“New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town! The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down.” And I’m in the middle, just like the people, riding (like crazy) in that hole in the ground. Without a doubt, folks, New York is a “helluva” town.
I’ve just returned from an extraordinary visit to the Big Apple and the borough of Brooklyn, where my daughter, Anna, happily resides as she busily plies her trade as an actress. True to the song (from the Broadway musical On the Town), we literally did ride in a hole in the ground, efficiently traveling each day by way of New York’s vast subway system to meet Anna’s rigorous schedule of rehearsals and performances of Half Life, the award-winning play in which she was appearing.
My daughter’s demanding timetable was, needless to say, far less demanding on her father. I nevertheless made do, sampling the many eateries that are so unique and so typical of New York. The experience was immensely rewarding and I wistfully share with you those places to which I would eagerly return.
New York, despite its high cost of living, is an “on the go” city that offers a surprising amount of inexpensive fast food. Hot dog lover that I am, I made a beeline for Grey’s Papaya, on the corner of 71st and Broadway, where two griddled hot dogs and a surprisingly companionable papaya drink cost a mere $2.75.
And if you think that’s cheap you won’t believe the bargain you can get in Chinatown at a tiny storefront on Mosco Street. Just look for the sign that says Fried Dumplings and then order five delicious, handmade, crescent-shaped dumplings stuffed with pork and chives for only a dollar. Eat them at a counter or take them to go. A winner.
New Yorkers love the idea of specialty shopping and the concept of the “one-hit wonder.” They’ll go to one place for the best hamburger and another for the best French fries. For fries there’s none better than “Pommes Frites,” a tiny storefront located in the East Village. On a good day this one-hitter sells a thousand pounds of hand-cut, twice-fried, authentic Belgian fries with a choice of 26 toppings, such as roasted garlic mayonnaise or sweet mango chutney. Why there isn’t one of these in Chicago still baffles me.
Piadina is the latest sandwich rage in town, made of unleavened flatbread and filled with stracchino cheese, arugula, prosciutto or a variety of other meats. I had mine at Daniel’s in the Flatiron District.
Speaking of one-hit wonders, one of the most innovative to date has to be Rice To Riches, located in SoHo. This futuristic looking store, like a cafeteria in A Clockwork Orange, sells nothing but rice pudding. Sample up to 24 different flavors before settling upon two in one bowl, which is plenty for the average hipster couple.
I did splurge a bit at the Grand Central Station Oyster Bar, dear to my heart and the inspiration for Philander’s. With an assortment of 27 different raw oysters and steamer clams to boot, how could I pass it up? Like I said, a helluva town!