5 Boroughs in 5 Days: Manhattan
August 23, 2018
The V.V. Manhattan tag count is pretty darn high on this here blog. And though I have been escaping into Manhattan since I was just a girl, there is always more to see. And though we’ve grown apart, I would spend a day with her, tucking our past away and welcoming in the new. Like the all-raw, all-vegan treat shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Rawsome Treats. 
I was delighted to meet Watt, the founder and head chef, and to talk about her flavors and commitment to high quality. Her treats were sublime, each baby fork full, with a smooth texture unmatched by any raw treat I have tried thus far. It is a wonderful feat of raw.
Beautiful all-natural colored layers are pretty striking, but there are distinct and powerful flavors within them. Her combinations are thoughtful and balanced.
I chose the plate smaller pieces for 3 for $11. The flavors, from left to right: Coconut Dream, Banana Cream Pie, and Trisome, a berry and chocolate deliciousness.
After, she wanted to know what I thought and offered another for me to try! A coffee and cream concoction that was creamy and absolutely dreamy. 
Word. to your wall. 💖
I picked up The Bowery, turmeric tofu egg, tempeh bacon, and Violife provolone slice on oily soft roll with spicy mayo at Orchard Grocer and left the Lower East Side to “Upstate” Manhattan. All the way up to…
The George Washington Bridge in Washington Heights, where The Little Red Lighthouse stands overlooking the Hudson River. On a rock with the lighthouse I ate my breakfast sandwich. Can I do this everyday?
Hello, New Jersey.
Downstate Manhattan lurks behind me. Finally, a gorgeous day.
Ok, just a public service announcement. Walking to the far west side at 165th street, past all the hospitals, to get to Fort Washington Park, you can find means to walk under Riverside Drive, the Henry Hudson Parkway, and the West Side Highway, but it was run down, like 80’s New York, desolate and very unnerving to walk on your own as a lady. Then it leads you through an equally creepy wooded area straight out of horror movie. My advice would be to enter the park via 181st street’s greenway–more populated and less like the Street Fighter videogame.
Walking to the East when you are so far North, it’s east to get to the other side of the island, where Highbridge Park‘s namesake bridge connects Manhattan with The Bronx.
Walking over the Harlem River there were some great views of the New York City’s decaying infrastructure.
And finally, dinner with a friend at Matthew Kenney’s Arata. With this dinner we would have officially tried all of the eateries in Matthew Kenney’s vegan dynasty. Like the others, Arata has its own style cuisine–Asian-inspired. For starters, the Roasted Carrot Bun: roasted carrot with wasabi and blueberry. 
Barbecued King Oyster Mushrooms in a chili-soy glaze with sticky rice and Lotus chip garnish. It was tasty but a lot of mushroom to eat with one-note of flavor. 
My friends main dish: Spicy Udon noodles with Sichuan tempeh sausage, radish and toasted cashew
Now, the best part. Our dessert, the Tokyo Banana: tempura banana topped with cinnamon meringue and a dusting of almond brittle. So very good.
Delicious day! I live in nyc and orchard grocers is a favorite destination- all those sandwiches are SO good… i always leave with one and a small fortune worth of new to me cheeses