The story of NYC history is long, rich, and diverse. And delicious. Throughout the centuries, waves of immigration brought these people and their cultures, customs, and cuisines to the Big Apple. I had the delectable privilege of sampling immigrant foods this month with The Immigrant New York Food Tour from Like A Local Tours.
First Bite: Rebecca’s Cake Pops
This food tour was three hours of fun facts, scrumptious bites, and lots of cardio. At the beginning, everyone met up at the Essex Market and headed inside for a sweet treat at Rebecca’s Cake Pops. Taxi-themed cake pops were handed out to everyone in the group for a dessert-first intro to the tour. The cake pop was simply adorable and—as sad as I was to eat it—the flavor was equally delicious with a creamy vanilla flavor.
Second Bite: Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys
Next was only a quick walk, a few blocks away to our next stop. We landed at Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys. The tour guide, Seth, explained the history of this historical shop as a representation of Jewish history in the city.
The sampling at this location was bialys, which are similar to bagels without the hole, with a generous spread of cream cheese.
There were three flavors of Everything, Onions, and Garlic for snacking on. The Onion hands down was my favorite and the bialys itself was chewy like any good NYC bagel.
New Found Friend Credits: Sonjirose Chin
Third Bite: The Pickle Guys
Next up was The Pickle Guys, which conveniently was next door. The establishment had barrels of pickled goodies from onions, olives, and most surprisingly, pineapples. I had a sample of the pineapple and squealed in delight at the vinegary yet sweet flavor.
Onto the star of the show though, the pickles! I decided on the full brine pickle for that puckering sour flavor. There was the option for a half and quarter brine for those less keen on pickles (which I’m judging because who doesn’t love a good pickle… oh well).
Fourth Bite: Economy Candy
Our tour headed deeper into the LES and stopped at Economy Candy. I’ve been seeing this place all over my FYP so I was giddy as a kid in a candy shop to go in. Economy Candy is an old-school candy store that’s been operating since the Great Depression and has candies from yesteryear for purchase alongside some modern and international flavors of bonbons.
Everyone in the group got a ¼ pound of candy to sample. My bag was filled with peanut butter chocolates, lollipops, and other miscellaneous sugary treats. A truly sweet experience that I’ll stop by with any of my friends visiting the city in the future.
Fifth Bite: Nolita Pizza
Following the Economy Candy were some tasty carbs at Nolita Pizza. A sit-down pizzeria with a knack for classic NYC slices. We were served the Margherita slice with bubbling cheese, savory tomato sauce, and thin crust dough. I’ve eaten a lot of pizza in my life and pizza reminded me of slices in my youth—pre-Instagram trends in food. A solid pick of pizza and the tour guide explained the history of pizza finding its way to NYC through Italian immigration.
Sixth Bite: Ferrara’s Bakery & Cafe
Continuing with Italian immigration was a visit to Little Italy. We walked to Ferrara’s Bakery & Cafe for mini cannolis. The bakery was what I imagined Italy to feel like with cases overflowing with cakes, cookies, and chocolates. The limoncillo was calling my name but I had cannolis to focus on. The pastries were divine with fresh cream, chocolate chips, and encased in a crisp shell. Yum.
Final Bite: Mei Lai Wah Bakery
The final stop was Chinatown. The guide discussed the immigration of the Chinese to the United States, including the discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the impacts of Chinese immigration on the food culture of the city. I really appreciated this aspect of the tour with the detailed histories of the cultures of the Lower East Side. For our last bite, it was Baked Roast Pork Buns from Mei Lai Wah Bakery. A pillowy bun with sweet-and-savory meat that was well worth the wait. The tour was complete and I left feeling full of knowledge and food.
So… is Like a Local worth it?
My time with Like A Local Tours was a nice break from the daily routine of being in NYC. Great for the seasoned New Yorker or tourist visiting for the first time, alike. I got to visit a blend of popular and local spots while enjoying a sunny day and a history lesson of my beloved city. Book with Like a Local here with my code LikeaNYCSC for 10% off your own tour. Bon Appétit to my foodies and history buffs alike!
