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.
That food looks and sounds incredible. I wish we had more vegan restaurants here in Ireland…options are decidedly limited! I clearly need another trip back to NY! :)
Oooh I went to the Candle Cafe last time we where in New York and it was lovely, Luke wasn’t a fan (I had to drag him there!) but I really want to try Candle 79! Next time though! :)
Hi Angela! have you noticed how any and every cafe in NYC seems to want to “one-up” other cafe’s on the streets when it comes to creativity and decor!!!?? It’s crazy how tourists have SO MUCH diversity from which to chose in NYC when, at the same time, the grocery shoppes, cafe’s and even stores and sites can get to feel a little “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” I have read your blog since May 2011 and actually SCHEDULE time to try and read from the beginning of your posts back in 2008 and this is my FIRST comment so i’ll try to chat more!
Oh how beautiful! I just love the pictures. SO holiday spirit. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve seen that restaurant on blogs before and it always makes me want to hop on the next plane to NYC to go eat there! I love the idea of an upscale vegan restaurant, since we definitely don’t have anything like that in Burlington. Do you know if there’s a similar restaurant in Toronto?
I havn’t seen anything fancy in Toronto for veg restaurants….it’s a shame! I def think there is a market for one.
What a lovely Christmas-y trip. I’m living vicariously through you.
I love the Rockettes too…when I first saw them I was a bit overwhelmed by all the marketing, but the performance was just astounding!
What a great evening! Eating at Candle 79 is on my bucket list. The food looks amazing, and I love all of the unique flavor combinations. I’m thinking of planning a trip to NYC centered around eating there…:)
P.S. Love your white coat! It’s so pretty and perfect for this time of year.
Thanks Amanda!
Amazing photos…thanks for sharing-what a wonderful time of year to visit NYC!! :)
I’m so glad you liked New York [but really, how could you not?]! It really is a magical place- especially during the holidays. I’m officially making it my mission to scope out some vegan restauarants for my next visit.
Can you please figure out how to make that chickpea cake? It looks so good!
I will sure try :) I hear they have a cookbook too…I might have to ask Santa for it!
what did you think of the 3D spectacular? was it cheesy? fab?
It was a bit cheesy, but still fun to see. The kiddies loved it. The 3D part didnt last long at all…I think two shorts bursts throughout the show.
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.