NYC: Lan Zhou Handmade Noodle

This small, hole-in-the-wall Chinatown eatery- with its rundown interior and minimal seating-is exactly the kind of place that is responsible for my love affair with NYC.

Chi town - hand pulled noodlez

This man, right here, ^ he's an artist.

Fixin's: Sriracha, sweet chili, chopped vinegary collard greens, ?, vinegar

#1: Beef Noodle Soup

...with hand pulled noodles

Perfectly al dente with a nice chew. The broth is clean, and beefy, and rich, and satisfying. Accompanied by tender, thinly sliced beef and bok choy.

Boiled pork & chive dumplings

JUICY

144 E Broadway, NYC (subway: F, East Broadway)

NYC: Bluebird Coffee Shop

Double ristretto of Counter Culture espresso in my cappuccino? Yes please! Window looking out onto the tree lined corner of 1st St and 1st Ave, the sun pouring onto my copper table? How lovely! Edible Manhattan to read while enjoying my joe? Sigh...

An enchanting Lower East Side spot for serious coffee

The clientele adds to the enchanting ambience

Bluebird uses Counter Culture coffee - an organization that brings in carefully selected beans from well cared for farms around the world. The milk comes from their own herd of cows and is bottled by Battenkill Valley Creamery. Fancy!

72 East 1st Street (subway: F, V - 2nd Ave - Lower East Side)

NYC: Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches

L.E.S.

Classic banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)

with pate, Vietnamese ham, roast ground pork, pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and mayo on THE BEST toastiest, yummiest, most perfectest baguette

Get the Lychee drink to go with your banh mi. It's cold and refreshing. Perfect for...UN VERANO EN NUEVA YORK
*cheers*

NYC: Taim

Taim means "tasty" in Hebrew. This West Village shack brought me back to my tasty summer spent in Israel.

The slightly spicy harissa falafel. Next on the list of Taim falafel to try: roasted red pepper, then cilantro, parsley, and mint.

222 Waverly Place, NYC (subway: W. 4th street)

NYC Trucks: Wafels & Dinges

The other day while flaneur-ing down South Street Seaport in the financial district, I came across the Wafel & Dinges truck. What a find! I had heard about this truck, with its "liege" waffles and "spekuloos" spread. I must find out about this liege waffle, with its oblong shape and brioche roots and caramelized sugar exterior!, I thought. I also quickly realized I must have my waffle slathered with the Belgian graham cracker-meets-Golden Graham-flavored spread known as Spekuloos. Boy, did I order well.

The truck is decorated with black&white old time photos. Meg looks intrigued. She wants to see more!

What to choose!? What to choooose!?

dinges (a Flemish word) means "things" or "whatchamacallits" or "toppings". Flandria, on the other hand, is an bicycle company completely unrelated to this blog post.

Liege waffle with Spekuloos spread. This spread is like, something you always wanted to exist but never thought did. It is- i'm not kidding- ground up, spiced, shortbread-like cookies made into a spread. It is gooey and salty with hints of caramel and cinnamon. This is serious stuff and if you choose, you can buy it in a jar. But that, my friend, is a serious commitment and I am not liable for any resulting addiction.

Trucks can be found all over the city, click to find out multiple locayshs

NYC, CHINATOWN: Jing Fong

If eating Dim Sum was a sporting event, Jing Fong would be the stadium at which it was held. Upon entering the unassuming Chinatown storefront on Elizabeth street, you immediately ascend two seemingly infinite escalators, which bring you to an ornate dining room the size of a football field. Carts whiz by you carrying shu mai, dumplings, noodles, bbq-ed pork and duck, chicken feet, sesame balls, sticky rice. One of everything please!

Only a portion of the football field-sized dining room

Deep fried chicken feet - Cantonese version of American wingsShrimp and scallion steamed dumplings

Soft, silky tofu

Chicken and vegetable wrapped in rice noodle

Sticky rice with pork and egg...served with a side of sugar! interestingly enough, the perfect compliment

Fried lotus root, rice noodle wrapped shrimp, scallion pancakeDim sum means "to touch the heart", and we all know why.

20 Elizabeth Street, NYC, NY (subway: Canal)

NYC: Doughnut Plant

The son of a baker moved to NYC and opened a doughnut shop. Not just any doughnut shop, but one that sources the best ingredients and magically transforms them into little circles of goodness. With choices including valrhona chocolate, carrot cake, blueberry, tres leches, peanut butter, and creme brulee...you might wanna consider ordering a dozen. After washing them down with a glass of perfectly refreshing but not overly sweet blueberry lemonade, you will surely contract type II diabetes, but at least you'll be on your way to doughnut heaven.

Located in the lower east side

Blackberry jam doughnutCarrot cake doughnutCream cheese frosting incorporated into the interior of the carrot cake doughnut. Pure genius.Blueberry doughnut

Peanut butter doughnuts and blackberry doughnuts

Valrhona chocolate doughnuts

This place is Dough NUTZ!

379 Grand Street NYC, NY (subway: Essex)