I am focusing on New York City in this second 2014 edition of Current Crush! I have been back to the city that never sleeps several times in the past year or so and I haven’t had time to write about it so I thought I’d put some of my most memorable experiences in a Current Crush format. I’m sure there will be other NYC editions since they don’t all fit into one. Just a quick reminder that these “Current Crush” posts are here so I can share a few of my latest coups de cœur with you. Enjoy this edition and don’t forget to check out the others here!

MIGHTY QUINN’S BARBEQUE
103 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003 / +1 212 677 3733
Sunday to Thursday: 11:30am – 11:00pm / Friday & Saturday: 11:30am – 12:00am

I have never been to any of the “barbecue” states but I cannot imagine anything can taste better than what I had at Mighty Quinn’s. Mighty Quinn is a self-service restaurant with a large smoking facility in the back. You order your meat, sides and drinks at the counter then enjoy your food sitting at one of the beautiful waxed wood tables. I was tempted to go for the brontosaurus rib, one lone gigantic rib that is definitely impressive but was instead expertly advised otherwise by the woman behind the counter. She suggested the spare ribs which were delicious and the brisket and baked beans with burnt ends which are absolutely phenomenal!

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STUMPTOWN COFFEE
18 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001 / +1 347 414 7805 (they have a second location on west 8th street)
Monday to Friday: 6am – 8pm / Saturday & Sunday: 7am – 8pm

Those of you who follow me on Instagram, Twitter and this blog know how obsessed I can be with my coffee. Of all the coffee shops I’ve been around the world, a few have stood out: Monmouth in London, Intelligentsia in Chicago, Truth in Cape Town and Stumptown Coffee in NYC. It’s a must-stop for me every time I go. It’s located at the Ace Hotel (a great hotel if you’re looking for one) and is an epicenter for artists and hipsters who grab a cup on the go or to drink in the lobby of the Ace which doubles as a coffee shop/hip bar/happening scene. The shop itself doesn’t have any tables, only a long standing counter where you can have your fix while doing some street watching. I especially love the copper accents in the decor, the outstanding lighting fixture and the fact that I can stock up on Momofuku Milk Bar cookies and Mast Brothers chocolate (the artisanal Brooklyn-based company makes a special edition Stumptown Coffee bar).

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DANJI
346 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019 / +1 212 586 2880
Monday to Thursday: 5:15pm – Midnight / Friday & Saturday: 5:15pm – 1am / Lunch served Monday to Friday: 12pm – 2:30pm

Danji is a small Korean restaurant located around midtown west that has gathered quite a lot of  great praise and positive reviews. The menu is divided into two parts, a traditional side and a more modern one. Danji serves tapas-sized plates meant to be shared and served in multiple-course meals. Their meat and fish are sustainable, hormone and antibiotic-free and well sourced and their produce is always seasonal and mostly organic. The tofu with ginger-scallion dressing, the bossam and the spicy Korean chicken wings are all delicious dishes that I highly recommend. Please note that the place is small and they don’t take reservations. I waited for an hour for a table to free-up and I can assure you that it was well worth it.

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ABC KITCHEN
35 East 18th Street, New York, NY 10003 / +1 212 475 5829
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday: 11am – 3:30pm / Lunch: Monday to Friday: 12pm – 3pm
Dinner: Monday to Wednesday: 5:30pm – 10:30pm / Thursday: 5:30pm – 11pm / Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm – 11:30pm / Sunday: 5:30pm – 10pm

I’d been wanting to go to ABC Kitchen for a long time but I could never get a reservation. I finally called before going a couple of weeks ago and found out that they set aside the bar area as well as a few tables for walk ins. ABC Kitchen is a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and it is located inside the ABC Carpet & Home store. The decor is country chic with some beautiful salvaged and reclaimed pieces. The cuisine is fresh and focuses on organic, sustainable and seasonal ingredients with a particular focus on vegetables. I was there for brunch on Sunday morning and the place got filled pretty quickly with an eclectic crowd of families, older couples, young professionals and all-around beautiful New Yorkers. The main dishes we had were ok but the two sides of Brussels sprouts and Jerusalem artichokes were absolutely delicious!

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TORRISI ITALIAN SPECIALTIES
250 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012 / +1 212 254 3000
Daily: 6pm – 10:30pm / Friday to Sunday: 12pm – 2pm

I really didn’t expect this much-talked about, one-Michelin star SoHo restaurant to be so tiny! The 20-seat one-room restaurant is reminiscent of a grocery store with items like tomato sauce and pasta boxes used as decoration on the shelves that line up its walls. The size of the space makes for an intimate dining (and romantic) experience although it isn’t too cramped. Torrisi Italian Specialties only offers a 9-course tasting menu ($100 for dinner) that is well worth the price. The dishes are sophisticated and dainty and served on beautiful Victorian-style china. The wine list is exquisite as well and the service impeccable.

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CANELÉ BY CÉLINE
400 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028 / +1 646 678 4124
Monday to Friday: 10am – 7pm / Saturday & Sunday: 9am – 5pm

When well made, a canelé is a little bite of heaven. Recently opened on the Upper East Side, Canelé by Céline specializes in this tricky French pastry. The small store smells wonderfully and is stacked with canelés of all sizes. Céline’s canelés come in over a dozen sweet and savoury flavours, from the traditional rum and vanilla ones to the less traditional pink praline, caramel, black truffle and Parmesan cheese. The little dainty pastries are presented like jewels in little cases and can be bought in small or large quantities. They are exquisitely well-made, with crunchy exteriors and creamy interiors, with some flavours managing this sought-after contrast of textures much better than others. I got there around 3pm on a Saturday afternoon and they had almost run out! I sill managed to taste quite a few flavours but get there early if you want to taste them all!

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THE BRESLIN
16 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001 / +1 212 679 1939
Open daily 7am – midnight

The Breslin’s lamb burger has been voted best in New York over and over again by The New York Times, several magazines and most-importantly, the masses. Seemingly a simple – albeit monstrous – affair, the lamb patty is placed on the toasted bun with a few slices of red onion and a slice of feta. Thrice cooked French fries and a cumin-scented mayo are served on the side. However, the chargrilled burger is truly a great one made from well-sourced meat and served rare, juicy and perfectly spiced. The Breslin is a great restaurant with celebrity executive chef April Bloomfield at the helm. It’s attached to the Ace Hotel and is thus open all day, from 7am to midnight. It serves wonderful food and drinks but I keep ordering the burger every time I go. It’s the kind of dish that will have you craving it from afar and ordering it every time you visit.

For a lot more New York City addresses, check out my New York City Google map here.