Russ & Daughters-NYC

Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St
New York, NY 10002


As seen on
-The Best Thing I Ever Ate
-Anthony Bourdain's 13 Places to eat before you die
-Bizzare Foods


Russ and Daughters is almost a century old (est.1914) and has been featured in countless television shows as being one of the best Jewish shops in the country. Their claim to fame is their huge selection of smoked fish and extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff but they also have a selection of grocery items, homemade desserts, and chocolates. They have a great variety of smoked salmon: Graspe Nova, Western Nova, Irish Organic, Scottish, Norwegian, Pastrami Cured, Gravlax. Other than smoked salmon they have a lot of different herring products as well.

This is an old school Jewish deli that makes you feel like you've stepped back into time. It's right near Katz's Delicatessen. The selection and quality of the lox here is incredible. We sampled a few and chose the Gaspe Nova(as seen on The Best Thing I Ever Ate). Unfortunately, our bagel was kind of hard and dry, which definitely wasn't worthy of the amazing lox. If I lived in NYC, I would just buy the lox and have it with a fresh bagel and cream cheese from my favorite neighborhood bagel shop. I've loved smoked Salmon for all my life, and this is the absolute best I've ever had. Period

Bomboloni-NYC

Bomboloni
187 Columbus Ave
Manhattan, NY 10023

As seen on
-Unique Sweets

In New York's upper west side, Bomboloni is dishing out New York's best doughnuts. Bomboloni is Italian for "Little Doughnut" and that's just what they have. Gourmet donuts that leave me spoiled. 6 Italian cream-filled donuts for $6 is amazingly cheap for these master pieces. They have exotic flavors like orange cream, pistachio, creme brulee and also more creative concoctions like toasted marshmallow, pina colada, and tiramisu. The donut itself was soft and pillowy, and every bite threatened to squeeze the creamy goodness onto my hands. Heavy on the delicious creamy center and thin on the dough. These are nuts. Just alittle to big for bite size these little doughnuts are pure heaven.

The Meatball Shop-NYC

The Meatball Shop
84 Stanton St
New York, NY 10002

As seen on
-Unique eats
-United Tastes of America
-Bizarre Foods
-Celebrity Apprentice 

-Food Fetish

Man, what a ballsy concept. A place that revolves around the meaty spheres of deliciousness.  They have some of the best balls I've ever had lol maybe I should crack a joke about how I've had a lot of balls in my mouth, or something like that.. The fact that a place that does nothing but high end, fantastic meatballs, exclusively. And exists, brings much joy to me.  And that they do it well makes me ever so much more excited.


Choose your meatball (beef/pork/chicken/veg/special), choose your sauce (mushroom gravy/tomato/spicy meat/Parmesan cream/special), and choose your format (naked/hoagie/sliders/smash/all but the kitchen sink aka salad); then flip the menu over and choose your cookie(s) and ice cream for your ice cream sandwich (you're can get 2 different types of cookies if you want).

Overall the meatballs were decent. I got the spicy pork meatballs (naked style) with the family jewels (aka fried egg with gooey yolk) and spicy meat sauce.  My friends got a meatball sub. Everyone was definitely satisfied and impressed. They have 1 huge communal table and it is tight and hard to sit at. They also give you a marker to write your choices directly on the menu which was pretty cool and fun. I love places that do only 1 thing and make sure they do it right.

Salumeria Rosi-NYC

Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10023

As seen on
-No Reservations
-The Best Thing I Ever Ate


After watching No Reservation Food Porn episode, I was determined to try this place out & I wanted to eat everything that was on Anthony Boudains plate. Inside the deli is on the left side & less than 5 tables on the right side. Meats hanging from the ceiling and cheeses piled high. Like walking right into a piece of Italy. Italian cured meats I have never even heard of. Porchetta Toscana, Finnocchiona, Culatello di Zibello, Prosciutto de Parma, Guanciale, Speck, Bresaola and the list goes on. I just pointed and said I want a half of this and a quarter of that. It was definitely the best Salumi I have ever had. Everyone I was with agreed. I didn't know Salumi could taste like this. Also the best Lardo I have found. Its hard to find but Ive had it at a few places. 36month aged Prosciutto melted in my hand. This is for the serious cured meat fan. They have Prosciuto puff pastries that are to die for. Ill def be back for a dozen puffs of meaty goodness. The best charcuterie I have ever had.

 

Eileen's Special Cheesecake-NYC

Eileen's Special Cheesecake
17 Cleveland Pl
New York, NY 10012


As seen on
-FoodCrafters
-Food Feuds


I've heard of Eillen's Special for a few years now and after recently seeing it on another food show (FoodFeuds) I decided it was time to make the journey. Ive been to the original Junior's in Brooklyn which was the best cheesecake I've tasted to date so my expectations were high. Small shop with maybe 20 different cheesecakes to choose from. Fruits, chocolates,nuts, carmel, peanut butter, whatever your heart desires. I wanted the taste test to be equal and get the true flavor of what Eileen's is working with so I went with plain. 


Unfortunately, I was completely disappointed. The two friends I was with were also disappointed. I've had plenty of homemade cheesecakes better then this. Not to mention that Junior's is mind blowingly better. It was just kinda the cheesecake i would expect at the diner. Gram cracker crust alittle soggy and i don't know what to say. I wont be wasting my precious stomach space while I'm in NYC on this cheesecake again.

Savannah's Candy Kitchen-GA

Savannah's Candy Kitchen
225 E River Street
Savannah, GA 31401

As seen on
-Rachael Ray $40 a Day
-The Best Thing I Ever Ate
    (Charleston Location)

I had heard of pecan pralines and thought I knew what they were but I was so wrong. Traveling to Savannah my friend from Charleston SC asked me to bring back only one thing. Pecan Pralines!. I didn't understand what all the fuss was about until I tasted one. Savannah's Candy Kitchen is right in the heart of Savannah on River St. If your visiting for the day you wont miss it. This candy store had everything and all the candy is made right in front of you. Pecans in everything you can imagine. You can smell the warm pralines in the street and salivate watching them pour the pralines out on a sheet. Man these are good. Addictive is an under statement. Savannah's Candy Kitchen also mail orders. I'm definitely going to order some pralines soon because they are just so unreal.

PapaBubble-NYC

PapaBubble
380 Broome St
New York, NY 10013

As seen on
-FoodOgraphy
-FoodCrafters
-Kid in a Candy Store
-Unique Sweets

It is so cool to actually see them make the candy right in front of you. Stretched out and cut up. How do they get those little designs in each piece. Its hard to find a hand made artisan candy nowa days and PapaBubble is bringing hand made artisan gourmet candies back to mainstream.They had way to many flavors to pick from so I grabbed a mixed jar. The only complaint is that it is expensive. It was $14 for a decent size jar that probably had a 100 or more candies in it. Which is still only maybe ten cents a piece. If they happen to be making the candy while you are there then its well worth the wait. They often give out samples of the candy  while it is still warm. You can also order custom candy that says anything you want on the inside. Cool little shop right outside Little Italy. Get your candy on!!!!!

Porchetta-NYC

Porchetta
110 E 7th St
New York, NY 10009


As seen on
-Unique Eats


This little piggy went to the market.... And this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way to Porchetta to sacrifice himself for humankind to indulge in perfect porkfection. 


Let me say first off, I love places that only serve 1 thing. When a restaurant or bake shop only serves one thing it better be dam good. This type of menu offers the restaurant a chance to focus  and spend time and effort into doing one thing perfect. There are alot of these trendy places in the city and usually they are a cut above the rest. Now on to the pork.


I wasn't sure what to expect when I entered Porchetta but I was greeted by a friendly guy and piles of pork. Huge pork roasts under glass that looked unlike any Ive seen before. All they serve is a Porchetta platter or sandwich and a few sides.  Sandwich was $10 and on the small side. The crispy puffs of pork skin that are spread thru out the tasty seasoned pork are unreal. The skin is what really makes Porchetta the best. I have never had anything like it. So hard and crunchy but so light and airy. Porchetta is also conveniently located on E 7th right next to McSorelys, Butterlane, Lukes Lobster, Pomme Frittes etc..... I mean the roll was crusty and perfect. The seasoning was spot on. This is a must go to spot.  Porchetta may be the smallest restaurant I have ever been in. If your still not convinced, while i was there Star Jones came in and ordered a bag of Porchetta sandwiches to go.  Stop whatever your doing and go here now!!!!!!


This was one of my few culinary moments when everything changes. Time stops and never again will I find pork like this anywhere. You realize you are tasting something above the rest, something that can change the way we look at food. 

Update(what is this really all about)

I haven't posted something other then food since the first day I started this journey. I never thought I would start a food blog and never saw myself as a blogger. After going to a few restaurants that I saw on TV I wanted to keep a diary type list of all my foodie travels. Also being a photographer I found myself traveling constantly. Everytime I went to take pictures I also would go to places to eat. It only made sense to find a cool place to eat while I'm on a day trip away from home.

CLick here for Above Photography

My food blog has brought me to places I never expected and  to people I never expected to meet. Doesn't matter who you are or where your from, food is one thing everyone has in common. From running into Star Jones at Porchetta or Frankie Faison at Shake Shack or even meeting Anthony Bourdain we all share one thing. Food nourishes our children and feeds our families. In every country, people in every walk of life are gathering around a table of food and sharing their lives and love.

So being a photographer why would I use my cellphone for all my pictures? Well whenever I go out to take pictures I have a backpack full of camera equipment. I don't always want to bring this into a restaurant, sometimes a small place not in the nice part of town, but most importantly when I eat I get down and dirty. I don't want my greasy fingers all over my fancy camera. So I started taking pictures with my Iphone well before I even thought about making a blog.

So I plan on continuing my food diary and who knows where it will bring me in the future. I would love to share my travels with you and maybe you guys can find a table to sit around and share your life with other people. Live Laugh Love

Grimaldi's-NY

Grimaldi's Pizza
19 Old Fulton St
Brooklyn, NY 11201

As seen on
-Pizza Paradise
-Samantha Brown Vacations
-Food Wars
-Best Places I've Ever Been
-Chowdown Countdown
-Giada's Weekend Getaways
-Slice of Brooklyn
-Top Spot

-Best Places Ive Ever Been
-More That I Cant Remember

Maybe the most famous pizzeria in New York ? Maybe not but at least top 3 with Lombardi's and Rays. Grimaldi's located under the Brooklyn bridge in Dumbo Brooklyn is Iconic New York  pizza. Food Network top 5 pizzas in the United States and Zagat's highest rated pizza place in the country. Rocking pies out their coal fired brick oven, Grimaldi's has a line around the block 7 days aweek. Only pies no slices. This might not have been the best pizza I have ever had but it is definitely my favorite pizzeria. And the pizza was amazing. REALLLY FREAKING AMAZING!!!!! Was by far the prettiest pie I have ever laid eyes on. This place is a piece of NY history and well worth the wait. So expect to wait up to an hr just to have a seat. 

Roni Sue's-NYC

Roni Sue's
Essex Street Market, #24
120 Essex St
New York, NY 10002


As seen on
-FoodOgraphy


Long before Roni Sue's was on the cooking channel, I arrived looking for chocolate covered bacon. I thought I would be original giving my wedding guests bags of chocolate covered bacon as party gifts. So after spending hrs on the google I only found a handful of places in the country making this treat. This one being the closest. I walked into the Essex St market not knowing what to expect. This place is what I would consider a dumpy, run down market that time has forgot. I walked right past Roni Sue's without even notice and had to go around the market again to find her. $38 a pound for chocolate covered bacon is steep and I believe since being on TV she has raised her price even more. I got a 1/2 lb milk and a 1/2 lb dark. Well turns out a half pound is way to much for 2 people. After 2 pieces I was done. So i suggest you get a 1/4 or 1/8 and share it between 2 or more. Roni Sue's calls her creation Pig Candy. Crispy extra crunchy bacon covered in thick chocolate. I thought this was going to be epic!!!!! It was a surprise when the pig candy was simply OK and I don't see myself going back. Bacon has become a huge trend in the states, people are making bacon everything nowa days. Sounds good to me I Iove Bacon. If you have never had chocolate covered bacon I would suggest you try it at least once. Maybe its not for everybody. Don't get me wrong I would totally munch a few pieces if presented in front of me. But I'm not going to go out of my way for it. 

Pommes Frites-NYC

Pommes Frites
123 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003


As seen on
- Food Fetish


Looking to up your fry game? Look no further then Pommes Frites in the Village. This is fry heaven. This place is definitely famous and lots of people know about it but for some reason it has never been on a TV show. With over 40 dipping sauces and the chunky uneven Belgian fries this place is the go to after a long night at the bar. Fries were great and a small is enough for 2 people. Roasted Garlic Mayo, Wasabi Mayo, Pesto, Curry Ketchup, Sweet mango Chutney, Canadian Cured Cheddar Cheese,and Chicken Gravy the possibilities are endless!!!!!! Alot of people say these are the best fries they have ever had but I don't know if I can say that. I mean definitely top 3 but I cant even remember number 1 and 2 after writing this.........