Eat

In her 2006 memoir, Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about her year of travels post-divorce. She seeks to feed her soul in three I-named countries: Italy, where she indulges the senses through food; India, where she discovers the power of prayer and meditation; and Indonesia, where she finds, not unsurprisingly, a companion in her life journey. Now perhaps a cliched term, the popular culture reference often conjures images of a free-spirited blonde woman traversing the world (thanks, in part, to the film adaption starring Julia Roberts), but I assure you, dear reader, I am neither as enlightened nor as blonde as our titular character (although my hair is several shades lighter nowadays).

We begin our first adventure of the summer with a a long weekend in New York City.

For years prior to the COVID pandemic, Reem and I would travel to NYC on an annual Sisters Trip. Our itinerary often included watching a broadway show, visiting the Metropolitan Museum, and of course, indulging in foods which delighted all senses.

This year, as a graduation celebration for Reem, our trip to NYC was particularly special as I traveled with both my brother and my sister, both of whom I have not traveled with in quite some time. It’s different navigating the world as adults – the itinerary for one, is far more varied, including preferences ranging from an Instagram-favorite bagel shop to a stop at the local Major League Baseball shop.

We arrived at our breakfast location within minutes of arriving in NYC; Reem had created a jam-packed schedule, because, heck, if she could only be in NYC for 48 hours, she was going to enjoy every minute of it. And I was here for it.

The first stop of our NYC food tour was at the bagel shop rivals Pop Up Bagels and Leon’s Bagels. Personally, I thought both were just fine but Reem was more pleased with her everything-flavored bagel with chives schmear from Pop Up bagels, which she devoured and dreamt about in the days afterward too.

We continued onward to our second stop: Cafe Enley, home of the popular “tiramisu latte.” Like many of the trending local spots of NYC, the cafe was more visually appealing than authentically tasty. Still, the aesthetic was beautiful: simple, clean, and soft, the cafe reflected a “candle cafe” aptly, selling both coffee and candles in a limited but chic space.

Speaking of over-hyped: here’s my last unpopular opinion of the day, ya’ll. The La Mercerie chocolate chip cookie that is all the rage on Instagram? It was aight. There, I said it, bite me (and not the cookie.)

The remainder of the day was spent wandering the streets of SoHo, a neighborhood of NYC known for its boutiques, from high end designer brands such as Dior or Chanel, to cult favorites like Brandy Melville and Polène bags. We (read: Reem) enjoyed an afternoon of shopping, reaping the benefits of waiting for her graduation gifts until she arrived in her favorite shopping district. Salman and I happily accompanied her, delighting in her delight until the oppressive heat gave way, and it was time for a break.

The next day, while awaiting entrance into yet another Instagram-popular brunch spot, my siblings and I happened to wander into Chinatown. Disparaged for its worn facades yet sought-after for its knock-off bags, Chinatown also boasts delicious, authentic Chinese foods. We also happened to stumble upon my favorite type of ethnic food: street food.

Perhaps as charming of an experience as the surprise street food was our time at Farida, a restaurant deep in the financial district which boasts cuisine from Central Asia, specifically from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. (If you can’t identity these countries on a map, now is an excellent time to find them!). Salman chose this spot looking for a restaurant “found uniquely in NYC” and it did not disappoint. For those who have watched the popular TV series Ertugrul, the food reminded me of the simple, earthy foods of the Eurasian plains depicted in the show, from boiled rice to grilled meats.

Perhaps my favorite part of our NYC food tour was the frozen hot chocolate from Glacé. Finally, an Instagram joint worth the hype I thought, as I savored the cool, chocolatey dessert shake.

Our time in NYC was also spent with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; being Salman’s first time there, he quickly realized a few hours was not enough time for this magnificent museum.

NYC was a delight, and even more special this time with the presence of Salman and Reem.

The remainder of my summer adventures will be of my time solo and in places not so close to home. Stay tuned for more posts on my weekly summer series- a new post releases each Sunday!

With all my love –

izh