gone, but not forgotten

i'm unbelievably disappointed to have been away so long. the fall months and early days of winter have been frantic and full of activity. during this time away i've eaten out, stayed in and even found time to cook thanksgiving dinner with the help of some good friends. but throughout it all, i've been collecting thoughts on these myriad experiences in the hopes of finding a quiet moment to share them. so, here goes...

1. despite the great debate over soup dumplings, i remain forever loyal to shanghai cafe in chinatown. not only are the dumplings little pillows of heaven, but the prices are amazing and the atmosphere is surreal enough to make you feel like you've somehow time-warped to some delicious space odyssey where the lights are bright (scratch that, downright neon) and the spiky-haired natives communicate in a language altogether foreign and yet somehow universal.

2. the islands in prospect park is a spot that requires further thought and a second try. my first visit was less than inspiring. an order of trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned with fresh spices and simmered until tender, had strong flavor and good texture, but was so bathed in oil that after eating as much as i could stomach it was hard to recall anything except the exxon-like grease slick left in my take out container.


3. when the cold weather hits, there's nothing i turn to more for comfort than a big bowl of pho and summer rolls at thai son, where i've been going since my first days in the city. it may not be the most authentic, but i've come to depend on the restaurant's grease-lined floor; playful (bordering on eerie) vietnamese instrumental pop music hanging in the air like white chiffon over a hot pink light bulb; and the harried servers at your table, pen and paper in hand, ready to jot down what they already assume will be your order (pho, spring rolls, summer rolls - people don't really veer). all before you've even taken a seat. lapping up the contents of my combination special big bowl, after doctoring it with an ungodly amount of sambal and a touch of hoisin, sends me into a euphoric state that can only be likened to love's unfettered early moments.

4. thanksgiving is a time for family, and i've come to adore my city family. it's for these individuals that i endeavored to tackle a 12 lb bird with only minimal prep time and one counter top. in the end, it was a grand group effort and all was enjoyed. the night left all revelers full and sleepy - dionysus would have been proud.

while i've left things out and have more i'd like to share, i can only expect one's attention span to last so long, so i'll end here. but hope to return more frequently, as i am eager for what the next few months will bring...snow, celebration and always more food.