New York Photo Essay (Summer 2011)

My trip down to New York City a few months ago meant lots of good eatin’ and being reunited with the other Plato Putas co-founder, my dear pal Jas. The highlight was Sunday morning at the Brooklyn Flea (North 6th & Kent in Williamsburg, BK). We browsed through vintage finds and ate tacos (two for $6) on the waterfront looking towards the Manhattan skyline. Here’s a look at a few other noteworthy food moments from my trip.

A visit to high-end Italian grocery store Eataly (200 Fifth Ave.) was a mandatory stop on my trip. I was overwhelmed by the size and confusing layout of the various sections and 11 restaurants. I spent a good 15 minutes wandering around (and likely rousing suspicion as a petty thief) before I was able to orient myself.

Above is the Salumi and Cheese counter plus there’s whole sections dedicated to fresh and dried pasta, olive oil, vinegar, bread and seafood. I stopped by the Gelateria for one of my favourite flavours: Stracciatella. It was real Italian vanilla gelato made with organic milk and dotted with delicate laces of crisp chocolate.

Zane from Caplansky’s posted on his blog about recent memorable eats in New York City and I made a note to visit Russ & Daughters (197 East Houston St.) on my first day to stock up on smoked salmon. I’d never seen so many varieties before and after soliciting advice from their friendly staff (and some complimentary sampling) I settled on Irish Organic and Scottish salmon to go, plus cream cheese, bagels, capers and sliced red onion.

They also had plenty of cream cheese choices and different types of roe. I was intrigued by the wasabi-infused  flying fish roe.

Zane also mentioned the delicious tomato soup from Bread (20 Spring St.). I popped in for a bowl during a shopping break and it’s exactly what I needed to tie me over till dinner. It was accompanied by a piece of baguette, fresh basil and a spoonful of parmesan. Truly puts Campbell’s to shame.

Since Jas and I traveled to Buenos Aires together a few years ago, Argentinian restaurant El Almacen (557 Driggs Ave., Williamsburg) was the perfect spot for us to eat with our friends Lise & Jason. The seafood paella featuring shrimps, calamari, clams, octopus and chorizo in saffron rice was outstanding.

My only sad food moment happened right at the end of the trip as I made my way to the airport. I realized I left a bag full of treats including a kimchi and blue cheese croissant and compost cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar (251 East 13th St.) in Jas’ fridge. Thankfully I did get to try their raspberry lemonade soft serve the day before I left. It’s such a beautiful deep pink colour and incredibly refreshing on a hot day.

Other highlights include Chopped Black Kale Salad with spicy anchovy dressing at Five Leaves (18 Bedford Ave., Greenpoint, BK), pizza in the depths of Carroll Gardens with my mentor, and an upscale Thai dinner at Lotus of Siam (24 Fifth Ave.) to close-out a lazy afternoon at Central Park. Oh, and bumping into Phife Dawg of a Tribe Called Quest and director/actor Michael Rappaport being interviewed by TMZ outside the Soho Apple store was also pretty cool.