TravelNoise: Eden Local, New York City
When you think sustainable, nutritional and wholesome, do you imagine food that tastes more like cardboard than anything else? I have to admit that my mind first goes to a rice cake with a wafer-thin layer of peanut butter. But guess what? I was wrong to think that. EDEN Local came in hot with sustainable, nutritional and wholesome food that tasted naughty as a fresh donut on a Sunday morning. Basically, they showed me what was up, and now I not only know what’s up — I know where to take my out-of-town friends for brunch.
Inconspicuously perched in Midtown West, you might just miss it if you’re too busy peering up at the tall, shiny skyscrapers surrounding you. My guest and I were on the hunt that Saturday for brunch, so we kept a keen eye open and found it in no time. Upon entering, we were greeted by a sun-drenched space with light-washed wooden tables, sleek black chairs, lots of plants and even a wall of big jarred vegetables. In other words, it was earthy as hell, and we were into it.
As we took our seats, we were immediately taken care of by our host, who handed us the tempting brunch menu as well as an impressive cocktail menu featuring a variety of Bloody Marys. The first mission? Picking which Bloody Mary to try. I decided on the Garden of Eden Bloody Mary ($17), made with organic Meyer lemon vodka, lemon pepper and celery seed rim, garnished with celery, pickled carrot, lemon wedge and a skewer of cauliflower, carrot, lettuce, fennel and radish. Yep, that was a mouthful. My guest opted for the Garden Sangria ($15) to try something different. My Bloody Mary was truly perfect, just spicy enough and addictive, not to mention that it was by far the most gorgeous brunch cocktail I’d ever seen. The sangria, made with red wine, Brugal rum, lime, organic strawberry and organic soda, was a crisp, floral and fresh counterpart.
The food menu had a balanced range of dishes, from savory to sweet and with broad flavor profiles. We actually couldn’t choose our own mains, so we decided to share everything and try a dish from each flavor spectrum. We started with the brioche French toast ($13), with Nueskes bacon, Crown maple syrup and whipped strawberry butter, and the sourdough matcha hot cakes ($13), topped with berries, farmstead butter and Roxbury Mountain maple syrup. The French toast was pillowy soft, caramelized around the edges and altogether melt-in-your-mouth while the hot cakes were balanced, fluffy and bursting with flavor.
Next, we were craving some savory, so our host suggested the shakshuka ($19), which was made with farm eggs, stewed tomatoes, kale, black olives, house-made yogurt and sourdough, and the avocado toast ($13), which includes grilled seeded rye, Paffenroth Garden radishes, pickled onions, togarashi, sunflower sprouts and an egg. The shakshuka was rich, hearty and filling and elevated by the yogurt and crusty sourdough while the avocado toast was dense and perfectly seasoned.
Look, there’s an organic restaurant around every corner in New York City, but none compare to what EDEN Local’s throwing down. You won’t think you’re eating wholesome food when you dig into their fare, but your body will thank you for it anyway.
Address: 508 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
Telephone Number: (646) 527-7978
Website: cachetboutiquenyc.com/eden
Sami Allen
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