Win Son Bakery - New York, NY

We find the rotating cube on our walk to the train and find that it requires a significant amount of force to move. 

It takes two, and it’s still quite strenuous so it’s a good thing I have the kind of friends who get us a dessert to eat right after we have dessert. 

Win Son’s twice baked bolo bao is quite winsome, as the second pass through the oven darkens the already-crispy crust and deepens the flavor by adding an almost-char. 

Whole beans add texture to the mildly sugared silk, and it's all a nice, nutty thing topped with thin sliced almonds. 

I've only had one thing from Win Son so far, but I know I need to have several more. 

Duo Cafe - New York, NY

Any good dinner can end with a spot of tea, and Duo Cafe is just the place to have it. 

Every table gets a basket to sniff and select, and all these bolder blacks, aromatic herbals, and everything in between are best when shared with friends. 

Tea and sweets go together like...Caramelized Sweet Potato and ice cream. Cut in half and bruleed with a cracking layer of crunch to cultivate the underlying notes of caramel, these warm, bright-orange beauties conspire with the cold cream to make for sweet bites that collude and collide. 

I believe this was the Hochija Cheesecake, a dense and silky slice with aromatic bitters at the end of every bite. 

The Salted Egg Yolk Basque Cheesecake seems almost experimental and leaves my mouth confused. The seaweed flakes and pork floss are not the kind of salty that necessarily pairs with the sugar and only sort of works when small amounts are paired with bigger bites. 

Still, I am so in love with this sweet little shop, and I love that I can come here almost any time of day. Like all places in NYC it's open until a time I would be in bed, but I'd duck in time for a calming cup of tea. 

Meama - New York, NY

Do you know what the single best thing about Georgian cuisine is? Cheese boats! Barge-like dough-troughs filled with a slurry of melted cheese with a cracked egg ready-to-mix to make it extra rich. 

And what, do you ask, is the one thing Meama does not have? Cheese boats! A birthday party cleans them out of their entire menu section of khachapuri and they don't even tell us until it's time to order. 

If I can't have a cheese boat, at least the cheese Khinkali has an incredibly slurpy-slurry filling of cheesy bliss so we at least get a small taste of what they fail to provide. The beef-filled ones are also deeply savory, and the quantity and size makes them xlb on steroids. This isn’t a finger food, this is a whole-hand food. Grab the dumpling by the doughy knob, bite a hole, and slurp away.

Eggplant Rolls are presented like cut sushi, and the delicate layer of eggplant encases a walnut paste that is so deeply umami it almost mimics meat.

Georgian Salad gives the palate a brief refresh between the mega-meats, and garlic dressing asserts itself for a bright bite. 

They have a soup special, which I believe is Chaqapuli, chunks of lamb that swim in a clear meat broth, stewed with so many herbs. With a bit of dunked bread, this deeply savory dish is divine. 

Grab the bone and all the meat slips straight off the Lamb Shank, making a small splash over the silky bed of mashed potatoes. Several subtler flavors sync to make the meat shine, and every bite is a confluence of onion, herbs, and wine. 

Hot, buttery, maximum-garlic cream soaks a delicate Cornish Hen, a concoction best enjoyed with crusty bread. 

I don't think I know anyone more nit-picky than I am, and here I am with no nits to pick. Every dish is a delicacy the way they execute them. I’m still pissed about the cheese boats but I would come back here on any given day and eat this exact meal again without hesitation. 

NYC Bestie Trip - Day 2 - cont (2)

Just In Time - New York, NY

It's a sprint to the theater after we hit human traffic all along the upper east side. The walk to our seats is spent huffing and puffing while we fan away our pooling sweat. We sit with not a moment to spare...only we find that the guy we're here to see isn’t here. Matt Magnusson replaces Jeremy Jordan only hours before the start of the show. 

I don't know either of them, and I don’t know Bobby Darin, but I know I don't believe he’s here. Mr. Magnusson hits the notes, and he clearly can sing, but he lacks the crucial charisma that guys like Bobby effortlessly exude, and he doesn’t have that chemistry that comes with the countless rehearsals required to form a cohesive cast. 

The songs are a reminder of just how much Bobby Darin remains in the undercurrent of our culture, and his impact is undeniable. But when all is said and sung, Bobby Darin's story is a sad one, and the variety show makes it more of a spectacle. 

Still, the songs are iconic, and the icons are incredible. Olivia Holt is an unforgettable Connie Francis, and the show is overall entertaining despite an often unnecessary amount of exposition. 

Max Brenner Times Square - New York, NY

It's a quick stop for a snack, and this dark chocolate-something sips like a sweet dream. 

It's smooth and expected sweet but also quite balanced with pretty deep flavors. Much better than I expected for a chain, but clearly there's a reason Max Brenner is still around. 

I’m Donut? - New York, NY

A Japanese donut store attempts to establish itself in NYC, grabbing a little storefront right off Times Square. It's party in the front, business in the back, utilizing most of the deep space to create their artisan donuts. 

This limited-edition Oishii Matcha Strawberry Cream tastes like spring to summer, right before it gets too heavy and hot. Yogurt cream keeps the sugar in check, and berries add some acid, though there are not enough. 

Zaku-Zaku satisfies any sweet tooth with a thick coat of caramel, and a cover of crunchy nuts.

The idea is cute, but the execution needs work. These donuts are not nearly as pretty as their pictures, to an extent that isn't entirely acceptable, and it's time to change that oil because I can tell it's getting old. Expectations should not be lofty given its tourist-trap location, but there is room for improvement at this price-point. 

Hold my donut, it’s Mariska Hargitay! 

I almost miss my idol because my stupid brain gets suddenly shy. 

But that’s why I have my bestie, whose unwavering but usually gentle support shifts into an assertive push in the direction I need to go. 

She loves me enough that she’d never let me miss this, and for these photos I will be forever in her debt. 

I have followed her career for 27 seasons, and though I have nothing for her to sign, a close-up of Olivia Benson is the highlight of this trip.

There’s a brief lull between donut and dinner, and we stumble upon Pageant Print Shop along the way. 

I'm told it was once in a Woody Allen movie, but nothing prepares me for the piles of antique prints in every color, of every shade...or the surly woman behind the counter who answers no questions and suffers no fools. This is the kind of experience that is uniquely New York, and the possum print I dig up for my husband is as rare a find as he is. 

NYC Bestie Trip - Day 2 - cont (1)

Frick Gallery - New York, NY

Finally the Frick Gallery has been fixed, its impressive collection restored to its original resting place. 

The paintings make a lot more sense adorning the walls of the mansion they were acquired for, and it’s easy to get immersed within every wall. The Vermeers seem illuminated from within, the Fragonard room feels like floating, and there is even an amusing exhibition of Marie Antoinette fashion plates where you can marvel at the epic hair. 

No photos allowed so all you have are memories, though they do allow snaps of the courtyard. 

We also catch quite a view of the Puerto Rican Day Parade from our vantage point on the second floor, and security lets me sneak a shot.

We choose to walk to the theater so we can continue to watch, and we catch some sweet cars and a side view of Miss Puerto Rico herself.

Westmoreland Cafe - New York, NY

Westmoreland Cafe has so much more than coffee and a pastry case, a restaurant room with luxurious lighting, artfully decorated with tile floor and cross-back chairs.  

Their seasonal menu features a lighter lunch, executing fresh ingredients and a few cooked dishes at an impossible speed.

There's this beautiful Spring Pea Risotto that tastes like garden sunshine, radiating pea sweetness and asparagus aromas through an al dente rice which I suspect contains an entire stick of butter and half a wheel of cheese. 

I opt for a refreshing Harvest Salad, which sits atop a creamy goat yogurt that clings to the leaves.  

If you only have a little time, there are far worse places to spend it. We are in and out in under an hour and leave after an experience that feels a little luxurious. There are plenty of places to eat and better ones besides, but I did enjoy the experience and would consider coming back for an afternoon tea. 

NYC Bestie Trip - Day 2 - Merrion Row Hotel and Public House - New York, NY

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for us...because it is often the only meal of the day for us. Our jam-packed itinerary leaves little time to linger over lunch, and most museum visits are punctuated by quick bites at a cafe or trail mix on the hike to the theater.

Almost every morning we wake up with a NY Bagel, spread with cream cheese and topped with capers and lox. It comes with a hotel discount, which only improves the flavor. 

All options seem quite solid, though I stick with the bagel after deviating to the Breakfast Sandwich once. Nice eggs, bacon on brioche, and the potatoes are good and crispy. But it’s still the salmon that hits the spot. 

The hotel is nice, despite the price, though that's quite standard during the busiest time of year. Despite few luxuries, it's comfortable with a small amount of street noise that doesn't interfere with a good night's rest. The central location is crucial for the theater-going theme of this trip.

The bathroom door is my only beef as it slowly slides open no matter what we do. We request a repair, and in their defense, they fix it right away, though not quite the way we would expect. That said, this strong square of tape holds for all six nights of our stay, and at least it's good for a laugh.  

NYC Bestie Trip - Day 1 - cont

There's not even a line at the TKTS booth as we approach only an hour before the box offices close. The booth is a trip down memory lane, and we score some last-minute tickets to Hadestown. 

Watching beloved Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) rise from the dead…or rise to rule the dead...in his portrayal of Hades was a treat - who knew the soft-spoken CSI could sing in a deep, booming voice that fills the entire theater? 

Orpheus has the voice of an angel...the kind that is sweet and pure but only hits half the notes. Eurydice's story hardly sticks with the original myth, and I cringe that a snake bite is spun into a scandalous story. It is implied that she indulges in all the vices and Orpheus tries to pull her from a hell of her own making, unable to undo her deal with the devil. 

Plot points aside, the music is mesmerizing; 33 songs and all of them big. The whole production is beautiful, and there's a reason they've stayed put for 7 years. 

We return to our hotel in time to catch the final minutes of Game 5, as the Knicks narrowly beat the San Antonio Spurs to win the series. Watching them fight for the coveted title is intoxicating, as they end a 35 year-long drought.

The streets are wild, and our proximity to Times Square gives us front-row seats to all of the antics, a gathering of collective joy. 

...And we've only been here 7 hours.

NYC Bestie Trip - Day 1 - Xi’an Famous Foods - New York, NY

A perfectly punctual flight is followed by two rather tense taxi rides. The careless finger of our cabbie hits google maps with no one the wiser and lands us in the middle of Queens. There's nothing to do but to pay for another ride, after which we arrive.

We are famished despite the in-flight snacks, and we venture out to Xi'an Famous Foods. One of few decent options in the area, this affordable food stall-style eatery entertains the taste buds with its fast-casual style of service and simply delicious food. 

A haw berry hibiscus tea is just what post-flight dry-mouth needs, cold and refreshing with a flavor that is sandy and tart. Sour contrasts the spicy food, and the sweeter notes are soothing.

They make a proper Liang Pi here, thick, almost-gelatinous chilled noodles with cukes for extra cool and porous seitan cubes for contrasting texture. A vinegar-forward sauce cuts through the humidity of the city that hangs upon your skin.

The Stewed Pork Burger is incredibly juicy and soft, with belly cuts stewed long and slow in soy sauce and (I suspect) five spice seeping soup between the bread. The mo bun is thin but dense, and the seared sides keep it crispy. 

Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles make mouthfuls of utter bliss. Wide as a gentleman’s belt and just as thick, these doughy ribbons spiral around slices of savory lamb. If you only try one thing, this should be the one. 

If you were to say our food looks a little bit bland, I would say you're right. We select mild spice on every option despite the recommendation for more, out of fear that our pre-theater, post-flight, 40 year-old stomachs will make us suffer during the show. Still, there is flavor without the reflux, and if the blander version is this good, I must return to try the flavors full force.

Baby Bistro - Los Angeles

Move over Baroo, and make room for Baby Bistro. Now sharing the podium for my favorite restaurant in LA, this cottage-esque, open-kitchen establishment is the epitome of all things LA. 

The menu is 6 hand-written items with the option to add on something else +/- bread. It's designed to be a tasting for two that preserves the diner's ability to opt out with dignity and grace. Whether for reasons of appetite, allergy, budget, or personal preference, you do you with no explanation required. 

We did us so we did it all. The signature Onion Bread, Foxglove that tops every menu places a cold concoction of green bean and tomato with a stripe of creamy cheese upon a hot, fluffily-dense chewy-crumb slice. 

Unbeknownst to us, we just happened to hit their one-night guest-chef collab with Heritage, and for that we got the Cannonball Cabbage, Anchovy. It's a signature from the Long Beach farm-to-table, a sweet and crunchy slice with charred edges and anchovy cream to add umami. As expected from Heritage, the cabbage itself is stellar, I just wish the portion were a little lot bigger. 

The Scallop, Basil belongs to Baby, a citrus-bright slurp of the sweetest, most tender-textured scallops bolstered by basil. Dehydrated basil seeds add earthiness, and a substantial sprinkle of Aleppo chilies permeate with smoky sophistication. 

The supplemental Salad of Frying Peppers is a play on textures with tenderly-rubbery little-cap mushrooms that make the peppers a bit more playful. Curry leaves set a serious tone, adding dark and earth for cohesion and refinement. 

Baby's Blue Prawns, Cucumber are a close second to the scallops on the list of best things I've ever eaten. Chilies give sweet flesh sass, best consumed with the gooey contents from the head. Cooling cucumber is covered in a clingy, creamy "green goddess"-type sauce, and there's a bed of fat couscous for a hit of acid as well. 

Heritage makes a medium rare King Salmon, Green Garlic with a skin so crispy there's an audible crunch when you cut and flesh that melts in your mouth.

Dessert has Yogurt, Herb Tea with a yogurt most creamy and panna-cotta thick coated by a cool-cuke granita in a tea jelly lake. 

If I had to give a concise description of Baby Bistro (because, let's face it, nothing I describe is concise), I would say it's "LA fine dining", casual fine dining done right. The ambiance is California-casual, friendly service with plenty of chill. They serve what they want, cook what they like, and curate a wine list that contents but doesn't overwhelm. Each dish is exquisite, every ingredient highlighted, not a single flavor wasted. It stands up to anything on the east coast minus the side of stuffy serving, and it sets the standard to which LA fine dining should aspire. 

Old Fashion Deli & Market - Glendale

A deli that caters the kabob, the kind that hosts real Armenians, cranking out the kind of food that makes us the rest of us wish we were Armenians. 

There's a Luleh that's super tender that finishes not as heavy as you'd think. 

Racing rivulets of savory soup stuff and surround savory chunks of chicken thigh, the most boring meat made most enticing. 

I've had my fair share of kabob, but this stuff is something special. The marinades go all the way through the meat, and there's a flavor you just can't easily find. I never thought I'd go to Glendale just for a deli, but this one is worth every mile. 

Kimukatsu - Torrance

Tokyo Central's in-store, sit-down, stop-when-you-shop, super-specialist Kimukatsu really only serves one thing. 

The Special Pork Millefeuille Katsu Set is the sole reason to sit and savor every slice. The science of the layers seals in all the flavor.

Squint at this cross-section and you can just barely see the juices shine. 

There's also unlimited rice and cabbage as well as a flavor-packed miso soup with tender slices of belly-pork. 

Don't dismiss the side salad - the sesame dressing is delish. 

The chicken katsu is solid as well, though not quite as stellar. 

Fantastic food, small selection, just make sure the special pork is on your plate.