The Joy of Other People Cooking
Pasta, Thanksgiving, and the ultimate hot girl meal
We’re back! Sometimes long weekends are restful and sometimes they are draining. This one was a little bit of both and I’m grateful to have spent it cozy at home in Brooklyn. Cooking for people is an act of love that I was lucky enough to receive this week and I’m very appreciative.
A four day ceasefire is not enough! Keep calling and writing.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
I made a quick and easy dinner of Omsom’s lemongrass noodles (client) and topped it with a fried egg. So good!
Leslie, Izzy, and Dina had me over for dinner (what a treat) and made pasta with pesto and butternut squash, brussels sprouts and roasted chickpeas. It was so nice to see them and a very cozy dinner.
Dale’s mom did all the Thanksgiving cooking and it was delicious as usual. We had rice and peas, salad, vegan mac and cheese, yellow curry, and scallion pancakes, plus she made oxtail for Dale (she’s vegan so that’s a real act of love).
For holiday breakfasts, I had lots of toast with either cottage cheese or avocado and of course, coffee.
Something to order:
Alicia and I got Phony Negronis at Billy’s Pearl Social Club. I also want to try the new mezcal version.
I went into the office on Wednesday to knock things out before the break and of course got the market spice bowl from Cava. It’s so good (I take out the broccoli and add crazy feta because fast casual broccoli is not my thing).
Dale and I saw Priscilla at Nitehawk on Wednesday (depressing but had good aesthetics) and beforehand, I grabbed a glass of wine at DOC Wine Bar, a charming Italian restaurant that’s bigger than it looks. I sat at the bar and read/eavesdropped, the dream. I want to come back for dinner.
On Friday night, Dale and I went back to Lighthouse because we always love it. We had the garganelli pasta with butternut squash and spinach (it’s on the menu for a limited time) and I had to get a few oysters and a negroni. Dale also loves the fish there and it just feels like home.
Julia and Hillary came back to Brooklyn and we reunited at Ops on Saturday night! It was delicious as always—we got the Cicero with many onions, olive focaccia and a zippy chilled red. Afterwards, we got a drink at Left Hand Path, a good bar with a backroom and backyard.
The only way I wanted to end the weekend was with french fries and a Caesar salad. I picked both up at Good Thanks and they hit the spot. The ceasar isn’t super traditional but it’s got the spirit and the dill pickle dipping sauce for the fries is really good.
Something to read:
I was on the waitlist for
‘s book The Christmas Orphans Club at the library and I finally got access last Wednesday. It wound up being a very fun holiday weekend read, about friends as family, New York traditions, and how friendships change as you get older. I really don’t have any attachment to Christmas and I still enjoyed it.A cute guide to Shoppy Shops around the country
Inside The Two Companies That Dominate The U.S. Carrot Crop
The 2023 Gift Guide and the All Stars Gift Guide
shared its best newsletter of the year and it’s so heartwarming!Also reading this book about online fan culture (it’s mostly about One Direction fan culture and tumblr which is fine by me)
How the old-school taper candle became an essential part of the modern tablescape
The next few weeks are going to be so, so busy! I know I’m not alone in this but let’s all try and take deep breaths, take some walks, and take care.
xo, Abigail