Saturday started with brunch a deux at one of my favorite spots, Essex, on the LES. It's definitely a scene - and one of the louder places I've ever been in my life (very odd acoustics in that place) - but you can't beat $18 for a fantastic meal plus three (!) Bloody Marys or mimosas.
Last night, Kendrick and I were slogging our way home through the rain when we suddenly decided that we couldn't go one step further without some pasta...and stopped into a totally random spot that we pass every single day of our lives, but have never before thought to try out: Tony's Di Napoli.
I suppose it's kinda (really?) a tourist trap, and it is absolutely unreasonably expensive...but whenever I'm in LA I try to get to The Reel Inn if at all possible.
Immediately upon touchdown, Kendrick and I drove - well, I drove (shockingly, you can't rent a car without photo identification) - to one of my absolute favorite restaurants in LA, Sushi Mon.
Saturday morning began on my rooftop, where yoga instructor Rebekah Morin of Reflections Yoga (250 W. 49th Street) and Yoga People (260 Montague Street) taught me (and Kendrick, sorta) how to do a quick at-home yoga session. Video to come!
Afterwards, feeling nice and healthy, I headed over to Gina La Fornarina with Morgan and Carla for bellinis and brunch. The first thing to say about the restaurant is that it is extremely, extremely pink - hence the abundance of brunching girlfriends and young couples with babies. The atmosphere is also much, much better in the summer: in the winter, it's kind of small and unremarkable inside, but in the warm months the entire front opens up to the street; I'd say 50% of the tables at least feel like they're outside.
Seriously. For $6.95, you get a spring roll, a big salad or tofu/mixed vegetable soup, and an entree (I had pad see eew, above).
Last weekend, my parents took Kendrick and I out to dinner at Peruvian restaurant Pio Pio. The restaurant is a relative newcomer to the Hell's Kitchen dining scene, but instantly secured a spot on my list of favorites.
You know if someone's eaten the Black Label burger at Minetta Tavern, because they just won't stop talking about it. Like, ever.
When Verena and I got on the subject of burgers a couple of weeks ago, we decided that it just had to happen: we'd journey down to Minetta to taste-test the $26 Black Label Burger and the $16 Minetta Burger (which Frank Bruni has actually decreed better than its pricier rival) side-by-side.
The Black Label burger is one of the more storied foodie items in the city. Seriouseats has an extraordinarily comprehensive run-down of how the thing (which I would hesitate to call a burger, so far is it from tasting like what one would expect from a meat patty swaddled in bun) is made, but suffice it to say that it's an elaborate process, including dry-aged ribeye, brisket, and skirt steak in secret proportions, brioche from Balthazar Bakery, and onions that are griddled just-so in the beef juices.
Yesterday I had a late lunch with Carla, a talented actress and a smart, genuine, and driven young lady who's going to be helping me out with some upcoming shoots, events, etc.
Yesterday I did a lot of not-fun running around, but I did manage to fit in two very fun pit stops: lunch with Liz at Hill Country, and drinks with Verena from Styleite at Fanelli's.
