Artichokes Anonymous

I’m baaaaaaack! Greetings Yummy Yogini readers! I made it safely back from NYC where I was for five glorious days and where we ate like kings, shopped like queens and drank wine like we hadn’t left the Central Coast! We stayed in a very generous friend’s second home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and it was FANCY! The walls were filled with unique prints and drawings and the views (from the 40th floor, no less!) were enough to make you not want to leave the apartment at all!

The first night we were there, we hit up the nearby Whole Foods (the BEST in the country) where there is, hands down, the richest selection of fresh fish, produce and delicacies that you really don’t need but you buy anyway. Oh! And there are 40+ check-out lines so after you spent an hour darting in and out of people with your shopping cart, you’re made to stand in colored isles waiting for your number to be called out… which takes minutes….! I actually saw someone there standing in line for one thing! What in the what?! After all the waiting though, Andy made us an exquisite meal of grouper, manila clams, linguini and fresh baked bread. It was one of the best meals of my the life in the best apartment I’ve ever been to in my life, and in my favorite city, after Chicago of course, to top it all off! Put a fork in me, I’m done!

Central Park.

Seriously though, we hit up a lot of restaurants. We are “foodies” I guess you could say even though I dispise that word because it makes you think of snobby, rude restauranteers when we couldn’t be any different. Andy and I love food… and wine. Eating a good meal is like reading a good book on the beach, or in Andy’s case, playing the best round of golf in his life. It often lingers in your head for hours, even days, after you’ve finished that last bite and leaves you wanting more. Which is why we went to Kashkaval in Hell’s Kitchen three times while we were there. And when we found out it was closing in just a few days after 17 years of business, we appreciated what they put on our plate, and in our glass, even more. They do have a sister restaurant just down the street so if you live in the area, check it out!

Because I made Andy walk a ton, like 20+ miles but who’s counting, we stopped at various little wine bars and rooftop decks for a quick drink and to soak up the view. Pod 39 had some yummy margaritas and great chips and spicy salsa, while Center Bar had a live jazz pianist performing, in addition to their expensive, yet impressive, wine list. Over all though, our favorite market/restaurant was Eataly, the brainchild of Mario Batali and Joe and Lidia Bastianich. This is one of the coolest place that I’ve been to where you can shop, eat and drink all at the same time and at any hour of the day.

Think fresh squid ink pasta, Chanterell mushrooms (at $45 a pound!), the finest artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, fine wines, chocolates and gelato… all under the same roof! There’s even a rooftop beer garden! We enjoyed a lovely overpriced meal there but hey, it’s New York! And like any true New Yorker, we visited a ton of museums while we were there. I had The Frick Museum at the top of my list even though I knew the portrait of The Goldfinch was long gone, and it did not disappoint! I also dragged Andy to The Met, The MoMa and The American Museum of Natural History, which he loved, like I knew he would!

The highlight of our trip was at the beginning though, when we flew into Boston, had a few beers at Cheer’s, and then drove to Rhode Island so that I could visit with my family and help celebrate my Gram’s 90th birthday! As in true Cecilia fashion, my Gram somehow found out about the party and I made sure to mention that in the roast that I read to her during it! Yes, I roasted my sweet 90-year-old Grandma. And she loved every second of it! And like true Italians (and Irishmen) we ate Veal Piccata, Chicken Parm, heaps of pasta and garlic saturated bread!

The Yummy Yogini was feeling happy that day… and fat! Family came from Florida, Massachusetts and California to celebrate my Gram.. she’s the matriarch of our family and she has touched a lot of lives, so it was great to see her bask in the attention and open up so many thoughtful gifts from everyone. I was crying when I wheeled her back to her room and when I went to kiss her I said, “I don’t wanna leave Gram,” to which she replied, “Then don’t, there’s a bed right there!” LOVE HER!

My Gram’s future is so bright, she’s gotta wear shades!

Me and my Ma.

Cousin love.

_____________

Okay, so I’m going to leave you with my latest obsession, artichokes! I’m discovering that there are a ton of ways to prepare them besides steaming and frying them… did you know you can toss them on the grill and cook em’ that way too? Indeed! The market by my house has some of largest artichokes I’ve ever laid eyes on, never mind cooked cooked with, so I’ve been buying them two at a time and eating them just as quickly! For these artichokes, I cut them in half, brushed them with olive oil, salt and pepper, and sprinkled minced garlic on top. Just place them cut side up on the grill for about a half and hour over medium heat and when all the garlic has melted, flip them over and grill for another 15 minutes or so. Super easy, super healthy, and super fun to eat!