Eataly X Identita Golose NY’s First Ever Dine Around

The progressive dinner showcased dishes from six world famous chefs during a culinary tour that moves from restaurant to restaurant within Eataly in Flatiron NYC.

1. Standing Reception at La Scuola Grande with Chef Matthew Kenney

The Dine Around commenced with a duo of vegan bites by celebrity chef Matthew Kenney, who served Kelp Noodle Cacio Pepe made with cashew cream and topped with dried olives and microgreens, as well as Almond Flatbread with Urbani truffle cheese, sweet fennel compote, and raisins.

2. Vegetable Course at La Verdure with Chef Massimo Bottura

The gregarious chef Massimo Bottura, an Italian restaurateur and the chef patron of a 3-Michelin star restaurant in Italy, delighted the diners with this creative dish. NamedA Lentil is Better than Caviar, the dish resembled caviar but instead is made with steamed lentils with eel concentrate, red onions, and creme fraiche at the bottom.

3. Fish Course at Il Pesce with Chef Franco Pepe

Italian pizza master Franco Pepe concocted two amazing dishes. First, the simple-looking Pizza made with lightly fried dough with a slice of tomato, dehydrated garlic, red pepper flakes, anchovies, Sorrento lemon rind, and parsley was the most unique slice of pizza I’ve ever had. The dough had perfectly crispy exterior complemented by feather-like, fluffy interior. The Calvisius Caviar was served with two silver dollar pancakes and a dollop of creme fraiche.

4. Primo Course at La Pizza & La Pasta with Chef Fortunato Nicotra

Chef Fortunato Nicotra, executive chef of Felidia Restaurant in NJ, served super al danta Squid Ink Shell Pasta with grana padano cheese and pear concentrate. The sauce was a bit too creamy and rich for my personal liking, and the pasta could have been cooked at least 5 minutes longer.

5. Main Course at Manzo Ristorante with Chef Alex Atala

The famous Brazilian chef Alex Atala charmed the guests with his Brisket dish. This tender, juicy piece of brisket was topped with pickled and fried onions, and served with a side of pear compote sprinkled with cayenne pepper that had a similar texture as apple sauce, but with much richer flavor.

6. Dessert Course at La Piazza with Chef Niko Romito

Save room for dessert because this Cream-Filled Doughnut is absolutely divine. The fluffy, cloud-like dough is deep-fried and topped with sprinkles of sugar. The generous amount of rich yellow cream in the doughnut adds wonderfully creamy, ooey-gooey texture to the dessert.

Watch NYC Wake Up From The Top Of The Empire State Building

You absolutely won’t want to miss this once-in-a-time opportunity.

For a limited time, guests can watch New York City wake up from the top of the Empire State Building. Dubbed the “Sunrise Experience,” this unique opportunity allows guests to watch the sunrise over NYC from the world famous 86th floor Observatory, which provides unobstructed, 360-degree open air views of the city that never sleeps.

Once guests take the high speed elevator to the 86th floor Observatory, they cansoak in the Gotham City transitions from night to day - from the lit up skyscrapers in the dark to the clear morning views of NYC. This is the first time ever that the Observatory will be open to the public for the sunrise.

Given the fickle weather in NYC, the opportunity to see the “perfect” sunrise is at the whim of the weather god. However, rest assured that no matter the weather, guests will nonetheless enjoy the breathtaking views of NYC from one of the most famous buildings in the world.

The Sunrise Experience doesn’t have to end once guests descend to the lobby. STATE Grill and Bar, located in the lobby of the Empire State Building, will offer the“Empire State Building Sunrise Breakfast,” available exclusively to visitors who wake up before dawn. The new offering allows ticket holders to add on a prix fixe breakfast option - which includes delicious entrees like Morning Wrap (pictured above) made with egg whites, avocado, and ricotta, Classic Eggs Benedict, and Cinnamon French Toast.

To experience this limited time experience, which is available only from October 1, 2016 through November 20, 2016, visit www.esbnyc.com/sunrise. Act fast - no more than 100 tickets will be sold per sunrise.

My Favorite Eats At The Annual Taste Of Gramercy Neighborhood 2016

Showcasing some of Gramercy’s top restaurants, Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood doubles as a fundraiser event to benefit healthy meal programs at local public schools.

1. Moroccan Spiced Carrots with Chickpeas & Quinoa from Anisette

This gluten free, vegan dish from Anisette featured quinoa mixed in with a medley of vegetables and legumes like squash, carrots, bell pepper, and chickpeas in Moroccan spices.

2. Orecchiette with House-Made Sweet Fennel Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, and Basil Pesto from Follia

Al dante orecchiette pasta dish from Follia was complemented by house-made sweet fennel sausage, crunchy broccoli rabe, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese all mixed in basil pesto sauce.

3. Tuna Ceviche with Grilled Corn and Pimenton de la Vera from Adalya

Two for the price of one! Adalya showcased savory tuna ceviche with grilled corn on top of crunchy toast, as well as a stick of celery smeared with hummus and topped with fig.

4. Seared Tuna with Grilled Olive Tapenade and Chimichurri Sauce from Sarabeth’s

A slice of perfectly seared tuna from Sarabeth’s was topped with grilled olive tapenade, micro greens, and a drizzle of olive oil. The chimichurri sauce on the side added nice layer of creaminess.

5. Toasted Ricotta Gnocchi with White Truffle Cream from The Smith

The pan-fried ricotta gnocchi from The Smith had perfectly crispy exterior paired with soft interior. The gnocchi was topped with rich and creamy white truffle sauce.

6. Burrata with Black Truffles from Obica

Creamy burrata from Obica was layered on top of fresh basil and topped with black truffles with a drizzle of olive oil.

7. Crostini with Caponata and Herb & Honey Scone from Midwinter Kitchen

This duo of sweet and savory treat from Midwinter Kitchen included crostini with caponata and dense herb & honey scone.

8. Cabernet Braised Short Rib with Potato Puree on a Roasted Parsnip from Hardings

You got your meat and protein in one bite with this dish from Hardings. On top of roasted parsnip were tender, cabernet braised short rib with potato puree.

9. Mini Lobster Rolls with Japanese Aioli and Potato Brioche from Burger & Lobster

The mini lobster roll from Burger & Lobster was packed with juicy, succulent lobster meat mixed in with Japanese aioli, and sandwiched in between grilled potato brioche.

A Guide To Traveling Healthy This Year With Refinery Hotel + Wellthily

Whether you are traveling for business or for leisure, you don’t need to sacrifice your health and wellness when you stay at the Refinery Hotel in NYC.

1. Journey joyfully by booking a wellness hotel package

A luxury boutique hotel located just a few blocks from Bryant Park, Refinery Hotel has recently partnered with Wellthily - an experience design firm that specializes in on-site, in-room health products and programs - to develop one-of-a-kind healthy lifestyle programs to enhance the guests’ well-being and promote healthy traveling.

2. Use the in-room tablet to order fitness apparels / sign up for classes

Upon checking in and entering one of Refinery’s spacious, polished room, I was greeted with a Wellthily tablet - powered by Zappos.com - with which I could order exercise gears (i.e. sports bra, athletic shoes, yoga pants) or healthy travel kit (i.e. sleep set, essential oils, snacks), browse through on-site fitness classes, and find out about healthy food offerings nearby. I loved not having to pack my bulky running shoes and apparels - traveling lightly is the best!

3. Attend one of many on-site fitness classes

In addition to the in-room amenities, I also enjoyed a full schedule of fitness classes featuring top instructors and studios in NYC, including Under Armour trainers, The Cyc Method, and Muscle & Flow. These classes conveniently took place on-site at Hatbox, the Refinery’s sidewalk level event space, or its rooftop venue at Refinery Rooftop.

I attended a high-intensity training class with Natalie Uhling, the creater of NUFit. The class, which fused the best elements of cardio and spot toning in a 1-hour workout, definitely kicked my ass - in a good way! I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated afterward, and perfectly ready to start my day.

4. Select healthy options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner

Don’t forget to recharge after your workout with delicious, healthy options from Refinery’s food and beverage venues, including Parker & Quinn, Winnie’s Jazz Bar, and Refinery Rooftop. Don’t these healthy bowls of fresh berries and acai look absolutely mouthwatering? Traveling and living healthy and well have never been easy!

Lobster Risotto, Pumpkin Burrata, And Much More At Grand Bar, A NYC Restaurant Worth Multiple Visits

With so many restaurants in New York City, rarely do I make a second trip to the same restaurant. . However, I may have found a place that is worth second, third, or even fourth visit - Grand Bar at Soho Grand Hotel. 

Located on the second floor of this elegant boutique hotel in SoHo neighborhood, Grand Bar offers exceptional cocktails and delicious food in a classy yet comfortable atmosphere with marble top oak bar, rich wooden floors, and woven leather seating.

The food menu at Grand Bar highlights local, seasonal ingredients. For appetizer, the Burrata is an absolute must. Creamy, fist-sized burrata - topped with pickled red onion, sorel, and carrots with a sprinkle of chia - sits atop two pieces of kabocha pumpkin. There are cubes of root vegetables, such as butternut squash and roasted parsnips, as well as a swipe of deliciously smooth butternut squash puree, to add additional flavors and complexity to this beautiful appetizer.

Try the Lobster Risotto, an off-the-menu item, before it's gone. This surf and turf risotto features succulent lobster tail and moist sweetbreads, flavored in rich bone marrow broth. The arborio rice is cooked to perfection with right amount of texture and consistency. 

The Harvest Vegetable Fazzoletti also highlights everyone's favorite assortment of winter squash. Made with wide, "handkerchief" shape pasta that is extremely doughy and chewy, the dish consists of everything from cubes of butternut to thinly sliced delicata with crunchy pepita in rich, creamy sage brown butter sauce. 

Order a side of Sweet Potato Fries to share. While a little bit of seasoning would have elevated the flavor of the fries (perhaps a dash of salt would have done the magic!), the sweet potato fries were nonetheless a perfect complement to our entrees. The fries sliced just the right size to be crispy on the outside and still maintain the starchy texture on the inside.

Delightful Japanese Dessert at Cha-An Teahouse in East Village

Of all the cute little Japanese/Asian-inspired dessert places in East Village (ChikaLicious, Spot, etc.), Cha-An is my favorite because of their presentation, interior (such a cute tea house decorated with wooden floors/tables/booths, bamboo room dividers, rice-paper shaded lamps, etc.), and - of course - taste!

Cha-An's chef Tomako Kato is actually trained in French pastry, having apprenticed at Bouley Bakery with Bill Yosses, the Obamas' White House pastry chef. She has worked at Russian Tea Room and Le Bernardin before opening her own restaurant in 2005.



Cha-An offers a savory menu, but specializes in afternoon tea and dessert. I visited Cha-An with a large group, and we ordered a bunch of desserts to share. The Green Tea Roll Cake came with a scoop of sake ice cream and sweet red beans, and topped with thin cookie. The green tea roll cake had plenty of smooth green tea cream inside with a thin layer of red beans, which helped to moisten the cake. I would have liked a bit more green tea flavor. I couldn't taste the sake in the ice cream at all, but maybe for the better :) 



An order of Homemade Mochi includes three pieces. You can mix & match different flavors like green tea, black sesame, and earl grey chocolate. We had two green tea and one black sesame, and these are served in the shape of a snowman - so adorable! 

The mochi is PACKED with ice cream inside. Usually the ratio between mochi and the ice cream is pretty high (as in a lot of mochi and very little ice cream), but it was the opposite at Cha-An. I would have almost liked a bit more chewy mochi. 



My favorite was the Black Sesame Creme Brulee. Served in a beautiful black ceramic cup, the soft creme brulee (with crackly top, of course), had an amazing black sesame flavor. The black sesame ice cream in the middle and the rolled-up black sesame wafer (studded with more black sesame) added to the intense flavor. 

The scoops of Jasmine and Green Tea Ice Cream was delicious as well, but given the variety of really unique desserts, there was nothing too special about these ice cream. Definitely skip and try other things!

Finally, the Deconstructed Strawberry Pie with sake ice cream (again...not much sake flavor) was beautifully presented. I didn't like the flaky layers of pie crust. They should have used fresh strawberries, not the ones drenched in sugar. 



This dessert was beautiful to the eyes, but not tasty to the mouth. Maybe I disliked it because it was the least Asian-inspired.

Crabmeat Soup Dumplings at Joe's Shanghai in Midtown NYC

While spending the summer in New York City, my roommate and I ventured into the city quite often to sample its diverse ethnic cuisine. One of my favorite places was Joe's Shanghai, a popular Chinese restaurant that has opened a total of three chains throughout NYC since opening its door in Chinatown.

Joe's Shanghai is popular for its soup dumplings. For light lunch, we decided to share a serving of crab meat soup dumplings. We were considering going to the original, Chinatown location, but since we were already in midtown, we decided to go to the closer location on 56th St. and also to save taxi fare.

I sort of wished we had gone to the original location because I don't think the dumplings tasted as good. Further, we only got 6 dumplings, as opposed to 8, and paid more for it at midtown than at the Chinatown location!

Eating soup dumpling is an acquired skill. You first have to bite into the outer layer to make a small hole so that you don't burn your mouth. Once the juice seeps out on to the spoon, you can drink it and bite into the crab meat interior.

The peel was a bit thicker than I would have liked. I thought the crabmeat dumpling had nice seafood flavor, though I would have appreciate richer taste.

The dumplings weren't super greasy. I wonder the proportion of meat vs crabmeat vs shit...Haha

Dairy-Free, Cheeseless Affair at Dos Caminos in Midtown, NYC

As someone who is lactose-intolerant, I don't particularly enjoy Mexican cuisine, which tends to be heavy in its use of dairy like cheese and cream. That is why when I dine with a group who wants Mexican food, I usually browse through the menu to ensure that there is at least one item that doesn't use cheese. On a sunny Sunday morning, I went to Dos Caminos, a modern Mexican restaurant in Midtown East, New York City.

My eyes immediately averted from items like quesadillas and enchiladas. I decided to try the traditional Pollo Tacos ($16), served on warm, handmade corn tortillas with Mexican rice, refried beans, and a trio of salsas.

Unlike tacos from Taco Bells, which are packed with string-y, yellow "fake" cheese, traditional Mexican tacos do not have cheese. Instead, packed inside the warm corn tortillas were grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, pinto beans, chicken chicharron, and salsa suprema. I was a big fan of the marinated chicken because it was tender and juicy. The seasoning was slightly spicy. Chicken chicharron, or fried chicken rinds, oozed a lot of oil and fat to the bottom of the tortillas and made them soggy.

The dish on the left is Mexican Chopped Salad ($11.50), which includes grilled corn, poblano chiles, apples, pinto beans, green olives, tomato, onion, and anejo cheese with crispy tortillas on top and tossed with toasted cumin vinaigrette. The dish on the right is Carnitas Tacos ($16), packed with slow-roasted pork and green chile salsa.

The Carnitas Tacos didn't seem as greasy or oily as my Pollo tacos, but they also didn't appear as filling. The basil on top added a nice touch of flavor.

The Dos Caminos Chicken Cobb Salad ($14) was a colorful array of grilled chicken breast, tomato, avocado, corn, onion, queso fresco, and tortilla chips and tossed with cilantro-basil vinaigrette. Now that I reflect, all of the dishes could be made dairy-free if we skipped the cheese! Mexican cuisine is possible for lactose-intolerant people :)