After resting our weary legs, the promise of another good meal and fun lured us out of our comfy bed!
We made reservations at the highly-praised Candle 79 for a pre-show meal before heading off to Radio City Hall.
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Opened in 2003, Candle 79 is the upscale, elegant sister restaurant of the famous Candle Cafe. The restaurant features gourmet vegan, local, seasonal, and organic cuisine with an organic wine and sake bar. It has been rated twice as Zagat’s #1 vegetarian restaurant!
The atmosphere is elegant and cozy featuring two intimate floors for dining. I started with a glass of organic Cabernet Sauvignon from The Heller Estate in California- a bit fruity (blackberry and dark plum), vanilla oaky, and peppery according to the description. Eric tried the Chardonnay from Sherwood House Vineyard in New York, described as, “bursts of starfruit softened by ripe gala apple with undertones of fresh bread”. Delish.
Compliments of the chef, a beet salad while we waited for our appetizer.
For our appetizer, we shared the seasonal grilled artichoke, onion rings, white beans, and grilled vegetables in a red pepper sauce. This was outstanding and the flavours were spot on.
It was Eric’s first time trying grilled artichokes and he really liked them…score! He tried to tell me it was his first time ever eating them period, but I had to remind him of the Vegan Artichoke Dip I made last year (that he devoured!). HIs reply, “Those were artichokes?” lol
For my main course, I ordered the Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Cake with seasonal vegetables, red coconut curry, date-apricot-ginger chutney, and toasted almonds.
Oh my, this my friends, was absolute perfection! I was blown away by the combination of flavours. I had my doubts, but it really went together really well. Each bite had a bit of the lightly sweet and spicy date-apricot-ginger chutney, crispy fried chickpea cake, grilled vegetables and coconut curry sauce. A party in my mouth for sure. I would definitely like to try to re-create this at home sometime. Adding it to my list (I actually made a list).
Eric ordered the Spaghetti and Wheat Balls made with truffled tomato sauce, roasted garlic, spinach and cashew parmesan. He loved it and shared a bite with me. It was amazing. I would love to make cashew parmesan as I’ve only made sesame seed and nutritional yeast parmesan.
And for the grand finale, we shared the mouth-watering Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Sauce and Mole Ice Cream. This picture makes me drool thinking about it!
I think the chocolate cake was covered in a coconut oil-based chocolate and vanilla glaze. It was just so silky, while not being too rich. We finished it with chocolate in the corner of our mouths like any respectable couple.
After lingering over another glass of wine, we hit up the subway to head to our show!
The subway system has been really easy to navigate, but maybe that’s because we’ve had lots of practice in Toronto. The most difficult part is knowing where we’re going, which was made easier by the NYC Subway App on Eric’s phone! Otherwise, I’m sure we’d still be lost…
We bought tickets for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas show.
We were pumped to get in the Christmas spirit!
It was beautiful and sparkly inside. :)
The show was really cute and The Rockettes were flawless!
Thanks to the wine I had with dinner (and early morning travel and walking all day), I started to get really sleepy by the end of the performance! I could barely keep my eyes open like the 80 year old grannie that I am. The show ended at 11pm, but it felt like it was about 3am. I kept joking to Eric that it was the time change (there was no time change). What can I say, I can party like the best of ‘em!
ZzzzzZZzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzz…………..dreaming of superplums, molten chocolate cake, and Nutcrackers.
The dinner looks SO good!!
Woo hoo- this makes me so excited to go to NYC next weekend!
We’re staying in Times Square, and I hope to get everywhere I need to go by own two feet (I’m not going to even attempt to figure out the subway system!)
Have fun!
Wow! Looks like an awesome evening! I love the Rockettes…my favorite part is always their costumes. :)
We ate at Candle 79 a few years ago, and I still remember it– our meal was awesome! What a fun night for you guys!
Mmmmm looks like I’ll be adding Candle 79 to our list of must-visits next time we go to NYC!
I LOVE all your pictures they’re making me want to go to every one of those restaurants! I am also in NYC so Ill have to go try all of them!
Oh my god!!!! I am so glad I read your post. I did part of my growing up in the burbs in New Jersey (before we moved to Colorado), and every year my mom would drive me and my sisters into the city to go see that show! We would have to stand in line forever outside in the cold. I still remember the smell of roasting chestnuts that the street vendors sold. My sisters and I would go into the NBC building across the street to warm up. And the show, especially the Rockettes were so magical at that time of the year! Especially when you’re a 10 year old girl (I wanted to grow up to be a Rockette, but alas I’m the clumsiest person I know). I just loved it, and I miss it, and it brings up so many wonderful feelings of Christmas for me. I’m so glad you got to experience it and blog about it – thanks for the memories! Ha! I also remember going to Macy’s and seeing their Christmas displays in the windows – all the moving dolls and everything! This was all back in the 70’s, but I’m sure it’s still the same!
Aww what a great memory! I can imagine that it would be such a magical show for the kids…they all seemed so excited.
Oh, and I just caught the picture of the Rockettes dressed up like toy soldiers and being shot by the toy canon. That is definitely left over from when I saw them in the 70’s.
that was my fav part!
It definitely was magical. And not just the show, the whole atmosphere of NYC during this time of the year. I hope you had fun!
Oops, I replied to the wrong comment – ha!
Looks like an amazing trip!! You look great and I love your white coat. Have fun!!
you were at my subway stop! I absolutely love Candle 79 – i’m just 2 blocks away! glad you enjoyed it as much as i do!
You have to get Candle 79 new cook book. I just got it and made the Seitan Piccata w/
potato cakes w/ creamed spinach. It was the best thing I ever made. The book has both
entrees you and Eric orderd.
Such a beautiful recap of NY! This post is filled with such Christmas-y things, it’s making me downright excited. I love December. :D
Looks like you had a GREAT time! I loooooooooooooove the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Though, I’m really sad to say that I live in NYC and STILL haven’t been to Candle 79!!! UGH. I need to fix that, pronto.
It has always been a dream to see the Rockettes Christmas show! I was always fascinated by them in the Macy’s parade. The pic outside Radio City Music Hall is breathtaking. So jealous but happy for you!
I’m getting so jealous. It makes me want to go right away (but I think I’ll wait until the snow is done!!) and try those restuarants. Did you guys buy the Rockette tickets before or the day of? How much were they? It would be a lot of fun to see them or something else!
I’m still staying tuned for details on that celebrity sighting you mentioned yesterday, lol.
So jealous!! That is one of my favorite show ever!!!! ugh I bet you and Eric had such a great time!!
Darling, I LOVE your white coat! So gorgeous on you with your blonde hair. Glad you had a good time at the show, even if you were falling asleep hehe! Oh candle 79 looks Ah-mazing, really want some of that chocolate molten cake hehe. Love and a kiss from England.xo http://hannahalehandra.blogspot.com/
Yay! Candle 79 has been my consistently great NYC dining experience. Glad you got to get the experience. It was the restaurant that convinced my boyfriend that vegan dining can blow your mind! I’ve still never seen the Rockettes, but it looks awesome and is such a classic experience. Excited to hear more about your trip!
haha! As soon as I saw the chickpea cake I was like, “Angela HAS to remake that!” Everything looks so amazing…0_0
I know i’m like, the last person on the planet to fall in love with your blog! But here we are. i’m really enjoying your vegan adventures through my city. (And weirdly, I just went to the Rockettes.) I love Blossom, love Candle 79, and your blog i only making me want to be more vegan. I refer to myself as an “aspiring vegan.”
Oh I have to try out that restaurant next time I’m in NYC! I love chickpea cakes, they are divine and that dessert…oh my. I love Eric’s response: “There were artichokes in that?” Brilliant!
Oh my gosh, what a lovely evening!! And everything you had for dinner looks absolutely mouth watering. :-)
I can not think of a more DREAM day. The food and the show wow~ Never heard of Candle 79 but I will for sure be going next time. Imagine if every restaurant had it figured out like that!
Happy December, what a great way for you to start at the Radio City Music Hall, looked like a blissful ball!
Candle 79 is my absolute favorite restaurant! We always arrange to meet non-vegans there for lunch or dinner to show them how great the food is! Works every time! Glad you are enjoying our city!
That food looks divine! What a great evening – I would have been full on ASLEEP by 11pm. ;)
xo
cortnie
Oh my all of that food looks beautiful and sooo delicious!
I love your white jacket.. very nice!
I’ve seen Candle 79 buzz on so many blogs lately, I’m just itching to get to NYC to try it out. Everything looks superb! My boyfriend definitely would have ordered the same thing as Eric. Not only is he a pasta fiend, but he’s an omnivore and has a habit of ordering the most familiar-sounding dish on the menu…and then getting jealous when he tastes mine! I hope you got a great night’s sleep after the show!
I’m a bit jealous of your trip and I go to NYC several times a year!!!! Good choices with EVERYTHING!
This evening looks absolutely perfect! I have lived in NYC for over a year now and have yet to make it to one of the Candle restaurants. Appalling! Soon. :) I also have to see the Christmas Spectacular show before I move. So glad you are having such a great vacation! This is a great time of the year to be here.
It looks like youre having a wonderful time..and the food all looks so tasty mm!
I am loving your New York posts!! I will be there for the Holidays and since I am SO vegan restaurant dining deprived here in Paris, I can’t wait to check out all of these spots. I will do the Ohsheglows officially NYC tour, following in your footsteps! Merci beaucoup!
Lovely pictures, I see you had great time! +)
Love your white coat!!! Where did you get it?
NYC is so awesome!
Sounds like a great trip! I hope to make the trip myself in the spring. Now…I NEED to know Angela,…where did you get that gorgeous white coat from???
Hi Angela!
I am Kyle and I am the beverage director of Candle 79. A friend of mine follows your blog and sent it to me last night. Thanks for the great post on our restaurant. We appreciate the love :)
I forwarded it to the owners, and I will also send it to the owners of Heller Estate and Sherwood House vineyards. They will like to see it as well.
Just a heads up, we do now have a full bar complete with organic spirits and fresh seasonal cocktails. We still have a sake-based cocktail on the menu, but as of October of last year, we have a full sustainable bar. We even have cocktails that help plant trees in Brazil! Check out the list… http://candle79.com/images/uploads/candle-79-cocktails.pdf
Join us again for more delicious food and perhaps an Eco-Cocktail.
Cheers!
Kyle
I wish I could make a trip this month, I love NYC in December! Hopefully next year!
It’s funny how people find different cities easier to navigate. I haven’t used the subway system in that many cities, but I find the ones in Washington DC and the London tube very easy to navigate, and I get so lost in NY.
What great pictures! My sister is a waitress at Candle 79 where you went- ha funny! I just got back from NYC myself. It’s the perfect time to visit!
What a great trip! Thanks for sharing. Is it tough sticking to a vegan diet while traveling? Do you find it tempting to experience non-vegan foods? I know my husband would go nuts if we went to vegan/veg restaurants nearly every meal especially in NYC. Does Eric really not mind?
Glad you had a safe and fun trip!
Hey Katie, Eric is actually a big fan of vegan cuisine….he always says how vegan food is just as good as non-vegan food so he doesnt mind it. We also went to quite a few non-vegan restaurants during our trip as well.