The big apple! I had arrived, meeting my sister halfway across the large amount of space that separates us. I call this a trifecta year for me, as there are many times I go without seeing my only sister for spans of two to four years. Well my friends, this year, I was so blessed to have three wonderful visits with her.
This trip was especially special as my lovely sister was nominated for Best New Voice in the Saveur Blog Awards. Many of you graciously spent your time to vote for her (Much Appreciated By the WAY).
We left our husbands and children behind and decided to take on this town. Food being our main focus, it was almost too overwhelming. Two girls from Utah, two very different life paths, one common interest: Good Food!
Our first morning, we both woke with excitement as we were eager to walk the streets of Manhattan. The first stop on our agenda was finding that truly amazing cup of coffee. As we meandered the streets, attempting to find our bearings against the tall metal landscape, we anticipated finding a coffee shop we saw on yelp. A divine intervention occurred and a lovely local stopped us as it was apparent that we were "lost". I said we were looking for coffee at said location, he shook his head and said, "No". Stunned I wasn't quite sure how this was going to go, he then proceeded to say, "You want the best coffee? You are already here" and pointed behind us. There before our eyes was in fact an amazing shop Little Collins, and yes the coffee was amazing.
This trip was especially special as my lovely sister was nominated for Best New Voice in the Saveur Blog Awards. Many of you graciously spent your time to vote for her (Much Appreciated By the WAY).
We left our husbands and children behind and decided to take on this town. Food being our main focus, it was almost too overwhelming. Two girls from Utah, two very different life paths, one common interest: Good Food!
Our first morning, we both woke with excitement as we were eager to walk the streets of Manhattan. The first stop on our agenda was finding that truly amazing cup of coffee. As we meandered the streets, attempting to find our bearings against the tall metal landscape, we anticipated finding a coffee shop we saw on yelp. A divine intervention occurred and a lovely local stopped us as it was apparent that we were "lost". I said we were looking for coffee at said location, he shook his head and said, "No". Stunned I wasn't quite sure how this was going to go, he then proceeded to say, "You want the best coffee? You are already here" and pointed behind us. There before our eyes was in fact an amazing shop Little Collins, and yes the coffee was amazing.
No trip would be complete without savoring a giant plate of house-cured pastrami. So a trip to Carnegie Deli had to occur. Here my mother ordered the fluffiest and biggest matzo balls I had ever see! It was like giant pillows that you wanted to rest your head on. Surprisingly, I was able to order my sandwich on gluten free bread. Also on the menu, Gluten Free New York Cheesecake! It was like destiny had pulled me in to indulge in the New York experience despite my inability to have gluten.
We continued on enjoying the sites, architecture, and having fun as a family. My mother and father also had flown out to enjoy the experience. I stumbled across another amazing find, which was PizzaArte and the gluten free pizza is a must do! You will be transported back to a time when you could remember what "real" pizza tasted like. We hit central park, the Natural History Museum, Times Square, and much more. A lot in two days!
Finally the good news. The conclusion to the whole purpose of the trip. NorthWildKitchen did in fact take home a prize for Editors Choice for Best New Voice. But in a surprising twist and well deserved finale, she also took home Saveur Magazine's Food Blog of the Year! So congrats my dear one, thank you for the memories, and once again, job well done.