Ja-Ja, my niece, has evolved into a little lady since her first birthday. Now double her age, she has grown into her actual name, Janea. For her second birthday I built the menu around a savory birthday cake made of macaroni and cheese. I have some decorating ideas floating in my head, but we’ll see how it evolves.
For many New Yorkers, a home cooked meal is a rarity, a pearl in an ocean of eating out, deliveries–in and sustenance grabbed on the Go!–Go!–Go! For nearly all of food enthusiast Mercedes Batista’s almost eighty years, cooking is a ritual, a gift she gives herself everyday. I joined Mercedes at the West Village apartment where she has lived happily alone for the past forty of those years for dinner.
What do you do for a super momma? Recently, my friend Julian and I threw a completely over-the-top tea party-baby shower for our dear friends, Sarah and Walter, who recently adopted a baby from Kazakhstan. The baby’s name is also Julian and he is a long awaited dream come true. The theme was super-girly-spring. One, because Julian’s mother is the most girly gal I know. Two, she showed her super girl powers persevering through a most hideous drawn out Kazakh adoption (along with her hubby)<==long, ugly story. Third, spring had sprung the day before and it was a glorious day! I cooked almost everything I could think of within reason (but not much).
Who doesn’t love a tea party? One of the best events I’d been to this year was a tea social hosted by Cindi Bigelow, CEO and grand-daughter of Ruth Bigelow, founder of one of America’s largest tea companies, Bigelow Tea.
I popped into Cocoa V, a new vegan chocolate shop and wine bar on 9th Avenue in Chelsea for a peek, not a nosh because I had just pigged out a less interesting cafe down the street. I took a quick video to try and capture a few things I’d like to try when I am back in the ‘hood.
In the multi-sensory journey, Jackie Gordon Singing Chef Presents The Greatest Food Love Songs Of All Time, each delectable tune gets wrapped in delicious bite and sprinkled with wit and humor.
On a chilly, wintry afternoon, I popped over for lunch with holistic nutrition counselor and Park Slope mom, Jennifer Schonborn. In her business, Jennifer counsels people so their food and lifestyle choices help them achieve their health and weight loss goals in a way that is flexible and fun.
Believe the hype! Today we had lunch at Calexico, on Union St., in Brooklyn, today and loved it. For once, I let everyone order what they wanted so there was a plethora of pulled pork. We had it in a taco, a quesadilla and a burrito. The child veered from the pig pack and had chicken quesadilla. We also ordered a small salad and a side of guacamole. Everything was delish on its own, but I had too much fun at the salsa bar and tasted them all. The only thing I did not care for was their infamous “Crack” sauce, but I am not a big mayo fan. Get a yummy peek on the video.
My NYC foodie fantasy came true: I spent a fall afternoon at the Union Square Green Market with author, culinary historian, chocolate tasting-tour expert, Les Dames Escoffier member and of course NYC mom, Alexandra Leaf. She answers my “NYC Food Tips From A New Yorker Who Really Cooks” questions at the end of this post. Check out Alexandra’s Chocolate Fest: A Walk-Around Tasting event on March 14th, at the 92nd St. Y (I’ll be there with a spicy chocolate fountain!).
This post is out of order chronologically due to editing issues and holiday mayhem. Also, it was the first time I used my new Kodak zi8 camera so some of the photos reflect that.
Meal #22 of The Wandering Foodies 93 Plates project found Hagan and I enjoying breakfast at the Iris Cafe, a new cafe in Brooklyn Heights. One word: Delicious! It’s on the road less traveled: Columbia Place, but that street should get worn out soon by people trekking over to get divine raisin sticky buns, yummy ham and cheddar scones, homey soft boiled, farm fresh egg breakfasts with divine Surryano Ham (It’s spelled correctly!) and awesome oatmeal served up with the best tea I’ve ever had and the super sought after Stumptown coffee!!! We did not even try the sandwiches , but Liza de Guia, Food Curated’s story-teller and self-proclaimed food addict (@SkeeterNYC on Twitter) says they are to die for. So I deliberately did not buy the sticky buns so I could head back very, very soon and try them… and then devour more sticky buns!