KKNY

1.4.11

31.3.11

A recurring KKNY theme seems to be how much I love how this wonderful city o' mine is a complete cultural mashup. And to show how much it's influenced how I think...the other night, when I was craving some sort of quick snack, the crazy light bulb went on. I ended up with an American/Chinese/Jewish beauty: almond butter with Sichuan chili paste on matzo.

Sound weird? Well, it's awesome, a sort of sibling to a high-quality dish of cold noodles with sesame sauce (like the ones at Szechuan Gourmet). And the combo is a bit of a revelation: it must be so easy to make a sort of "from scratch" version of those noodles at home...I must try.

30.3.11

Today In The Dining Section

There's an interesting story in today's Times on Bon Yagi, the unofficial "mayor of Japantown" and owner of 11 restaurants in the East Village--one of which is my takoyaki heaven, Otafuku.

28.3.11

Oh Beacon Reads, Why Weren't You Open?

Spied this book during my weekend wanderings in Beacon. It would be the perfect gift for so many friends...

24.3.11

Photo Mo'

23.3.11

To Try or Not To Try...

As this dollar burger's at a Kashmiri place, I'm intrigued...but its proximity to the Port Authority Bus Terminal raises doubts...

22.3.11

Go See: Tara Donovan @ Pace 22

I've been a fan of New York artist Tara Donovan's installation works since I happened upon one of her giant landscapes--a topographic mountain range made from stacks and stacks of plastic cups--a few years ago. This weekend I caught two shows of her works at The Pace Gallery, one of which, Untitled (Mylar) 2011, is up until April 9.

For those of you who don't know her work, you absolutely must go check it out--its giant silver Mylar bubbles (which kind of resembles, to me, a joyful herd of balloon pachyderms)--are incredibly happy-making, and the way the installation seems to morph itself from absolutely every angle gives it a wonderful sense of life. Photos of her work just never do them justice.

Sadly (for you), the other show, Drawings (Pins), closed Saturday. I wasn't anticipating as much from a more traditional format, but I was floored. These pieces were surprisingly three-dimensional, and just as alive as her installations are. Never underestimate an excellent talent.

Tara Donovan's Untitled (Mylar) 2011 is on view until April 9, 2011 at The Pace Gallery, 545 W. 22nd Street, between 10th and 11th.

21.3.11

Discoveries: Finally...A New Go To Chinese Chili Sauce?

For the last few years I've been scouring Chinatown shelves for a replacement for my much-beloved (and no longer produced) Chef Chow's Hot Bean Paste, which I used to happily buy in what seemed to be the manufacturer's outlet on Division Street (or perhaps the shop owner just really liked the stuff?). Whenever I have time, I peruse the many mysterious jars filled with crushed chilis, oil, and other various ingredients, but despite a refrigerator shelf chock-full of spicy concoctions, nothing's ever managed to fill the bill.

But I think I've finally discovered an acceptable replacement. While it's completely different (it's laced with Szechuan peppercorns--which only makes it better), I think this mysterious Spicy King "Home Made Szchuan Chili Sauce" might just be my new go-to thing to grab when I need to spice up some stir fry. Initial experiments have been super successful, and while its flavors will limit its use to Chinese dishes, I think I'll probably fly through the jar.

Besides, it's Super Lucky!

16.3.11

1910 "Hotel Oddities"

Researching a little history for The Actors Fund, I was digging through The New York Times archives, when I found this little gem tacked on to the scan of one of the stories. I don't know what's best: the shocking news of women smoking at the Waldorf-Astoria, the Mexican bird escape at the Gotham, or the use of pneumatic tubes and electric dumbwaiters to serve a "quick lunch" at the St. Regis.