Category Archives: Midtown (59 St – 24 St)
Per Se: Perfectly beautiful and exquisite
Dear Food Diary:
Per Se was just named #6 on the 2012 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list (moving up 4 spots).
A while back, our dear J was leaving NYC after her nuptials, so for her bachelorette party/day, we took her to Per Se for lunch to start the celebration. We wanted this to be a memorable time for all of us and surely we weren’t disappointed. And though I can’t say it was the best meal ever, it surely was one of them.
Caffe Bene: escape with a Misugaru drink in Times Square
Dear Food Diary:
Tourist and locals can now take a breather while in Times Square and skip Starbucks (I love that idea). Caffe Bene, a korean chain opened its doors and introduced the masses to Misugaru and a Korean drama/soap like decor and ambiance. A little library/living room in the back, a little escape from the hustle and bustle of the city…
(This is my first Instagram photos only post, I find the mood and colors work well with coffee shop posts)
The Plaza Food Hall: Poor quality control. Where’s Todd?
Dear Food Diary:
On one of our first dates, StalkerBoy took me to The Plaza Food Hall after a movie at the Paris theater. It was a memorable night, not food wise, but because it was April Fool’s day and I made a pretty mean (funny to me and only me apparently) joke on him (glad he’s still around).
A year later, we went back. And while I could hold my thoughts about mediocre over priced food for the night in the name of “reminiscing” (yes, this Chubby is a romantic at heart), I couldn’t overlook the poor quality control that was happening right in front of us. I was glad this was an open kitchen, actually more like thankful! But even so, the lack of passion for the food was obvious to the point where I lost my appetite, which wasn’t really missing out on much anyways…
Riverpark: Farm in the city to table with a view
Dear Food Diary:
When Riverpark first opened, I gathered my chicas and went for dinner. The space is a little hard to find, add to that a stormy night and it almost seemed impossible. The gps on my phone wasn’t showing it correctly and the cabby suggesting crossing the East River!!! We somehow found our way into the restaurant, tucked inside a spacious window covered building. Dinner was good but it didn’t blow us away… however…
Fast forward to a contrasting sunny day, month later… Glorious blue and white sky. A quiet view of the East River, relaxing and pleasantly chill. An amazing Brunch, plus a sneak peak at their innovative farm in the city. Naturally it moved up to be one of my new favorite brunch places in the city.
Txikito: my favorite tapas in the city
Dear Food Diary:
When I first started going to Txikito, it was a tiny spot, hidden all the way on the west side. Tables were hard to come by. One summer night, I endured the sauna like tight dinning room (no a.c) just to please my tapas craving. Luckily, they’ve expanded since, taking over the next door space. Making it in this city might be tough, but turning out amazing traditional Basque Country dishes night after night is the key to their success.