The standard for urban food markets, I could spend a few hours wandering among the shops and food stores. There are also great places to buy food-related gifts here. Plan on visiting on an empty stomach. Chelsea Market 75 9th Ave., New York, NY 10011; (212) 652-2110
What could David Chang possibly do wrong? His mini-empire does cookies as well as it does noodles, dumplings, and here – country hams, pork, raw seafood, oysters and rotisserie duck. Momofuku Ssam Bar 207 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003; (212) 254-3500
Dale Talde’s namesake Brooklyn restaurant, he fuses his Filipino upbringing in Chicago with his Asian travels and his NYC/Top Chef experiences, to create a menu that is thoroughly delicious. Talde 369 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215; (347) 916-0031
The elegant Eleven Madison Park, open since 1998 under Danny Meyer’s guidance, continues to shine under the helm of Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara. It’s a tasting menu-only format that weaves through the history of NYC. Make sure you have plenty of room left on your credit card. Eleven Madison Park 11 Madison Ave., … Continued
Dim sum with a farm-to-table mindset. Really fun space, casual, and perennially packed, so try to get a reso, otherwise put your name in and go for a stroll while you wait. Red Farm 529 Hudson St., New York, NYC 10014; (212) 792-9700
Breaking down the food hall concept, Gotham West Market opened in Hell’s Kitchen in 2014 featuring some of New York’s most recognizable names in food – Ivan Ramen, Blue Bottle Coffee, Ample Hills Creamery – and even a bike shop from NYC Velo. Go hungry, because your eyes will be bigger than your stomach. Gotham … Continued
The 1930s East meets West, through the cuisine and culture of Shanghai. Located far from Chinatown, this is one of my favorite neighborhood spots, in a neighborhood not known for its Chinese food. Café China 13 E 37th St., New York, NY 10014; (212) 924-0818
[Note: this tour is no longer being sold, but it will give you an idea of the types of tours I can arrange for larger group] I should also point out that EVERYTHING is included once you get to NYC – the food, the drinks the tour, etc. – the only extra money you’ll need … Continued
On the Lower East Side you live, where you’ve been since 1914, you’ve seen the city through highs and lows, from behind a façade shaded white & green. Unpretentious, never boastful, just a neon-lit fixture along Houston Street, Let the tourists go to Katz’s, when I’m in town, I know where to eat. I get … Continued