Foodie Tour: Alesia Carter’s NYC
Published 02/09/2018
Chef Evan Hanczor, of Southern brunch spot Egg, has been cooking up delicious dishes at his Williamsburg restaurant for nearly a decade. One fan of his food is Los Angeles style blogger Alesia Carter, who recently spent a day exploring New York City with Hanczor. They checked out spots including Brooklyn Bridge Park and Union Square. Carter had a great time: “New York City’s charm is that it’s different and interesting,” she says, “which makes for great photos.” Below, find Carter and Hanczor’s itinerary.
1
Brooklyn Bridge Park
1
334 Furman St.
This park draws thousands of visitors to the Brooklyn waterfront each week for its awe-inspiring views of Manhattan and idyllic picnic spots. Highlights include the large lawns at Pier 1, a seasonal pop-up pool at Pier 2 and the playgrounds at Pier 6. The park also hosts special events like Movies With a View, kayaking and fitness classes.
2
Brooklyn Roasting Company
2
200 Flushing Ave.
This specialty coffee roaster and café serves organic, sustainable coffees from the Americas, East Africa, Indonesia and beyond. Its Dumbo location offers coffee, espresso and tea, along with sandwiches and pastries sourced from Brooklyn shops like Dough and Colson Patisserie.
3
Casa Mono
3
52 Irving Pl.
Casa Mono and its attached tapas joint, Bar Jamón, are located between Gramercy Park and the Union Square subway stop. The Michelin-starred kitchen features Catalan specialties alongside dishes from the rest of Spain. Naturally, there’s an all-Spanish wine list.
4
Chuko
4
565 Vanderbilt Ave
Former Morimoto chefs Jamison Blankenship and David Koon specialize in ramen, but their Prospect Heights and Bushwick outposts also offer an array of Asian snacks to warm up with—including pork buns and gyoza. Chuko’s standouts include the veggie miso ramen with cabbage, enoki and snow peas and a kale salad with crispy sweet potatoes, miso and raisins.
5
Daily Provisions
5
103 E. 19th St.
Danny Meyer’s Daily Provisions, a pint-size, blue-hued bakery around the corner from his Union Square Café, lures in passersby and regulars for breakfast, lunch and impulse snacking. Morning highlights include sugary, light crullers and savory gougères stuffed with creamy scrambled eggs and pepper jack cheese. There are just a few counter seats and standing tables, so plan for takeout or a quick bite with coffee or a glass of wine.
6
Egg Restaurant
6
109 N 3rd St
Hanczor’s restaurant specializes in egg-based brunch dishes that incorporate Southern flavors. Egg’s showstoppers are its organic grits and eggs (made with grits from South Carolina), homemade buttermilk biscuits and gravy, and duck hash.
7
Union Square Park
7
14th St. to 17th St.
Located between 14th and 17th Streets, this park is a popular NYC hangout for street artists, skateboarders, vendors, performers and the occasional protest group. Keep your eye out for famous statues of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi. There’s also a busy dog run for your four-legged friends.
8
Union Square Greenmarket
8
East 17th Street
Union Square’s namesake park also hosts a popular Greenmarket, with produce and baked goods from local vendors, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.