A weekend in New York. Lucked out as the weather was quite comfortable for the season.

Two good restaurants I tried out are Ignacio Mattos’ easy and fun place Estela and Wylie Dufresne’s neighbourhood spot Alder, which served excellent casual dishes and well-crafted cocktails.

A friend of mine invited me to dinner at BLT Steak New York, the flagship location of this restaurant that operates in other cities, including one in Hong Kong. Billed as a modern American steakhouse, they also served a selection of seafood and blackboard specials.

For coffee lovers, Birch Coffee is a must-try. They have several locations in the city.

And for those with a craving for something sweet (or savoury), Japanese-style crepes at Eight Turn Crepe in Nolita is a worthy treat.