A Foodeating, Sightseeing, Subway Hopping Trip –NY&DC-Day 3

[Hannikins]

A Foodeating, Sightseeing, Subway Hopping Trip –NY&DC-Day 3

Today I really wanted to get stuck into the foodie sightseeing side of our trip. So after a rather filling breakfast, three eggs and the works again, we headed down to Time Square.

At the end of our street is where they film good morning America… or something like that. And today they were doing an interview, only Adam was tall enough to see the guest over the crowds so he took a photo for me instead.





Celeb spotting over we took the number 1 subway down to 23rd st to our first stop, Doughnut Plant.

It was literally round the corner from the subway stop.

We’d just missed the morning rush as some of the doughnuts had sold out, luckily none that we wanted.



I ordered a jam filled with peanut glaze yeast doughnut and Adam went for the same glaze but with a banana filling.

While waiting for the doughnuts I noticed the seriously cute décor.



Instead of eating here we decided to head off with them to our next stop so we jumped back on the subway taking the number one down to 14th street. We then walked the short 2 blocks to Chelsea Markets. There we found a bench to people watch and eat our doughnuts.



All the yeast doughnuts are large and square, and very light



The filling was Yummy!



Once finished we explored the market a little, they have clothing shops, cupcake places and lots of bakeries.

It’s a very old but funky building and I saw on a sign that lots of creative agencies were station here, I wish the one I work for back home lived in a building like this!





After a rest, we were both full of yeasty goodness, we stepped outside to try and locate a lift up to the highline park, we didn’t have to look far and even the lift itself is part of the highline artwork, it plays positive affirmations to music, the water fountains do the same thing too when you use them

It was beautiful up here, a real mixture of the old and the new.





Today was shaping up to be another hot one and the butterflies were out in force.



The highline is littered with artwork and sculptures but the real attraction is the open space and the views. They even have a large grass area.

[Hannikins]

We didn’t walk the whole length, just a small section before we headed back down to ground level to get to our next stop. My map app said we weren’t far from penn station so we walked there and jumped on the number 1 train again down to Christopher Square. Not before taking some photos of MSG of course





Here was a small cluster of four of my foodie stops and where we planned to get some lunch.

It was 11am when we arrived and Adam was in need of the little boys room, so we headed into one of the stops, Grom and bought a drink. I has meant to try the hot chocolate here but as it was boiling hot outside I went with the Sicilian lemon Granita instead



This was located at the point where bleecker street crosses 6th avenue and was a beautiful little spot with a park and a church across the road.



Now…. LUNCHTIME

luckily the next two stops were on the other side of the square two doors apart



we grabbed a fresh French Baguette from Amy’s bread and some Taleggio and calabrian salami from Murray’s cheese.



It took us a while to decide on this, there was a lot of choice!



food in hand we headed to the park to sit and make sandwiches



I was quite impressed with the result!



Although small the park was very restful and very charming



Now you would assume that we were full by now, and you’d be right, but with a forth stop just across the road it would be rude not to.

We headed across the road to Popbar



It sells freshly made ice pops!



Adam had the mint with a full chocolate dip



and I had the kiwi with a half chocolate dip



Adam couldn’t wait to get back to the park to eat his



They were nice but a tab expensive for what they were.

Well and truly full we decided to walk to the next stop, which took us east across town, passing by Washington Square park on the way



It was also close to strand books so we headed in there. I so wanted to buy a book from there but they had nothing I wanted in stock L They do however have a restroom in the children department if you’re caught short, handy to know

I was on the search for beard papa’s as I wanted to try a cream puff from there. I walked the whole block but couldn’t find it. I’ve since learn that branch closed a few weeks ago, TYPICAL!

Exhausted of walking now we grabbed a number 6 subway back up to grand central to look around here before heading to the Rockefeller.

I was growing grumpy now as my feet were agony and I was even more grotty when I couldn’t find a soda stream machine. I eventually grabbed an iced tea from Juniors in the food court and chilled out there for a bit.

The station really is beautiful.

[Hannikins]

Next we headed towards the Rockefeller centre and the NBC experience store, here we were to register for our jimmy fallon filming tickets.

It really was disorganised chaos, we’d been told on booking to arrive by 4.15 but we had been tipped off to arrive early just after three. So had everyone else as the place was heaving. After a while we were queued up and given tickets and wrist bands, apparently you were seated in a random order, not by first come first served, That didn’t stop a massive push and shove of a line forming though ;P







Those relaxed looking people are on the ‘reserved’ list. That means if all those who didn’t prebook a seat (and they overbook anyway) don’t show up they get a seat. I didn’t see these guys again so assume they didn’t. I imagine even some people turning up at the allocated time of 4.15 didn’t either, I’d read of this happening.

With tickets and wristbands sorted we were free to leave, we were to return in an hour to start lining up.

We took advantage of this time though, looking around the plaza and in some of the shops.







Time passed very quickly and we were soon ready to join the queue. We weren’t allowed to queue up even one minute before the time as it was a safety hazard and we kept being shooed away until the exact time, all that happened though was a large group on people stood on the opposite side who all seemed rather interested in that shops window display teehee

Finally we were allowed up the magical escalator to be security screened and lined up



You were split into two side, letters and numbers and once in your zone you had to line up in order. We were letter ‘D’ so we headed there, turns out there were no A’s, B’s or C’s so we were at the front!

I looked across and the ‘numbered’ zone, I didn’t think much of their ‘random’ system nobody in the lettered section was a day over 30 all of the older people seemed to have had numbers and I hate to generalise but they were more ‘casually dressed’ audience members in the ‘numbered section :/ Thank god I’d made Adam where his smart t-shirt today!

While in the queue a guy came up to us in a suit and red converse (which in my eyes made him instantly cool!) he started asking where we were from and how long we were around, turns out he wanted us to take part in a game show in a few days time, but unfortunately we’d be in Washington by then…. Otherwise we would have been very up for that! Free stuff! Woohoo!

Sure enough the letters were led into the studio first, we were front row, woohoo! Sat right behind the directors chair so we could see, and hear the action.

The guests were Steven Colbert and Nick Cannon. Now I only know him as being married to Mariah Carey but apparently he’s rather big over in the US as a music mogel and also the host of America’s got talent, which he was here to promote.

No camera shots here folks, you weren’t allowed, those that tried were ‘removed’

I’m pretty sure we made it onto American TV though, Adam even got a high five from Jimmy at the end which was great

[Hannikins]

Filming finished at 6.30 so it was a brisk walk back to get ready and dressed up for tonights meal before heading back to the Rockefeller centre to go to ‘top of the rock’ to watch the sunset. We arrived back at 7.30 (we were very speedy!) and again using my discount cashback tickets we were quickly on our way to the top, stopping for a few photos along the way.





by the time we made it to the first viewing area the sun was just starting to fade but as the wind had also picked up I started having a series of snotty coughing fits so I left most of the photos taking to Adam and headed indoors









After a few photos and a sit down we headed up to the next level to taking a few more, while up there the sun finally started to dip below the horizon



Trying to get a clear photo though the panes of glass was hard work so we headed up to the very top to watch it finally set as gradually the lights of the city came alive.

Going…


Going…


GONE!






The empire state building is definitely the best side once dark. Central park just looks like a black blob in the darkness, I’m glad I saw it before the sun set to, best of both worlds then J



Feeling that we’d spent enough time in the cold we made our way to ground level to catch the orange subway line down to herald square and then the yellow line east to 23rd street. This bought us up on the opposite side of Madison Square Park, which was the location of our ‘big dinner’

[Hannikins]

As part of celebrating Adam’s big 3 – 0 I’d promised to take him out to a fancy restaurant of his choice, he chose Eleven Madison Park (EMP). Now this place recently came 10th in the top 50 restaurants in the world poll so I knew getting a reservation here would be difficult. In the end it was harder than getting take that tickets and the earliest reservation I could get was 9.30, still at least we were now hungry considering all the food we’d eaten today!

**NOTE** what follows is a very photo heavy rundown of our food journey at EMP, if that’s not your thing feel free to leave the day here, nothing interesting happens later ;P I also struggled to take some of the photos due to the lighting so I’ve added some from google images instead



on arrival our table wasn’t quite ready so we headed over to the bar and ordered some cocktails

EMP has won awards for their cocktails and these things were yummy but oh so very strong!



Loves a girlie cocktail my hubby



We were soon escorted to our table where a letter had been places for Adam



It was a hand written letter from the team wishing him a happy birthday.



We had a lovely view from our table, the building is small, but high. It was originally the met life building and was intended to be the tallest building in NY. However they ran out of money and stopped at the 23rd ;P



The menu here is a little odd, you just pick the main ingredient and leave the rest to the kitchen. You can point out some dislikes if you have any though. So we ordered.

Adam - Foie Gras, Lobster, Duck, Chocolate
Me – Almond, Cobia, Duck, Malt

We both had to order duck as it’s a shared main



The only thing we pointed out that neither of us liked was mushrooms. And so the fun begins!

First up came a little gift box wrapped up, our hostess explained that tonights theme was new york and that these were a savoury take on the New York classic black and white cookie.



They were made with parmesan and black truffle



Next up came a thyme infused apple tea with a quail egg and bacon ‘bite’



The tea was my favourite part!

Next up came a mackerel and scallop crudo



very unusual flavour but nice all the same… NEXT!

Next came Yogurt Lollipops with Curry and Chickpea Panisse with Yogurt



again yummy yummy yummy! My taste buds were on fire and we’d hadn’t had our first course yet!

It wasn’t next though, on no, next was the bread course.



these were seriously good, almost like a savoury croissant.

And then…

The first course was finally here!

My ‘Almond - Salad with Almonds, Mangalista Ham & Cucumber



And Adam’s Foie Gras - thinly sliced radish and covered with a rich pork broth



Adam loved his but I really wasn’t keen on mine. I didn’t think the flavours went well together and I really couldn’t tasted the Almonds at all.

[Hannikins]

Adam’s lobster - poached knuckle and claw meat with Meyer lemon beurre blanc and was accompanied with charred leek, leek puree, charred bay leaf, and dehydrated squid ink.



And my Cobia – I can’t remember the description here but it had leeks with it ;P



Again Adam adored his but I wasn’t a fan, I’m seriously getting the wrong choices here.

After the fish course we had a small break before the main show, the duck. EMP source and prepare it all in house and season it over time with honey and lavender. It’s served table side





before they take it away and prepare the remaining meat in a red wind reduction and serve it with a foie gras potatoe puree



The duck itself was amazing, although the strength of the honey made me cough, a lot :/

We both weren’t keen on the second preparation though, far to rich and buttery for us to manage.

Next up, a palette cleanser, following the New York theme is was an egg cream with orange oil prepared table side.





I loved this and it certainly did the job after the strength in flavours of the duck

Next up was a deconstructed New York cheesecake. Prepared with goat cheese and situated in a glass with blood orange sorbet while topped with vanilla “snow”



again very yummy considering I’m not a huge goats cheese fan.

At this point the floor manager approached and asked Adam if he’d like to visit the kitchen (I’d emailed and asked if they could do this as a surprise) his face was a picture and his eyes lit up!

We were walked to a viewing area set to one side so we could view the kitchen





The chef de cuisine James Kent came over to chat and explained about the areas of the kitchen and how they worked, he then called over another chef who came over with a trolley and started to prepare us a cocktail to take back to our table





She used liquid nitrogen to create a case on the top.



Again like the first cocktails these were STRONG and we chatted some more before wobbling back to our table.

[Hannikins]

Now it was time for our final course, the dessert

Adam’s chocolate – again I can’t find the exact description but it was yummy



And my Malt – Sorbet with peanuts, pretzels, and Dijon mustard.



both were yummy but I couldn’t finish mine as it was causing me to cough again :/

It was safe to say that we were now both STUFFED and very tired, it was now after midnight!

Thankfully our final course arrived. Another black and white cookie, only this time it was sweet. A nice touch starting and ending a meal this way.

The bill came along with a bottle of cognac, we were told to help ourselves too this along with some cute little petit fours. We didn’t have much but I wonder if anyone ever drained the bottle



on leaving I was given a jar of homemade Granola, the chefs favourite



and as it was his birthday Adam was given a little box of chocolates





The meal, including all wine and cocktails cane to $348.50 + tip

Considering the experience and amount of food we’d eaten I considered that money well spent! I just wish I’d been in better health and it did stop me finishing and enjoying things quite the same. This is now Adam’s favourite meal but Gary Danko in San fransico is still my fav, it may have two less Michelin stars than EMP but I loved it.

It was now almost 1am so we staggered out and hailed a taxi back to the hotel, where we rolled into bed ready to sleep off another exhausting day

[Glee Fan]

Too many wonderful food experiences to comment on here! Loving the look of the sandwich, ice pop, granita, doughnut (a big yum!) among other things!

Dinner sounds and looks amazing, a great birthday treat for Adam. What a lovely touch to get the granola and chocs too.

[NatOwls]

What a wonderful day! The food looks fabulous too !
Thanks for sharing ! x

[Guest]

Fantastic report! The views from TOTR were fantastic!