Sweet Blog O'Mine

Author: Laren

  • Long Weekend

    Man, am I looking forward to a long weekend!  You can tell I've had a busy week, since I haven't managed to post at all.  Lame.  There were some highlights along the way — a meet-up for the beach house, an opening party for Hundred Acres, some gym time, some couch time, and my second visit to Momofuku Ko.*  I literally logged on to the reservation site on Wednesday at 4pm and there was a cancellation for 7pm that night.  So — Roopa joined me (with an open mind) and we had an amazing meal.  In addition to the dishes you can read about on some of the blogs out there, most of which I had last time, there were some new ones to try this time around.  Roopa and I got served different things several times, which didn't happen on my last visit.  I did not bring my camera — in fact, we chatted with one of the chefs, who mentioned they were possibly considering a no-camera policy.  Anyhoo, back to the food:

    • spring pea soup with crawfish, and a morel mushroom crepe
    • kampachi with freeze-dried soy, chive flowers, chive oil, and pickled crosnes
    • a japanese egg custard with asparagus, hackleback caviar, tarragon oil, and braised cashews
    • lasagne with burgundy snails, broccoli rabe flowers, mushrooms, ricotta salada, and whipped ricotta
    • halibut with radish salad, burnt onion, baby bok choy, and pepperoncini (my favorite new dish)
    • trout with yuzu, pickled breakfast radish, bacon puree, and almonds
    • kiwi sorbet with apricot puree and olive oil
    • lychee sorbet with sesame "sand"
    • cereal milk panna cotta with cornflake crumbs, avocado, and hazelnut chocolate
    • yellow cake ice cream with chocolate, rhubarb, candied peas and pea "dust"

    Once again, pretty damn amazing.  We got the wine pairings again — this time I asked for a copy, which I'll hopefully get soon.  And for your general amusement, here are the pics

    from Matt's housewarming party are here.  Well, at least those that are safe for general consumption.

    * In case anyone's wondering why I didn't write about my Ko visits on Gothamist, first and foremost, I just wanted to enjoy my meal without worrying about giving a blow-by-blow recap.  Second of all, I wasn't prepared for another per se treatment, although the dollar amount isn't even close in this case.

  • Sigh

    I know, I know.  I still haven’t managed to post about Minneapolis.  You’ll have to settle for a list of the places I ate and a link to the pictures:

    And the pictures, although there aren’t that many, are here.  Thanks again to the Lovely Miss Katie and her family for being so welcoming!

  • Skip Lunch, Fight Hunger

    Skiplunch_2

    Take the money you’d normally spend on lunch today and donate it to City Harvest’s Skip Lunch, Fight Hunger campaign.  You can read more about it on my 700th Gothamist Food post.  That’s right — my seven HUNDREDTH post. 

  • A Little Humor

    To tide you over till I can pull it together to post my (few) pictures from Minneapolis.  First, I’ve coined a new term.  Last year around this time I was on a self-imposed dating hiatus.  I’ve decided to call that a guy-atus.  I’m not on one now, though, for the record.

    Next, the Onion.  It’s from a little while back but it made me laugh out loud: New ‘Get The Fuck Outta The Road’ Program Aims To Increase Pedestrian Safety.

  • Forgot to Mention

    that I’m in Minneapolis this week at a conference.  Having a great time so for — all of my panels/meetings have gone smoothly, as have the meals I’ve organized.   One more panel to go!

  • Just Ducky


    the Mother Duckers

    Had another fantastic time competing in the annual D’Artagnan Duckathlon. No jambon this year, but we managed to win the olive-oil tasting event, which landed us some olive oil from Fig & Olive, black truffle oil, white truffle oil, and the jackpot — a log of black truffle butter. Woo hoo! Thanks again to Emila, John and Frank for being excellent teammates and to D’Artagnan for including the Gothamist team for our fourth year in a row. The rest of the photos are here.

  • There’s No Place Like London

    Marrow

    In the words of Sweeney Todd.  Yes, we have our differing opinions of London (Rob), but I certainly enjoyed my time there.  The pictures are now up.  Highlights included a trip to Oxford with Rebecca, a day at Borough Market followed by dinner at St. John with Rob and Tamara (the famous marrow bones and parsley salad pictured above), Thai dinner at Addie’s, my long walk to the Tate to see the Peter Doig exhibit, and drinks and dinner with Jodie and Margie.  Thanks again to Rob (and Sara in absentia) for their hospitality.

  • Home Sweet Home

    All I can say is after that last, bumpy hour and a half of my flight back from London, I sure as hell am happy to be home and sleeping in my own bed tonight.  I also just realized that this is the first return home from a long(ish) vacation since I bought my place — does it feel different to return home to a place I own?  Not sure, but it definitely feels fabulous to be here.

  • Happy Pesach!

    Hi all — I’m off to London tonight but just wanted to wish everyone a happy passover.  I am being the worst Jew ever this year — not even trying to keep kosher for Passover.  I did get to taste some delicious Matzoh Brei (more details on Gothamist later) and am planning to cook a seder with Rob while I’m away.  An appropriate clip from the Onion:  Passover Seder Half-Assed.  Sort of like when we put a Cadbury Creme Egg on our family seder plate.

    [UPDATE — here’s the Gothamist post.  Cheerio!]

  • C is for Cookie

    Cookiemonster

    This piece from McSweeney’s made me laugh way too hard.  Self-reflection by Cookie Monster: Is Me Really Monster?  I will now have "C is for Cookie" stuck in my head all day.