We planned for a full day in the City on Friday, starting with getting to the Today Show bright and early.
As you can see from my favorite watch brand, we didn't get there quite that early.
It was rainy and chilly.
While it wasn't a very long walk to Rockefeller Center, we were meeting our friend Brenda at 9:00 to head off for our Melting Pot Food Tour of the lower east side. And we didn't want to get jammed in the crowd and not be able to make a quick exit.
Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Ann Curry on the Today Show. (Since we couldn't hear the dialogue, I have no idea what was going on with Matt's sideburns.)
Gwen Stefani and her group No Doubt kicked off the Today Show's Summer Concert Series. (Not sure what part of Summer was on the plaza that day.)
Looking through the outside stage into the NBC Studios.
Prior to arriving in NYC, we made arrangements for a city tour. This was not your usual tour, but one that focused on the history, culture and foods of the Lower East Side (Little Italy, Chinatown and the Jewish neighborhoods.) Susan Rosenbaum is The Enthusiastic Gourmet, emphasis on enthusiastic!
It was a wonderful way to learn about that area of the city, the original settlers, and the foods and traditions they brought with them. We had a wonderful time! Thank you, Susan!
Our tour started in the Essex Street Market, which is a wonderful fresh-food market in the Lower East side. Prices are fabulously inexpensive, the variety of fresh food (fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cheese, coffee and dry goods) unbelieveable and the owners and patrons very friendly.
Frank, Leann and Brenda (friend from NC) at the Essex Street Market.
Ever hear of a 'bialy'? I hadn't, but now that I know what they are, I'm going to be on the lookout for a kosher bakery! A bialy is like a bagel, only lighter because it doesn't have sugar and yeast and isn't boiled and then baked like a bagel.
A bialy is round like a bagel, but not rolled out into strips and formed in a circle as a bagel is. Could add 'stuff' like creamcheese, lox, etc., but it was pretty tasty all by itself.
This isn't your Vlasic pickle store!
Barrels and barrels of things being pickled by The Pickle Guys, Yes, there were the traditional things like cucumbers and olives, but they also had carrots, tomatoes, veggies, etc.
From left to right:
New Pickles (only in the salt/water/spices brine for a week)
Half Sours (in brine for 3-4 weeks)
Full Sours (in brine for 2-3 months)
We liked the Half Sours the best - you still get some pucker, but no Vinegar is used!
Our first stop in China Town was a bakery. Very busy but wonderful smells and interested sights. While we were there, we tried steamed buns with BBQ pork filling and then a baked bun with lemon custard filling. Both firsts for us, but tasty.
The obligatory 'dried stuff' shop...kind of like our GNC. Got something that ails you? Perhaps bird nest soup will cure it. (Yes, they do sell birds nests here.)
DiPalo's Fine Foods (Italian Importer). Delicious parmasean cheese sampled here.
We also stopped at another 'every day' cheese shop and enjoyed more samples (fresh mozarella, etc.)
No trip to NYC is complete without going to Wall Street. Our friend Ron requested a special prayer be read on his behalf, but it needed to be done on Wall Street. Can't get much closer that that!
I claim no responsibility for this picture.
The first rat we've seen in NYC!
Delicious thin crust pizza from a coal-fired oven.
Doesn't matter what city you're in, Friday night pizza.
We had a great time in NYC and it was even more special to spend time with friends, explore the city from a culinary perspective and take in a few shows!
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