36 Hours in Manhattan, New York (59^th Street and Below)

By Ri Dong Zheng

 

Home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York City is definitely a city of diverse ethnicities. With people from all nations, tribes, and tongue, come numerous kinds of cultures. With numerous kinds of cultures, come unlimited choices of food. Explore New York City, Manhattan from 59^th Street and below, to experience the whole world in just 36 hours.

 

Friday

1. RAMEN TIME, 5 P.M.

With an increasing influence all over the world with its music and dramas, Korea has a role. Become like the actors and/or actresses you see and admire in the dramas by eating what they eat. Head on over to H Mart and select from a whole isle of Kimchi and Ramen, making you all out Korean even in your own home. Want something extremely spicy that is also flavorful? Try the Hot Chicken Ramen ($5.99 for a 5-pack). If you are not the spicy person and are more health conscious, buy a pack of Sam Gye Tang –Ginseng Chicken Soup ­­­­– ($6.49). Not only is it good for the blood circulation, but it also keeps you nice and cozy in the middle of winter.

Nakji Bokum, Mog C. for Yelp

2. JAL MEOKGESSEUMNIDA, 6 P.M.

Why go to Korea just to eat Korean food? Get a taste of authentic Korean food at Kunjip. Serving delicious Korean 24 hours a day with ventilations right above your table for Korean BBQ, try their Nakji Bokum – Spicy pan-fried octopus with vegetable and noodles – ($20.95) that entangles you into the sea. If looking for something more simple, but at the same time gives you a punch of flavor, order a Soon Doo Boo Chigae Combination –Spicy soft tofu & seafood stew– (Vegetarian available, $11.95) that you gives you a nice kick of spicy from Korea.

 

3. SAY CHEESE, 8:30 P.M.

Born in 1894, Veniero’s was born. Serving freshly made pastries and cakes every day, you can taste Italy from New York City. Made with the finest and freshest ingredient such as fresh ricotta and whole eggs, have a slice of Italian Cheese Cake ($4.50). Ignore your conscience and order New York’s one and only Cannoli with fresh ricotta cheese (choice of vanilla or chocolate) stuffed in a crisp shell on the side ($3). You can indulge yourself in a plate of Italian dessert.

 

4. TIME TRAVEL, 10 P.M.

Time travel back into the late 1800’s by visiting McSorley’s Old Ale House. Written in a poem by E.E. Cummings, you sit on aged chairs with sawdust still on the floor. Enjoy some Draft Ale (2 for $5.50) in either light or dark, showing the limited choices that was only available back in the days. Order a small plate of American cheese or Aged Cheddar cheese ($4) to go along with it. You can feel as if you were living in the times of American Prohibition.

 

Saturday

5. TEA TIME, 11:00 A.M.

Start your day like the Chinese by having “Yum Cha” (literally meaning “drink tea”) with some tea and dim sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Being around since 1920’s, this Chinese veteran has received much fame serving authentic dim sum. With a classic, run down look, their old schooled dimsum will definitely satisfy your morning. With dozens of dimsum (average $4 each dish) to choose from, try their House special roast pork bun ­­–a bun filled with savory Cantonese style roast pork– and their different kinds of rice rolls (comes in either plain, shrimp, beef, or vegetarian). Have a drink of their Pu-er Tea (bo-lay) on the side to compliment your dim sum in Chinese style.

 

6. SHOPPING IN HONG KONG, 1:30 P.M.

One of Chinatown’s biggest and most popular supermarket, the Hong Kong Supermarket has supplied people with many of its products. Ranging from seafood, meat, and produce, to snacks, drinks and dried goods, you can get almost any kind of Chinese product you can think of. You can grab some bottles of sauces such as Chinese cooking wine (there are many different brands with different value, ranging from $2~$5) or even soy sauce. You can possibly cook Chinese food without having these sauces back at home. You can also head downstairs into the basement to grabs some Chinese snacks on the go. Buy a bag of Chinese Rice Crackers (around $2~$5 depending on size of bag) that is crunchy and is popular among the Chinese as a snack.

 

7. CHEALSEA MARKET, 3:00 P.M.

Home to where Oreos were invented, the National Biscuit Company used to occupy what is now known as the Chelsea Market. It is now one of the greatest food and shopping halls. Selling everything from seafood to meat, soups to candies, burgers to tacos, you can experience many different cultures in just a distance of one city block. Head over to Creamline, grab a shake, all natural and made from Ronnybrook Farm milk ($6.5), and turn around to Los Tacos for Carne Asada Tacos ($3.75). Enjoy the food while you stare in amazement of the Chelsea Market Waterfall.

Katz’s Pastrami Hot Sandwich, ilovekatzs.com

8. MOUNTAIN OF MEAT, 5:30 P.M.

Been around since 1888, go to Katz’s Delicatessen and “send a salami to your boy in the Army.” It was the piece of advice during World War II from Katz’s. Enjoy a fusion of Jewish kosher style food with a NYC kick. Featuring a classic American Diner environment, get yourself a taste of Katz’s Pastrami Hot Sandwich ($19.95) that has been smoked to juicy perfection and hand carved to your specifications or stuff yourself with Katz’s Corned Beef Hot Sandwich ($18.95) made from their secret dry cure pickling formula (it requires a full month to be ready to serve).

 

9. EXOTIC ICE CREAM, 8:00 P.M.

What was the weirdest ice cream flavor you ever had? Ever had durian flavored ice cream before? Ginger? Red Bean? Zen Butter? Are you thinking, “What in the world are these flavors?” These are just normal ice cream flavors at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Exotic is normal and normal is exotic. Only at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory do you get crazy flavors. Try their Durian flavor, an Asian fruit known for its funky smell yet delicious flavor, Don Tot flavor, a light creamy egg custard, or even Black Sesame. Buy a scoop of experience for $4.35 or double the fun with two scoops for $6.99.

 

10. DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT, 9:00 P.M.

Need prescriptions? Stop by Apotheke and order some pain killers from the menu. Featuring mad scientist mixologists dressed in lab coats, you can get the medicine you need for the night in a 19^th century Paris style bar. Watch as the mad scientist experiment and have you fall into a Lucid Dream and pretend you’re in Tokyo Drift (average $20 a drink). Go to this hidden gem in a old looking alleyway of Chinatown for some wild experience.

Pastries at Dominque Ansel Bakery, Ri Dong

Sunday

11. Croissant or Doughnut? 8:00 A.M.

Ever debated whether to get a croissant or doughnut for breakfast? Why not get a Cronut? Invented by Chef Dominque Ansel, Dominque Ansel Bakery is famous for its Cronut ($5.75), a hybrid between a croissant and donut. They make it fresh every day starting at 2 A.M., but start preparing it 3 days earlier. Although only one flavor every month, it will make you satisfied for as long as you can remember. Opening its doors at 8 A.M., people start to line up starting at 7 A.M. just to guarantee a bite of their Cronut. Order a Chef’s Hot Chocolate ($4.50) to go with it, tasting rich in cocoa beans and not something you get from packaged products. It will surely be worth the wait and get your morning going.

 

12. ITADAKIMASU, 10:00 A.M.

Who doesn’t like sweets? Try out the various kinds of Japanese sweets found at Minamoto Kitchoan. Greeted in Japanese, you entered the Japanese sweet haven. Delicious Japanese sweets, made from the best natural ingredients, are all around you. Pick up a Peach Jelly ($16) or Macchasenbei (6 pieces for $18.60 + tax) and you will enjoy a balance of taste on your palate, without pricking your guilty conscience.

 

13. EATING IN ITALY, 12:00 A.M.

Ever wanted the best Italian food? You can get it at Eataly, home to dozens of Italian markets, restuarants, cheese store, wine store, seafood store, and even sweets. You can get anything you can think of that has to do with Italian. Choose from dozens of different kinds of cheese, Grana Padano (raw cow’s milk, $14.80/lb) to Robiola Pura Capra (goat’s milk, $32.00/lb). Grab some fresh pasta or dried ones to take back from aisles and aisles of choices. The smell of cheese, pasta, and bread makes you mouth watery. You can grab a bite at Il Pesce and order Fritto Misto alla Ligure ($24), a plate of assorted fried seafood Ligurian Style. You can bring home Italy.

 

Lodging

Stay at Hilton Garden Inn located in New York Herald Square, one of hottest place in NYC. Room rates starting from $152 a night, it allows you to be as close as you can be to the trains to get to wherever you need to, whenever you need to.

 

Map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ObMCUSZqjL0Kez17PkW_ceU4XFI&usp=sharing

 

Sources

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Cummings, E. E. Classic poem. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://poetrynook.com/poem/i-was-sitting-mcsoreleys-outside-it-was-new-york-and-beauti-fully-snowing

Bruni, F. (2007, May 30). Go, eat, you never know. Dining & Wine. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/dining/reviews/30rest.html

Hmart. (2016). Home page NJ. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://nj.hmart.com/

Sifton, S. (2010, October 19). An appraisal of Eataly, the Manhattan Italian food hall. Dining & Wine. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/dining/reviews/20Eataly.html

Superfame, hello@. (2016, November 21). Chelsea Market. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://chelseamarket.com/index.php/About/contact/about-chelsea-market

Nom Wah tea parlor in Chinatown, New York — open since 1920. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://nomwah.com/chinatown/

Zagat. (2016). Apotheke – Zagat review. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/n/apotheke-new-york

Zagat. (2016). McSorley’s old ale house – Zagat review. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/r/mcsoreleys-old-ale-house-new-york

Zagat. (2016). Veniero’s pastry > Veniero’s pastry menu. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/r/venieros-pastry-new-york/menu 2015. (2012). Ice cream. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/ice-cream/

2016. (2011). Dominique Ansel bakery. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://dominiqueansel.com/cronut-101/