I'm a Soul Duck!

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

ABD here, checking in from the Big Apple. We arrived in the city that never sleeps on Thursday and since then we have logged more than 10 miles by foot. Of course, we are hooked up with the 7 Day Metro Pass and if you ever come here you gotta get one of these!

Today we went to the Museum Of Natural History in Central Park. It was wonderful and I was able to gaze upon Duck Billed Dinosaurs. It was a beautiful thing and several times I found I had to turn my head away to fend off the tears I shed when I felt the connection with my prehistoric brethren. Those guys were HUGE. No one would have ever messed with them!

After the museum we felt a bit peckish and decided to cross another gastronomic stop off our list. We hopped on the M10 heading towards Harlem. I had heard of Sylvias on the Food Network and since I am a lover of Soul Food, had to go there. On the bus, we were chatting with some women and they told us how to get to Sylvias; get off the M10 at 116th and then get on the 7 which would take us to the restaurant. Sounded good to us!

Another woman on the bus was on the phone and when she got off, we found out that she had called her friend to see where she went for soul food in Harlem. She told us to go to Amy Ruths and not Sylvias. If there is one thing I know, it is that one must ALWAYS take restaurant recommendations from locals so we got directions, jumped off the bus and headed to Amy Ruths.

As soon as we walked in, we KNEW we were in the right place. We were ushered upstairs to a crowded room and handed menus. We ordered our food; jerk chicken, collard greens, cheese grits, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad, corn, corn bread, lemonade and sweet tea.

Then we waited.

When our food arrived and we began eating, all of the conversation at the table stopped. All that could be heard was the banging of dishes, the clinking of silverware and the "want some of this" that goes with friends having good food together.

All I have to say to you is that if you are ever in Manhattan, get yourselves on the M10 and get yourselves to Amy Ruths. You will not be sorry. Bills down, the BEST collard greens I have ever had. My dining companions will agree with me on this one without arguing.

Oh yeah, we brought home some sweet potato pie and a slice of red velvet cake. The reviews are yet to come in on that as we are still stuffed from Amy Ruths.

Tomorrow we are going to the Soccer Fields at Red Hook in Brooklyn for some Latin street food. Then we are gonna go to the Brooklyn Flea.

More later, dear readers and I wish you were all here with me.

Yours on the East Coast, ABD