Soldier Field

As a die hard Bears fan and watching some the most amazing games in New Orleans and Minnesota the fact I have not even watched a game at Soldier Field is a cardinal sin.

Before getting to the game, you have to stop of at the best burger in the world – Epic Burger, you will not get a better beef patty burger anywhere in the world! And if you get a chance it is always nice to check at the Bean and Millennium Fountain at Millennium Park.

Soldiers Field is the oldest stadium in the NFL, built to honours our soldiers, as an open air stadium, it rich history combined with its coliseum design and with one of the smallest fan capacity of under 70k is prefect for all lovers of the game.

The seats have plenty of leg room, and the all important cup hold for those important beverages! The food was the best I have ever had at any stadium. Kosher Grill not only had great kosher hot dogs but amazing hot pastrami sandwich with fried bread – just what you need for a cold and foggy open stadium.

Do make sure you dress to keep yourself warm as the game goes on the weather gets colder!

While I loved visiting the home of football, the result wasn’t the best, and the less I talk about the actually game the better!

Soldier Field, looking forward to my next visit!

Yosemite

Yosemite has always been a dream park to visit for me. Driving in you are transformed into a land you read about in Lord of Rings, huge trees line your path to welcome you into a land to breathtaking scenery.

Mariposa Grove welcomes you to see the massive sequoia trees. There is short 10 mins walk or a more adventurous one hour walk, depending on your mood. You have to leave your car at the arrival and shuttle bus takes you to the walks. The shuttle leaves every 10 min so don’t worry if you miss the first one!

For me, the best part of Yosemite is the stunning glacier point. The drive is not pleasant if you are the driver – with constant winding roads and driving on the cliff edge, but amazing for passengers!

Yosemite is stunning and it you are all patient you will spot wild bears and stags just don’t go anywhere near them it and remember don’t leave any food in your car, the bears will literally pull off the car door to get to the food inside!

Now after visiting Yosemite do try to visit Kings Canyon and definitely drive through sequoiapark and check out the tallest tree in General Sherman!

American’s natural beauty is in its national parks, and once you visit one of them, you want to visit them all!

San Fran to Big Sur

There is one trip in the US I have always enjoyed – driving along the coastal line from San Francisco to Big Sur and back.

Now landing in San Francisco proudly wearing my Bear gear is not a good idea after just losing to Oakland on the weekend and the calls of “who is Mack” where ever you walk!

Cable car ride is must, check out the sea lions on pier 39, ice cream from Ghirardelli is compulsory and the sea food is the best.

Next stop Carmel! But before you get there don’t forget to watch the sunset in Monterey at Lovers Point – preferable with someone you love! Sea food is again a must there and you have the lobster roll at The Grotto Fish Market at Fishermans Wharf. Easily the best I’ve had on this trip.

Carmel is a charming small town with streets lined with interesting independent shops. Once you’ve wondered around the shops, stop for pecan ice cream from Carmel Bakery you have to hit the stunning beach. If you’re lucky you can even get a chance to swim with the local wild dolphins who tend to swim close to the shore.

Before you hit the costal line make sure you drive around pebble beach and then take the spectacular drive to Big Sur. The views are out of this world. Do stop as many times as you can to take pictures and soak in the beauty of this unique drive.

Eileen’s cheesecake – kosher as well

There is only real one home of New York Cheese cake and it’s Eileen’s Cheesecake. Eileen has been baking for over 40 years and is the Queen of cheesecakes. The shop from both inside and outside is nothing special. The location is not great Cleveland Place, while downtown has been more popular it still isn’t the easiest to get to, but that is what makes Eileen’s Cheesecake so special.

Despite location and lack of marketing – wow – the Cheesecake does all the talking. You will not get a crust better and filling is just mouth watering. What makes Eileen’s even more one step ahead of the rest is all their cheesecakes are Tablet-K Certified Kosher!

If you are coming to visit NYC, and even if only for 24 hours – if you don’t try their Classic Plain Cheesecake – you haven’t really been to NYC!

Sarahbeth’s – best breakfast in NYC

Breakfast is always an experience and event in NYC. There so many places to choose. But for my family, no matter how short the stay, we have to at least do breakfast once at Sarabeth’s during our trip.

In 1981 Sarabeth Levine sold her preserves and baked goods from tiny bakery-kitchen store. As her popularity grew, the store began to serve breakfast and lunch, and that gave birth to NYC “hot spot” to have breakfast.

Sarabeth’s has now five locations in the borough of Manhattan, but I would highly recommend Central Park South. It is a great way to start your morning, with a great breakfast and then walking it off by taking a stroll through the amazing Central Park.

Make sure you try any of their “extraordinary eggs and omelettes” and without fail you have to try their “fat and fluffy French toast;” the best French toast you will ever eat and their signature mouth watering Lemon and Ricotta pancakes.

Now you may feel I have told you to over order, and remember NYC portions are big; but remember they have doggy bags and a great way to have a break while walking through Central Park afterwards is to munch on the left over French toast!

You have not experienced NYC if you haven’t experienced Sarabeth’s.

Baseball comes to London

One of the lasting experiences of my US State Department – Interntaional Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) – was getting a chance to fall in love baseball.

So when the NBA decided to come fly in more than 340 tons of clay from Pennsylvania to London, I had to go and watch two of the oldest rivalries and greatest baseball teams of all time – Yankees vs Red Socks.

The build up was great, and the merchandise had sold out by the second innings of the second day but the games were memorable more for the unbelievable high record scoring, which is not a common feature for harden baseball fans, you can be lucky to see one home in a game.

The London Stadium did us proud. It was the first time a US sport has been played at the stadium and while not having the history soaked atmosphere like their US ball parks elders, the modern facilities helped to get crowds around easily, with plenty of leg room for us taller fans.

The atmosphere was good, but missed the religiously devoted fans, who can shout out the stats and moan at their star players with confidence in the knowledge their knew each batting average by heart.

But one essential thing missing was the food for me. Despite the featuring the footlong nacho treat and £24, two-foot long, 2,000 calorie Boomstick hot dog and our local Brits vendors been trained in the art of hawking, the thing missing from any New York sporting game is the Kosher hot dog!

Amazing experience, let’s make sure when the Cubs visit next year they bring the Kosher hot dogs from Wrigley Stadium!

Review: Sarge’s Kosher Diner

For a true New York deli experience you can’t go wrong with Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner. As you walk in you can’t help to notice the photographs of some of the leading celebrities which have tried their famed “#1 the best pastrami in New York.”

Over the last 55 years they have served great homemade kosher food, generous American portions all in a relaxing deli atmosphere.

I had no options but to try their in-house cured corned beef and pastrami sandwich with curly fries and coke. There is not doubt the service is fantastic and the sandwich was good. The slices of beef and pastrami was full of flavour. But I am afraid despite being a good sandwich, the title of the best pastrami in New York and in the world still goes to Katz Deli.

Sarge is a worth a visit and will be an experience to remember.

Review: Abigael’s by Jeff Nathan – Kosher

Half the enjoyment of watching any America sport is enjoying the great food. Now usually my only option is something like a plastic slice of pizza, that is unless you happen to be watching a game at Madison Square Gardens where you can enjoy a kosher hot dog, sweet Italian sausage and the famous brisket sandwich from Abigail’s kosher concession stand located on 6th floor.

The service is friendly and while both the pastrami and brisket sandwich was good for me the kosher hot dog just hit the right spot and prefect while watching the fast and exciting game.

Review: Moma

Moma is a must for art lovers but also for people interesting in finding out about all the fuss about these art museums.

Always start from the top floor and while you will have to queue to take a picture of The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, spend some time to look at the amazing The Olive Trees.

The fifth floor exhibits some of the most inspiring pieces of work from Pablo Picasso The Reservoir to Claude Monet Water Lilies and The Japanese Footbridge. But from a former A level art student whose oil painting artist mother inspired them from a young age – I have to admit I loved Salvador Dali the Persistence of Memory and Jackson Pollock White Light the most. When leaving the fourth floor don’t forget to check out our own Tracy Emin’s work displayed.

The Mamo is a place which is there to provoke feelings and ideas. You will not like everything you see and you may not understand most of them. But that is not always the point, it is there to open your mind, give you a chance to see the world, ideas and values in a different way and hopefully inspire and open your mind.

Don’t forget to check out the gift shops for some great and unique tourist gifts – worth checking out before you buy any “I love you NY” key chains and the Cafe 2 has a great range of fresh salads.

Moma is a must.

Review: Katz Deli – Pastrami

If you do one thing in New York, it is not the Empire State Building, forget Grand Central and leave Central Park – one thing that has to be done on your bucket list is a pastrami on rye at Katz.

Established in 1888 this New York favourite has become world famous and there is no doubt, yes I said no doubt, that Katz does the best pastrami and corn beef on rye in the known universe. You can tell the difference of their 30 days cured meat which is not only juicy, thick but also full of flavour. As a person who hates mustard, it is must for these amazing sandwiches and they always goes down well with a coke.

The walls are donned by the world leading celebrities and politicians and make sure you don’t lose your ticket or you will face a $50 dollar fine!

Apart from the outstanding food one things that gives Katz it’s heart and soul is its’ commitment to our service men and women. During World War II, the three sons of the owners were all serving in the armed forces, and the family tradition of sending food to their sons became the company slogan “Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army” which is proudly advertised on the back of their great t-shirts which can be bought at the check out.

It wouldn’t be a Katz review if you also don’t mention “that” scene from “When Harry Met Sally” – the eighties classic marked with a sign for all film fans to say to their waiter “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Katz is a must and I promise you will come back for more.