On New York City and, more generally, food
Ate no apples in The Big Apple, though
Last weekend (or some weekend long ago, depending on when you read this), I went to New York. As in the city, not Rochester, NY, which was actually the last time I went to New York state, funnily enough. The motivation? Chappell Roan’s NYC concert.
The story began in early August as I woke up at 6:30 a.m. PST to get in the virtual line for tickets that dropped 10:00 a.m. EST. That day, I accidentally bought four tickets, so I compelled three of my friends to come with me. While the concert was the highlight and core motivation for this weekend escapade (beginning 8 a.m. on a Saturday and ending 2 a.m. on a Monday), the food was the next best part.
Lots of people claim that hustling to get finger food or a sweet treat is a waste of time because you don’t get to sit down and enjoy it. At that point, they say, just go on a walk. These critics miss the point: the act of going out to get food, taking a route that you wouldn’t usually choose on your own, can cascade into really cool, serendipitous experiences.
Liberty Bagels (a NYC chain) had a narrow entrance, with a gentle man in front serving as a bagel bouncer. Gently waving, he directed people to go inside and stand behind this-or-that person in line. The food was quick. No chairs outside, only those cocktail-hour-y standing tables. Taking one for the team, my friend yelped at some pigeons to scare them away; unfortunately, they flew into the umbrellas before ricocheting their way out. And after that, I swear, a performative man next to us tried to take “credit” for this brave act, though he failed to use the stolen achievement to rizz the two people next to him. It was really funny to witness.
The doubters claim going out to a sit-down place is functionally no different from Uber Eating food. Actual insanity; the other end of the spectrum is just as fruitful, if you’re careful. Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine (also in NYC) is a perfect example. The exterior was a bright island blue and orange that you would never find at MIT, like bottled up sunshine that just exploded and infused its surroundings. I sent pictures to my friend’s partner, who recommended the spot in the first place. They were ecstatic, even hundreds of miles away. I hope it’s obvious that eating that same jerk chicken in a dorm room would never, ever hit the same.
Maybe this was all already obvious to you. And maybe this post seems useless because I’m not suggesting any places in Boston that give either these fast-but-eventful or slow-and-beautiful vibes. After all, NYC has an arguably higher density of cool and spontaneous food-related things happening. Don’t worry though! Here are some random Boston spots for the food-as-a-hangout-activity people. They’re all pretty close to campus:
Do you want to eat from one extremely big plate (the size of a small child) with a bunch of friends? Consider Asmara in Central. The ultimate version of family-style that will have everyone interacting with everyone else!
Do you dislike chairs, as a concept? Hit up Bab Al-Yemen and make a reservation for the traditional floor setting. There’s a carpet. It’s genuinely really amusing to see how long people can sit criss-cross!
Do you enjoy walking past matcha bouncers (?) and awkwardly accidentally elbowing people out of the way as you grab the drink you ordered online? Blank Street (Back Bay, but also Harvard Square) has got you.
Do you enjoy eating in relative darkness? Inside seating in Lolita’s in Back Bay might be for you. I almost tripped on the way to the bathroom because my glasses were tinted in the sun, so I was extra-blind for a bit. The food is really good though — tuna duritos? Ooooh…
Do you like getting aesthetic pictures of gelato shaped like a flower, except it melts immediately, so you and a friend awkwardly lick/bite/scoop it as you hold the cone, but now it kind of looks like you’re a couple on a date? Head to Amorino’s — both in Back Bay but also in Harvard Square.
Do you not like to sleep? Go to Bova’s Bakery, which is open 24/7 in the North End. Ideally on foot and with a friend.
This should be enough to get you started. Good luck!
And in case you were wondering, the concert was excellent. But more importantly, it was the food we grabbed afterward that gave us the fuel and time to process it all. I know this is true because I haven’t even looked at the concert videos I took, but the whole thing is etched surprisingly deep in my mind. In that sense, maybe the powers of music and food synergized on this trip to create something unforgettable.