Where I'm going for dinner next time I'm in New York

New York is a great city with a mind-boggling number of famous restaurants and eateries. But some of the best restaurants are the inviting places you stumble upon while walking through the city.

My cousin Jessica and I were wandering around the Village looking for the perfect place to get a drink. There were a million options, but none seemed quite right until we walked past Quartino Bottega Organica. I loved the space - it was small, quiet, modest, and relaxed. The music was good and suited the ambiance. (This may seem trivial, but if you've ever had a meal ruined by Kenny G., you understand how critical music selection is.)

After a busy day, it was exactly what we needed.

The bar was small, but the wine list was impressive. It featured organic wines, but included several good, non-organic wines as well. I was surprised to find the prices much lower than I expected. The people working at the bar were down-to-earth and friendly. From talking with them, I got the sense that this was a restaurant owned and operated by people who truly loved food. After looking at the menu, I knew that this would be my first stop next time I visit New York.

Ramen - no longer just for college kids and starving artists...

When I hear someone say ramen, two words immediately come to mind: college and desperation. I associate the noodles with 50 cent deals at Giant, not cutting edge cuisine.

But ramen done right can be gourmet, as I found out when I tried Ippudo. In 1985, Shigemi Kawahara, the Ramen King, opened the first Ippudo in Japan. Since then, it's made its way to New York, where it thrived in the notoriously competitive New York restaurant scene.

The night I went, the small restaurant was packed. Chefs prepared the food in an open kitchen. In spite of the calm, Zen-inspired decor, Ippudo bustled with excitement. The service was excellent. If the ramen was half as good as the Ippudo experience, I knew I would love it. I was not disappointed, the classic ramen was addictive. The broth was subtly spiced and I couldn't get enough. The pork melted in my mouth. This was not my college ramen.

New York Doughnuts

What makes a great doughnut? New York's Doughnut Planet would argue a great doughnut has homemade fillings in a variety of flavors.

I wanted to check out Doughnut Planet since I saw it featured on the Travel Channel. My cousin and I got four doughnuts: Lavender, Valrohna Chocolate, Coconut Glazed Coconut Creme (my favorite), and Strawberry Jam Filled. They disappeared too fast to take pictures and lived up to our high expectations. The fillings were delicious but not overwhelming. The doughnuts themselves were light and sweet.

Doughnut Planet is a worthy rival of Fractured Prune for best doughnut ever- but it's a tough call. While Fractured Prune's hot glazed doughnuts rolled in delicious toppings are phenomenal, there's something irresistible about the Doughnut Planet's perfectly proportioned delicious filling to doughnut ratio.

Carmine's Opens Tomorrow in Penn Quarter!

While blogging my New York food adventures, it seems fitting to pause and share Urban Daddy's announcement that the New York Italian Restaurant Carmine's is opening in Penn Quarter tomorrow. Can't wait to check it out soon!

New York's most famous deli

Remember that scene in the deli from When Harry Met Sally? Did you ever wonder, like I did, if their sandwiches were that good? Turns out that Katz's Deli is famous for making life-changing sandwiches and cheesecake.

So of course I had to check it out. As soon as I got into the city, I met up with my cousin and headed to Katz's.


We walked into a large, bustling dining room. The menu was overwhelming - everything sounded delicious. But after walking there in oppressive heat, I couldn't fathom something as heavy as the famed pastrami sandwich. I opted for a chicken salad sandwich instead, vowing to come back next time for an authentic sandwich experience. The chicken salad sandwich was one of the best I've ever had and perfect for a hot summer's night. Still, my New York sandwich guilt didn't dissipate with each delicious bite and I realized there was only one way to make things right - eat a piece of authentic New York cheesecake.


This was the best cheesecake of my life. The texture was smooth, and it was the perfect blend of sweet and cheesy. It literally melted in my mouth. The power of this cheesecake cannot be underestimated. At this very moment, I have Katz's mail order cheesecake page up and the only question is "how many?"

A Cupcake Economy

Earlier this month I went to New York for the weekend. Somewhere in New Jersey, I received an email from a friend linking to a Wall Street Journal blog that reported cupcakes were a key driver in the New York's recent growth. I spent the next two hours thinking about cupcakes. As a result, I went on a cupcake photo shoot when I finally made it to Crumbs.

There were ginormous cupcakes...

celebrity theme cupcakes-of-the-month...

Girl Scout cupcakes...

and the best cupcake of all - chocolate coconut.

Hey, I'm just trying to support the New York economy.

Restaurant Week

One of my favorite times of the year is back! DC's Restaurant Week runs from August 16 - 22 this year. Nearly 200 area restaurants are participating, including some of my current favorites like Rasika, Acadiana, and Againn.

Three-course lunches are $20.10 and three-course dinners are $35.10, so make your reservations now!