I Made Spring Rolls

So, though I've been able to find tortas, tacos, dim sum, and good cheeseburgers here, I'm missing one vital requirement in terms of food happiness: Vietnamese food. The South Bay (where I'm from) is especially flush with Vietnamese eateries from bánh mi shops to pho restaurants, and having none of these options nearby has taken its toll. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make something! In this case, spring rolls.

Tofu, julienned carrots, fresh mint and cilantro, and butter lettuce, all sitting pretty on a moistened rice paper wrapper.

The finished product. Crisp, refreshing and delicious. Not pictured: The spicy hoisin dipping sauce and peanut dipping sauce that accompanied them...dipping is half the fun of spring rolls, after all.

Doughnuts!

After craving pastries for weeks, we finally made it to the Doughnut Plant, which had been highly recommended to us by a knowledgeable party. And they did not lead us astray. Above we have the crème brûlée doughnut...a great invention. It's a small, round yeast doughnut filled with custard and topped with a crunchy sugar glaze. Like the real thing, but in pastry form!

Devin got the classic vanilla glazed yeast doughnut...sweet but not too sweet, with a perfect airy texture.

The benches along the walls with their apt glazed ceramic motif.

And I got the jelly filled square doughnut. The blackberry preserves inside were tart and lovely.

My square jelly, the crème brûlée, and one of the most fantastically delicious cups of iced tea I've ever had. I think it may have been Earl Grey...the citrus notes were amazing. Plain iced tea + pastries = perfection.

The walls were lined with big doughnut-shaped pillows. The pink sequined one looks a lot like their strawberry doughnut, and the shaggy white one is perhaps the coconut glaze/coconut cream. Both of which we have yet to sample. Which means we'll be back.

Blossom Attack!

Manhattan and Riverside Park especially, good job with spring! All of the blossoming trees have exploded into intense bloom, and I'm getting carried away with the awesomeness of it all.

The blossoming tree lined pathway.

The ivy is back!

The squirrels have definitely thinned down from their plump winter selves.

Monster dandelions!

Punch-drunk.

The grass is dotted with small flowers.

Devin with some manly concrete.

A cat friend we ran into on the walk home!

The Cure for Post Industrial Revolution Malaise

Saturday was all about accepting New York as it is. I tend to complain about it more than I should...how food in California is better, how the buildings are too tall, and the temperatures too extreme. So instead of dwelling on the negative, I decided to seek out what Manhattan does well. Which basically equals delicatessens. So! Above we have a delicious reuben from Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop down town nearish Union Square. It was awesome...hot pastrami, melty cheese, spicy sauerkraut, toasty bread, plus pickles on the side. And you better believe I smothered it with brown mustard.

Since it was Passover, I also got a hot bowl of matzo ball soup. It didn't compete with homemade varieties I've tried, but it was warm and comforting, and the matzo balls were soft and pillowy.

Devin got a hamburger and steak fries, but once he tried a bite of my reuben, he wished he'd gotten one too. We ate at the counter, which is something I've done a whole two times in my life.

The block where Eisenberg's is located.

After our deli experience we took some pictures in the side lot of St. John's by our apartment. Big, industrial garages and storage areas are a nice juxtaposition to the romantic cathedral.

D for Devin...

Whom I ♥.

My favorite numer, and thus my favorite door!