I am a born and raised New Yorker with vast memories of how the city used to be — all of the magical places for food, culture, socializing, and general galavanting that I’ve cherished, that over time have either disappeared or just been forgotten. That is, until you find yourself in a clandestine moment on the corner of “hungry” and “not wanting to try something new” where you are reminded of restaurants that are NYC institutions that stand the test of time.
On a recent Saturday, I was invited downtown to visit Cloudy Donuts’ Nolita location to try out their spring box of donuts. It would be my first time trying NYC’s first 100% vegan donut store and first Black-owned food and beverage business in Brooklyn Heights (original location) and Nolita. I have seen them come across my social feed and was grateful to have the opportunity to finally try them.
I invited my friend Raquel to join me in the experience and potential sugar high. We queued in the simple modern space while noting the flavors and coveting some donuts that left with a guest ahead of us who purchased more than a dozen. Yes, we were donut hawks!
For our spring box, we got to choose four mini donuts — a blessing for our slow metabolisms. We chose coconut cream, brown butter chocolate chip, lemon pistachio, and berry sage. Emerging grateful and victorious, we sat right outside on their bench and judiciously split them all.
Kysha Harris photos
The verdict: dah-voon! These light, airy, yeasted, fried, not greasy morsels are deftly balanced with exquisite and unexpected flavors. These are donuts we know and love that are consciously vegan. Of the lot, our fave was the lemon pistachio for the tart, sweet, nutty crunch of it all. I will most certainly return for more, especially the bananas Foster when they are in season.
Next on our agenda was some lunch, but where? The bustling streets on a gorgeous sunny and warm day had me feverishly searching my phone for a new place to try. Then, like a moth to a flame, our OG New Yorkers superpowers tapped in and we found ourselves in a pole position corner banquet seat at the iconic Balthazar on Spring Street.
Restaurants like Balthazar are what my ’90s NYC SoHo memories are made of — all are welcoming, provide great experienced service, and offer a consistent quality of French bistro food. Raquel and I shared the Balthazar salad, warm goat cheese tart, and cheeseburger with frites. No notes. We thanked our spirited server in as many languages as possible throughout our meal to see how many she knew, and taught her some for all of the international guests she serves, and she was game to do it.
Our OG superpower did not steer us wrong because we were supposed to be there — to meet and have a voracious keekee with the iconic Brooke Shields and her friend about women of a certain age business. And no, we did not take a picture ’cause that is what OG New Yorkers do!
Raquel and I walked uptown by the river and marked another great day in the annals of our lives.
Thanks for reading, and happy eating!
Kysha Harris is a chef, food writer and editor, culinary producer, consultant, and owner of
SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for more than 23 years. Follow her on Instagram,
@SCHOPnyc, and Facebook, @SCHOPnyc.
Questions, comments, requests, feedback, invitations! Email at AmNewsFOOD@SCHOPnyc.com. Follow on Instagram and Facebook @NYAmNewsFOOD.
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