A taste of New York begins at Fil-Am chef Suzanne Cupps’ Lola’s

Navarin D’Agneau, lamb stew; Crispy Chicken Thighs at Lola’s (Photo: Philip Cu Unjieng/Manila Bulletin)

Lola’s: This is the bastion of chef Suzanne Cupps, who, with partner Nick Salinger, has made Lola’s cited for two years in a row in The New York Times 100 Best Restaurants in NYC. And the reason I lead this feature with chef Suzanne is because she’s proudly half-Filipina. Her dad is Cesar Paraiso, and the Lola her restaurant is named after is Cesar’s mother. Her distinctly Filipino wedding photo is found by the restaurant’s bar.

‘Schmigadoon’: Taking home four Tony Awards in total this 2026, this is the Best Musical of the year, and you’ll immediately see why it won these awards. The acting, the singing, the dancing are all impeccable; the humor and laughter are non-stop, and the second act is just as strong as the first! In previous visits to New York, that was my personal gripe: how shows like “Hamilton” and even “The Book of Mormon” would start so strong, but flag in the second act, and I’d be wishing they’d come to the end of the book. If you have a single funny bone in your body, trust me and watch this crazy, heartfelt parody and tribute to Broadway musicals of the past.

‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’: I was probably the only member of the audience who had never watched an episode of this limited series. But with Issa as spirit guide, I quickly got into this and appreciated how the stage design and special effects were so special, creating chilling suspense and drama as needed. It was a perfectly staged version of the TV show, and acted as a prequel that drew much appreciation from the audience. I understand one of the shows will be filmed to act as a Netflix special. Me, I was just transfixed and enjoyed it, so can imagine how that would be heightened if you or your children are fans.

I was told the lines got even more dense after the JFK Jr. and Carolyn series aired last year, as this was their staple neighborhood hangout, since they lived just up the block. As it’s in Tribeca, where major local film offices are found, expect that crowd to regularly show up.

‘Los Tacos No. 1 at Chelsea Market’: A trip to Chelsea Market, W. 15th Street and Ninth Avenue, will always be a good idea when looking for affordable quality eats. It’s like what you’ll find in the Mercato in Florence, and what our own Mercato aspires to be. And when at Chelsea Market, expect the longest line to be at Los Tacos No. 1. My tip? The Chicken Quesadillas and the Taco Adobada, and choose the corn tortillas.

For dessert and baked treats

Dominique Ansel Bakery: Issa had gotten wind of a Pierre Hermé-Dominique Ansel collaboration, so we were there, waiting in line, before the shop even opened on a Thursday morning. Hermé is known worldwide for his intense, exotically flavored macarons, and Issa has been an ardent fan for a decade now. Ansel is credited with coming up with the first Cronut. So this was “dessert heaven pairing” as far as pastry fans were concerned. On Spring Street, in Soho.