5 NYC Room Service Items To Cool You Down This Summer

For a few days this week, New York was actually feeling pretty pleasant. Blue skies, cool breezes, and plenty of sunshine. But this morning's humidity is just a harbinger of the pit-stain-inducing, ninth-circle-of-hell-reminiscent city heat wave that will soon be upon us. Worry not, HotelChatter is here to help! Here are our top picks for refreshing room service treats:

· Above the LEED-certified Crosby Street Hotel in Soho is a rooftop garden lovingly tended to by head chef Anthony Paris (above). All produce that's grown in the garden�and they harvest everything from melons to tomatoes to blueberries to herbs�directly serves the hotel's kitchen. Make use of the Crosby's sophisticated English Afternoon Tea menu, which includes a "Fresh Fruit Tea" ($31). Pick from a platter piled with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, orange, mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, and caramelized banana�oh, and, lest we forget the most important part, loose herbal tea.

·Nevermind the locally-sourced, seasonal breakfast buffet at the Ace Portland that we told you about in April. Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, New Yorkers would be wise to make use of the Ace New York's dessert menu from acclaimed restaurant The Breslin. While Bailey's cheesecake (with "latte whipped cream," $9) won't do you wrong, we think the best bet is the rice pudding, blended with coconut and roasted pineapple ($9).

·Lily's Restaurant at the Roger Smith Hotel recently amped up their dining space with a new chef (Michael Clayton from the Gallagher Steak House) and spring menu. While dining downstairs in the Lexington Avenue-facing bar (often with live music) can be nice�and there's always their rooftop bar, Henry's, which we wrote up last year�why not try a lite bite in the comfort of your room? Pick at something chilled or room temperature from their Snacks menu, like a plate of pickled vegetables (including chard, thumbelina carrots, red onions, cucumbers, and baby beets, $6).

·Sardinian-born star chef Marco Porceddu, who cut his teeth in Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and at Steve Wynn's Francesco, has brought his magic touch to Gansevoort Park Avenue's Italian gem, Asellina. Like at the Roger Smith, you could opt for an open-air dining experience during the weekly Quartino Bellini Brunch. Otherwise, stay in bed and sample one of Porceddu's authentic Sicilian cannoli, $9 (the guy grew up in a family-owned restaurant on the Mediterranean coast, so he knows his stuff). The colder, the better!

·Meanwhile, downtown at 60 Thompson, hotel guests are spoiled with the Thai-inspired Kittichai, who have "liberally and fantastically interpreted Thailand," according to the New York Times. Appreciate the fact that you'll get to enjoy the fresh, tangy flavors of Thai cuisine without having to rough it on a treetop, or an elephant camp. A green papaya and mango salad with coriander chicken and dried shrimp chili cashew dressing ($7) is our summer pick�a little fruit, a little protein, a lot of "aaaahhhh."

[Photos: Crosby Street Hotel; HotelChatter; Roger Smith Hotel, LevieDeiSapori and HotelChatter]

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