paladares

Catch NYC | June 27th, 2026

📍Meatpacking District, Manhattan

I am not even kidding, this is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Amelia and I got the Catch roll, with crab + salmon + miso-honey, which they flame in front of you, which was delicious. We also got the crispy shrimp with spicy mayo + tobiko, and oh my God, I could bowls of that, it was actually scrumptious and so savory and flavorful. The brussels sprouts were great too, and their complimentary pretzel + butter were so soft and mouth-watering. The drinks were impressive--Amelia and I got the non-alcoholic lychee martini and watermelon mojito--and lychee martini is my favorite drink now. No question. What was hilarious was that Amelia said it was my birthday in hopes of getting dessert, but what was even more funny--she actually turned it into my early birthday dinner since I won't be in NYC this September. We laughed so hard, genuinely any moment is elevated 10,000 times if I'm with my best friend. Can never guess her next move ahh dinner. The Hit Me cake was bonkers, so delicious, you can't go wrong with chocolate and ice cream. All around, phenomenal experience. Would come back again, and would be very excited to try different locations too.

Cafe Mulberry | June 27th, 2026

📍Nolita, Manhattan

Sophia, Amelia and I went to Cafe Mulberry on a rainy SoHo shopping day. We came around aperitif hour, where they were switching their menu from brunch to dinner, so we didn't get the full menu experience. Here, we had the bread with butter and the oeufs mimosa, which was deviled eggs, smoked trout roe, and chervil. I really enjoyed the oeufs mimosa. I loved the butter here, though. It was such a poor man's meal, bread and butter--and some of the bread wasn't even all that great (sourdough was the best, but you can't really mess up sourdough)--but the butter, my God, I really, really loved it. Plus, it was only $8, and they gave you more butter if you asked. Very slow, rainy afternoon French cafe moment.

Patisserie Vanessa | June 26th, 2026

📍Upper East Side, Manhattan

I walked around 20 blocks to reach Patisserie Vanessa on a hot summer day in New York City. It was a very sweet, minimalist French café on the Upper East. I got the canele, a dark, chewy, carmelized, waxy pastry with custard-like vanilla and rum filling originally made in Bordeaux. At first, I felt it was an interesting texture and it didn't taste too sweet, but I appreciated how committed the cafe seemed to being French. I didn't realize how phenomenally artisan the canele actually was until I tried one for the second time at a different cafe in Chicago, which did not even remotely compare. I also had such a lovely conversation with Martin Stolzenberg, an Upper East side local who grew up in Brooklyn, whose 90th birthday was coming up (read Juning in Manhattan)! I'll be coming back for the canele to see if I truly love it.

Hawa Smoothie | June 24th, 2026

📍Upper East Side, Manhattan

Hawa Smoothie is hands-down, unequivocally the best smoothie I have ever had in my entire life. Here, Arya and I had the mango passionfruit lychee smoothie on bouquet-making date in Central Park. It genuinely tastes like refreshing nectar after surfing on a tropical island and also the cure to depression, God it's an absolute summer staple. Reminds me of Frooti but even better. There's no added sugar either. I cannot stress enough how absolutely amazing this smoothie is. Oh my God. I get it every time I am in the city. Delightful.

Cafe C | June 20th, 2026

📍West Village, Manhattan

One of Amelia and I's favorite little French cafes in West Village. We love the ham and gruyere crepe. It is so filling and so delicious and rich. Would come back here again and again. Just lovely for a Saturday afternoon after a long walk, and an even longer digestion walk following the crepe.

Léa French Cafe | May 3rd, 2026

📍Michigan Ave, South Loop, Chicago

This is my favorite café in Chicago. I LOVE this place. My favorite dish is the Le Croque Madame, an open-face sandwich with ham, melted swiss, fried egg, béchamel sauce, and parsley (yes, I eat pork recreationally now). It is just delicious, one of the best things mankind has ever created. They always play lovely classical music, so your mood isn't getting ruined by the songs (I despise when this happens). The art inside is perfect, and savoring your croque by the window on a gorgeous Chicago day is beautiful. Enjoy my great friend Alirio mid-laugh with his coffee, which he quite liked (very impressive from a Venezuelan who's a coffee lover). I want to rewatch Ratatouille after eating here.

Cafe August

📍Upper East Side, Manhattan

Stumbled upon this cutest cafe. Dixie the maitre d'hotel was so sweet. Tomato soup (which looks like a bright intense sunset I want to eat) + cheesy baguette is my favorite, and their hot chocolate (not pictured but so chocolatey) was delightful. Lots of Upper East Side locals, and a lovely 15 min digestion walk away from Central Park for an even longer digestion walk (if you know me, you know I love DWs), but cozily nestled in the neighborhood. One day. (No I'm not finishing that sentence).

Dishoom

📍London, United Kingdom

My Indian parents hate eating out, let alone at Indian restaurants. I dragged them to Dishoom, and they loved it so much, they made us go back four times. I loved the old, lush Bombay Irani cafe energy, amber lighting, walls covered in Hindi, parents loved the chai. Genuinely reminded me of India, and best Indian restaurant I've ever been to. Maybe the British did learn a thing or two. Now give back our diamond.

Ralph's Coffee

📍Upper East Side, Manhattan

Tanya, her little sisters, and I went to Ralph's Coffee. To be honest, not my favorite place. Wait time was long for us to sit. I got a lemon bread, it was okay, sort of dry. Hot chocolate could have been richer, not my favorite. It was very cute inside, and I appreciated their jazz music, and the food itself looked cute, but I didn't love it. I quite dislike when places look cute but don't substantially delivery. I just love this photo with Tanyaki Mou.