Mom and Dad in the Big Apple!

So, my parents came in town this weekend and there are three words that adequately describe our time together: SO MUCH FOOD. I think I'm still full from all of the places we went. We had an incredible time!


It began on Friday night when they arrived and we dined at the Old Homestead Steakhouse, a longtime favorite of my dad (you know it has to be good if he likes it). However, our meal could not officially begin until we tasted the Kobe beef sliders being sold on the street AND after sneaking next door to taste Pop Burgers, deliciously prepared mini hamburger-sliders presented on brioche mini buns, an excellent start to our appetizing weekend. Unfortunately, I think we all would have been content with more sliders because the Old Homestead did not live up to our high expectations. One of the biggest things I have learned in school is how to make a restaurant unique and stand out among the other thousands of competitors. Homestead must have missed this lecture. Although the food was lovely in appearance and tasty in consumption, there was nothing that wowed us Texas foodies. Better luck next time Homestead...


The next day, we walked all around the Flatiron area, as my dad's knowledge and perspective of New York was significantly amplified. This tour obviously included a lunch at Shake Shack and for the first time in my Shake Shack history, there was hardly a line when we hungrily walked into Madison Square Park- unbelievable! My parents must have the magic touch, and they must have been thinking that same thought about this hamburger joint that left all of us in a Shackburger coma of pure divinity (aka- they liked it).

The rest of the day was spent walking around, tasting bits here and there but salvaging our appetites as much as we could for the delicious Italian meal in store for dinner at Trattoria Dell'arte. It was heaven. We ordered a margarita pizza that was as big as the table while maintaing a thin, crisp, and delicate texture. Mmmmm. We also ordered a fantastic veal parmesan and a crabsteak. What's a crabsteak, you ask? It's only lump crab that is cooked together and nestled upon a toasted brioche baguette. Let's just say that we were much more content with this meal than the one from the previous evening.

The next day, I was forced to do a act proved demoralizing for all New York City residents- ride the double decker tour bus. However embarrassing it might have been, it was really fun! We rode it to Battery Park where my mom put her bartering skills to the test in attempt to buy fake brand name purses at the cheapest price (I think she needs to work on that skill). After that, we spent the afternoon walking through Chinatown and Little Italy. My dad discovered Rice to Riches, an eatery entirely dedicated to rice pudding- there were about 30 various flavors to choose from. Crazily, their target niche is the younger crowd, a generation who is foreign to the concept of rice pudding. However, from what we saw and tasted, Rice to Riches is doing pretty good.


For dinner that evening, we dined at the Union Square Cafe, Danny Meyer's original restaurant. Danny Meyer is the most successful restaurateur in New York City, so we had to eat at this legend of a restaurant to see where the Meyer empire began. All of the acculades were rightly rewarded as the restaurant offered wonderful appetizers, delicious entrees, and a free course of the most incredible pasta we had ever tasted. Unfortunately, the ricotta gnocchi I ordered tasted like airy lumps of bland cheese, but everything else was spot-on fantastic. 


The final day was, again, spent on the tour bus as we ventured to the Uptown loop of the city. However, this was after we ate brunch at Normas and my mom ordered the BEST blueberry pancakes I had ever tasted. Later, we toured around as my parents took in their final moments of Times Square. 


As my parents prepared to head home on Tuesday morning, we spent our last meal hopping in a cab to get breakfast at Donut Plant. This is a gourmet donut shop that has taken an ordinary donut, added some originality and flair, and has become a successful landmark in the donut world. Our favorites are the coconut cream and the PB&J, the two square, cream-filled donuts offered. 

All in all, we had a wonderful time together and I was sad to see my mom and dad go. I am so thankful to have such selfless parents who have whole-heartedly supported me on this crazy, culinary adventure of mine. I love them so much.


Have a wonderful week!