A long weekend full of endless possibilities - I chose to spend it in the constant, bustling city of NYC. Having explored the city on my own so many times, I have developed a short list of favorites I tend to frequent every so often when I'm in the need of something familiar. That, along with a couple new experiences, made this last weekend a rather enjoyable one.
Afternoon Tea
A gem of a place in the food-barren wasteland of the financial district (and I mean that in the nicest way possible, I've come to really appreciate the area). They do have other locations farther uptown but I usually end up at this one out of convenience. The ladies almost always offer you a free sample of their chocolates or macarons, even if you're just browsing. To be honest, I actually prefer their macarons over those of Laduree, though their flavors are by far more limited.
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| One of my favorite places to spend any free time at - La Maison Du Chocolat. It's both a boutique full of chocolates, macarons, and cakes, but also includes a small cafe where you can sit and relax, drink a pot of tea, and enjoy the different pastries they have to offer. My usual is a pot of the Darjeeling tea with a piece of the Pleyel cake, a smooth chocolate almond treat that reminds me of the flour-less tortes my mom makes. |
Dinner is usually the meal where I like to explore new places and check names off my restaurant list (which seems to be getting longer, not shorter). Saturday night, we decided to make our way to Upstate, a very popular no-reservations place known for great seafood and even better whiskey cake.
We arrived at approximately 5:15 PM, fifteen minutes after opening time, and were told that we came at just the right time. Sure enough, the entire place was full within the next ten minutes, and the hostess started quoting wait times to those who walked in the door. That being said, we never once felt rushed throughout our meal and our server provided great recommendations when asked. Also, they have happy hour every day of the week from 5-7 PM, where they offer half a dozen select oysters and a NY craft beer for $12, what a great deal! Though not your typical $1 oyster frenzy, there was a much wider selection and they also featured a West Coast variety, which would usually cost upwards of $3 each. As you have probably noticed, I'm currently going through an oyster phase, we'll see how long it lasts... bit of an expensive habit, to be honest.
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| Beer and wine list - limited selection, but always changing! They stopped carrying the Reisling I originally tried to order, but our server was nice enough to let me try a taste of its replacement (I think she said it was called a.. Pinet?) |
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| Unfortunately cannot remember the different types we ordered, will have to keep a menu next time... they were all super fresh though! |
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| Our appetizer: fresh uni with butternut squash puree, salmon roe, and quail egg. It sounded amazing on the menu, but after mixing everything up and spreading it atop the bread that was given, the flavor profile just didn't quite mesh. Pity since it looks so beautiful on the plate. Messy, but beautiful. |
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| BEST fettuccine with clams I have ever had... without a doubt. The sauce was light but rich and flavorful, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the clams were fresh and very meaty. Believe it or not, it tasted even better after being reheated in the microwave later that night. The skate was great as well and the famous whiskey cake served with the check at the end was a nice way to finish dinner. |
Sunday Brunch
One of my favorite brunch places, taking into account both value and food quality, is Cafe Orlin. Though they do not take reservations like many of the typical NYC brunch spots, I have found that it is relatively easy to get a table here if you have a small party and arrive before 11, which is extremely lenient considering a few other places that have lines waiting at 9 AM (*cough* Clinton St Baking Co). They serve your typical brunch fare with a bit of a Mideastern twist, though you can still find the usual eggs benedict, steak and eggs, and pancakes here, all of which are great options. I love this place mostly because I always get a benedict variation, which also comes with a small glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (actually freshly squeezed!) and your choice of an americano, cappuccino, latte, or tea. Sold!
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| Eggs Norwegian - smoked salmon benedict with a side of homefries |
Back in Philly now (after being stranded at 30th st station for over 3 hours...) and gearing up for the city's upcoming Restaurant Week!
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