I have a problem, guys…I’ve been having way too much fun. No, seriously. College is only about 3 weeks away and it’s time to settle myself down and get myself mentally and physically ready for college life. But those three consecutive trips I’ve made from the west coast to the south to the east coast? The best freaking time I’ve had ever since I can remember.

And you know, I can’t think of a better time to end my travels with a big blogger meet-up in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Originally we had about 7 bloggers planned, but things came up and 3 of them ended up not being able to make it . So it was just the 4 of us: Me, Joanne from Eats Well With Others, Mari from Namaste, and Jen from Pieces of Me. And guess what? We were rowdy enough for a group of 7!

Our plans were foiled though…again. Yeah, I’m starting to see no point in planning because they never work out! After much obsessive careful researching on menus around the city from Menupages.com, we decided on a cheap, but well-rated deli called Green Pea.

But what do you know it? It was a dirty, run-down place which seemed to serve more as a mini-grocery store.
What’s more, it was dim! A hell of a place for a food blogger!

So we trotted down the street in search of a more blogger-friendly place and found W Cafe, just a stone’s throw away on 5th Ave.
Look at the bright pretty lights! Makes a blogger happy happy happy And check out Mari’s beautiful face in the corner!

The food there looked great, too, and I had to take a while to decide on what I wanted. I have to say the service was pretty callous and rough, though. “What do you want?” The server demanded, and started grabbing different sandwiches with his grubby hands. “This? This? That?” Um, not anymore, thank you.

Joanne zoomed in on the most interesting sandwich, the  Mile High Fresh Roasted Turkey:
 Piled high on a Whole Grain French Roll with Ripe Avocado, Caramelized Onions, Roasted Peppers, Sliced Plum Tomatoes, Leaf Lettuce and Cranberry Chutney.

Mari settled on the Chicken Fajita Panini:
 Tender Strips of Grilled Chicken, Roasted Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Salsa and Cheddar Cheese

Jen chose the Italian Club Panini:
 Ham, Smoked Turkey, Genoa Salami, Imported Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Garlic Onion Aioli

I was sort of craving seafood and tangy cheese, so I chose the “Gourmet Suggestion” of the day:
 Imported smoked Norwegian Salmon with Chive Cream Cheese, sliced cucumbers and red onion on Russian Black Bread
This tiny thing for $8.96! But I guess that’s what I get for choosing “gourmet”.
I forgave the atrocious price because it was so generous on the cheese and the salmon. Yum yum!

Okay, truthfully, I don’t remember much of the taste because I was too busy enjoying the company of my new friends. We just seemed to “click” the moment we met!

Mari is this really rambunctious person with a larger-than-life personality. There is not a moment’s dullness with her…especially since she jumps from one subject to another. She can be talking about movies, then growl, “Ooh, nice arms” to a man passing by, then skip straight to how much she likes the lights. Hahaha, gotta love a gal like that!

Jen is 37. Sorry for announcing this out loud, Jen, but holy cow I thought she was joking when she revealed her age, because she looks more like 25! What is your damn secret, Jen? Lol. She and Mari makes a great pair; they are both so entertaining and hilarious and outgoing. Not to worry, guys, I wasn’t scared off— just marveling at how awesome you guys are!

Joanne is, well, she’s amazing. She is this freaking intelligent and sweet girl, who just graduated from MIT and will be going to Cornell for grad school. I got to have a more personal talk with her on my way to the bus station, and was so impressed by her courage and grace in handling her own personal battles. Joanne, you’re my hero!

After we ate Mari wanted to try out red velvet cake, so she ordered this to share:
h="348" border="0" /> A “red velvet” cupcake. Correction: Dense pound cake dyed with intense red food coloring topped with saccharine frosting made deceivingly cute and pretty.

And seriously. We should have been paid to sit there in W Cafe, because we were just that darn cool. When we entered there were not a single soul, but then people started pouring in after. Why? Because there’s an attractive appeal to anyplace where we bloggers are. What? Is it not the truth? We food bloggers rock!

The staff in W Cafe didn’t seem to think so, though. While we were demoted to self-service, other people were ushered to their seats and waited.  With cups and drinks and straws and everything! But because we’re cool bloggers, we won’t be bothered by such things.

Yes, W Cafe, we are that much of a great people. We forgive and forget. After we blog. Oh, snap!

By the way, that teensy weensy sandwich didn’t fill me up, so I got another foot-long Subway sandwich with chips and diet coke to indulge on in the bus ride back home. I think I’m becoming a walking advertisement for Subway. Jared, watch out!

Oh, and side note: When I’m craving for froyo and can’t find one next to me, the next best thing is McDonald’s soft-serve:
Too sweet for my taste, but a girl’s gotta satisfy her craving somehow. (My mom’s eyes bulged out when I made her stop by the Drive-through to get this. She apparently still believes ice-cream/fast food is a fear food for me)

Question of the day: Ever felt like crap from bad service? Feel free to rant.

Related posts:

1. New Year’s Self-Reflection: The Final Of The Beginning
2. Foodbuzz Festival 2010: It Is Done
3. Just a Shadow
4. 10 Things I Learned This Summer
5. Foodbuzz Festival 2011: A Night of Ohmigods

Tagged as: cake, cheese, cucumbers, ice-cream, salmon, sandwich