Along with its many cultural distinctions, New York City holds the title of having some of the most creative, innovative, and tasty restaurants in the world. Indian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, and just about every imaginable ethnic food can be found on almost every block. Nothing quite compares to turning a street corner and salivating at the aroma emanating from one of the many bistros. And I shouldn't forget the haute fusion cuisine places that mix Cajun, French, Thai, and other ethnic flavors. Although I can't afford to set foot in these places and it sounds disgusting, it's nice knowing that some one might savor those tastes. In reaction to this exceedingly complex and expensive food, a wave of cheaply priced "comfort food" restaurants has occurred. "Grilled Cheese New York" and "Peanut Butter and Co" are two of my favorite examples of this phenomenon. At "Peanut Butter and Co," you can get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white or wheat bread, crusts or no crusts, and with any type of jelly. They serve it to you with a big glass of milk, carrot sticks, and chips while you sit in their kitchen-décor dining room.
While these restaurants are novel and nostalgic, I can't help but think that this throwback to signature homemade meals fills a void left by the constant hustle of Manhattan. Populated by mostly young adults, New York City's eight million residents rush to work, to lunch, from work, to dinner…jumping from experience to experience. In this endless cycle of sprinting through the day, people have lost sight a simpler life represented by this type of food. While New Yorkers claim to have it all at their fingertips, ordering a PB and J sandwich at a café seems to indicate a culture wistfully longing for its rural or suburban roots. Even though I enjoyed the novelty of dining at such places, they will never compare to eating comfort food in my home. I hope I never forget to recognize comfort food lacks it soothing character without a home in which to dine.
