What's Eating In Translation?

This website began as a collection of field notes on interesting food I'd tried, or planned to try, in and around New York. (For many more photos accompanied by even fewer words, see my Flickr collection.) Since its launch, in January 2005, I've visited some 1,800 restaurants, lunch counters, cafés, street vendors, fairs, festivals, grocers, and greenmarkets — and my "to eat" list is longer than ever.

The only way to trim it is to hit the road. Four or five times a week, usually with little more than a MetroCard and my Merrells, I track down, or happen upon, food from all over the world. Much of this food is new to me — that's where the "translation" comes in — typically it's inexpensive and procured in casual, even humble settings. I'm less interested in celebrity restaurant owners and designer dining rooms than in learning more about the food, and trying it for itself. (Once or twice a month, I also break bread with the like-minded folks in The World Food Lovers Dining Out Group.)

If you feel the same, and if you have an appetite for something new, Eating In Translation can help point the way.

Comments

[Young]

WOW!! you are truly Amazing!!! keep up the Great Work!

[Anon reader]

Love your blog! I check it almost everyday and I completely agree with the sentiments in your post!

[jpreardon]

1,800 is an impressive number. Keep it up!

[julie]

your blog is my favorite blog in the world. it is my food bible. i check it everyday. thanks for all the great tip-offs. :)

[Lorenz]

I'm from Germany and come for vacation to NewYork in january 08. I made a selection of more then 30 spots from your blog I want to visit. I'm enthused from your independet(!) blog! Thank you an keep it up!!

[Gary Soup]

Your blog and flickr photostream are two big reasons I have settled on New York (Queens, Roosevelt Ave. corridor, to be specific) as my choice of locales to look for a cheap condo for part-time, or even eventual full-time residence in retirement. (It helps too that my daughter lives a stone's throw from a #7 Line subway station.)

I share your love of walking and eating, two great activities best done in concert.

[Marco]

I read your blog almost daily. I then transfer some of the names and addresses into my word doc named NYC eats. Thanks and keep on'.

[Linda]

I've been swooned by your blog when I stumbled upon it early last year. The foodie community really has a life of its own! Keep up the little bites.

[The Maiden Metallurgist]

I've been reading your blog almost everyday since I found it more than a year ago. I read it because I'm jealous about all the great eats I'm missing out on (I live in Denver) and feel like I can live vicariously through you a little bit everyday. One of these days I'm going to head to New York for a weekend with a big long list and spend the entire weekend searching out lunch counters and deli's and eat all weekend. Thanks for the little journey everyday.

[D. Bell]

Just droppin in to say hello! Thanks for all of the past contributions you've made to the site!

[Stacy]

Saw your post just in time this morning, before I headed out to work at Yankee's Stadium! When I was done I made sure to stop by Charles's on the way home. It was delicious, thanks!

[A]

Hey, I love your website. Do you know of any african restaurants that are halal...i am dying to try that type of cuisine. Thanks!

[Fara]

A: Yeah, Africa Kine is halal on 116th street. Take the B or C train there, it should be right where you get off the station.