New York? Yes, it's an island.
New York, USA.
By Andy Fenner
New York? Come on. This is a book about islands. Blue seas. White sands. Coconuts and bikinis and pink drinks with teeny, tiny umbrellas.
Well, maybe.
But it’s also a book about food and culture and the intersection of those things. And New York? That’s pretty much the epicentre of the world when it comes to food and culture.
Plus, there are a few clues that New York is actually an island. At the very least, it’s part of a couple of islands. Don’t believe me? Staten ISLAND. Long ISLAND. Liberty ISLAND. Roosevelt ISLAND.
Lots of clues there, bro. I mean, Manhattan is surrounded by water on all sides. You access it via a bridge or a boat.
You don’t need sand in between your toes to appreciate being on an island.
New York.
New perspective.
New island paradise.
FROM LEFT: The iconic wedge shaped, 22 story Flatiron Building was completed in 1902; SOHO; Liberty Enlightening the World.
The first thing to do when visiting arguably the most famous city out there is to write a list of all the places you want to go. Take that list. Hold it up to the New York sky. And tear that list up. Honestly, the best way to experience New York is to experience it. Just walk around. Breathe. Look. Feel. Energy is infectious and this city is a superspreader.
If you spend your time hustling from one “oh-my-God-so-and-so-said-we-have-to-go-there” to the next, you’ll miss the magic that happens in between those moments. You’ll miss the tiny holes in the wall. The interactions with New Yorkers. The people. The intangible, indescribable, incomparable…dazzle...that no other city has. Not like this, anyway.
Of course, I am aware of the irony here. I tell you to tear up a list of recommendations, and then I send you a list of recommendations. I get it. These are just suggestions though. Honestly, if you get to New York your list could look totally different to mine when you leave. And it could be just as good. That’s the beauty of it.
Coffee:
Like most big, busy cities there is a lot of coffee in New York. And a lot of really bad coffee. That said, the third wave coffee scene is established, with new players popping up almost daily.
Devocion:
Not since Pablo E. has a Colombian import been celebrated with as much enthusiasm as Devocion. Beans get sourced around Colombia, before being Fed-Exed (tip: using Fedex as a verb adds a lot of NYC street cred) to their Brooklyn roastery. They have stores in Williamsburg, Flatiron and Brooklyn. All locations boast a focus on greenery, with welcoming plants sitting over comfy couches and chairs. Super inviting, super welcoming, super easy to drink a lot of coffee.
La Cabra:
Another import. This time from Europe. La Cabra is a well-known Danish brand, where they have carved out a name for themselves by supplying some of the world’s best restaurants. Here, in the East Village, they bring their excellent coffee and famous pastries. (Hello cardamom bun.)
Food/Retail:
Russ & Daughters.
“Iconic” is one of the most overused words out there, when describing New York and some of her eateries. Seriously, you’ll see it thrown around as freely as a beanie-d, bearded hipster in Brooklyn. But Russ & Daughters? That’s iconic in every sense of the word. The undisputed boss of smoked fish, caviar, baked items and deli goods is part history lesson part restaurant part shop. Their historical site in the LES has branched off into a slick, clean contemporary cafe where the focus is more restaurant than retail. They're also set to open up in Hudson Yards, spreading their offering like lox on pumpernickel.
RUSS & DAUGHTERS, the appetising shop moves to its current location on 179 East Houston St in 1920 and continues to please with Jewish comfort food: Pic: Russ & Daughters
Wildair:
We’ve seen this movie before. A restaurant opens to acclaim. It heaves with visitors. Popularity grows, queues get longer and finding a table gets difficult. Finding a table gets impossible, in fact. So the owners open something next door, or nearby. It’s more affordable. More casual. It handles the overflow and relieves pressure.
That happened here. Or it was supposed to. The problem (is it a problem?) with Wildair is that it was supposed to ease pressure on Contra, the ambitious and experimental restaurant from the same owners. Instead, it has become arguably the star.
Wildair still impressively pitches itself as low-key. But it delivers on huge levels, consistently punching above its weight with flavour. Prices are more in line with “everyday” eating in new York and that itself makes it a better bet than Contra. (In my opinion.)
Tip: You can’t talk about Wildair without mentioning their donuts. A product of the pandemic, it is one of the COVID silver-lined stories out there. Check out their Insta to see what I’m talking about.
FROM LEFT: Beer stand NYC style; Little gem, pistachio and herb salad from Wildair, La cabra minimalist cool. Pic courtesy Wildair & La cabra
Morgenstern’s:
Ice cream is ice cream, right? Wrong dude. Dead fucking wrong. Skip the overhyped Milk Bar and hit up Morgenstern’s. This ice cream is a masterclass not only in product development and innovation but also in packaging, design and branding. They balance tradition with modern and contemporary flavours and make sure to stay relevant with weird and sometimes polarising collabs.
Come for the ice cream, stay for the burgers, pies and shakes. Plenty of vegan options too.
FROM LEFT: Street graffitti as seen from the High Line; Useful fact! In 1664, New Amsterdam left Dutch hands and was named after the English, Duke of York
High Line:
From artefact to art...fact, The High Line is a working example of what can be achieved when a city works in collaboration with its residents.
An abandoned, deserted railway line is now a totally unrecognisable public park boasting public art, gardens and stunning views in every direction. The beautiful walkway serves as a right of passage for visitors, as you stroll from, over and through iconic suburbs and districts. Be sure to stop off at The Chelsea Market - all that Instagramming can be hungry - and thirsty - work.
Post pandemic movie house billboard
