For What It's Worth


Thursday, June 12, 2014

BEA 2014: The Food Post

I don’t think anyone cares that I go to BEA or what books I got anymore. All I hear when I get back is “Where’s the food post??”

It’s hard to fit in all my favorite places and try a few new ones while still attending BEA but I sure do try!

~ We hit up Pie Face once we got to our hotel. It was right on the corner and we did that on purpose since it’s open 24/7. A great place to grab a quick breakfast and coffee before heading to Javits. They have mini sweet & savory pies as well as something called Australian Iced Coffee that has espresso and ice cream. I LOVE it.

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Mini Pear & Ricotta Pie, Aussie Iced Coffee

~ Next up - I decided since I probably won’t be going to France anytime soon – that NYC was were I would lead my quest to try macarons. This is because of one of my favorite books ever, The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand, has the most drool worthy macaron descriptions ever. So we hit up Macaron Café and got a sampler. I really liked them but I wasn’t WOWED – but we’ll get back to macarons a little later….

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~ Dinner was at BarBacon with Pam from Midnyte Reader. My husband had sliders, I had a Barbacon Bahn Mi sandwich and Pam had the Bacon & Roasted Corn Torta. Obviously you need to like bacon to eat here.

They were filming a TV spot when we got there and hilarity ensued while all three of us tried to avoid being interviewed. Kevin, Pam and I are extreme introverts! It was a weird, crazy dinner but we had a lot of laughs and good food.


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~ I had a wonderful dinner with Ann Aguirre and Megan Hart at Tao Friday night. I hear this place gets really busy and you can’t even hear yourself think but we seemed to have gotten there early enough to be able to have a nice conversation and meal. The food is amazing and the decor is gorgeous! If you go, I would suggest ordering a few different things and sharing. The Pad Thai was fantastic. The lighting is very low so this picture is awful but there is a giant Buddha as the focal point of the restaurant. And may I just reiterate….SQUEE! I met Ann Aguirre!!!!! She’s as lovely and generous in person as you would expect.  <3! Highlight of my trip!

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~ A few random snacks at Victory Garden (Artisanal products and local goat milk ice cream, frozen yogurt) - YUMMY, Pommes Frites – delicious fries with even more delicious sauces to try, Magnolia Bakery (Of course! I go every visit), The Nutella Bar at Eataly

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~ Even though my first macaron experience was sort of meh I persevered and tried again! (Someone's gotta do it!) and stumbled upon Bosie Tea Parlor. I only wish I hadn’t eaten so much all week because I was only able to try a few macarons but they were absolutely heavenly! I tried coffee, salted caramel and the lavender peach. Now I know what all the fuss is about. This is definitely a place I will be visiting again the next time I’m in NYC. They also have a formal tea service and Sunday brunch. My picture doesn’t do these delicious little morsels justice ( I was outside in a sunshine filled park) so check out the their photo gallery.

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Oatmeals was a new place that I wanted to try this year. It’s an oatmeal bar where you can try pre-selected combinations or invent your own. They oatmeal comes in baby bear, mama bear and papa bear sizes made with either milk or water base. I had peaches and cream, Kevin had brown sugar cinnamon raisin. I REALLY want to go back and try some of the savory/spicy selections like fig & gorgonzola. I’m adding Oatmeals to must go on every visit list!

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~ We’re in the home stretch people! Hang in there – I’m almost done!

20140531_150353~ On Sunday we went to 2nd Ave Deli (thanks for the recommendation Alison!) This was hands down the best roast beef sandwich and pickles I’ve had since I was a kid. My husband was happy to finally get his pastrami sandwich but this was such a weird experience. We had an older man for our waiter and he wouldn’t let me add potato salad to my meal. Like…yelled at me and said no. lol  I couldn’t even be mad because it felt like something out of a Seinfeld episode – he was like the Soup Nazi. We couldn’t stop laughing. And in the end he was right – I wouldn’t have been able to finish the potato salad. I was too full. lol


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~ We checked out a new (to us) vegetarian restaurant, Angelica's Kitchen. Everything is organic and fresh. We started with People’s Polenta and it was delicious! Then I had Dashi and Noodles which was just what I needed after the drain of BEA and Book Con. My husband had the BBQ tempeh which was had way too much sauce. (The BBQ Tempeh at Café Blossom Is fantastic)


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~ I saved my two favorite places for last. Café Blossom – the BEST vegan restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. The food & service is always excellent.

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~ And of course Tea & Sympathy! Kevin, my friend Tori, her mom and I all went to see Maleficent (which was fantastic btw!) in the morning then went for our scones with clotted cream. This has become a annual BEA trip tradition.

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~ Oh And I can’t forget Shake Shack! I ALWAYS have to have Shake Shack!!

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~ One more! I didn't snap a photo but just before heading to the airport we stopped by my favorite place for breakfast - Good Enough to Eat. We met my friend Jen - YA Romantics and it was great to be able to spend some quality - non BEA line time together. 

That's it! Until next year….

39 comments:

  1. Ooh it is fun to see what people eat in NYC. I really want to go back soon so I can check out some of these cool places. LOVE Magnolia Bakery, so I'll definitely have to visit there again. I'd like to try macaroons too though. :)

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    1. I need to go to NYC for a non-BEA trip just so I have time to eat properly. Instead of cramming 20 meals into 3 days. lol

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  2. You did SO much better than I did when it came to food. I really just subsisted on Starbucks and nibbles provided by people throwing parties. Pitiful that I didn't get out there and find yummies like you did. I DID pop my Shake Shack cherry, though, and it was delicious.

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    1. I do go for BEA but we plan for the food all year!

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  3. ZOMG. Pie Face? The Nutella Bar? And Oatmeals sounds pretty awesome too, and I don't even like oatmeal. And now I'm starving, and there is nothing in my house that can compete with any of that. Except I do have nutella. Nutella out of the jar with a spoon . . . *zones out* And hooray for meeting Ann Aguirre and her being awesome!

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    1. I like oatmeal but this place elevates it to a new level with their combinations for mix ins.

      It's great when an author you admire meets (& exceeds) your expectations!

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  4. OMG that sounds like an amazing time , and you MET ANNE . I am doing the happy dance , and it sounds like that you had some wonderful food :) NOM NOM NOM

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  5. Annnnnnnnnnnnnd I'm hungry. Aren't macarons wonderful? It definitely depends on where you get them, because some places have better ones than others. There's this place by me (Common Bond) where they have the BEST macarons in town...if you're willing to wait in line for at least 45 minutes. Honestly, best pastries in town. COME VISIT ME, AND I SHALL TAKE THEE THERE!

    Where's the photo with all of the tomatoes?

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    1. The pastry chef was at Bosie the morning I went. I was all alone (but apparently there are usually long lines) and he explained each macaron. VIP macaroni treatment lol

      I might explode if I visit you!

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  6. I would love that! You need to be able to eat non stop all day though lol

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  7. OMG the food! I love eating when I travel. New York is such an amazing place to eat.

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  8. Look at all this porn, I am so offended I thought this was PG blog :o. You know I'm just kidding I need to go to NYC with you. I'll just follow you around to all the eateries and just eat everything. I should mention though the family has plans to take a trip there in October (though it's tentative) I'll write all these places down and make sure we visit at least a few of them if we do go.

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  9. Okay, I am starving now!

    I am a new fan of tempeh, and there is no where around here to get it. Or eat it. So I'm going to order some and try meals myself. But for the record, I'm dying to try to vegan restaurants you mentioned.

    And I'm so happy ugh finally got to meet AA!

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    1. We have it in our grocery store now. I usually marinate it in a gourmet style, strong flavored salad dressing.

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  10. You are so evil, I want all of that

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  11. Oh I hadn't seen a BEA food post yet! LOVE it! I'm vegetarian (though I eat fish) but you ate at least a few things that I could eat! It looks so delicious! And of course I read this when I'm hungry... time to go make me some food!

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    1. We go to quite a few vegan restaurants when we're in NYC even though I eat meat. I love all food lol

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  12. you're making me hungry with those cupcakes!

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  13. OMG YUM w all these food pics! next time you should try Ladurée which has the best macarons ever. :) also, I'm super impressed you tried all these food places during BEA. I barely ate!

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    1. Laduree was on my list but I didn't have time to make it there. Bosie was VERY good though.

      We stay for a week so I have time to eat on the non-BEA days. I still can't fit in everything I want to try though.

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  14. I love how I find so many places to eat from my out of town friends who visit! So much good food in NYC!

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  15. Oh and now since I've been "discovered" by that camera crew, I've turned into a total extrovert! (Okay, not so much.)

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    1. Yeah - it didn't change us either. If anything I'm even MORE introverted. lol

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  16. Goddammit, Karen! I know I asked for this, but I want to eat everything you mentioned! :(

    Okay, let's talk specifics:

    I found out from the Candlewick rep's Instagram that Pie Face was in New York. I LOVE Pie Face! We ate there so many times when we went to Australia and I miss it so much! So tasty and so cute.

    Clotted cream: YES.

    You went to Eataly! I'm so excited to see that one day. I've read so much about it, and I can't wait to eat my way through.

    We have a Magnolia in LA now, but I'll always think fondly of the one in NY since I first went there with one of my best friends after a show. I mostly like the banana pudding from there, though. I found a recipe for it and made it at home, but I also added grand marnier, so I think my recipe is even better. Heeeee.

    It's so cool that you like vegan places as well. I am by no means a vegetarian, but I do love vegetables and my husband and I try out vegetarian places all the time.

    And finally--I am SO happy for you that you got to meet Ann Aguirre! After beta reading for her all this time! That is so awesome, and I bet you ladies had tons of fun.

    I think I'm going to be in New York later this year, so I will be bookmarking this for reference. ;) Thanks for sharing your eating adventures! It was worth waiting for.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. I LOVE Pie Face. We made our hotel reservations based on begin near them. lol

      I've been to Eataly several time snow. It's basically the Italian food Disneyworld. It's insanely crowded and probably over priced but the food has always been excellent. Especially the pasta and meats.

      I'm always surprised when people discover the banana pudding at Magnolia. My mom made that for me all the time when I was a kid so I don't see what the big deal is. lol I've never had the adult versant hough. I'll have to try that.

      Cafe Blossom is my favorite vegan place but I heard that Candle Cafe is also excellent. I just ran out of time…

      There are so many great places to eat in NYC. I'll never have time to try them all!

      A few really great places we found for fresh, quick on the go sandwiches were Sun Sweet Fresh Market & Breads Bakery.

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    2. I love that you made hotel reservations based on Pie Face. This is why we get along.

      Yeah, "insanely crowded and overpriced" sounds like Batali's two places here, too, but I don't even care. It's great food and everything's always so exciting to see.

      Hah, I never got banana pudding as a kid, so maybe that's the appeal? Definitely try it with booze sometime, though! When it doubt, add alcohol.

      Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  17. So much fooooood!! I've always resented that I live in South East Asia where almost nothing book-related fun ever happen (Gayle Forman, Veronica Roth, Tahereh Mafi, and several others visited but we need more bookish events). But now I'm equally furious because I might never get a taste of all those deliciousness if I don't pack my bags and fly there at the soonest possible time.

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    1. But I'm sure you have great food!

      The great thing about NYV is the variety. You can have almost any type of food you could imagine & within walking distance.

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  18. Way to give me a mad sweets craving at... 10 AM. I ate some serial already, so it's ok to crack open the cookies, right?? ;) When I went to RT it wasn't about the food at all, but then again I was on a budget (flying internationally is expensive).

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    1. Bring on the cookies! lol

      We stay for a week so that helps. I bring my husband and it's part BEA/part vacation for us.

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  19. I'm thinking... it's good I ate before coming on this blog. Then I keep reading and my stomach says... "yes! Let's eat!" Darn you! ;) I'm gonna want everything here! Pass the macaroons... :D

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  20. Yum! I have The great macaron place right by me -- I have to take out a bank loan before shopping there, but it's worth it. I must confess I've never been to Eataly. I hate the name. But if you liked it, I will check it out. And lol I would have been hiding under the table if a camera crew was anywhere nearby. Nuh-uh. The one exception I'd make is that I used to be obsessed with this show called Cash Cab. It would drive around New York picking people up and you could win cash for answering trivia questions. I think they cancelled it, but it was my dream to get picked up by that cab.

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  21. Oh, I'm sure people do care, I know I do even if I'm green with envy at all those books.

    Feeling peckish after this amazing food based post, how delicious do those scones look?

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