New York City Food and Travel Memories: 10 Unforgettable Moments in the Big Apple

A personal love letter to my favorite city outside of Charleston — and the New York City food and travel memories I’ll never stop talking about.

Originally wrote May 5, 2012

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New York City food and travel memories are some of the most vivid, ridiculous, and genuinely treasured experiences of my life. Outside of Charleston, there is no place on earth I love more than New York — I’ve visited more times than I can count, always wanted to live there for at least a year after college, and still feel a small pang of regret that I never did. But the life I have now brings me back annually, and these New York City food and travel memories remind me every single time why this city is completely incomparable.

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New York City Travel Memory #1: The First Trip, the Tourist Checklist, and the Bird

My first New York City trip was a middle school school excursion — a fun crew of girls and guys hitting every tourist landmark imaginable. Times Square. Rockefeller Plaza, screaming for the Today Show audience. Climbing all the way to the top of the Statue of Liberty — something they no longer allow, which makes me feel simultaneously old and special. The top of the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building in the same trip.

And then a bird pooped directly on my head. As a teenager, the mortification was complete. Someone assured me it was good luck. Looking back at my New York City food and travel memories and everything that followed — I think they were right.

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New York City Food and Travel Memory #2: Glamour Magazine and Never Giving Up

One of my earliest New York City dreams was working for Glamour magazine. I applied for an internship twice. Got rejected both times. So I wrote a letter to the editor instead — and it got published. My first appearance in a national publication, born entirely out of refusal to take no for an answer. I never got the internship or the Manhattan apartment, but I got something better: proof that persistence works. That lesson has followed me through every chapter of my New York City food and travel story ever since.

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New York City Food Memory #3: What Happens When You Travel With a Chef

Some of my greatest New York City food and travel memories revolve entirely around eating, and none more so than my first food-focused trip with Charleston chef Ken Vedrinski. His restaurant Sienna had just been named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants by John Mariani, and we went to celebrate properly. What I did not yet understand was that traveling with a chef means not one tasting menu per day — more like five or six. We were seated at a table full of food at 2am when another chef appeared offering more, and you simply do not say no. Especially when that chef is Wylie Dufresne. New York City food memories don’t get better than that.

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New York City Food and Travel Memory #4: The James Beard Foundation Dinners

The James Beard Foundation has been a recurring backdrop for some of my most memorable New York City food and travel experiences. I’ve helped orchestrate several dinners in that legendary townhouse kitchen — intimate, historic, and unlike anywhere else. One of my favorites brought together chefs Michael Kramer, Ken Vedrinski, Frank Lee, and Mike Lata to celebrate the Festival’s launch. The food was extraordinary. The memories made around the edges of that trip? Let’s just say what happens in taxi cabs stays in taxi cabs. Permanently.

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New York City Travel Memory #5: The Shopping Problem I Refuse to Fix

No honest account of my New York City food and travel memories would be complete without shopping. Specifically: why is there no H&M in Charleston? I would single-handedly keep that company profitable. The city has a full closet’s worth of blame for my wardrobe, and I regret absolutely none of it. Shopping in New York is its own kind of tourism, and I plan for it accordingly.

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New York City Food and Travel Memory #6: The New York Food + Wine Festival

A trip to the New York City Wine & Food Festival with the Festival crew turned into one of the most valuable research and networking experiences I’ve had. We picked up great ideas, but more importantly we remembered that attending events we don’t organize is one of the best things we can do professionally. That year we met Daniel Boulud (God), Andrew Carmellini (Jesus), and Michael White (all the saints combined). A solid addition to any list of New York City food memories.

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New York City Travel Memory #7: That Time I Got a High Five From Puff Daddy

I am not generally a celebrity-obsessed person. But there are exceptions, and this is one of my favorite New York City travel memories for exactly that reason. After a big night out, I stumbled upon Puff Daddy — his name at the time — filming a music video in the middle of Times Square. No cameo for me, but I did receive a high five. I have not washed that hand since. I stand by this completely.

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New York City Food and Travel Memory #8: Staff Trophies

Enough said. You know who you are.

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New York City Food Memory #9: The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

As someone who plans events professionally, I take note of the great ones — and Danny Meyer’s Big Apple BBQ Block Party in Madison Square Park is genuinely off the charts. The location is perfect, the pitmasters are extraordinary, and the whole scene is exactly right. I’ve been several times and have dreamed of bringing something similar to Charleston. If you’re in New York in early June, put it on the calendar without hesitation.

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New York City Travel Memory #10: The Jets Game I Would Like to Forget

Going to see the Jets while significantly over-served was not my finest moment in New York City food and travel history. I spent the first half cheering loudly for the Jaguars — who were not playing — nearly caused a confrontation with several understandably annoyed fans, and was asleep well before the second half began. I am fairly certain I am banned from that stadium. Moving on.

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Here’s to another trip to my second favorite city — and to whatever new New York City food and travel memories are about to be made.

With love, a carry-on full of shopping bags, and one very lucky hand, Angel

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Learn more about Angel Holmes and everything she’s passionate about at sipindipity.com/angel-holmes.