• Last Books Read

    (T) This Perfect Day - Like a blast from the past, I felt like a 10 year old again reading this 1970 Ira Levin sci-fi. How life might be if everything around us was controlled to be efficient and healthy. Surprisingly, nakedness and sex plays a big role...
    ***

    (T) In Defense of Food - Eat food. Not so much. Mostly plants. An informative read on why Westerners spend so much time trying to eat right and almost always get it wrong.
    ****

    (T)Are You There Vodka? It's me, Chelsea - The ramblings of Chelsea Handler. Pretty funny. Good candy.
    ****

    (T) Namesake - I didn't enjoy this book. At all. I do now crave Indian food.
    *

  • Last Homemade Meals

    (K)Rice & Beans - Kelly makes great, classic Brazilian food

    (K) Striped Bass and Greens - With ginger and onions and includes microwaving the fish. It's damn good.

    (T) Split Pea Soup - A classic. So easy. So good.

    (T) Braised Pork Belly - A My first experience making pork belly. Super simple. So rich. So cheap. Why we pay so much for this in restaurants is beyond me.

  • Latest Restaurants



    Enoteca Barbone -Still awesome Italian/Babboo rip-off. I really like the owner, prices and pasta.
    ****

    Slurp - New Vietnamese restaurant in LES. We were the only ones there. Comparable to Compuchea, but better and cheaper
    **

    SavorNY - A FoodCandy article on the wall! Tapas from around the world. Pretty good
    ***

    Taisho Yakitori - Best in groups, Taisho is maybe my favorite restaurant in the city, currently.
    *****

    Clinton St Baking Company - An LES brunch favorite, the pancakes and crab cakes are some of the best we've ever had, but the line outside on a weekend make it something only worth it on the weekday.
    ***

    Chickie Pig's - Literally across the street, Chickie Pigs servers up thin, oval-shaped pizzas in a brick oven. Focus is on the crust and not the toppings.
    **

    Banjara - Finally! Good Indian. Embedded in the 6th St Indian madness is Banjara with delicious curries, dosas and samosas.
    ***

    The E.U. - A new chef prepares European comfort food including a thick and rich cassoulet, braised short ribs and Chicken and Dumplings along with a wide assortment of european beers. Very good.
    ***

    Falai - Modern Italian. Homemade Pasta. Creative Dishes like Beet & Lobster Risotto. One of the best meals had in NYC so far.
    *****

    Cafe Glechik - A Ukrainian cafe in Brighton Beach known for their dumplings. Try the veal and the Siberian.
    ***

    Rosario's Pizza - A tourist favorite of the LES, we read about this in one of our guide books. Pretty good pizza, but nothing special. Stay with the cheese.
    *

    Trattoria Spaghetto - Also mentioned in our guidebook, this Italian eatery actually turned out a better than expected lunch.
    **

    NY Noodletown - A decent Chinatown stop for Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup. Reminds me of Canton Wonton Noodle House in Seattle
    **

Français

Several weeks ago, I was reading a book at a local coffee shop, Earthmatters, and my ears perked up when I heard two girls speaking French, in what seem to be some sort of tutoring.  Being nosy like I am, of course I went up to them and asked if she was a tutor, and she was.

I had my first class this past Saturday.  We shall see how it goes, as I’ve never continuously taken French.  I think having 1:1 sessions will help…

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