EATALY-MANZO

I've been excited about going to Eataly since it opened last month, but I've been worried that it would be too overwhelming and crowded. Kim and I went last night and it was even better than I'd hoped. It's clean, and beautiful and has any Italian food product you could want. There are a bunch of options for eating in, I plan to try them all. We started with Manzo, a counter devoted to beef. First up was chilled NY Strip with arugula and aged balsamic vinegar, followed by raviloli filled with beef braised in red wine.
We shared the Ribeye for two
Sitting down the counter from us was Lydia Bastianich, who helped open Eataly. I love her TV show Lydia's Italy and think of her as my Italian grandmother. I felt lucky to be able to congratulate her on the four star review that another of her restaurants, Del Posto, received in the NY Times earlier today.
After dinner Kim and I wandered around in a haze eating gelato and imagining all the food we will eat here in the future.

TORRISI ITALIAN SPECIALTIES

I still like going to Woody Allen movies even though they tend not to be as good as they used to. Last night I saw You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger with Sara and Alicia. Afterwards, we met Mott at Torrisi Italian Specialties. Mulberry Street looked spooky from the fog and rain and remnants of the San Gennaro Festival. They have a set menu--the only decision you have to make is which of two main dishes you'd like.

The first thing was warm mozzarella with milk thistle cream*
Broccoli with dried shrimp
Mortadella with cabbage
Fried Artichokes
Tiny shells with calamari
Devil's chicken with yogurt
Brook Trout

Palette cleansing lemon Italian ice

Homemade cookies-these weren't dry like these types of cookies usually are.
*They say this is supposed to help sooth skin irritation but I had an eczema flair up and had to go in the bathroom and run hot water over my hands to relieve the itchiness.

THE SPOTTED PIG

The Spotted Pig is a nice place to go on a rainy New York day like today. Sara and I sat at the bar. They have my favorite beer, Old Speckled Hen (I guess they like farm animals with dots) We started with the Deviled eggs.
Radish Salad
Kale with bacon
Prosciutto and Ricotta tart
Jonah Hill was there, he was wearing a hat similar to this one.

HIGHLANDS

I'm really glad to be back in New York. Highlands was just what I was looking for: a quiet place to have breakfast and read the Sunday paper. It's a Scottish place so I had the full Scotch breakfast: baked eggs, roasted tomatoes, madras lentils, sausage, bacon and toast. They were playing Television and Sonic Youth's version of The Carpenter's "Superstar".

ICE BOX-MIAMI AIRPORT

Leaving Miami, I was lucky to be at the opening day of Ice Box Cafe's offshoot at the Miami Airport. (across from gate D-11)This was the best airport food I've ever had. Gado-Gado: kale, tofu, eggplant, brown rice and peanut sauce. They have tons of cakes and cookies, I had my favorite: oatmeal and chocolate chip cookie.

FIFI'S

I could eat at Fifi's everyday. They serve locally caught fresh fish. It's small. While we were there you could see guys carrying coolers in from the back of their pickups. I had the lunch special for $12.99. It starts with a warm, soft Parker House-style roll.
A fresh, simple salad with lettuce, tomato, avocado lime juice.
Grilled Hoghead Snapper with rice and beans. It's great to find a place that serves it's fish this simply.
Fifi, the lovely owner.
Flan (Phil would have really like this place)
Cuban-style coffee in this cool cup and saucer.

WISH

Wish is located in The Hotel, designed by Todd Oldham. This place is nice and calm even though it's in the heart of Collins Ave./South Beach. They serve a lot of locally raised vegetables and fish prepared very simply. Hamachi with cilantro puree.

Local tomatoes with watercress puree
Salad with ginger-lime dressing
Steamed local Red Snapper.

SRA. MARTINEZ

Chirstie is from Miami and recommended her high school friend Michelle's restaurant Sra. Martinez. We got the Chef's tasting, it was delicious, intense and tons of food. It comes in a few rounds: We started with Tapas: (Bacon wrapped dates, croquetas, pan con tomate and eggplant chips with honey)

In between we had a salad course (Greek salad, Kale with garlic chips, mixed vegetables) Then a fish course: (squid ink risotto, prawns, catch of the day)

After that was pork chops and braised oxtail with fideos. Then dessert. I eat a lot.

SHAKE SHACK-MIAMI

Miami reminds me of Las Vegas in the way that there are fake versions of familiar New York things. Kat and I went to the new Shake Shack for lunch. She had a Shroom Burger with cheese fries and I had a hamburger with regular fries.

SPECMEDIC

About ten years ago I bought these folding Persol sunglasses and then a few years ago I dropped them and they cracked in half. They've been sitting in my drawer since then. I tried everything I could to get them repaired but no one would even attempt this tricky repair (since they fold) Finally, SpecMedic was able to help. It was a great consumer experience. They have a very simple website, the spec medic called me to discuss my repair which only took a day or two, and they shipped them back to me quickly, all for $30.

DIGGING FOR SOMETHING

SAKAYA KITCHEN

Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a pretty big fan of Momofuku. Since I'm working in Miami for a few weeks and won't be able to go there, I was happy to find Sakaya Kitchen. It's located in a strip mall in the midtown area. They have a whole section of the menu devoted to seasonal dishes which they post on an erasable chalk board (If I ever opened a restaurant, I would want it to have a chalk board) Dina, Stacy, Corey, Doug and I shared some very Momofuku-ish food, including pork buns:

Fried chicken wings

Ginger Brussel sprouts
Spicy Tater Tots
Beef lettuce wraps
I plan to return here during my stay.