Serious Eats: New York
Where to Carbo-load Before the NYC Marathon
Photograph from Beigeinside on Flickr
This Sunday New York City will be hosting its 38th annual marathon, and I'll be one of nearly 40,000 runners making their way through all five boroughs. Carbo-loading the day before a big race is a tried and true athletic tradition. Keep reading for our recommendations for some of the most delicious carbs in the city.
Bagels and Bread
Grandaisy's pizza bianca
The bagel is one of my favorite ways to consume carbs. We recommend Absolute Bagels. Ed says, "Absolute's bagels are chewy, crunchy, and, blessedly, not too sweet."
2788 Broadway, New York NY 10025 (b/n 107th and 108th Street; map)
212-932-2052
For fantastic breads, you can't go wrong at Sullivan Street Bakery or Grandaisy. We're fans of the pizza bianca available at both. Jim Lahey describes it as "A 6-ft. long light, airy, hand-formed flatbread; porous and bubbly with silky crumb. Accented with extra virgin extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt, and rosemary."
533 West 47th Street, New York NY 10036 (b/n 11th Avenue and 10th Avenue; map)
212-582-1237
sullivanstreetbakery.com
73 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10012 (b/n Broome Street and Spring Street; map); 212-334-9435
176 West 72nd Street, New York NY 10023 (near Amsterdam Avenue; map)
212-721-9000
grandaisybakery.com
Affordable Italian
Fiore's house-made cavatelli with broccoli rabe and sausage
Most marathoners are probably planning on downing a giant plate of pasta Saturday night. Our picks for the best affordable Italian are Celeste on the Upper West Side, Bianca in the Village, and Fiore in Williamsburg. Chef-owner Giancarlo Quaddalti provides value like no other great Italian cook in New York.
502 Amsterdam Avenue, New York NY 10024 (nr. 84th Street; map)
212-874-4559
5 Bleecker Street, New York NY 10012 (nr. Elizabeth; map)
212-260-4666
284 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211 (nr. Roebling; map)
718-782-8222
Ramen
Ramen Setagaya. Photograph by Robyn Lee
My two favorite food groups are carbs and pork, so the night before the race I'll be enjoying a less traditional carbo-loading supper slurping up a big bowl of ramen. There are ramen joints a-plenty in the East Village, below are our top three picks.
141 1st Avenue, New York NY 10003 (b/n 9th and 10th streets, map)
212-529-2740
65 Fourth Avenue, New York NY 10003 (b/n 9th and 10th streets, map)
212-388-0088
ippudo.com/ny
171 1st Avenue, New York NY 10003 (b/n 10th and 11th streets, map)
212-777-7773
momofuku.com