Hi there.

If you stumbled upon my instagram or facebook feed last week, you would have quickly surmised, “hey Lyndi, you aren’t in (Ar)kansas anymore.” The hustle and bustle of NYC is in stark contrast to the quiet valleys and hills of the Ozarks back home and our I-wanna-be-like-a-big-city-but-we-aren’t rush hour on Hwy 49. Before I settle back to home sweet home, I want to share a few treasures from the Big Apple that are right at our fingertips. No cab fare needed.

1.

Brooklynese Cawffee tray. Every trip to the city is worth a quick five-minute browse in the Fish Eddy store located within a few blocks of the flatiron building. This jumbled storefront is full of whimsy and one-of-a-kind vintage NYC restaurant serve ware. This cawffee tray comes out whenever guests arrive at my doorsteps and the coffeepot goes on the stove.

2.

Albergian fig jam. Speaking of the flatiron district, no tourist should go without visiting Eataly, the large block-wide building filled with fish, pasta, gelato, espresso, produce, meats, books, and accessories with an emphasis on all things Italy. Also, throw in a half dozen restaurants and you can spend hours here. Dennis and I make it our first stop in the city to stock up on bottled waters and goodies for the room, such as this delicious fig jam and fruits. Ends up being much cheaper (and healthier!) than eating out constantly.

3.

Teak stirrer set. Keeping it within the neighborhood, one of my favorite places to pop in for a meal is the ABC Kitchen restaurant at ABC Home, virtually across the street from Fish Eddys and blocks away from Eataly. While waiting for a seat to open up at the restaurant, go downstairs to check out the artisan kitchen goodies and handmade treats that make a house a home. While most of the time my checkbook tells me to keep browsing and skip the hefty price tags, this time I splurged on these little teak coffee stirrers. A perfect addition to that cawffee tray.

4.

Small 7-inch tongs. Priced at just $1.50 each, these little tongs are one of my favorite discoveries in the city! I buy them for friends and family and I keep a handful in my kitchen drawer. Tiny, yet still a powerhouse. Snagged from J.B. Prince, located on the 6^th floor of non-interesting building in Murray Hill with a non-descript lobby ithat houses only an elevator and that sinking feeling that you may be entering a super-scary place when DING! The elevator opens and viola, and bright and beautiful showroom full of goodies. This is where the chefs go.

5.

Dozen bagels. New York City isn’t New York City without bagels. Now you can have them delivered to your door from the oldest still-standing appetizing store (since 1914) in Manhattan. Want the authentic cream cheese and lox, too? Yeah, they gottem.

Happy (virtual) Big Apple shopping.

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.
Lyndi