Simon Sips

We had some errands to run, and this was on our way. The sandwiches were petite in a nice way and all the stuff well proportioned to the bread. People forget how important that is. The olives were a nice and spicy lemony accompaniment. Happy fourth of July y'all!
Simon Sips, 72 East First Street near 1st Avenue

4:00pm lemon cake

Summer thunderstorms remain as romantic now as they did when I was 18 and dancing in the rain barefoot. This city isn't really built for walking around barefoot, actually, is any city? But I did deliberately walk outside in the middle of the heavy downpour to pick up a tart and sweet lemon cake.
Oro Bakery, 375 Broome Street btwn Mulberry and Mott

Li Hua, with Jean-Francois et Chloe

What brilliance it is to serve entrees on a hot stone that continues to brown and heat the food, clear through to the end of a long lunch? That's some Korean brilliance. I guess it's a cuisine not found everywhere because when Tasha was in town a couple weeks ago it was her request. And today a couple of old classmates from my days living in Paris requested Korean as well! We pop down the street to Li Hua for a classic shared meal of: beef bulgogi, seafood pajeon and kimchi jjigae. Brilliant.
Li Hua, 171 Grand Street at Baxter

4:00pm cupcakes

What a graphic cupcake photo! Today's lunch at Boqueria meant that we could swing by to pick up our favorite cupcakes from Cupcake Cafe. We prefer the mini vanilla on vanilla ones, and this time in addition we tried the walnut cake with maple buttercream frosting, which was just as delicious. The chocolate ones can be a tad on the dry side, so we stay away.
Cupcake Cafe, 18 West 18th Street btwn 5th and 6th Aves

Boqueria with David

Circumstances bring about a surprise lunch guest today. We meet up with David at Boqueria for a nice schmancy lunch to thank him for being such a supportive friend. We shared a bunch of tapas and a sandwich. The Pintxos Morunos and Pintxos de Pulpo (both pictured) were the best of the bunch.
Boqueria, 53 W. 19th St between 5th and 6th Ave

4:00pm jellied candies

One of us (not M.) had the great fortune to dine at Eleven Madison Park last night where amongst the many complimentary treats was a take home box of jellied candies. How considerate of them to realize I needed something I could share with my other lunching half.
Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Avenue at 24th St

Pret a Manger

2 years and some months later Pret a Manger finally comes closer to a 'hood we can call our own! It's still not walking distance for us but unlike midtown and downtown, Union Square makes for a mighty convenient stop after shopping at nearby tile showrooms. Our usual favorite, the egg salad, felt a bit off today. Either the bread was not super fresh or the egg salad recipe has changed. Or we're a bit off. The ham and swiss on a baguette, on the other hand, was spot on.
Pret a Manger, 857 Broadway at 17th Street, Union Square

4:00pm vanilla cupcake

We really enjoy the vanilla cupcakes from Oro; they are not too cupakey. More like a proper cake with butter cream frosting, and less like the painfully sweet ones which are probably what they are supposed to taste like. Speaking of the all American cupcake, the bakers behind Sage American Kitchen make the only too sweet cupcakes that we love. And we got notice that they are going through tough times which has made it hard for them to maintain their quality and standards. If anyone out there has any ideas of how to help out, let us know.
Oro Bakery, 375 Broome Street btwn Mulberry and Mott
Sage American Kitchen

Ramen Setagaya

On our way back from a showroom, though we were in a hurry, we wanted to take advantage of our east village location. What couldn't be more quick and satisfying as ramen? We decided to try out this not so new any more but newer location of Ramen Setagaya. Their ramen happens to be my favorite in the city (which doesn't say much but...). Though today, the shoyu-ramen wasn't quite there either. But still good enough for a happy belly. The onsen-tamago is what does it for us.
Ramen Setagaya, 34-A St Marks Place btwn 2nd and 3rd Ave

4:00pm animal crackers

I was just craving animal crackers, so it was a pleasant surprise when Y brought back chocolate covered animal crackers on her way back from a meeting. However, these are not the Nabisco Barnum's animal crackers which are far superior to any other I've had. Hence, my craving has yet to be satisfied - I know what I'm going to be picking up on my way home tonight..
Roasting Plant, 75 Greenwich Avenue near 11th Street