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Some foods are inextricably linked with New York. Although a rich multi-cultural culinary heritage can’t be reduced to a few foods, these are my favorite bites that in some way exemplify the best of New York.
Best Bagels
Ess-A bagel 359 First Avenue (21st St) 212-260-2252, 831 Third Ave (btw. 50th St & 51st St.) 212-980-1010
These huge, dense, one pound, ultra-chewy bagels make lesser bagels tremble. Lest we forget their huge array of cream cheeses and counter staff with a corny but fun New York attitude. The everything bagels are covered in toppings and the vast range of cream cheeses (try a pumpernickel with lox cream cheese) are the best schmear in town. The huge demand means they are always fresh.
Best Pizza by the Slice
Joe’s Pizza – 7 Carmine St (at Bleecker Street) (212) 255-3946
The best pizzerias in New York don’t serve slices and the places that serve slices usually dish out mushy-crusted, rubbery-cheesed disasters. At Joe’s this dilemma is reconciled through ultra-thin, Neopolitan-style slices with crispy crusts, fresh cheese and the holy grail of tomatoes, San Marzano.
