New York Foody Delights

Much of our trip to New York was planned around food. There were so many places we wanted to go and eat and NYC has some incredible food.

Over the next few days we discovered a cute place for south american food, they did these fabulous corn on the cobs and great margaritas. We went to Rice to Riches to sample the wide variety of flavours of rice pudding.

We went to Chipotle, a burrito fast food chain, we do have them in London, but much more expensive. We went to Whole Foods Supermarket,  and I love, love, love foreign supermarkets! We also have a few of these in London, I try to go whenever I'm there, the food is yummy.

We went to a bar that was also a salon, you could get your nails done and a cocktail for $10 and sit under an old fashioned hairdryer sipping on a cocktail named after a hairstyle or colour! And we also ate the most amazing crepe, they blow torched the crepe to caramelise the sugar! We went to the Shake Shack, they do scrummy dirty american burgers, crinkled fries and milkshakes made with custard.

 We went to a cowgirl bar (also in SATC) that did margaritas in a slushy machine and served it in a jam jar. And we also went to my favourite restaurant, but Sian vommed again, so we had to leave. I made it back to the hotel before I vommed too.

NYC Sweetness

Cocktails at Dylan's

With my girl back in action, we spent a day heading up 5th Avenue. Our evening was the most fun, we went to Dylan' Candy Bar. Dylan's is the most amazing sweet shop ever and now they do cocktails. There was a Strawberry Nerd Mojito, I had this amazing drink that you drop candy floss into and it dissolves.



We then went to Serendipity for dinner, which is used in several films and the food there is so good, but they don't serve alcohol and the portions were so big there was no room for a sundae which is what you go to Serendipity for. They do a sundae called Golden Opulence, its only $1,000.

We walked past a very stunning Bloomingdales on our way back to the subway.

Bloomingdales at night

Brooklyn Bridge

The following day, things did not go to plan! We walked over Brooklyn Bridge with intentions to go to the Botanical Gardens to see the cherry blossom, but when we got to Brooklyn we were so wet, we abandoned the idea and went back to Manhattan and up to the Natural History Museum, the perfect place to spend a wet afternoon! I'd been before but had not seen the big whale.


After this we went looking for food and drink, on the verge of giving up, we found a street full of bars and restaurants. So we hit a bar in time for happy hour, which was a little too happy, we then had paella and too much sangria. Probably the drunkest we got in NYC.

But instead of heading to bed, we jumped on the subway and decided to go up the Empire State Building. It was about 11pm and really quiet. Though Sian did fall out of hotel and sprain her ankle on the way there.

On the Subway

A trip up the Empire State is a must. Whenever I'm in a foreign city, I love 'going up' something. You're spoilt for choice in New York, I actually prefer Top of the Rock, but because you get the view with the Empire State in it (those photos will follow). But do both, because its great seeing the city at different times of the day (and night). 

Times Square to the left, Rockefeller to the right

Looking Downtown

Times Square

Looking West towards New Jersey

New York, New York

My Bestie and I went to Belgium together last Christmas and had a great time, which was just as well as it was practice for spending two weeks in New York together. Siân had never been to New York before, this was my fourth time. 

We flew on American Airlines (never again), I've flown Continential before and was more luxurious. I don't mind flying, it is the boredom that I hate, American Airlines showed one film, on one screen for every five rows (crooked neck). But its one of those things you just have to deal with to get there.

Our bus dropped us at Grand Central from here, it's a short walk to our hotel, once checked in and showered we did what was inevitable. We went to Starbucks. We got Iced Caramel Macs and sat in Bryant Park, which I have to say is one of my favourites in New York. 

After this, we went for a little wonder around our local area to help Siân become familiar with it. So the other inevitability was we ended up with a cocktail in our hands! 

With a some food and too many cocktails in our bellies, we went to Times Square. I cannot recommend this enough, if you have never been to New York before, do not rush to Times Square, wait until night fall. At this time the lights are spectacular and the atmosphere will blow you away, it's how it is meant to be seen!