I Live in New York?

Apparently, I live in New York City these days. And while I've spent so much of my life in New York already, actually settling here is an entirely different story. First of all-- you can't eat out all the time. I know, it's so disappointing. I've been cooking a lot though (as I posted with my lattice top!) and I even learned to butcher a whole chicken (with Mark Bittman's guidance, obviously). Future-mom training: in tact.

So now when I do eat out, I like to really live it up. I choose each restaurant carefully, knowing that the experience has to be totally out of this world to make it worth the gazillions of dollars it all costs. Looking back on it now, I am very aware that my list of eating experiences in the last two months are not appropriate for a college-grad on a soon to be acquired non-profit salary, but hey, a girls gotta eat.

So first of all, there are a few places I've eaten for which I do not have photographs. These include The Meatball Shop (great ambiance, cheap food, love meatballs), Di Fara's (well worth the wait, go while you can), Southern Hospitality (has Justin Timberlake ever let me down?), JG Melon's (a great burger is a great burger, no frills attached), The Burger Joint (I don't want my hotel lobby to not reek of burgers ever again), and Land (potentially the best Thai food on the Upper East Side). I also ventured to Williamsburg for the weekly Smorgasbord Flea Market, which was probably one of the best eating experiences of my life. If there is one way to enjoy New York in the summer, its an outdoor food festival.

I also unfortunately did not take any photos at Prune. After painstakingly delaying our reservation until after I finished Blood, Bones and Butter, Kira and I finally made it to Gabrielle Hamilton's lady-friendly nook on 1st and 1st. Of everything I've eaten these two months, my dishes at Prune were the most personal. Hamilton understands (as I now understand too after reading her memoir) that a gratifying food experiences entails really connecting with your meal: peeling a grilled shrimp, de-boning a full fish, sucking out the slippery bone marrow, biting the stem off a radish. Even if we're fine dining, we still need to connect to our food. Labor intensity is part of the prize. Leaving Prune, I felt proud to be one of the women gluttonously licking anchovy butter off my fingers, my accomplishments still glistening in plain sight.

Ok, now to the photographic testimony to my luxurious eating habits. First stop: WD-50. I've been wanting to try WD-50 ever since Wylie Dufresne guest starred on Top Chef, but I've been too nervous. As anxious as I usually get about mis-ordering, I am fully convinced that making a mistake at a molecular gastronomy establishment is true humiliation. After studying the menu online and reading umpteen reviews, Jenny and I settled on an even blend of dishes: two that highlight the food, and two that highlight Dufresne. Our favorites were the two appetizers, the famous "eggs benedict" and the Duck Pastrami. (interestingly, one food-centric and one Wylie-inspired) Jenny and I really are diner-girls at heart with gourmet sensibilities, as you can tell from our orders. While biting into a square egg yolk is really an experience worth trying, I don't think I'll be running back to WD-50 any time soon; sometimes good food is just better without the pretention.

Yesterday, I finally made it to Momofuku-Ssam. (Last week of funemployment, have to take advantage!) I think the moral of this experience is simply: I . LOVE . DUCK . I . LOVE . DUCK . SO . MUCH . And, yes, I know it is totally indulgent to have a duck sandwich with foie gras and mayo and bacon for lunch (ok, fine, it was my breakfast) but I can justify this kind of irresponsibility by saying that "David Chang knows best", right? If he can create a sandwich with just the right amount of duck, peppers that are sweet and spicy at the same time, little wisps of cilantro and a hint of sriracha, then I have to eat it. Every last succulent bite of it.

Finally, I want to discuss the finest adventure of them all: My graduation dinner at Le Bernardin. I can't even really compare eating at Le Bernardin to any other dining experience... there are some restaurants that are just on another level. And Eric Ripert is the god of seafood. When he came out of the kitchen, I shyly turned to catch a peek of his iconic stance, and it felt like I was in the presence of an actual celebrity. His quick prance around the dining room catapulted our evening into epic status, while at the same time grounding our meal in reality. THERE HE WAS- the man himself- master of all things fish- just strutting around his dining room. I couldn't believe it.

I think my dinner at Le Bernardin changed how I think about fish forever. I'm no longer convinced fish should cooked all the way. While I'll never argue with a great fried seafood dish (see: Cape Cod Summer 2010), or a whole grilled skin-on-bones-in platter (a la Gabrielle Hamilton), Ripert's finesse in just lightly searing a fillet, or delicacy is presenting the raw-seasoned carpaccio style, proves that fish is enough as it is. No fire, no side dish (even french fries!) necessary. Jamie referred to his raw salmon as "ethereal." You can't beat that with all grill-tops in the world.

Apologies for the fuzzy photos. I hope the brilliance of each dish can shine through the blur.

YES, that IS salmon on top of foie gras covered in olive oil. Mmm-hmm.

(this is my dad enjoying his meal. He took 4 rolls of bread instead of 1 like the rest of us. He knows how to get the most bang for your buck!)

Ok, so two months in New York and I am not doing too badly for myself. Suggestions for my next spot, anyone?