New York City (Fan) Fare

Where are the horns and bellows? If I squint my ears I can just about hear...

It is very quiet here.
I always knew it was quiet. I suppose I never realised just how much I liked the sounds of
hustle and bustle.

Here are a few of my favorite food shots from the Heart City...




This was the oddest meal I consumed. I had been to about twenty gallerys, and realised lunch had been and gone hours ago, so slid inside a booth in a tiny cafe, 'Viand' on Madison Avenue at 61st st. Initially I asked for something else from the skyscraper menu, but my 'server' shook his head and told me it wasn't very good, (I was bemused), so I opted for this weird concoction, entitled something like 'The Diet Delite'.

Eating a forkful of lettuce, jello/jelly and cottage cheese with a block of melon to top it all off, was a taste experience I will never forget, and strangely, one I hope to repeat in the not so far off future.



As you can see, I had no trouble polishing this lot off.



This was 'The best bagel I have eaten in my life', found at about 2am in the only place that was open somewhere near Park Slope in Brooklyn I think...by this point, my bearings had become a little tattered. It was my first experience of tofu cream cheese, and teamed with the tomato and lettuce, on the chewiest, yet lightest seven grain bagel, delighted me beyond belief. Apparently, it takes very little to make me happy (really).





Below is the 'most majestic pizza I have ever shoveled into my mouth', It was found on my last night, thanks to Aaron, at a place called 'Una Pizza Napoletana' on 349 East 12th Street, in the East Village. It's a famed pizza hotspot, their opening hours are '5pm until sold out of fresh dough' (have a look at unapizza.com). I can still smell the basil and olive oil. Apart from serving heaven on a bed of dough, the actual place has a treasured atmosphere, pale green walls, soft light, sparse, perfect, with a view of the veritable pizza oven at the back. After we had finished (and had gone from almost not being able to get a table, to the last ones there) I told one of the lovely members of staff there that I would not be eating pizza until I came back. Slightly drunk, yes. But I meant it. I'm saving myself. If you ever get the chance, and you L O V E pizza, then go. Just go.






One of my all time favorite places to just go. Not to even eat. But it would be almost impossible to leave without taking something to eat anyway. The Whole Earth vegan bakery and vegetarian kitchen broke my heart and breathed life into it, all in one quick step. Peter and his 'Mom' have been running this magic bakery since 1978. I could not believe my luck when I stumbled upon it. I felt like I was in vegan heaven. The first evening, after having walked miles, miles and some more miles, I found them, and settled on a stool, sipping the most perfect split green pea soup, and getting some vegetable corn break action on the side. CORN BREAD!? wow- what's all that about!? I must have been missing something. Never had corn bread. Now I am a corn bread convert, but only Peter's. I tried some from some other vegetarian place in Williamsburg a few days later, and it fell flat on it's face. Moist moist moist. Peter, where are you. Oh.

Then, I went back with my friend, and we had this here blueberry and apple turnover. D E L I G H T.

On my last day, I bought some corn bread (of course) some blueberry tofu cheesecake and a twig tea and went and sat in Tompkins Square Park, in a shaft of sifting sun light, next to the first face of Fall, chilly elbows and nose. It was a J O Y moment. I could not have felt more serene. Watching the passers by with their dogs and skateboards and books, as I slipped creamy tofu cheesecake between my lips, in my new $10 favorite dress, sun smiling- twig tea!

Yes please.
More please.
Thank you.

So- the point to this ramble is- if you are in New York and like food, even if you are not vegan- (maybe especially if you are not vegan-to find out just how delicious vegan fare can be) go to The Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 Saint Marks Place, 8th St between 1st and Avenue A, open till 11.30 pm seven days a week. Peter will welcome you with the best tofu pizza in town and a twinkling smile.

One of the MANY rich reasons I need to live in New York.





So, with much jet lag in tow, I must now go and face the cold, restock my fridge, open a vegan bakery in Oxford.

Heart. L.