It is hard not to agree that New York City is the greatest city in the world. But I would not recommend it when it is freezing cold. I found myself in Queens and in need of a hot cop of coffee. Which led me to going to First Cup Cafe in Astoria Queens.
It is a beautiful cafe and the artwork inside the store is incredible. You won’t find another cafe like it anywhere. On this cold and chilly day, I opted for an almond croissant and a Biscoff latte. I had to get the Biscoff latte after seeing it as an option on the menu.
The almond croissant was perfect and one of the better croissants I’ve had. It had been a while since I had a really good almond croissant. This renewed my love for this pastry all over again.
Almond croissant and a Biscoff latte
The Biscoff latte was honestly not bad. It tasted like Biscoff which was what I was going for. And it wasn’t too much. I have never had one before so I don’t know how it is or isn’t supposed to taste. All I know is that I enjoyed it and would get it again.
I don’t find myself in Queens often. Now, I think I would visit just to go back to this cafe. I want to try other stuff from their menu. There is also a bookshop nearby as well as a museum so there is a ton to do.
Getting to Queens is always a hassle if you visiting from another borough. But if you find yourself in Astoria, then First Cup Cafe is worth going to. It is a local gem and the coffee and pastries are fresh and delicious.
I have to make a day trip to Queens and explore a bunch of restaurants int he future. That will also give me an excuse to revisit this place. The food scene in Queens is top notch. I regret not exploring it as much as I should have.
My sweet tooth always takes me to a nearby cafe. And I am glad that on this gloomy and cloudy day, I found this cafe. I am adding this to my list of favorite cafes. Until my next adventure, happy exploring!
Merry Christmas! I wanted to write about Christmas and what it feels lime in New York City. It is the only place I have experienced Christmas so I might be a little biased when I say nothing beats Christmas in New York City!
There is so much to do in New York City during the winter. The decorations are all over the city and stores go all out with Christmas decorations. There are popup stores and bars that are Christmas themed and tons of great hot chocolate places to visit and try!
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Nothing tops visiting the Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center. I have seen this tree more times than I can count and never get tired of it. This year, the tree arrived from East Greenbush, New York on November 8th.
There are other places to visit like Saks Fifth Ave which is right next to Rockefeller Center. It is also lit up with Christmas decorations and it will be crowed with tons of tourists. You can also visit Macy’s on 34th street and see their Christmas themed windows.
If you want to be active, then you can ice skate in a few places. Bryant Park has an Ince skating rink as well as holiday shops. It is the perfect place to get a hot chocolate and Times Square is a few minutes away by foot.
Central Park and the Rockefeller Center both also have ice rinks. If you do go, dress warmly because New York City is cold in the winter.
Maybe being active in the cold isn’t what you’re looking for. In that case, there are tons of shows to see in New York City. There is the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall which is an annual holiday tradition.
The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center is the perfect place to see classical ballet. And Broadway has a few holiday themed shows if that is what you are prefer.
Lastly, I would recommend visiting the Christmas Tree at Washington Square Park. While it isn’t as big as the Rockefeller Center tree, it it still a sight to behold. And if you are willing to travel a bit, then you can’t miss out on the Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx.
Christmas in New York City is busy and hectic but also beautiful and breathtaking. There is a ton of things to see and do. Whether you are a foodie or like sightseeing, New York City has something for you. If you don’t mind the cold that is. Happy Holidays!
If I had to choose a city as my favorite in the United States, New Orleans would be my pick. I am not including New York City because that is where I am from and I am very biased and think it is easily the greatest city in the world.
When it comes to the best food that I have tried across the United States, New Orleans wins that debate by a mile. Creole food is flavorful and no matter what restaurant you go to, you will find food that will make you forget all your problems.
I am a foodie at heart and love trying new dishes and New Orleans has an endless menu of food to try. The best part is that there are many places that have live musical performances that you can enjoy while you eat your food. Café Beignet is a must visit If you are in New Orleans for breakfast.
New Orleans is where Jazz was birthed and you have to go to a Jazz performance when in NOLA. Bars and restaurants have live performances happening most of the time and you definitely have to take advantage of it. Even if you don’t like Jazz, hearing it live and seeing the passion that these performers have will stay with you for a long time.
Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans
There is a lot of history in New Orleans and you can see it as you walk around. The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists and has been vulnerable to flooding because of high rainfall and low elevation. The weather is mostly hot but the humidity is something else and you will sweat a lot, especially if you go in the summer.
Bourbon Street extends 12 blocks and it is almost always packed with people. At night, people are partying, street performers are out and about, and it is a sight to see. This is where you go for the best bars and you’ll find many restaurants right off Bourbon Street. There is nothing else like it and you can see the past and the future congregating here.
Besides the amazing food and history, there are tons of things to do. You can do cemetery tours, swamp tours, and visit the St. Louis Cathedral. There is a spectacular zoo that is worth visiting nearby if you have a day. Near the zoo is one of the best parks that I have seen. Audubon Park is gorgeous and it feels like stepping into a painting. You can spend a whole day there and forget that you are even in New Orleans.
If you like the arts, then you will love New Orleans Museum of Art. It is scenic around the area and there is great food all around. And if you want to explore bookstores, then there are a ton of options. My personal favorite was Baldwin & Co. coffee + bookstore and if you do visit, you should get their newsletter of recommendations!
It is hard to talk about New Orleans without talking about The Sazerac House. It is free to visit, all you have to do is book a reservation. The tour is fun and you get to try a few cocktails. You will get a history lesson and discover why the Sazerac is the official drink of New Orleans.
I’ve been to New Orleans twice and it is a city that I want to visit annually. The food alone is worth it but the city has so much to offer besides food. New Orleans is gorgeous at night and it makes sense why it is very popular with tourists. Whether you like history, food, or the nightlife, there is something for everyone in the Crescent City!
It feels like everyone is getting into the Tiramisu craze. And it should come as no surprise that a tiramisu themed cafe has recently opened up in New York City. Which is why we had to head to Cafe 2BY2 to try it!
I have loved tiramisu for a while now and when I saw that a tiramisu themed cafe was opening in Downtown Manhattan, I had to try it.
The cafe has great aesthetics and gives out nice vibes. Many cafes tend to go all out and ruin the calming setting that customers enjoy. At Cafe 2By2, it feels like everything has been thought out.
I decided to order the Magnum Crispy Chocolate Tiramisu, one of the 16 tiramisu’s they offer. I did not even know there were that many different tiramisu options!
Before I dive into my dessert, I have to mention that this is cafe infuses East Asian culinary trends into tiramisu. A tiramisu can come in a couple different forms but it usually is a coffee soaked dessert. Some might include ladyfingers while others include layers.
If you do decide to try this place out, I have to warn you that the cakes are not cheap. And the coffee drinks are also interesting. I got a guava flavored coffee and it was as bad as it sounded.
Magnum Crispy Chocolate Tiramisu
The Magnum Crispy Chocolate Tiramisu was really good and I was impressed by the quality of the tiramisu. You could tell that this wasn’t just another cafe focused on the newest trend. it was easily one of the best tiramisu’s I’ve had.
Unfortunately, I didn’t try any other tiramisu. That is way too much sugar and I wasn’t going to torture myself.
That does mean that I will be back at this cafe and try all the other flavors. You can check out this article that did try all 16 tiramisu. I can’t imagine what the bill was like!
If you happen to be near Union Square and have a craving for Tiramisu, then this is place worth checking out. I am always on the lookout for great Tiramisu places and this one is as good as advertised!
Traveling to Japan is fun but the flight to Japan is 14 hours long. I have a hard time falling asleep on airplanes and I was waking up early as a result. Waking up at around 5 AM is not the worst thing. Yes, there is not much to do but convenience stores, better known as konbini’s, are open 24/7.
I would start my day with a light breakfast from the a nearby konbini. After that, I would walk around and explore nearby places. On this day, it was raining lightly but it didn’t stop me. I decided to walk to Tokyo Station, the busiest station in Japan. It has tons of shops and is easy to get lost here.
I arrived there before most stores opened. The good news was that there weren’t many people there. But it also meant I couldn’t go to most of the shops. Ultimately, I decided to go to a Starbucks because it was open.
Pikachu display at the Pokemon Store
Normally I would go to a local cafe but finding one in Tokyo Station is almost impossible. This was my first time in Tokyo Station and I was amazed at how much it had to offer. There are shops of all kinds and so much food. This place is ridiculously huge and I would recommend using your phone for directions or you will get lost.
After this, I headed back home before heading out again. Like my first day, I found myself around Ginza. While I stayed there for about three days, I ended up walking around this area a ton. Whenever I travel, I love to explore the neighborhood I am in.
This was my first time staying in Ginza here and I discovered a lot of nearby places. And today, I had a specific place in mind. While on Instagram, I saw a reel for a restaurant called A Happy Pancake Ginza. One thing you need to know about me is that I have a sweet tooth. I love trying sweets and I had high hopes for this place.
Tiramisu Pancake
If you want to go to A Happy Pancake Ginza, make sure you make a reservation. I did not do enough research and ended having to wait to be seated. Make a reservation because this place is popular and busy. I went before it even opened and it still had a long wait.
After walking around for an hour, I received an email and headed back there. To get to the restaurant, you have to take an elevator that fits about six to eight people. The place itself is big and I the service is great. I got the tiramisu pancakes and a coffee.
The pancakes were soft and creamy and they were the best pancakes I ever had. The portion size is big and it will cost around 10 to 15 U.S dollars. The coffee was not good and I couldn’t get myself to finish it. This was an amazing experience and I am glad that I tried it.
After heading back, I decided to go back to Tokyo Station and visit the Pokemon Store. If was a cool experience and I loved the Tokyo Station themed merchandise.
Next, I decided to visit a neighborhood that I hadn’t been to before; Asakusa. This is a historical district in Tokyo and has a ton of shops and restaurants. There are also temples like the Senso-ji Temple. You can also see the Tokyo Skytree from here and even walk to it.
Curry in Asakusa
There were tons of shops and it was crowded. Going early or late is the best time to avoid the crowds. But I was here and I wanted to take in all the sights. Unfortunately for me, it was still raining. After walking for a while, I found a small restaurant and got some curry.
Asakusa was gorgeous and I need to stay around that area to fully explore it. After visiting the beautiful Senso-ji Temple, I decided to call it a day.
This was my second full day and I ended up exploring three districts. To get to Asakusa, I had to take the train. Tokyo Station and Ginza are within walking distance which is why I need going back and forth. I explored a ton of shops and tried popular and local food.
When you are in Japan, I recommend walking around and discovering local shops and restaurants. These have been the places that really stuck out to me. The food is almost always going to be amazing and it is not going to cost you much.
But do watch your wallet because it adds up quickly. Between shopping and eating and trying new stuff, it goes by fast.
After my second full day in Tokyo, I was ready to head to my favorite destination; Kyoto.
In late October, I visited Japan for the second time in my life. I had been to Japan the prior year and knew that I was going to come back. After getting a taste of Japan, I had to have more. And this time, I had an itinerary that would show me a lot more of Japan.
I arrived to Japan on October 23rd but after getting very little sleep on the airplane, I needed to sleep. My flight was to Haneda airport and it was easy to get to my hotel from there. I was staying in Ginza this time, a popular shopping distract with expensive brands.
After checking in my hotel, which was fast and easy, I went back out to the Konbini. They are the common terms for convenient stores in Japan and got some onigiri and an egg sandwich. Konbini are one of m favorite things about Japan because the food is amazing and it is very affordable.
The next day, I ended up waking up at around 3:30 AM. After talking to friends and family, I went outside at around 5:40 AM and decided to explore the surrounding area. While I have been to Ginza before, I didn’t get to explore most of it.
It was a peaceful walk and I walked to the riverside and walked along it. In Japan, restaurants usually open at 11 AM. Cafes open earlier and it a great place to kill time until then. After walking around for a bit, I finally arrived to Tsukiji market.
This was my destination for my first official day. The Tsukiji market has tons of vendors set up on the streets. It can get quite packed with tourists and locals. Being there early meant that I got first dibs and it was easy to walk around.
I tried a bunch of different foods from different vendors and was overwhelmed by all the shops. These stands sell skewers, onigiri, sushi, wagyu beef, and so much for. I decided to try a tamogoyaki which is a rolled Japanese omelet on a stick. I would have preferred more seasoning but it got better with each bite.
After this, I went back to my hotel and decided to rest up and charge my phone. If you are traveling to Japan, make sure you have a portable charger. After this, I went to my next destination, Ginza Six, a luxurious shopping distract. It has restaurants in the basement, a ton of stores to buy clothes, and an amazing rooftop. I was here for the later and I am glad that I found this gem.
Ginza Six is gorgeous and if you like shopping, then you’ll love it. But I went straight to the roof and had a nice view of the city. You can see Tokyo Tower from here and I ended up coming here a few times. I also went to the restaurants and had to try out some of the desserts.
Ginza Six rooftop
For lunch, I ended up leaving Ginza and traveling to Jimbocho, Tokyo’s book district. If you love books, then this is where you should head to. Unfortunately for me, it started raining as soon as I got there. So, after a short walk through, I decided to grab lunch nearby.
I came across this restaurant called & Sri Lanka Tokyo and got a curry that warmed me up. It was the right amount of spicy and I had to add it to my list of favorite restaurants. I have to go back and try it again.
& Sri Lanka Tokyo Curry
I ended up heading back to my hotel and after resting up, I went back to Ginza Six. Tokyo is beautiful all around but seeing it at night is another sight. If you are around that area, make sure to visit the rooftop. Not many people know about it and it’s free.
My first day was full of amazing food and great sights. I explored a bunch and got to try some amazing new dishes. After over a year of being away, I was back and I was going to make the most of it. Day one was perfect it was just the beginning. Tune in for my second full day in Japan in the coming days!
Welcome to the first post on Sip Snack See. This is the first of hopefully many blog posts about food and travels.
I love trying new restaurants and cafes as well as traveling when I can. And in the coming weeks, I will be sharing a ton of my recommendations and experiences.
The goal is to share experiences with everyone so you can try these places for yourself. And while I don’t consider myself as well traveled as other travel bloggers, I have been to some amazing places over the past few years.
I reside in the United States so you will see a lot more posts about places in the United States. But I do like to travel to other countries such as Japan and I intend to go back soon.
Every week, I want to go to a new cafe or restaurant and try it out and see how it is. I will be judging its vibes and the food and drinks. You should know that I am a pescatarian so I won’t be trying any meat dishes.
Maybe when the blog is popular and has other contributors, you will see posts about chicken but until then, you most likely won’t.
The main goal of this blog is to share some of my amazing experiences with all of you. This will also make me try new restaurants and visit different attractions and that is always a win.
There will be no AI posts and all of them will be written by a human. While I am not against AI, I do want these to be personal anecdotes and experiences that someone had.
Be on the lookout for a few posts in the coming months as I share some of my favorite travels so far as well as Christmas related articles. See you soon!
Sip, Snack, See 