Cafe Zaiya & A

[in progress]

*Cafe Zaiya & Manatee

[in progress]

"You could be a food writer for the lactose intolerant."

*Cafe Zaiya & A

One could eat terrific breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert at Cafe Zaiya - a Japanese "fast food" eatery near the New York Public Library. It has all kinds of bento boxes, snacks, sushi, Japanese baked goods including Beard Papa, as well as noodle soups and a choose your own salad bar. It was a favorite lunch spot of mine and perfectly in between A and me for our monthly lunches.

A and I have been victims of the universe's sick sense of humor. There has been a rash of unfortunate incidents and we have carried on to the best of our abilities. I hope the tide has turned and we can look forward to better days and new beginnings. And, there are always other people who have more bizarre experiences. A, good luck with the big "test", I hope it all works out. And one day, we'll sit and share a pot of ramen or 10 gallon tub of coconut sorbet.

*Cafe Zest w/ C

C came all the way from the Financial District to have lunch with me! I met her and her partner at an NYU LGBT graduate students event and it's been amazing to see these women kick butt. I'm happy to say that C is part of the JP family and will be starting a new fantastic assignment on 9/8. She's so excited about this job that she is foregoing a week off to attend meetings! She is such a superstar. B is starting a new fantastic business. And they are tying the knot in a couple of months and are in the midst of planning and getting paperwork done in Massachusetts. It was so great to catch up.

I picked Cafe Zest for out little lunch date. At my previous firm, I used to go to its parent Cafe Zaiya for terrific packaged Japanese yummies and...Beard Papa! My co-worker E told me that they were opening a place right on our office block and I've been dying to go. It is bright, clean and airy (if not a bit narrow). There is a terrific choice of salads (soba salad, udon salad), sandwiches (I had a nice fried fish sandwich), bento boxes, sushi, onigiri and yummy pastries (I can't eat them but you should)! D must be sooooo jealous because I know she'd be eating here every day (there's Calpico!). There's a great little dining area in the back with sky lights. I get to have actual rays of the sun helping me make vitamins! A fabulous addition to the multitude of Japanese food in the area: SEO, Menchanko Tei, Sushi Express, Haru, Katsu-Hama, Sakagura...