Food

By New York City standards, I would say that I am average hip. As in, 50% of the local population is more hip than me, 50% is less hip. As in, I just recently got my first iphone, I'm writing a blog on blogger.com, I'm reading Jay-Z's new book, I let my New Yorker subscription lapse, I like to sew clothes for my child, I don't own a car, the last time I saw live music it was the Cure two or three years ago, I drink decaf coffee... I will let you judge these facts against your own hip-meter.

As in, I've been to momofuku noodle bar - but I went for my first and only time last year (according to their website it's been open since 2004).  By the time we went my expectations were really high and I was disappointed.  It seemed like there were a lot of tourists for one, and I wasn't into the wet fatty pork thing.  Or we ordered wrong.  Miraculously, we managed to slip in without much of a wait but the line that had formed at the door by the time we left made me never want to return.

Fast forward, David Chang opens a few more restaurants and finally one in Midtown, má pêche.  Based on the proximity to where we live, I felt an obligation to try it out.  I've returned repeatedly and it's more amazing each time.  For some reason, we've primarily gone in the middle of the day when the place is nearly empty and feels kind of un-hip.  The dining room is in a basement and not exactly where you want to be in the middle of a pretty day - plus the empty thing can lead to some second guessing.  When we went most recently, I noticed at least one other diner taking pictures of her food (that's not very hip - I don't think).  As I mentioned, it's in Midtown.  However, the music is great (by my average hip standards) and the food is hands-down amazing.  In other words, it feels right.  My favorite dish is the the crispy brussels sprouts with pickled cranberries and scallions (pictured).  It's tart, sweet, and salty in just the right amounts.  Somehow the sprouts remain perfectly crispy even though they are drenched in a sauce which is drinkable.  Since Chang is renowned for his pork-magic it's strange that by avoiding all primarily-pork dishes, my love for this place is head-over-heels.

Upstairs, at street level, is milk bar where things are sweet, literally.  Worth trying are the pretzel cake truffles, any of the cookies (my favorite cookie flavor is conflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip), the 'cereal milk'...  There is also something called 'crack pie'.  Go. Eat.