NYC

Traveled to New York last week to give a reading. In spite of a lack of photographic evidence, we mostly ate for 4 days and caught up with friends we hadn't seen in a year/two. Everywhere we ate was almost an accidental decision: we're cold, we're hungry, what's within 20 paces? But still, it's hard to go wrong. Some highlights...

This depicted cup of espresso at MOMA's Terrace 5 , and every object associated with the meal we ate there, paragons of design, all. I'm keen to acquire 2 of these bird cups for myself.. Internet has so far been no help. Also eaten there: a salmon with paper-thin slices of fennel and green apple in a delicate mustard sauce with watercress. And a chocolate tart that made me want to lick the plate. It was mousse-like but with enough flour to give it a slab of cake form.

The "Christmas" borscht at Veselka, a sublime ruby soup with a mushroom and kasha-stuffed perogi floating within.

My croissant at Cafe Colonial. Catching this place uncrowded on a Monday morning, it was a tranquil spot to linger over a pot of tea and a light breakfast before starting our day, but looking at their menu, it looks like a more elaborate meal there would send me over the moon. The croissant surpassed my home turf Red Hen standby, with all the rich, airy layers of the genuine article in the France.

Jeff's Bloody Mary at Marion's. I don't even like Bloody Maries, but this one was peppery and fresh tasting with a celery-salt rim and it was a feat to finish 1 (boozey!). I had a sip for research-sake, but my palate was elsewhere with the knock-out ricotta-stuffed French toast with cardamom syrup.