Part of the reason why I love to travel is because I get an excuse to eat food I would not otherwise New York City at the beginning of Spring – HER//Excursions NYC (herexcursions.com). The Big Apple (New York City) was no exception. I enjoyed every morsel that passed my lips (and it was a LOT of morsels). I mean, even my hard to impress daughter enthusiastically agreed with me. That said, do not be afraid to really bite into the Big Apple when you visit. Because poisoned apple, it absolutely is not.
Katz’s Deli
Katz’s Delicatessen Katz’s Delicatessen – NYC’s oldest deli (katzsdelicatessen.com) Never before have I ever tasted pastrami even CLOSE to this. It was one of THE best (if not the best) sandwich I have ever had in my life. It is absolutely worth the $30 price tag. Just don’t expect to eat anything else for 48 hours. Even the tour sampling (only a fraction of the sandwich) was filling to me. For those with better appetites and stomachs than mine, you can add the giant steak fries (we didn’t have those, but they looked tasty). With a drink, expect to spend about $60. However, this sandwich animated my daughter who I can tell you, does not impress easily. She was willing to wake up at 3AM to pick it up on the way to the airport (logistics prevented this unfortunately).
Kossar’s Bagels and Bialys
Kossar’s Bagels and Bialys Bagels, Bialys, and Other Baked Goods in New York, NY (kossars.com). Kossar’s is yet another NYC institute and are responsible for introducing bialys. No, I had no idea what a bialy was before the visit. Turns out, it is a rounded, but flat, like an English Martin, and unlike a bagel, does not have a hole. Adam had us try it with just butter melted into the hot, toasted bread. Well. I’m sorry but to all bagel lovers out there, you have not lived until you’ve tried a bialy. I say this after trying Kossar’s everything bagel (typically my least favorite choice), toasted with the house made cream cheese (I typically use just butter on my bagel). That bagel was the best I have ever had in my life. But the bialy took it by a nose.
Cafe d’Avignon
Cafe d’Avignon | Bakery & Café in NYC (cafedavignon.com) is a genuinely French-style bakery cafe. The boast quiche slices, fresh bread, bread pudding, croissants and cookies in addition to hot beverages. I had an olive and egg roll that I will fervently try to reproduce at home. The walnut and cranberry bun with cheese was good enough for me to completely demolish as well (and I typically hate nuts in food). They have hunking slices of banana and cream cheese bread (that my daughter couldn’t get enough of) as well as a corn olive oil cake (that I loved). Then there was the bread pudding. To top it off, the prices were just right.
Greek from Greece
This was an amazing find Greek from Greece. Cheap and really good food. They have a selection of soups salads with choice of grains or pita. They also serve breakfast from what I could see, and best of all, the carry a selection of Greek sweets and desserts: baklava, honey walnut cake and cookies, almond cookies. Meats included lemon chicken, salmon, pork and lamb. We visited the cafe for a late lunch/early dinner. Unfortunately for us, the food under the heating lamps was a little old. Still, I had a Greek salad with arugula and chickpeas that was incredibly delicious. I even enjoyed the protein (although a little dry) – a mix of chicken and lamb. The portions were very generous. Their almond and honey and walnut cookies that were good enough to stockpile and bring home.
Kuu
I went with a menu favorite, the Kuu Cilli. It was spicy, piping hot, with the most amazing chicken and fish flavored. Takayaki was delightfully spongey on the inside, and crunchy outside. My favorite though was the Kakuni (pork belly) was outstanding. I loved it enough to order it as a side as well, while my daughter and I both enjoyed the fried chicken. It was crunchy with a good flavor, but not heavily coated.
Bustan
Bustan NYC is a Mediterranean/Middle East restaurant that I found randomly online. It requires a reservation, and I was able to get one a couple of days early but for an early seating. I chose it because I love Mediterranean cuisine but not have much experience with Middle Easten food.
The restaurant feels intimate, and even romantic with its gentle lighting. My daughter and I were starving, cold and tired after spending the day walking the museum and gallery. We ordered pretty quickly.
We started off with the Israeli salad. I was craving vegetables after spending a few days eating everything BUT vegetables. The salad is similar to a Greek salad but does not have feta cheese and has Tahini and sumac instead. I had to force myself to stop eating it. It is one of the freshest salads I have ever had. Not just palate-wise, but literally.
I was curious about the Taboon bread, so I ordered some. It came quickly. It was still hot, butter still glistening on top. We tore into it and yes, we finished the whole loaf.
I actually chose to order a medium plate as my main meal instead of a regular entree. My choice was the octopus. It had a perfect char, came with Taboon baked potatoes, scallions, cilantro and sour cream. I could live on this. My daughter on the other hand chose an entree. She went with the Moroccan Fish, which is branzino cooked in spicy tomato sauce with chickpeas and cooked in a Taboon dome. It was pretty to look at and I like what I tasted. So did she because she polished off the entire thing.
My daughter said she was full, but I couldn’t possibly leave without trying dessert. I chose Malabi rather quickly. This milky creation sat in a shallow pool of rosewater, topped with coconut and pistachios. It was divine. Ask my daughter. She polished off most of it.
I invite you to travel to New York City, if only as an excuse to happily eat your way through the Big Apple. I assure you; you will not be disappointed.
