Perfect Day

Cue up some Lou Reed because
last Wednesday was just perfect.

The husband and I went to Cafe Sabarsky
in the Neue Gallery for some lunch.  It is one
of my favorite splurges in the whole city.  The food
is not cheap but it is delicious and the ambiance is
totally worth it.  We shared some brats
















and then I had an Einspanner: double espresso with
whipped cream on top.  Happiness.




















After lunch we wandered about 2 blocks down to the Met,
which is on of my top 5 places in the whole city.  Our favorite
exhibit was the Sopheap Pich sculptures, if you have a chance
to get there I highly recommend checking them out.  They are epic
and beautiful and his statements about each are so interesting.

We found our way to the rooftop to check out the current exhibit up there
which is Imran Qureshi's -what I'm going to call - Creation/Destruction
installation.  It was beautiful, and I feel like it could be moving in a different
location.  But it's pretty out of context on a museum rooftop that serves $14 cocktails.


































We made our way back to our borough, opened up a
bottle of cider and 2 bottles of Channing Daughters white
wines. Made dinner and just relaxed at home. Perfect.
Summer in the city is always dreamy.

Latest Obsessions

*Mango Salad with Lime Dressing
mango,cucumber, and radishes. With the dressing
it tastes like a healthy version of a margarita.
I'll be making this all summer long.

*Enjingi Zweigelt 2007
I had never seen a Croatian Zweigelt before
(they are commonly found in Austria) and it
didn't disappoint! At times this wine drinks
like a Burgundy. Elegant and extremely aromatic
with  ripe cherry fruits and hints of spice.  Balanced
acid with a very smooth finish. I can't get enough.
I love this wine.

*Planning for Charleston
If you know me at all you know that I LOVE
to plan things.  Doesn't matter if it's next week or
3 months from now, I will start researching.  I've already
made reservations for my birthday dinner, (I know
it's 2 months away...) the husband and I will
be going to Husk! Also on my list of places :
The Ordinary, Hominy Grill, 2 Boroughs Larder,
either of the gelateria's-if they're still there, and Groucho's
because I miss their sandwiches.  I cannot wait
to see how the city has changed!

*Buying Dresses
Or trying not to buy dresses.  Ive been taking it
easy on my clothes spending for awhile.  But now
that sites like Modcloth are around it is so hard not
to constantly buy dresses! Maybe I'll start allowing
myself one a month....

*Convos With My 2 Year Old
This video cracks me up.

*Pug Videos
I want a pug friend.

The Fermentation Continues

I made kimchi yesterday, and judging from the
small bubbles scattered around the jar today-
I'm going to assume that it went pretty well.

It still has 2 more days on the countertop
so fingers crossed until then.



















I looked through a bunch of recipes and
finally found one that a.) didn't require
me to inhale the scents of dried or jarred
seafood and b.) was a somewhat speedy prep.
So thank you, Jean Georges, for this recipe.

I also started a shrub yesterday, which I think
is less of a fermentation and more of an infusion.




















1 part fruit, 1 part apple cider vinegar and a big of sugar.
Some recipes call for 1:1:1 but I hate overly
sweetened things so I just did a half teaspoon just to see if
I could get away with it. One more day on the counter and
I'll find out.  Cannot wait to have this with some seltzer.

Greenmarket Finds

I made it to the market around 9am.
I don't play around when it's strawberry season,
they are a necessary item right now and if you
don't get there early than you may not get them.

The spring harvest feels luxurious after
the long winter, and it's only going to get
better.  The Sunnyside market starts up again
in June and I cannot wait.

















*quart of Ronnybrook whole milk (cream on top)
*loaf of sourdough
*spinach
*cilantro
*carrots
*3 tomatoes
*4 portobello mushrooms
*large bag of crimini mushrooms
*leeks
*3 apples
*radishes
*corn tortillas
*scallions
*strawberries
*beets
*2 shallots (not pictured
*turkey breast (not pictured)
*dozen eggs (not pictured)


I've already got the beets steaming, I've had a small glass
of milk, and some sourdough with olive oil and salt.
I love Sunday mornings.

The Evolution of a Friday Night

There was a time where Friday meant partying,
socializing, going out, etc.  These days I find
extreme happiness in spending either Friday or
Saturday nights at home.  This is me.
I am a homebody.

I think it really changed when we moved
to our current apartment.  After years of bouncing
around, living in dorms and other people's apartments
I didn't feel like I had a home. A place that was mine.
We have been living in the Gardens for 4 1/2 years now
and in that time we have made this apartment a home and
haven.  I love spending time here.

So here I am, on a Friday night
laying in bed, watching Eat Pray Love
(which will probably lead me to plan
a trip to Bali), and looking for recipes to make
in the coming week.  Slightly nerdy?
Perhaps.  But I dig it.

Latest Obsessions

*Kate Quit Sugar
I feel like I'm always trying to shake
my sugar addiction- but I have no
self control when it comes to chocolate.
That was made apparent last night when I
could not say to to a flourless choc. cupcake.
But I'm always willing to keep trying to quit.
That counts for something, right??

*Wantful
I recently received a gift from this site and I was
instantly obsessed.  As the recipient you receive a
link with a personalized selection of gifts that you
can choose from. Whichever you choose is
sent out to you.  This is so brilliant.
Totally doing this for everyone.

*Getting back on track with the meal plan.
We've been eating a lot better this week:
2 delicious fish dinners, lots of different
salads, red pepper hummus, buckwheat soba
soup,  huevos rancheros. It's been extremely
satisfying.

*Mint Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
I wonder how this would taste without any
sugar added and with 90% dark chocolate....
see it's the chocolate issue again.

*Sketchbook Sneak Peek: Lisa Congdon
This makes me want to get into the sketching
habit again.

*Epic Pinterest Fail
This is an easy site to get sucked into.
It's almost as hilarious as Cakewrecks

Greenmarket Finds

 My market dreams came true.
Strawberries are finally back!
These are from a farm that doesn't use
any pesticides so they do recommend
eating them the day that you get them.
Which is not a problem for me. At All.
The only thing I wanted but didn't get was
rhubarb-they did have it but my budget was limited
so I had do choose the functional items.  I really only
want the rhubarb so that I can make a shrub.
Next time.

*dozen eggs

*1 tomato

*2 cippolini onions

*2 Cucumbers

*french breakfast radishes

*lettuce

*Sorrel

*2 Portobello Mushrooms

*Shitake Mushrooms

*1 bunch of Spigarello (I usually buy Tuscan Kale but I wanted to mix it up)

*Asparagus

*2 pints of strawberries

The yellow on the strawberries is pollen that gathered after it rained.

I always love things like this or finding dirt on the veggies

because it's reminder of where it came from