You never know when you'll need a sweet potato
Plus, a four hour brunch and fun food Instagrams
Hi friends,
Welcome to This Needs Hot Sauce, a weekly newsletter about cooking, dining out, and making the most of it. This week promises cold rain but we have something ot look forward to: duck duck Swan is this Sunday! It’s a yoga class/happy hour that I’m hosting with Julianne from @howtobebrokeinnewyork and you can sign up here!
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
Teal is in town, which always makes me happy. My parents made her a great welcome to new york meal of linguine with clams and garlic and a vegan chocolate cake that feels like an appropriate weekday dessert, especially with some fresh berries.
I made the Shutterbean roasted broccoli again, this time with chickpea and am a huge fan. I put it over lemony arugula with an egg and it was pretty much a perfect lunch.
Seeking suggestions: I just got a loaf pan and need recipe ideas. I’ll definitely make my family’s famous pumpkin bread in the fall and would love springtime suggestions, like this carrot loaf.
All of my friends have Priya’s book Indian-ish, which I may need to get. Emma made us the dal in an Instant pot and it was so delicious.
Finally, a #noshame story about home cooking. One of the ways I hate spending money is on food that I’m not that excited about. I knew I was going to be out all day last week and was attending an event that promised light food, so I baked a sweet potato (425 for an hour) and carried it around for a snack. I added some salt and pepper and it was so useful to supplement the snacks from the event. So this is not a glamorous suggestion but merely a reminder that bringing an apple, some almonds, or even a sweet potato is always a good idea. Especially if you don’t work in an office.
Something to order:
If you’ve known me for long, I’ve probably dragged you to duckduck, a nearly perfect bar. Addie, Julia, Julianne and I got post yoga drinks there this week (just practicing for duck duck swan, because our events are 100% authentic). Their happy hour can’t be beat: 2 for 1 well drinks for $6 and 2 for 1 beers for $4. I’m a big gin and sonic fan. And they have (free) cheese puffs.
I worked from the lobby of the Made Hotel last week and it was lovely. It’s also a block from the Ace Hotel which can be so crowded and dark. The seating by the bar is really nice and the coffee is pretty normally priced for midtown, with a more upscale atmosphere. If you stay for the evening, their coffee shop turns into a wine bar with an all female wine list.
My mom was out of town for Mother’s day but it still felt like a good day for brunch. Teal, Julia, Leah and I went to Ludlow House and spent hours catching up over shakshuka, avocado toast, herbed fries, and candy. Teal’s a member and I love going with her because the spaces always invite you to linger, which is exactly what we did.
Dig Inn has new sesame green beans for spring and they’re very tasty.
If you’re in Hell’s Kitchen looking for outdoor seating, El Centro is your spot. I went there right after graduating college and it’s still a good spot for a margarita and some guac.
Something to read:
All I want for Mother’s Day is to be left alone with my tea
Hospitality industry royalty update: Danny Meyer’s daughter is opening a gelato shop in Gramercy.
You know nothing, Soleil. How a restaurant critic wrote about an unfamiliar cuisine.
Would you try a vegetarian reuben?
New York style bagels are spreading. This is great news.
Ahead of picnic season, a look at the canned wine scene (shoutout to Ramona and the wonderful Jordan Salcito)
Some takeaways from the James Beard Restaurant awards and an interview with the announcer
Taking mom out for brunch, it’s kind of a feminist tradition.
This is juicy: inside the pampered world of DC’s elite diners
This article on post Husk, post Hominy Grill Charleston dining reminded me of this longread on Nashville’s new life as a bachelorette party capital. These changes are not good for everyone.
Tempest in the tea bottle. There are so many great quotes in this profile of the founder of G&T’s Kombucha.
What it’s like to be a black chef in a white kitchen.
The Old Brooklyn still drinks at Baamonte’s (I really need to go here).
So proud that this woman’s bf finally learned to cook.
There was a lot of chatter about aperol spritzes and arizona iced tea this week and I’m not going to discuss either.
I read a lot of books, many about food, and am going to be sharing more of them on Instagram with #hotsaucereads. Check out the first one.
Last week, we talked about your favorite food Instagrams to follow. Here’s the list (and you should definitely follow @thisneedshotsauce).
Alicia loves the colorful @honeyhi on insta! LA color is so great on rainy new york weeks.
Hilary made me so excited for Paris: I went to Paris when I was barely a teenager and I most remember carrying a baguette home everyday with my sisters to eat plain as an appetizer while we were resting from the day and the adults were getting ready for dinner. These days I would definitely grab cheese and olives to go with it. Just snack in general!
Her Instagram recs include 100daysofpasta @woon.heng @sofrabakery and oldschool but delightful @food52
Carolyn says: my favorite Instagram food account is my daughter Maura's, sweetpotatoes_and _sunshine. She is a dietitian in training and a foodie. And I love to look the stories of misfits market to see what everyone is getting in their boxes.
Teal says: I love Smitten Kitchen, Deliciously Ella, Jamie Oliver, NY Times Cooking, Bon Appetit Mag and the wonderful Lily Malick!!!
This week, I want to talk about unpopular food opinions, inspired by this, the things you hate that everybody seems to love (or vice versa).
A few of mine: I don’t like cold brew (it’s so bitter and caffeinated and I hate when places stop making iced coffee), ramen or cheesecake (except the one at Kiki’s) and I kind of love plain steamed vegetables, especially broccoli.
What are yours? Reply to this email and let’s talk.
Hope to see you on Sunday! Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo, Abigail