Madison Square Market

One of my favorite things about New York are the various markets that spontaneously appear around the city all the time. Madison Square Market is an example of one of those lovely surprises. It occurs on the border of Madison Square Park where white tents are set up and filled with local treasures both that are both delicious and fashionable. 

One part of the market is the shopping where local business owners sell beautiful scarves, leather bags, jewelry, and countless other products that continually tempt every New Yorker's shopping instinct. Shopping at an outdoor market in a park totally beats shopping in a store...

The other part is the food section where a multitude of local restaurants gather and sell their most popular menu items. From cannoli shops to fried chicken, this market provides a wide variety of flavors and textures that is so much fun for both those who are tasting everything or those who are just marveling. Also being sold is a selection of thin-crust pizzas, gourmet gruyere pretzels, and freshly brewed Kenyan coffee drinks that does not fall short of the high New York quality that I am continually getting spoiled with. My personal favorite was the homemade apple cider cake donuts that are mildly flavored but full of fresh apple taste that's all wrapped into a moist and crumbly cake donut. 

This market is so much fun to have near my school and apartment. I think I have managed to stroll around the market everyday since its opening- good thing it will be around until late October!


Happy eating!!!

THE Shake Shack

Cheeseburgers. One of the most iconic foods of our American culinary history. When one thinks of this classic dish, countless memories come to mind, such as those of childhood, laid back college weekends, or good times with family. Everyone has some connection to the delicious combination of meat, bread, and cheese- except me. Every cheeseburger I had ever ordered up until my arrival in New York had always been bland, unmemorable, and frankly not worth the calories. I could never wrap my head around what all the hype was about cheeseburgers. My mindset was that of disappointment and confusion until I discovered...

SHAKE SHACK.

I pass this remarkable dining establishment everyday on my way to school. Before trying it, I was shocked by the consistently long lines that this seemingly plain burger joint managed to attain day after day. It was enough to make my roommate and me force ourselves to stand in the long line one Tuesday afternoon. While in line, my cynical mindset was increasing with every minute as my thoughts were- this is surely going to be like every other over-rated burger. The menu was short and concise offering hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs. They had various flavors of custard and milkshakes, fries and cheese fries, and selections of beer and wine. When I finally reached the front, I ordered the Shackburger (duh) and continued to wait for my buzzer to go off as I took my seat at the shakey, overused table and chairs set up. When my burger was finally ready, my cynical thoughts immediately vanished. With one bite, I was instantly in love. The patty was thick, juicy, and straight off the grill. The freshly cut vegetables mixed perfectly with the American cheese and secret Shack sauce. It all was nestled comfortably between a lightly toasted potato bun. It could all be wrapped into one word- delicious. Every stereotype I had previously held about cheeseburgers was viciously refuted by this masterpiece of a burger. It transformed my entire view of iconic American foods and even made me feel more American myself. That's a powerful hamburger.

Now, Shake Shack has become a dear friend of mind, taking the form of intoxicating cravings that I receive on a daily basis. It is addictive and holds true to every positive review it has ever received. I hope to take everyone that comes and visits me to experience the wonder of a Shackburger.

*My roommate, Cristine, standing in line on our first epic trip to Shake Shack

Happy eating everyone!!!

Howdy!

So, what brought a young, Texas born-and-raised girl to the crazy, non-stop city of New York? FOOD. New York City is the restaurant capital of America, and no other place will give as delicious a culinary education as living in this environment. I feel thrilled, blessed, and just a little terrified to be living here. 


I am currently enrolled in ICE, Institute of Culinary Education, to get a dual degree in Culinary Arts and Culinary Management. Basically, I get to talk, listen, and learn about food ALL DAY. It's heaven. Out of 110 lessons, I am only 14 lessons in and I already feel like my entire view of cooking has been transformed and enhanced into the mindset of the professional culinary world. I have learned how to correctly hold a very sharp knife (a deep-rooted fear that I was forced to overcome), how to properly butcher every kind of raw protein imaginable, how to cut up squid, and how to successfully kill a live lobster. It has been an astounding few weeks and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the next 96 lessons!


As a foodie, living in New York is one appetizing adventure after the another. Every possible kind of restaurant concept is practiced and achieved in this magical city. From macaroni and cheese diners to dessert bars, it creates a biting sense of urgency within me to experience all of them. However, seeing that there are about 30,000 restaurants in the city, that hope is entirely unrealistic. But I am still determined to reach as many as I can and I hope to document them all in this blog :)


The first culinary adventure I will share occurred yesterday as friends and I ventured our way to Chinatown to attend the 2nd annual Dumpling Festival. 

Being a dumpling fanatic, I could not wait to be at the festival surrounded by all of the little pockets of goodness (goodness being deliciously seasoned pork wrapped in fluffy dough and then pan fried).  The festival was packed with fellow dumpling lovers as we all spent the hot Saturday afternoon standing in long lines for warm, delicious dumplings. My personal highlight of the day was spotting the infamous chef, Mario Batali from the Food Network's Iron Chef. Seeing such a well-respected chef chowing down on cheap dumplings at a crowded festival made me so proud to be embarking in an industry that embodies such a wide variety of cultures, flavors, and experiences. After we had eaten our final bits of dumpling, we waved farewell to the beloved festival and made our way back onto the busy streets of the city.


That was the first of many new food experiences. Join me as I blog all of my culinary adventures- from cooking things I would have never imagined possible to eating places that are impossibly good. It's going to be an unforgettable year!