Manhattan - FoodStuff

New York and gastrotourism. Wow - where to start? I did so much eating...

One of my favourite things was grabbing a bite at Madison Square Eats and then sitting in the sunshine in awe of the Flat Iron building. I ended up there twice. 

A whole host of famous restaurants have stalls in this pop-up space, all competing with their innovative culinary ideas.

Here's Roberta's pizza and a Red Hook lobster roll,

An Asia Dog hotdog topped with kimchi and nori flakes,

Then both cheese and birthday-cake flavoured mini doughnuts,

And cereal-milk ice cream from Momofuku Milk Bar. It really did taste like that milk after you finished your eating your cereal and was coated in actual cornflakes for a little crunch.

Um what's up next? Probably the craziest concept I've tasted in a while. Mac and cheese spring rolls with a gouda dipping sauce at Cafeteria,

Well I had never before seen one of these. Only in the United States. 

Talking of cupcakes, I did enjoy a gorgeous Magnolia Bakery number at Top of the Rock while taking in one of the best views over the city,

Another place worth trying is Miss Lily's which serves great Jamaican food and it's where I tried this curious but flavourful fusion: Jerk Ramen,

On my first morning in the city, Dee took me for breakfast at the Ukranian Veselka where I had a waffle the size of my face and tried my first pierogis,

Fortunately by combining all of this food intermittently with the cold-press juices and health-kick vegan cafés Dee is so into, they didn't have to roll me onto the plane. (It was touch and go there.)

Anyway, I'll wrap things up with a bagel. Very New York of me. 

This is a french toast bagel filled with birthday-cake flavour cream cheese,

"Take me back", I hear my stomach rumble.

Manhattan - Directions

I recently returned from a trip to New York to visit my school friend, Dee (the blogger behind Nous Portons). If you know me, you know I take photos of really everything. However, I have decided to restrict myself to two posts on my trip.

This one is just to be able to gawk at some of the architecture by looking up, across and down at the city.

The high line,

Boating,

Yellow cabs,

Lego bricks,

I heart Pasadena

This is a place we always try to go to at least once when we're in town. It has the best burgers and has been running for 40 years with the same authentic feel. I particularly like the old-fashioned cash register.

My order is always the grilled chicken burger and banana cream pie. Yummmmmmm.

I love a good neon sign. Here's another, in South Pasadena. It's part soda fountain, part pharmacy and part shop with the funniest little trinkets. Need a rusty Route 66 sign or I love Lucy pill box, this is your place. No, seriously, it's perfect for unique gifts. They serve a great lunch but you can just go there for a milkshake, sundae, banana split or even a root beer float.

California girl

Having returned from the Golden State a while ago now, this post is long overdue. I had an incredible three weeks across the pond with my family and boyfriend. Our house is in South Pasadena (Los Angeles) but we road-tripped it up to Cambria and Monterey, as well as down to San Diego.
There are far too many photos for one blog post so I thought I would attempt to restrain myself to just showing you my favourites for starters. Over these next few days as I pack for Madrid (yikes), I will also post on some extra special places which you have to visit if you find yourself out there.

Well, number one is the Rialto theatre in South Pasadena, just a short walk away from my house, I think it's a real shame that it's no longer in use. My has so many memories of seeing double features here with her childhood friends.

The Mission in Santa Barbara. Expression wherever you looked,

including chalk art in the courtyard.

Cambria views.

 

Stopping for sea lions.

 Exploring Monterey.

Where you can eat dinner listing to the seals.

This is one of my favourites - yes mine (Finding Nemo for those uneducated readers out there... seriously stop reading this and watch it right now).

Patterns in the kelp bed.

 And of course the characteristic California coast fog blows in.

This is the Mission of San Diego. Do research the 23 missions, as the history of the Spanish in California is extremely interesting (this should help). 

This particular one was much quieter than the one in Santa Barbara but no less beautiful. I liked the feel of humility and the whitewash reminded me of the house and Rebeca in One Hundred Years of Solitude (a must-read). I hope to be able to go back.

Old town San Diego has a strange feel to it. Slightly artificial and put-on with all of its tourist attractions but I did like the Western meets Mexico vibe and here are some of my favourite photos.

An original plant hanging basket.

We stayed on Coronado in San Diego and while on the beach, planes would fly overhead almost every ten minutes. A constant reminder of the military base that takes up a large part of peninsula.

While there watch Some like it hot with Marilyn Monroe.

Back in LA we were lucky enough to see the Dodgers win with a home run to boot. I couldn't help taking a last snap of the sun setting on the stadium.