Save For Later no. 23: Hitting Refresh
We are so back.
Hello, again!
It’s been a while since I’ve sat down at my computer and felt the urge to write. This is due to a variety of factors - mostly a combination of being on the move this year, not having a real home base, and, honestly, a bit of laziness. Now that I’ve more or less settled into everyday life again, I’m excited to get back into this newsletter.
It’s been a bit freeing to take a break, but I always wanted to kick things off again. Creating content requires being in a focused mindset, for me at least, and I’ve started feeling the weight of a backlog piling up from all the places and things I’ve done over the last few months. It felt like it was finally time to put pen to paper to talk about my experiences, and I also want to share what I’ve been up to so other people can add new places and restaurants to their bucket lists.
This summer was a bit of an adventure, to say the least, and it all started on an unexpected path that led my wife and me to make the decision to break our NYC lease, pack up our belongings into a storage unit, and hit the road.
We’ve always wanted to explore the West Coast, as well as a few iconic National Park stops, and this summer seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it. We sat down to map out our journey and figure out a nice balance that allowed us to cover a lot of ground but still provided enough time in each location to settle in and get a feel for it. This turned out to be a great strategy, because we didn’t have to pack up our belongings every few days, alleviating the typical travel stress that we usually run into.
Our main travels included Oregon (Portland and Bend), Idaho (Boise), Wyoming (Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone), and Montana (Bozeman and Glacier), with a long flight to Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakone) to cap off the summer. The US portion of our trip was spread out over two months, while the Japan segment was over two weeks, which ended up feeling like plenty of time in each location.
One of the biggest takeaways from the trip was just how different each place felt - not just in the landscapes, but in the pace of life and the little details you notice when you’re somewhere long enough to settle in. From the laid-back vibe of Bend to the rugged beauty of Glacier, every stop had its own unique style. Japan was a completely different experience altogether, with its mix of tradition and modernity, and it’s safe to say that we left with a new appreciation for Japanese culture.
Over the next few months, I’ll be writing about our experiences in the cities we visited, including some of our favorite restaurants, bars, activities, and more. I’m excited to share and give you ideas for when you’re able to see these areas.
For now, I’ll stick to a few NYC restaurant recommendations that I’ve enjoyed recently while I gather my thoughts on the bigger picture itineraries. Hope you enjoy. It feels good to be back.
The Best Things I Ate Recently
Red Hook Tavern
Red Hook - Brooklyn, NY
This burger is legit! Lives up to the hype and then some. Very unique compared to other NYC burgers and would rank it in my personal Top 5 around the city.
A few menu highlights:
High quality cocktails
Romaine Wedge
The Burger, obviously - if you want to order more stuff off the menu, splitting one for every two people is the move
If you’re coming on a weekend, you NEED to show up at 11:30am to avoid a longer wait time. The line started to explode behind me at 11:40am, so play it safe and show up early. We sat right away when they opened at 12pm. Enjoy!
++++
Golden Diner
Chinatown - New York, NY
Massive shout out to the Honey Butter Pancakes at Golden Diner. The honey butter flavor is so rich and hits on every level, making them a must-order. Someone I know thought they were a little overrated, given the hype around them, but I totally disagree. These should hit the table when you go.
We added sausage to the Breakfast Sandwich and it was good, but left me me wanting a bit more. There was just something flavor-wise missing for me personally (maybe the bagel?), but one thing that I did love was that there was a crispy hash brown tucked into the sando. I am formally petitioning that all breakfast sandwiches now have a hash brown in them.
In terms of when to go - I’d highly recommend coming during the week if you can to skip the crazy wait times. If you can only get there on a weekend, I’d recommend showing up like 9:30-9:45am at the latest because the line was pretty long when we arrived after 10am - and had to wait about an hour. There’s not much to do in that area of Chinatown, so you might as well wait beforehand and get a table right away.
I would go back to try other things on the menu - there were so many things that looked good!
++++
The Noble
Greenpoint - Brooklyn, NY
We accidentally stumbled upon this new restaurant while walking from Williamsburg to Greenpoint and are very happy that we did. It’s tucked away on the corner of a quiet street that has a small outdoor patio area and cute indoor bar space. As their website puts it, their dishes are prepared with seasonal ingredients that reflect the rich heritage of the Aegean sea, from Turkey to Greece.
A few menu highlights:
Arayes - these are a must-order, incredible flavors
Seared Halloumi
Sea Bass Crudo
Roasted Cauliflower
Their wine menu is also outstanding and the pairing recommendations we received were quite good. This a great spot for dinner, but also perfect for a snack with an afternoon glass of wine after work. Check this place out!
Products I Like
Momofuku Goods
I’d be hard-pressed to find any of my friends without a jar of chili crunch in their cabinet or fridge. It’s an absolute staple and goes well on most dishes, like noodles, fried eggs, roasted vegetables, rice bowls, and more.
Now that the holidays are coming around, I personally love gifting - and receiving :) - consumables. They tend to be something that actually gets used and are a practical, thoughtful gift. Plus, they’re a fun way to introduce friends to new flavors or brands they might not have tried before.
A friend of mine recently shipped a batch of Momofuku Goods to my apartment (big thank-you shoutout to them), and I felt compelled to take a few product shots as the light was hitting perfectly over our kitchen table. Click the link below if you’re interested in picking up anything from their pantry store.
The Songs I’ve Had on Repeat
Here’s a small collection of songs I’ve been playing lately and have added to my Recently Added playlist.
Arrow - The Head And The Heart
That’s So True - Gracie Abrams
Final Thoughts
One of the feelings reinforced by my experiences this summer was how much I want to share my knowledge to help others travel better. There are so many cool hidden gems out there that I’ve encountered and want others to explore as well. I’m excited to turn these discoveries into something useful and inspiring for anyone planning their next adventure.
While thinking about how to come back to this newsletter after some time away, I feel like I want to slightly pivot my social media accounts to encompass both recommendations and photography - combining my two passions. There was always a level of photography built into this idea from the start, but I’m really enjoying grabbing my camera and getting out to take more photos that I want to share.
I’ll keep a good amount of my posts focused on this familiar format - some of the best restaurants I’ve visited recently, trip itineraries, creator spotlights, etc. - but I also want to use this platform to showcase parts of my photography portfolio and share how I approached the framing and behind-the-scenes aspects of the shot. Should be fun.
As always, if you have any recommendations or feedback to share, please feel free to reach out.
My email is matt@saveforlaterrecs.com or DM + follow us on Instagram & TikTok
See you next time ✌️
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