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Tue Apr 12
6 things I learned about New York City. With no job and nothing holding me back here in LA, I decided to take a ten day trip to the big apple. This trip was long overdue seeing I probably have more friends in NYC than I do here in Los Angeles.  It was an interesting trip.   I learned a lot, had a blast, ate some of the most delicious food ever, saw live music, went to many bars, drank a lot and adored the beautiful park in the middle of all this chaos. I wanted to keep mental notes during the duration of the trip for the sole purpose of exploring the city from new eyes and my perspective, of course.  Here’s what I learned:  NYC has great tap water. Everytime I washed my hair, I noticed it considerably softer.  The tap water also tastes a lot better, colder & fresher in NYC.  It’s also said that the tap water is responsible for the amazing bagel & pizza crusts. Convenience. Everything you want is right outside your door. You need a new pair of shoes?  Dry Cleaning?  A falafel sandwich?  The city is so compacted and grid-like that everything you want (i.e.restaurants, museums, etc.) could be next door to you or a block or two away. No one really cooks in NYC.  I saw some tiny kitchens in some really nice apartments.  Sometimes, the only counter space are those square edges outlining the corners of the sink.  The little-to-no-space is discouraging for most so a lot don’t even bother.  And why should you even bother… NYC has some of the best food i’ve ever eaten in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, Los Angeles has some pretty tasty numbers here, but nothing can compare to some things I devoured in the big apple.  Here’s the thing with L.A. food:  It’s big on vegans, vegetarians, raw food and the huge health craze that comes along with the fact that everyone in Los Angeles is obsessed with the way they look.  My friend had an interesting theory that the reason NYC can get away with fatty, great foods is due to all the walking that goes along after/before a meal (see #5.).  That totally makes sense.  I’m so thankful to know so many locals and foodies in the city that know what’s up when it comes to food.  See the list at the end for my best eats! Nobody walks in LA.  Just like that catchy, 80s song goes.  But walking in the city is a vital part of the big life there.  I believe I walked an average of 3-5 miles a day.  Some days more, some days less.  You don’t only notice the walking, but you can feel the urgency that goes along with most people who are on the go. They can rush past you, leaving you in a tizzy.  But it is to be noted that I only gained one pound after all that good food I ate, thanks to all the walking.  It’s fucking cold.  55 degrees means two separate things for two separate coasts.  NYC’s 55 feels like you’re in the middle of a winter storm (just add wind!) while L.A.’s feel’s much more manageable.  You wear layers upon layers only to go out in the rainy cold and you get wet and sweaty from all the walking and the stuffiness of the subway.  Being born and raised in California, the cold is something I just don’t know how to handle well and i’m just not used to it. List of my favorite eats in the city: Shake Shack -mouth watering cheese-stuffed shroom burger w/cheese fries DiFara Pizza -Probably the best pizza i’ve ever had in my life.  Dom has been working there for an eternity and he is the only one who makes these tasty pies- he doesn’t trust anyone else.  I don’t blame him.  The burned, thirsty crust gets quenched with authentic italian olive oil and the cheese and fresh ingredients are undeniably delicious. Taim Falafel -Taim means “taste” in arabic and this is exactly what it was. This is what a perfect falafel sandwich should taste like. Taco Morelos- Yes, this is a taco truck.  Yes, I ate there on three separate occassions.  Yes, my friend Nicole is very lucky to live only two blocks away from it.  These tostadas put some restaurant ones to shame.  Petite Abeille - One of the best omelets i’ve ever had coupled with delectable mashed potatoes to make a beautiful marriage of a belgium breakfast.  Levain Bakery- A really tasty, fluffy, gooey, fat, juicy cookie.  Took me 3-4 days to eat due to the richness.  Yum.

6 things I learned about New York City.

With no job and nothing holding me back here in LA, I decided to take a ten day trip to the big apple. This trip was long overdue seeing I probably have more friends in NYC than I do here in Los Angeles.  It was an interesting trip.   I learned a lot, had a blast, ate some of the most delicious food ever, saw live music, went to many bars, drank a lot and adored the beautiful park in the middle of all this chaos.

I wanted to keep mental notes during the duration of the trip for the sole purpose of exploring the city from new eyes and my perspective, of course.  Here’s what I learned: 

  1. NYC has great tap water. Everytime I washed my hair, I noticed it considerably softer.  The tap water also tastes a lot better, colder & fresher in NYC.  It’s also said that the tap water is responsible for the amazing bagel & pizza crusts.
  2. Convenience. Everything you want is right outside your door. You need a new pair of shoes?  Dry Cleaning?  A falafel sandwich?  The city is so compacted and grid-like that everything you want (i.e.restaurants, museums, etc.) could be next door to you or a block or two away.
  3. No one really cooks in NYC.  I saw some tiny kitchens in some really nice apartments.  Sometimes, the only counter space are those square edges outlining the corners of the sink.  The little-to-no-space is discouraging for most so a lot don’t even bother.  And why should you even bother…
  4. NYC has some of the best food i’ve ever eaten in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, Los Angeles has some pretty tasty numbers here, but nothing can compare to some things I devoured in the big apple.  Here’s the thing with L.A. food:  It’s big on vegans, vegetarians, raw food and the huge health craze that comes along with the fact that everyone in Los Angeles is obsessed with the way they look.  My friend had an interesting theory that the reason NYC can get away with fatty, great foods is due to all the walking that goes along after/before a meal (see #5.).  That totally makes sense.  I’m so thankful to know so many locals and foodies in the city that know what’s up when it comes to food.  See the list at the end for my best eats!
  5. Nobody walks in LA.  Just like that catchy, 80s song goes.  But walking in the city is a vital part of the big life there.  I believe I walked an average of 3-5 miles a day.  Some days more, some days less.  You don’t only notice the walking, but you can feel the urgency that goes along with most people who are on the go. They can rush past you, leaving you in a tizzy.  But it is to be noted that I only gained one pound after all that good food I ate, thanks to all the walking. 
  6. It’s fucking cold.  55 degrees means two separate things for two separate coasts.  NYC’s 55 feels like you’re in the middle of a winter storm (just add wind!) while L.A.’s feel’s much more manageable.  You wear layers upon layers only to go out in the rainy cold and you get wet and sweaty from all the walking and the stuffiness of the subway.  Being born and raised in California, the cold is something I just don’t know how to handle well and i’m just not used to it.

List of my favorite eats in the city:

  • Shake Shack -mouth watering cheese-stuffed shroom burger w/cheese fries

  • DiFara Pizza -Probably the best pizza i’ve ever had in my life.  Dom has been working there for an eternity and he is the only one who makes these tasty pies- he doesn’t trust anyone else.  I don’t blame him.  The burned, thirsty crust gets quenched with authentic italian olive oil and the cheese and fresh ingredients are undeniably delicious.

  • Taim Falafel -Taim means “taste” in arabic and this is exactly what it was. This is what a perfect falafel sandwich should taste like.

  • Taco Morelos- Yes, this is a taco truck.  Yes, I ate there on three separate occassions.  Yes, my friend Nicole is very lucky to live only two blocks away from it.  These tostadas put some restaurant ones to shame. 

  • Petite Abeille - One of the best omelets i’ve ever had coupled with delectable mashed potatoes to make a beautiful marriage of a belgium breakfast. 

  • Levain Bakery- A really tasty, fluffy, gooey, fat, juicy cookie.  Took me 3-4 days to eat due to the richness.  Yum.

thoughts?
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