Dream Lunches - NY

I have so many favorite lunch-time spots in NY it's hard to choose which one I will frequent when in town. 

From this last trip I will highlight my top 3.

Back in 2004, our offices were relocated to East 46th Street and I soon discovered the pizza van.  THE Pizza Van.   The best pizza in New York.  Yes.  I said it.  Jiannetto's Pizza is perfect.

I've been known to get 4 slices at once (and everyone at work was always in awe).  This last trip I practically ran to 48th St. (between Park and Lexington) to get my 2 precious slices.   

I no longer have an office to sit and eat my lunch in but it was so warm (high 40's!), I sat on the first bench I saw and enjoyed my slices of heaven.

Lunch #2:  The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English.  

This is a new edition to the city, and I loved the beautiful mosaic floors and vaulted ceilings.  Oh yeah, the food was spectacular.  Seriously.

I splurged and split the foie gras with a friend -- I know I'm a bad person but it tasted so good and it'd been years since I partook.  I also loved the pasta bolognese, caramelized brussel sprouts and homemade lemonade.  

   

Now if you find yourself around Union Square (12th St and University Place) you Must visit Num Pang, Cambodian sandwiches of my dreams.  No excuses.  

Unless you hate amazing food that will make your eyes roll into the back of your head.   They opened after I left NY so I can only eat there when I'm visiting and not everyday like I want to, ergo I've only ordered the pork belly sandwich.

I do not want to mess around, although I've been told the pulled pork and tiger shrimp are also fantastic.  But first thing's first, I take out the giant cilantro branch they place on top before I take a bite (NO changes to the menu, NO exceptions).  That just goes to show you how mind-blowing the sandwich is, if a massive piece of cilantro won't scare me away.  

What I Wore . . .

I had a Perfect Day once.

And I wore my favorite Target hat

that I ruined in the jungles of Panama.

If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles and would like to recreate this perfect day, I'll write the instructions below:

12:oo PM: An Estate Sale in the flatlands of Beverly Hills.

I love touring inside historic homes. Estate sales let you see how people really lived, everything is frozen -- it's like touring Pompeii without the ash and pornographic graffiti.

Plus they usually have amazing antique finds, like this gem:

1:oo PM: Lunch at Lemonade in West Hollywood.

Which you might remember is one of my Dream Lunch recommendations.

And did I mention I wore my Gigantic plastic sun glasses that don't match anything and at the same time go with everything? (At least that's what I tell myself when I wear them.)

2:3o PM: Amoeba Music to buy two CDs (Interpol and Spoon)

3:15 PM: Space 15 Twenty to peruse the books at Hennessey + Ingalls and look at an art exhibit.

4:oo PM: Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood to take photos . . .

. . .and look at the views.

I also wore my subtle 3-inch, brown wedges which would guarantee 8-plus hours of comfortable use.

And my white Panasonic Lumix LX5 which is also guaranteed for 8-plus hours of use.

5:45 PM: Drive past Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House.

Just drive past as it's not open for tours at the moment. But it'll be nice just driving up the winding streets in the hills of Los Feliz and seeing glimpses of old homes.

6:15 PM: Attempt to visit Griffith Observatory but decide to just drive past due to parking limitations, approaching hunger and laziness.

6:30 PM: Eat a hearty, delicious vegetarian dinner at Trails, sitting on a picnic bench under a canopy of trees. I recommend everything.

The End.

So what triggered this walk down memory lane?

My September issue of Martha Stewart Living arrived yesterday, the day before the December issue (?) and in it was a lovely Article on Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park.

I never actually toured The House because it was closed by the time we got there. But that just leaves one more historic Los Angeles home I get to tour one day.

Dream Lunch - D.C.

There are many things I love about our nation's capital, but the number 1 thing/ reason might be Cowgirl Creamery. You go in and sample cheeses and melt with happiness. The employees there are so nice they'll even let you sample 3 or 4 or 5 cheeses. I always get a sandwich AND a hunk of cheese and some bread. Basically I eat myself sick and it's worth it every time.

I don't want to sound like one of those pretentious people who talk about eating cheese and drinking wine in a park. Those people drive me crazy. And I don't listen to jazz either. But I do usually sit in the mall and eat a hunk of cheese and drink lemonade. . . in my Parisian skirt with my sequin purse laying next to me on a charming wooden bench. . . there I go again. I can't help it.

But seriously, I crave this place like the

lactose intolerant dairy junkie that I am.

Dream Lunch - L.A.

Lemonade never disappoints.

We frequent the West Hollywood and Venice locations

but I'm sure the others are just as dreamy.

Order a Basil Lemonade like I did here with my BFF, here.

And for dessert try all of the macarons.

Alan Jackson is the man in charge,

but not THAT Alan Jackson.