New York Tasties - Food Adventures in the City

I wouldn't be a true foodie if I didn't journal last week's culinary adventures in New York.   Edits will be made to this post as I gather other photos or tidbits of info from others in our group, but this is the bulk of my experience!

Since I was with a school group so we didn't have the flexibility of choosing many of our own meals which was extremely disappointing.  We'd walk past dozens of cafes, bars, and tantalizing eateries who's heavenly aromas taunted our taste buds only to end up in the back room of a diner with a burger and fries.  Needless to say, we were elated when we got to choose our own meals and purchased plenty of tasties between meals and our digestive tracts and waistlines were elated at the break from fries.

A couple observations about the streets of New York:
1) There was ALWAYS construction going on.  Drilling, scraping, and roads blocked off.  ALWAYS.
2) Scaffolding was everywhere!  Apparently pedestrians don't like aging brickwork falling on their noggins so scaffolding is the norm.  It does detract from the city's charm.

*Breakfast in Grand Central Station.  I had no idea Grand Central was so big and offered so much for travelers!   We headed downstairs to the food concourse where, after breakfast, we checked out the 'whispering gallery'.

Grand Central had many other dining options (surprisingly) but after getting only two hours of sleep the night before on the plane, healthy sounded smart.   Riece opted to do 'doughnut tastings' with his group of friends. They took turns purchasing doughnuts from the different vendors, rating them on taste, variety, and appearance.  Honestly, he was just happy to be eating doughnuts.

Apple turkey sausage and egg whites in a
whole wheat wrap with a side of fresh fruit. 

*Lunch at Manna's Soul Food.

We drove through Harlem and pulled in front of this small soul food eatery squeezed between shops.  This was technically 'lunch' but we had a scheduled dinner less than three hours later so I went light with my selection.

Marinated avocados, asparagus, and other veggies.
Crab salad, black bean salad, curried rice and candied plantains. 

Food was offered buffet-style, which was the norm for many of the places we visited.  This made sense as city-dwellers don't stock pile groceries or buy in bulk since storage space is limited.  If they eat out, especially at familiar locations, they want variety.   

*Dinner in a non-descript diner located in Hell's Kitchen.  They had a fantastic menu but our group was only offered burgers or wraps.  The food was fresh and good but we were discouraged by the lack of options.

 Turkey wrap with honey mustard with
a side of peppered fries.

*Mid-morning snack at Wafels & Dinges.   Our group passed a waffle truck  after touring a portion of Central Park, starting at Strawberry Fields and ending on Fifth Avenue.

The seducing aroma of sweet bread summoned my taste buds and I lingered as long as possible by the cart before catching up to the group.   Much to my delight, our group split up to shop Fifth Avenue and I immediately blazed a trail back to the waffle truck.  The menu alone caused me to salivate.   And chuckle a bit.

B&B Stuffed French Toast and Smooth OJ

[All photos by Mel Adair]

My boys excitedly skip around the kitchen when they catch me whisking together cream cheese and jam.  They search for the pan of heating oil then whoop in celebration.  Stuffed French Toast must be on the menu!    If I'm trying to score extra mom points, I'll blend up a batch of Smooth OJ, a domesticated version of an Orange Julius (recipe below).    

Riece was a toddler when my friend Victoria introduced our family to her Stuffed French Toast.  She helped her mom cook for guests lodging at their family-owned B&B nestled in beautiful Sisters, Oregon.   Stuffed french toast was a guest favorite!  Vic shared the recipe with me and over the years, it's become our family favorite, usually requested on special occasions or birthdays.   When the boys were small, they attempted to help, thus the artistry on my recipe cards.

 

Crazy Good Banana Bread

All photos courtesy of Mel Adair.

I love cookie dough.  Chocolate chip cookie dough.  After whipping up a batch, I have to bake it or freeze it as quickly as possible or I eat it.  Then I have guilt so I don't make it for a long time.  

Confession:  This banana bread dough is nearly as good, if not dangerously better than cookie dough!  I know, I know.  You're thinking that no one in their right mind would eat bread dough.   But this isn't normal bread dough.  This is crazy good banana bread dough that does a Cirque du Soleil in your mouth.  If you are a purist, this recipe is NOT for you.  If you are adventurous, this one is worth a shot!

I pulled the original recipe off the Food Network site, courtesy of Emeril Lagasse, in 2010 and have been making adaptions since.   

Speaking of crazy....