As you may have heard, 2010 involved two resolutions: to take on more of the restaurants that NYC has to offer and to start actually making more recipes that I find. I have made a schedule of events, 1 new restaurant and 1 new dinner party per month, for the year.
Tentatively, the schedule looks as such (but are subject to change):
Restaurants
Ramen Shops (East Village) JAN 23
Seafood or Steakhouse FEB 20
Dumpling Houses (Chinatown) MAR 6
Greek (Astoria) APR 10
Sushi Ya (Chelsea) MAY 29
Pizza (maybe Sri Lankan) (Staten Island) JUN 12
Russian (maybe pizza) (Brighton Beach) JUL 10
Mexican/Latin (Bushwick) AUG 28
Soul Food (Harlem) SEP 4
BBQ (Dinosaur BBQ/Fette Sau) OCT 16
Korean BBQ/Hot Pot (K-Town) NOV 13
American Nouveau (Theater Dist) DEC 18
Dinner Parties
Brunch JAN 16
A relaxed affair with baked egg cups, monkey bread, and hash browns.
Craft Beer Night FEB 12
A party to celebrate the great American brewer. Guests are asked to bring a craft beer of their choice to share. Tapas to be determined.
Cook-Off MAR 20
Two chefs and two assistants prepare two different meals based on one theme ingredient -- to be determined -- which is revealed one week prior. I am hoping both Darrell and Josh participate in this event.
Around the world potluck APR 24
Food and drinks from around the world! Sign up for a country, bonus points if you come in costume!
'Mexi-Night' MAY 8
Officially planned as the third annual Cinco de Mayo inspired party -- count on everything from margaritas to s'macos. BYOS -- bring your own sombrero
Summertime BBQ picnic JUN 26
I believe East River park has picnic areas with grills available to the public. So come eat burgers and dogs, bring your bat and mitt and we'll play some home run derby.
Dessert Night JUL 24
"Life's too short, eat dessert first" dessert night will feature a full panel of sweets and quite possibly an attempt at recreating the childhood magic of the choco-taco.
Comfort Food AUG 14
Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits and gravy; whatever you crave when all you want is a little security and nostalgia come share your memories and appetite.
Oriental Express SEP 18
Food the likes even Marco Polo never saw, the exotic cuisine of the far East.
Bad Pizza/Bad Movie Night OCT 2
A staple of high school weekends -- we'll all pile onto the couch and watch some bad movies with some bad pizza (and maybe awkwardly try and get to second base).
Seafood Night NOV 6
I don't have much to say except I've seen a few seafood recipes that I never bother to try.
Gingerbread house secret santa! DEC 11
My favorite event of the year just got a little better when I thought I would try and add gingerbread house building to the already amazing fun we have. I'm already excited guys, is it December yet?
Feedback and ideas are always welcome and I'll try and accommodate as best I can. Again, most parties I'd like to hold to 6 so RSVP sooner rather than later I suppose (I was surprised at the response for our upcoming first event).
Read More......
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I have two questions for you:
1. What is your favorite place in the city to eat?
2. What is your favorite meal to order there? Read More......
1. What is your favorite place in the city to eat?
2. What is your favorite meal to order there? Read More......
Monday, November 23, 2009
Not that it really matters (I guess this is more motivation for myself than notification for the two readers I have now) but I refuse to write about the food I eat until I buy a camera. And use it. I cannot blog about food adequately without it. I dunno why I pretended I could.
Until then, I don't know if this blog will be updated (oh no, how will you fill that 3 minutes every month without my one new post?) at all. I've become a fan of the convenience of twitter, linking to things without having to be wordy.
Maybe things will get more serious if I get into graduate school. And, at this point, that is a big if.
But the good thing about food is that there is always something about it everyday. It's not just part of our lives, for some us, it is who we are. Read More......
Until then, I don't know if this blog will be updated (oh no, how will you fill that 3 minutes every month without my one new post?) at all. I've become a fan of the convenience of twitter, linking to things without having to be wordy.
Maybe things will get more serious if I get into graduate school. And, at this point, that is a big if.
But the good thing about food is that there is always something about it everyday. It's not just part of our lives, for some us, it is who we are. Read More......
Monday, November 2, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
In Defense of Dining Alone
For some reason, I am in the minority when it comes to solo dining. Most find it awkward and avoid it like the plague, walking blocks in adverse weather carrying take out or eating spoonfuls of peanut butter instead of sitting alone in a restaurant.
And while I do believe many a meal, even the worst, can come out smelling like roses with the right company, sometimes I find that company to be only an empty chair. And since I've started working the regular 9-5 and the last person I really related to on a social level left, I've taken the occasional lunch out even more frequently. Because there's only so many work lunches I can take (Though I am definitely not one of those 'just learn how to cook' zealots, who has that kind of time?).
Granted, I should put this up front before I start getting into the zen of eating. I am not, nor have I ever really been, a very socially outgoing person. I am a common mix of being an introvert and shy. I can get lost in my thoughts. I was one of those people who sat by the windows between classes, pretending to study but just watched the people go by. It's actually one of my favorite hobbies (voyeuristic stereotypes be damned). I'm also closely guarded about certain things. And, in all honesty, I'm kind of an asshole. Which helps keep people a certain distance. It's also why I'm kind of a 'shitty friend,' at least to those who 'know' me.
So all that being said, I still think everyone should, at least occasionally, eat out by themselves. It's a specific experience that you cannot otherwise get. For one, while no one ever really calls me on it, I hate the fact that I am a slow eater. One of the slowest, if not the, in my group friends. So I awkwardly sometimes concentrate on chewing and swallowing, just so everyone else isn't just sitting there staring at my half eaten burger while they're flagging for the check. And the converse is true too, I've heard fast eaters feel quite self-conscious about it, when eating speeds are just completely out of sync. So there's a point for dining alone.
Related, I think it's easier to enjoy or explore the food without either the aforementioned worry of social conventions in eating rate, but also just sometimes savoring flavors. It's sometimes seen as awkward for groups of people to eat in silence. It's seen as perfectly normal for one guy to eat in silence (in fact, if he were talking, that'd probably be the most awkward situation, at least for the waitstaff).
But there is a certain tranquility in being able to enjoy a meal completely in your control and power. And that can be calming in an otherwise hectic and entropic life.
I usually also get to indulge in my people watching, and if not, I usually get a few good chapters read in my latest book.
Although it never really affects me, some people change their orders from what they truly want when in the company of others.
You may absolutely hate it, some say they just feel self-conscious. But if you can get through that, it may just bring a peace of mind.
Read More......
And while I do believe many a meal, even the worst, can come out smelling like roses with the right company, sometimes I find that company to be only an empty chair. And since I've started working the regular 9-5 and the last person I really related to on a social level left, I've taken the occasional lunch out even more frequently. Because there's only so many work lunches I can take (Though I am definitely not one of those 'just learn how to cook' zealots, who has that kind of time?).
Granted, I should put this up front before I start getting into the zen of eating. I am not, nor have I ever really been, a very socially outgoing person. I am a common mix of being an introvert and shy. I can get lost in my thoughts. I was one of those people who sat by the windows between classes, pretending to study but just watched the people go by. It's actually one of my favorite hobbies (voyeuristic stereotypes be damned). I'm also closely guarded about certain things. And, in all honesty, I'm kind of an asshole. Which helps keep people a certain distance. It's also why I'm kind of a 'shitty friend,' at least to those who 'know' me.
So all that being said, I still think everyone should, at least occasionally, eat out by themselves. It's a specific experience that you cannot otherwise get. For one, while no one ever really calls me on it, I hate the fact that I am a slow eater. One of the slowest, if not the, in my group friends. So I awkwardly sometimes concentrate on chewing and swallowing, just so everyone else isn't just sitting there staring at my half eaten burger while they're flagging for the check. And the converse is true too, I've heard fast eaters feel quite self-conscious about it, when eating speeds are just completely out of sync. So there's a point for dining alone.
Related, I think it's easier to enjoy or explore the food without either the aforementioned worry of social conventions in eating rate, but also just sometimes savoring flavors. It's sometimes seen as awkward for groups of people to eat in silence. It's seen as perfectly normal for one guy to eat in silence (in fact, if he were talking, that'd probably be the most awkward situation, at least for the waitstaff).
But there is a certain tranquility in being able to enjoy a meal completely in your control and power. And that can be calming in an otherwise hectic and entropic life.
I usually also get to indulge in my people watching, and if not, I usually get a few good chapters read in my latest book.
Although it never really affects me, some people change their orders from what they truly want when in the company of others.
You may absolutely hate it, some say they just feel self-conscious. But if you can get through that, it may just bring a peace of mind.
Read More......
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
I've got my eye on you
I've always been a fan of off menu ordering; it makes you feel...special, like you're part of a secret society that only those in the know get to enjoy. And this website is sharing with its audience the chance to join those ranks. While meager offerings now, I hope it grows with time. And that cap'n crunch frappachino sounds kinda awesome.
Read More......
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