Dear readers, both of you, or whoever is left. Not many according to my stat team. I hope this blog post finds you well wherever you are in this crazy world. Much has changed since my last post two weeks ago. Its fitting that it was about Green-Wood Cemetery in more ways than you may think. In NYC at the moment Green-Wood is the safest place to be outside of your residence. Imagine Central Park without the crowds (I was there last Friday). Its a world that even days ago none of us could imagine. Something as simple as a quick milk run to the deli requires careful planning.
I also want to take this opportunity to inform you that Food Tour guides, and restaurant bloggers turns out considered non-essential personnel in NYC. While some professions like barbers and sex workers are in sort of a gray area right now, my occupation is in what the city calls “Oh, God No” group. I even got a certificate that I must carry with me at all times while outside and it just has a giant red cross on it. It basically means that I can get heavily fined, and anyone with a proper certificate (without a red cross) is allowed to use physical violence on me and confiscate all my toilet paper and baby wipes. There’s a list of what they can take in the back.
In other words, no food tours for a while. I’ve been home on and off pretty much for two weeks now. No symptoms for any of us, but this has been quite an adjustment for my family (as for pretty much any family). The whole experience feels like a super long flight. You are just sitting there, waiting for the next meh meal, while looking aimlessly at the screen in front of you. And the people next to you are starting to get annoying. You are forced to do things you never do like watch CNBC, look at old shutterfly albums, and have conversations with your spouse.
Anywho, unless you’ve been on an isolated, disconnected retreat for the past two weeks with Jared Leto, you probably know that our NYC restaurant universe is in shambles at the moment. Restaurants essentially turned into charities overnight, and some are doing things they’ve never done before, like deliveries. Hard to imagine Rezdora, a tough table a month ago turn into a glorified Domino’s. Its a weird time to ask for help. So many people are hurting right now, and there’s so much uncertainty at the moment that restaurants and their employees are on the back-burner for most Americans. We are all trying to survive right now.
But restaurants, not airlines, are the backbone of our economy. Some New Yorkers are hurting more than others. While most still have jobs and many even can work from home, restaurant workers in NYC are scrambling. The way it often works in the food business is this. Food workers meet other food workers. They make babies. And now both parents are unemployed. Food workers often work paycheck to paycheck and dont save much. Ever met a wealthy waiter, or even a restaurant owner. Its a tough business to begin with.
Anyway, these are just a few ways you can help right now besides the obvious (deliveries, ask the gov’t for help, etc). But feel free to list more.
- Buy a gift card. Its a win-win for everyone. Some, like Pig and Khao are offering gift cards at a discount. ie $100 for $75. I purchased one yesterday
- Donate to an employee relief fund like Momofuku who employ(ed) hundreds of workers.
- Buy online from distributors and stores like Despana. While we focus on our stressful supermarket and Costco visits, there’s a lot of goodies out there available.
Thanks for reading. I’ll have more soon. Stay in, stay safe, stay strong.
Picnic Supplies
Charlotte Canda was a young high society debutante in the 1840’s. On February 3rd, 1845 while coming back from her 17th birthday bash, she was flipped from the horse carriage and died. Her death, and its circumstances shook New York. Charlotte herself designed some of the features of her own tomb in Green-Wood. Her father, who served under Napoleon, utilized some of Charlotte’s elements from the memorial of her aunt which Charlotte helped design a year earlier. Her grave is 17 feet high, 17 feet long, and her statue wearing 17 rose petals circling her head. 
Wayla, Wayan, Wayo. Confusing times for Google these days. Most confusing since Ilili, Leyla, Lilia, and Laila. I’m not making any of this up. These are all names of restaurants in NYC that sound and spell alike, and some of them opened around the same time. Naming your restaurant is as important as naming your child. I remember spending countless of 
I’m starting to get the hang of this. Rediscovering the borough of Queens. My friend Howard moving to Jackson Heights was just the excuse I didnt know I needed. It really feels like a different world out there. Or 160 different worlds to be exact. From the price, warm hospitality, to dishes I’ve never heard of. Its a foodie wonderland. Highlights so far include a standout crab Ramen at the new Japan Corner, a grocery store in Woodside hosting rotating chefs from Japan. And Thai Cook at iCook, or “iCook Thai Cook” according to Google, sort of a restaurant within a restaurant. I’ve been plotting a return trip to that one ever since.
Considering I eat mostly in Manhattan, I’m all inspired to include prices here, like other 
Next month I’m turning 50, and this one feels different. It almost feels like I need to make some lifestyle changes, or at least make a list of things I need to accomplish. Do I need to take a pottery class or something? Is there a manual for this? Age is just a number, until its not. At 50, you start remembering hockey player’s dads. At 50, if you go to Toro on Valentine’s Day, everyone around you including the staff will be half your age. At 50, you are the only one at Toro who doesnt get a bread basket. Smart! No bread for you!
Before I visit a new place I like to spend some time perusing their website. It paints a picture, and often tells the story. I love a good story, but they are getting increasingly rare in corporate NYC. 
My last Anguilla post of the season. Although I seem to discuss Jacala often on various social media sites including this blog, it occurred to me that I never actually wrote a post about it. Its only arguably Anguilla’s best. While Hibernia may be the best overall experience, Ember the most well rounded destination, Jacala has the best food. I can see many island regulars nodding in approval while reading this, while some shaking profusely. Dont worry latter group, I got you covered too, albeit with a thin layer of sugar.
On paper, these are my favorite kind of owners. The fully present ones. They oversee every aspect of the operation the entire time they are there. Shmoozing with a customer for 30 minutes is not fully present. While Alain is busy in the kitchen, Jacques is running the front, taking every order, and even has time to prepare Martha Stewart’s favorite steak tartare, table side. He will also tell you if you order items that dont exactly mesh. Its a level of service you just dont see very often.
Simply put, every single dish we’ve had at Jacala ever was outstanding. That creates all sorts of challenges when you order, choosing between the proven and the new. Its hard to pass on the magnificently fresh, and expertly crafted Tuna Tartare for example. Or the stupendously moist and flavorful chicken breast rolled around lobster, chicken mousse, and served over lobster sauce. The latter has been pretty much on the menu since day one.
As we get older, mental lists get less and less effective. We start to forget things, and sometimes get in trouble as a result, especially with the spouse. The saving grace is an equally forgetful spouse, but not when she has different habits and writes everything down. 
A much needed update to the “Bread and Butter” of this blog. Seven year old Hell’s Kitchen Survival Guide still outperforming all other posts year after year. The Z-List and the Turks & Caicos page complete the top three. There are many sources for Hell’s Kitchen out there today but I truly believe this is still the most comprehensive and up to date of the bunch. Most HK guides written by people who dont spend much time there and/or dont really understand the area well. But enough about me…
Added to the list:
Eating With Ziggy 