A Mini Guide to New York City
Being born and bred in New York City, you would think I hit the ground running when I arrive, but I always feel a bit of anxiety in this concrete jungle. There are always countless things to see and do, but never enough time. I just want to consume everything this city has to offer. With that said I came up with a mini 24 hour NYC guide of favorite things I love to eat and visit around the city.
Whenever we visit we spend an evening that’s about my husband and I, to reminisce the times we dated in NYC. On a Thursday, it was our 10 year anniversary of our first date. We celebrated with a lunch at Shake Shack (I promise the romance comes later). There are over 100 locations in the US, but I remember when it was literally just a shack in Madison Square park, lining up for an hour for this delicious burger. I’ve had cravings from this higher end fast food joint for months. I was a bit skeptical going to one of the chains, as I wasn’t sure the quality was up to par, but they didn’t disappoint. Keep up the good work Shake Shack and please open one in Seattle soon.
Since it’s a milestone celebration, we wanted to make it extra special. For our one night stay, we chose St. Regis and booked the Milano Suite. It was the most posh hotel we’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. We were jumping with glee (literally) running around the room and surprised at how glamourous the suite was. From floor to ceiling, to the decor and fixtures, were all to perfection while keeping the old charm of the 112 year old hotel.
Photo credit: St. Regis
We took a short walk down to Rockefeller Center, a special place to both my husband and I. 10 years ago we went to the Top of the Rock, an observatory with a gorgeous view of Manhattan, on our first date and where he proposed to me 14 months later. We decided it’ll be romantic to stop by and relive the moment.
Photo Credit: Cyber Space And Time
Conveniently in the same building complex of Rockefeller Center, we stopped by Lady M for a slice of Green Tea Mille Crepe. I first discovered it many years ago on a whim, at their first NYC location on Upper East Side. Crepe lovers have found out about my secret, and like Shake Shack, they now have multiple locations in the city. You figure if it’s that accessible, the quality may be questionable. However it tasted like the first time I’ve ever took a bite of this fluffy lightly sweeten cake. It’s the dessert I love and crave for when I visit.
Then we made our way down to Bushwick in Brooklyn for a special 20 course dinner my husband had booked a month in advance to this two Michelin star restaurant Blanca. It was our first visit to this high rank establishment of culinary exploration. One needed to be open with their choice of food, because there’s just no point substituting, if you can’t experience each bite with your other fellow 11 diners. I was curious on how I can be full with little bites of dishes, but trust me your stomach will be full by the end of the meal.
The atmosphere was delightful with cool vibe music playing in the background. The service was incredibly attentive with each inventive dish described to you like music to your ears.
The following morning we had St. Regis’ signature American breakfast in our hotel suite. It was a delicious hearty meal with a side of quality time with the husband. A perfect ending to our date!
Please comment below some of your favorite must-go places to eat and visit in NYC.