Writing about food since 2004.
Category
NYC Favorites
-
Golden Hof
A few weeks ago Deb Perelman, aka Smitten Kitchen, reached out to me and asked if I had any interest in seeing a staged reading of Moonstruck starring Patti Lupone. That’s like asking me, “Would you like to spend several hours in actual heaven?” I immediately said “yes” and then we got to the important…
-
Bar Bête
When I went on Watch What Happens Live to promote my novel Food Person, I was told that Andy would be asking me one and only one question: “What’s the book about?”
-
Thai Diner
Since I moved back to New York two years ago, there’s one restaurant that comes up again and again as one of the most beloved restaurants in the city and that’s Thai Diner. Located on a highly-trafficked block in the Lower East Side (especially on a Friday night), Thai Diner looks a bit like a…
-
Le Bernardin
[From the 9/11/23 newsletter] Last night I went with my parents to Le Bernardin, not only one of the city’s great restaurants, but one of the world’s. It’s funny that my parents, who prize value and lack of pretentiousness, like Le Bernardin so much (it’s not only expensive, but very formal) but we all contain…
-
S & P
This morning, I had to pick Craig up at a doctor’s appointment (all good!) and as a treat, we walked over to S&P for breakfast. Our breakfast was a marvel. A sandwich called “The Lil’ Shonda,” it featured eggs, pastrami, Munsteur cheese, a pickled tomato, and Dinkee sauce (whatever that is). This was breakfast, lunch,…
-
Sailor
Last night we went back to Sailor with our pals Jenny and Andy who you know and love from Dinner: A Love Story. The food at Sailor is so out-of-this-world, I have a new distraction when I’m writing during the day. When I need a break, I just go on to the Sailor website and…
-
Café Kestrel
On Wednesday night, we met up with our friend Ryan O’Connell at Café Kestrel in Red Hook. Café Kestrel is such a cozy spot. It was our second time there: I snagged this reservation because they just started Wednesday night service. It was the perfect place to go to commiserate after the trauma of Tuesday…
-
Ci Siamo
[From the 2/21/25 Amateur Gourmet Newsletter] On Wednesday night, we met up with my L.A. pals Ryan and Jonathan at another favorite NY restaurant, Ci Siamo. The food at Ci Siamo is so, so, good — it’s the Italian answer to Le V’eau d’Or. Loved having these two restaurants fight over me on my birthday.…
-
Le Veau d’Or
[From the 2/21/25 Amateur Gourmet Newsletter] My birthday dinner was at Le Veau d’Or, where we went once with my parents, but I was eager to go back. We met up with my friend Jenny who you know and love from Dinner: A Love Story and our pal Chris, whose birthday we celebrated in Mexico…
-
Superiority Burger
[From the 6/19/25 newsletter] On Monday night, I had a reading at an event called Wine and Pine (done in collaboration with Chardongay) that turned out to be a lot of fun. Beforehand, Craig and I met up with our pal Chris for dinner at Superiority Burger in the East Village: Superiority Burger is one…
