Travel

New York in March

Still recalling New York in March. I have a receipt here from Tabla which is one of my husband’s favorites. They have meshed the menus and choices of the upstairs and the former “Bread Bar”. Pepper shrimp, lamb raviolo, brussel sprouts and a “kachumber kooler” more than satisfied our appetites. I have the cookbook, but never have all the ingredients in house at the right moment.

Never eat extra hot cheez-its

I have a stack of menus and receipts on my desk, so I suppose it would be good to review them for you before they begin to curl.

One more time (the second) I decided to load up our van and drive from Kansas City to the East Coast. It seemed again like a better idea than 3 roundtrip flights with double digit quantities of luggage. Less forethought required in any case since I can just put everything into the van as soon as I think of it –customer files, clothes, office supplies, clothing racks, lights, fresh ground coffee, a couple of bottles of wine, leftovers which will not be eaten. The only disadvantage is the impossibility of reading the newspaper or one of the neglected New Yorker Magazines I guess for the latter a trip to Asia is in order.

Yesterday was our 33rd anniversary

Yesterday was our 33rd anniversary. Who knew that this adventure would last this long? I hope for another 33 years if it brings as much pleasure and adventure as the last.

Meanwhile, Angela and I spent 10 days in California. First we had a successful trunk show in San Francisco. We breakfasted daily at the big table in the kitchen at Boulette’s Larder on the bay side of the Ferry Building. A big plate of delicious toasts with butter and fresh jam, poached eggs on sauteed greens, thick yogurt with stewed dried fruits, hot cereal with brown sugar and milk and fried rice with vegetables and shrimp were only a few of the delights we consumed along with good coffee, tea and hot chocolate. A view of the bridge, a gorgeous bouquet on the table every morning and a Puli named Boulette under the table.

Eating in New York

Time to go through my stack of restaurant receipts before another meal comes my way. I will go from the top to the bottom beginning with New York City.

Momofuku, on First Avenue made us wait an hour one Saturday night, but we were willing and enjoyed all the second-hand stores in the neighborhood. if only i could lease the place next door and open a bar…then everyone could have a good drink while they waited while on the tv we could project pictures of Asiatica wares. It was truly delicious, with a pared-down menu (we were 4 and ordered 8 dishes plus 3 orders of pork buns and a delicious carafe of cloudy sake called “nigori”). I made a quick run to their Milk Bar a few blocks away, but the cookies were not as good as dinner.

June in Japan

The most beautiful things in Japan are the temples/shrines and the food basements of the major department stores.  Here are some photos taken at Misukoshi/Nihombashi.  Temples will have to wait.  The variety and especially the presentation is staggering.

These sweets are only one example of a huge category.  Each maker tries to outdo the next in beaauty.

If you go to Japan allow at least an hour to browse all the sections.  Fish or crackers are as beautifully presented as the sweets.