New York | M Bar at the Mansfield Hotel

I love recruiting season. Not because I look forward to joining the workforce, but it is all about the perks that come along when interviewing. To me, on-site interviews are like free trips to New York City or wherever the company is. Typically, the firm will provide you with airfare, hotel accommodation, taxi, as well as reasonable food expenses. Seriously, what do you want more? Last January, I think I expensed as much as $2,000 in the span of a few days when I was interviewing with banks.

For my interview with Morgan Stanley, I was put into the Mansfield Hotel, a boutique hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel is situated in the historic and prestigious Club Row, where many ivy leagues' alumni clubs reside in New York, and it is just blocks away from the touristy Time Square. Instead of having a stipend for my breakfast, Morgan Stanley paid for a nice morning meal at the hotel's lounge - the M Bar.

I woke up a bit early on the day of my interview and went to breakfast with my casual clothes. The M Bar is a small and intimate room on the lobby level of the hotel. The grand dark wood finishing at the bar brings out the sophisticated and classy vibe of this historic site. I sat at the table next to the window, which overlooked the 44th street.

The M Bar from mansfieldhotel.com

The waiter approached me with a smile and greeted me immediately. The breakfast selection on the menu all seemed very tasty and appealing. I decided to order the poached egg brioche with truffle oil, which came with applewood smoked bacon and a side salad. Coffee or tea was also included with the order.

I absolutely loved the truffle essence that instantly transformed the simple egg dish to something exquisite and more appetizing. The smokey bacon was fried to the perfect crispy state. Not to mention, the soft texture of the brioche bread was my favorite. A bite of the half cooked egg and toasty brioche with bacon brought a complex divine taste that would literally bring you to heaven.

Poached Egg Brioche with Truffle Oil, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Side Salad

As I enjoyed my dark and robust English breakfast tea, I casually read through the Wall Street Journal and checked out recent exciting IPO and M&A deals on my iPad to prepare for my coming interview. When I asked the waiter for more hot water, he also brought me extra tea bags, which was really nice of him. I am never a morning person; however, I actually really enjoyed this early meal at the M Bar.

Though known for its classy and high end night lounge, the breakfast at the M Bar is deliciously prepared, and the waiting staff is very attentive and made me felt very cozy and relaxed as I enjoyed my meal. It was definitely a very special breakfast experience in New York City. Thanks to Morgan Stanley!

M Bar at the Mansfield Hotel
12 West 44th Street
New York, NY10036
http://www.mansfieldhotel.com

Recommendation: 4 Stars
Very classy and cozy hotel lounge in Midtown Manhattan, which offers delicate meals and a great selection of cocktails and wines.

The hotel room at the Mansfield is tiny though......

New York | Dos Caminos

I think global warming is real - it was insanely cold when I visited New York City in January, and the snow was just ridiculous! At times like this, I think the best way to cope with this depressing weather is to have some spicy Mexican food to heat things up. I decided to meet up with an elementary school friend for dinner at Dos Caminos in Soho.

Dos Caminos is a very hip Mexican restaurant with modern finish and (very) dimmed lights. Many people dine here for great food and drinks, as well as for people watching. The place is usually packed - you have to make reservations if you don't want to wait, but the bar seems great. I wouldn't mind getting a drink and wait while I catch up with my friend or meet someone new.

The restaurant is famous for their guacamole - made fresh to order. It was flavorful and deliciously prepared. I could taste the generous amount of avocado mixed with fresh tomatoes, cilantro leaves, and white onion. must order!!

Guacamole made fresh to order

comes with tortilla chips too!

For my main course, I ordered ribeye steak alambre. Since I am not a big fan of Mexican food (except for Chipotle), I wasn't expecting too much for my entree. Turned out I was wrong. The premium ribeye was tender and juicy, and surprisingly, the apple wood smoked bacon wrapped around the ribeye multiplied the taste of the meat and made the steak even better!

Ribeye Steak Alambre

brochetta of ribeye steak, apple wood smoked bacon, cipollini onions, poblano chiles, arroz con crema and chimichurri sauce

The check turned out to be around $75. The meal was great, and the server was very nice to us. I had a good time with my friend who I haven't met for a while. The only downside is that the restaurant is too packed; the small spaces between tables are a bit uncomfortable.

Dos Caminos

475 West Broadway

New York, NY 10013

http://www.doscaminos.com

Recommendation: 4 Stars

Hip and relaxing Mexican restaurant, great for after work drink and dinner.

Don't forget to try their guacamole!