Popular New York Foods

An exhilarating part of travel is simply being in a new place. There are unfamiliar sights and sounds at every turn that mingle to make a new and exciting experience. If you are like most people, food will be an inevitable part of you trip. Most people eat three times a day, with a snack or two in between, which means that food can be a great way to experience what the city has to offer. When traveling with student tours, it is unavoidable that students will have to eat sometime, especially where teenage boys are involved. Try viewing a meal as an avenue to experiencing New York City’s most popular fare.

A popular way to get a meal in New York is to grab some food from a street vendor. Catering to the busy lifestyle of the average New Yorker, street vendors can be found on many street corners. The most popular food is the hot dog (served with your choice of cheese, onions or other toppings), but pretzels, nuts, ice cream, sandwiches and drinks are never in short supply. Grabbing lunch from a vendor can be an excellent choice for a school group because it is readily accessible and also relatively cheap.

Another popular NYC food is pizza-but not just any pizza. New York Style Pizza is usually quite large, and the crust is hand tossed, giving it a puffy outer crust and thin middle. Most people eat it by folding the slice in half. A variety of toppings are usually available and the pizza is typically served with oregano, Parmesan cheese and pepper as condiments. Popular pizza places are Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Lambardi’s Pizzeria and Nick’s Pizza. Plus, don't forget about Gino's Pizza, though no one can figure out which one the original Gino's actually is.

Bagels originated in Central Europe, but the high concentration of Jewish an Italian immigrants in earlier centuries made New York famous for its bagels. Bagels are served in a variety of ways, and can be enjoyed with toppings like cheese or poppy seed baked into the crust. A Jewish dish known as lox serves bagels with smoked salmon, and an ever popular way to eat a bagel is also with a “schmear” of cream cheese. Bagels can be found everywhere from high end brunch tables to street vendors.

The different cultures that can be found within New York City should be incentive for your group to try some ethnic cuisine. Restaurants serving Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Russian, French, and Greek food can be found with relative ease. The best places are probably locally owned, so take your group to a random establishment and get ready for an ethnic experience that is outside the typical America norm.

Don’t’ forget to leave room for dessert! A slice of New York Cheesecake will be sure to please everyone. This cream cheese based treat was made popular by Lindy’s and Junior’s Deli. The experts claim it is best when eaten plain, but it can also be found with a topping of strawberries or blueberries, a chocolate swirl, or served with lemon curd.

By now, you should be hearing your stomach rumble. This article will give you enough information to scout out some truly wonderful culinary experiences in New York City. Whether your group ends up eating authentic Middle Eastern dishes, or food from a street vendor don’t be afraid to try some new tastes!