Ate my birthday dinner with my family at Perilla last night. Another great meal at a great restaurant — as many of you know, I love this place. I think J had the score of the night by ordering the Three Little Pigs. My father approved of the place (which is rare!) because it has “really clean bathrooms.” Well, if I knew that was all it took!!!
Fantastic.
June 9, 2009
Just saw this magazine layout on MICHAEL HARLAN TURKELL’S PLOG. As a former magazine editor, I’m always impressed by unique, eye-catching layouts. And this one definitely caught my eye. You can read the full article on NYCers who make their own mozzarella cheese here.
My Relationship… Told Through Food
June 9, 2009
Sometimes I think about replaying mine and J’s relationship through food/restaurants. Like… a walk through all the restaurants and that have special memories from the last 3 years ( both the good and the bad). Here’s what it would include:
Serafina – the scene of our first, very nervous and chatty date. J’s pick, obvs.
Fatty Crab – the scene of our third date (the second was hitting golf balls at Chelsea Piers and was highly embarrassing on my end). My pick, obvs. It was also the place where I ordered a dish that was so spicy my face turned bright red and I had to consume coconut milk to calm down my taste buds… after I had just gone a spiel about how much I hate coconut.
Perilla – where we celebrated our first year anniversary. But actually, more special, where we randomly popped in for dinner on a quiet Memorial Day weekend and had one of the best meals we’ve had as a couple. Plus, we love Top Chef.
Hearth – where we celebrated our second anniversary. And again, one of the best meals we’ve had as a couple. We’re on a role!
Porter House – We got a free meal here pretty early into our relationship (thanks to the perks of working at a magazine). It was pretty decadent — steaks, wine, and oysters. And the night ended with a free hotel stay at the Mandarin Oriental hotel… I wonder if he thought this would be indicative of the rest of our relationship? Maybe I tricked him!
Del Posto – My 25th birthday. Total extravagance. I even wore a flirty dress and heels.
Ninja – J’s 26th birthday (so weird that this is the age I’m turning in a week), and the first birthday we spent together. I took him to Ninja, and he absolutely loved it! It’s where I learned that he’s a sucker for samurai swords and magic tricks.
J… anything I’m forgetting? Weird that there aren’t any places on this list in the LES or in Brooklyn.
The Bittersweet LES Goodbye
June 5, 2009
My dear LES friends… I am leaving the ‘hood. August 1st I’m making the big move to J’s apartment (where will my clothes go?!) in Brooklyn Heights. I already love this neighborhood, and Cobble Hill next door, and I can’t wait to have brand new eating adventures!
Should I keep this blog: Lower Eat Side? Or should I start fresh with a Brooklyn-based title?
P.S. I think Bar Tabac is my favorite brunch place that I’ve found so far. Photo via.
I Forgot NYC Could Be Fancy
June 1, 2009
Living in my little LES world, I sometimes forget that all NYC restaurants aren’t super tiny, cramped, cozy, and bustling with hipsters. But, over Memorial Day weekend, I was reminded of how opulent and over-the-top some NY restaurants can be. J and I had a gift certificate to Megu (that we’ve been holding on to for over a year), and we finally decided to use it. Megu is one of those super swanky sushi restaurants — not the 3rd Ave, 50% off, type places that I’m used to. We easily spent our $150 gift card and then some, and we didn’t even order wine or sake. But I have to say — there’s something really special about these grand NYC institutions, like Tao, Nobu, and even Cipriani’s. There are insane things like the huge ceilings, wagyu beef flown from Japan, table-side homemade wasabi, and best of all… the Buddha ice sculpture that’s carved daily (see photo). Such extravagance in a recession is a little hard to swallow, but I still love that these little pockets of NYC exist… even if I rarely experience them!
Restaurant Etiquette
May 18, 2009Last night, J and I hopped into Spice (an old-NYU favorite) after we saw Star Trek (amazing). We were completely eavesdropping on the family next to us — a son and his parents. When the waitress came to pick up their plates, she very innocently asked, “How was everything?” The father (seriously) looked at her and said, “Not very good, actually.” And went on and on to tell her that the teriyakki was too sweet, the lettuce was limp, etc. I was mortified for his poor son. But it got me thinking — here’s my philosophy about eating out in NYC.
Dear Unsatisfied Father,
Welcome to NYC. There are maybe a million restaurants in our beloved city, and something at every price point. I am very sorry that you didn’t like your dinner, but you chose to walk into Spice. You chose to order something off their menu. And then you chose to EAT THE ENTIRE PLATE OF FOOD. Maybe you were unhappy with the meal (although you didn’t really show it on your plate), but that is simply the gamble you take when eating out in NYC. You didn’t like your food; so don’t go back. But please keep your opinions to yourself, and better luck next time.
I was especially annoyed because the waitress gave them 15% off their bill. J and I both felt like we should get 20% off for not complaining!! But then, we’d have to complain to achieve that. It’s one thing if you find a rock in your food (it’s happened to me), or a fish hook in your food (it’s happened to me), but if you simply don’t like the flavor… deal with it.
Brooklyn Cupcake Cook-Off
May 13, 2009
Jo the MasterBaker and her sister entered this year’s 3rd Annual Cupcake Cook-Off, and I happily tagged along. (Jo is recently unemployed which means the level of baking has gone through the roof.) Jo made yummy cookie-dough cupcakes that she loving titled, “Where’s the Dough?!” and her sister made pretty amazing oreo “Milk and Cookies” cupcakes. I found a recipe that seems to look a lot like her final product — it had an inside chocolate cup that she filled with milk to dunk to oreos. The winner of the “popular vote” (which was really a completely bought-win, but acceptable b/c the money went to charity) was the Elvis Cupcake — I tasted it and it was pretty darn good. So combo of peanut butter and bananas, but… and I’m not totally sure about this b/c I ate too many to remember… if I’m right there was SoCo and lime somehow involved in the recipe. Sugar comma has erased my memory. I can’t believe how many cupcakes I consumed. It was basically a no-fee cupcake free-for-all. Check it out next year, and go hungry!
photo via
My Blog Got High
May 12, 2009So, in case you’ve noticed, I’ve been a bad blogger lately. I’ve posted sporadically at best — I blame a new job and a long winter. But, I glanced at my blog stats today and noticed that I had a random spike. On April 14, 2009, I had 396 views to my blog. That is just slightly more (or a whole lot more) than my daily average. And the post that seemed to draw the attention? It’s this one. But I have NO referrers or linkbacks to that post. Mysterious. So so so curious about this strange, random influx!
PS. It’s summer now, so hopefully I’ll be more inspired to blog!
Cookie Monster on NPR
May 12, 2009Off to Costa Rica
April 23, 2009J and I are off to Costa Rica for a full 11 days! I couldn’t be more excited (or more prepared to fight off mosquitoes). See you when I get back!
Fantastic Etsy Gifts!
April 13, 2009
New Addition to Clinton Street
March 16, 2009
J and I ate at Fat Hippo on Saturday night, the new restaurant at 71 Clinton St. I swear this street is going to be totally jam packed with restaurants and bars any day now, which will inevitably make my rent unaffordable… blast! But, at least this place is chhhhheap. Mmm, or maybe I’ll call it affordable. J and I got: crab cakes, a duck cuban, mac & cheese, brussel sprouts, and pulled pork stuffing (plus 1 glass of wine and 2 beers) for about $60 including tip. Yeah, we overate. But it was all delicious.
I was amused that when we entered and asked for a table for 2, they said they had room in the “lounge.” The “lounge” was a 2-person counter top w/ stools shoved in the corner of the restaurant. Luckily, we could care less and loved the little nook. But, really people… “lounge?” Let’s call a spade a spade.
