Wd-50

Wow! Saturday night dinner… I had been to wd-50 a few years ago (when his popcorn soup was all the rage), but was super excited to finally go back!

We got the tasting menu & wine pairing when I realized that most of what was on the tasting was not on the regular menu so it totally seemed worth it.  AND I’m going to assume those frozen krispie treats at the end only came with the tasting menu… which definitely made it worth it!!! Those things were addictive.  But let’s start at the beginning.  Since I’m too lazy to type everything up, here’s the scan of our menu:

Cookie of the day

Friday was national doughnut day & though everyday is some kind of day (Exhibit A: thecelebrationist.wordpress.com), I thought this was actually a sort of nice celebration rather than a random excuse to get Americans to eat more junk.

“Celebrated on the first Friday of June, National Doughnut Day is a tradition created by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor women who served doughnuts to soldiers returning home from World War I.”

I think that’s nice no? Of course, I did not get a doughnut because – DUH! – I’m more of a cookie girl.  Luckily, I had a meeting on the UWS Friday & used it as wonderful excuse to get myself to… Levain Bakery!!

There is nothing, nothing, like a fresh gooey chocolate chip cookie…

All the White People would Freak Out

Sneak peek into Momofuku’s secret lab… My guess is its the closet of the Milk Bar wholesale spot. Irrelevant. Watch, enjoy, have a laugh:

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – Late Night Eats: Momofuku Test Kitchen – Video – NBC.com.

P.S. I really wanted to embed the video instead of sending you away.  My brain power is zilch today though, so off you go!

My gluttonous President’s Day weekend

After my insane President’s Day weekend eating schedule I got to thinking… Food is such a luxury!

Let me be clear: food is not actually a luxury, it’s a right – the way we consume it, however, is a major luxury! Not that I’m complaining… But I do remember being in Botswana, living in a rural home, and eating the same thing most days.  The family that hosted me was relatively well off & I often had eggs for breakfast and meat with dinner.  Mind you, I was the only one having the eggs – as their guest they wanted to feed me their very best.  Then I’d meet up with my fellow American homestay-ers & find out they’d had the same grain concoction for lunch & dinner, every day for 2 weeks.  It astounds me how over fed many of us are – maybe its my fault for being a glutton, but hello: obesity?!

On that note… I’d like to tell you all (Hi Stef, Alex, & Lal haha) about my terrificly gluttonous weekend!!

Surprise!

I got my Valentine’s surprise early – La Esquina!

I had never been to the downstairs (yes, the whole point of the place I know). I’ve obviously heard a ton about it, but I was still surprised at how cool it is down there!

We had a tapas style meal – you know its impossible to order anything & expect me not to want to try so why not just order to share?! We had taquitos de carnitas (with leche condensada! Lali, take note: sssooo yummy!), ceviche acapulco, queso fundido, platanos, and tuna tostadas.

The queso fundido was not what I was expecting but so delicious!! It had pumpkin seeds & a little chile de arbol.  Served with plantain chips not tortillas… So I asked for tortillas & the waiter looked very confused. Of course they serve it like they do for a reason – I ate 1/2 a tortilla & went back to the chips.

For dessert we had the chocolate cake which tasted like deconstructed mexican hot chocolate! It was warm & gooey with a little kick & topped with cinnamon ice cream.

And even though I may be getting sick (sore throat), like a good mexican I’m convinced tequila cures everything so I chose the cocktail called Anochecer (tequila, ginger beer, lime, & mint).  After 2 I definitely felt better & could’ve kept going…. they go down dangerously smooth!

Gracias Amor! It was delish & fun 🙂

Winter restaurant week

Restaurant Week restaurant #2

Pumpkin & I went to Bar Basque last night & she described it perfectly – it’s like being in The Jetsons!! They had this wine wall where about 5 bottles where in glass cases with a tube in them & you inserted a card & clicked the button to have wine spouted into your glass.  Basically, a wine vending machine… I don’t think I’m a fan.

Food was yummy though.  We were starving so even though we planned on getting the 3 course restaurant week menu we ordered suckling pig croquettes while we waited (oink, oink).  My chestnut soup was AMAZING, very smooth & creamy & totally tasted like chestnuts, it also came with lil chunks of bacon & veggies.  The snapper was ok but a huge portion & the potato with it was sort of bland.  It was also wading in some sort of herbal broth that didn’t add much to it.  Dessert was an almondy cake with honey ice cream.  Yummy stuff but mostly, it was nice to spend some QT with Stef!!

Tonight Jj’s surprising me & I haven’t even the tiniest idea where it could be… So excited!!

(Half of my posts so far are about food – I swear that’s not all this blog is gonna be!! But this is a very food-centric week, incl 2 upcoming outings… Next week will be more diverse, promise.)

Nourishment first

After about 30 mins… I finally figured out how to post a song… BUT

I’m gonna tell you about Restaurant Week at Aureole instead, bc that’s what I actually did today.

Frisee salad w goat cheese, poached quail eggs, & duck prosciutto – YUM! Just the right amount of saltiness thanks to the prosciutto but I wouldn’t have known there was goat cheese there if I hadn’t read it on the menu… Mami got fluke with avocado, & yuzu sauce – delicious!

Branzino with fennel puree & cockles – 2 filets! It was huge… & not too strong on the fennel (which I would’ve liked since I enjoy fennel).  I didn’t taste the swiss chard… Hmm… Jj got Pork cheeks!!! So so flavorful! Much smaller plate than the Branzino, but worth it.

Moral of the story: Order the Fluke then Pork Cheeks.

Next stop – Bar Basque with my Pumpkin

For you non food lovers – don’t give up on me… Next time will be more interesting