Comments on: Q&A: Tips for world travellers

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:45 +0000

The food in the States is like most things in the States, when it’s good it’s excellent and when it’s bad it’s horrid. Here are my tips -

New York
Blue Hill in Washington Sq http://www.bluehillfarm.com (Dan Barber’s restaurant) is a small scale splash out but it did give me hope for American food after 2 days in the Iowa corn fields. Otto at 1 8th Ave is a cheap and cheerful way to get a slice of the Mario Batali pizza action.

Washington DC
In DC check out Julia’s Empanada’s at Dupont Circle
1221 Connecticut Ave NW http://www.juliasempanadas.com . It’s the best street food I found in the US, South American treats made by hand and just a few dollars. Otherwise the farmer’s market at Dupont Circle is pretty nifty and has an incredible selection of mushrooms depending on the season. Otherwise Malaysian Kopitiam at Malaysia Kopitiam
1827 M St Nw, http://www.malaysiankopitiam.com is really good Malaysian food by a couple from Ipoh, Malaysia and it’s not too pricey. For a few days of train travel I went to Wholefoods (organic-ish superstore) and got supplies to take with me. I was trying to avoid corn syrup and this was one of the few places that stocked jam with actual cane sugar -eek. Still, it’s a fascinating place. Happy travels.

By: Phee

Phee — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:38:12 +0000

Why not try Lupa, which is part owned by four well known lumineries in New York… one of which is Mario Batali. It might sound expensive, but its not! Based on an Italian, or Roman trattoria, the food is about quality at a reasonable price ; http://www.luparestaurant.com

also, make sure you take a wander down Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn/Queens, as some of the most amazing delicatessens/food stores with Middle East to Carribean origin and have been there since the 30′s and 40′s. Its truly worth a day visit just to wander up and down the street sampling the wares.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:36:29 +0000

Washington DC is wonderful! Center of power, talk about melting pot: World Bank, IMF, all those embassies. Why am I saying this? VARIETY OF FOOD. If you are staying in the city (avoid SW, SE – WDC is divided into 4 quadrants, NW (upscale), NE, SW, SE), wonderful, you can hop onto the Metro, very convenient. Visit Georgetown, Arlington, Old Town Alexandria- venture all the way to the suburbs (VA & MD) as far as the metro will take you. DO NOT MISS OUT THE ONLY FREE MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD – SMITHSONIAN. Go onto the Washinton Post website; Friday edition provides a detailed what’s going on and places to go & things to do.

Lived there for 6 years—I miss it.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:26:46 +0000

Eating in the US reflects the US in general. When it is good it is very good and when it is bad it is horrid.

In New York, Blue Hill (www.bluehillfarm.com) Dan Barber’s restaurant was incredible and gave me cause for hope after spending time in the corn fields of Iowa. Otto at 1 8th St is a cheaper and cheerful way to get a slice of the Mario Batali pizza action. The Wolfgang Puck outlet at Macy’s is a fun place to eat cheaply and not too badly, you might also be able to pick up some of Francis Ford Coppola’s own-label wine while you are there.

In DC you can find delicious empanadas for a few dollars at Julia’s Empanadas 1221 Connecticut Ave NW # 1410 some of the best street food we found in the states. The farmer’s market at Dupont circle is also good fun and has an incredible selection of mushrooms (depending on the time of year). There is also a surprisingly decent Malaysian restaurant called malaysian Kopitiam at 1827 M St NW, Washington, DC, United States‎ – (202) 833-6232‎.

Have a great trip,
Katie

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:27:38 +0000

Try http://www.roadfood.com, keeping the Americana dream alive!

By: dan

dan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:54:16 +0000

my suggestions are check out the market at union square. then have lunch at union square cafe. (its a rest not a cafe) remember ressies required for most restaurants in nyc.

also walk across brooklyn bridge in daylight/dusk, buy a pizza in brooklyn, and eat it down on the hudson beside the the bridge.

or you can try fine dining at the river cafe under the bridge (on the brooklyn side). great views across the rive back to manhattan. but i looked out at envy the people enjoying the warm summers night on the wharf drinking beer and eating pizza.

of course, walk over to restaurant and get cab came to manhattan!
enjoy

By: Sue Dyson

Sue Dyson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:34:48 +0000

New York is one of the best places in the world to eat – either cheaply or at the other end of the market. Some of the best in the affordable / affordableish price range we’ve tried are:
Terroir (an East Village Wine Bar), or if your budget stretches, try their more upmarket Hearth or Insieme.
All the Momofuku restaurants – Ssam, Noodle Bar, etc. Ko is hard to get into and definitely not cheap (but memorable).
Diner (in Brooklyn) – or its next door sister restaurant Marlow & Sons (haven’t tried the latter but Diner is fantastic and in the latest issue of Saveur, Marlow is listed as one of the 12 most influential restaurants in the US.)
Fatty Crab

You could also try:
Shake Shake (the down home end of Danny Meyer’s empire).
Co (the brand new pizza restaurant from Jim Lahey)
We also have Ten Bells (lower east side) on our list of places to visit next time. It would be especially good if you’re interested in natural wines.
And, given you’re from the agricultural heartland, you would probably enjoy a visit to the Union Square Farmers Market.

That’s just a first pass. Don’t feel even a mild sense of terror about eating in New York – celebrate it. Just at the moment, it’s one of the most exiciting food cities on the planet.