We Should Go to Happy Hour

Hi friends,

Welcome to This Needs Hot Sauce (And Other Food Thoughts), a newsletter sharing something to cook, somewhere to eat out, and something to read. I'm a native New Yorker who spends far too much time thinking and reading about food. I love helping people find better things to eat and solving problems, so let me know how I can help. Let's dive in.

Happy day off! I've been listening to the Making Obama podcast and Michelle's Vday playlist for Barack to celebrate. I also saw Call Me By Your Name which made me want to fall in love and also finally visit Italy. On the food front, long weekends offer great excuses to do some baking, try new bars, and just have longer pauses between activities.

Something to make:
I finally tried Smitten Kitchen's pasta with chickpeas and it's a winner. The recipe only makes 2 servings so I'd cook for a pair or save the leftovers for the next day, though it will get thicker overnight so better for dinner than lunch. The beauty of this recipe: it's quick, only a few ingredients and comforting without being too heavy. Don't skip the finishing oil even if it seems fussy. 

Pasta with Chickpeas via Smitten Kitchen

1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup small pasta (I used mini elbows)
Olive oil 
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
3 tablespoons of tomato paste
Salt and red pepper flakes
2 cups of boiling water (measure before you boil it)

Topping:
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoon of chopped rosemary (I had leftover from making bar nuts)
Olive oil

In a medium pot, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Saute the smashed garlic until it's a little bit golden and fragrant. Then add salt, a pinch or two of red pepper flakes, and the tomato paste. Cook for about 30 seconds until it gets a little toasted. Add the chickpeas, pasta and boiling water and scrape the bottom of the pot with a spatula to pick up any burnt bits. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for about 20 minutes. When the timer is almost up, make your finishing oil. In a small skillet, warm the olive oil and saute the chopped garlic and rosemary. As soon as the garlic goes golden, take it off the heat so you don't burn it. Spoon the pasta into a big bowl and top with a spoonful of the finishing oil and extra salt or red pepper flakes if needed. 
I ate it with a simple spinach salad with avocado, celery, carrots, red onion and pumpkin seeds and a little dijon mustard and balsamic. Perfect dinner for one or two.  This one is going on repeat. 

My apartment currently smells great as I bake another batch of pumpkin muffins. They freeze really well and we needed a restock. Pumpkin season is a state of mind. 

Lunch this week is spaghetti squash burrito bowls, a riff on this recipe. I'm going to add some sweet potato and cherry tomatoes and some chipotle in adobo that's been hanging out in my freezer and probably not make the salsa but the concept of squash + slaw + black beans + avocado sounds really good. 

Another good thing to make this week: this maple tofu and squash which perks up two ingredients I eat frequently. Another good thing to add maple to: brussels sprouts, which are so good roasted with chili garlic paste, maple syrup, and a little drizzle of soy sauce. 

I made this fall-toush for lunch last week and the dressing is really good (I used paprika). I added some chickpeas, avocado and kale to bulk it up and it would also be a great side dish. 

Pro grocery shopping tips: Trader Joe's has cara cara oranges which are so pretty and bright this time of year. They also have extremely affordable ice cream in large containers. We had a going away ice cream party for a coworker and I'd love to have another one with friends. I bought a few different flavors (their coffee rules), chocolate syrup, and mini peanut butter cups because Trader Joe's does not sell sprinkles. People loved it. Way better than a sad cookie and fruit plate. 

Something to order:
I really maximized happy hours this week and want to share a few new discoveries. Three cheers for discounts and friends to share them with.
Barn Joo in Union Square has dollar oysters with lovely vinegar and hot sauce toppers. It's huge as well.

Boqueria in Flatiron has $6 wine (the white is a good albariño that goes down easy) and a large and crispy patatas bravas snack. Only the front area is for happy hour so get there early to grab a spot. 

The Tradesman in East Williamsburg: A number of signature cocktails are $6 and the happy hour goes till 9 every day except Friday. They have a hibiscus margarita and a Oaxacan old-fashioned with mezcal. It's wood-paneled, cash only, and very comfy to hang in. 

The Topaz: Their happy hour features discounted wine and one $6 cocktail (yesterday it was an old fashioned). There's tons of room to sit as well in little booths.

I also have to shout out Duck Duck's happy hour. It goes until 8 and features 2 for 1 well drinks for $6, plus cheese puffs. Sitting on the couch with a gin and sonic (half soda water half tonic water) can do wonders for a bad day. 

In full meal related news, Barano does a very good brunch (and I saw the Eater EIC, Amanda Kludt, who has a great newsletter, eating with her adorable son). The frittata pizza is good for sharing, the semolina pancakes are a little bit different, and the breakfast bowl comes in a straight up stone pot, perfect for crisping the farro. 
Take advantage of this unseasonably warm weather with ice cream. I got a cookie dough cone at Sundaes and Cones and ate it as I walked through Washington Square Park. Can't wait for more ice cream as spring (eventually) arrives.
 
Two coffee shops to visit: 
I work around the corner from Paper Coffee in the Made Hotel and am so glad it exists. The hotel lobby is really well designed, with wood paneling and lots of seating and wifi. I tried a honey latte made with local honey and it was so good. Will try their drip this week for sure now that I have a punch card.

Sweatshop in Williamsburg has all the Australian coffee you desire plus an A+ avocado toast served with a little pile of flakey salt, red pepper flakes, and a lime wedge for perfect seasoning. 

Something to read:
What's the next status hand soap for restaurant bathrooms? (love the shoutout to Lalito's bathroom) 

The 52 places traveler Jada Yuan filed her first report from New Orleans and it's good. Her instagrams from the road are also great.

Serious Eats is one of the most reliable recipe sources and I love this roundup of staff go-tos 

What do armys of laptoppers do to a coffeeshop? As someone who spends lots of time in coffeeshops, I've certainly used them as an office/gotten annoyed about slow wifi or a lack of space. But today, I was at a coffeeshop to actually hang out with friends and it was hard to find room with everyone working. The perfect ratio of laptops users to tech-free guests is hard to strike and really depends on the room and the day of the week. One takeaway: Always buy something, be considerate, and when in doubt, read a book or write in a journal. No one quoted seemed to have a problem with that. What do you think? Reply with your thoughts.

How restaurants should treat solo diners

Feel better about your own romantic situations with this list of Valentine's Day food disasters.

Who are cashless restaurants trying to keep out? I hate this trend, fwiw 

Floyd Cardoz is pivoting to Indian breads! Definitely want to try. 

The NBA has a new passion: wine

Some winter wanderlust in this gorgeous guide to Mexico City  

Research says dates are better when you're not starving. Can confirm. Get snacks. 

Salt Bae's Sunday routine is as absurd as you'd expect

This roundup of Taiwanese food in New York doubles as an ad for Win Son.  

More salad chains open in the city, meh

Are you doing Fun Food February?

Frida told me she sees no problem with eggs for dinner, but has been making lots of lentil soup. 

Molly tried the kale salad from last week's newsletter and said it was so relaxing to make. Chopping vegetables is kind of like meditating right?

Allison tried Win Son for the first time, which counts as a big deal.

This week, let's talk about eating outside because I'm in denial that winter is almost over and would rather be drinking apricot juice and eating eggs in a backyard in Italy (nope, not over Call Me By Your Name). Reply to this email with your favorite spots to eat outside, in your city or from a vacation. Nicole and I went to LA for spring break one year and dinner outside at Zinc after months of freezing in Philly was fairly life-changing. 

Have a great week. If it stays above 40 degrees, order an iced coffee and roll with it. Got urgent (or non-urgent) food and restaurant questions? I'm all ears. 

Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo,
Abigail