preparing for a taste of the big apple

My sis and I have been getting ready for our patting-ourselves-on-our-backs, congratulatory (meaning she's graduating from University of Washington and I've just turned 30 years old this year) trip to New York City and Orlando. Our first time ever in the east coast; I've only gone as far as Chicago. I feel like I've spent more money purchasing unecessary travel items than the actual trip! Note to the employees of Target: You must be so sick of seeing my face, I'm sorry! We are trying to get creative with our packing skills since we're attempting an eight day trip with just one carry-on each... and don't get me started on the TSA's liquid policies. Hello, I work in the hair industry! LOL. I used to be the one with a huge suitcase for a two day trip. So yes, this has been a challenge. But with the trip just two weeks away, I think we've got it down! Thanks to Bare Minerals (powder) makeup and J.R. Liggett's shampoo bar (which I'm praying that I won't break out into a rash after the first use).

So on to the good stuff... where are we going to eat!? Believe me, I've been studying up. And I'll admit, my addiction to the Travel Channel and the Food Network (which by the way, if you happen to work there, I would love a tour of the studios *wink, wink, nudge, nudge, smiley face* lol) has influenced my decisions on restaurants to check out. Four star restaurants are a bit out of our budget, but I'm thinking that eating cheap through the day will save us some moolah for the best meal of the day: dinner.

Les Halles @ 411 Park Avenue South, New York, NY

I've only made one reservation so far, and truthfully, I really wouldn't care where else we eat after this so long as we get to eat here. Why? Anthony Bourdain. That's why. Hey Tony! If you're reading this, let's meet up for a bowl of pho! :) He was working as a chef at this restuarant when he started his television career.

   Lombardi's @ 32 Spring St, New York, NY

Supposedly the first pizza restaurant in the USA... 'nuff said.

53rd & 6th Halal Cart @ 53rd St & 6th Ave, New York, NY

Possibly the best late night (aka drunk food) joint on the street... sure beats Jack in the Box. And it's conveniently parked a block down from our hotel! Holy, check out that line...

Ess-A-Bagel @ 831 3rd Ave, New York, NY

Um, it's New York... gotta have a lox and bagel!

Prune @ 54 E 1st St, New York, NY

This restaurant was featured on "No Reservations". Yes, that's bone marrow, and as Tony would say, it's the butter of gods.

Joe's Shanghai @ 9 Pell St, New York, NY

Famous for their pork and crab soup dumplings!

Sake Bar Hagi @ 152 W 49th St, New York, NY

Went to an izakaya (Japanese pub style food) restaurant in Vancouver, BC a while back and haven't been to one since... this is going to be our next spot! Bring on the pork belly yakitory and beer! Oh yeah, and this was also featured on "No Reservations".

White Castle @ 525 8th Ave, New York, NY

Just because. We're not exactly Harold and Kumar... but White Castle's just don't exist in our area. Two cheese sliders, fries and a cherry coke, please!

Mario Batali - Muliple Locations

He's an amazing Italian chef and an ex-Iron Chef. I've been to his family's awesome deli in Seattle so it's only right that we eat at one of his restaurants in NYC. Now if only we can find a reasonably priced location...

Gray's Papaya @ 2090 Broadway, New York, NY

Last but not least, NYC's famous hot dog joint. I'll never forget the scene in the movie "Fools Rush In" where Salma Hayek's character sends her boyfriend, played by Matthew Perry, a box of Gray's Papaya hot dogs. Finally, I'll get to have one too!

My goal is to make it to most of these restaurants, if not all. Of course there are other eateries I'd love to try out... places like Katz Delicatessan and if I had a couple hundred to spend on one beautifully experienced meal, Le Bernardin. Or who knows, it just might be all street hot dogs for five days straight!

Be sure to look forward to my NYC blog post in the coming weeks, I'll have so many pictures that you'll be annoyed out of your mind! We are going to be true tourists: museums galore, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown/Little Italy, markets, (window) shopping on 5th Ave, 30 Rock, etc... we'll be the slow walkers that the New Yorkers will want to push over to the side, the flustered girls because we got lost taking the subways, and the broke ones that got pick-pocketed while staring up at the sky scrapers. ;)

Oh, you may be asking, "What are you doing in Orlando?" Well duh... heh, heh...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter @ Universal Studios, Orlando, FL

Because I am a Harry Potter geek. It's gonna be butter beers all day for every day that we're there!

All photos were borrowed from Yelp and various websites through Bing.