Warming Up
It's still freezing but we have bagels, labneh and hope
It’s freezing in New York. I grew up here and cannot remember another stretch as cold. On Saturday, I walked to yoga and noticed it felt warmer than usual. It was 21 degrees. The snow from a week ago is piled at corner, making even a short walk an obstacle course. The city is less accessible for strollers and anyone using mobility aids and the overall energy is off. Every social plan I’ve attended has started with a check in on how we’re faring in the cold, a comparison of layering (heat tech is the perpetual hero) and a search for glimmers. A few bright spot recently: we made it through January, the sun is setting after 5pm, Leslie made up a cute song to encourage her daughter to walk through the snow valleys, someday it will be summer, and all things Heated Rivalry. And I just ordered a warmer coat since I gave away my puffer due to emotional baggage.
This cold feels colder as ICE continues to terrorize people across the country. Keep resisting and supporting people impacted. I’ve added calling my reps to my morning routine—the five calls app makes it very easy. Locally, Teal and I went to Street Service this weekend, which offers meals, haircuts, and warm clothes to those in need. We helped serve birthday cake and they always need volunteers. There’s also an Amazon wishlist to support the people they work with.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
We had Julia and James over for dinner and it made me want to do more weeknight entertaining. We made Adeena Sussman’s melted cabbage, which my parents recommended. It cooks for over two hours but is very simple and worthy of company. We served it with lemon, sour cream, bread and butter and a simple slaw because we had extra cabbage. Julia brought brownies and ice cream and it was a lovely start to the week.
For Traitors (I have so many thoughts, namely, how dare you Rob?), Leah and Erika hosted with Williamsburg Pizza. The white pie was fantastic. I brought sour cream and onion dip since we had extra sour cream and I struggle to use up dairy products before they go bad. The lipton soup mix is so good. We also brought a Caesar salad kit that we tricked out with some microgreens, love a high low moment.
Serena Wolf introduced me to the concept of indecision toast—half sweet, half savory. and it’s a reliable breakfast formula. I made one big avocado toast with lemon, salt and red pepper flakes and one big toast with good butter and jam. The avocado toast got soft boiled eggs. Jared and I split each toast and a sumo orange for something sweet and something savory.
Jared and I did a bunch of cooking on Sunday night to get ready for the week. We took out everything in the fridge that needed to be used and went from there. The results: roasted potatoes with thyme, rosemary and oregano, vegetable fried rice with zucchini, broccoli, ginger, and crispy mushrooms and tofu, and a cucumber avocado salad with miso dressing. We packed up the potatoes for later and had the rice and salad, which made for a very nice dinner. Reducing food waste is so satisfying and now I have leftovers for lunch today.
Something to order:
My book club met at Szechuan Mountain House on St. Marks, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in the city—the on in Times Square is an amazing pre theater option. Amy was in charge of ordering and nailed it. We got mapo tofu, sizzling tofu, long beans, fried rice, and hot and sour soup. They can make lots of thing vegetarian and the pickled cabbage you get at the beginning is worth the trip alone.
Lizzi and I got a post work drink at Pinkerton, which is one of the coziest spots. In the summer, they have outdoor seating but in the winter, it’s all about finding a little corner. They have a late night oyster happy hour after 8 but we were earlier and stuck to wine and whipped ricotta, which came with delicious artichokes. I got a Silvaner that was described as like licking an Alpine stream and it was so minerally and good.
We celebrated Leslie’s birthday at Zaytoons where we split a pot of mint tea and so many dips and dishes. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I loved the spinach pie, the mujaddara, the labneh, the falafel, and the hummus. This place is extremely affordable too—we ordered a lot and it was about $100 for four people. Go check it out. And Weather Up is down the street if you need a nitecap before braving the walk to the subway. I got a hot toddy.
Julia and I last minute went to yoga at Baby Cobra and then met Tilden at Oslo. I was going to order a hot chocolate but I was tired so I got a mocha, which is a delightful order. Note to self. Yoga is so important in winter to really stretch the body, especially the feet.
On that note, Teal and I did yoga at the sunny Sky Ting and then got bagels at Russ and Daughters, which really hit the spot. Russ and Daughters has been around since 1914 and it’s wild to think about what it’s experienced. The original location has no seating so we did lose feeling in our fingers eating them on a bench. But worth it! We stopped in for a coffee, some sample pastries, and some heat at Allan’s Bakery, the Manhattan outpost of a Caribbean bakery institution.
Something to read:
Recipe developer Yewande Komolafe returns to the kitchen after losing her limbs.
Liam Ramos and his father are home
Pregnant women are more anxious than ever. I don’t blame them!
In a Harlem Church, a Free Three-Course Dinner, No Questions Asked
A day in the life of a retail produce buyer from Eating Patterns
For paid subscribers: The best things I cooked in January
Matt Rodbard pushes back against Better Than Bouillon Guilt. I used to just use water when it called for stock but Jared has converted me to Better than Bouillon and it’s great.
Everybody’s thirsty for Hudson Williams
Journalist Don Lemon Arrested Using Pro-Choice Law
7 things you should borrow instead of buy from Maria DeVoto. I love to borrow and lend things, from books to pans to formal outfits. There’s enough to go around.
Take care my friends and stay warm. Thank you for being here!
xo, Abigail
biased comment but that pizza looks 💯🤌