The Best in Soho New York City, Food & Travel with CiCi Li! CiCi’s NYC Diary

A Gateway to Culture Through Food

Let’s eat our way through NYC with Foodie CiCi Li

Writer
Ian Blei, Optimized Results
Mark Levy, Overland

Today CiCi is exploring SOHO; a trendy and diverse area of Manhattan filled with shopping, fashion and food. CiCi’s getting an early start, before the street gets busy and crowded.

First stop: “Loopy Mango.” Once plentiful in SOHO, now boutiques like this are rare. Under one roof, you’ll find everything from jewelry to clothing to a working classic Harley Davidson motorcycle (not in the budget.)

For refueling, CiCi stopped at “Vive la Crepe.” She learned how to make crepes, even making her own with Nutella sauce. They have many choose from; sweet to savory, and specially folded for portability.

Keeping with this theme, CiCi’s next stop was “L’ecole,” a restaurant within the French Culinary Institute, where they teach the next generation of chefs in a real-world setting, preparing meals for discerning patrons. CiCi got to sample several dishes, while interviewing an Instructor.

Next, CiCi visited a little shop called “Yaso;” another SOHO boutique, filled with unique fashions, accessories, and a very friendly owner.

Outside, a light rain inspired CiCi to find “Sanctuary,” a very special teahouse, carrying more varieties than you can imagine, including some with a flower that “blooms” in your cup.

Next, CiCi’s instincts led her to an amazing bookstore café called, “Housing Works.” This is a non-profit volunteer run café. Beyond a gathering place to sip coffee, tea, or wine, and perhaps enjoy baked goodies while perusing books, their proceeds go to AIDS awareness and education.

For dinner, Yelp’s rave reviews inspired CiCi to visit Ed’s Lobster Bar. There she helped prepare the famous lobster rolls, and taste the new lobster meatballs. Ed is so committed, he wears a tattoo of his lobster logo proudly on his arm.

After a day in SOHO, CiCi reflected on her adventure: boutiques, crepes, the French Culinary Institute, a library with a social conscience, and lobster rolls. With all that diversity and creativity, the connecting thread was their passion to share their art, cultures, and food.

The Greatest Food & Travel: East Village, NYC with CiCi!

A Gateway to Culture Through Food

Let’s eat our way through NYC with Foodie CiCi Li

Writers:
Ian Blei, Optimized Results
Mark Levy, Overland

Today CiCi is exploring the East Village, a part of Greenwich Village containing a little Japantown area, and many hidden treasures to discover and share.

She began the day with “Cha-An,” a very special teahouse, where the traditional tea ceremony is performed with great care and artistry. Upstairs is a little oasis from the busy streets, so the spiritual nature of the tea ceremony can be enjoyed. CiCi’s new friend and neighborhood tour guide, Mr. Bon Yagi taught her about the ceremony.

Back on the busy street, CiCi’s visited “Luke’s Lobster” to try their Lobster Rolls. Luke’s family are lobster fishermen from Maine; a state famous for lobster. The rolls are packed with tons of fresh lobster, butter, and special sauce.

Afterward, CiCi walked with Mr. Yagi around the neighborhood learning about its history, including a memorial site for Commodore Perry one could easily pass without noticing.

For lunch, CiCi and Mr. Yagi went to his restaurant, “Shabu Tatsu” for shabu-shabu, which means “swish-swish.” This is a special kind of hot pot cooking where you swish thinly sliced meats and vegetables in a hot pot of water at the table, and then swish them again in sauces like sesame sauce for seasoning.

After lunch, CiCi walked around some more, and was drawn to a delicious aroma coming from the “Chikalicious Dessert Bar.” CiCi loves dessert, and along with the light and delicate green tea shaved ice, she sampled the chocolate mousse cake.

For dinner, CiCi and her friends joined Mr. Yagi once again at the “Hasaki” wine and sake bar. “Hasaki” is decorated in a unique Japanese Kitsch style, with masks, labels, and patron signatures on the walls. Mr. Yagi taught them about how sake is made.

After her day in the East Village, CiCi reflected on Japanese traditions and food, as well as the special dessert and lobster rolls. Once again, New York offered such diversity and cultural exploration.

The Greatest Food & Travel Video in West Village New York City with CiCi Li!

A Gateway to Culture Through Food

Let’s eat our way through NYC with Foodie CiCi Li

Writers:
Ian Blei, Optimized Results
Mark Levy, Overland

Today, CiCi explored the West Village section of Greenwich Village; famous for the “Beat Generation” of the 1950’s. Before getting started, CiCi wanted to fortify herself with a serious cup of coffee. This meant a visit to Roasting Plant Coffee; a specialty coffee shop with high tech brewing techniques and unique flavors.

Appropriately charged, CiCi’s next stop was “AC Gears,” a fun, futuristic, gadget lifestyle boutique. What other toy and novelty shop has a backpack with built-in solar panels for charging your electronic devices, or a face bank that literally eats your money?

After her trip through gadgetland, CiCi was ready for lunch at “Ofrenda” Mexican Restaurant, with food and atmosphere offering the gift of authentic home-style cooking and warm tradition. CiCi even got an impromptu Samba dance lesson, and the background behind some of the artwork depicting stories of family and cooking. Of course CiCi was there for the food, and she was amazed by delicious dishes using Cactus; something she never would have thought was edible, much less delicious. Dance, music, art, and food all in one place; “Ofrenda” definitely illustrates the New York City aesthetic, especially the West Village.

After lunch, it was time for dessert, and CiCi wanted something cool and refreshing on that hot summer day. “Popbar;” gelato-on-a-stick was the perfect answer. Their all natural and hand-crafted gelato is lighter than ice cream, and with all the different flavors and toppings (or “poppings” as they like to call them) you can create a very personalized, sweet experience.

Next up was a remarkable shop with an appropriately quirky name: “Mxyplyzyk.” (pronounced Mix-ee-plitz-ik.) It’s packed with the most unique doodads and knickknacks you’ll ever find, using recycled materials and unlimited imagination. You could spend hours just looking at the wild creations.

For dinner CiCi found “Surya,” known for classic Indian food, much of which is prepared in a traditional Tandori clay oven. Once again the music and dance of the restaurant’s homeland was a connection point for CiCi and the restaurant staff, along with warm Naan bread and delicious Tandori lamb.

The West Village; once a center for rebellious poets and artists, has evolved into a sophisticated, but fun center for diverse people and ideas to come together. From traditional, home-style food and family vibes to unique, high-tech futuristic curios, the West Village once again illustrates more about our coming together than being different.

Writers:
Mark Stephen Levy is the author of the recently released adventure love story Overland. He would love for you to read it! http://www.overlandthebook.com

Ian Blei blends a diverse background from Design Engineering to Psychology to Physics, coach, and author, and has helped countless companies and individuals save millions of dollars while boosting productivity for over 30 years. http://www.optimized-results.com

The Greatest Food & Travel Video in Theater District NYC with CiCi Li!

A Gateway to Culture Through Food

Let’s eat our way through NYC with Foodie CiCi Li

Writers:
Ian Blei, Optimized Results
Mark Levy, Overland

Today, Cici visited the theater District of New York: Times Square and Broadway, where the entertainment industry started in America. Her journey included a bowling alley, Bryant Park, two amazing French restaurants, and of course a Broadway show.

For a truly unique experience, CiCi started her day at Leisure Time Bowling; below the depths of Port Authority. Surprisingly upscale, and boasting unique cocktails and a video game parlor, CiCi showed her prowess on the lanes.

Next was Le Perigord, named after a region in France known as a culinary Mecca, and as elegant and chic as its old world name suggests. Lunch Buffet doesn’t get fancier than this.

Afterward, CiCi went for a walk in Bryant Park, located between Times Square and Grand Central Station. If it had been evening, there would’ve been a concert happening, but the empty stage was still inviting.

After Bryant Park, CiCi went back to Times Square and was dazzled by the lights and marquees announcing all the shows, including “In the Heights,” the show she was going to see that evening. As a special surprise, CiCi got to meet with Shaun Taylor-Corbett, who plays Sonny in the show. “In the Heights” illustrates the real New York City, with its colorful characters bonding together to persevere.

CiCi fortified herself with another amazing meal before the show, with a stop at Le Bernardin; known for some of the best French seafood in New York. Chef Eric Ripert strives to create dishes that feature the fish as the star of the “show.” CiCi got an extra treat watching the creations take place in the kitchen, topping it off with CiCi’s favorite part of any meal: a beautiful dessert.

For the perfect ending to her Theater District adventure, CiCi went to see the Tony Award winning “In The Heights,” filled with all the passion and flavor of NYC. The Theater District is the embodiment of America’s entertainment birthplace. It’s filled with everything from arcades to fine dining to live music to theatrical performances. When you hear the word “Broadway,” you know exactly where you are. Even “In The Heights,” shines as the real New York City; all about sharing dance, music, food, and friendship.