Failed chef.

I originally envisioned posting lots of delicious, innovative, comforting and easy-to-make recipes on this blog.

Hm. Still waiting for that whole cooking-for-myself thing to kick in. In the meantime, take-out anyone?

I used to slam NYC all the time for its lack of great burritos. Now we've got Dos Toros Taqueria, which means I can quit complaining. Their tortillas are the real thing, their beans are organic (and delicious), and their guacamole is the best I've had in the city. Almost quells my deep, constant desire for Papalote...almost.

Porchetta is another great downtown take-out joint. Even for the picky meat-eater (that's me), it's got terrific options: the other night I picked up some of their cooking greens and added them to some lentils I had waiting in the fridge at home, fried an egg and popped it on top. Instant meal! And I even cooked -- kind of. Their hibiscus lemonade (sweetened with honey) is also terrific.

Num Pang makes delicious sandwiches. Their roasted cauliflower option with Japanese and Thai eggplant spread gets a Best In Show for being a vegetarian sandwich option that doesn't involve a) avocado, b) cheese, or c) sprouts. They use lots of Greenmarket vendors and have great iced drinks to boot, including young coconut juice.

I feel like Pita Joe has yet to get its due recognition: the place makes terrific hummus sandwiches, with your choice of organic wheat or white pita, and its toppings include marinated beet salad, pickled cabbages, organic egg, and fresh tahini dressing. They don't make a big deal out of everything being organic -- it just is. Their falafel is great, too -- light, crispy, and full of flavor.