Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers

I was excited to recently arrive in New York City for a 5-week stay on the Upper West Side. Being a genuine foodie, I dreamed of shopping in local markets and cooking in my kitchen apartment- hoping to discover the essence of real New York City food.

To get a feel for the New York food scene, I’ve shopped at the Chelsea Food Market, eaten Lox and Bagels at Zabar’s and Smoked Sturgeon at Barney Greengrass’ on the Upper West Side, and even schlepped up to Harlem to buy West African ingredients at Adja Khady’s. And of course, there was the 30-block walk to Urbani’s Truffles on West End Avenue, where the proprietor showed me a large tray of white truffles for sale at $197 per ounce.

When you think of typical New York food, you might consider bagels and cream cheese, pizza or maybe warm pretzels sold on street corners. However, what I’ve discovered (and maybe what others already knew), is that there is no one way to describe New York City food. It is as diverse as the Korean supermarket I visited in Morningside Heights, the Indian cafe around the corner or the Insomnia Cookies store on Amsterdam Avenue (where the cookies were so good, it kept me awake nights)! Instead, New York food is what you make of it and where you find it!

For me, I received my food inspiration from Barzini’s food market on Broadway on the Upper West Side. Before you walk into Barzini’s, you are greeted with a large display of fruits and vegetables out front.

Inside the store are narrow isles teaming with artisan baked goods, international cheeses and more fresh fruits and vegetables. When I recently passed by the display of colorful bell peppers, I couldn’t resist grabbing them!

Colorful Bell Peppers at Barzini’s

What should I make with these colorful peppers? Why Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers, of course! Fajitas mean ‘little belts’ in Spanish and you may have eaten these spicy strips of chicken with bell peppers served on the side.

However with my dish, the bell peppers are stuffed with small pieces of chicken pieces along with onions, rice, corn and black beans. Topped with cheese and then baked in the oven for about 20 minutes, this makes a delicious dish!

Yes, New York food is not just one thing but a wonderful blend …… a California girl living in Australia, cooking Mexican-inspired food from an Italian shop on the Upper West Side!