It was a brief Easter weekend trip back to New York. I couldn’t believe that it has been seven years since I was last in this city.

It was more of a gorging weekend, admittedly. I did go back to a couple of my favourites and tried out a few new ones as well. I did manage to go back to Marta and to the Michelin-Starred Estela. Both still consistently wonderful!

First dinner was at Tonchin, a Tokyo-based ramen chain (and also a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient) that offers one of the city’s best bowls.

Two other new places I tried was Ulivo, which is like a proper lesson in regional Italian cooking, and Flex Mussels. A local friend took me to the later – and it was only post-dinner I realized that the original Flex Mussels is in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island in Canada.

I decided to give it a try and stay in NoMad Flatiron district – at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi. Friendly and professional staff and the rooms are comfortable. Although I am not sure if this is an area I would like to stay at again though.