It had been way too long since I last saw Ehsan, so I sent him a quick message on WhatsApp to see how he was doing. He replied that he was on his way to meet some friends at PlantShed and asked if Steve and I wanted to swing by. Of course we did, so we headed over to East Village.
PlantShed started out as a flower shop back in the 1950s. The café side of the business is a relatively new addition, but it works brilliantly, and today, there are several PlantShed locations across the city that combine plants and coffee in the best possible way. The space is filled with lush greenery and fresh flowers, so stepping inside feels like walking into a greenhouse right in the middle of all the noise and chaos of the city. A quiet little jungle in Manhattan.
I think their matcha is better than their coffee, and this summer they have seasonal drink called Dragonfly that I really like. It’s made with ceremonial grade matcha, raspberry purée and milk, and it’s honestly so good, so that’s what I had, along with an almond croissant. The croissant was fine, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more almond paste filling.
One of Ehsan’s friends, Dana Nehdaran, is a well known artist, especially for his portraits. His work has been exhibited in the US and internationally. At some point, he looked up and asked if he could do a quick sketch of me. Of course I said yes. There’s something fascinating about seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes, especially when that someone is an artist like Dana.
It turned into a really cozy couple of hours, surrounded by plants, good matcha, and interesting company. If you’re in New York and need a break, or just want to drink matcha surrounded by greenery, stop by PlantShed. They have several cafés around the city.
PlantShed East Village, 193 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, United States
