What was the most delicious meal you ate?
I love food. Like, I seriously love food. From cake to alternative veggie meat to hummus to fajitas. And the most delicious meal I ate this year cost me $3.00. It was when I went to New York in March for New Balance Nationals because we had some boys throwing. My friend (who is also a thrower) and I were starving (at least I was) so we went out into the cold ass Manhattan air to see what was around. Before we came into the track facility, we knew street venders were along the street selling their magnificent delicatessens. As we crossed the street, my eyes were on the falafel stand. Months later, I was still talking about this falafel. And I kid you not, it was the best falafel I had in my life. Best spent 3 dollars, ever.
After my glorious moment with this falafel, my love for the fried chickepea based balls only grew. Though I've had good falafel and better falafel then this. It was certainly my best meal of 2012.
Honorable Mentions:
- Crumbs Cake Shop Birthday Cupcake (it was like a religious experience)
- Pommes Frites (Belgian French Fries, dipping sauces, what more could a girl ask for?)
- Homemade Falafel in Astoria ( I dropped by tazikki sauce right when I opened the door to our place. It was some pretty bangin' falafel though)
- Waffels n Dinges (Belgians really have there shit together)
Where did you visit this year?
It seems that most of my amazing food related experiances happened to take place in my favorite city: New York.
Somehow, I managed to go 3 times this year. 1st was an exciting opportunity, the 2nd was planned, and the 3rd (for the most part) was a surprise. The 1st was back in March to watch my teammates at the New Balance Nationals. We were there for probably 2 days and it was certainly interesting. I had the best Falafel, my first (huge) slice of New York Cheesecake (Carnegie's), went to the Nike store, and managed to get to the Bronx's 216th not the Manhattan 216th. This was really one of the first times when I was able to walk around the city and sort of know where I was and where I was going. It was a short lived weekend but being in the city after so long felt wonderful.
The 2nd time was when I went on the Fine Arts Spring Trip with my school. If I were to sit down and write everything about that trip, this post would never end and my homework would never be completed. One long, amazing trip but into a few words. We did some amazing things, as it was a fine arts trip, New York is not short on fine arts. Fell in love with the Metropolitan Museum of History, ate a Belgian waffle with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate, was underwhelmed by the Ghuginhiem yet had an amazing adventure in it's basement. Made friends, became better friends, became best friends with people. Listened to my crazy English teacher say anything and went to my first Baseball game (Yankees vs. Minnesota). Listen to a homeless man yell obscenities at our group while we walked in his rain puddle. Took my group to a restaurant they loved and made the best out of the restaurants we were forced to go to. Drank Snapple like there was no tomorrow, got a picture with Al Roker, and hide the bible in the microwave. It's like it was everything a High School trip should have been minus the romantic story line. But I feel in love with the city and I realized that I feel in love with the feeling of being with people.
I should have saved that one for last but tis not my last experience in New York for this year. My 3rd and final excursion was to celebrate my 16th birthday. This did not include staying in a hotel in Manhattan or buying outrageous things or shopping on 5th avenue with the wealth. It included staying in Astoria, in a basement house. We were a block away from the main street where we ate on many occasions. I was surprised at my arrival to discover a cupcake on my bed (couch) from our host. We rode the Subway in both mornings to Manhattan. I felt like such a New Yorker (ha ha). On the first day, we bought these New York passes which got you into a bunch of different things for free. If the expression Balls to the Wall ever applied, it applied to that day. My ass was dragging that night. I could barely walk. But, I spent time in the Met, MOMA, Madam Tussaud Wax Museum, NBC studio tour (actually that next day), and ended my night on the Empire State Building. We crammed in New York like there was no tomorrow. The next day was more as I visited the Fashion Institute of Technology's free museum and exhibit. Ate at Pomme Frites (another religious experience) and did a bit of thrift shopping. That day was certainly more chill. And when we went back to Astoria we went out and found Homemade Falafel. Little whole in the wall (my favorite) restaurant run by a very friendly family. So we got home, I ate my falafel, and watched the news. It was marvelous. My parents rock.
What I loved more than anything that my parents understood I would rather have an experiance than a gift. These memories are more than a party or a 16th birthay gift could have ever given me. And I am thankful for that.
Lillie
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Times Falafel is used in the blog: 11
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