One of the single greatest benefits of having a research job is... RESEARCH. So in the name of research a few of us set our sights on one of the hot spots for all things Culinary... Brooklyn, NY.
Before we took on Brooklyn I drove into "The City" late Monday night and as fast I could possibly check I was ready to begin researching. I started with a little solo walk around Times Square because I love the lights, people watching and the energy. There is always an motive for choosing my travel and the locale of my hotel and hoards of people are usually never at the top of the list unless it's a Bluegrass Festival. However the "where can I end up eating or snacking great simple, honest food while walking" is always on the top of the agenda and in land of plenty (18,866 on the Island of Manhattan alone) can be overwhelming for the untrained. But lucky for you, I take my research very serious.
So, with limited time because I need my rest before hitting Brooklyn I headed to Danny Meyer's Shake Shack. Now if you have never had the opportunity to enjoy one of Danny's establishments (Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke just to name a few and also CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group) I take it you have never been to NYC and if you need a food tour guide I'm the man for the job! Shake Shack is this amazingly familiar burger joint that you have locked away in your memory, great burgers and milkshakes that taste like, well, call me crazy but they taste like a burgers and MILKSHAKEs from the past.
Shake Shack also has some other great items like Hot Dogs as well as a chilly treat for your four feet best friend! Anyone who puts a treat on the menu for my hounds moves up two nothces in my book. To make my shake they started with great cream and add a few other quality ingredients and I mean just a few and my poison of the night was a Salted Carmel cup of all things good so needless to say but, I had a great walk through hoards of tourist, bright lights, noise and I didn't hear or see a thing because I was in the moment, just one with my shake.
So, time for some sleep and I can't wait for my first of many food tours of Brooklyn.
