Due West: My Manhattan

The acclaimed Maenam chef gives us some picks for South Manhattan.

Angus An’s groundbreaking Maenam restaurant pretty much set the standard for modern Thai cuisine when it opened in 2009, and the stream of Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards it has won since shows that An hasn’t lost a step. If anything, he’s gained one: he recently opened a new casual spot, Longtail Kitchen, in New Westminster, B.C., and, just to ensure he has zero downtime, he’s also the executive chef at New York’s Kittichai in the achingly hip Thompson Hotel—a role which sees him spending a week each month in the Big Apple. Here’s where he goes in NY to break from his hectic schedule.THE CHELSEA MARKET in the Meatpacking district is the coolest market in town and has great food.EATALY almost defies description it’s so great. It’s an awesome Italian market, with seven restaurants inside. It’s the perfect place to pick up a picnic. MADISON SQUARE PARK is in the heart of the Flatiron district. Even with the city bustling around you it’s still a nice, quiet place to hang out for a picnic.LUPA was an early Mario Batali restaurant and it’s still terrific. It has the best braised tripe garganelli in the winter.THE HIGH LINE is a great place to stroll and eat the food that you picked up at the Chelsea Market.JOE’S SHANGHAI is a Chinatown classic for its amazing soup dumplings, but don’t go here unless you’re down with sitting (and eating) with strangers, as this joint is perpetually busy.