I recently had the privilege of spending my Christmas holiday in the Big Apple. In a nutshell, the trip was just as I envisioned it to be. The streets were busy, the weather fluctuated considerably, shopping was plentiful, and the food choices were endless. Overall, my husband and I had a wonderful time.
We ate lots, about 6 times a day, usually consisting of breakfast, lunch, a couple midday snacks, dinner, and midnight snack. These are some of the experiences worth sharing:
A side of meatballs at Carmine's
Carmine’s (Times Square) – The atmosphere of this family style restaurant is electric! Busy at almost all hours of the day, Carmine’s is an Italian style eatery located right in the heart of the Theatre District. The décor is eclectic Italian-American, showcasing pictures, holiday decorations and large wall mounted menus in every corner. My only regret is not having my family and friends there. The portions were served family style, leaving only the two of us to polish off a plate of raw littleneck clams, monstrous cheese stuffed ravioli with meat sauce, and a side order of meatballs (which turned out to be 6 tennis sized balls)! Top it off with a cappuccino and that set the bar for my very first meal in Manhattan! Many thanks to my lovely co-worker Marcie for an excellent recommendation.
Kat'z Pastrami Sandwich
Kat’z Deli (Lower East Side) – Hands down the best pastrami sandwich I had ever eaten. The meat was moist and juicy, the ratio of lean meat to fat was ideal, pickles were delicious, what else can I say… I was too busy eating to even notice the endless photos of celebrities on the wall. A must when in NYC!
Tuna Tartar at Morimoto
Morimoto (Meat Packing District) – I watch a lot of Food Network, so I was quite excited to visit the infamous Iron Chef’s restaurant. We had the omakase, a 7 course tasting, but to avoid boring you with minute details, there was really only one course that lingers in my memory. The very first dish was a tuna tartar served with 7 condiments. It was the presentation that impressed me the most. The tuna was ever so finely chopped, and smoothed into what I could only describe as a miniature wooden wash board, resting on a bowl of ice. Just below the perfectly square sheet of tuna were 6 contrasting condiments ranging from white, to green, to brown to black. In the ice stood a metal spoon-like paddle, and a separate bowl of ponzu sauce on the side. We were told by the server to scrape the tuna using the paddle, dip in the sauce, and then with the neatly arranged condiments which included wasabi, mayonnaise, nori paste, avocado puree, chives, and rice crisps. Other than that, I was disappointed by the lack of clean flavors from the remaining dishes, especially the Maine lobster with Indian spices. I prefer my experience at Shibuya in MGM Grand Las Vegas.
Candied Nuts (street vendors in various locations around Times Square and Central Park) – The cold weather brought out these delicious snacks for shoppers and sight seers to enjoy. Go for the mixed bag which includes peanuts, almonds, cashews and coconuts. The smell is irresistible, and the taste is even better. The buttery candy coating sticks well to the nut, leaving less “shells” at the bottom of your bag.
