The beauty of a big city is choice. Especially a big American city. When it comes to food and restaurant choices, New York is very comfortable assuming a Top Dog place. Having been there a few times now, I must admit that New York is less of a foodie heaven for me now. Not because there isn’t good food, but because you know it’s everywhere. So, it’s simply about making a choice. I tend to get more excited searching and trying to separate the wheat from the chaff—that’s the Edmontonian in me, I think. And because visiting there for me is now more about spending time with good friends and feeding off New York’s unrelenting energy, I’m less concerned with my choices. With so many, you make good, you make bad, but in the end, you’re always in a city that is a feast for the eyes. This visit, some previous favourites solidified their status in my life more because of nostalgia than for what was served. Some new tries were fun, but not necessarily requiring a return or recommend. I’ll make a giant leap to say that perhaps it’s a sign of the economic times that the best tastes of the week were the comforting ones that came from Dumont in Williamsburg; pear and parsnip soup, a burger and fries, and an amazing mac ‘n’ cheese warmed some souls on a lovely fall evening.
The seeking out of specific spots happened more often during the day when I was wandering alone. And this seeking out was about two things: sandwiches and ice cream. I’ve been craving these a lot lately (or always) and being in New York meant that I could easily find some delicious options. I find great pleasure in a good sandwich. Nice bread, fresh fillings, the right amount of chew, two-fisted without being insurmountable. It’s surprising to me how hard getting these attributes can be at times. Not in New York, however. In addition to Bread and Snack for some yummy sandwiches, I made a trip to the Hampton Chutney Co. in Soho for what essentially is a South Indian sandwich: the dosa. Since being introduced to Hampton Chutney a few years ago, it’s become a place I must make my way to when in New York. Although nowhere near authentic in terms of fillings, the crepes themselves are as crispy and chewy as they should be and the accompanying chutneys always fresh.
Fontina & grilled veg at Bread
Seasonal dosa with mint and pumpkin chutneys
I have no problem admitting that I’m a big fan of Tasti-D-Lite. I never say no to soft-serve treats and because I grew up in the 80s around all things sugar-free, my palate is completely immune to chemical aftertastes. That being said, I had none this journey because I had my sights set on more exciting options.
At the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, I had my first try of frozen custard. It’s correctly described as the meeting of soft serve and hard ice cream: the give of hard ice cream with the texture of soft serve. I loved my cone of that day’s flavour, salted caramel.
Another soft-serve adventure was to Milk Bar, of the Momofuku clan. Essentially the clan’s dessert outpost, the Milk Bar has quite a following for its cakes and pies, delicious cookies (the Compost variety I tried were crazy good), and inventive soft-serve flavours. On offer were sweet and salty cucumber, watermelon, horchata, and cereal milk—and guessing what flavour of cereal it is that day is part of the fun. I sampled what I’m sure was Corn Pops. I think my afternoon treat of horchata soft serve was one of the highlights of my trip. Especially as it complemented my walk around the East Village on a warm, fall day.
Gelato is a form of frozen milk I can never say no to. So, knowing that I would be on the Upper West Side one afternoon, I made my way to Grom, a chain from Italy. Creamier than most gelato I’ve tried, I was happy with my cone of vanilla and seasonal cinnamon.
After a turn at the Atlantic Antic, I got my first scoops of gelato from my most favourite gelateria—Il Laboratorio del Gelato—at One Girl in Brooklyn. Ricotta and caramel. Later that week, I celebrated/bemoaned my last day in New York by heading to their Lower East Side shop to partake in fresh mint, rum raisin, and malt. There is never enough.
And there is never enough time in New York.
2 comments
This is how I compost. | cream and sugar says:
Jan 21, 2010
[...] Posted by cream on January 21, 2010 from the hands of cream and sugar…, from the kitchens of… Remember how I loved my Momofuku Milk Bar experience so much? The Momofuku Compost [...]
Beautiful, indeed. | cream and sugar says:
Jul 7, 2010
[...] Left to our own devices in the afternoons, gelato quickly became a favourite lunch item. So smooth, so rich, so creamy. Good as any sandwich. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties, however, when I really started to crave gelato over ice cream. And it was around this time that it became much easier to find. La Paloma was a favourite when I lived in Toronto. The last few years in Edmonton saw many a dollar go to Da Capo and Leva, with particular memorable cones of cinnamon, whisky cream and lavender. My travelling also usually involves seeking out a good place or two. [...]