resolutions.

I resolve to be more disciplined.  Writer’s block is for sissies.  And in that stead, I vow to  write about the following in the upcoming week (when I am, once again, bored and lonely in the Emerald “City”):
1. New York, New York.
2. Headaches and neck pains and MRIs, oh my.
3. Vegetarian?  I don’t think so.  [...]

an apple a day.

(cooking) an apple a day keeps (me in the kitchen and) the doctor away.
…
I was accepted to medical school two years before I graduated from college. It’s an opportunity like no other: early acceptance to a top-30 medical school, no MCATs, no organic chemistry, no calculus. And since it’s always been in the [...]

i <3 ny.

The tree at Rockefeller Center last night took my breath away. The familiar lurching of the downtown 4 train brought back memories of my commute to high school. The inky feeling of the New York Times Dining Section in my hands made my heart skip a beat.
There’s nothing like New York. And [...]

Christmas Dinner.

My flight was fine, uneventful.  We crossed paths with Santa as he flew through the clear Christmas Eve sky to deliver presents to all the children in the world.  One bag of preztels, two Diet Cokes, and 33 minutes of sleep and I was walking off the airplane in beautiful Newark, New Jersey.
Home at last.  [...]

A New York Minute.

So, it’s been over two months since I’ve seen the New York skyline, breathed in the wonderfully musky smell of a downtown 4-train, and jaywalked.  It’s been two months since I’ve had a decent bagel, seen some actual road rage, and read the New York Times in hard copy.  The countdown to my [...]

just desserts.

Last week’s desserts were great. And my apologies for neglecting to mention them.
Pine Nut Tart.
Olive Oil and Sauternes Cake. Poached Seckel Pear. Grand Marnier Whipped Cream.
Espresso Panna Cotta. Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans.

sharing is caring.

There was no cute moving of the Diet Coke on Thursday or coy allusions to it.  It was already assumed; I’d be working the hot station.
And so I settled in to my increasingly normal routine.  I set up the station, collected my thoughts, and positioned my Diet Coke in arm’s length.  The pot of water [...]

Shutterbug.

The first time I walked into a professional kitchen I was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt. With the backdrop of tile walls, shiny steel countertops, and a legion of cooks in white chef coats, checkered pants, and black clogs, I stood out with my unorthodox dress and imposing Nikon D2H digital camera.

[...]

RTG? RTE.

I misplaced my Diet Coke before service today.  I looked over at my station, the station I’ve worked for the past (almost) two months and my Diet Coke was missing.
Or was it?
I glanced up and saw it a few feet left of where I had placed it.  It no longer sat in a spot on [...]

Spontaneous Generation.

Prep had gone well; the menu is relatively similar to last week’s.  Profiteroles were cooling, the eggplant had a nice sear on it, and the artichoke was dipped.  It was 5 o’clock and people had been lined up at the door for 30 minutes now.  The doors opened and I grabbed the soup and [...]