The Menu: The City That Eats
Before I went up to to New York two weekends ago to visit my NYC friend fam and run a little race, my mom asked me what we'd be doing besides the race. My itinerary was pretty standard as far as Staci's-in-NYC itineraries go.
"Well when I get up there, we're going to go to the race expo. That night, we're going out to dinner. Then after the race Sunday, we're going out for brunch. Then Sunday night we're going out to dinner for my birthday."
"So...basically you're eating."
Well, duh. Oh, and I did forget to tell her about my planned detour to the Upper West Side for a Levain cookie.
Drool, amirite?
And for my actual birthday and this past weekend in Baltimore? What better way to celebrate 30 ending than with some delicious meals in the City that Reads Breeds Eats.
So I figured for blogging purposes, why not make birthday food a HTJL tradition? Here's a rundown of what I ate in my two home bases.
NYC PRE-RACE
As planned, when I arrived in New York, I met up with Friend of the Blog and paper lady boss, Emily, who came in for the race from Chicago. We met Jen at the expo, then headed over to nearby Chelsea Market for lunch and snacks. Excited to have Em in NYC, I dragged her uptown for the aforementioned cookie, which we waited for in line for half an hour. (Worth it.) Planner extraordinaire Jen got us a reservation at Boulton and Watt in the Lower East Side, where we ate all the pickled vegetables (including beets and Brussels sprouts!), all the guacamole, and I fueled up on mahi mahi tacos.
NYC POST-RACE
After crashing HARD following the race, I needed food in a bad way. Luckily, Jen had us set up again, this time at Malthouse, a few blocks away from where the race finished in the Financial District. It was...kind of mediocre, but really who goes to the Financial District to eat anyway? DINNER, however, was phenomenal. We celebrated my birthday (appropriately) at Swine in the West Village. Everything was delicious -- charcuterie (including burrata for Jen), bacon-wrapped dates, more sprouts, short ribs, really good drinks, and more.
FLEET STREET KITCHEN
On my actual birthday, I was still too crippled from the race to attend my usual hip hop spin class, so a few friends and I went out for an impromptu dinner at Fleet Street Kitchen in Baltimore's Harbor East. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. They started us off with a complimentary amuse bouche that 100 percent amused my bouche and finished with raspberry macarons along with the check. I actually squealed when I bit into one of the macarons. Unfortunately, I then spent the rest of my birthday throwing everything up due to a poorly timed stomach virus. It took me a while to even look at those photos you see above. I hope to someday will myself to return to Fleet Street Kitchen, but it might be a while.
ROY'S
It's become somewhat of a tradition for my family and I to go out to Roy's the weekend in between my birthday and my mom's birthday. The "Hawaiian fusion" dishes are creative and always yummy. I meant to take more pictures but by the time I realized I should take pictures of the main courses, our plates were empty. If you go, I highly recommend the white peach sangria, the Ahi tuna, and the chocolate molten cake for dessert. It's Monday now, and I'm daydreaming about faceplanting into one of those cakes.
Yours in noms,
-Staci
