Our Favorite Food Editor Dishes On Her Favorite NYC Dishes

She may be a professional food writer, published author, and accomplished blogger, but don't expect Alyssa Shelasky to be lecturing you about the salmon crudo any time soon. As one of the few food critics with a head much like ours on her shoulders — perennially blown-out, looking forward to dinner, and over-thinking last week's episode of Breaking Bad — she's the type of girl you kinda dream of being best friends with... who also happens to have stumbled upon a career that affords her some of the world's most wonderful eats. (Seriously, we're looking for a new BFF, Shelasky!)

The Grub Street editor and accidental foodie had a very public relationship with a very public Top Chef winner (we'll let you Google-connect the dots), all of which was recounted in her blog-turned-book, Apron Anxiety , a memoir of her journey into the kitchen and her whirlwind romancer. She's the type you'd totally want to dish over a plate of pecorino-topped pasta with, which is why her favorite New York spots are a mix of pop-'em-in-your-mouth snacks and pastrami sammiches, as well as an Italian dinner at a spot Tory Burch recently touted. Milkshakes, mangos, and over-the-top Mother's Day dinners? This DUMBO resident's got it all.