The best happy hours involve food
And tomorrow's will be a special one
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I had grand plans this week to share a Guatemala recap and lots of fun thanksgiving ideas (Delia and Madi hosted a lovely Friendsgiving that got me in the holiday spirit). Unfortunately, life had other plans. I cut myself while cooking yesterday and now have four stitches in my right index finger (thank god I’m a lefty). Typing is difficult and I also can’t cook or shower easily (you can’t get stitches wet). So I’m doing my best today and will share more here and on Instagram as I recover.
One thing that’s really keeping me going is tomorrow’s happy hour at Win Son Bakery. It’s such a great venue and I’m so excited to see you there. RSVP on this post or by emailing so we have a headcount.
Now, let’s (carefully) dive in.
Something to cook:
Isa and I hosted a One Table Shabbat with a Mexican theme (we watched Coco after dinner and all cried). On the menu: tacos with ground beef, peppers, onions, and mushrooms, roasted sweet potatoes, and sheet pan nachos! It was my first time making nachos and it was all about the toppings. I did a few layers of shredded cheese and chips and then some black beans. That melted in the oven for about 10 minutes and then I added guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and pickled jalapeños. So good! Also, One Table is a great resource for hosting a Shabbat dinner, you get food reimbursements from places like Fresh Direct.
When I got back from Guatemala, I made a batch of roasted broccoli and white beans for a few lunches. So easy and satisfying with a fried egg on top.
Tis the season for pumpkin muffins. I got these in the oven in less than 15 minutes and froze most of them for later.
Something to order:
A trip to Guatemala is the perfect antidote to the East Coast winter. I wrote a blog post a few years back about my favorite spots and stand by it. Feel free to get in touch if you’re ever planning a trip there. And please let me know where I can find a desayuno chapin in New York.
Back in New York, we had a lovely family dinner with Teal at Bellwether in Long Island City. They have a great drink list and appetizers—get the tempura green beans and house rolls. My other LIC favorites: LIC Market and Adda (byo).
Every time I visit Jessi’s Coffee Shop, I vow to go more often. Their breakfast burritos are saviors, the coffee is really good, their smoothies are huge, and the prices are super reasonable. It’s cash only and so lovely.
The headline for this week comes from a fantastic happy hour I discovered with Julia and Isa. Sotto 13 is on a quiet block in Greenwich Village and their happy hour is so great (you get two glasses of wine or two cocktails for $15). They also have good pizza and very good meatballs, according to my friends who ate them. Other good things: there’s seating! Keep this spot in your back pocket for after-work drinks. And, it goes without saying that tomorrow’s happy hour will have great food.
Something to read:
Is this the winter of white claw?
A ranking of every episode of Gourmet Makes (I agree with number 1).
I need every hotel to offer free carafes of sparkling water
Two very thoughtful Thanksgiving essays remind us that family can mean many different things: one and two by my friend Irina.
Three spontaneous dinner parties inspired by the contents of your fridge (very fun sponcon)
Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy has a new veggie burger spot that I’m very excited to try.
I didn’t know how to be a mom and a restaurant critic, so I quit.
Now, I’m excited to share your holiday rose/ bud / thorns. These were so thoughtful and I’m so honored to share them.
Erica’s Friendsgiving looked amazing:
Rose: My family has a tradition instituted by my (Jewish) father: every year, we begin listening to Christmas music on my sister's birthday in late November, no sooner and no later. We anticipate the day as a family all Autumn long and it's so fun when it finally comes.
Bud: I'm hosting a Friendsgiving for the first time and am doing ALL of the cooking myself (by choice)...I'm super pumped to feed my friends!
Thorn: splitting the holidays with my SO is always tough-- I wish we could see all of the loved ones all the time!
I agree with Hilary on the consumerism (the whole internet is gift guides rn)
Rose: showing my boyfriend, yet again, how simple it is to make an incredible pumpkin pie at home. And inevitably hearing his story about his first year in the US after he had pumpkin pie for the first time ever- massive fan- (as a foreign born adult) and went to the store, bought a can of canned pumpkin, dug a spoon into it and was so sad and surprised that it tasted nothing like sweet creamy pumpkin pie. Hahaha.
Bud: year 2 of a friend's epic gingerbread house decorating afternoon
Thorn: consumerism to the max. (Let's give love, time, experiences, memories!)
Tina is doing Thanksgiving right
Rose: Inviting friends over for mulled wine! This is my preferred form of socialization as I hermit up for the winter.
Thorn: The challenge of balancing time with family in the Bay Area vs. partaking in holiday revels in the city - I get pretty bad Christmas fomo and want to be everywhere at once.
Bud: This year will be my first Thanksgiving in Paris! I'm looking forward to following up Thanksgiving dinner with some hot chocolate from Angelina (as everything will be still be open in Paris).
Julianne is focused on what’s important:
Rose - my favorite part of the holidays is the feeling of being with the people you love. Bud - I'm so excited to spend it with my family at a really hard time for all of us. Thorn - I wish it wasn't such an overwhelming time for us and wish I didn't have to go right into finals right after but I think being together will at least help a bit!!!
This week, I’d love to hear any weird injury stories you have (kitchen related or otherwise). I remember from an old Grey’s Anatomy episode that Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the most injury-prone days of the year. Let’s stay safe, y’all.
Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo, Abigail
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