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.
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Compliments of the chef, a beet salad while we waited for our appetizer.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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…
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We bought tickets for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas show.
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We were pumped to get in the Christmas spirit!
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It was beautiful and sparkly inside. :)
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The show was really cute and The Rockettes were flawless!
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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.
Wow! The pictures from the show are beautiful! And I’ve heard a lot about Candle 79, but this was my first view of the food. That cake, both your appies & entrees…I want to go to New York, right meow! :D
Sounds like such an amazing trip! I want to try it all!!!
I was wondering if you guys would hit Candle! That’s on my list of places to try when I go (yes, I do have a list).
Can’t wait to see your re-creation. :)
Looks fantastic! Great pictures :)
I just received the Candle 79 cookbook today and in it is the recipe for the Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Cakes. Perhaps you can add that cookbook to your Christmas wish list? Then again, you may just want to create your own recipe but having the original recipe would be a good starting point, no?
Oh that’s awesome! I meant to buy the cookbook but forgot. I will have to see if I can get it one of these days… :) Going on my xmas list!
Just paged through the cookbook again and the artichoke appetizer you had as well as the spaghetti with wheat balls are also in there. When you get home, be sure to pull up the cookbook on amazon.com as a “hint” for Santa Eric. :-). These 3 recipes are in the brand new Candle 79 cookbook (as opposed to the Candle Cafe cookbook that was released a few years ago).
What a fun time! The food looks absolutely amazing.
ahh I have dreams of seeing the Rockettes perform, I bet it was fabulous! I’m actually a synchronized skater and I always describe the sport like rockettes on ice because everyone knows the rockettes!
thanks for sharing the pictures of your trip and your Candle experience.
“It was Eric’s first time trying grilled artichokes and he really liked them” – and then his reply, THOSE were artichokes…in the dip. That is something my hubs would say. 100%
And the date-ginger-apricot chutney…right there, that’s worth the trip for me!
That chocolate dessert…I have heard from other bloggers who have eaten there that THAT is THE dessert to order and that it’s amazing!
Happy you guys are having a fabulous time :)
Lucky to see that show!
And the way how those dishes were presented? So creative!!!
The food looks delicious. A necessary stop on my next(first) trip to New York City! Thank you for sharing!
Hey Angela I’ve heard a lot about Candle 79 in NY it looks amazing! I read your blog everyday and am always so inspired by your recipes! Can’t wait to see whats next!
Hope you’re having fun in NY!
Andrea S
Thank you Andrea :)
What I would give to lick the dessert plate clean….
I am so glad the world has way more amazing vegan food than it did just a bit ago… and I think you played a big part in that. You are a powerful force for vegan good!
Ill be in NYC in 1 month! So excited! I will definitely be hitting Blossom and candle 79. :) btw, that ice cream on the molten cake, was it coconut based?
Hey Cassidy, have fun on your trip! I think it was coconut based, although I’m not positive.
What a BEAUTIFUL show! I’ve always wanted to see the Rockettes (and go to NYC). Very cool!
And dinner looks divine! The beet salad and the chocolate… mmmm!
what a fantastic adventure! thanks for sharing!
FUNN!!! I just saw these rockettes on tv!! I watched the Rockerfeller Center lighting on tv ;) Thats as close to NYC as I’ve gotten today!
You’re having a blast!! In-Joy!
xxoo
you were right in my hood- that’s the subway stop I get off at for work!
candle 79 is seriously YUM. Not sure how much longer you’re in town, but Gobo on 842nd (I think 82nd) and 3rd is less fancy thatn Candle 79 but has amazinggg vegan food.
Thanks for the suggestion! WIll have to hit it up next time for sure.
Very cool. Just had to share that my cousin is in the Rockefeller xmas show. She’s a little person and plays an elf. She’s been doing it for 10 yrs now. It’s a beautiful show!
ah that’s so cute! The kids were amazing in the show :)
she didn’t say her cousin is a kid!
wow, everything looks amazing! Especially your main and dessert yum!