NYC!!!

Before I bombard you with a whole post dedicated to my week in eats, outfits, thoughts and birthday extravaganzas- I would like to share about my day trip into the City last Saturday.  It was a cold and windy day, but productive nonetheless.  It was only my second time to visit in my life- but the first time in which I didn’t feel like a total outsider or tourist.  I would say day trip success!  Enjoy…

Yay! We made it to the CITYYYY! (For any reference point, this is from last Saturday, the 13th.)

Subway ride!

The poles underneath the Subway station make you look skinnier than Barbie. I was having fun.. and then I started getting nauseous looking at myself. Aah.

Lunch in Little Italy, at a small place called Il Fornaio.

Alyssa ordered the spinach ravioli.  Was quite tasty.

I ordered an Italian Tuna Muffaletta. I haven’t had tuna salad in so long and it definitely hit the spot.

Enough garlic bread to feed fifteen people.

Arugula salad! YUM.

Dessert in Little Italy.  Of course.  We went up a few blocks to “Sambuca’s” a cafe serving lunch, drinks and dessert.

I ordered a chocolate gelato with coffee.  Alyssa got hazelnut hot chocolate and a cannoli.  When in Rome?!

My only complaint was that the coffee was served in a way too tiny mug (we’re talking 4 ounces — hardly acceptable) and when I asked for a refill the server replied that they didn’t give refills.  WHAT?  Is this some kind of unwritten rule in the city, NO REFILLS?!  Thankfully, the server refilled me cup free of charge, just this once.

Snow on the ground. T’was cold.

Shopped around. Went into Kate’s Paperie, literally the holy land of paperie stores.

Wedding dress made out of paper:

Chocolate samples made by Rogue Confections.  “Too pretty too eat” being their mantra.

“Nothing is ever too pretty to eat”, is mine.

While shopping in SoHo we spotted the really big Dean & Deluca!  The Culinarian-Foodie-Socialite-Heiress-Dog Walker-Gossip Girl viewing, HEAVEN of a gourmet grocery store.

Yes^ that is heart ravioli just for Valentine’s Day! It was so cute, and probably tasted supreme.

A huge butter cookie of sorts.

Serving size= 2 mouthfuls. WHAT?!

Marzipan!! Thought of Katharina.

I took a biscotti to go and ate  a bite on the subway with an Americano.

It was a fun day, and I simply cannot wait to head back up soon- especially when it gets nice and warm and green throughout.  If any of you City dwellers are free during a weekend, I will probably have plenty more city encounters soon!  Blogger meet ups?  Yes, please!

Have you guys ever been to the City?  Restaurant recommendations?  I know.. you should probably be asking me that, but really, I don’t know that many places yet! I don’t know about you, but most of my weekend getaways and vacations revolve around food.  I plan day trips and week long escapades all based around where I am going to eat.  Food and travel definitely go hand in hand for me for sure!  What is important to you when you go out of town, or on vacation?  Where do your priorities lie?  Where do you splurge?

Thank you all for my birthday wishes.  You guys are so beyond sweet.  I’m posting this right now as I try and sift through my pictures and organize my entire birthday week into one recap post. GAH, what a pain.  But a necessary pain.  It was a hefty week!

Aannnd its 12:13 am (WAY past my bedtime)- meaning its Monday morning.  Diving head first into another hefty week, doing what else, but blogging!  Priorities people, priorities.

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P.S. Zesty Cook BLOG MAKEOVER GIVEAWAY!

Averie is giving away coconut peanut butter!