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New York Food Part 4 – Gastronomic Heaven

Joanie — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 11:53:34 +0000

Six days is not nearly enough time to experience the culinary pleasures that New York has to offer. I had grand plans to visit places such as Babbo (Mario Batali’s restaurant in Greenwich Village), Dominique Ansel (the bakery that created the cronut – a heavenly cross between a donut and croissant), and the Milk Truck, but unfortunately time got away from us and we ate wherever it was convenient. That is not to say that our taste buds suffered as a result – that is indeed not the case – but rather we just ate at restaurants that were close by and in doing so were able to experience some of the best New York food along the way.

Here are some of the places we went to that are definitely worth mentioning:

Amy’s Bread: I’ve said it once, I will say it again – Amy’s Bread! I’ve already mentioned the Coconut Dream Bar, but the German Chocolate cake and bread twists were some other favourites. Mike had the Manhattan Breakfast with Coffee one morning and he enjoyed it very much! Amy’s Bread also offers bread-making classes, which is something I am going to do the next time I go to NYC!!!

Magnolia Bakery: this place is always busy, but the Key Lime cheesecake and Oatmeal Raisin cookies made it worth the wait in line. Cupcakes seem to be the dessert of choice for most patrons and they were able to sell me a coconut cupcake, or two J.

Carnegie Deli: the food portions are huge, so you may want to share with someone. Mike had the corned beef sandwich and because I don’t eat meat, he was on his own and did not mind one bit. Instead I had the potato pancakes, which were ginormous, and although they were good they were a bit too much for me. On top of that, Mike ordered onion rings because why wouldn’t we want onion rings?

Going at night allowed us to get a table easily, but when we were leaving a line up was beginning to form.

Onion rings as a side dish.

There was like a pound of meat in this sandwich. Mike was not able to finish the whole sandwich, but really who could eat all of this in one sitting?

Potato pancakes, good but I probably shouldn’t have ordered them in a place that specializes in smoked and cured meats.

For me, the atmosphere and decades worth of pictures hanging off the wall at Carnegie Deli was more of the appeal than the food itself. I’m sure you would get a different opinion from a meat eater or Rueben sandwich connoisseur because Carnegie Deli is famous for its meats.

Trattoria Trecolori: before going to see the Book of Mormon, Mike and I wanted to go to a nice Italian restaurant close to the theatre. Walking around, we came upon Trattoria Trecolori and thought “why not”? We were pleasantly surprised – the food was authentic and delicious, the service was great, portions were just right, and the prices were completely reasonable.

Mike had the ravioli, which was stuffed with different cheeses . . . hmmmm delish.

I had the Linguine Nere alla Monsignore, which was linguini with shrimp, scallops, squid, clams, and mussels in a marinara sauce. The dish satisfied both my craving for pasta and seafood!

Momofuku Noodle Bar: this is one of the best places in New York for Ramen. It is located in the East Village and we would have overlooked this little non-assuming restaurant if we weren’t specifically looking for it. I jumped for joy when we finally found it and realized that there was no line up. I had read from a number of reviews that it was best to go at off-dinner hours or else you would wait in line for a long time.

I had the spicy miso ramen, which was served with smoked chicken, a poached egg, and sesame. The noodles were succulent and perfectly cooked, not soggy, and the broth had a depth of flavour that when mixed together with all the other ingredients it was truly an orgasmic experience.

Momofuku’s spicy miso ramen . . out of this world!

Mike had the ginger scallion noodles, which was served with pickled shitakes, cucumber and cabbage. A good alternative if you don’t want something soup based

We also ordered the shitake mushroom buns and I had no idea what I was getting into until after the first bite. I grew up eating buns – Bun Bao, Banh It Tran, all sorts of Chinese buns – but this was gastronomic heaven!!! There was a unique flavour from the hoisin sauce and shitake mushrooms, and when you combined it with the cucumber it helped to lighten the palette and not overwhelm as it often happens when you have too much hoisin sauce in a dish. Not to mention, the buns themselves were light and fluffy so when you put it altogether you have the perfect balance between taste and texture. This place is definitely a must try!

Steak and Shake: after the David Letterman Show we stopped in for a shake. The Oreo Cookies N’ Cream shake was definitely the cherry on top of a great day!

What are some of your favorite New York food places? Let me know so I can check it out next time.

Want to find out more about New York?

New York Part 1 – U.S Tennis Open

New York Part 2 – David Letterman and Times Square

New York City Tours Part 3 – Keep on Hopping on

The post New York Food Part 4 – Gastronomic Heaven appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

New York City Tours Part 3 – Keep on Hopping On

Joanie — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:43:33 +0000

One of the best ways to hit all of the major tourist attractions in New York is to take one of the bus tours. There are a couple of companies that offer New York city tours via the double decker hop-on/hop-off bus (Gray Line, City Sights NY, Big Bus), but it really doesn’t matter what company you go with because they all offer similar loops (Uptown Loop, Downtown Loop, Brooklyn Loop, and a Night Tour).

Mike and I went on the Downtown and Brooklyn Loop with City Sights NY because we previously walked to most of the sights offered in the Uptown Loop on our own. We bought our tickets through the Concierge Desk at our hotel and there was no added cost to do the Brooklyn Loop. Going to Brooklyn was definitely worthwhile and it was the best way to see the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, not to mention there is a different vibe and energy to Brooklyn that you don’t get in Manhattan. Eager to see one of the most popular boroughs in New York City, Mike and I got off in Brooklyn, walked around, shopped and ate at a great Thai Restaurant (it was surprising to see so many Thai restaurants in the few blocks we walked), not to mention stopping at the Ample Hills Creamery for some insanely delicious ice cream.

The walkup Brownstones in Brooklynn are idyllic and adds to the appeal, reminding me of some of my favourite TV shows and movies.

Barclays Centre – home of the New York Islanders and Nets.

The bus tour took us through Lower Manhattan and the infamous Wall Street, the world’s financial epicenter where money is made and sometimes dreams are lost (think 2008 Global Financial Crisis). At one point in my life I really wanted to work on Wall Street, so it was surreal for me to be driving through and looking at the high rises that house some of the most powerful and influential firms in the world.

“Wall Street” two simple words that signify the financial markets of the United States and the world’s largest stock exchange.

The Merrill Lynch Bull – synonymous with Wall Street.

We also drove by the New York Courthouse and the only thing I could think about was the theme song to Law & Order and Jack McCoy standing on the steps trying to make a last minute deal before trial – yes, I know too much TV for me.

The New York Courthouse – where “justice is a by-product of winning” ~ Jack McCoy.

The added bonus of a bus tour is the information and commentary you get from the tour guides. They all have different perspectives and it is always enlightening to see what each one has to say about New York City. Our last guide on the tour shared his knowledge of the history of tenement housing in New York and the “slum like” conditions people were once living in. With this piece of information, I was now looking at the tenement structures through a different set of lens – no longer seeing the building’s architectural beauty but rather the hard knocked life of the tenants.

These tenement buildings are all over New York and now most are converted into apartment buildings.

Tenement building

The last stop of my New York trip will be the different restaurants that I discovered, so until next time . . . just keep on hopping on!

New York Part 2 – David Letterman and Times Square

Joanie — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 20:53:47 +0000

Above image courtesy of Pablo Tomatis

Late Show With David Letterman

I grew up watching the Late Show with David Letterman and always thought he was a funny man. Sometimes his jokes were eye-rolling outrageous, but even then you can’t help but laugh out loud. I always thought it would be entertaining to attend the show and given the fact that the final episode is scheduled to air on May 20, 2015, I knew my chances were limited.

Check out New York Part 1: The U.S Tennis Open

Ed Sullivan Theater NY

I submitted my request for tickets online thinking that if I was fortunate enough to get a pair then great, but if not oh well. I had nothing to lose. Weeks went by and one afternoon I got a call from the David Letterman Show telling me that I had a chance to win tickets, but had to answer a trivia question. Contestants are asked different questions, but they are basic enough that most viewers should be able to answer them (I was asked “what does Dave throw at the camera?” Answer: a pencil). After answering the question correctly I had to find a date where I could attend the show since I was unavailable on the date that was originally offered. I have to say that Jon from the David Letterman Show was extremely patient and accommodating so thank you John!!! Mike and I were put on John’s Gold List and set to go.

Tickets to the show are free but are non-transferrable and you need to make a firm commitment to attend since they don’t “oversell” the show. The show relies solely on the audience for the energy and applause and the last thing they want is a bunch of empty seats or a quiet audience since Dave feeds off of the energy.

Security for the show is quite tight and not only do you need a ticket to get in, but you are also required to go through a metal detector. Also, you aren’t allowed to take use any cameras or audio recording devices in the Ed Sullivan Theatre, so that means no pictures to capture the memories, but at the same time it really allowed us to focus on the actual experience and be in the moment.

On the day we went to the show, Dave’s guests were Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Will Power (2014 IndyCar Champ), and Alt J (an English rock band). I was definitely awe struck to be in the same room as these celebrities, but I honestly think the best part of the experience was to see David Letterman himself. He is a great comedian and before taping started, Dave came out and spoke to the audience for 10-15 minutes, answering questions and joking around. Also, during commercial breaks Dave often consulted with various people about the show and even got his makeup touched up.

Taping for the show takes approximately 45 minutes (this does not include the time that you stand in line to get the actual tickets) and if you are lucky enough to win the David Letterman Show ticket lottery, you should definitely go. I know I would do it again if I could!

Times Square

There is a reason New York is known as the city that never sleeps. There is so much to see and do and being there for just 6 days I only got a small taste of New York. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Times Square, which was extremely convenient because all of the things we wanted to do was close by.

How would you describe Times Square? Overwhelming. It is big, bright, loud, crowded, and overwhelms your senses in every way. Don’t get me wrong, anyone who goes to NYC should definitely go see Times Square, but I don’t think I will stay there next time.

Times Square Billboards

If you do happen to stay in Times Square, make sure to venture to 8^th and 9^th avenue and Hell’s Kitchen for some delicious food. I was able to find a more authentic New York culinary experience at the restaurants in these areas, as opposed to the ones in Times Square, which to me felt more like your big chain restaurants.

“No soup for you!” The Soup Man most notably known for as the Soup Nazi in Seinfeld.

One of my favourite places was Amy’s Bread, they had the best pastries and their coconut dream bars were to die for. Definitely worth the calories! Before we went to NYC, I had a couple of rules about eating out: we couldn’t go to the same place twice and we wouldn’t wait more than 20 min for a table. With so many places to eat and choose from, I wanted to maximize my dining experience. However, I made an exception for Amy’s Bread and went there almost everyday for a coconut dream bar – I was able to justify this because the bars didn’t replace a meal, but complimented my meals so I was still able to go to different restaurants J.

It is fun to people watch in Times Square because there are so many tourists, vendors, and people dressed in costume. Just be aware that if you decide to take any pictures with the costume wearers, you aren’t required to pay them or even tip them. However, be careful because they often put you on the spot and demand tips. One time, Mike and I wanted to take a picture with Iron Man (my nephews love Iron Man and I wanted to show them that their cool auntie got to meet Iron Man), and out of nowhere Woody from Toy Story joined in the photos. Before even taking pictures, I had asked Iron Man if there was a cost and he said there wasn’t, but as we were walking away Woody stuck out his hand and demanded a tip saying that was how they made their money. I was annoyed because I didn’t even want to take a picture with Woody to begin with and he was the one who invited himself, but feeling pressured I did tip each of them. Later on, I noticed there were police officers in Times Square handing out flyers saying tipping was optional and we are not obligated to tip the costume wearers. Also, there are homegrown music artists trolling around Times Square trying to pedal their demo CDs to unsuspecting tourists and as soon as you grab one, you are expected to give them some money, so be aware!

Mike and Ironman in Times Square.

As I was posing with Ironman, Woody came out of nowhere and decided he wanted in on the picture too.

Hope you enjoyed my David Letterman and Times Square adventures!

More to come!

New York Part 1 – Courting The Big Apple

Joanie — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 06:15:29 +0000

Above image courtesy of See-ming Lee

I was able to knock two things off my bucket list this past September: going to NYC and attending the U.S. Tennis Open. My trip to New York was absolutely amazing, not only did I see one of the more epic matches in tennis history (Federer vs. Monfils), but I was also able to win tickets to a taping of the David Letterman Show (more on that later!).

The US Tennis Open in New York is the last grand slam of the year and is held at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York. The tournament usually starts during the last week of August and finishes in September. Tickets to the matches can be purchased through Ticketmaster in April (for USTA members) and in June (to the general public). Make sure you know which match you want to see because the tickets sell out fast and you can only buy tickets for one match at a time. Tickets to the tournament can be expensive and the cost depends on the matches that you see and where you sit. If you make it to a match held in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, keep in mind that there really isn’t a bad seat anywhere so you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a good view of the game.

Here’s a picture of the court from Row X of the Promenade. This is where I sat during the Men’s Finals between Cilic vs. Nishikori. I was able to see the players and tennis ball perfectly fine, and more importantly feel the crowd’s energy.

Even sitting all the way in the back, Mike and I still had a great view of the Men’s Final match.

To get from Manhattan to Flushing Meadows via Subway, catch the number 7 train from Grand Central Station or Times Square-42^nd Street Broadway Station to the Mets-Willet Point Station. During rush hour there is an express train called the Train 7 Flushing Express and it is depicted with a diamond rather than a circle. From Times Square to Mets-Willet, the Flushing Express makes 10 stops as opposed to 20 stops with the Flushing Local Train. This was definitely a time saver for us!

Tickets to a match give you access to the grounds, so make sure you give yourself a lot of time to walk around. There is a lot to see, souvenirs to buy, and places to eat. It is great to just sit, take in the atmosphere and people watch. Also, the media are all over the grounds and the legendary John McEnroe has a booth, so go see who he is interviewing or listen to his commentary about the players and matches.

US Tennis Open 2014

Everyone starting to get settled in before Federer and Monfils walk onto the court.

I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the Men’s Quarter Finals and the Men’s Finals. When I first purchased the tickets, I didn’t know who I would see but being at the game was exciting enough to me. Needless to say, I was blown away when I found out that I would be watching Roger Federer, who is my absolute favorite tennis player, play Gael Monfils.

Federer and Monfils taking the obligatory photo before they begin the match.

Watching Federer on TV is always exciting but seeing him live on the court is magical. Not only is he the epitome of a gentleman who is gracious in both triumph and defeat, but he also moves gracefully making it seem effortless as he glides from one side of the court to the next. On top of that, I experienced LIVE one of the most epic matches in Grand Slam history!!! Monfils won the first two sets at 6-4 and 6-3. Federer was able to win the third set at 6-4, but during the fourth set he faced two champion points and I thought this is it, game over. However, Monfils failed to convert the points and being the true champion that he is, Federer came back and won the set and ultimately the match – and that ladies and gentlemen is why Federer is holds the record for Grand Slam titles! The energy in the stadium was electrifying and everyone stayed till Federer walked off the court. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, well except a final game between Federer vs. Djokovic. Unfortunately that didn’t happen in 2014 because they both lost in the semi-finals.

During the Men’s Final game Marin Cilic went up against Kei Nishikori. This match up was one of the most unexpected in Grand Slam history. Although Nishikori’s career trajectory had been trending upward and even with seven ATP titles under his belt, few people expected him to beat Djokovic in the semi-finals, but I guess everyone loves an underdog! It was exciting to go to the final match because nobody knew what to expect and we all just wanted to watch some great tennis. In another unexpected surprise during the final match, Cilic beat Nishikori in three straight sets – 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, to capture his first Grand Slam title.

Mike and I capturing our own moment in tennis history J.

The players and match ups do add to the excitement, but regardless of who is playing on the court or if you are new to tennis or a long time fan, the US Tennis Open is definitely a tournament that you must experience.