Page 39 - Sandy Jackman Pantai Hotel

that was just noticeably over-priced. After scoring three 8th row orches-
tra seats to see Fran Drescher as the wicked stepmother in Cinderella,
we decided to grab a train to Brooklyn so I could get the personal tour of
the brownstone that the kids lived in when they first moved back to New
York from San Diego. I visited probably the coolest Trader Joe’s ever,
which was housed inside an old bank building, and ate at a charming
Thai restaurant. Then back on the bus to the train to Broadway to catch
our show.
This, you might think, is enough for one day, but no, the royal tour of
Manhattan is not complete without a visit to famed chef Mario Batali’s
Eataly. This is more than just a “Place” this is “the Place” to go if you
like food; And not just Italian Food, any food. It is a huge combina-
tion Supermarket of Italian specialties with three restaurants, wines,
beers, desserts, meats, cheeses, seafood, breads, and even a special
Nutella room (yes that sinful hazelnut spread). Eataly is a feast for your
senses. The sights, the smells, the tastes, I felt like a child visiting a toy
store for the first time; pointing and resembling a deer in the headlights.
My daughter had to drag me by the hand from place to place through
the crowds of others obviously experiencing similar sensations. After
standing in an area called the piazza and feasting on five different meats
and six different cheeses with fig and apricot sauces and pignoli nuts,
we attempted to exit the building, but were defenselessly drawn to the
Nutella room, where we had no choice but to sample the Nutella brioche
and crepes.

San Diego Woman

• Hot dogs with Vidalia
onions from a street cart 39
• Knishes
• Garlic knots
• Pizza (particularly salad
pizza, pasta pizza, and
Sicilian pizza)
• Calzones
• Bagels
• Soft pretzels

I have to admit, I didn’t
hit the entire list on
this trip, but I did pretty
well. My daughter told
me it just means I have
to come back again to
finish the rest of my list.
An excuse I will definitely
not dispute.
Okay, so by now you are probably thinking that all we did while in New York All in all, I must say, it
was eat. To some extent you might be right, but anyone who comes from was the best mother’s
New York will tell you that there are certain mandatory foods that must be day gift I ever received.
eaten when returning to the Big Apple for a visit. This is a really hard thing Not for the food or the
to do if you only have a six day visit; considerably harder when you only go trip, but for the opportu-
for a long weekend, but trust me I have done it. The list is as follows, but I nity to sit back and watch my daughter as a grown woman with a husband,
must preface it by saying that there are two reasons for eating these items and in-laws, and a precious Chihuahua/pincher mix named Skillet; all
Reason one; they are not available in San Diego. Reason two is that they while going back to school for a career change to nursing. I couldn’t help
are available in San Diego, but taste nothing like they are supposed to. So but look over at her and remember the little girl with the blond pigtails who
here is the list. came running into the kitchen to ask for another peanut butter and jelly
• White Castle Hamburgers sandwich because she had put hers into the VCR; she thought it looked
• Chinese Food hungry. Maybe this trip was all about food.