Day 4 - A Day in New York City – "One Bite at a Time"

Morning Coffee at Daily Provisions

The day started with a much-needed caffeine boost at Daily Provisions. Hila and I each ordered cappuccinos, and I must say, it was one of the best cups of coffee I’ve had in a while. The flavor was rich and smooth – exactly what we needed to kick off the day!

Stocking Up at the Nuts Factory

After coffee, we headed to a local Israeli nuts and seeds shop. As a driver, I rely on sunflower seeds to stay alert on long drives, and I had already depleted my stash from Dallas. This shop had even better sunflower seeds, so naturally, we stocked up with four big bags – both salted and unsalted. Hopefully, these will last me the entire trip back to Dallas… but who am I kidding? Probably not!

The Perfect Croissant at Claude

Next, we stumbled upon Claude, a small bakery that smelled like heaven. We couldn’t resist grabbing two croissants – one plain and one filled with molten Swiss cheese and a green heirloom tomato. When I say these were the best croissants we’ve ever had, I mean it. The Swiss cheese and tomato literally melted in our mouths. Absolutely divine.

An Israeli Breakfast at B Cup

Feeling peckish again, we stopped for a late breakfast at B Cup, a charming Israeli breakfast joint. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the familiar sound of Hebrew being spoken all around us – it felt just like home! We split a delicious spread that left us satisfied but still ready for more exploring.

Smor Bakery – A Sweet Stop

On the way back to Hila’s apartment, we knew we needed a snack to go with our coffee. So, we stopped by Smor Bakery and picked up a cardamom bun and a peach Danish. Both were so good that they easily rivaled the croissant from earlier. Savory or sweet, we had our favorites locked down for the day. If you're ever in Manhattan, these two spots are a must-try.

Caught in the Rain

Of course, all this hopping from one bakery to another wasn’t without a price – we got drenched in light, medium, and heavy rain throughout the morning. By the time we made it back to Hila’s apartment in the East Village, we were soaked.

Drying Off and Hanging Out

Once back at Hila’s, we regrouped with Hanna, who was heading out for a 17.5-mile marathon training run – yes, in the rain! We spent the next few hours drying off, drinking coffee, munching on croissants, and catching up on the news. Meanwhile, Hanna was out conquering her marathon prep. When she returned, she found Hila and me in the exact same spot – still lounging on the couch with snacks and coffee. We’re so proud of you, Hanna!

Lunch Anyone?

Since dinner wasn’t until 8 p.m., we figured a late lunch would be a smart move to make sure we could last until then. We headed to a nearby Açaí Bowl spot close to Hila’s apartment. We each ordered a healthy, fruit-filled bowl – mine with a splash of peanut butter for that extra kick. And, because I couldn’t resist, I also got a bubble tea (no sugar, of course). There wasn’t any seating at the café, so we took everything back to Hila’s den to continue our One Bite at a Time journey while hibernating by the TV. Nothing like good food and downtime!

The Sneaker Upgrade

Thanks to my earlier slip on the wet sidewalks, we decided it was time to invest in some proper sneakers. Hila took me to Foot Locker, where we picked out a pair of Brooks sneakers in under 10 minutes. Walking around felt so much better with these – no more slipping around like a newborn foal!

West Side Highway Stroll

In the afternoon, we walked to the Hudson River and strolled along the Riverwalk. We managed to put in a few more miles as we looped around and headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. Interestingly, Hanna had run along the same route just a few hours earlier during her marathon training.

Dinner at Pranakhon Thai

Dinner was at Pranakhon Thai with Hila’s friends, Adi and Gilad. Gilad, a hobby helicopter pilot and talented IT cybersecurity professional, and Adi, an exceptional software engineer, joined us for what turned out to be an incredible meal. We shared a few appetizers and four main dishes, all of which were absolutely delicious. There wasn’t much left on the table!

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream – A Sweet Ending

After dinner, we wandered through the West Village and stumbled upon another Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop. Of course, we couldn’t resist. Both couples shared a double scoop, which was just as creamy and flavorful as the night before. This place is definitely a must-visit for any ice cream lover in Manhattan.

Goodnight, New York

We wrapped up the night by saying goodbye to our friends and heading back to the hotel. It was a day filled with food, laughter, and long walks, and now it was time to get some rest.

Reflections – One Bite at a Time

Like Johnny Cash’s famous song "One Piece at a Time," today felt like "one bite at a time." From morning to night, we hopped from one delicious food spot to another. That’s one of the best things about New York – every place you try is bound to be good, because, let’s face it, they wouldn’t survive otherwise with how expensive rent is here!

A Walk to Remember

By the end of the day, we had walked 7.9 miles, so I don’t feel too guilty about all the croissants, cakes, dinners, and ice cream we indulged in. Hila walks about seven miles every day, so she’s used to it, but for me, it was a decent workout.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, I’ll be heading out to Newfoundland stopping through Maine. This stop in Manhattan was spontaneous, but I’m so glad we did it. The original plan was to get to Newfoundland as quickly as possible, but as I got closer to New York, I realized there was no way I could pass close to Manhattan without seeing my beautiful daughter.

What was supposed to be a quick visit turned into 48 hours of super quality time with Hila, meeting new friends, eating incredible food, and making memories. If it were up to me, I’d stay another week, but Hila has things to do, people to see, and food to cook!

Tomorrow, we part ways, but this unexpected visit was truly the highlight of this trip.

Food for Thought

Sometimes, the most spontaneous moments in life turn out to be the best. This visit to Hila is a perfect example. It wasn’t planned, but it was unforgettable. Stay tuned for the next leg of the journey.