Megan Blocker

The last time I went was a Saturday at about 2:00...I waited about 10 minutes.

Refrigerator pickles!!! Or, really, even just a cucumber salad.

I think it was creme brulee French toast, not waffles! Here's a recipe for it from Epicurious...

Warm here, too! Miles and I had Manhattans...we're very happy!

Yes, Lexy - it WAS clotted cream. It's one of my favorite things, too.

Wow, Alinka - those look great! I went out for breakfast this morning - well, brunch, really, at 11:00 - to Alice's Tea Cup. I first discovered Alice's just after it opened four years ago. It was one of those days in July when the weather is extremely changeable. I'd been shopping at a flea market about three blocks north when the heavens opened and delivered a soaking rain. I was running south, looking for a place to duck into for a few minutes, and I saw a sign on the sidewalk that read, "Tea and Ice Cream." I ran down the little flight of stairs and ended up at Alice's! It's gotten so popular that they now have two Manhattan and two Bronx locations, and it's always packed. My favorite thing there are the scones...they are fluffy, moist and to-die-for. In fact, they're so good that I rarely order anything else. This morning I had two scones (pumpkin and banana-walnut) and a side order of roasted aspargus and pears. My friend Lisa had the tea-scented granola with yogurt and fruit - which was really, really good. We split a pot of Earl Gray. That's the pumpkin in the front...and cream and preserves on the side! The pears look like potatoes...but they tasted like pears, I promise. The yogurt came in a teacup!

Actually, it's called insurance.

I just tried this, and I really don't like it. Had to rinse my mouth out with my trusty Diet Coke.

Sounds like an awesome idea to add the raspberries, Stephanie! I'm thinking about making this again this weekend...I'll definitely include raspberries, at the very least as a garnish for each slice. As for slicing, yeah, I think it gets easier to slice the longer it sets...alanamoana's idea is a good one if you don't have the full two or three hours for it to chill. Lady M serves theirs slightly chilled, if memory serves. Sort of like it set up in the fridge and then spent a little while at room temp...but never fully warmed up. Probably because it gets eaten so quickly!

It's all been leading up this, right, Susan?

Oh, yay!!! I love risotto - making it and eating it! This will be fun!

And sparkling - Pol Roger by the glass, also used in their cocktails calling for Champagne. Drool.

I was at Aquavit on Friday as well! I met up with my friend Louisa in the lounge - she was in town from Ohio for the day, and we decided Aquavit would be the perfect spot for a couple of cocktails. It also meant Lou could get something in her stomach before her flight back to Cleveland. I had an Aquatini and an AQ Royale, and Louisa stuck to her favorite, the AQ Bellini. To nosh, we had the nuts (even their bar nuts are superb) and a salmon platter...

I secretly confessed to Susan some time ago that I take close-ups vs. wide shots because my plating sucks and I don't want to show the whole plate . Chufi. Shame on you. You keep showing these gorgeous photos of the things you do to rhubarb, yet you are not sharing the recipes. Maybe now I want that crumble? I'm not sure we have rhubarb now, but anyway. I did see some stalks at the supermarket, maybe last year, so I need to check again. ← And I don't take wider shots because I mostly eat on my couch, with my plate on the coffee table, except for when I have company!

If you like martinis, try the Fitty-Fitty at Pegu. One part gin, one part dry vermouth, and a dash of bitters. Yum!

Thanks, Megan I've posted the recipe on my foodblog - hope you'll like it! ← Thanks!!! Today I made some cupcakes to take into the office tomorrow...on my friend Louisa's recommendation, I used the buttermilk cupcakes recipe from the Gourmet Cookbook. I made both kinds of frosting (cream cheese - one chocolate and one lemon), but, true to Louisa's word, the lemon is better. I only frosted two with the chocolate, but had enough leftover to frost the rest with the lemon. The cupcakes themselves are really good - rich in flavor but light in texture, and nice and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I used regular flour instead of cake flour, but it all worked out!

What about doing a clafouti with slightly softened and spiced apples?

Pille - that looks great! I have a huge soft spot for blueberry confections of any and every kind...any chance you could share the recipe with us?

Thanks, Radio!

That sandwich looks great, TongoRad... I made a nice Saturday lunch today...Susan in FL's Champagne Vinegar Chicken. I like mine with lots of veggies (mirepoix plus tomatoes...yum) and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Served on a small bed of no-yolk egg noodles tossed with parsley, pepper and salt.

I'm really liking Pegu. Miss B., our 15 year old, could probably pass as 21 (can't they all, these days?). Bar food before Nobu may not be such a good idea ... though I could do it. (This will be my first time at Nobu, after several attempts, which are all stories for another day.) Our reservation is 6:30, on a Monday, so if we're meeting at 5:00, it probably won't be a mob scene anywhere. Or so I hope. Man, I really have got to get out of the 'burbs more often! ← Oh yeah - you'll be fine. On weekends, mob scenes tend to start around 10:30, 11:00. The last time I was at Pegu on a Friday night, it was at 9:00, and it was not hard getting a seat. Post-work times can be a challenge, but that scene won't be in full swing till 6:30 or so.

Sneakeater, I feel that you're not really expressing yourself here...how do you feel about it?

Any bartender who has to look up a Manhattan is a hack. Just saying.

New York Media Digest - 4/3/06 Reviews No reviews this week! Features Onan the Vegetarian The magazine profiles Dan Hoyt, owner of the raw food restaurant Quintessence and the city's latest subway flasher. Some choice quotes: Early Bloomer A list of spots around the city serving cherry blossom-flavored cuisine. Spring Melt Did you know that April is National Grilled Cheese Month? The magazine shows you the best places to indulge. The Pushcart Pride Ever wonder where all those street vendor carts go to sleep at night? Spring Travel: Dining Destinations As part of their Spring Travel issue, the Magazine looks at dining destinations in the following cities: - Los Angeles - London - Paris - Rome - Sydney

The Seagram's Building! That section of Park is a worthy attraction in and of itself...the view down to the Helmsley Building, Lever House, Seagram's Building...it's like the uber-business district. It's the only good thing about working in Midtown.