Say what you will about this past year, but 2016 has held some amazing (and some crazy) Jessie Eats memories! Enjoy some extra bites and never before seen footage & videos below!

Starry Kitchen Illegal Underground

One of the reasons I love social media is because it brings people together. I can connect with chefs of favorite restaurants & become “friends” with like-minded foodies. So when Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen messaged me with an invite to resurrect the Illegal Underground Starry Kitchen in his home for one night only, I was in! I had a great night eating Starry Kitchen staples of Thi Tran’s menu (including my favorite the chile crab,) bonding with strangers over our shared passion of food, oh yeah and posing for the Starry Kitchen cookbook (the whole purpose of the night).

Daniel

What do you do when your entire NYC trip is cut to one night only? You spend it at Daniel! This is probably my most memorable meal of 2016. Daniel is the type of restaurant you go to celebrate your 30^th wedding anniversary. When the reservationist asked me what I was celebrating, I told her a date night with New York!

Everything is perfect and elegant from the ballet-like flawless service, to the wine pairings, to the stool that seats your purse, to the foie gras flambéd table side, down to the multi course tasting menu that took my breath away at every bite.

But the most memorable moment of the meal is when I had the opportunity to tour the kitchen. Words cannot describe how special that once in a lifetime moment was for me. Below is the never before seen footage of my night at Daniel.

Tinder Sushi Date at Sushi Zo

Yes… “Memorable”… but for all the wrong reasons. Lesson learned, stop swiping right for chefs on Tinder!

Enough said, click here to read the full details if you missed it.

The Cronut

I knew I was going to NYC for only a couple of days, and could not wait to try the famous talked about Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery. I imagined the drama and the excitement, the lines, the anticipation of waiting. What I didn’t realize is that there would be no line, and it would be a seamless easy transaction, (not so great for an episode of Jessie Eats.) Then a magical New York Moment took place: just me, the city, and an incredible dessert that all put together brought me to tears. To watch the full Cronut video click HERE.

Stinky Tofu

As a foodie it is important to have an open mind and to try everything! Even if it means tasting something that your gut knows you won’t like, but still do it for the sake of the episode! I think it’s safe to say that I can check Stinky Tofu off of the list. To watch the full 626 Night Market video click HERE

Howlin’ Ray’s

I have never reacted so hard in a Jessie Eats episode as I did with the spicy chicken at Howlin’ Ray’s! My friend Scott knew I would fail eating the mildest of flavors, and his prediction came true. Yet, I cannot wait to go back because that burn tastes so good! See the unedited final moments of the spicy chicken aftermath below. For the full Howlin’ Ray’s video click HERE

Making It Up As I Go Along

What many of you may not know is that I am a one-man band. I am the creator, star, producer, director, editor, publicist, and cameraman on every shoot. That being said there is a LOT to learn and make up as I go. But that is a part of the fun. I’ve learned a lot from mistakes, and have used them to my benefit. I mean how do you think the lyric “so good, so good, so good” came about?! At the end of the day, doing this makes me so happy! Plus any excuse to eat and be surrounded by food is always a yes for me!

Support From Friends, Family, & Fans

Having said above that I am a one-man band, I will now contradict myself. I could not do what I do, or enjoy eating and exploring new restaurants without the support of others. Bottom line: food brings people together, and that is shown with every step of my journey. Thank you for holding my camera, paying for my food travels, giving me advice & tips, and continuing to watch and support Jessie Eats! More videos to come in 2017!