The final installment of new york city Feb 2014. I’m literally regurgitating (i mean that in a good way) the final long and productive day of tromping ten hours from mid town to Brooklyn and back with a few trains in the middle. You saw this one before- the day started with a little snow.

Before I forget- Your red gloves, Stella, I did not lose. They had a full time job during their visit to New York City. So glad I saw you on the ferry. Thank you for taking them straight off your hands to loan to me for the week!

Protecting those little paws

Great admiration for real life in the city- notice the cane

And the heroes of days like this one. You take for granted the hard work that precedes the ability to step one foot in front of the other with safety and ease.Miss high heals, refusing to submit to weather conditions should be passing on some high fives and hot drinks to the guys in yellow.

Only a couple hours at the show to wrap things up that morning and then it was off to Brooklyn to visit my son’s friend who manages the baked goods production for Pushcart Coffee. The 150 year old Pfizer building at 630 Flushing in Brooklyn… a long time ago.

And a great article from Edible Brooklyn about this artisanal food production epicenter.
Shots from what used to be

And a wonderful snapshot of history from NY curbed-

…”When Pfizer closed down its Brooklyn headquarters in 2008 after more than 150 years of pharmaceutical manufacturing, the company left behind a deserted behemoth: 660,000 square feet of space, filled with lab equipment, computers and furniture. Acumen Capital Partners purchased the shuttered building in 2011 and have slowly brought it back to life”.

The rented space here produces the goods for three Pushcart Coffee locations in lower Manhatten.
A smattering of the many producersBecause the building itself is ironically in an area void of food options outside its own walls, the vendors have started offering meal options from within.
This pasta is on my list to bring to Chez Chloe. I bought five different bars of this Madecasse chocolate grown and produced in Africa- 4x the impact of Fair Trade. Each subsequent flavor grew on me. It’s not as smooth to me as the Belgium or French chocolate- these bars were a little more earthy and strong. I’m going to test further as I think variety is key. And I like it.This young entrepreneur hit the raw and vegan scene at an ideal time in 2003 . She has worked long and hard to develop her brand, One Lucky Duck. Despite not being a total fit for Chez Chloe, I’m interested. I love to dabble in raw at home and I own her cookbook already.
People’s pops wrap up over winter and seem to have their goods stored in the hall till the temperatures rise. Thanks Maggie for a great tour!

Are you getting tired? I hopped on the train for just 2 stops and another 20+minute walk to the ever-hip Williamsburg.I did have to stop and rest and have a treat. By the end of the week I was far from my juicing days…and that was so fine.

This great little shop, Bedford Cheese, was packed with goodies I could easily have on my shelves.
Now it was the L train back to Manhatten. I thought how fun it would be to stay in Williamsburg sometime and it was so easy to get back downtown. But my son was like you should try it during rush hour when you have to wait three trains and that the L is know for breaking down.

Here’s real life on the subway- only thing I’m reading is my map.

This short break readied me for my round about walking trek to Dean and Deluca. I always go there for a little R&D. Not having the subway totally down (even after 5 days) I actually walked over 30 minutes to soho in what would have been a 5 min train. oops.

Camera and notepad in close reach. Weary feet put on hold like a hungry, whining (with reason) child. The simple merchandising always keeps the focus on the food.Oh… and we are not done. Heading back uptown because I also HAVE to make at least one visit to abc home.

who have very cool displays like this

and are opening their own marketplace down in the basement with food and kitchenwares

it is a work in progress
and since Eataly now really is right there- how can i not go in for a snack. 7.30pm on a Thursday night was a good time to go without the lunch crowds.

must take a night shot of the Flat Iron building with the moon shining downohhh- Eric Kayser… can’t pass it up- it’s my last day afterall

Pick up a demi baguette for my parma hamAnd now after walking another fifteen blocks back to the hotel, because who can get a taxi at 8pm, I eat my snack, pack and get ready to head out to meet my son for dinner AT 9.30pm! I can do city life because I basically stay on west coast time.

Dinner at cool mediterranean establishment Ilili– I loved the Fattoush salad with sumac vinaigrette and toasted pita. That will be on my list to re-create.

A lovely walk home, a big hug, thank you and goodnight to my son. Back in the room I watched Jay Leno’s last night on air. The day was done.