*Bicoastal* Plugs — Arden Shore
New York & L.A. food, drink, and leisure recs from The Infatuation's Editor-in-Chief + LINKS
A quick note before we get into Plugs. I’m getting married next Saturday, so there will be no Plugs on 5/9, and there won't be a newsletter the following week. There will, however, be a newsletter on Tuesday (my latest On Repeat dispatch). And here’s a fun announcement: L.A. Plugs are coming back, spearheaded by Jamie Feldmar, later this month. The Angel is a bicoastal publication, don’t you forget! And, in fact, today’s edition of Plugs reflects just that.
Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. On most Saturdays, you’ll get six picks—a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat—from someone in New York who knows what they’re talking about, plus a selection of Angel-curated links. Plugs are for paid subscribers of The Angel only; upgrade your subscription to receive all six!
#11 is Arden Shore, the EIC of The Infatuation and one of the most well-dined, well-opined bicoastal eaters I know. Arden is from Los Angeles and has lived between here and there throughout her adult life, regularly ping-ponging between the two cities. She's officially based in New York, where her job is running food media's most SEO-successful business—and having lots and lots of takes on restaurants and cuisines. I first met Arden over breakfast at Sqirl while I was in the middle of reporting Salad Forever, and she proved to be an essential source (putting me onto Fresh Corn Grill). When I was in search of actually good Westside restaurants a few months ago, she sent me upwards of a dozen recs, including specific vibes and notable dishes, which is much more than most people residing on the Westside (even those who care about food) can do. As for her taste in and knowledge of New York restaurants? Excellent, too. It’s only fitting that she kick off the first-ever bicoastal edition of Plugs. Here's Arden.
Restaurant — CheLi (New York)
When I think about my favorite restaurants in NYC, my mind always wanders back to the hookah-hazy stretch of St. Marks between 2nd and 3rd, up a set of stairs, and left into CheLi. When people care about food but don’t want anything too fussy or trendy, this is my rec. It’s Shanghainese, with each table protected by its own thatched roof, like a forcefield protecting you from the vape stores and pajama-bottomed NYU kids outside. You’ll eat a tingly and sour fish soup alongside a chicken ceremoniously wrapped in lotus leaves that steams like a fog machine. A water feature gurgles in the background. Butterflied prawns lay in vulnerable repose on top of the garlickiest glass noodles ever. It’s bonkers good, the whole experience. A reason to love New York. And somehow, you can always get a last-minute res or not wait too long for a table.
