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Best Bites of the Big Apple

I had the chance to spend a week in New York (Manhattan) earlier this year in spring. Thanks to my amazing friends who hosted me, here are my top 10 eats amongst a lot of other good bites. Let me preface by sharing that I definitely have a sweet tooth so there are definitely some places that are solely for desserts. But I think they’re definitely worth a visit too! 

  1. Patiala Indian Grill – This was definitely my favorite meal of the trip! We got a tandoori mix grill, lamb biryani, shrimp saag, and naan. But honestly, I think anything would be delicious here which is crazy because the menu has so many options! Everything was super flavorful (as in spicy with spices and not just spicy heat) and I kept eating even after I was full. It was just so good! If I lived in NY, I would want to come here once a week just to try something new each time. The level of quality and flavor was comparable to the food I got to eat in the UK during my year abroad so if you know, you know!
  2. Glace – I was slightly doubtful, but this hot chocolate lives up to the viral hype. The hot chocolate is chocolate-ly enough (not too watery and not too viscous), the “whipped cream” is a creamy froth of creme anglaise (maybe? hard to describe but it’s so good!), and the ring of marshmallow is a perfect meringue. The whole thing is the definition of an elevated hot chocolate and is so worth the $10 price tag! Note: If you’re there in time for the frozen hot chocolate, I think it’s even better than the hot!
  3. Russ and Daughters – A classic for good reasons! This place was so good I went back twice in one week and got the same thing – a classic bagel and lox with scallion cream cheese. The everything bagel had a nice chew and was flavorful. The proportions of salmon and cream cheese were also perfect. You know how sometimes there can be too much of one thing and the balance is off? Not here! We also tried an egg cream, chocolate babka, cabbage salad, and potato salad the second time we came back! I definitely think the savory items (salads) are better than the sweets of all the ones we tried, but there’s so many choices in general so maybe I just didn’t get the right sweets. And by choices, I mean that the place has dried fruits, nuts, caviar, roe, soups, smoked fish, and also herring! Note: The place is definitely popular so expect a 20-30 minute wait or you can order ahead online about an hour before! There’s also a few locations so make sure to do a little research!
  4. Sarge’s – Another classic! Why do all the classics have so many options? We stuck to the most popular items and got matzo ball soup, blintzes, potato salad, cole slaw, sauerkraut, pastrami sandwich, and cheesecake. Honestly, everything was delicious and the service was warm as well. Note: They are also on GoldBelly if you can’t get to NY for some world-class pastrami!
  5. S’MAC – This was my solo adventure night and small confession, I centered it around this place just because of the photos. And now that I’ve been, it really is as good as it looks! The bubbling cheese, the cheese pull, and the actual cheesiness of the dish were sublime. They have a variety option (medium size pan) but it’s probably best for sharing as even the small option (that I got) was definitely enough for one person!
  6. Pio Pio 8 – What a way to start a Monday! There’s not a lot of Peruvian options in SoCal, so I was so very excited when my friends suggested this as it is one of their favorites. Must gets are Juanita’s Chicken (tender, juicy rotisserie chicken), Camarones Cuzco (shrimps in this creamy, garlicy, pepper sauce), and Chicha Morada (Peruvian spiced corn drink).
  7. Chip City  – This was a sleeper hit for me. I had never heard of it before but it was my friend’s recommendation of another cookie shop besides Levain. Chip City makes cookies the way I love cookies – warm, gooey, and decadent. Perfect for those late night cookie cravings if you’re like me. Did you know they also have ice cream?!?! And a weekly menu so the flavors are constantly changing? Note: There are multiple locations outside of New York so it was a little lower on the list. Unfortunately, those do not include SoCal (mostly East Coast).
  8. Urban Hawker – This was the food hall we visited after our Broadway show but note that most places were closed by then (a little before 9). Since most places were closed, we only got to try a couple things so I would love to go back! The vibe was great, and there were quite a bit of options for Malaysian/Singaporean street food which I don’t think is very common, at least in SoCal.
  9. Red Rooster Harlem – A great Southern food option if you’re craving it! The decor is delightful and homey and if you’re lucky, there’s live music which always just provides the best vibes! We got crab cake, fried chicken, mac and cheese with lobster, shrimp and grits, and collard greens. For drinks, we got a pitcher of Garvey’s Punch – definitely the way to go! I think we got at least 6 glasses out of the pitcher! It had a punch (pun not intended) but was easy to drink, just sweet enough, and complimented the food well. All the food was really solid and was a nice reminder of all the Southern food I had when I lived in Texas and traveled around in the south. The dessert was fine but not as good as the savory items.
  10. Shanghai Time – There’s nothing that quite hits the same as pizza and dumplings after a day of flying! Although I don’t think it’s a must eat, it’s a solid option if you’re in the area and are craving soup dumplings or wontons.

Runner ups include cookies from Levain, patatas bravas from Mercado Little Spain, snack cakes (fancy “Twinkies”) from Empire Cake, chocolate babka from Kossar’s, snow sundaes from Sweet Laboratory by Hanamizuki, and the banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. 

Overall, New York City is such an amazing hub for foodies and I don’t think I ever had a bad bite. Not to say that’s not possible (as I had great local tour guides), but I also think there are other great places yet to be discovered. Hopefully, this list provides a helpful start!

Best of Pixar Fest 2024

Pixar Fest is back at Disneyland (for another month), and I don’t think I every truly participated aside from watching the original parade a long time ago. However, I was so excited to get to experience all the fun things that were announced. Below are my rankings of my favorite to least favorite festival offerings!

#1 Pixar Pals Playtime Party – I honestly thought this was a hoot-and-a-half. Not only does Troubadour Tavern serve us some spectacular seasonal treats. I personally had the Adventure is Out There! Cold Brew and the Una Papa Loca! which were both delicious. There’s also either a dance party happening, Pixar shorts playing, or characters meeting Guests so there’s entertainment while you eat! The only con is that it ends early (around 6P every night). 

#2 Food – There’s lots of fun Pixar Fest treats all around the Disneyland Resort – the Disney Parks Blog came out with a great and detailed Foodie Guide. This year, festival booths were added, and they are very cute and well themed. Although I only got a chance to try a handful of treats, my favorite was definitely the Gusteau Macaron. Any else got a sweet tooth?

#3 Fireworks – Coming in third is the Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular. Be sure to check if fireworks are planned or you might only get the projection show! The show is great and they definitely added a few new scenes to include the newer Pixar films, but unfortunately, it’s just not my favorite Disney fireworks. I don’t get as much nostalgia when I watch it, but it’s definitely a celebration of the Pixar films and characters.

#4 Parade – Lastly, since Club Pixar closed down, my least favorite offering was Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!. I know, I know, I feel like it’s a favorite for a lot of people, but I honestly prefer the Magic Happens parade. I just think the music, choreography, and float designs are better. However, Better Together definitely embraces the Pixar theme and the new floats were cool to see at least once. If you’re planning to go, the first parade goes from Hollywood Land (Guardians) to Paradise Gardens Park (Silly Symphony Swings) and the second parade goes in the opposite direction. Just a helpful hint to know since it can take 10-15 minutes after the parade time starts for the floats to start reaching the ending land.

A Weekend in Oklahoma City

Starting with a throwback trip, but something that I thought someone might find interesting. I visited Oklahoma City (OKC) back in January 2023! It was not a place on my bucket list, but I am so glad that I went! It had history and culture to share and was a safe place for a female solo traveler. It also had some great food to boot as well!

Why Go?

I was about to head up to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area for a visit and was doing some research to see how I could extend my weekend up there. OKC is about a 2.5-3 hour drive from the DFW area so if you’re looking to expand that DFW bubble, I recommend OKC!

Where to Stay?

I opted for an Airbnb as it was the cheapest option. Since I had a car, location didn’t matter as much. I just needed a place that had parking! Most popular points of interest are in the downtown area, but there may be restaurants and other museums you want to visit that are a bit farther (i.e. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum). I recommend creating your list of interests first so you know what area to look in for a place to stay!

How to Get Around

I recommend renting a car to travel around OKC or staying in a more central place to your points of interest as you’ll likely need to Uber/Lyft. I didn’t see many buses running around during my weekend stay.

Day 1

Arrival day was a slow day. It was lots of driving after my “big girl” job and by the time I arrived, it was getting pretty late. I stopped by Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, a famous steakhouse that’s been frequented by celebrities and presidents! I heard it had a neat interior, but I had stopped for gas before and was already hungry and ready to go to bed. I’m glad I ordered ahead because there was still a bit of a wait when I arrived. Luckily, my Airbnb was close by so my food was still hot although it did culminate in my first and not-so-fun experience of using a plastic fork and knife to eat a steak. Overall, a really solid meal for the price – everything was great with my personal favorite being the bread. If you can, I would suggest eating in to get everything right off the grill. I’m sure that would only enhance your dining experience!

Day 2

A full day of exploration awaited! First stop was at Harvey Bakery and Kitchen. TIP: The line was out the door so I highly recommend ordering your desired baked goods online as they have a separate window for pick up. It’s a bit of a bummer to not be able to take a look at the bakery case, but Yelp photos definitely helped! Honestly though, I ordered a chocolate almond croissant, a cinnamon roll, and a kouign amann, and all were delicious so I don’t think you can go wrong!

 

Next stop was Kitchen No 324 , my actual planned place for breakfast. It’s a beautiful modern space that would have been a great place to dine, but once again, there was a wait, and I was running late after sleeping in. I ordered a Giant Buttermilk Pancake, and it was glorious! My favorite part was the slabs of salted butter than just melted into the pancake. Y-U-M! Who said you couldn’t eat cake for breakfast?

After the lovely pancake, I headed to the First Americans Museum (FAM). TIP: If you plan on going to both the FAM and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, they offer a combination ticket that also saves you $5. I recommend both if time allows! FAM offered a free tour (~1 hour), and it was a nice addition to my visit to get to ask questions with a tour guide. The tour consisted of a walk-through of the main exhibit on the first floor that focused on key historical moments and select artifacts. The museum incorporated history from a different perspective than in my schoolbooks growing up and overall, provided a knowledgeable view into First American culture and history. It is fairly new, and I think it’ll be really exciting to see how it will grow and expand over time. In terms of time, I recommend about 2 hours. If you plan on doing the tour, I recommend exploring the other exhibit on the second floor and going back to look at details from the first floor after the tour.

Originally, the plan was to visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum next. However, it was already mid-afternoon, and calculating the commute, I wasn’t sure if 2 hours would be enough. However, the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum was closer and the recommended amount of time for that was an hour and a half so I headed over there. Although the museum is older, the layout is well done. The museum details the story of the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 throughout the day and focused on the victims, the first responders, the perpetrators, and the aftereffects as well. It was the worst act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history, and although definitely tragic, it’s definitely a must-do if you visit. Outside is the Memorial dedicated to this event which I also recommend visiting. The hour and a half will allow you to comfortably walk through the museum and read most of the signs. However, I will note that I spent about 2 hours as there is much more information to read if you wanted to spend the time to do so.

After spending some time outside at the Memorial, I headed over to The Hall’s to pick up some pizza for dinner. They had some interesting flavors – I chose Sweetness and the Sunday Lunch for a Half and Half pizza. Sweetness was like an elevated Hawaiian pizza with hot honey and the Sunday Lunch had brisket and roasted potatoes. It was a great and satisfying meal to end the day with!

Day 3

Last day started off with breakfast at what seemed to be the most popular restaurant in OKC – a Latin cuisine inspired restaurant with an emphasis on Guatemalan cuisine, Café Kacoa. I ordered an Horchata and Tikal. The horchata had a rich depth and a lovely cinnamon-y kick. The tikal was one of their most popular dishes – think ultimate breakfast platter with eggs, steak, chorizo, black beans, plantains, and tortillas. It was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The portion was pretty generous, so I even had a little bit leftover to take back home with me for another breakfast experience another morning!

As for my morning activity, I wasn’t able to make it to the scheduled time I wanted to take of the Bricktown Water Taxi, so I improvised and did a self-guided driving tour to other points of interests. I admired and took photos of the Capitol building outside and drove in downtown to see the Bricktown area on foot. While looking for points of interest on Google Maps, the Centennial Land Run Monument popped up and I decided to check it out. I have to admit it was a bit odd to get directed towards a Bass Pro Shop, but apparently, the Monument is accessible from the back part of the parking lot. The Monument memorializes the Land Run on April 22, 1889, when more than 50,000 people rushed on horses, foot, and wagons to Unassigned Lands to attempt to stake a claim. While I don’t remember this event from my history classes, I must admit it was a very detailed monument and an expressive art piece.

Still full from breakfast, I headed off to my afternoon activity – utilizing the other half of my ticket to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. I admit I was a bit surprised to see this museum in OKC because I had never associated Oklahoma with cowboys before. However, let me say that this museum was big and full of information. I spent nearly 4 hours there and was so glad I did not go the day before because it would have felt so rushed. The museum had western and First American art, a real-life model of a Western town, private collections of guns, cowboy clothing and equipment, and more! Exhibits touched on the history of cowboys and western life, explained rodeos and its story, and showcased the Western entertainment genre, to name a few. Like the First Americans Museum, there was also a free tour. I was 1 of the 3 attendees and our docent was amazing – it was evident that he was very passionate about the topics and shared unique details throughout the museum. I eventually left the tour after 2 hours so that I could explore the other exhibits we had yet to get to. An impressive fact that I learned is that the museum has storage of even more pieces than they’re showcasing! This place is definitely not one to skip when you’re visiting OKC!

My last stop before heading back home was to Tucker’s Onion Burgers. I absolutely had to get an Oklahoma original – an onion burger although I didn’t learn about these until a few days before my trip. So, for those who may not be familiar, an onion burger has thin slices of onion smashed into the beef patty while it’s being cooked. For someone who’s not a fan of raw onions in my burgers but loves grilled onions, it was absolutely glorious! The supposed origin story is that by adding onions directly into the patty, costs could be reduced because less meat was being used. Given that it was supposedly created during the 1920s during the Depression, it sounds like a creative economic solution!

Final Thoughts

For someone who loves museums and food, OKC was an awesome weekend getaway. I found plenty to do without stressing that I wouldn’t be able to do everything. A weekend is a perfect amount of time so if OKC is close enough for a road trip or there’s a cheap flight that pops up, I recommend going!

Extra Things to Do

Bricktown Water Taxi
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Catch a game at Paycom Center

Extra Places to Eat

Boom Town Creamery
Empire Slice
Sheesh Mahal