Iron Chef Wannabes

Thank goodness the weather has finally cooled down a bit. It has been unseasonably warm up here the last two weeks. I read somewhere there were only 2 days over 90 last summer. We already had 2 this week and there is no such thing as central air here - unless you live in a new high rise.

Last night I went with a friend to a fancy corporate function where about 20 of us donned our chef's hat and apron to cook a 3 course meal at the New York Culinary Institute. We had a little mixer with some drinks and hors devours to start, then it was off to the kitchen to cook up a feast. Most of the stuff was all laid out for us and all we had to do was cut, chop, mix, pound, grill and sauté away. Our group was responsible for doing the 3 part appetizer which was very simple yet exquisite. We were served by a full staff and the menu for the evening was: grilled steak on a bed of arugula with a vinaigrette as an appetizer(we were responsible for this - and of course everyone loved this the most). The main course was chicken paillard, swiss chards, oven roasted potatoes all topped with a nice creamy pesto sauce. And finally for dessert, we had a chocolate layered cake stuffed with fresh berries. All in all a great meal and now it is off to CP for a much needed 4 mile run.

1st Celebrity Sighting

I am so elated I just had my first celebrity sighting and only a block away from my apartment to boot. Now I have seen a few reality tv contestants and some tv actors but never a real bona fide celebrity. After work I went running in CP again and I was on my way home I walked pass this group standing outside a restaurant on the sidewalk. I just happened to glance at this white hair gentleman. Normally when it is dark and late at night I just look ahead and mind my own business but for some reason I just looked in his direction. After I passed him it hit me that "Hey that was Richard Gere". In my disbelief I turned around to take a second look - sure enough that was him. I wanted to back track and say hi, but it seemed he was having a very intimate conversation with his group. I've always hear people saying they saw so and so and I never have anything to add - so finally after 18 months in NYC - now I can join in on all the reindeer games - yeah!!!

Just Call Me Honey

Last night some friends and I went to the annual Museum Mile Festival. This is where all the museums on Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 102nd have free admission with street performers and music on the streets. By the time we got there it was kinda late so we did not get to go inside the one museum I wanted to visit – The Met. Oh well I guess I can always go on my own one day. So we just loitered around checking out all the performers and listening to music.

Today for lunch I went to Honey’s. Well it really isn’t called that. No one here really knows what it is called. It doesn’t even have a sign – just a little chalkboard with the fare of the day in Spanish. My coworkers just call it that because the lady always asks “What you want honey?”. I guess it is a saying I am somewhat used to. It is a Mexican restaurant – well I don’t think I can even call it that. The place is smaller than some people’s closet – it just has a counter with maybe 3 stools. She really doesn’t speak English except for her greeting and you just point at the what you want. By the time I came out with my package and yes I am calling it a package because it had to weigh about 5 lbs by the time she plopped on the meat, beans, salad and rice. Now I usually don’t have problems finishing a meal in one sitting, but I had to throw in the towel half way thru and put the leftovers in the fridge. I guess I will be eating it again for dinner tonight. Not too bad for $5 I must say.

Rubbed The Right Way

On Friday night I met up with the so called blind set-up person. She was a nice lady but for me I really didn't feel a connection with her. Plus she likes Guinness and that right there makes me have second thoughts. Just kidding, I am probably sure she didn't feel any sparks either - so I guess you never know until you try.

Then on Saturday night a friend and I tried out the newest and very muched hyped BBQ joint in NYC - R.U.B. In fact, Leonardo DiCaprio and Giselle dined at this establishment about a month ago. We got the sampler and boy was it good. It was filled with brisket, sausage, ribs, potato salad and fried onion strings. The meats and sauce were quite tasty but our favorite was definitely the sausage - it was magnificent. The both of us are from Texas - so we know what BBQ should taste like and this sausage was slap yo mama good. Then to top it all off we had the only dessert on the menu - Fried Oreos. As strange as this sounded it was really, really good and different.

Moving on to Sunday - the hottest day of the year so far - it was very warm and muggy. I went on a run in CP with my "friend" again. No Herculean effort this time - just a nice 3.2 mile saunter around the reservoir and off to lunch in C-Town. And today at work the CFO took me out to lunch. I just so happen to sit next to him and he invited me to a certain unnamed frequent reader of this blog's favorites - Burritoville. It is always as good as usual and then on the way back - we passed by one of his to die for places - Cupcake Cafe. He insisted on indoctrining me to this establishment and who am I to refuse. The cupcakes were very moist and good much better than the over-hyped Magnolia Bakery. It may just give Bob's Cupcake Emporium a run for it's money.

Correct Assumptions

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Weekend. I just lounged around, met up with some people and ate alot over the extended weekend. I also received some tickets for an off-broadway play through a friend and so I went with one of my old roommates. It was called Orgasms and was very funny and also for adults only. It just talks about the many inherent differences between men and women starting all the way back from the days of Adam and Eve.

Also - I received a very interesting email yesterday from a female acquaintance I met once a few months ago. She attended a monthly event that I usually attend and she offered to help me in gaining a job at her company. Well it has been about 3 months since I heard from her and she emailed to ask me if her company ever got back with me. Then for the second half of the message - she said "not to be forward" but she is assuming that I am single and that I prefer women - because she has a great friend that she would like to introduce me to. Well - I emailed her back and thanked her for her job search help and that I did find a job. Then to answer her assumptions I wrote - yes I am single and that she is absolutely 100% correct in assuming that BOB DOES INDEED PREFER women. Today I got a response from her with some contact info of her friend - so we shall see my friends...we shall see. Nothing wrong with making a new friend I suppose.