My husband and I did something so reckless, so careless, and so necessary— we lefts our babies at home with family and went on a trip [alone] for 48 hours. It was glorious. There were several checkins and countless Facetimes, but we did it!

We had initially planned to take the family but logistic wise, it just didn’t make sense. After a hasty call to Granny and an incomplete list of feeding times and ground rules, we were on a plane headed to the Big Apple. I was OVERLY giddy about flying without a lap child and the freedom to read a magazine. Too bad I fell asleep before we even left the ground.

We checked into our hotel and fought the urge to lay down for an ultimate nap. We didn’t really have a schedule (which was amazing) and weren’t interested in majority of the tourist stops. We wanted to find the beauty of the city and ALL the good food.

W made a vow to walk as frequently as possible to balance the extra calories and we chose our next destinations off an incomplete list I scribbled down a few weeks ago.

CAVA

It was a Mediterranean- style Chipotle. There were tons of healthy options and Jeff and I both created flavor packed bowls! We would desperately love to see this restaurant make an appearance in the Houston area.

A recreation of this magnificent meal is already in the works!

Quality Italian

57 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019

This was a bit of a business dinner so we didn’t pick the restaurant, but it was so good! This isn’t your traditional Italian food. On the menu was a chicken parmesan pizza, honey whipped ricotta, and a lobster pasta al a vodka prepared table side. The restaurant was quite dark (so no pictures) but trust me when I say the food was great. If you are looking for an upscale and modern spot, this one would be great.

Also discovered there is a Location in Denver, Colorado near Cherry Creek.

Bleecker Street Pizza

69 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

We topped the night off in the most decadent way with a stop at Bleecker Street Pizza. We heard good things so we decided to share a couple pieces. This spot exemplifies NY Pizza: It’s a family run spot, the accents are undeniable, the corner restaurant was cramped yet quaint and the pizza was super thin. We enjoyed a Slice of Nona’s Pizza and a slice of good ol’ pepperoni. The Nona slice featured a homemade crushed tomato sauce, tons of basil, and fresh mozzarella cheese. MUST TRY.

We also heard good things about Joe’s Pizza. We will give them a chance next trip.

Almond Bar and Restaurant

12 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

The next day, brunch was an obvious must. Jeff made a surprise reservation at this spot called Almond Bar and Restaurant. It was empty when we arrived for our 10:30 reservation and we were quickly led to a quiet corner booth. I started with a mimosa (since we left the babes at home) and it was definitely more champagne than orange juice. We ordered the Huevos Rancheros, a Chorizo Omelet, and Lemon- Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes. Everything was delicious! The pancakes were the best I have ever had. I slathered on the lemon curd and fresh blueberry compote. I only used a little syrup as they were already so decadent. The pancakes themselves were light with pockets of rich ricotta. It took ALL of my willpower to NOT finish the plate. We also enjoyed the huevos rancheros which were tasty, though a small portion. The chorizo omelet was really good too. It was a perfectly prepared french omelet stuffed with savory chorizo, soft peppers, onions, and a little cheese. The eggs were light and in no way rubbery like some traditional diner omelets. The service wasn’t the best, and the waiter stopped by minimally but I would still wholeheartedly suggest this spot!

We then went back to the hotel because I had to pump. That was the one downside about traveling without our youngest. In order to keep up my milk production, I had to more or less pump at his usual feeding times.

Levain Bakery

167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023

Jeff kept joking that we went to New York for a cookie. This is partially true. I had seen these cookies all over Instagram and had to try one! Levain Bakery is nestled on a nice little street and usually has a long line outside. Thankfully, when we got dropped off the line was only about 15 minutes long. Jeff and I got one of each flavor and some to bring back for family. Jeff was a fan of the chocolate peanut butter and I liked the walnut chocolate chip. They are HUGE cookies and are somehow crunchy, soft, and chewy at the same time.They don’t look like much, but trust me– they are EVERYTHING. I don’t know if I would stand in a line as long as an hour but 45 minutes or less— definitely.

#LevainBakery

5 Napkin Burger

630 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

We knew we wanted to save room for dinner but we made friends with a nice couple on the flight and they strongly suggested 5 Napkin Burgers. It was a trendy yet casual spot. Each table was greeted with homemade pickles and we chose to start with Angus Beef Chili cheese fries as an appetizer. They were so so good. The chili + cheese to waffle fry ratio was spot on. We opted to split their most famous burger, the 5 napkin original, and it was pretty good. I think I am more of a fan of thin and crispy burgers.

That night we had a snack with a friend at a Time Square sports bar and met up for a late dinner with a good friend at Omar’s. It was my first experience at a private dining club. The spot had such a great vibe. It was classy, very of intimate, and boasted a delicious menu. We ate for hours and finished the night with coffee and dessert.