I opted for a chicken, roasted red pepper, and swiss wrap at lunch today in the office cafeteria. An hour later I was outside getting coffee and one of the two cooks was having a smoke. He saw me and said “how did you like your wrap? Was it ok?” I thought he was just a conscientous chef who took pride in his craft. I told him it was delicious and thanked him for the meal. As I entered the building the second cook, now in his civilian clothes, was exiting the elevator. He said, “hey, was everything ok with the wrap?”

Now I want to know what was wrong with my wrap?

As an aside, I noted today that all of the milk and cream in our refrigerators in the office say:

Use by March 25, if New York, March 20.

I want to know who in New York was responsible for getting a law passed that requires fresher dairy in New York than other states. Because there has to be a law (the alternative being that milk spoils faster in New York). There is some joke about the New York minute to made here but I am too under the weather to suss it out.

I’ll throw in a gratuitous link to Real Simple’s Surprising Expiration Dates (and you’ll note that they do not differentiate between New York and the rest of the United States).

I suppose my 30 day sabatical from New York has got me thinking about what I am going to miss while I am away (I am in Cleveland for the next month or so). I will particularly miss the establishments and people that serve the beverages and food that I have come to love over the last three years.

Do Hwa (Korean)
Carmine Street between Bedford and Varick

This place gets an A for food and atmosphere. Get a grill table and DIY or sit at the bar and watch the movies that are perpetually displayed on the wall (I’ve recently seen Old Boy, The Graduate, and Sexy Beast). The bar is always filled with neighborhood regulars and you can catch the occassional celebrity (I recently had a hilarious conversation with RZA and was thrilled to meet Me’Shell Ndegeocello).

The Dove Parlour
Thompson between West Third and Bleecker

I started going to the Dove when the owners were behind the bar and I was the only person in the room. While I liked it that way, their immense popularity and success is well deserved. With top notch cocktails and a truly exceptional and unique wine list curated by Frank Locker (part owner of the Dove and Is-Wine a wine store in the East Village) the Dove has become a popular hangout. I suggest visiting Tuesday - Thursday to grab a few seats at the bar or a table by the windows. I forgot to mention that the space is gorgeous, earning its designation as a parlour.

For cocktails I recommend the Cinnamon Daquiri or the Honey Dove. My wine palate is sub standard, but you can often find Frank chatting with customers in the early evening. Introduce yourself and ask for a recommendation.

The Grey Dog Coffee Shop
Carmine between Bleecker and Bedford

I have been going to the Grey Dog on Carmine street for years (I just moved out of my apartment three doors down in June). Open from 7:00 am to 11:30 at night the Grey Dog has everything from wonderful (and relatively healthy) breakfasts and a delicious cup of coffee to large sandwiches, chili, soups, and burgers. The Grey Dog is one of the only places I know that feels right whether I am there for my morning cup of joe and a newspaper or a glass of wine with friends after dinner.

If you go for their extremely popular brunch on Saturday or Sunday don’t fret the line. The staff is extremely efficient and has got the whole seating thing down to a science.

Little Branch
7th Avenue and Leroy

Little Branch is the slightly more egalitarian version of Sasha Petraske’s Milk and Honey (He also own’s East Side Company Bar). This is a classic cocktail lover’s dream. Their Queen Spark Swizzle is likely the best cocktail I have ever had. The space is dark and filled with booths. This is not a bar you go to looking for a scene. I recommend this bar if you want to catch up with old friends without screaming at one another.

If you don’t know what you want, suggest a base liquor and the extremely knowledgable staff will create tastes you didn’t know existed.

Freeman’s
Freeman’s Alley bewteen Bowery and Christie

Simply put, you owe it to yourself to go to Freeman’s on a Tuesday and sample the art that is a cocktail made by Toby, one of New York’s best bartenders.

Shake Shack
Madison and 23rd Street (Madison Square Park)

I finally made it to the Shake Shack two weeks ago. I kind of wish I hadn’t cause I wouldn’t be jonesing for it now if I hadn’t. Go for the burgers, fries, and a shake.

Lovely Day
Elizabeth between Prince and Spring

I have never been able to size this place up. The breakfast menu has your traditional eggs and such. The Lovely Day classics trend toward Thai. The Pad Thai and Coconut Curry Noodle are two favorites. Yet the entrees include flank steak, seared salmon, and pork chops all of which are also delicious. Combine this with a space that looks more like an eclectic diner than a thai restaurant and a staff that is decidely lower east side hip and you would expect a restaurant with an identity problem. Somehow it works, and works well.

If I could survive on their Ginger Fried Chicken (an appetizer) I would.

What places do you miss when you are away?
When I return I plan on spreading out a bit. Do you have any recommendations? What places can’t you live without?

I finally made it up to the Shake Shack in Madison Square park on Tuesday (ok… and Wednesday). It is as good as promised.

Apparently Frank Bruni, restaurant critic for the New York Times, makes around 325 dinner reservations a year.