Catching up: Scrapple in the Big Apple

Can I buy a vowel?

Whilst grocery shopping a few weeks ago in NYC, I noticed a packaged food called scrapple.Turns out, it's a spam-like substance with Pennsylvania Dutch origins (called "pon haus" by them). Leave it to those Germans to utilize every piece of an animal in their cooking and make it a "delicacy." Those resourceful Germans!

Now that I know what scrapple is, I'm more convinced that I will never be putting this in my shopping cart.

Catching up: Talking S'Mac

To celebrate my arrival in NYC back in May, KShum took me to this awesome restaurant called S'Mac, purveyors of numerous varieties of macaroni and cheese (Judy's kind of restaurant, yes?), including a delicioso gluten-free version which I quite enjoyed. I thought I'd lost my pictures from that outing; turns out that I'd emailed the pictures to myself, to an account that I rarely use. I found them last night and thought I should post them now before I forget about...oh look, shiny!

Wait. What was I talking about?

Oh, yes. S'Mac. Fabulous place! Loved it!

My favorite number

Gluten-free mac 'n cheese at S'Mac

Look at that yummy, bubbly cheese!

#DinnerWithKShum

Last night KShum and I went out to dinner in "Alphabet City" at this cool little place called Cornerstone Cafe, a cozy Italian bistro on Ave B. Thanks to KShum's foresight, we had a Groupon for dinner at said cafe (whoo-hoo!): she got the salmon, and I got the steak.

Yummy, Gluten-free (I checked) steak dinner -- and worth every calorie!

Did I also mention that they had AC? A nice, cool break from the suffocating heat outside.

All in all, a fun adventure with KShum!

#KShumRocks

My First Visitor in NYC

And speaking of Jenga...she was my first visitor in NYC! She and her sister AJ came down to NYC for the ballet, and the 4 of us (Jenga, AJ, me, and KShum) had dinner at a cute little Mediterranean hummus bar near Lincoln Center called Nanoosh. I had a bowl of their uh-maze-ing, organic, locally-grown tomato soup and the hummus tahini plate. Soooo delish!

Seeing Jenga was so wonderful; I heart her very much! Talking with her about our friends (that includes you Suz, Mel, and JenE!) made me miss the familiar things in Utah and my friends there...but I know I need to be here in NYC and "give the Lord a chance" to show me why. So, here I am!

Good job, thankyouverymuch, amen.

Following the Rules

Upclose and personal with my chicken over rice Halal food. The white sauce looks a little orange...but that's my "high quality" BB camera for you!

This post is dedicated to Em and her "photograph the food" rule. And to my "friend" at the Halal food truck who makes me yummy food.

Good job, thankyouverymuch, amen.

My New "Friend"

It's been hot and muggy in NYC lately, and I haven't wanted to turn on the gas range to cook anything. So KShum and I have frequented our local Halal food truck (I can't figure out if it's Greek food or some other Mediterranean mix...but that's a topic for another post)--as in we ate there "every day" during the last 2 days (haha). One of the workers (unfortunately not pictured here) took to calling me "my friend" when he saw me and even remembered my order when I came back for the second day. It's probably easy to remember the White Girl's order!

I was a little worried about cross-contamination (I do pay attention, Treeshka!) but I've watched them and they never put any bread on the stovetop. And I haven't been sick, so that's a good sign.

I tell you what, their chicken over rice is spectactular! And for $5...! In fact, maybe I'll go see my "friend" tonight and have him cook for me again--you know, since he's already up and cooking....

1 Bodega, 2 Bodegas, 3 Bodegas, 4...

Bodegas in NYC are like ABC stores in Honolulu or LDS churches in Utah: there's practically one on every corner. Within the few blocks of KShum's casa, I've visited 4 of the many bodegas in this neighborhood. I wouldn't call them convenience stores exactly: they are more than that. But they are definitely close to a c-store. You can get your "snacks and smokes and drinks and whatnot" (see Corner Gas, "World's Biggest") -- but you can also get a freshly prepared omelet, bagel with schmear, salad, sandwich, or other food item (depending on the bodega) prepared whilst you wait.

And Dr Pepper. Don't forget that they carry that!

Our favorite bodega, aka The Clean Bodega

If Life Were A Musical...

I believe that life should be a musical. This idea hasn't caught on yet...but I hold out hope. And if it really were, I'd choreograph--or have Kenny Ortega choreograph--some killer dance numbers like the one.

Loco for Moco

Loco for Moco at the Hukilau Cafe in Lai'e

Being best friends with Julie has some definite perks... like going to Hawai'i twice during a six-month period. Granted, I had to pay for my own airfare and other sundries; however, the majority of expenses were paid for while she attended meetings at BYU-Hawai'i. Mahalo nui loa, Julie!

When we visited Oah'u in March, Julie's sister Amy traveled with us. On one of the mornings when Julie was working, Amy and I attempted to find some breakfast. We stumbled upon the Hukilau Cafe in Lai'e. There we sampled some of the finest home-cooking on the island--"ono food, yeah?" as they would say there.

We returned to the Hukilau Cafe again the next morning and were treated like locals: the waitress recognized us Haoles among the sea of brown people and even remembered the drinks we'd ordered from the day before. For the first three times we ate at the Hukilau Cafe, I ordered the famous local dish, Loco Moco, which is essentially two scoops of rice, 2-3 cooked eggs, meat (usually spam or hamburger), all covered in delicious brown gravy. It was yummy -- but soooo filling!

After the third breakfast of Loco Moco, I thought I might never be able to eat it again. But now that I'm writing about it, I'm getting a craving for some ono Loco Moco -- but I'll only eat it once, not three days in a row.