Best Food Finds on a Road Trip to New York

Good Food Is a Must On Any Trip

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Foodie + Snackie Fun.

Trying different foods on vacation is so exciting! I used to look for familiar favorites, curious about how they tasted in different locations, and I hardly ever enjoyed that particular food. We can usually enjoy good food when we lean into the culture of wherever we're visiting. They are most likely amazing at what they are known for.

Exceptions to The Rule of Food.

There are always some exceptions to the rules of good food! Lol! Anywhere we go, I'm checking to see if there are good birria tacos and as close as one can get to authentic Neapolitan pizza. Lol! We all love pizza! We call out our favorite toppings and order. I always check local recommendations as well as small businesses, where the gift of cooking and baking, and the passion to offer a great experience is clear. We each have our favorite things we look for, no matter where we go. Lol!

New York Road Trip Vacation.

My family just recently spent a week in New York, and it was such an amazing experience! We leaned into the culture. New York is so beautiful. Oh my! But, before we arrived in New York, we made a couple of stops:

Knoxville, Tennessee.

This Neapolitan-style pizza in Knoxville was absolutely delicious! It was clear that it was baked in a wood-fired grill oven that more than likely took ninety seconds or less from start to finish. The char on the crust was just right with the leopard spots sprinkled under and lining the rim of each slice. Soft, extra-thin, chewy slices that hang as they should and have the amazing airy crust that is a must for Neapolitan-style pizza. The ingredients were fresh, and every bite was worth savoring.

Of all of the Neapolitan pizzas I've had over the years, this pizza could've been tied at number one or number two with the pizza we had in Nevada last year on my family's road trip from California.

The sauce was balanced in flavor. Typically, San Marzano tomatoes are used for this style of pizza. The dough was made with natural yeast. That contributed to it being gut-healthy and easy to digest.

Very delicious Neapolitan Pizza in Knoxville, Tennessee, made with natural yeast.

Looking at these photos makes me want this pizza all over again. It just melts with each chew, just as Neapolitan pizza should.

Washington D.C.

These delicious birria tacos were everything a birria should be. The tortillas were the right thickness, the tender meat was sprinkled with oaxaca cheese (mozzarella works great too), there were diced onions, and chopped cilantro sprinkled over each taco. I love it when birria tacos are paired with two different sauces - usually tomatillo and a spicy taco sauce, and fresh limes. When you see that on your order, chances are you've chosen the right restaurant. Lol!!

Maryland.

I just had a feeling these tacos were going to be as close to authentic as possible when I saw the menu. Lol! Probably one of the only things that didn't make these tacos authentic was goat meat, and I'm okay with that because I don't eat it anyway. Lol!! These birria tacos were amazing! They included everything that makes a good birria taco. Bonus points if the restaurant serves sliced radishes with your tacos. They just pair so well!

Poughkeepsie, New York.

My babies really enjoy going to different bakeries and cafes. We have visited so many amazing bakeries, and these delicious treats were at one of them. The cookies are all baked fresh to order. This is not our complete order. My hubby got a peanut butter cookie as well. We also ordered a strawberry shortcake in a jar.

There was a variety of treats to choose from. I love it when a business clearly has the customer in mind. The founder more than likely wanted each customer to walk away with delicious treats that are freshly made. The shop was small and cozy, with comfortable seating. So, while waiting for the cookies to be baked, we had the option to sit; however, we didn't sit the entire time because there was eye-catching art on the walls as well as a pretty interesting view outside.

My hubby tried the kielbasa and perogies dish at another restaurant we went to. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but he really wanted me to try it. It was delicious! The margherita pizza was good, but I wanted my favorite crust preference - airy, light, melt-in-your-mouth goodness! The buffalo wings were good, but nothing we hadn't tasted before.

There are so many other foods and treats we ate in the areas listed, as well as other areas. We had an amazing time. I enjoyed grocery shopping and experiencing New York. We went to different stores, and we enjoyed recreation, sightseeing, and so much more.

New York is so beautiful!

New York City.

Part 2 coming soon!

Keep your light!

Jewel For Today.

We are designed for light. Hold on to yours!