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.

Officially a New Yorker.

I opened my closet yesterday and was met by a sea of black.

I think that means I officially live here. And that I officially need some clothing help: sadly, my stylist is on vacation. She just had a BABY! No, that's not it, above: we're still waiting on official photos over here, but in the meantime, is there anything lovelier than a springtime baby? Schlechters, I adore you all. Mazeltov, for Christ's sake...

...now get back here and help me get some color into my life. Like maybe with this bag from Anthropologie?

Or what about these amazing (and well-priced) earrings from Kate Spade?

Am I allowed to wear this slouchy cardigan from J.Crew in my 2nd favorite color, grey?

And yes, I do need to know if I have the chutzpah to rock this studded bracelet.

I can't do it alone.

Rain, rain, more rain.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I had this Marimekko umbrella...

...and started drinking moonshine , an upcoming project from two fine young men I know from college which looks to be exciting. Hey, they're going to be NYC's first legal distillery since Prohibition!


I've been singing the praises of this seltzer-making penguin to anyone who will listen for awhile now. If you haven't heard me, it's the answer to every seltzer-drinker's prayers. It makes seltzer from plain water, cuts down on all those plastic bottles you've been buying, and TWEETS when you've reached carbonation! What more can you ask from a product??

Well, you might ask for something you can both ingest and make art with. Like these incredible products from Clementine Art, a company that's making paints, markers, and modeling clay you don't have to worry about your small person (or dog, or cat) ingesting. It's terrifying, really, what passes for "non-toxic" out there.

Happy Monday to all.

Easter!

I have this sneaking suspicion I'm supposed to be getting ready for Passover, but does that mean I can't get excited about this chocolate bunny? Even if it's filled with hickory-smoked almonds and grey sea salt?

I guess this is supposed to be for kids, but I love this pouf, filled with scraps rescued from landfills. It's the perfect size for tucking under a desk or into a closet when not in use.

Speaking of kids, seems everyone's having babies these days...which means I get to look for presents for tiny people. Polarn O. Pyret looks to be a terrific company for cute, eco-conscious items. Check out these amazing train pajamas!

And if I was planning a nursery, I'd want window shades like these owl ones from Dwell Studio to shut out the light and crashing, awful din of jackhammers from our neighbors downstairs.

Now that I don't wear anything besides boots, I'm on the search for great knee-high socks. Kate Spade's got my number with these argyle ones. Why doesn't everyone wear argyle, all the time? Anyone got an answer for me?

Saturday: rain.

It's time to get serious, people.

A beautiful rug made out of recycled leather. Really.

Amazing stripey compostable straws, which I undeservedly received in the mail today from the most pregnant lady I know! They're the perfect harbinger of warmer weather: I plan on using them to drink this lassi , which looks magnificent.

A bag with a whistle attached, presumably so you can call for help when someone tries to steal your style.

Beautiful organic cotton flannel sheets, to get you through these last few raw weeks before Spring 9.0.

An astounding, multi-tasking luminizer (what? luminizer? I know -- I didn't know such a thing it existed until Jessa introduced me to it, but it's a revolution) from the wonderful company rms. A little bit of this puppy goes a long way.

Friday rant, with apologies.

I was so sad to see that the wonderful Jack's was left off the New York Times article this past Wednesday on the city's best coffee. Jack is a perfect example of a businessman sticking to his ethical guns: he uses solely organic, fair-trade, shade-grown coffee, and -- unlike a number of the cafes listed -- uses great milk!

Hudson Valley Fresh is a dairy cooperative drawing from the pool of dairy farmers in NY state's Dutchess and Columbia counties, so every latte purchased at Jack's provides much-needed support to the state's dairy industry. I'm often frustrated by the (OK, mostly-recent) flurry of attention paid to coffee-growing techniques, because those same people fretting over whether birds were harmed en route to their espresso are blithely drinking milk that a) directly supports the industrial veal industry, b) is full of hormones, and c) drives prices down so violently that small-scale dairy farmers are all but squeezed out.

And when I've calmed down from that tiny tirade, allow me to state, for the record, that Jack's coffee also happens to taste terrific. Boo, New York Times.

In other, less-fraught coffee news: if you're not familiar with the Toddy, get ready to be revolutionized. It works on a similar premise to Jack's stir-brew method, allowing the coffee to "brew" in room-temperature water for 12 + hours, producing a rich, dark concentrate. It's smooth, less acidic than brewed coffee, and works perfectly in spring and summer, when you can pop the toddy in the fridge and use it for iced coffee. Mere mortals water it down: I do not.

Wednesday and sixty degrees!

Forecast: spring!

Which means lots of things. Like trenchcoats. I was just researching coat options for a friend yesterday and found a few beauts:

A blue-grey one from Banana Republic, so you stand out from the sea of beige.

A lovely standard-colored one from Anthropologie , with a big old lapel. Very film noir.

A great, basic black from Calvin Klein

And, *sigh*, a pricey dream coat from Trina Turk. Maybe for Passover? Easter? May Day??

Spring also means birds. Here in Great Barrington, the robins are going nuts, and it's time to hang up the birdfeeder. This is my favorite design -- pretty to look at, and clear, so you can see the bird as it sits and eats! Clearly a Best In Show.

And in case you're like me, and your thoughts turn to cream and sugar when the weather starts getting warm, here's a terrific recipe from last August's now-tragically-defunct Gourmet for salted caramel ice cream.

Eggghhhhh. Ruth Reichl, we miss your vision over here.