photo of the week 9: my eyes…

Unlike my best childhood friend Micky, I never had aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot or astronaut. Whereas he had (and still has) perfect vision, a requirement for military flight school, by the time we attended Space Camp together in middle school, I was already sporting my first pair of glasses. While Micky went on […]

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photo of the week 9: my eyes…

Unlike my best childhood friend Micky, I never had aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot or astronaut. Whereas he had (and still has) perfect vision, a requirement for military flight school, by the time we attended Space Camp together in middle school, I was already sporting my first pair of glasses. While Micky went on […]

Continue

photo of the week 5: sophia and the bagel…

In 2001, I was living and working in Hollywood. Due to my multilingual capabilities, I was dispatched to attend the World Film Festival in Montreal that year. Arriving late in the evening, I met up with my counterparts, a group of foreign filmmakers with a hearty appetite. As they spoke neither French nor English, I […]

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photo of the week 5: sophia and the bagel…

In 2001, I was living and working in Hollywood. Due to my multilingual capabilities, I was dispatched to attend the World Film Festival in Montreal that year. Arriving late in the evening, I met up with my counterparts, a group of foreign filmmakers with a hearty appetite. As they spoke neither French nor English, I […]

Continue

photo of the week 4: istanbul, not constantinople…

You won’t find anything good to eat in Turkey, people warned me. Well, I don’t know how fair or accurate that assessment is. Few things in life can be summed up with such absolutism. Physically and gastronomically, Turkey straddles East and West. A crossroad for trade, politics, religion, and commerce for centuries, one would think […]

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photo of the week 4: istanbul, not constantinople…

You won’t find anything good to eat in Turkey, people warned me. Well, I don’t know how fair or accurate that assessment is. Few things in life can be summed up with such absolutism. Physically and gastronomically, Turkey straddles East and West. A crossroad for trade, politics, religion, and commerce for centuries, one would think […]

Continue

photo of the week 2: the church of mushroom…

Since España won the World Cup this week, I dove into my Spanish collection for inspiration. In 2005, I was a student of the world, traveling extensively and eating my way gluttonously through Europe. How could I not stop in Barcelona? A hajj to the tapas Mecca seemed not only prudent, but necessary. I never […]

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photo of the week 2: the church of mushroom…

Since España won the World Cup this week, I dove into my Spanish collection for inspiration. In 2005, I was a student of the world, traveling extensively and eating my way gluttonously through Europe. How could I not stop in Barcelona? A hajj to the tapas Mecca seemed not only prudent, but necessary. I never […]

Continue

rumination 10: hold on to your hats windy city…

The long-awaited shoe drops.  The Midwest gets its first Michelin Guide Rouge.  It is slated to issue in November of this year.  CLICK. Let the guessing and obsessing begin.

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rumination 10: hold on to your hats windy city…

The long-awaited shoe drops.  The Midwest gets its first Michelin Guide Rouge.  It is slated to issue in November of this year.  CLICK. Let the guessing and obsessing begin.

Continue

review: embarrassment of riches…

Café Boulud, New York, New York Chanel No. 5 in the dining room, Yemen No. 10 in the spice pantry. This is the dichotomy you’ll find at Café Boulud. Yeah, yeah, I know, I was just there. That was Gavin Kaysen’s reaction too when he saw my name pop up on the books.* A return? […]

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review: embarrassment of riches…

Café Boulud, New York, New York Chanel No. 5 in the dining room, Yemen No. 10 in the spice pantry. This is the dichotomy you’ll find at Café Boulud. Yeah, yeah, I know, I was just there. That was Gavin Kaysen’s reaction too when he saw my name pop up on the books.* A return? […]

Continue

review: batman and robin…

The Menu wd~50, New York, New York There’s a culinary dynamic duo in Gotham. Their names are Wylie and Alex. Their ways are mysterious, their synergy, great. This stealthy team, comprised of an eccentric rebel maverick and his boyishly handsome sidekick, champions a culinary movement that the city has, for some inexplicable reason, largely resisted. […]

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review: batman and robin…

The Menu wd~50, New York, New York There’s a culinary dynamic duo in Gotham. Their names are Wylie and Alex. Their ways are mysterious, their synergy, great. This stealthy team, comprised of an eccentric rebel maverick and his boyishly handsome sidekick, champions a culinary movement that the city has, for some inexplicable reason, largely resisted. […]

Continue

review: this little piggy…

Misticanza Maialino, New York Though I be wee, I’m fairly certain that my cheeks haven’t seen a booster chair in twenty-some years. A recent brunch with a friend gave us both the opportunity to revisit our infancy. The booths at Maialino look normal, and the benches well-cushioned and soft. Indeed, they are. But settle down […]

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review: this little piggy…

Misticanza Maialino, New York Though I be wee, I’m fairly certain that my cheeks haven’t seen a booster chair in twenty-some years. A recent brunch with a friend gave us both the opportunity to revisit our infancy. The booths at Maialino look normal, and the benches well-cushioned and soft. Indeed, they are. But settle down […]

Continue

review: apotheosis interruptus…

Cannoli Sundae Pulino’s, New York Say you arrive into New York late, and the taxi stand has a tail that coils halfway to New Jersey. There is no way you’re going to get into Manhattan before 11 p.m., when most restaurant kitchens close. And suppose that you haven’t had dinner yet. Where do you go […]

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review: apotheosis interruptus…

Cannoli Sundae Pulino’s, New York Say you arrive into New York late, and the taxi stand has a tail that coils halfway to New Jersey. There is no way you’re going to get into Manhattan before 11 p.m., when most restaurant kitchens close. And suppose that you haven’t had dinner yet. Where do you go […]

Continue

travel: smoke, with a chance of downpour…

Big Apple BBQ Block Party Fast Pass, New York, New York As an out-of-towner, you really shouldn’t sleep when you’re in New York City.  It’s a waste of time.  Think of what you might be missing, all the things you could do that you normally wouldn’t. For example, consider having dinner at midnight, a scandalously […]

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travel: smoke, with a chance of downpour…

Big Apple BBQ Block Party Fast Pass, New York, New York As an out-of-towner, you really shouldn’t sleep when you’re in New York City.  It’s a waste of time.  Think of what you might be missing, all the things you could do that you normally wouldn’t. For example, consider having dinner at midnight, a scandalously […]

Continue