Last night’s, post–Make Music New York dinner was at Pho Grand. Despite the plethora of Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown NYC, we tend to go where we know and, yes, order the exact same thing…every time. There is something to be said for the three C’s (cheap, consistent and comforting) and one Y (yummy!) on a rainy Sunday evening…
On Father’s Day a veritable feast of musicians and I will be performing at Divalicious Chocolate! Cafe as part of Make Music New York (MMNY).
I’m a hash slinger from way back. I hated it, but I did it. Waiting paid for lots of delicious food, singing lessons and of course the bills, hence the allure. Most importantly, I did it properly in spite of how I felt—meaning I brought the drinks, the food and the check, in that order and in good time.
This post is inspired by last Sunday’s brunch at Melt, in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Service: BAD. Bad service is usually blamed on the waiter, but my experience is that it always trickles down from the top and usually stems from poor hiring practices, little or no training… yes, poor management.
I love the Japanese! They invented one of my fave Jax Snax on the Go-Go hunger busters! Onigiri: it’s like a sushi sandwich with a variety of savory fillings including…
Had a quick sushi lunch today at Hane by Stuy Town with the bf’s lovely family. I ordered chirashi, which is usually a bowl of sushi with sashimi on top and oshinko (Japanese pickles—if you are lucky).
The highlight of my mother’s birthday celebration this year was the presence of her granddaughter Janea and her gift, a photo book of Janea we made at MyPublisher.com which came out surprisingly beautiful (O, me of little faith—I was worried about the resolution and quality of the printing) and of course the food!!!
Is it only a little creepy to me that I wrote this is in the third person? Don’t know what I was thinking then, but there’s not time for rewrites now!!!
I, Auntie Jackie, fondly known as “Chopped Liver”—long story—cooked up a multi-cultural storm for my niece Janea Lani Gordon’s first birthday at Divalicious Chocolate! Cafe. I whipped up an antipasto of her many heritages to the theme of duckies. You’d think that with the popularity of freakin’ rubber duckies one might be able to find a Mylar rubber ducky balloon in our fair city. I searched party stores in NYC and parts of NJ—nada! Like hens’ teeth. And a special thank-you to the genius at Party City in Brooklyn who doesn’t know the difference between a ducky and chick.
Rant aside, Janea was unfazed by lack o’ ducky balloon since she loves to eat and as a gourmet-in-training knows what is truly important at a partaaaaaaaay!!!!
Here is the menu followed by the recipe for the pepita cranberry popcorn balls I made as a culinary homage to her First American roots.
I decided that fried chicken and waffles was the proper meal to serve for the Inauguration Brunch. Originally I had planned a dinner until I found out that inaugurations take place during the day. Cooking is my thing, not political procedure. This was also a 50th-birthday celebration for my dear friend Frank, whose birthday wish was that Obama would get elected.
Who are you calling a diva? Singing Chef Jackie Gordon muses on the ups and downs of being called a diva and upon close examination, only finds the ups!