Several trips to the Big Apple have netted a cornucopia of images of countless miles strolling all 5 boroughs, 59 restaurants (14 high end), 94 bakeries/ice cream shops and dozens of sites. Having seen so many wonderful things multiple times this trip was about seeing those wonderful things again, eating and experiencing all this wonder with Aimee.
9 Restaurants
4 Bakeries
4 Ice Cream
2 Drink places
Friday, May 10th, 2019
Southwest Airlines to LGA
The Highline is the once abandoned elevated railway tracks turned into a wonderful pedestrian walkway with attractive landscaping.
Having already been to all the bakeries in Chelsea Market, an old biscuit factory, this visit was about mingling with the locals and getting tacos.
The highly regarded LOS TACOS NO. 1 makes their own tortillas and grills the meat to order.
We went with Nopales, Carne Asada, Adobada and Pollo Asada.
Walked Chelsea and stopped at Ample Hills Creamery for Breakfast Trash.
A required nighttime stop.
A tradition to walk by Fox News. Remember when you could watch from outside?
For fun, many years ago.
A tradition to admire the historic murals in Rockefeller Plaza.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral being photogenic in the streetlights.
Yep. Tradition. Atlas Shrugged is my favorite book.
A beacon...
...to have a dog topped with onion and sauerkraut and papaya juice every time in NYC.
Saturday, May 11th, 2019
Good morning Madison Square Garden.
Took the subway up to the Upper West Side.
Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies met the hype.
Breakfast at Good Enough To Eat.
Only mediocre meal of the trip.
Having done Milk Bar's Compost Cookie at the East Village location and Crack Pie at the Midtown spot it has always nagged me not to try their Cereal Milk Soft Serve. Sure enough, it tastes like corn flakes.
Aimee wanted to see Central Park. We strolled the southern half starting at the Reservoir.
Saw all the activity on The Great Lawn.
Paddlers on The Lake.
So many movies have been filmed at Bethesda Fountain.
Have to see Gapstow Bridge.
We continued down 5th Avenue. I was first in here 15 years ago. Who would have known! :) It is now surrounded by concrete barriers and automatic rifle toting and Kevlar clad cops.
A German couple and I thought this was funny.
Continued strolling south on Park Avenue.
Urbanspace, a food hall.
Cheesecake Donut from Dough.
Never get tired at gazing at this masterpiece.
Subway to the always eclectic crowd at Union Square Park.
Greenmarket was going on, have hit a few bakeries in the past, but was saving the appetite.
Strolling east through East Village.
David Chang’s Momofuku Sssam.
Having had the Steamed Buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar had to get them here, with some Japanese Eggplant.
What a nice day take it all in.
Repeated Rice to Riches since Aimee wanted to go and I like the concept-different flavors of rice pudding.
A line at an ice cream place?! Went with a vegan Oak Milk Latte...and it was actually really good.
Little Italy
Chinatown
The infamous durian. (They really smell.)
A bakery in Chinatown I’ve missed?!
On my favorite ice cream list, this time it was Red Bean, a paste common in Chinese bakery.
An engineering marvel and sight of beauty.
One of the most compelling skyscrapers- Woolworth Building.
Subway back to Penn Station, that is the New Yorker.
Built by the namesake, Hudson Yards is a multi-billon dollar complex of 16 buildings including shops, restaurants, offices, condos and performance space.
The visual attraction is the 16 story Vessel. It has 154 flights, 2,500 steps, 80 landings; clad in shinny copper.
The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards have 3 floors of high end retail.
I want my name in lights! 42nd Street.
….Alex Guarnaschelli’s Butter.
She choose Grilled Wild Salmon with pencil asparagus and watercress pesto.
I went with Pan-Seared Branzino with wilted spinach and roasted lemon-vinaigrette.
And a side of Grilled Broccoli with aged balsamic.
Sunday, May 12th, 2019
Weather was getting worse.
Financial District.
Aimee with a busload of tourists at Charging Bull.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island screened in a heavy drizzle.
It’s usually linger and gaze up at Lady Liberty. See her from different angles. This time we were fighting an umbrella inside out wind, hanging on to said umbrella and getting soaked by sideways rain.
Ellis Island
Registry Hall
Jean Georges, Daniel, per se, Delmonico, Aureole, Le Bernardin, Gramercy, Union Square, 21 Club, Gotham, Babbo, WD-50, Masa...the one that always was elusive for the alignment of a NY trip and reservations was Eleven Madison Park.
3 Michelin Stars
#1, World’s 50 Best, 2017
#4, World’s 50 Best, 2018 (once a restaurant achieves #1, it can never be eligible for that spot again)
4 Stars, New York Times
James Beard Awards: Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Service, Outstanding Pastry Chef, Outstanding Restaurant
First Course
White Sturgeon Caviar, Terrine of Asparagus, Aerated Hollandais
How did they get a poached egg underneath that?!
Caraway rye, bonito butter with leek, sea salt
Rolls had the flakiness of a croissant.
For the second course she went with Asparagus with Tarragon and Sesame
Look at that knife work! Very fresh taste punctuated by the layer of sesame underneath.
For the second course I went with Crab with Sorrel and Amaranth
Third Course
Butter Poached Maine Lobster with Green Tomato and Coriander
Lobster was overcooked. My New England relatives would be horrified.
For the fourth course she had Baby Leeks with Potato and Mushroom
Nailed it.
For the fourth course I had Honey and Lavender Glazed Duck with Spring Onion and Daikon Radish.
Little tough. Thick end tasted gamey. Worst dish of the trip. Onions were outstanding.
Carbonated Apple Juice
Camembert filled
Someone tipped them off! Her birthday was a couple weeks ago.
Triple Cream Cheese with Rhubarb and Sorrel
Meyer Lemon with Black Sesame and Yogurt
Milk chocolate, white chocolate
Outstanding service. Impressive skill from the kitchen. Aimee did do a better job at choosing when there was a choice in courses.
The master of Chicago architecture, Daniel Burnham, did the historic Flatiron Building in 1902.
Subway back to Midtown, we passed through this landmark department store which I won’t name ever since they turned Marshall Field’s on State into a dump.
Back to lower Manhattan. Oculus, part of World Trade Center.
Still extremely hard to visit.
Slurry wall, last column, north tower.
No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time
Heart wrenching to be in the area 2,606 souls went to eternal life.
They were still going up to save.
Greenwich Village, Minetta Tavern, 1923.
I love this place.
I love this place.
In 2009 Minetta tavern reopened with the Black Label Burger. They worked with local butchers to find the best ratio and types of meat for the best burger. Dry aged ribeye, skirt steak and brisket; only topped with caramelized onions on a custom brioche bun.
And? It’s good. Not going to make it on my best list. And not worth $33.
Washington Square Park. Often the site of lurid activity.
Walked Aimee to the subway, she went back to the hotel and I headed to revisit Bleeker Street. And it had nothing to do with seeing if there were any new bakeries!
Murray’s. The most famous cheese shop in the nation?
Cones made it on the favorite ice cream list in 2005. It remains on it with Sweet Potato with Brie and Marscspome Fruiti Bosco
Magnolia Bakery. Been here twice, was going to make it a third time but they wouldn’t break a 50. Their cupcakes aren’t that great anyway.
Walked for 45 minute back to the hotel taking it all in.
The old Penn Station.
Monday, May 13th, 2019
While Aimee slumbered I headed out on another chilly morning to cross a restaurant off the list that has about a dozen remaining, out of 120.
In Chelsea it was a Chocolate Cannoli Croissant Donut that made it on the favorites list.
Continued walking to Greenwich Village.
On shady Grove Street is...
...the rustic and inviting Bavette.
Saumon Fume
