Dear Friends;
Here we are in New York City! We’re here to celebrate my birthday and celebrating we are!
Someone told me once that the place one feels most at home is the where one understands the meshugaz (the insanity). For me, one of those places is New York. Ever since I was twelve years old, the city has captivated me. And though I no longer live here, it still somehow feels like home.
This trip is a little different as travel with an infant has its own set of rules – and we are constantly discovering what those are. Though we’ve slowed down, and evenings now involve much more sleep than they have in previous visits, we are still enjoying every second.
When I’m in New York, there are a few places I go to, a few things I love to do. Of course there are the museums and there is the endless shopping. In addition, we return to the places where we get what we can’t anywhere else -- as you can see from the list below, it's not just about the gluten/dairy/sugar free, but rather about having the best -- be it ice cream, steak, vegan food or coffee.
Pure Food and Wine on 17th and Irving, is always, ALWAYS my first stop. Gourmet raw food made with the best, most luscious ingredients. Their ice cream is dairy and sugar free (though they do use a lot of agave in everything – not always the best, but hey, it’s ice cream!) – the oreo cookie and chocolate flavours are incredible, as are their mallomars (gluten, dairy and sugar free). The restaurant has a gorgeous patio in the back and they are now open for lunch as well.
Public. I have raved about Brad Farmerie before, and here I go again. When we‘re in New York City, I do my best to allow DW his own pleasures – he’s not as into the raw/vegan stuff as I am. Public, is a more classical type of restaurant, but their meals are a delight for us both. Have I mentioned how wonderfully kind they are to people with food allergies?
Babycakes offers delicious gluten-free, vegan baked goods. I’m serious – their cupcakes and banana bread are delicious! I hear they’re making donuts these days as well!!! I’m headed down there tomorrow to pick up some lovely gifts for friends. And if they give you the once-over, just remember: you can put up with a little downtown ‘tude in the name of old-fashioned treats!
9th street Espresso. Coffee? Me? Well, no, I don’t drink coffee, but my partner is a java-geek and so seeks out his espressos like I do picky foodie friendly fare. According to DW: “The coffee is magnificent, although they must put all their love into it because they seem to have none left for their customers.”
One of the things I love about returning is that it’s familiar enough; but New York, being New York, is also new and exciting at every turn. So we visit our favourite places – we grab a Spanking at Pure Food takeaway, we wander around the Lower East Side and by the water on the West Side, we spend as much time as possible at the farmers’ market on Union square, we walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and get DW a hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows from City Bakery. But then there are the little surprises we find: new places and people that remind us that being in New York is always a treasure hunt.
With love,
Gabriela
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