It was so great to see my Stern girls last night: L, G and G's boyfriend G (hence G2). L actually works around the corner from me so she "picks me up" at my office. Even though dinner was at 7, I was starting to get antsy and she rescued me at around 5:45. We walked through the diamond district to look at sparkly things. I was ... bored. Everything looked the same, nothing different. Want to see something special? L's engagement ring is gorgeous, low-set, with a vintage leaf design. Stunning and totally unique. Her mom is a jeweler and L always has great pieces - last night a Satya lotus earring and necklace combo (http://www.satyajewelry.com/). At a previous Chinatown run, she got a beautiful gold leaf necklace. For my birthday last year, she gave me a Dogeared (http://www.dogeared.com/) gold chain with a little wishbone that I adore (and am wearing right now).
Good thing we left early because we got a bit lost. I wasn't quite paying attention - I get very distracted in the west village with people watching and stores and everywhere we turned there was a mob of NYU first years being led on a tour. Ai! Quick, cross the street! Finally, we found it - so not where I thought it was. The bakery arm of P*Ong called Batch was next door and we had to go in. It smelled SO good. Everything was beautiful - we almost had a nibble before dinner. I asked and there was a non-dairy rice pudding made with coconut milk (I used to make it myself and should try again). Yum! We went to shop a little more (passed a really cute little girl wearing a chicken hat!) but went back to just sit down and have a drink. She had a very interesting drink called the Vegetarian and I had an Electric Ice-T (which got me quite tanked - I'm a very cheap date).
G2 joined us seconds later. I hadn't seen G (boyfriend) in such a long time! G (girl) looked stunning as usual - she is a major style influence for me. Classic, beautiful, lady-like AND sexy - we've had many good times shopping. It was nice to have a boy in the mix. We talked about football and he reminded me that the Giants won the Superbowl last year. M likes the Redskins (doesn't "Go Skins" sound weird to you?) so I feel compelled to stand behind one of the only teams physically left in Jersey. Plus, the Giants are playing the Redskins on Thursday. M: if the Redskins lose, it'll be because they are overpowered by the stench from the Meadowlands.
The company outshone the food. The restaurant was strangely very quiet and empty for a Thursday night (perhaps they cater to a late night crowd?). My shrimp cerviche and short ribs were ok. Maybe I'm just not ordering the right food. The duck that I had wanted was not on the menu (it is online), they ran out of the arctic char, and the eggplant was salty. The bread they served as AMAZING - a beautiful fresh out of the oven focaccia with a thin crispy crust. I liked the fava bean salad that G2 had - it had a lovely sprinkle of sesame oil. We did enjoy the play between the sweet and the savory. The salt in the sorbet reminded G and I about this pound of unbelievable toffee we devoured back when financial firms used to get gift baskets for the holidays and I used to eat diary (http://www.enstrom.com/).
Perhaps it was a collective change in taste. When discussing our next culinary adventure, everyone got excited about Jewel Bako and Back Forty. L's suggestion was a small place in the lower east side that served simple, fresh, locally-sourced comfort food. I think we're all looking for some comfort.
www.backfortynyc.com
After dealing with loud crazy children hopped up on candy on their way or coming back from Disney, loud twenty year olds and people farting non-stop on both legs of my Orlando trip, the travel gods finally were convinced that they have tortured their Job enough.
