Eats:
Warning: this city is not shy about salt. "Savory" is my euphemism for "bloat", and I have been savoring this city with reckless abandon. My pilates instructor will be appalled. Read and salivate at your own risk.
fiddlehead ferns, as my dear noa describes them, "taste like the forest after it rains". she's a blogger extraordinaire and fabulous foodie, so i expect no less of her...but it's still a fresh and crispy delight to be amongst NYC food lovers and not LA food haters. at long last, i can stand tall, recently only a shadow of my San Francisco foodie self. Casa Mono set the stage last night. N and I shared quite the romantic little table here, and nibbled on Patatas Bravas and Pimiento Ramps so spicy that not even New York's Finest could cool the tongue. I reveled in losing myself to this mysterious menu despite my knowedge of the Spanish language. El Bulli, here I come!
Endive salad and a-maz-ing grape leaves from Citronella. And the polenta napoleon is a great hangover helper! ERose aka Golden Tw** and I rationalized our consumption of percorino romano.
Brussel Spoouts and Cauliflower in broth at Employees Only, and the "gluten nemesis" cocktail the charming host mixed especially for me. I went here twice and on the second time contemplated spending some time with the fortune teller, which indicates my state of mind at the time....
Dumplings at Chinatow Braserie. While I know that these are over-priced as compared to any Chinatown varierty, the whole mystery meat risk is removed, which makes these dumplings infinitely more palatable. They are so lovely and translucent-- almost like the pulsating dome of some exquisite jellyfish. The mushroom dumplings fell apart in my mouth. MMMMM. And the watercress ones-- amazing. The turnip cake is heavy, but makes a nice base for an evening of cocktails and whatnots.
Marvelous Moroccan olives and golden raisins danced throughout my butter lettuce salad with sesame-tahini dressing at CookShop. I enjoyed it with a sauvignon blanc at the behest of my work friend and college friend-of-a-friend, B. Reunions are divine, especially at noon in Chelsea.
Samy's Noodle shop-- I couldn't spend more than $20 on dim sum dinner for two here if I tried! The New Year's Cake is what I had known as a Shanghai rice cake-- chewy discs of rice noodle stir fried with boy choy and brown sauce. The dim sum was ok, and ya can't beat the price!
Beverage:
House Cabernet at Soho House roofdeck. As my friend D, a founding member of SoHo house in NYC, see it, this is an exclusive place for escaping the hustle bustle of the scene. SH is a constant-- a place where people can relax and be their fabulous selves and not waste their good luck on the general public. Not sure whether I am buying in on his view.
Grammercy Park Hotel: mango martini-- overkill on the sugar and spice. I think there are still fragments of clove in my left molars.
Discovered at Union Bar-- Patron with a splash of soda and Rose's Lime, served on the rocks. I will never look back!
