Can I just say how amazing it is to be 21? New York City truly comes to life once you can explore the city through food and drinks. I had such a fun-filled birthday weekend two weeks ago…sorry I’m a little behind! My dad and step-mom visited the city for the weekend to celebrate with me. Here’s a little recap of our adventures. First stop: Cookshop in Chelsea. We had such a scrumptious birthday brunch complete with specialty Bloody Mary’s (pictured above).

Cookshop was absolutely packed with people on the beautiful sunny Sunday. The wait was worth it because I had the best poached eggs ever (pictured above). A big slice of toasted sourdough bread was topped with summer squash and two perfectly cooked poached eggs. A creamy tomato sauce oozed over the layers, bringing all the flavors together. Replication of this recipe–or as close to it–coming shortly. Another favorite of the table was my dad’s order of the Cookshop scramble served with a homemade biscuit, which was incredible. Highly recommend!

After brunch we walked along the High Line, one of my favorite things to do on a gorgeous day. My family was fascinated by the renovated rail-road tracks filled with greenery and loved the picturesque views of the city. Some more walking lead to an afternoon of shopping in SoHo. We went in and out of boutiques for hours and my dad was such a trooper!

The best part of Sunday was the rooftop bar called The Press Lounge at the Ink48 hotel. The views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline were unbeatable. We had a glass of wine before dinner watching the sunset–it was beautiful. Rooftop bars are some of my new favorite places in the city. I cannot wait to continue exploring them drink by drink over the summer ;)

Every meal over weekend was exceptional. We loved the restaurant Gigino in Battery Park, which had an amazing view of Lady Liberty and served authentic, fresh Italian food. I ordered the melon and speck salad (pictured below) and it was perfect for a hot afternoon with bubbly Prosecco. Dinner at Barbuto in the West Village was fantastic on a bustling Saturday night. Huge garage doors open creating an indoor-outdoor dining room, plus I had a view of the open kitchen busy with action. The flounder with a chile powder sauce was a huge hit at the table. My birthday dinner at Azul Bistro in the Lower East Side was complete with lots of white sangria, flaky and buttery empanadas, a freshly seared meat platter and a flan-topped chocolate cake. The salsa music set the tone for our large, energetic group. We ate and drank for hours, and loved every minute of it!

I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing friends and family who made the celebrations so special. Memories of exploring the city through food and drink are the best, and I have so many from my 21st birthday weekend. Now, let the party continue!

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela