Last fall, my boyfriend and I took a mini-vacation to one of my favorite cities – The City That Never Sleeps, New York City! I love this place for so many reasons – the energy, the big bright lights, the on-the-go mentality, but mostly… the food! That’s right, I’m a foodie and I’m proud of it.
I’ve been to NYC a ton of times and there are still (and always will be) dozens of things I need to see. Because of this, I knew that I had to squeeze as much as possible into our short 2.5-day trip. So naturally we did the touristy stuff – Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial, a Broadway show, Top of the Rock, etc. But one thing that we were both blown away by was a walking food tour through Hell’s Kitchen. Plus, he was an NYC first-timer, so what could be more perfect than a four-hour food extravaganza with some unusual history on the side?
We met our Tour Guide, Alex, at a French restaurant. There were a few more foodies at the table, all along for the ride and just as curious as we were to find out what we were actually getting ourselves into. Alex introduced himself and very easily slid into conversation with each of us about where we were from and so on. It was unlike any other guided tour I had ever been on in the city – it was intimate.
At this French restaurant we shared a variety of light dishes that blew us all out of the water. One of these dishes was an eggplant spread that I thought for sure I wouldn’t like, but instead found it full of flavor (the good kind!). We also stopped at a crazy Cajun restaurant, and a surprise South American spot that you wouldn’t even think was a restaurant until you opened the door. As we made our way from one place to the next in the neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, Alex very casually pointed things out about the city and surrounding area, sharing interesting facts that made our eyes and mouths open wide! By the end of the tour we had eaten pastries, empanadas, plantains, hush puppies, crazy sausage, the best pizza EVER, and even an ice cream donut sandwich. Yes, you heard me right – an ice cream. donut. sandwich – And it was delightful! Check it out!
Now, all of this food may sound overwhelming, but let me assure you – the portions were just right, and sliding in and out of each restaurant was smooth. At the conclusion of the tour, we were full – full of good food (there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like!), good company and good information. We felt like a longtime friend had shown us around their hometown and all the good eats within. Come on, what better way to experience NYC for the first time than with a New Yorker? Needless to say, my boyfriend was mind-blown, and can’t wait to go back. Thank you, Alex and Manhattan Walking Tours!