Aperol Spritz was the drink of the summer, tailor made for the social media generation. Originated in Venice in the 1950s with its popularity revived today due to Campari’s aggressive marketing campaign. This drink is more than just the next rosé as Americans conform to the European lifestyle of sipping and relaxing while they drink. There has also been a noticeable shift amongst US palates towards more bitter flavors. This cocktail is here to stay.
Aperol took off in trend-setting cities like New York. They took this already trendy cocktail and reworked it as a frozen version mnemonic of the frosé. The demand heightened for the classic Aperol Spritz so much that bars put Aperol on tap.
Aperol Spritz has made its way to Austin which is no surprise as this growing city is at the forefront in the cocktail scene. Not only is the spritz popular at bars but they have given this drink a southern touch. If you look closely on cocktail menus you will find different variations of this bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb-floral aperitif.
NYC: You can find Aperol Spritz on tap at Dante or The Maritime Hotel. The Maritime also serves frozen Aperol Spritz (credited to creating this frozen drink). If you not only want an Aperol Spritz but also the European vibe to come with it, Bagatelle is your spot. Tip: Aperol has become so popular that if you do not see it on the menu, just ask for it as any bar or restaurant will serve it.
With any new craze there’s always someone out there who finds the downside. The rise of seltzer beverages have skyrocketed in the last 5 years and reports have surfaced that claim seltzer is actually bad for you. How could this be? It’s just bubbly water. What could possibly be so harmful with that?
There’s a few reasons why seltzer is said to be bad for you – One main accusation being that it causes stomach problems and people who suffer from IBS shouldn’t drink it. Ok, well that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad for everyone else. Two being it causes erosion of the enamel on your teeth. That’s a pretty lame accusation as seltzer is obviously better for your teeth than soda or any citric food item. I have science to back that up!
What are the ingredients in seltzer? Mineral water which is considered medicinal. You’re basically drinking the fountain of youth. The other ingredient being carbonic acid which is what gives it it’s bubbles. Carbonic acid is the accused culprit to what causes erosion of the enamel. Carbonic acid is falsely accused. Don’t be fooled by it’s name because it’s actually not a problem. Flavored seltzers have citric acid which is the acid that’s bad for your teeth when combined with carbonic acid.
So seltzer is fine for you. Flavored seltzer is a smidge worse but we can all agree soda is the devil. Just don’t replace your water intake with pure seltzer.
So is seltzer bad for you – NO. Seltzer is simply water with bubbles. Go pick on soda and leave seltzer alone.
Seltzer facts:
Carbonated water was accidentally invented by Joseph Priestley in 1767 who was referred to as the father of the industry.
Seltzer Is Originally A German Thing.
Several of the mineral springs in Germany are naturally carbonated. One of those is in a town called Selters, which eventually gave us the word seltzer.
Germans drink mostly carbonated water. If you order water at a German restaurant, you will get carbonated water, unless you specified otherwise.
Seltzer, soda water, club soda, sparkling water and fizzy water are basically all the same thing with the only difference being where the water is sourced.
Soft drinks are about 100 times more erosive to teeth than sparkling mineral water.
Seltzer was originally only sold in glass bottles.
Seltzer Tip: If you love seltzer as much as we do and want to up your seltzer game you can buy seltzer in old school vintage glass bottles from Brooklyn Seltzer.
A carbonated beverage called La Croix seems to be all the rage amongst millennials today. This pretentious drink with flavors in French (insert eye roll) and its tacky design have taken over in most recent years but like most food trends it’s on the decline.
To New Yorkers, Seltzer is not a trend – it’s a way of life. NYC is known for their pizza and bagels but also Seltzer. So few people are familiar with this yiddish word but in NYC and the tri state area it’s what you grew up on. We never drank water. Just lots and lots of seltzer. If you’re from NYC you’re familiar with the brand Vintage or if you wanted to be fancy you bought Pellegrino. Our love is so strong that some have even purchased a soda stream to keep up with their household demand. At every restaurant in NYC you will be asked “Sparkling or Still?” Something you will never be asked in Texas.
In Texas we have discovered Topo Chico, a famously known sparkling mineral water amongst southerners. Topo Chico is pretty much you’re only seltzer option when dining out in Texas. It’s the cool beverage amongst kids and the obvious choice for any Texan; it’s even fun to say Topo Chico. We have noticed that Texans love anything from Texas and shun anything not. As Topo Chico started is making it’s way north we now know why northern seltzer brands haven’t made their way south.
Texans will agree with New Yorkers that La Croix is not a new trend but will argue Topo Chico is the original and has been around for ages. A war is about to pursue for the claim to seltzer. New Yorkers are probably scratching their heads and asking what’s “Topo Chico” as it started hitting the shelves in 2018. “Vintage” seltzer, the brand up north, has never been trendy in it’s simple plastic, blue bottle but it has been a staple in every New York/New Jersey household. Whoever owns the right to this carbonated drink, club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer or whatever you chose to call it; New Yorkers and Texans can agree it’s more than a trend – it’s a lifestyle! Now you have been educated on what northerners and southerns call this bubbly drink. You’re basically fluent in seltzer and can order like a local.
NYC is pretty iconic – some of the most amazing movies are filmed here such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Even if you’ve never watched the movie, you’ve at least heard of it. The funny thing is, you can’t actually have breakfast at Tiffany’s…. until now! Tiffany’s finally opened The Blue Box Cafe at their New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue.
This was exciting news to anyone and everyone who loves Audrey Hepburn and it even brought excitement to emotionless New Yorkers. So you can imagine reservations are hard to come by considering locals and tourists want in. Already a popular tourist destination as you see people walking the streets with that famous little blue bag. Tiffany’s had to implement a reservation system to accommodate the huge demand for their small cafe. They specifically state you cannot sell your reservation. Even after a year of being open, it’s near impossible to get a table. So how do you get in?!
Here’s where we step in to guide you. I warn you – it’s not easy but we have pointers. Also, the hard work is totally worth it! The food and ambiance are spectacular and it’s an iconic moment you will have in NYC.
1.) You can only get a reservation on Resy.com – Go to the Tiffany’s website where they give you their specific link. Click “make a reservation” and it will bring you to their reservation page on Resy.
2.) Setup an account on Resy and link your Credit Card beforehand. Do this the night before. You will need your credit card to hold your reservation which is common at popular NYC restaurants. They also have a $25 cancellation fee. (Lame but whatever. You know you won’t cancel.)
3.) Everything is booked up a month in advance. Go to the reservation calendar and see what the next available date is to book. Calculate what day you want your reservation and what day it will open up.
4.) Reservations will open at 9am daily and book up instantly. This is no joke! Even if you go on the website at 9am on the dot and have your reservation all set, by the time you hit the button to book it, it’s sold out. There are no guarantees and no holding your reservation. So set your alarm and get ready!
Tip: You will have to try multiple times. If you don’t get a reservation at 9am that day, you have to wait until the next day at 9am to get the following open date.
Tip: Try for uncommon times. Best is to book on a weekday in the evening. Weekends and mornings are the hardest to come by. Don’t count on at 10am reservation for a Saturday. Try for a Wednesday at 5pm.
Tip: You will need determination. Don’t quit if you can’t get a reservation even the first 3 times.
Recap: Setup an account on Resy the night before. Calculate when your reservation date will open. Set your alarm for when reservations open at 9am. Book an unpopular time. If you do not succeed, try again because it will happen and it’s so worth it. God speed!
As a self proclaimed pizza connoisseur and birthed in NYC – a city that has the strongest pizza scene, we thought we would scope out the Austin area for a great slice and see how it compares to east coast pizza. First, we share with you the best pizza in NYC for comparison sakes.
NYC holds the title for the best pizza in the country. It’s known for their classic NY slice and a traditional Sicilian pizza. (If you don’t know the difference, stop reading now. *said in a pizza snob tone*) Finding the best pizza places can be difficult even with the internet these days. Yelp cannot be trusted. It’s by word of mouth or food instagram pages that let you know the best pizza spots.
Here are our top 3 pizza places in NYC…
NYC Pizza:
1.) Prince Street Pizza
Prince Street Pizza is a hole in the wall joint with no seating and serves a traditional Sicilian slice. They are simple but great – cheese or pepperoni and that’s it. Prince street is a well know area with tons of stores and restaurants but conveniently located across the street from one of the best bakeries in NYC. So you get to have your pizza and eat your cake too!
2.) John’s of Bleeker Street
Not to be confused with the mediocre Bleeker Street Pizza down the block! John’s is an old school pizza restaurant that does NOT sell slices. Whole pies only. John’s only has a few booths to sit at and there’s always a wait for a table. It’s no Franklin BBQ line so you can handle it and the pizza is worth the wait. A classic cheese pie is the way to go.
3.) Sauce
Sauce is the best NYC slice with their signature sauce – Grandma’s gravy which is so good they serve your slice with a side of it. They have slices and seating is available. They serve local sodas which is a rare thing and unlike every other place on the east coast that has either Pepsi or Coke. The ambiance is an added bonus. It’s NYC vibes meets grandma’s kitchen – old school wallpaper, neon signs and spoon chandeliers.
Now let’s get to our competitors – East coast vs third coast. Did we find a decent slice in Austin that can compare to NYC pizza? Read below to end the suspense…
Austin Pizza:
So how does pizza in Austin compare? What’s a great pizza place in this self proclaimed weird city? No need to let you know all the bad slices or the let downs we had. Let’s get straight to the pizza… After extensive pizza research and mass consumption of cheese, dough and sauce; we have found the best pizza in Austin! It pains me to admit this but it possibly tops NYC pizza. Drum roll please…..
Via313 – a Detroit style pizza holds the title for best pizza. Although, it’s a completely different style and unlike anything we are used to on the east coast. This deep dish, non circular pie is epic.
1.) Via313
Via313 has several locations in Austin as well as food trucks (something we avoid in NYC but food trucks are a way of life in Austin.) This pizza is the correct ratio of cheese to grease, dough to sauce, and chewy to crunch. The best thing about this rectangular pie is that the crunch is all in the cheese. You can tell from just one bite that the ingredients are quality. When back in NYC, we dream of Via313. In fact, Via pies have made it onto Southwest Airlines to bring back to NYC and yes, the leftovers are just as good.
Detroit style has only recently hit the east coast and there are minimal places to get this style of pizza. Two well know places to get this type of pizza in New York City are at Massoni and Lion, Tigers and Squares. Massoni is a trendy restaurant located inside the Arlo NoMad hotel located on 31st street which is pretty good but no Via313. Lion, Tigers and Squares on 23rd street was recommended to us and much more well known but it was a huge disappointment. For those Austinites who are unfamiliar with the epidemic of dollar pizza shops in NYC, 2 Bros Pizza can be found on NYC street corners as frequent as a Starbucks. They sell $1 slices and if you’ve had one, you know why they’re a dollar. I would have to say, Lion, Tigers and Squares is on the same level of $1 slices.
Massoni (Left) Lions, Tigers & Squares (Right)
2.) Pieous
Another delicious pizza spot in Austin (just in case you’re not a Detroit style kind of person) is Pieous. This is a Neapolitan style pie but this place has more than just great pizza. The bakery is amazing which is always a plus in my book when there’s dessert too. There’s a ton of great Neapolitan pizza in NYC but not many in Texas. Maybe that’s why Pieous sells out daily.
Texas pizza has certainly given New York City a run for their money. Even though they are different styles, Texas can hold their own. I just hope this doesn’t start another pizza debate like the infamous feud of Chicago deep dish vs New York style. Or a more relatable food feud to Texans – the debate of Whataburger vs In N Out (but if you’re from Texas you’re saying to yourself “There is no competition.”) I think we can all agree pizza is amazing no matter what style.
We hope you enjoy our suggestions for NYC and Austin!
’tis the season for festive instagram posts. Here are our top spots for great pics and a good time.
1.) ROLF’S German Restaurant in NYC
When you step inside this restaurant and bar, you feel like you’re inside a xmas tree. It’s covered in xmas ornaments from floor to ceiling making a great photo op for the gram. With specialty cocktails for the holiday, it’s a perfect place to meet up with friends to celebrate.
2.) The Who-tel at the W in Austin
What’s better than feeling like you’re in a Christmas tree? How about being inside a Dr. Seuss book. In Downtown Austin at The W Hotel it’s decorated like a modern Whoville with a bar. The themed cocktails are more than just for the instagram – They are delicious!
3.) Miracle on 5th Street in Austin
Nothing says Christmas more than the leg lamp in the window and that’s how you’ll be greeted at this bar on 5th street in Downtown Austin. Themed drinks with snowballs in them and even the option to do a shot ski. As much as the front of the bar looks, don’t forget to check out the rest of the place and even the ski lodge upstairs.
4.) The Lodge – Bollinger Bar at The Winter Village in Bryant Park
NYC is at its best during the Christmas season with all the lights and when Bryant Park transforms into a winter village. After some ice skating enjoy hot chocolate, treats or head over to the bar at The Lodge. Grab a great pic in front of the Christmas tree or the iconic Bryant Park fountain as it famously ices over in the winter.
The Pineapple Life Blog is an inspirational editorial platform bringing you the best insider tips, plans, and freebies. Consumed by wanderlust and suffering from FOMO, we share with you the best ideas for your next adventure. Whether it be a local night out or traveling across the world, we know the hot spots, hidden gems, good grub, most instagrammable spots and where the free samples are.
Located in Austin, TX and New York City.
We bring you the most trendy spots in these great cities.
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