Channy's Travels: First Stop

After a five hour flight from Seattle I touched down in The Big Apple! Two hours later, baggage in hand I made my way to Washington Heights where I'll be staying for the entire six days with Couchsurfing Host Kevin! After three days of exploring the city and eating at Jungsik, Atera & WD-50, it's safe to say this city is RAD!

Day 1 - Left at 1230am for Seatac, 6am flight to New Jersey, arrive at Kevins' at 515pm EST.

Jungsik at 745pm, a two michelin star korean restaurant. It is a unique concept and composed of a nine course tasting menu with an amuse and petit fours. Royal Bibimbap stood out - Pearl barley cooked like risotto, montéd with foie, truffle, kimchi, parmesan and then LIBERALLY shrouded in shaved black truffle. I was quickly identified as a cook because as this dish was being described my face lit up and the waitor quick note of that. Took a few selfies in Times Square after, was aight.

Not Bibimbap, but oysters, pickles & seaweed

Day 2 - Keste Pizzeria for lunch, it was good but I've had a better pie before! Strolled through the 9/11 Memorial Museum after, quite a somber atmosphere within, brought up a lot of detail I never knew about the attack. Staten island ferry & Wall St. after. Again, nice.

Dust cloud from Tower Two's collapse

Atera for dinner, two michelin stars under Chef Matthew Lightner. Twenty-Four course tasting menu. Brilliant dinner, probably the best I've ever had in my life. It was playful, beautiful and most importantly, absolutely delicious. Hot smoked trout, Lobster & Meringue, and Rhubarb sorbet stood out among the crowd.

Rhubarb Sorbet, Rhubarb nitro'd pate de fruit, Liquorice Caramel

Day 3 - Shake Shack for lunch! Went to the original location in Madison Square Park, essentially a much tastier, glorified McDonald's burger. Took some photos at Grand Central Terminal and on a bike in Central Park during the 30 C, 100% humidty weather. Both nice.

WD-50. One michelin under Chef Wylie Dufrense for a fourteen course tasting menu. Ended up befriending Jason the attorney to my right who bought me a shot of scotch towards the end of the meal, cheers! Very forward thinking and a ton of modernist techniques at play throughout the meal. Shrimp "grits" and pickled jalepeno was definitely the most flavourful while an egg yolk ravioli with mash potatoes inside and charred chicken liver, compressed melon, pickled pearl onions & melon soda foam being the most modernist.