary coma, so until it receives proper medical attention I'll be substituting my photographs for Blackberry photos or those of others. (cited, of course)
|
RSS Feed