NYC Weekend Eats
Do you plan food itineraries like I do?
Whenever I go to NYC (or really, whenever I travel), the trip always becomes a gastronomy-focused endeavor. Whether I’m there for work or to visit friends, the whole trip revolves around FOOD. And I have a never-ending list of places I want to try, so a food itinerary is perfect.
Matt and I went to NYC a couple of weeks ago, and while I had some business to take care of, my partner in crime and I spent most of the weekend eating some incredible, mouth-watering, carbtastic, ridiculously good food.
(photo from Matt’s instagram)
We took the Amtrak from Boston and after just a few short hours (4 1/2, to be exact) we were ready to chow down.
Let’s start with those little sandwiches pictured at the very top of this post. Those are the fried egg buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar – with the perfect fried egg, smoked pork loin, hollandaise, and chives, nestled in the softest, most tender bao buns. Adorable and amazing. Matt said it was the best breakfast sandwich he has ever eaten.
But did we stop at those buns, hun? Of course not. We were at a noodle bar, so we had to get some ramen –
The classic Momofuku ramen (pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg) was one of the frontrunners when the ramen craze hit, and it’s still one of the most popular and copied ramen recipes in the US. Rightly so. The broth is rich and filled with umami flavors, the pork unctuous and salty, and the noodles have just the right chew. Slurp.
Since Filipino food is sadly lacking in Boston, I get my fix from other cities. New Jersey has the best, most authentic Filipino food IMHO, but New York is no slouch. We met up with some friends for dinner at Pig and Khao in the Lower East Side.
We tried plenty of dishes that night, but the one that transported me back to hot and balmy Manila was this sizzling plate of sisig. Chopped up pieces of pork head, chilis, and an egg. Fatty and crispy and spicy, perfect with rice and some ice cold beer. Filipino are very proud about their food, and after adobo, sisig holds a very special place in our hearts and bellies.
I also really liked Pig & Khao’s halo-halo, topped with leche flan and ube ice cream. Halo-halo translates to “mix-mix” because with this dessert, you mix everything together for the best bite. Halo-halo is typically a combination of sweets, topped with shaved ice, milk, and flan or ice cream. The sweets can range from sweetened kidney beans, garbanzos (chickpeas), cubes of jelly, tapioca, sweet potatoes, jackfruit, caramelized plantains, macapuno (coconut) strips, and other local delicacies. This was the best way to end our meal.
We went to Morgernstern’s Ice Cream Parlor. I love how creeeaaammmy the ice cream is, the classic and fun flavors, and the myriad of toppings to choose from. I got a scoop of bourbon vanilla + a scoop of strawberry + chopped chocolate + luxardo cherries. I also took a selfie, but Matt just wanted to eat his ice cream already.
(Yes, he’s a Yankees fan. My fellow Red Sox fans, hold the blowtorches, please. He’s a good guy.)
And since we were in New York, we had to get some bagels. And guys, this was the best bagel I’ve ever eaten my entire life.
Salt bagel (I didn’t even know salt bagels existed until I met Matt) with a thick smear of jalapeno cream cheese, and buttery smoked salmon. It was absolutely perfect.
We got this at a place called Best Bagel & Coffee near the Theater District and they were not kidding. BEST bagel.
Tip to those planning to go here: Go early. Lines are long (but should be worth it!)
(photo by Matt)
We walked a lot during our quick weekend trip (over 8 miles a day) and admired the usual tourist spots in the city, so at least we had some activity to offset all the eating. But that’s not all we ate! Unpictured were:
- Magnolia Bakery bread pudding (bought it at Penn Station for the train ride home)
- multiple slices of pizza
- fresh baked chocolate chip cookies each night from the turn-down service at my favorite hotel
- caramel popcorn from a food truck
Sounds like a lot of food for less than 48 hours in the city? That’s right. We eat a lot.
Thanks for another delicious weekend, New York. We’ll be back again soon!
Hi! I’m Bianca Garcia. I love food, running, yoga, sangria, and my job. I'm an advertising professional, social media enthusiast, blogger, freelance writer, and obsessive list-maker. I think about dessert constantly. 
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