New York City Food
The food of any area is bound to absorb different cultures, particularly when there is a diverse mix of immigrants coming in. New York City food has benefited from the cosmopolitan make up of the city. Visiting the Big Apple is fun and enjoying the food is all part of the experience, whether it is grabbing a chilidog from a stand, a bagel from a Jewish deli or frequenting a high-class restaurant.
The Eastern European and Italian communities are largely responsible for the city’s love affair with bagels, cheesecake and pizza. There are different varieties of bagel but the New York version contains salt and malt and the crust is moist. NY cheesecake is rich and creamy with lots of cream cheese, and eggs too. Some New York City food recipes have cottage cheese in the cheesecake and some add chocolate, lemon, or strawberry.
New York pizza is characterized by its thin, crispy crust with a typical topping of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. The pizza is tossed by hand and served with oregano and grated parmesan. The city proudly boasts that the first pizzeria in America opened in Manhattan. Street food vendors, apart from burgers, pretzels and hot dogs, offer Middle Eastern fare, including Falafels, which are fried balls made from chick peas or spicy fava beans. Kebabs too are popular.
One of the best features of the city is the variety of world cuisine on offer, something for every mood. You can eat a different cuisine every night of the week, including Italian, Spanish, German, Greek, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. There are also Irish pubs, which give a welcome to the weary traveler and a hearty Irish meal. Food in New York City is never boring.
Tourists and locals alike enjoy the different organized events that celebrate the vibrant food scene in the city. Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tours are an excellent way of getting to know the different neighborhoods in the city. The Chinatown one takes you to Chinese restaurants and specialty food shops where you can sample some of the delicacies. Greenwich Village is another participant and opens its family run food shops and Italian restaurants to the tour. There is also a Central Greenwich Village combined with SoHo tour.
The Chelsea Market and Meatpacking District is another combined tour. Seven food shops feature on this tour in areas that are feted for their ethnic restaurants, gourmet food shops, boutiques and lively nightlife. The New York City food scene is also presented in a number of Food Tasting Events. One of these is the Sushi and Japanese Tapas restaurant event. Admission is by ticket and these events are very popular. Not only do visitors learn about the food in New York City but also they meet interesting people and learn about the traditions and culture.
