It was nice, twice!

Well, it was more than nice, it was amazing!



Right before I was off to the airport I made a return trip to the Momofuku Milk Bar (that's 3 times in a weekend people!) for some cookies, pork buns and soft serve (caramel apple!) to go. And on that last pic, THAT'S CHRISTINA TOSI (the head pastry chef) who served me! I wanted her to sign my cookies... but thought better of it. My box of cookies, but thought better of it.

The buns were the perfect "I'm home now snack" and the cookies were as delicios as ever! And made for good gifts to those who were deserving enough to receive one. Hopefully I've created some momo-converts with the peeps I've shared them with. Luckily I didn't show the the box that had been reduced to a ball of butter and lard drenched cardboard by the time it made it back to Cali.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

bring me a Sprinkles any day

So one would think that the place that started the whole cupcake craze would have good cupcakes, right? WRONG!



After the Fatty Crab dinner, we walked to Magnolia Bakery. Which is very cute (and in the cutest neighborhood! is that the area called the west village? Bleeker? Anyhow, lots of shops including Marc Jacobs that open until 10pm! And the Jack Spade where the whole Top Banana incident went down.)

looks good, right?! looks can be deceiving as my cupcake was no bueno.

Anyhow, I was warned so I was a little prepared to not to blown away. My red velvet was tiny, $3, covered in a so-so whip cream and DRY! What's up with that?! However Matt recommended the banana pudding, that was in one word bahNAHnas. Wonder why there's not a country wide banana pudding craze?!?

mmmm. shut up right now. this was bananas amazing! so good in fact that someone totally stole matt's from his fridge!

Fatty Crab

Totally cute name right? Another fantastically delicious NYC meal.

The food is South East Asian (I know!), which surprised me since I though it was going to be like a New England clam bake for some reason. But anyhow, I think what made it so delicious was that everything was in flavors that I've not really experienced or eaten a lot of. It was like Thai or Vietnamese, but more exotic and a hint of spice. Matt and I shared like 5 things and that was PLENTY. And funnily enough, we didn't even get the crab, even thought is was Crabby Monday (aka all you can eat chili crab special).

Meal highlights:

Crispy Fried Pork and Watermelon Salad:


Fatty Sliders with Beef and Pork


We also had Lo Si Fun (a delicious fat noodles in a sauce) and Spare Ribs = so good! (And note the chicken wings were good, but just ok).

Thank goodness that there's lots of walking when in NY!

Momofuku Ko

OMG, I died. DIED!

So I previous posted about my obsession with David Chang and how I got up early to fight the internet crowds to get a reservation at 12 seat Momofuku Ko... It was WELL worth it!!!

In an iron gate covered tiny store front, with not signs, other than a small peach logo, a magical meal awaited! Ignore the bald spot!

Lunch = 3 hours = $175 = 16 courses = No menus = No photos allowed inside

It was SO good. Bananas ah-mazing people. So innovative! And unlike the time Jessica and I dined at Per Se, I didn't pass out at the table from the wine pairings. Although I must say, I was silently hoping that Mr. Chang himself would make an appearance. It was he who made the comment about how messed up it is that chefs open a restaurant, charge a ton for a meal and then are not even the ones there preparing it... His hypocrisy aside, that is my only complaint.

Anyhow during the meal, Matt and I were trying to recall all the things we ate... and we could not. There were a few dishes that we remembered, but we were not able to come up with all 16. And as I type this now, I'm at a loss!!!

1) rolled chip filled with ?

2) 2 soup spoons filled with ?

3) Oyster on the half shell and caviar

4) Trio of sashimi

5) egg foam in a bacon broth?

6) Bread soup with bagel roll filled with bacon, chives and cream cheese

7)

8) Braised duck (which the basted and browned with hot oil in front of our eyes for like 2 hours!)

15) Dessert #2

16) Dessert #1 puree of ?

I'm at a loss... I hope Matt can help!
stay tuned...

Matt's on top!

No, seriously. He's a Top Banana!

Matt posing with his new prize while getting a celebratory BANANA pudding at Magnolia Bakery

No gay jokes I swear.
So Matty luvs him sum Jack Spade... A little obsessively. But his passion for the bags got him 20% off for a year! In the Bleeker St. store, he was sharing his passion with the sales peeps (he even has the Jack Spade travel scrabble and took it to Cuba!) and one of them happened to be a corporate merchandiser. It was, as Matt puts it, a "NY moment". And then and there, they presented him with a the magical card!

Congrats to the ONLY Top Banana at the Jack Spade Bleeker St. Store!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Update: Lorenzo

Spotted, at the baggage claim!

It was totally him?
-he has louis vuitton luggage that was well worn.
-he was wearing marc jacobs suspenders ($9 from that cheap accessories store)

It totally wasn't?
-The luggage was typical beige nylon looking that could have been from china town.
-no one picked him up. He went to the courtesey shuttle pickup and boarded a National/Alamo bus!

I'm so confused... My cousin would have known. I'm gonna email him...


UPDATE! (no new post because that would just be excessive... ha!) after some cyber stalking... I found out that IT WAS HIM! Alamo car rental and all. He was in NY the night before for the opening of his PR company. But the give away was the tattoo on his forearm. The couple next to him was complementing him on them and of course I just so happened to over hear that... It's not like I'm a stalker or anything!


picture taken on 11/17/09

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

If it's good enough for the president...

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Finally got to try it! Val and I had searched the boonie of PA and didn't see any... Tho we had heard that it was out there... Anyhow, found one! Right near soho. Omg it was good. I'm a total west coaster and luv me my In 'N Out, but this bacon burger was so much better than my last double double... And the fries too! And now I KNOW Obama has good "taste"! (sorry... I had to)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

And it's over

Boo hoo! NYC, I'll miss you.
I didn't quite get to live blog all of the fun things I saw... But I'll be post-posting soon!

First a nap and some downloaded Mad Men. But hurray for free Wifi and electricity on Virgin.
Ps: I think Lorenzo Martone is on my flight. But would he fly coach?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mmm mmm Keller

A little morning coffee and dolce from Buchon bakery (one floor below is Per Se where jess and I dined previously and got a little wasted! Actually a lot wasted... we took turns passing out at the table. note to self... wine pairings not the best idea for people with low tolerance for alcohol.)

That was one good mocha and raisin pastry, even though I'm not the biggest raisin fan.

Soon we'll have Buchon in LA! I wonder if it'll ever make it to the OC? doubtful...

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Momofuku bakery and milk bar

And of course after shopping in soho, there always room for some dolce - pork buns, stuffing and fruit flavored soft serve and cookies (fulled with chocolate, pretzels, marshmellows and cornflakes!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Meal #1

First stop.
After arriving and a Dunkin' Doughnut and coffee to get me going, we breakfasted at little neighborhood restaurant that I'm not allowed to tell you the name of per my friend matt. (honest! sorry, he was pretty serious when he said it.) It was really good. It opened at 10 and seats about 25 - by 9:45 there was a line of 10 people waiting to get in. TOTALLY worth it.

Matt ordered Sausage & Oysters (yum!) and my huevos rancheros (also good!). And the mystery restaurant.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hit the ground running

A little dunkin' doughnuts and coffee to keep me up.

Once I arrived on Harlem, we were off! No naps and rest for the weary. It was a rainy day so those boots ended up being more than just a Halloween costume.

Ps Harlem is totally gentrified! So not the area of the movies.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The weary traveler

Sigh. Didn't sleep as much as I hoped on the plane although the guy to my right snored loudly the whole way.

I'm fighting the sleep now that I'm in a cab heading to Harlem. But my angry swearing cabbie is keeping me alert. On the road for 30 mins and this is the 3rd accident already



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I've got a ticket to ride

I'm off for a weekend in Nyc! And will do my best to live blog the trip.



So first and formost, look at me blogging from the sky! Free wifi on Virgin America! Gotta love it. Well, everything thus far has been loveable except for the whole 1 hr departure delay. Time for bed... I land at 6am and need to be rearing to go. night!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone