New York, New York

This summer I went to New York for the first time on a art/film expedition. It blew my mind in all ways. Lots of people had told me New York was basically like London but more condensed and with higher buildings... it wasn't anything like London!

I always enjoy visiting London but, without fail, find it difficult to relax in the city! People are rushing around, stressed, and I generally always manage to get lost even with the indispensable Google Maps app open on my phone 24/7.

Perhaps because I grew up in a gridded city in the Middle East, I found New York extremely easy to navigate and this made exploring all the more enjoyable (meeting up with friends who knew the city well was also a massive plus). More importantly, the city had a very relaxed vibe and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. The weather helped as well.

Being a massive foodie, I obviously took the opportunity to explore the Big Apple's offerings.

Here's my round-up of New York foodie hits and misses:

HITS:

1. BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES!

 New York is famous for these cookies and I think I found a great one to try near the Flat Iron building at Madison Square from a little restaurant called Union Square. Fluffy, cakey, over-sized. It ticked all the right boxes.

I had actually trekked there in hope of finding one of their infamous red velvet croissant but unfortunately they had sold out (queue foodie heartbreak).

Red Velvet croissant at Union Square (from http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/grub/2016/08/03/union-fare-croissants/red-velvet.w710.h473.2x.jpg)

While I was in the area, I was also looking for Daniel Humm's restaurant Eleven Madison Park. They serve their own version of the New York Black and White cookies.

Eleven Madison Park (from http://blog.umamimart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_1203-1024x768.jpg)

Eleven Madison Park (from https://thisguysfoodblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_5279.jpg)

I had no reservation there, was aware it was under construction, and couldn't afford to eat there on my student budget... but was still super keen to see it in the flesh! Eleven Madison Park is the number one(?) restaurant in the world and I have been a fan of Daniel Humm since seeing him on the British Masterchef in 2014 or 15. He seemed so cool! Eating at Eleven Madison Park is definitely on my bucket list.


2. MAGNOLIA BAKERY BANANA PUDDING (but anything from there really...)

I feel like the picture for this one pretty much sums up why it should be on your list. I'm sitting here at my computer just making 'hmm' noises rather than being able to articulate how perfect this way. Sweet (not not too sugary) and relatively light - was a perfect midday pick-me-up after hours of walking through Central Park.

Best thing? They come in different sizes so you have some choice over how indulgent you are! (I was with two friends and we split the smallest three ways!).

There are loads of Magnolia Bakeries throughout New York. I also went to the one near the Rockefeller Centre....

Rockefeller Centre

... but it was crowded and there was no place to sit.

I would highly recommend the one on Columbus Avenue - the whole street is so atmospheric and really has that stereotypical New York feel.

Columbus Avenue

3. LEVAIN BAKERY

Okay so my New York food hits are turning out to be cookies and desserts (I promise this is the last one!!)

...but if you are on Columbus Avenue, you must pop into Levain Bakery.

Dark chocolate and peanut butter? Soooo indulgent.

They also have Chocolate Chip and Walnut, Oatmeal Raisin, and Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip.

Disclaimer: I was walking everywhere! No metro! I needed the sugar, spare the judgement.


4. MANDOO BAR - Korean Food

This restaurant is right next to the Empire State Building and is so worth visiting.

The view from the Empire State is unmissable.

After days of eating overpriced food lacking in strong spices, Mandoo Bar is the place to go for delicious Korean food at a really good price.

From memory, we ordered seafood or vegetable dumpings, seafood japchae, and seafood paejeon.

Portions were generous and food was top quality. Plus, no waiting time, which is great in NY when it feels like you are rushing everywhere trying to pack stuff in!

4. EMPANADAS AND MARGARITAS IN HELL'S KITCHEN - LIMON JUNGLE

Limon Jungle (from: http://hellskitsch.com/img/2013/10/large/limon-jungle-expansion-exterior.jpg)

One thing I learnt pretty quickly was that eating on Times Square = overpriced and highly disappointing food.

However, venture right behind Times Square and you will find Hell's Kitchen district where you will want to try every restaurant and, as there are so many, leave the city wanting more.

Cheese and Caramel Apple I think? (I may have had one too many margaritas). 

Okay, this picture really doesn't do this place justice but the selection of empanadas was unexpected (they had their own separate empanada menu!! - not available online) and they were just delicious (although on the pricey side).

And the margaritas were on the mark. As a long-time margarita fan (I think my first memory of sipping my mother's drink was when I was 4???), they were truly authentic and worth every dollar ----

but not too many dollars - Limon Jungle has a very, very generous happy hour deal on drinks. $5 dollar per margarita is a recipe for disaster (but the good kind!!!).

I also tried their burrito - 5/5.

5. $1 DOLLAR PIZZA - Hell's Kitchen

Not going to lie, I thought $1 pizza was a joke when I read about it in blogs before going. I refused to believe that anything for $1 in central Manhattan could both taste good and be visible without the help of a magnifying glass.

Alas, I stand corrected.

This was genuinely one of the best slices of pizza I've had. And without question, the cheapest. AND IT WAS HUGE!

Cute mid-bite snap smh

Where from? NY Fresh pizza - right next to Mi Nidito Grill and a few doors down from Limon Jungle.


6. BUBBA GUMP - Times Square

So I may have just trashed Times Square eateries - and I stand by this.

But pop into Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for a drink as the staff are so lovely!

Their food is overpriced but - if you're in the mood for something that feels authentically American (does it have to be fried?) - then you can't go wrong.

THE MISS LIST

1. ANYWHERE ON TIMES SQUARE

My friend's milkshake at Junio's

Times Square is just a nightmare for eateries and it's a rookie mistake to try go there for dinner. 

I had heard much about The Olive Garden so tried there first - but who in their right might would be almost $30 for a plate of pasta? Also, the atmosphere in the restaurant was awful - simultaneously dead and overcrowded. 

I also tried Junior's (see the milkshake) on a night I was in too much of a rush to leave Times Square. For someone who tries to eat vegetarian or pescetarian most of the time, the menu was a nightmare. Everything looked greasy and the portions were huge. I ended up ordering a salad, which wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't what I wanted either. 

2. BURGERS

On the topic of fried foods (not my fav)... I think perhaps miss the burger? 

I almost felt obliged to have one since I was in America, after all. And New York is the homeplace of Shake Shack as well...

Meh...

It was just sort of disappointing and boring.

I'm really not a fan of fast food places so I just found it underwhelming and a waste of valuable food space!

I think if you're determined to do the burger thing then try one from a restaurant? They're normally a little more exciting. Anything from Shake Shack or other fast food places (I won't even say McD's after watching Cowspiracy) will take exactly like it does in the chain in any other part of the world. 

3. PRETZELS

On the list that directed me to the black and white cookies was also the mention of Pretzels as being central to the New York food lexicon. 

They're pretty much available everywhere - which may be the issue because WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIND A GOOD ONE?

A risky endeavor if you ask me. 

Sense the immense dissapointment. 

Stale, too salty... give me my $1.50 back!

Follow-up post to ...CHOCOLATE

One of my last posts before my - very extended- break from this blog was on beautiful, heavenly, moreish chocolate. In particular, I mused about chocolatiers, Paul A. Young and William Curley and vowed to visit their shops in London.

Years later, I've finally visited Paul A Young's shop in Soho but I couldn't find William Curley's shop in Belgravia - I think it has relocated. But I did manage to try out a recipe from his stunning, but rather intimidating, chocolate cookbook.

Behold... my attempt at William Curley's Tiramisu Caskets...

It was... a learning experience and they certainly don't look quite as refined as his...

Tempering the chocolate wasn't immensely difficult but shaping it into glossy cylinders was. Especially as it was a very humid day which doesn't make for ideal chocolate-making adventures. This book is definitely one to bring out in the Autumn and Winter months.

But I'm not knocking this recipe or book at all. They were certainly delicious and trying out the recipe was a great way to practice some basic patisserie skills. The recipe for mascarpone mousse included for the Tiramisu caskets was fabulous and I look forward to adapting it to some other (perhaps easier!) desserts.

The ingredients for recipes in this book are not always easy to find and are often pricey so the book requires patience and financial commitment. But, if you're a keen chocolate aficionado then the book is a joy to pour over.

I used Paul A. Young's video on tempering chocolate to help me.

I've visited his shop in London a few times now but only tried one item. It's pricey!

If I remember correctly from a day-time TV cooking show he appeared on with Paul Hollywood, each of his chocolates costs 2 pounds! That could make a box of 10 quite an investment.

I tried one of his Sea Salted Caramel Billionaire Shortbreads as I had read good things...

It didn't disappoint. Hence why I snapped a pic of it - slightly mushed - in it's wrapper... it didn't get home in time to take a better picture...

I probably won't be a regular customer for Paul A. Young as they have a price tag to scare the most keen foodie but I'm always happy to pop into the shop and take inspiration from the unusual flavour combinations he devises!

Also - if you're going to visit this shop, stop by Crosstown Doughnuts next door. 

They have achieved infamy in London for their sourdough doughnuts with extremely daring flavours. 

Chilli chocolate heaven. 

You can also find Crosstown in the markets outside KX station. 

Back from the dead... with a Christmas 2017 roundup...

So 2018 started off a little unexpectedly...

I've had to take a year away from university to resolve some things which have been nibbling away at me for a while - slightly heartbreaking since I absolute love uni. 

But it also means I have a little bit more free time to resume some of my old passions  - and food is always high on that list. 

Christmas 2017 was a typical 'Cambridge Christmas', which means that you have a six week holiday but can only really afford to take a week off to do Christmassy things as the rest of the time you have a pile of work to be wading through. I wasn't able to really do much of that work but I still tried anyway...so cooking and food wasn't high on my list of priorities. 

All the same, I made time for some sugary, spiced goodness over the festive period! Here are my 2017 takes on mince pies, booze, and trifle...

For mince pies this year, I was determined to try something new!

I'm not a huge pastry lover and was wondering how to upgrade the humble mince pie. In 2016, I attempted to do this through making my own mincemeat (using my favourite brandy - Hennessy). It was good but it wasn't *WOW I HAVE TO EAT ALL OF THESE IN ONE GO* good. 

2017, I topped the mincepies with a frangipane - and am here to report back that they were certainly an improvement! 

I still think they can be taken to the next level but am not quite sure how at the moment. Marzipan? Cherry? Jam? Icing? A different pastry bottom? 

Paul A. Young has some recipes for mince pie brownies which I am very curious about... but that will have to wait for another 10-11 months. 

on the topic of mince pies... ever wondered what to do with your leftover mincemeat? 

Marcus Wareing has you covered with these delicious mince pie cocktails. We had them towards the end of cooking the Christmas dinner but I think they would have been more appreciated on boxing day with a mince pie. They were certainly delicious though, but very strong! You can whip one up with vermouth, bourbon whiskey, angostura bitters, mincemeat, a few cloves, and some orange peel. 

For our Christmas dinner dessert, trifle is always on the menu. It has always been the traditional dessert in our family and my mum made a killer one. 

BUT I've yet to nail her recipe and every year I hear the same from my dad... NOT ENOUGH SHERRY. 

So last year, instead of competing with my mum's masterpiece, I opted for Nigella's Black Forest trifle. It was LUSH... seriously so, so good. You have to make it at least once. But perhaps spare it for a different day of the year than Christmas as it is extremely rich. 

This year I went for a Lily Vanilli recipe - 'Very Boozy Sherry Trifle' - surely this would appease the Irish father?! 

Alas, not quite. Next year I think I'll just serve him trifle with a pouring jug of Harvey's Bristol Cream next to it. But it was still a great take on a traditional trifle - no jelly or cream and so it wasn't at all slushy and all the fresh fruit made it feel a lot lighter and refreshing after the heavy Christmas dinner. 

Best of all, it is SO worth making home-made custard. I had never done it before - always cheating with Bird's custard (there is enough to prep on Christmas, right?) - but this year I used that strange looking and overpriced vanilla pod that had been in the cupboard for probably much too long and it elevated the custard to a heavenly level. 

Would highly recommend this recipe - and Lily's Sweet Tooth book - which I will make another post reviewing. 

Hope you had a good festive season.