Foodie’s Guide to Breaks
As an international student here at Penn, both Parents weekend and Fall break presented occasions when I was stuck at Penn without the comforts of relaxing with food courtesy of my parents’ dime. To make up for this, my friends and I decided to wander around Philadelphia and New York and eat a large amount of food, good food.
During Family Weekend, we went to Chinatown, with the goal of drinking authentic bubble tea. We first stopped at Penang for lunch. The restaurant’s lighting was dark, although the space itself felt roomy. We each tried the noodles and were not disappointed by our choices (pad thai, sea food lo mein, and mee siam). Afterwards, we went to Tea-Do, a place known for its signature and inventive bubble teas, which did not disappoint.
During Fall break, we strolled downtown to Old City. We stumbled upon Café Ole on 3rd street, which drew us in with its fall-themed drinks, Mediterranean atmosphere, and warm colors. The pumpkin chai latte, with its slight sweetness, brought me to a momentary dreamy state. For dinner, we ventured to Tria. The menu is small, but it includes diverse offerings: a sample of salads, snacks, cappuccinos, and sandwiches. We tried the tuna and mozzarella sandwiches, both of which were a mix of sweet and salty, a perfect combination.
On Friday and Saturday, we went to New York. We first ventured to Chelsea Market, where we gazed in awe at the diverse offerings. We eventually opted for pumpkin red curry, but could have stopped for anything from crepes to lobster to Chinese food. Save room for dessert: The baked goods include many delicious international sweets, such as cupcakes, pies, French pastries, macarons, and canollis. Later on, we went to Caliente, a Mexican restaurant. The food itself was ordinary, but the setting was nearly perfect: dim lighting, candles, and a great location.
On Saturday, we went to the Flatiron District. I guided us through Eataly, which is a foodie’s dream come true, carrying everything from meat, to fish, to gourmet gelato.
Next, we stopped at Argo Tea, where the drinks are a bit more expensive than at Starbucks but are definitely more varied and appealing (matcha vanilla late, early grey vanilla crème, I need to say no more). We finally made our way to the Union Square farmers market, which inspired me to cook more! I bought a cranberry, apple-cinnamon cake.
Needless to say, we arrived back campus full and satisfied!
Diane Bayeux.