NYC

What can I say about our trip in the East Coast? It was all about the food, or a lot of it was. The best part about dining in NYC is definitely the possibility of 11 pm dinner reservations.

The dining experience was definitely a refreshing departure from the low fat/low cal California cuisine.

Here is a list of the highlights. My top 4:

Carnegie Deli
http://www.carnegiedeli.com
Totally famous and very touristy. Cappy had the "Woody Allen," 1/2 corned beef, 1/2 pastrami, and I had the pastrami. I probably should have had the corned beef as it was absolutely perfect. The sandwiches feature enough meat for a small family, a dish of 5-6 pickles, and crinkle-cut fries.

Now, I don't mean to be a buzzkill on this whole NY deli experience--but I thought it would be great to show the possibility of such a monstrous highly stacked sandwich, but then in actuality, serve something more reasonable. Or allow people to choose something they can actually finish. The highly stacked sandwiches struck me as kind of obscene. But Americans tend to have a soft spot (literally) for the sputtering over-the-top joy of oversized portions. In Tokyo, the "Woody Allen" sandwich could easily feed a family of four.

Unfortunately, we didn't have an appetite for the famous cheesecake, nor a sidedish knish. A knish, I've learned is essentially is a pastry packed potato. In any case, I did wonder--which kind of food is more aligned with heart disease? New York deli food or local Hawai'i lunch plates?

Aquagrill
http://www.aquagrill.com/menuspage.htm

Earlier in the summer I was a bit enthusiastic about our heavenly dinner experience at Aqua. My heart is still with Aqua, but our experience at Aquagrill was also something extraordinary.

We were blown into the front doors (literally, thanks to Ernesto) at 11 pm. The dining room was buzzing with energy as if it were 7.30 pm. I had Alaskan halibut that was as tender as sole with a sauce straight out of a small cafe on the Île-de-France. A light and slightly tangy Dungeness crab and watercress salad was carefully placed on top of the fish. Cappy went for the Diver Sea Scallops and risotto. I can't really comment further on her dish because I was quite wrapped up with the halibut and crab.

We ordered their special dessert, the "Saturday Night Soufflé." It was a lovely hazelnut soufflé with freshly dripped chocolate and kahlua sauce. We're not generally dessert gals, but who could resist? At the end of the night, the host/manager whispered to us that that the dessert chef had made one more soufflé for the staff. She then got us a small plate with a bit of it, which was also shared with the waiters. Nice.

Aquagrill is known for their friendly and laid back atmosphere. People are very real and hospitable. In fact, the biggest shock I had in NYC was seeing how friendly people were in SoHo, Tribeca, the West Village--all over really. People would go out of their way to help you.

In fact, I'm not sure this old NY joke stands anymore, at least not in the West Village area:

Question: How do you ask for the time in New York?
Answer: Do you have the time, or should I just go fuck myself?

Now it's more like...

Question: Do you have the time?
Answer: Sure--oh wait I don't. Let me walk you to a place with a great clock made of spoons and marzipan.


Balthazar
http://www.balthazarny.com/splash.html

A very Parisian experience in SoHo. Great, great great. Though NY is now smoke-free, I could still visualise the secondhand smoke hanging in the air as our cheese platter made it's way to our small table. Apparently, they've got an amazing brunch.

Sunny Palace
http://www.sunnypalace.com
Great dim sum. Chinese-Americans in Jersey. It's actually much better than anything Chinese I've had in the Bay Area or possibly even Vancouver B.C. for that matter.


Hobbit List:
These are places we'd like to have tried, but unfortunately don't have the Hobbit multiple-meal capacity, nor the will to make up for it with extra exercise:

1. Papaya King
http://www.papayaking.com
Hot dogs and a smoothie for under $3. Who could resist? We walked by this place, but we were heading elsewhere for dinner.

2. Degustation
http://events.nytimes.com/2006/06/21/dining/reviews/21rest.html
Check out the menu. I'm still sad we couldn't get to this one.

3. Jane
http://www.janerestaurant.com
Could we somehow airlift this place and plop it right down near Lake Merritt, Oakland?

NYC vs. SF

Food:
SF/NYC (tie, a very close tie)

Vibe:
NYC
For me, it kind of approximates the pre-dot.com SF--less attitude and less pretension from conservative transplants from the Midwest and East. And I may prefer the Korea-like passionate truth heartiness and soul, and creativity and energy.

Transportation:
NYC

Weather:
SF
No contest.

Energy:

SF
Ten years ago, my answer would have been NYC. Though I love the creative bustle of NYC, it now feels something I'd love to visit more frequently, rather than reside in. SF is thankfully far away from the neurotic state lines of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and less about the I-can-trace-my-ancestors-to-the-Mayflower thing. Also, I love being close to nature with the amazement that you couldn't possibly be so close to a major metropolis.

Also, NY feels like a dysfunctional relationship. One that thrills and inspires, but drains and depletes. SF feels like a perpetual crush, less heavy on commitment, but easy to get caught up in for years that seem like weeks.

Place I'd rather live:
SF
Though--a loft in Manhattan to visit for shopping, dining, theater, music, and Christmas wouldn't be bad either.