at the sign of The Pink Pig

Quick Bites: Vapiano

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  January 26, 2015]

As I've said before, if you don't get around to eating in order to review, you end up reviewing what you happened to eat. Vapiano is in that category, because it's certainly not a destination.

Although the set-up turned out to be kind of interesting.

Abbocatto And A BBQ Tasting: Ten Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine by Wilfrid:  January 26, 2015]

Snow was falling heavily this week ten years ago, much more so than January 2015. It was through the snow and the cold that a series of experts gathered at a Chelsea apartment, bearing samples of ribs from all over the city, for a blind barbecue tasting.

During which I lost a piece of a tooth.  That's ribs for you; or the bones, at least.

Dorado, Otto's, Empellón Al Pastor: Taco Takedown

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  January 19, 2015]

It used to make sense to say that some dish or ingredient was "having a moment"--a moment to shine in the limelight of critical and/or public attention. But these days, what isn't? Okay, vol-au-vents, maybe.

But if you said that fried chicken, or the Deep South generally--or craft burgers, or frozen yogurt, or fried pizza, or modernized French bistro food were modish around the EV and LES over the last year, you'd be right every time. Same goes for tacos.

Song And Dance: Ten Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine by Wilfrid: January 19, 2014]

Sometimes these selections from my old diaries make me sound like someone who did nothing for the last ten years but eat or drink. Okay, there was a lot of that, but there was music and theater and cabaret and art too.

And January 2004 seemed to be full of those good things.

Quick Bites: Root & Bone

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  January 14, 2015]

Considering how often I walk by this place, in the spot which used to be the downbeat hippy lunch room Mama's on East 3rd at Avenue B, it took me a long time to get inside and eat.

Six months, in fact, and not for want of trying. I suspect I'm not the only person who gave up (or came close to it).

Under The Weather: Ten Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine by Wilfrid:  January 12, 2015]

According to my diary I was flat-on-my-back sick the day after I flew back from the DR ten years ago. I have no recollection of an uncomfortable flight, it certainly wasn't a hangover, but my journal is uninformative. Maybe something seasonal.

Anyway, the result was a quiet week with only one restaurant blow-out.

Taking Flight In Yorkville

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  January 5, 2015]

So how often do you get to Yorkville?  Assuming you don't live there, of course--although the neighborhood is acquiring new, young residents hand over fist as it becomes evidently less expensive than Williamsburg, and even  Bushwick.

Maybe you drop by Schaller & Weber occasionally for some liverwurst? Anyway, next time your up that way, and need to eat, you have Flight in your back pocket.

Highs And Lows Of 2014

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  January 5, 2014]

Yes, I lazily let everyone else have their say first.  Pete Wells, and Ryan Sutton, and all the bloggers and food board posters; and in a few words, I let Eater know what I thought of New York's best new restaurants, 2014:

Cosme, by a mile. Honorable mentions: Gato, Bâtard, All'onda, Delaware & Hudson.

And really, Bâtard and All'Onda were fine and enjoyable, as were Betony and Dover, Donostia and Blenheim (under its first chef), Tuome and La Caye, and many others among the fifty-plus restaurants I've written about this year.

Headed For The DR Sun: Ten Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine by Wilfrid:  January 5, 2015]

December 30, 2004, and I was on an airbus headed for Santo Domingo, escaping New York's post-Xmas somnolence. I checked into the Hotel Frances, a really charming conversion of a historic villa in the Zona Colonial.

And a few hours later, was whisked away to the Jet Set club to see a set by the great merenguera Milly Quezada. Supper was a chimi burger from a trailer outside the club.