Quarantine Diaries: Day 8

Halfway done! If we've learned anything regarding the city and quarantine so far, it's that while a lot of things are closed for safety purposes, the typically crowded attractions tend to be much more empty and spacious! It's fun to get to take advantage of the open air while still enjoying what the city has to offer.

This concept rang true today when we visited the Starbucks Reserve in Chelsea. This isn't like ANY other Starbucks...in fact, there are only six locations like this in the world! They roast their coffee in house, have a completely unique and fancy menu (food included), and even bread imported from Italy.

While typically there are multiple levels with different enticing elements (including a bar), due to COVID-19, only the first floor was open. However, it was nearly empty when we entered in the MIDDLE of the day, and you're still able to see the roasting process and order many delicious drinks and pastries!

A look inside!

~the pastry selection~

I decided to get the Nitro Molé Mocha, which entails some of their ~fancy~ espresso, dark chocolate mocha and bittersweet chocolate "mist," all SHAKEN (yes shaken) with almond milk, and then topped with their Signature Nitro Cold Brew. The coffee was strong and flavorful (which means a LOT coming from Starbucks!), the chocolate added sweetness without being overpowering, and the whole entire drink was smooth and satisfying. It felt like an EXPERIENCE rather than just a drink. Plus, it's served in a token reusable cup!

in all her glory

Food-wise I decided to order the Burrata toast; creamy, burrata cheese was paired with olive oil, arugula, balsamic glaze, and toasted almonds, all served on Princi sourdough bread. The bread was some of the best I've EVER had, and the toppings were a perfect blend of creamy, salty, and textural. This was debatably some of the best food I've had so far.

Beautiful. BEAUTIFUL.

We sat outside to enjoy our food (and the music playing from the BAR CART outside the reserve) and talk in an open area. We decided to walk through Chelsea Market afterwards; while most attractions were closed, it was nice to experience the ambiance whilst it was mostly empty!

We then walked down to the Hudson River and walked around for a while; while the Hudson River from NYC isn't exactly ~glamorous~, it was nice to enjoy the view! On the trek back home, we popped into Trader Joe's to restock on snacks and quick dinners. All social distancing rules were followed, which was greatly appreciated;).

Once we returned to the hotel, I enjoyed a frozen, black bean enchilada from Trader Joe's. It was fast, flavorful, and filling. And just like any other night, we finished it with talking, The Office, TikTok, and popcorn as a midnight snack.

One week down, one to go!