Some Thoughts on Food

I think that the food in New York is a lot different from the food in Italy.  First of all, in Italy there aren't as many variety of restaurants as there are here.  I think that also in Italy, you can eat healthier because they don't use as much sauce and the quantity is about half of the American one.

I was very surprised at the pizza restaurants here in New York.  The menu always says that the pizza is just like the Italian one, but I think they're just saying it to attract more people.

I was also surprised by the huge number of Chinese restaurants.  There are about five of them in only one block!

As a conclusion, I would say that both types of food are really good, and I think it's good to sometimes try new things.

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New York City is a huge city where the number of immigrants and so the kinds of food they brought to it is unbelievable.  Like in Paris.

In Paris, like in New York, there are a lot of restaurants and different kinds of food like Chinese food, Japanese food and Italian food.  These two cities are the gastronomical capitals of the world.  Therefore, there are luxury restaurants but also restaurants that are less expensive like Five Guys and Toasties in New York and Tunisian restaurants in Paris.

Differences in the food between these two cities arise from the immigrant groups that live in these cities.  In Paris, many immigrants are from North Africa, China and Portugal.  In the suburbs, there is an area called St. Denis.  Its international market is very famous because we can find everything from all over the world like Portuguese food, Tunisian food, Algerian food or Turkish food.  A specialty of this place and many restaurants in Paris and its suburbs is a sandwich called "kebob".  It's a sandwich composed of meat, tomato, lettuce and onion.  Generally, it's eaten with fries.  I love this sandwich because it's composed of basic ingredients but makes for an original meal.

In New York, there are immigrants from many places, and all kinds of food are from the different ethnic groups.  The pastrami and the bagel are from the Jewish population, and the hamburger is from Hamburg in Germany.  But sometimes, this food which has travelled a lot changed like the Chicago deep dish pizza.  The best food that I have eaten in New York is soul food which is from the south of the USA.  It's composed of fried chicken, corn bread and waffles.

One big difference between the food in New York and the food in Paris is portion size.  Portions are bigger in New York and generally in the USA.  For example, the deep dish pizza at Uno's Pizzeria can feed more than 5 people!

So, the food in Paris and the food in New York are similar and yet different.

Learning about Different Cultures

At the beginning of my Hi-New-York program, I was quite sensitive to everything here. It was strange here and I didn’t know my teacher. I nervously sat on the sofa with my father and looked around.

I was surprised with my teacher Heather. She looked as young as a college student. I didn’t think she was older than me. Then, we had a private lesson. I wasn’t accustomed to the questions in the book, so I didn’t do well at first. After that, it was a group lesson with three sweet guys. I didn’t talk too much that day, but I liked the group.

In the following days, I became active, but continued to speak Chinese. After a week’s practice, I would understand what others said, and I began expressing my opinions in English. I made great progress every day with Hi-New-York. I always had Chinese food with my father, but I had a different and new type of food every day here. I learned about different cultures through the food. Finally, I had the courage to overcome my English difficulties and talked with Americans.

Thanks a lot Hi-New-York!

Stars: Their Influence on Us

There are many ways in which young people are influenced by stars. For example, a star’s choices of clothes can become a fashion craze. Young people are eager to own all the things stars have—the sweater, coat, shoes, earrings, and even socks. That’s why so many advertisers find stars to promote their brands.

Young people may copy the behaviors of stars, whether they are right or not. Drinking, staying up late, and saying curse words become the usual among teenagers before they know whether or not these behaviors are correct. They want to copy them because they are curious about things they haven’t tried. When you idolize a star, you think that all the things they do must be the best.

Stars also give young people positive energy to help themselves, their families, and the world.

           

I was personally influenced by Emma Watson, an actress from Hollywood. I still remember the emotion when she said “both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, not as two opposing sets of ideals.” It was seriously from the bottom from her heart. I have tried doing everything by myself, and I will never become a woman who just wants to depend on her husband.

In life, stars may influence us in a positive or negative way. Follow the right answer from your heart and make your life more successful and meaningful.

"I Can't Wait to Come Back!"

I flew from Paris on August 8th. My flight was 8 hours long. I was so excited, but a little bit nervous to take the plane for the first time alone. Everything went well. It was just very long. When I arrived, my uncle was waiting for me. I was so happy to see him and to be finally in NY. My holiday starts here.

I enjoyed so many things on my trip. I came to realize that New York is my favorite city in the world. It’s so cool to walk around Manhattan - you can discover many shops, people, and great places. I love going shopping here because there are many shops that we don’t have in France like Victoria Secret and Forever 21. I felt like a true New Yorker because I took the subway by myself every day.

I ate many different kinds of food in NY, like Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican and American food of course! The food I liked the most was Frozen Yogurt. It is so good. I had so much froyo during my 3 weeks here. You can put whatever you want on it. I ate a lot of junk food here (oops). But I miss French food, especially my Mom’s food (the best).

I learned a lot at Hi-New-York. First, I improved my English. I learned how to correctly use parts of speech and the correct tenses. I am more comfortable with the language now. I also learned to fend for myself in a big city. This trip was amazing, and I want to come back to NY as soon as I can.

"I Enjoyed Learning and Making Friends"

I came to New York City this summer for the first time. I came with my mother to practice my English.

The first day, I learn about the differences in our 5 senses between humans and animals. On the second day, we helped build oyster reefs that will be placed into the sea. Oysters clean 50 gallons of water per day!  On Wednesday, we saw a person eat a balloon and ended our day eating delicious ice cream on the pier. Yesterday, we created very large bubbles.  I really liked that. Today, we learned about high and low tide and how the moon affects the tides. It was a very interesting day.

I enjoyed learning and making friends this week.

“It Was a Fun Week”

We started the morning by eating bagels. I ate a bagel with salmon and cream cheese, and it was delicious. After, we took a ferry. The views of New York City from the top of the ferry were brilliant. I saw the Statue of Liberty. The Brooklyn bridge was close by. It is very beautiful.

I loved the Sound and Light Exhibit. There was one part I found the most interesting, The Converging Mirror. It consisted of a box, a curved mirror, a light and a spring. When I walked up, I thought there was a spring that you can touch, but it was actually a reflection. There were a lot of displays that I learned from, but the reflection one was the best.

NYC for Foodies

By Julie, Lisa and Lorena

Toastie  8.5/10:  “Where everyone feels like a New Yorker.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★

1.       Curb appeal: Outdoor seating available. Eye catching Logo.

2.      Ambience: A well-lit open space with a great music selection.

3.      Noise level: The main seating area is in the back near the take-out counter and salad chopping station. It’s a bit too noisy.

Food ★★★★

1.       Variety: Endless NY-style sandwich options as well as salads, pizza and smoothies.

2.      Cost: You will be paying a bit more than your local sandwich shop.  Toasties uses high quality ingredients.

3.      Taste: Fresh bread and big tasty portions.

Service ★★★★

1.       Service: Everything is made to your liking; so, it’s worth the wait.

2.      Cleanliness: The tables were all clean when we arrived. Everyone was wearing gloves and hair nets. The bathroom could have been cleaner.

3.      Friendliness: Attentive and friendly staff.

Hi-New-York Student:  I recently had lunch at Toasties. I arrived with a group of friends at 11:15. It was quick and easy to order at the counter. Try and arrive early if possible, the line grew very fast.  I found the seating area inside the restaurant to be a bit loud.  I would recommend Toasties. I had the Classic American.

Hi-New-York Student:  BEST CHICKEN TERIYAKI SANDWHICH!!!! Toasties is a wonderful place if you are trying to grab a quick and delicious meal on your lunch break. It’s a bit loud; so, don’t take someone there on a date.

Europa Café  7/10:  “Cafeteria-style setting with restaurant-style taste.”

Atmosphere ★★★

1.       Curb appeal: A very convenient location, but there isn’t much curb appeal.

2.      Ambience: Average decoration with a lively feel.

3.      Noise level: There are many different service counters; so, there is a lot of noise.

Food ★★★★

1.       Variety: Countless options for lunch as well as desserts.

2.      Cost: Reasonably priced, especially the salads.

3.      Taste: We had a variety of items. The meals all were satisfactory.

   

Service ★★★★

1.       Service: No wait time, and all the dishes came out right away. You order and wait for your food to be brought to your table.

2.      Cleanliness: Clean and tidy. Unfortunately, the bathroom was a mess, and there was no toilet paper.

3.      Friendliness: Extremely polite and informative service.

Hi-New-York Student:  I would not typically order a pizza from a café in New York; yet, I am very glad I did. The margherita personal sized pizza was delicious with the perfect cheese to sauce ratio. The seats are set up like a cafeteria. You won’t be sitting at your own table here. This is not a very relaxing place to dine.

Hi-New-York Teacher:  I usually build my own salads at these types of establishments. As you may know, that can get expense. I was very satisfied with the amount of ingredients I added and how inexpensive the salad was. Everything was vibrant and fresh.

Russ & Daughters (Shop)  8.5/10:  “Culture in every bite.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★

1.  Curb appeal: The windows really showcased what was inside.

2.  Ambience: Old fashioned decorations and counters. Very close quarters, hard to move around. There is no seating at this location. Grab and Go.

3.  Noise level: There was a lot of commotion at lunch time, making it hard to hear the people taking our orders from behind the counter.

Food ★★★★

1.  Variety:  This is a specialty establishment with plenty of options when it comes to bagels, cream cheese and salmon.

2.  Cost: Smoked fish of this high quality is worth the extra money.

3.  Taste: Unbelievably delicious.

Service ★★★★

1.  Service: Russ and Daughters food is made to order. Expect to wait.

2.  Cleanliness: Everything appeared to be well taken care of and clean.

3.  Friendliness: Attentive and friendly staff.

Hi-New-York Student:  Best Bagel EVER! I was surprised to see they had so many types of cream cheese. This time, I chose the plain cream cheese, but next time, I would like to give the goat cheese spread a try. Russ and Daughters is in a fantastic location, just a few minutes’ walk from the F train.

Hi-New-York Student:  This was my first time trying Jewish cuisine, and I was so impressed. I do wish they had seating at this location. I ended up eating outside on a bench. I highly suggest ordering an everything bagel with the Irish salmon, plain cream cheese and a small side of their famous egg salad. It might be the best I have ever had.

Chipotle  8.5/10:  “Put a little spice in your life.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★

1.  Curb appeal: Very basic store front, not very inviting.

2.  Ambience: Chipotle has plenty of tables and bar tops. The walls are decorated with very interesting artwork. It’s close to the MoMA.

3.  Noise level: This is a very big location. Even during the lunch rush, you can eat in peace.

 Food ★★★★★

1.  Variety:  Mexican buffet with a decent number of options. You can order burritos, tacos, rice bowls or salads.

2.  Cost: Very affordable.

3.  Taste:  100% customizable taste.  

Service ★★★★

1.  Service:  A lengthy line was forming, which made the man behind the counter rush. It was hard to hear him.

2.  Cleanliness: Extremely clean and organized.

3.  Friendliness: Although rushed, the lady at the check-out counter was very polite.

Hi-New-York Student:  I really enjoyed building my own burrito; it’s not something I have ever done. I loved my burrito, but I was surprised that the chicken was spicy. I wish there were two options for chicken. I would have liked a fountain drink with my order. Unfortunately, the machine was out of order.

Hi-New-York Student:  I ordered the 3 soft flour tacos option. They should have put less toppings on my chicken tacos; it was hard to eat. I don’t like eating tacos with a fork and knife. The chicken was spicy, but I still really enjoyed my meal.  The ordering process was rushed; therefore, my tacos came out messy. Not the best review, but I would 100% go back.

Juniors  7.5/10:  “The essential Brooklyn diner.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★

1.  Curb appeal: The location is under construction outside; so, it’s very dusty and not inviting.

2.  Ambience: Old fashioned dinner with lots of old photographs for decoration. Junior’s is a wonderful place to take the family.

3.  Noise level:  No complaints. Even with outside construction, there was no noise pollution.

Food ★★★★

1.  Variety:  Plenty of traditional diner food, not many healthy options. 

2.  Cost: A little over priced for lunch. $15 minim on most meals.

3.  Taste:  Free pickles, Cole slaw and beets upon arrival. Simple yet tasty.

Service ★★★★

1.  Service:  There was no wait, and this restaurant is very large. The waiter did take a few minutes to come and greet us.

2.  Cleanliness: Even though this location is old, it was clean and tidy.

3.  Friendliness: The server wasn’t very helpful, and he forgot to add toppings to two dishes.

Hi-New-York Teacher:  I do wish this restaurant had a few more healthy and vegetarian options. I particularly loved the free cole slaw and beets. The bathrooms were clean, but they were located in the back and upstairs. The food was average. I am not sure I would come back.

Hi-New-York Student:  I would come back here once a week just to have another taste of their amazing and enormous hot dogs. I think it was as big as my arm! The french fries were also very delicious. The menu was not very descriptive; so, I wasn’t sure what I was getting.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Stand (Coney Island)  8.5/10:  “Home of the best hot dogs on planet earth.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★★

1.  Curb appeal: You can’t miss this place - big red and yellows signs with a full view of the kitchen. You should read the menu before you even go inside.

2.  Ambience: Nathan’s made you feel like summer. It’s fun and has a lot of energy. The seating is outside, which is wonderful for people watching.

3.  Noise level:  The ambience was so great we didn’t notice the noise. 

Food ★★★★★

1.  Variety:  It’s worth a visit for the hot dogs. The cheese fries are another reason to visit Nathan’s.

2.  Cost: The portions of fries could have been larger for the price. 

3.  Taste:  This location has been open since 1916, and they know how to make the best hot dogs in New York!

Service ★★★★

1.  Service:  With at least 30 registers and countless employees working, there was no wait. The people at the registers were very effective at keeping the lines moving.

2.  Cleanliness: Very clean and tidy even outside.

3.  Friendliness: Everyone, even the man making the hotdogs, had a smile on his face.

Hi-New-York Student:  I tend to think of myself as a hot dog connoisseur. Nathan’s hot dogs made the cut. I wish I had ordered two; they are rather small. It was very nice to be able to enjoy my meal outside. This place is great!

Hi-New-York Student:  I don’t usually order hot dogs when I see them on a menu, but I couldn’t resist. This is the home of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. I had to see what all the hype was about.

Bread & Butter 9/10:  “Where variety is a specialty.  It’s not just bread & butter.”

Atmosphere  ★★★

1.  Curb appeal: The building next door was under construction, and the windows were covered; so, you couldn’t see inside. We weren’t sure what we were walking into.

2.  Ambience: This is a grab and go eatery. There is no seating on location. There are so many options, and the place seemed cluttered.  

3.  Noise level:  There was no issue with noise.

Food ★★★★★

1.  Variety:  There is something for everyone here. From a hot and cold buffet with over 50 options to salads, sandwiches, sushi and more.

2.  Cost: Great prices for the amazing quality of the food.

3.  Taste:  We opted for the hot and cold buffet. Everything was fresh and extremely enjoyable. Most meals had an oriental flavor to them.

Service ★★★

1.  Service:  We helped ourselves; so, we did not interact with a server.

2.  Cleanliness: This place was immaculate. A woman was continually making sure the buffet area was clean and organized.

3.  Friendliness: The couple at the register was helpful and friendly.

Hi-New-York Student:  There are a lot of options at Bread & Butter. Take your time to walk around and check everything out.  I had a mixed of hot and cold items in my container. The sweet corn and blueberries mix at the bottom of my container was an accident. I recommend taking your lunch onto the ferry for Brooklyn.

Hi-New-York Student:  I was a little overwhelmed when I walked in. I had never been to a place with so many options. It was unfortunate that there was nowhere to sit. The one problem with a place like this is that there is a lot of plastic waste. I wish they had cardboard containers. I would recommend the cold salad with nuts and tilapia. Everything here is so fresh.

Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill  8.5/10:  “Where New Yorkers come to eat pizza.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★★

1.  Curb appeal: Great curb appeal with many of the daily specials listed outside.

2.  Ambience: This place is lively and with bright purple decor. It was nice to watch the football game while dining for a change.

3.  Noise level: There weren’t many people dining inside, and we were far from the kitchen.  The music was low, making it a wonderful place for conversation.

Food ★★★★★

1.  Variety:  A pizza for everyone, from plain to one with the works. 4 options at the unlimited soup bar and plenty of healthy options.

2.  Cost: Affordable lunch specials.

3.  Taste: Delicious! Delicious! Delicious.

Service ★★★★

1.  Service:  You can order at your table with an ipad, but it isn’t easy. We opted for a server. She might have been new; she wasn’t very kind or helpful.

2.  Cleanliness: They must have just opened for the day because it still had the floor cleaner smell. Thankfully. pizza smells better than a cleaner smell.

3.  Friendliness: The host welcomed us with a smile and quickly took us to our table.

Hi-New-York Student: Uno’s has a delightful lunch special. You can get a berry and goat cheese salad or a salad of your choice with unlimited bowls of soup for under $11. All the soups were fantastic. I don’t know which I liked better - the pesto or the tomato soup.

Hi-New-York Student:  I love pizza, and New York makes it the best. The kid’s personal pizza from Uno’s is my favorite. It’s the perfect size and tastes so good.

Five Guys   9/10:  “Burger game on point.”

Atmosphere  ★★★★

1.   Curb appeal:  The bright red color of the Five Guys signs makes it easy to notice on busy 49^th street.  

2.  Ambience: This location is small with plenty of seating. People come here to burgers and not for the ambience.

3.  Noise level: Since this place is small, the noise from the kitchen flows throughout the dinning space.

Food ★★★★

1.  Variety:  Burgers, Burgers and more burgers. There are more than 20 topping options and two flavors of fries. Not a place to come for a healthy lunch.

2.  Cost: Affordable.

3.  Taste: Juicy, perfectly cooked burgers and fries.

Service ★★★★

1.  Service:  The lady at the counter seemed rushed, and she wasn’t that polite. The men and women at the pick-up counter were a lot more helpful.

2.  Cleanliness:  This place was very clean - nothing on the floor or counters.

3.  Friendliness: Not the friendliest of employees. We took our food to go.

Hi-New-York Student:  I’m a hot dog girl. I can not give you a review on the hamburgers, but my friends seemed very pleased.  You can even get toppings on your hot dogs.  I stuck with ketchup. That’s all they need. I really liked the cut of the french fries, not too big not too small. Try the Cajun for something different.

Hi-New-York Student:  A burger lover’s paradise. A simple cheese burger is all you need. It was nice to snack on peanuts waiting for my order. We did not eat in Five Guys but went across the street and ate at a park. It was a great picnic.

What Can 9 Weeks in NYC Achieve?

Two Swiss children, 8 and 6 years old, came to New York with their parents in the spring with no formal English instruction prior to their visit. By the end of their 9 weeks with us, they were confidently communicating in English.

The Teacher’s Perspective

Both are very intelligent children, and after they got going, they seemed to just soak up the language. Both of them started the session unable to hold a basic conversation in English and finished the session being able to understand a wide range of conversational points, including the future and past tenses. And that's with me speaking English at a normal conversational speed with some repetition.

At first, the children were nervous, and their confidence level in the language was not high, leading them to sometimes get discouraged and/or frustrated. However, towards weeks 4-6, we saw the children do a complete switch in their approach to English, with them initiating the conversations, picking up words with relative ease and being able to express themselves clearly.  If they didn't understand something, they would ask questions to prompt understanding. One of the biggest achievements for these two was probably overcoming their fear of speaking English with me!

It's hard to pinpoint where they've improved the most. They picked up vocabulary at an amazing rate. It was a slower process at first, but towards the end of the program, they were using words that I had taught them only two days before. They have covered in 9 weeks what would take an adult a year to learn.  

The Mother’s Perspective

Since the children came with a very basic knowledge of English, I did not know what to expect for them. After 9 weeks in the program, we are very happy to see them communicating and understanding what is being said, especially our older child. She loves to show us that she can speak the language, and it’s great to watch her. Our son too has made tremendous progress. He’s younger; so, he does not write and relies on his sister to speak, but he understands better.

There were endless possibilities here with the Hi-New-York team, each day something new. I feel as if the children know NY better than the parents! They love the museums, especially the ones with modern equipment, computers and interactive stations for children.

We enjoyed New York as a family too.  Going to the beach with children is always a great experience, especially in a big city like NY. The children always have a great time playing in the sand and swimming. We went to Fire Island, just one hour away from the city, and we all really enjoyed it. Central Park is another great place. Our children love picnics. Unlike in restaurants, where they have to stay seated for several hours, as soon as they have finished eating, they can play and run around. They really love that, and it’s so easy in NY since you can buy food everywhere. Just grab and go and eat in the park!

We will miss the variety of food and cuisines that New York has to offer and its accessibility. Hell’s Kitchen was great for us.  We loved walking on 8^th Avenue and selecting the type of restaurant and food we wanted; the options are just limitless. Just the idea that we can get ice cream 24/7 from the shop downstairs is also amazing. Back home, our choices are much more limited, or we have to plan ahead.

The Children’s Perspective

A: I like the parks, candy stores and museums.  But New York is dirty!

N: The parks and toy stores.  I don’t like shopping!  

My New York City Experience

This piece was written by Manuel, one of our interns.

Expectations

Before coming  to New York this year, we were in Miami several times. I thought New York  would be a  city like any other, with big cars, people spending most of their time on the phone, and expensive restaurants.

I also had my reservations about the internship my mother had organized for me. I thought that this internship would be something that I wouldn’t like, something that would make me feel more insecure.  I couldn’t have even imagined how  different it would be.

First Impressions

The first thing that I noticed as  I was arriving  was the landing track, which was basically in the water.  I couldn’t believe it! The next interesting thing that I noticed were the buildings. They were so tall. I had never seen something like that, even in Miami.

On the first day with Hi-New-York, while I was going up on  the elevator with my family, I was so nervous that I couldn't even move.  While I was waiting with my two brothers, I noticed that the place didn’t look so bad. After waiting for five minutes, my teacher came, and I realized that it would be ok.  She seemed nice and fun.

Lasting Impressions

I passed the whole day with her,  her assistant and the kids. The same night, I felt much better and relieved that everything I thought was wrong. The days started to pass, and each one was better than the last one.  I think that the best day of all was when we went to the Transit Museum and met someone from the past who told us about being on an elevated train during a blizzard.  It was so interesting and fun. 

Now that my internship is coming to an end, I realize that the biggest difference between Buenos Aires and New York is the people.  The level of focus that they showed in every activity is incredible. It doesn’t matter if it is only a simple activity.  They do it the best they can to prove to themselves that they can do it well.