NYC Tastes

Remember  when I booked a trip with Delta just because Shake Shack was serving breakfast ?Well that was four years ago and finally I no longer have to travel so far for that wonderful food.  The Madison Square Park Shake Shack just started serving breakfast!!!  Now it's just a quick walk across 23rd Street to pick up this incredible spread- a thick Sausage, Egg & Cheese for Mr. T and a Bacon, Egg & Cheese for me... ...delicious cold squeezed orange juice... ...and a warm cinnamon sugar dusted Apple Turnover from Four & Twenty Blackbirds. Breakfast is available every day but I try to save it as a special treat for Sunday mornings. Life just got a whole lot happier in the AM! Shake Shack 23rd Street between 5th & Madison Madison Square Park New York, NY 10010

The Big Apple BBQ is always such a great event each year.  I'm a little biased since it's only one block from my apartment which means I can run home at any point to put leftovers in the fridge, use the bathroom or grab a beer; but seriously it's an amazing event.  This year I got there early to hit up Salt Lick BBQ from Driftwood, Texas.  The line was already long at 10:45 but they kept people happy with trays full of brisket and short rib samples. Plus kudos to the crew- I was probably about 150 people back at the start time of 11:00 AM and had food in hand by 11:10.  Salt Lick was doling out thick, juicy sausage with slices of brisket and some of the best BBQ sauce I've ever had.  I came back Sunday afternoon to buy a bottle for home but they were long gone. This will definitely be on my to-do for next year. I hit up all the usual suspects Dinosaur BBQ, Martins, etc. but in need of a little something sweet with my meat I booked it to Sugaree's. ...

One of the greatest perks of summer in NYC are the fabulous free concerts going on in the parks. The biggest shows are always in Central Park of course but my neighborhood green spot has some fantastic shows also and some delicious food that caters each event- the Oval Concert series at Madison Square Park. Burger & Lobster is the main food scene this year with a variety of Lobster Rolls including the classic with light Japanese mayo and a BLT with bacon, lettuce and garlic confit tomato. Both come in a buttery toasted roll with a slice of lemon and chives on top.  Plus they sell wine and beer from local breweries like Sixpoint and Brooklyn Brewery so all that's needed on your end is a blanket (no chairs allowed). It's a great way to sit back, relax and enjoy the best of summer. Oval Lawn Series Madison Square Park Burger & Lobster 39 West 19th Street New York, NY 10011

Things just haven't been the same in my neighborhood since Shake Shack closed for renovations earlier this year.  The park has seemed so empty and desolate.  Well all of that changes now with a Momofuku Milk Bar pop up! The cute little pink kiosk has everything I could possibly want...compost cookies, Crack pie, cake truffles (currently in one of my favorite flavors Chocolate Malt Cake)... ...along with two brand new additions a Hot Apple Cider and Cereal Milk Hot Chocolate. I'm a total sucker for advertising so the Hot Chocolate drew me in immediately of course:)   The aroma is straight white chocolate, no denying that, but the taste is just like finishing a big bowl of Fruit Loops and microwaving the leftover milk.  It's strange- I know for a fact they use only toasted cornflakes and brown sugar to create this drink but somehow that fruity flavor stood out to me.  Perhaps all of those years of eating bowl after bowl of Fruit ...