4:20pm baklava

The sweetest thing at Ba'al today, while we were perched on bar stools happily consuming our falafel platters, the guy behind the counter came out and gave us a plate of baklava. Surprising full on salads, pita and falafel, we toted it up and brought it back to the office for a late afternoon snack.
Ba'al Cafe and Falafel, 71 Sullivan St, NY, NY 10012 (above Broome)

Ba'al Cafe and Falafel, with Thu-Thu

I still think the $7 falafel platter at Ba'al Cafe is a good deal, or maybe I just like having choice in my lunch specials. There's not a lot of seating but we lucked out and hogged three of the bar stools. The falafel today was a touch saltier than normal but still quite good. We all finished our platters, with varying degrees of pita remaining, and left quite full.
Ba'al Cafe and Falafel, 71 Sullivan St, NY, NY 10012 (above Broome)

4:00pm green tea kit kat

Naturally there is such a thing as green tea kit kat bars, and naturally it's something you would only find in Japan. In the office people are always bringing back foodstuffs from their travels; we get alot of chocolates, coffee, chips and candy. I like it, a simple and cheap way of bringing back souvenirs.

Kori, with Thu-Thu

Even though Li Hua, then Jup She, was not the best of Korean restaurants, it was practically our only option. It's been shuttered for weeks now, I'm afraid it's never coming back. Kori is a little further away, although not impossibly so. Their dolsot bibimbap (hot stone bulgogi) was ok, if a bit bland, somehow it was missing that Korean kick. Although I did love the utter rawness of the beef slices. And even though everyone got a little bowl of cold soup, it doesn't make up for no banchan! What kind of Korean restaurant doesn't serve banchan! I want my kimchi!
Kori, 253 Church St, NY, NY 10013 (btwn Franklin and Leonard)

3:50pm walnut chocolate chip cookie

I haven't seen the walnut chocolate chip cookies at Balthazar in what feels like quite a while. But maybe when there is no time to bake fresh bread following a hurricane, there is always time to bake cookies, for there was a heaping pile of them this afternoon.
Balthazar Bakery, 80 Spring St, NY, NY 10012 (near Crosby)

prosciutto, bresaola and butter

I should have known better than to count on fresh bread today, the day after a city-wide shutdown, but we had a potluck Friday night and I have been slowly, and enthusiastically, making my way through the leftovers. Yesterday we had shredded pork and salsa over white rice, lovingly made by Jen, a most fantastic lunch. Today I was especially looking forward to a fresh baguette stuffed with butter and the wonderful Italian meats from Eataly that Danny brought. And despite not great bread, the prosciutto and bresaola continued to shine through.

4:10pm peach tart, deuxieme partie

You won't believe this but the second half of the peach tart from FPB was still really really good. Even though it sat in the refrigerator overnight and I didn't give it time to come back to room temperature before I bit into it, it was still really really good. If I was impressed yesterday I am more impressed today.
FPB Francois Payard Bakery, 116 W. Houston St, NY, NY 10012

Pulino's

It was pouring torrential rains at noon when the boys kindly asked if I wanted in on their Pulino's lunch order so of course I said yes. We all felt sorry for the delivery guy, but given the on again off again nature of the rain today, by the time he came it had tapered off into a mild drizzle. It's been awhile since I've joined the Harvest pizza lunch so when I remarked on how the margherita was especially good, Patrick responded it's always good. Which is a good thing to know.
Pulino's, 282 Bowery, NY, NY 10012 (at Houston)

3:44pm peach tart

This peach tart from PFB is as delicious as it looks, which is to say really really good. You would think the peaches standing up like ship sails would overpower the crust, but no, they don't. They're perfectly in proportion to the pastry shell, resulting in lovely bites of fruit and pastry each time.
FPB Francois Payard Bakery, 116 W. Houston St, NY, NY 10012

Ditch Plains, with Thu

Our last lunch at Ditch Plains, Joanna presented irrefutable evidence that her dad is probably a spy. I remember laughing hysterically, wishing I could tell stories about being a double agent. I don't remember what we actually ate. This time Thu and I split the deviled eggs but then couldn't decide on an entree. I think Thu may have mentioned half the menu before settling on the oyster po'boy. I was headed for a steak salad when I swerved to the sloppy joe instead.
Ditch Plains, 29 Bedford St, NY, NY 10014 (at Downing St)

4:42pm chocolate chip cookie

I don't know if the leftover chocolate chip cookie from yesterday was still good today or if it was the accompanying delicious cup of Tonx Guatemala coffee made in an Aerobie AeroPress that Patrick kindly showed me how to make.
Lafayette Espresso Bar & Marketplace, 189 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10013 (below Broome)

Dos Toros, with Thu-Thu

I had to run up to Astor Place to buy electric candles, just another item on the ridiculously long and detailed list of requirements to attend Diner En Blanc this Thursday night. But really it was more of an excuse to meet Thu at Dos Toros for the most delicious pollo asado quesadilla with guacamole. M. had been telling me about it forever but it's not exactly within our daily lunch range so I've been looking for a reason to be nearby. We were probably finishing up lunch when the earthquake hit, although we didn't feel a thing. Sorry about the poor picture, by the time I remembered, this is all that was left.
Dos Toros Taqueria, 137 4th Ave, NY, NY 10003 (btwn 13th and 14th Sts)

3:51pm chocolate chip cookie

M.'s absence is making me lazy about dessert but I did have the foresight to pick up a chocolate chip cookie downstairs from Lafayette Espresso Bar right after lunch and way before they sold out of them.
Lafayette Espresso Bar & Marketplace, 189 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10013 (below Broome)

Miro Cafe

A series of errands took me up crowded Broadway at lunch time. I realized I haven't had the #70 at Miro Cafe in awhile. The red cabbage slaw was calling me. It's never especially fantastic but there is something about the paucity of toppings that I don't mind.
Miro Cafe, 494 Broadway, NY, NY 10012 (below Houston)

4:07pm ice cream car cake

Another birthday, another ice cream cake. Amazingly this one comes from one of only two Carvel franchise locations in the city. Seriously that's some nice planning to order and transport a Carvel ice cream car cake from downtown back to the office.
Carvel Ice Cream, 118 Fulton St, NY, NY 10038 (btwn Nassau and William)

Aurora, with Thu-Thu

I had an absolute craving for Aurora's octopus salad so I willfully broke our 3 day, 3 block streak by heading west to Aurora. The perfectly grilled octopus was served over a bed of warm, just shy of mushy, potatoes - unlike the frisee salad from last time. I have to say I prefer the potato base. We finished every bite and I could have eaten more.
Aurora Ristorante, 510 Broome St, NY, NY 10012 (west of West Broadway)

3:16pm coffee cake

Seriously? When Sarah and I made plans to meet at Torrisi for coffee and an afternoon sweet at 3pm there was no way I would have anticipated not getting a table. Lucky for us one was being cleared as I walked in but wow. It's going to be interesting to see how their new next door space changes the entire Torrisi dining experience.
Torrisi, 250 Mulberry St, NY, NY 10012 (below Prince)

Brinkley's, with Thu-Thu

Thu and I shared another salad and sandwich within a 2 block radius from the office at Brinkley's today. I rather liked the steak sandwich, although a bit pricey. The chef salad was nothing more than a bowl of mixed greens with a too sweet for me salad dressing. Still, it was well tossed.
Brinkley's Pub & Kitchen, 408 Broome St, NY, NY 10013 (at Centre St)

6:21pm chocolate sable

I was reading when I got on the train at 86th St and Central Park West so I wasn't paying attention to which train pulled into the station. Obviously the wrong one because after West 4th I heard Spring Street! when really I wanted Broadway/Lafayette. The google claims it's the same or shorter distance but psychologically it feels further. It might be the hoards of tourists one has to wade through. I ended up at Balthazar instead of Colombe and bought the only thing under $2 on the menu, an intensely CHOCOLATE sable.
Balthazar Bakery, 80 Spring St, NY, NY 10012 (near Crosby)

Despana, with Thu-Thu

I don't know what necessitates the chilly indoor temps at Despana but I do know it's always too cold to stay for lunch. On the other hand, it was so gorgeous outside it seemed wasteful to walk across the street to pick-up lunch. So we took a stroll around the block instead. Another lunch share: bocadillo tradicional and campera salad, although we meant to get the serrano salad. Everyone should offer lunch shares, really, they're wonderful. Tomorrow, Brinkleys!
Despana, 408 Broome St., NY, NY 10013 (btwn Lafayette and Cleveland Pl) 

4:39pm madeleines

I debated stopping at Lafayette Espresso Bar for an afternoon coffee and dessert on my way back from camp pick-up but at the risk of arriving to sold out chocolate chip cookies, decided to walk an extra block out of my way to Oro instead, where I was happily rewarded with a very yummy madeleine.
Oro Bakery, 375 Broome St, NY, NY 10013 (btwn Mulberry & Mott)

Cafe Select, with Thu-Thu

When I asked my sister where she wanted to go for lunch it was only out of courtesy because I was already in the mood for half a bratwurst with rosti and part of a chopped salad at Cafe Select. Lucky for me she is one accommodating sister. As we walked the scant block to lunch we decided to only have lunch within a 2 block radius for the remainder of the week.
Cafe Select, 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 (at Kenmare)

4:37pm chipless wonder

That's it friends, the last day of chipless wonders. 12 days later they are still just as divine as day 1. Le sigh, until next summer dear darling chipless wonder.
Tate's Bake Shop, 43 North Sea Rd., Southampton NY 11968

Bottega Falai

Without M. around, figuring what to have for lunch left me paralyzed with indecision. It kept getting later and later until finally I just picked up and left the office, with no clear destination in mind. I dropped by the Duane Reade on an errand and kept walking north until I hit Bottega Falai, the perfect little spot for a solo sandwich. Only today the stellar quality of the sandwich ingredients could not make up for the staleness of the foccacia. Woe is me.
Bottega Falai, 267 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10012 (below Prince)

3:30pm chocolate oreo and banana ice cream cake

I like how, in all offices since time immemorial, everyone sneaks off to the kitchen and then contrives to get the birthday person, or in today's case, boy, I mean man, to come into the kitchen so he can be *surprised* with a Happy Birthday song and cake.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, 65 Bayard St, NY, NY 10013 (btwn Mott and Elizabeth)

Cocoron, with Thu-Thu

 
This is exactly how much of my Cocoron stamina soba was left before I remembered to take a photo. Without M. around, the next two weeks might be equally as spotty. Thu and I got there at 12:30, the tables were completely occupied and there were 2 couples in line ahead of us but we didn't wait too long at all before a 2-spot opened up. It's a place I wish could support larger groups but still a soba lunch for 2 sisters is always nice.
 Cocoron, 61 Delancey St., NY, NY 10002 (btwn Eldridge and Allen)

4:39pm donuts

The Dreesen donuts from Balthazar today were especially fresh and delightful. Good last minute call when our heads are too swamped with other thoughts to spend too much time thinking about what to have for afternoon dessert.
Balthazar Bakery, 80 Spring St, NY, NY 10012 (near Crosby)

Epistrophy Cafe, with Sarah

Sarah warned us there might be some wild gesticulating at lunch so we abandoned Fiat for its small tables, didn't want to wait at Torrisi and ended up at Epistrophy. We took the round table close to the back, far away from any of the stylish hipster lunchers up front, and proceeded to move our hands about quite energetically. I am a fan of the bresaola and avocado salad while M.'s gnocchetti (baby gnocchi) reminded her (in absolutely the nicest way) of chef boyardee.
Epistrophy Cafe, 100 Mott St, NY, NY 10012 (btwn Kenmare & Spring)

3:45pm summertime tart

We hesitated at $3 apiece for Birdbath's mini summer tart but Kathy liked it and that's an impeccable reference. I still don't know if $3 is worth it, because it was rather small, but on the other hand it was rather perfect too. The caramelized edges, the lemon custard, the alternating sweet and tart of the blueberries - delicious.
Birdbath, 160 Prince St, NY, NY 10012 (btwn Thompson and Laguardia)

The Dutch, with Eugenia

We decided to share lunch Asian-style at The Dutch, because that's just how we ladies of the Orient roll. Besides how else would we be able to try the fried chicken, crab salad AND pulled pork sammie? I gotta say, and M. agrees, the food was fine, good even, but not entirely worth the hype or the $15+ prices. We enjoyed ourselves and might be persuaded to return, but it's unlikely.
The Dutch, 131 Sullivan St, NY, NY 10012 (corner of Prince St)

4:34pm apple blossom

The apple blossom from Trader Joe's is no Pepperidge Farm apple turnover but it's pretty nice nevertheless. And we didn't burn the roofs of our mouths eating them.
Trader's Joe, 138 E. 14th St, NY, NY 10003 (btwn 3rd and 4th Ave)

Prince St Cafe, with Thu-Thu

I think Prince St Cafe has some naming issues, for instance when Laura ordered the three bean salad, she only got string beans. Today we tried to replicate her order but since there was no three bean salad on the menu, we went with bean salad, and ended up with no beans, just peas. At least the wild mushroom pasta was as described, and surprisingly damn good to boot. The pasta is fresh with that slightly yielding texture we love and the cream sauce not too heavy.
Prince St Cafe, 26 Prince St, NY, NY 10012 (btwn Mott and Elizabeth)

5:55pm chocolate peanut butter whoopie pie

I walked into Lafayette Espresso Bar with a sinking feeling that 5:30pm would be far to late for one of Dorina's yummy chocolate chip cookies, and I was right. But the Wanna Hava whoopie pies lingering nearby saved us from a sweet free afternoon.
Lafayette Espresso bar, 189 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10013 (below Broome)

Torrisi Italian Specialties

What's the protocol on when M. orders ahead of time so that I could pick up lunch at Torrisi on my way back from a site meeting? Do I have to wait in line with everyone else placing orders or can I just cut in front to pick up the order I clearly see waiting for me? I opted to wait in line as it wound through the store, but mostly only because I was in the last pages of a page turner so I was practically looking for an excuse to wait. But next time? My reading might not be so engrossing.
Torrisi, 250 Mulberry St, NY, NY 10012 (below Prince)

4:05pm lemon tart

Drats I can't remember who recommended the lemon tart from the Francois Payard Bakery, but I did remember someone did. It is intense and strong, the embodiment of what a lemon tart should be. That's a second rather successful dessert from downtown Payard so really we're going to have to keep scheduling lunches on West Houston.
FPB Francois Payard Bakery, 116 W. Houston St, NY, NY 10012

Miss Lily's, with Zach

Ha. We picked Miss Lily's on Houston near Sullivan for lunch with Zach because we hadn't been yet but that was before we all realized that our offices are back to back on Broome and Lafayette. Oops. Oh well next time lunch can be across the street instead of across town. It was kind of a perfect day for open door dining at Miss Lily's though. The cheap kitchy decor is perfectly cute, although the food not at all up to the usual standards we have come to expect from Mr. Becker. 
Miss Lily's, 132 West Houston St, NY, NY 10012 (near Sullivan)

6:56pm chipless wonder

Something you might not know about us, M. and I have very similar hands. Her nails are a little longer and mine rounder, but the length of each finger, our knuckles, the wrinkling of skin, same. To the extent that I saw this photo M. took of our second day of heavenly chipless wonders and thought it was my hand. Even though I was gone all afternoon.
Tate's Bake Shop, 43 North Sea Rd., Southampton NY 11968

Cafe el Portal, with John

I always want the homemade guacamole and chips at Cafe el Portal but it's too much, cost and size-wise, for just the two of us so when John offered to have lunch with us today, I jumped at the chance. $7.50 split over 3 people is much more reasonable. Especially when you pair it with a $7.50 huevos dish for lunch.
Cafe el Portal, 174 Elizabeth St, NY, NY 10012 (btwn Kenmare & Spring)

4:03pm chipless wonders

Seriously the Chipless Wonder cookies by Tate's are one of our most favorite packaged cookies. Chocolate is overrated when you're eating one of these. I don't know if we love them more because we only have them in the summer when M. picks them up in Southampton or if we love them more because each bite is divine. Or as Thu says, they're a 10 on the crack scale.Tate's Bake Shop, 43 North Sea Rd., Southampton NY 11968

Saha Thai

The pad prik khing, our usual, was especially good today. I was in a silly mood and ordered the American broccoli (as opposed to the Chinese broccoli) with beef. The American part confused me because I wanted Chinese-American style beef and broccoli but with American broccoli, not Chinese. Silly because we were in a Thai restaurant. Thu was pressured to order quickly, went with the fried rice with beef and regretted it. But then it came and she was pleased with herself again, so pleased she ate the entire plate clean.
Saha Thai, 227 Centre St, NY, NY 10013 (above Grand)

5:43pm cinnamon raisin pretzel

Before I even bit into the cinnamon raisin pretzel that we got from the Sigmund Pretzelcart this morning, I was yearning for one fresh out of the oven. Even slightly stale it was more than slightly delicious.
Sigmund Pretzelcart at the Met, 1000 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10022 (at 82nd St)

Sigmund Pretzelcart

The best part about our morning field trip is that after spending time in the darkened, surreal world of McQueen, we emerged into the light and right before our eyes sat a Sigmund Pretzelshop food truck. We gleefully and quickly ordered 3 hot dogs, 2 savory pretzels and 1 sweet for later. Squeezing in with the other tourists, on the steps, in the disappearing bits of shade, we devoured the hot dogs without speaking, accompanied by the sounds of doo wop.
Sigmund Pretzelcart at the Met, 1000 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10022 (at 82nd St)

6:18pm vegan cookie

You'll have to forgive us our lapses lately in regular dessert posts, summer time is making us slow and absentminded. We picked up this gluten free, beaut of a vegan cookie at our favorite local bookstore.
McNally Jackson Cafe, 52 Prince St, NY, NY 10012 (btwn Lafayette and Mulberry)

Soho Park

With an after lunch errand to run at McNally Jackson we headed in the direction and ended up at Soho Park.  We weren't able to score a seat inside, but luckily we we under the shade in one of their gigantic picnic table. Unlucky for me, today's hamburger was not as good as usual - it was lacking the char, or something.  I have to say, I do love their shredded lettuce though.  I wish more places would serve it this way.
Soho Park, 62 Prince St, NY, NY 10012 (at Lafayette)