it's both a blessing and a curse to come to new york city after 4 months of eating my body weight in pasta and gelato and drinking endless amounts of wine. I swear every block has a new place I want to try and I definitely don't have the time or money to visit them all. within the several weeks I have been here, I have found some staples that you MUST visit if you are ever in manhattan. from craving sweets to healthy, vegan to the works, and everything in between, new york city has it all. but we can't have it all, so bear with me and the few places I have visited!
desert
let's just skip to what's important because we all know it's always on my mind!
if I'm craving something sweet and willing to indulge a little my number one place is Magnolia's Bakery. if you are a sex and the city fan you already know that this is a go-to. Carrie Bradshaw would stroll into this west village paradise to chow on some cupcakes. although their cupcakes are amazing (get the flourless cupcake), you gotta go for the banana pudding. I do not care if you think it sounds weird, it's AMAZING. it truly melts in your mouth with every spoon full of banana, wafer cookie, and cream. it. is. to. die. for!! also, according to my brother, the cheesecake is v good.
although I cannot have dairy (or at least I shouldn't because my body does not agree) my two friends constantly rave about Milk Bar . when they rave, you know it's real. so instead of sacrificing myself for the sack of everyone's knowledge, I asked them to share their thoughts and this is what they said:
- blizzard on steroids
- ice cream is orgasmic
- tastes like the milk at the bottom of a cereal bowl in ice cream form
- unique flavors
- the ice cream is so smooth and the perfect amount of sweet
- TO DIE FOR
so if that doesn't convince you, you've got a problem
cafes
I love going to cafes to work on my blog, homework, or just to hang out, partly because I'm a coffee addict! these are some of my favorite places because they are quiet and perfect for the alone time. ps my favorite coffee order is a long black or americano with a dash of almond milk (i blame Sarahs Day for my obsession)
I stumbled across matcha bar on my way to a different cafe. i saw it, walked down half a block and then turned around and went right back. if it's not coffee, it's matcha that's my fetish. it is such a unique flavor and has so many great health benefits. a little cafe tucked into a neighborhood of Chelsea with all different options of, including matcha ice cream covered in gold! I had the golden matcha latte, which is matcha, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper. sounds weird I know, but this combo of spices is so good for your gut! very reasonable prices for drinks and they also have baked goods and toasts for all your insta needs.
terremoto coffee was where I was actually headed when I got distracted by ~matcha~ it's a hole in the wall with only seating for about 6 people, along with a bench outside for people watching. the barista working was so kind and even offering to adjust my long black with a dash of almond milk if I wanted it stronger or milkier. they had all the typical coffee needs, along with so many yummy bakery items! this is by far my go-to place when I need to work and have some peace and quiet. but beware: don't go if your laptop is about to die because you'll have to leave this retreat because of the lack of outlets:(
insta worthy
if it's not all about the food, it's all about the insta pic. being known as one of the trendiest cities, new york is the insta capital
I'm tellin ya, you gotta try matcha because its a game changer. cha cha matcha has the best vibe and is very hip for you hipsters. with so many matcha options from coffees to teas, and treats like cronuts and chia pudding, i could eat/drink this whole place. although it has a good amount of seating and lots of natural light, I don't recommend if you have things to work on because it is very loud and usually busy. but don't let that stop you from going! I had the matcha filled croissants and i was stuffed till dinner. so worth the money. the whole shop is loaded with pink and green neon lights and fun decorations which makes it perfect for the 'gram.
a place that's plant-based and has great pictures?? how perfect! the butcher's daughter is a necessity for brunch, and if you say brunch, I say benedict. I had their avo benedict that comes with potatoes and it was wonderful. although the food was pretty good, you pay for the experience and the presentation. I also got a cold golden elixir to get my lemon, ginger, honey fix and it hit the spot perfectly. another place that will require a wait, but the wait is worth it. the outdoor seating in Chelsea brings such a good environment for a mid-Sunday and is in such an ideal location to wander around after when you have a full tummy.
pssst... the chelse location is close to the original magnolia bakery!
healthy
i love healthy and whole foods, and new york has all the best for the well-being trend! although it can get pricey, these are my two favs when I'm wanting something guilt-free
introduced to me by the lovely Bry and Sarah, sweet green is another rave-worthy place. when you need your greens this is the place to go because of their many combos of different flavors, textures, and options! for new york prices, it's not overly expensive, but if you like to add-ons, it can get a little pricey. I love salads, but I don't always get full off of them, which leaves me to have a bigger portion making this place perfect. you get a big bull along with bread (which I cant have, but besides the point). my fav is the fish taco bowl which is a great source of protein and omega-3. one of these days I'm going to treat myself to one of their many lemonade options, but for now, water will do. but forwarning, try to avoid going at lunchtime because it is BUSY and the wait is so frustrating because I am impatient when it comes to food lines.
I was once a vegan for a few months and absolutely loved it, but now for me, that lifestyle is no longer maintainable. however, I still do eat vegan a lot and the best place for that is the famous by Chloe. I still think about my first visit and the guac burger I had, but sadly I have a sensitivity with avocados and jalapenos so I cant have this amazing creation any longer :'( but seriously they have soooo many options of alternatives that taste just the same as the original. I know a lot of people shy from vegan foods because they think it won't be the same (and to be honest it won't always) but people have found ways to make plant-based foods so flavorful, it's amazing. I've been craving a good mac n chez so I may have to hop over this week because #listentoyourbody & #cravings.
cheat day
you always gotta treat yo self, and that means food for me!
you guys. I don't know how to describe the most perfect place to have food, views, laughs, and an overall amazing day. on Saturdays, smorgasbord, a food stand event in Williamsburg opens and it is UNREAL. the atmosphere: amazing. the food: amazing. if you're from Minnesota you know how the state fair is always a requirement to end the summer, but smorgasbord is like a mini minny state fair! everything you can think of they have, plus the best view of Manhattan you can get. highly recommend sharing and splitting with someone so that you can try more things!! i started out with a mango on a stick with chili pepper, hot sauce and lime juice on top and OMG the flavors made my taste buds go crazy. then we moved to savory with brined baked fries with lots of sauces. of course, we saw someone with an insta worthy pineapple chicken bowl, so we hunted that stand down. and then I ended my feast with a halved coconut filled with coconut ice cream. let's just say I was in a major food coma after that day. ATTENTION: bring cash because most stands don't accept card
some days, ya gotta get your southern fix of some good old chicken and waffles. we search all of Manhattan and decided on root & bone, although there are many other top locations, this was perfect for our plans for after brunch! unfortunately when we arrived, hangery and ready to feast, the wait time was wild. when thinking all hope was lost, we were informed that mama's bar right next door served all the same foods. so, of course, we ran right over and we got our food so fast! and even better was the bar was playing the world cup games, so we got some entertainment with our full bellies. I got the chicken and waffles eggs benedict, and I'm not kidding, I inhaled it in maybe 8 minutes flat. (no picture to show because the camera definitely did not eat first this time)
empty wallet
title says it all
if you're not sure what you're hungry for, Chelsea market. a cool historic place with endless options of foods, treats, and shopping. although prices can fluctuate depending on what you are craving, there are definitely options that can keep you on a budget. a great place for lunch or to wander through when you're bored but want to get away from the Manhattan humidity. with endless amounts of food here, it's hard to talk about one specific place to go. i recommend walking through, then getting food and taking it to go and sitting on the high line right next to the market!
another lucky find was cornerstone cafe, and when i say lucky i mean for our wallets. last weekend we wanted to go to brunch at this place called poco (perfect place if you want bottomless mimosas, but I have cut out alcohol from my lifestyle) but unfortunately, the prices were fixed and very high for some basic brunch items. again, hangry and on the hunt for anything, we found the cornerstone cafe just down the street. we were nervous about the wait time, but it ended up being so quick. the service was amazing, but the best part was everything was so cheap!! i got a baked egg with salmon for only $14 and an iced coffee for $2.50. the coffee was GIANT. like i have not had that big of an iced coffee for under $5 in the city yet. although my dish was a little too salty, everyone else's meals were delicious. they got the spinach and cheese baked egg and it was only $12! they had eggs for $4 and fluffy a$$ pancakes for $10. what is this madness?? the portion sizes were so great that I wasn't even able to finish my food, and that is a rare occasion. of all my places, this is a must visit.
there are seriously so many amazing places i have yet to go to, but unfortunately, because I have so many problems with food allergies and my digestion it makes it hard to find alternatives at every place:/ I will be wrtiting a blog soon about how i substitute things so that I can still satisfy my cravings!
I love food ~obviously~ and i love trying new places!! so if you have any recommendations please comment them bellow so I can check them out!