Hand shape a yeasted wheat dough in a small ring, boil it for a short time, then bake it until it results in a soft chewy inside, browned and sometimes crispy outside. What you have is the New York kosher bagel. I was brought to a place called Yorgo's on Colonial Blvd. and 21st to taste test their bagel to see if it compared to NYC bagels. This is the first bagel that I have had outside of New York City, let alone New York State that replicated a true bagel. Too bad they didn't sell a bialy: a chewy yeast roll similar to a bagel, but unlike a bagel, which is boiled before baking, a bialy is simply baked, and instead of a hole in the middle it has a depression, which before baking is filled with diced onions. I ordered a honey wheat bagel with a smoked salmon and cream cheese spread on one half and an olive and cream cheese spread on the other.
Staying in the world of food it was just down the block on W.22nd that Rowena's sat. Creators and producers of gourmet food, Rowena Fullinwider's emphasis is on jams, jellies, curds, bundt cakes and scones. Rowena met Esther and Eunice and fell in love with them immediately. That's because she has some special bunnies.
You can taste just about any of the products on crackers or even on a sample of the bundt cake. Favorite of everyone is the carrot jam. I do understand. The bundt cakes that I sampled were: chocolate, lemon, orange and almond. Will be testing out the lemon curd and a few others to combine for cooking.
A loved the Tea Room on the premises. You can have a group of adults or even kids partake in a great menu that features tea sandwiches, scones and her regular goodies. Then there were the books that she has written. Cute children type books with recipes. www.rowenas.com
Time to walk off the food at the Virgina Zoological Park. There are sprouting fountains coming from the ground past the entranceway. Kids love to bring their bathing suits and take advantage on those hot days.
The Virginia Zoo is home to 350 animals, on 53 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. I entered the African area to see: elephants, red pandas, lions, giraffes, mandrills, bongos, kangaroos and a whole lot more. There is a no-smoking policy at the zoo. Great for me and the animals as well.
Although Norfolk does have a separate botanical garden, the landscape encompasses the feel of being in one. The zoo is in a process of building an Asian area. www.virginiazoo.org
Last stop was the Chrysler Museum of Art on West Olney Street and just a few blocks from the Residence Inn. The museum is large but not as vast as one like the Met or MOMA. There are two floors and lots of galleries to explore. The museum describes themselves as, "Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art." And it's free, too. www.chrysler.org
Information on Norfolk can be found on www.visitnorfolktoday.com
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