In no particular order at all, here are some of our favorite moments from this past wintery season.

1. Sunday Afternoon Tea at the Wythe Hotel. Winter light hits their rooftop restaurant, Bar Blondeau in a way that makes you feel like a cat lazily sunbathing. The afternoon tea experience was delightful and the array of pastries are impressive. We enjoy savory more than sweet so loved the sandwiches but loved the scones with jam. Our only call outs - wish there was clotted cream and we had more choices of tea to choose from.

2. Le Veau D’or - if you are able to snag a reservation, highly recommend coming in the winter time. Originally established in 1937, this place has that je ne sais quoi that new restaurants will never have. It’s so old school New York, the best French food you can get and the vibes are immaculate.

3. The simple but memorable combination of stilton and pears.

4. Breakfast by Salts Cure

5. Meetinghouse Beer in Philly - Rebecca swears it was her best meal of the year.

6. Whipped coffees and pastries at Caffe de Martini in Prospect Heights

7. Borgo!!

8. This is not so much a rec but a word of caution - we used to be big Lafayette fans, it used to be a great spot to walk in to with a high success rate but the food itself has gone severlyy downhill. The gem salad tasted like it was depressed, the NY strip steak was severely under salted, wait staff acted like it was their first day on the job AND after watching 2 tables get their disruptive sparklers on a fake 3 tier cake as a birthday treat that looked worst than a fast food chain production (and I love fast food..) that was the icing on top that convinced us to never return. Sad because we are a fan of Andrew Carmellini but Lafayette feels like a ghost of its former self.

Happy holidays xo

Angel and the busboy team

A few ways I have lived more spontaneously this past week:

1. Tried out a new restaurant. well - this was less spontaneous because it was a planned bachelorette but we had a late night dins reservation at eel bar in the LES (highly recommend - I could have kept popping back pickled cucumbers & anchovy gildas) but we did end up walking around downtown manhattan and seeing where the night took us. I actually haven’t had this type of evening in years and it was so nice to meet amazing women who have been in my peripheral world and just be girls and go out, drink and dance. and i was still able to wake up at 9 am today and have a day so a win is a win.

2. Stayed up late to binge watch house of guinness. in my younger days, i used to be such a good binge watcher - I was especially prolific during the pandemic and got caught up to modern day grey’s anatomy. I have lost that skill somewhat but I’ve been letting myself indulge and press “next episode” this weekend just so I can truly relax.

3. Went to my local co-op and purchased kiwi berries for the first time. these little guys are so addicting - if you like kiwis, you’ll end up popping these back and finishing the pack in a day.

4. Try out new recipes. I’m a creature of habit and typically meal prep the same few meals that are tried and true but I’m trying to find myself in the kitchen more, not just because of necessity but because of enjoyment. I heard @lindseyeats is launching her cookbook this week and was lucky enough to receive a recipe in advance from her upcoming release something delicious - below.

TURMERIC DAL WITH MINTY-LIME YOGURT & CRISPY ONIONS

Dal is something I grew up eating, lovingly prepared by all my aunts (Mom not included). If you’ve never had dal before, it is a classic Indian stew of spices and lentils. Each one of my aunts has her own unique way of making this comfort dish. My Aunt Lulu adds amchoor (dried mango powder), Aunt Nina adds fresh cilantro and jalapeno, Aunt Renee makes a tadka (a sizzled chili spiced oil, or ghee, which is spooned over top), and Aunt Florette blends most of the mixture for a smooth finish. However, there is one thing they all have in common: They are all something delicious!

My take: Adding mint yogurt and crispy onions, I’m taking inspiration from the Persian soup ash, Danny’s favorite. The crunch from the onions works so well with the cooling effect from the yogurt and dal.

SERVES 4

30 MINUTES

TURMERIC DAL

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, ghee, or neutral oil

1⁄2 cup finely chopped yellow onion

2 large garlic cloves, minced or grated

1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced or grated

1 teaspoon curry powder (or 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin and 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander)

1⁄2 teaspoon garam masala

1⁄2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1⁄4 teaspoon chili powder, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 1⁄2 cups red lentils, rinsed

4 cups water, or more as needed

CRISPY ONIONS

1⁄4 cup neutral oil

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced

Kosher salt

MINTY-LIME YOGURT

1 cup whole-milk Greek yogurt

Juice of 1 large lime, plus lime wedges for squeezing

1⁄4 cup finely chopped fresh mint, plus more for serving

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

A Pot o’Rice

Chili Crisp, optional

1. Make your Turmeric Dal: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven with a lid, heat the butter over medium heat until glistening. Add the onion and saute until translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add your garlic and ginger, tossing to combine. Add the curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, and salt and black pepper, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes or until fragrant.

2. Toss in your rinsed lentils and do a final stir. Add the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the dal has thickened significantly, 15 to 20 minutes. If you find it is getting too thick for your preference, adjust with a dash of water, as needed, tossing to combine.

3. Make your Crispy Onions: While your lentils are cooking, line a plate with paper towels and set near the stove. In a small deep pan, combine the neutral oil and onions and bring the heat to medium-high. Stir frequently, until the onions become golden brown and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to the paper towels to drain any excess oil. Season with salt. Store any oil from the pan in a mason jar or squeeze bottle for up to a week for use in any future cooking (such as eggs or salad dressings!).

4. Make your Minty-Lime Yogurt: In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, lime juice, mint, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

5. To serve: Ladle your dal into serving bowls over rice, topping with a dollop of minty-lime yogurt, crispy onions, mint, lime juice, and Chili Crisp (if using).

Have a great weekend and remember to say yes this week,

Angel

Full Name, Age and Where are you from?

My name is Pietro Quaglia, I’m 45 years old and originally from Milan, Italy.

What’s the main difference between Pietro’s then and Pietro’s now?
Pietro Nolita has undergone a thoughtful evolution, both aesthetically and in spirit. In the early days, the vibe was playful—think pink, kitschy, and lighthearted. Today, we’ve matured into something more elegant... The space feels more sophisticated and sexy, yet remains warm and inviting. Our goal was to create the feeling of a true Milanese living room—stylish yet approachable—where guests can enjoy top-tier cocktails alongside simple, authentic Italian dishes made with love and intention.

Describe the new changes to Pietro’s—furniture, lighting, and overall atmosphere.
The redesign leans into a vintage Italian aesthetic with a touch of modern elegance. We’ve introduced round terrazzo tables, a stunning marble bar, a vintage-print couch, and retro lighting elements that together channel the glamour and intimacy of Milan in the ’70s and ’80s. The atmosphere is mature and sultry without feeling pretentious—ideal for a night out that’s both elevated and easygoing.

What is the must-have drink on the menu?
There are a few standouts. The blood orange margarita is always a crowd-pleaser: bright, citrusy, and refreshing. The espresso martini is another classic that never fails. But my go-to is the jalapeño cucumber margarita—fresh and spicy.

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Which musical artist are you loving right now, and who would be your dream DJ at Pietro’s?
I’m constantly inspired by my dear friend Isabella Massanet. She has an incredible ear for music and a unique ability to blend old-school gems with contemporary beats. She brings an unmistakable energy to any space she curates.

What’s your favorite restaurant in New York, and what are you ordering?

After 25 years in New York, my favorite restaurant remains Indochine. It’s a classic. I’ve been religiously ordering the steamed ravioli, baby ribs, and saketinis for years. The atmosphere is unbeatable—always consistent, always delicious.

Anything exciting coming up for you?

I’m planning another trip to Japan with my wife soon. Japanese culture has truly captivated us with its deep sense of tradition paired with a forward-thinking creative spirit. We'd love to live in Tokyo for a year or so eventually.

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Full Name, Age and Where are you from?

My name is Sergio Nakayoshi. I’m Peruvian Japanese, and grew up in St. Louis Missouri. Shout out to Sexxy.

What is your title and where do you work?

I’m the Executive Chef here at Papa San.

What are some of the more challenging parts of opening a restaurant that the general public might not think about?

The most challenging part of opening a restaurant is the amount of hours that go behind planning, training, organizing, opening, and operating. My favorite quote by my friend Drake Maret is “everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face”. There are always gonna be things that don’t go as planned, you just need to be a rock and make the best decision possible and keep going. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

What have been your top family meals as of late?

We take pride in our family meals. The best one so far was made the first week when all the sous chefs and chefs were starting to work with each other and learn about each other. We had a chicken adobo from Dan–he is from Cambodia–, an Aji verde from Jose Luis from Mexico, Tania is Tex Mex and made rice and pico de gallo, Sang’s our CDC from Korea so he brought the kimchi, Aaron from Seattle made a cucumber salad, and Nat brought the chips and guacamole. It was a delicious meal where everyone contributed a piece of themselves. It was also the top family meal because it was the first time cooking for each other as a team of chefs so you didn’t want to not bring it.

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How would you describe Papa San’s cuisine?

Papa San’s food is a new interpretation of Nikkei food. Peruvian food has been so influenced by the marriage of these two cultures in the last century, that I feel the food we make is a product of the evolution of Peruvian food. Nikkei food is a marriage of these two cuisines in Peru, and Papa San evolves as the migration of Nikkei food to another country and culture–this third factor now being New York.

It's your night off, what restaurant have you been meaning to try?

It’s my night off, I want a beer. My mind takes me to get the kilo of meats at Carnitas Ramirez. That’s all I crave.

What are some of your favorite ingredients utilized at Papa San that people might not be familiar with?

I love using my Peruvian Chiles that are available in the United States. Aji Amarillo, Aji panca, Aji limo, We also use a lot of katsobushi and dried shiitake mushrooms, can’t forget perilla oil and leaves. These Japanese ingredients marry so well with our cooking.

What are three things you can’t live without right now? (Restaurants, kitchen utensils, books, it can be anything!)

3 things I can’t live without right now are my Apple Watch, my headphones, and Citi Bikes. It’s my daily meditation for 45 min on my way to work. Got to keep zen.

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For those of you who don’t know, I moved to Saint Paul back in the spring and have spent the last few months eating and drinking to the best of my ability; all in hopes of finding my new regular haunts. After a lifetime in New York, I’m hitting a new city with a blank slate and have a long road ahead until my coffee shop once again knows my name and order.

For now, I’ve started a list of the places I already have been frequenting, or anticipating myself heading back to again and again. Give a scroll to the first half of my much anticipated 202

5 Hit List and mark your Google maps for any upcoming trips to the MidWest.

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1. Hyacinth

   Coming in at a hard number one is Hyacinth, a kind of American/Italian/French amalgamation of all the best from each cuisine. Coincidentally, it’s also two blocks from my house. To give you an idea of how often I’m there, in roughly 4 months my camera roll has 210 photos from this one restaurant. Every time I eat here I’m more impressed than the last, a most recent notable being the Roasted Cabbage with Bagna Cauda and bread crumbs (as seen in my scrapbook below).

   They’ve also recently partnered with the Injera Circle on a new supper club exploring Ethiopian cuisine. I was out of town for the first one and shed a literal tear.

2. Myriel

   After Hyacinth, I’m not putting these spots in any particular order (or uploading from my camera roll), but I will say Myriel was competing for #1. Perhaps it’s because the size of the restaurant and the dining set-up feel the most familiar to me, but chef/owner Karyn Tomilson’s induction to Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs doesn’t hurt either. Oh and everything is completely, completely, farm to table. The waiters are great at letting you know what the farm brought in that morning, and any menu changes as a result.

   I prefer to sit at the bar when I’m here, where you can snag a rotating charcuterie with house-made pate and pickled veggies. Ask the bartender for a wine rec, they always hit.

3. Meteor

   In so many ways, Meteor is my dream bar. From the moment you park your car, your dive bar senses will be tingling. A sort of monolith of a building, the front features a glass block wall with colorful twinkle lights behind, giving a kind of otherworldly feel when they emanate through the glass and into the snow. Then you walk inside and boom, it’s the dark and lived-in kind of dive bar you so hoped for, save for the fact there is actual space to move around.

   Where we diverge from this divey trope however is in the drinks. These guys are slinging insanely delicious cocktails. They can make the classics, or you can try from their always-changing list of house specials (including mocktails AND low ABV options).

   The pièce de résistance of Meteor however is the hot dog menu. They offer 3 hot dog styles, and while I can’t remember them all exactly I can tell you one’s got kimchi mayo, one's got pineapple, and one’s got a whole lot of relish.

4. Taqueria y Birriera | La Cuatro Milpas

   If I’m being honest I’ve only eaten at Las Cuatro Milpas once, but it’s not close to me and the fact it’s on this list should tell you enough about how delicious it was. If you’re a Birreria fiend, they’ve got you covered as the name denotes, but I lean more toward a carnitas or lengua taco and can honestly say these were some of the best I’ve had since…May in Mexico.

   Grab a small horchata (It was like 32 oz) and side up to the large windows to let the sunshine hit you while you enjoy. Oh and I just discovered their Instagram and it’s incredible work, Danny Trejo is the cover of 4/5 posts.

5. Small Hours

   Freshly opened in September, I have a soft spot for Small Hours because it’s as new to the Twin Cities as I am. While these kind of wine/listening bars exist in droves in NYC, here it’s pretty one-of-a-kind, and the two owners did a great job building it from the ground up to be unfussy, beautiful, and full of great wine & music. They carefully pick guest selectors for their beautiful vinyl system, and have frequent collabs with winemakers and vermouth brands alike.

   Head in to see if they have seating available (it’s first come, first serve!) and and load up on Gamay, sardines in spicy olive oil, pickles, and chunks of bread. IDEAL!

To be continued…

Oh, we also wanted to leave you with a little footnote on what our team has been loving at home recently. Feel free to send in your recs from kitchen objects to pantry goods, and we’ll include them in next week’s round-up!

• Fish Spatula (Winco’s is a staple)

• Synergy Trilogy Kombucha…sue us!

• Taqueria Al Pastor Chicken Burrito

• Northwood Mushroom’s Morel Butter

• Bagna Cauda on everything, especially this recipe

• Haut Les Choeurs Pet-Nat

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1. If you are ordering food on the go or getting it delivered, it has to be quick. You can’t expect a sit-down restaurant to accommodate you, find a place expecting togo orders.

2. Finger food and chopstick food are your best bet. Napkins should be more important than utensils. This is the food you can eat on the subway or on your couch. No dishes should have to be done!!!

3. TIP ANYWAY. It might feel tempting to skip the tip in this low-contact moment, but remember that delivery drivers and counter service workers deserve that extra five bucks!

Over the years, Busboy has interviewed quite a few of our favorite grab-and-go places. Here’s a little round-up of the best.

Canal Street Market - Are you starving when you get off the J train in Chinatown? Go to Canal Street Market. I know there are destination spots for cheap Chinese food in Chinatown, but you don’t always have time to walk five blocks. Joe’s Rice Rolls (my fave) and all the other lovely food stands are delicious and convenient.

Pecking House - Sometimes you need fried chicken on the go. For some of the tastiest, spiciest chicken in the city, stop by Pecking House. Just don’t forget the wet wipes; you can only lick your fingers so many times!

Hainan Chicken House - This Sunset Park gem is one I wish was closer to home. You can dine in or take out, but it tastes amazing no matter where you eat. Chicken over rice is filling and comforting any time of day.

Bunna Cafe - During COVID, Bunna Cafe perfected its takeout system. Order a meal for two or more, and it arrives in a pizza box, with each delicious side individually wrapped around a stack of injera. It’s a super affordable option for dinner with friends when you don’t feel like cooking. Plus, it’s vegan—you’d never know!

C&B - This place has turned into the trendiest cafe on Tompkins Square Park! And for good reason. From breakfast sandwiches to pastries and beyond, you can’t miss. Grab something yummy and sit in the park. A C&B croissant is cultural capital over there.

Carmenta’s - A heightened Italian pasta and sandwich shop with imported goods. The answer is always yes. I love a meatball sub more than life. A hearty lunch from Carmen’s will either send you to dreamland or keep you cozy for the rest of the workday.

We’re always on the hunt for more affordable takeout spots in the city. Sometimes, the sheer number of options makes it tough to find the gems. My go-to orders are on repeat until I can’t bear to eat them again—at least for a month or two. Takeout is both a treat and a necessity; it’s always there for you when you need it!

I spent most of my time in Trastevere. Trastevere is an old, beautiful, lively neighborhood that I would go back to again and again. Even though the tourists have found this place, the locals also spend time there. The streets are cobblestone and windy, you can find a new treasure around every corner. There’s the best cheap bar selling gelato for one euro and spritz for two, overflowing with people trying to find a table outside. There are old restaurants where nonna's run the kitchen and you need to get there early before they run out of everything. And world-renowned restaurants that are tucked in between and have a line down the block. It is hard to pick my favorites here, but I will do my best. 

The first place I recommend is not a restaurant, but a great place to start your day. Villa Doria Pamphili sits just above Trastevere and has the biggest landscaped park in Rome. You get to see the Umbrella Stone Pine trees that look similar to a Trufula tree from Dr. Suess and some really, really old and beautiful sculptures. It takes you out of the city for a second, which can feel very healing after experiencing the busy streets of Rome.

We will start with breakfast and work our way through the day in Trastevere. Breakfast is what I missed most about home in Italy. Italians are happy with a cornetto and an espresso. I know this is sooo American of me, but I need something a little more to start my day. A French bakery called Le Levain was the ultimate compromise. The pastries were unbelievably amazing. One of the best French bakeries I went to on my entire trip (super hot take). They had little sandwiches and savory breakfast things that filled me up just slightly more than a classic Italian breakfast. I usually ended up with something savory and something sweet. I learned from my fabulous Airbnb host that she would rather DIE than drink the espresso from Le Levain because they had an automatic machine and not a traditional espresso machine. So we would walk and get our pastry and go to a different cafe for a real cappuccino. I will never feel snobby about my coffee again. 

For lunch I found myself searching the streets for a Suppli. A Suppli is a fried rice ball commonly filled with cheese and tomato sauce but there are lots of filling options. Suppli Roma is a very famous hole-in-the-wall spot that sells Suppli and focaccia pizza and other delicious Italian treats. There's usually a line, but hang in there it goes by fast! This place is a perfect quick bite.

My all-time favorite restaurant is Trattoria Da Augusto. This place is run by Nonna’s. Nonna’s in the kitchen, Nonna’s taking tables, Nonna’s everywhere. They have a small-ish menu that never changes and different specials each day. They are a small-batch restaurant so when something is gone it is gone. I went specifically for the lasagne special and to my surprise they sold out during their two-hour lunch service. That being said, they make the best Cacio e Pepe I have ever had. Their wine is two euros and the vibes are perfect. 

My other favorite restaurant is French-ish, don’t kill me!! Enoteca L’antidoto is a natural wine bar with rotating chefs. Some of the nicest people I have met work there, serving great, affordable wine. Hold for a few faves from the menu. Cold marinated mussels in olive oil, fermented garlic, and chili. Chicken liver mousse with buckwheat and chives. Amberjack crudo with capers, bay leaves, and red onion. Everything was so fresh AND they had sourdough. Like real seasoned fresh bread. No hate on Italian bread, but coming from France I was stoked to eat some sourdough. 

Last but not least, gelato! Italy really taught me the difference between good gelato and bad gelato. I don’t know if anywhere will beat the gelato I had in Florence, but Otaleg came close. This place had me contemplating three gelatos a day. It was dangerously close to my Airbnb. They had the classics like Stracciatella, Pistachio, and Raspberry. But they also had rotating flavors like Blood Orange Crunch and Zabaione. Truly wish I had a scoop right now. 

Even though Trastevere is where I did most of my eating, the whole city has such amazing food to offer. From artichokes in the Jewish Ghetto to Roman Pizza in Pigneto there are so many places to explore! I hope these recs help guide you to your next trip to Roma. 

xo,

Lily 

There wasn’t enough time in my last Sunday Sauce to give you all the Europe recs you deserve, so here is part two.

I spent six days in Paris at the end of each of my trips. I stayed in a friend's apartment in the 20th arrondissement, right next to the Buzenval metro stop. The 20th is charming, young, and close to everywhere I wanted to be. My apartment was a 15-minute train ride to Le Marias and a 20-minute walk to the 11th arr. The 11th is home to many of my favorite restaurants, but there’s good food all over Paris of course.

Early June is a tiny restaurant right next to Canal Saint Martin, a very pretty spot for people-watching. They are known for having rotating chefs and good natural wine. When I ate there Adam Purcell, an Irish chef, was making Irish/French food like a goat cheese tartlet with white asparagus, wild strawberry, and a grilled red Leicester cheese & onion toastie. It was all delicious summer comfort food. I was surprised how much this meal stuck with me throughout my trip.

Mamiche is the BEST boulangerie in Paris. There was no other place I wanted to get pastries after trying Mamiche. On day one in Paris, I got a salami and butter sandwich on a baguette for 5 euros, a croissant for 1.50 euros, and a coffee. On day two I got a pain au chocolat and a chicken salad sandwich for 6 euros. There are endless combinations of sweet and savory treats for so cheap. I couldn’t stop swinging by for something new. 

JJ Hings and Folderol are tied for best ice cream. I didn’t know Paris had such a scene for ice cream and was pleasantly surprised. JJ Hings is a more traditional ice cream shop than Folderol. They have ice cream sandwiches dipped in chocolate and delicious small-batch flavors. There's limited seating, but the shop is right next to the canal so you can find a spot to eat by the water. Folderol is more of a wine bar/ice cream shop. It is comforting to know there will be ice cream open late if you need a little walk between dinner and dessert. They had the best strawberry sorbet I have ever had. I will think about it on every hot day for the rest of my life. Strawberry ice cream is the first flavor you need to try in Paris in the summer, they just do it better. 

Honorable mentions: Le Clown Bar (eat the brain), Parcelles, Jones, Cafe du Coin, Bistrot Paul Bert, The Butcher of Paris, L'as Du Falafel, Ratafia, Dong Huong.

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Florence is known for their Bistecca alla Fiorentina, which you should try, but make the other traditional Firenze cuisine a priority too. All their food is simple, comforting, and charming. Crostini Toscano, Pappardelle al Cinghiale, and Lampredotto, to name a few. I found that there are so many restaurants in Florence it can be overwhelming. And the places I was excited about were booked up for weeks. If you are smart, I would make reservations before going, but if you are like me I would plan on squeezing in a few late dinners. 

Trattoria Camillo is the MOST charming restaurant in Florence. The staff wear white button-ups with black ties and the double dining room is full of white tablecloths. The whole restaurant feels rustic, like the food and the staff really wishes you didn’t have to wait to eat as much as you do. The host is one of the owners who is equally as intimidating as lovely and is holding that place together with her clipboard of reservations. We ordered handmade tortellini with red sauce, shrimp over rice, and artichokes. For dessert, we had apple cake with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The woman next to us grew up in Florence and told us she always comes back to Camillo when she is visiting, there isn’t a better recommendation than that. 

I took the best picture of my trip at Trattoria Del Carmine. See below. The Italian spirit of this place shined bright. When you walk in there is a case of cold meets with fresh pastries sitting on top. I sat next to the kitchen because as a solo diner, they tended to put me at the table no one really wanted. In this case, I was very pleased that I could peek into the kitchen and see the old Italian men slapping sauce on pasta and tipping their chef’s hat at me. Every steak they sold they presented to the table raw first. I had to capture this iconic moment. I got Ravioli Rosa and a glass of red wine. It was very satisfying. 

I didn’t really know the difference between good gelato and bad gelato until I went to RivaReno Gelato. A girl I met at breakfast who was studying abroad in Florence put me on and I immediately understood. I heard that if the Gelato is hidden and not stacked in mounds you know it is a good spot. You could verily tell this place sold gelato that is how good it is.  

Go to Pasticceria Gualtieri for the pastries and stay to eavesdrop on older Italian women meeting for espresso. The popular bakery brings locals to eat their Italian goodies, sweet and savory. I got a slice of tomato focaccia and an apple Danish for breakfast. Good bread can be hard to find in Italy, but they really know how to do focaccia of course. You can enter the Boboli Gardens just a few blocks away from there, I highly recommend making a day of it. I remember seeing a blue heron sitting next to a lemon tree in the middle of a pond. It is worth strolling through. 

Honerable Mensions: Trattoria Sostanza, Enoteca Spontanea, SandwiChic, Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. 

Stayed tuned for Rome in part 3! 

xo 

Lily 

Marseille is loved by the French, but it is not a place you always hear tourists speak highly of. It is the second biggest city in France and is known to be a little rougher around the edges than other parts of the South. I think this just adds to its charm. 

My love for Marseille started at a restaurant called Limmat. Limmat is tucked away in the middle of a stairway that leads you to a lively terrace and hides a subway station. The tables are set outside where the stairs break. The buildings that hugged the stairs are covered in bright graffiti overlooking the city. There are only two seatings for lunch, one at noon and the other at 1:30 PM. I recommend swinging by the day before for a reservation. Limmat‘s menu is ever-changing but is always seafood and vegetable-heavy. 

I sat next to a couple visiting from Paris who were there to play beach tennis, plus another Parisian solo traveler around my age. I got the marinated beets with labneh, and the octopus with roasted veggies and grains. Sitting next to Parisians made me feel like I was in the right place. I started chatting with the couple and Reda, the solo traveler soon to turn into one of the best people I met on my trip. Being on my own meant every meal was an opportunity to get recommendations or just have a nice moment with someone new. I learned that this was one of my lunch crew’s favorite places in Marseille. I could see why even before I started eating. 

The beets were the perfect texture, bright orange and pink, served on top of labneh and garnished with herbs and homemade seedy crackers. The octopus was on a bead of grains, tomato sauce, zucchini, and olives, it was the heartiest dish I had all week. It was delicious, but I couldn’t finish it! Which was super embarrassing. And they didn’t have to-go containers. The shame I felt was unmatched. But the nice Parisian couple assured me it was ridiculous not to offer a box. 

After we paid, Reda and I chatted about our plans for the rest of the day and decided to combine our schedules. Reda was wearing black trousers and a lightweight grey long-sleeve, which I thought was brave for how hot it was. We walked to Coco Beach to lay on the rocks with the locals and look at the bright blue water. I think we walked almost 30,000 steps that day. One thing about Marseille to know is the hills are no joke. Be ready for lots of ups and downs. 

I learned that Reda was from the South of France and had a vast knowledge of the local food. They taught me about how there is a large Tunisian population in the South, and that their food is unmatched. They told me which pastries and bread come from the South, and about the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influence in many of the restaurants. The one thing they insisted we needed to eat that day was pizza, which wasn’t my first thought at all. Instead of pizza, they call it pizze. Reda loved the nuances of the southern French accent. Any southern accent or slang was pointed out as a way for me to sound more like a local, not that I even have a little French under my belt. 

We ended up eating three types of pizze that day. We got a slice and a Pastis, the staple anise-flavored liqueur of the south, on the terrace above Limmat. We ate the classic southern-style pizza at Pizzeria Chez Sauveur. Half salsa verde, red sauce, and anchovy and half white pie with one olive on each slice. After dinner #1, we ate a Neapolitan-style pizza at Bar L’avenir. This pizza was a red pie with spicy salami and buffalo mozzarella. Even though I liked the anchovy slice the best, to my surprise, the vibes at Bar L’avenir were unmatched. This place was a lively family-run business. They rang a bell every time the bartender got tipped and had many generations running the restaurant. Earlier in the day, Reda and I stumbled upon a local hole-in-the-wall winery where they bought two bottles for 10 euros each to bring with us to dinner. The wine only added to the charm. 

There’s so much more to say about Marseille and so many more places to eat than I had the chance to. Stay tuned for Euro Summer Part Two where I break down more of my favorite restaurants and memories I made in May. 

Until next time,

Lily 

That was a year ago. I have yet to touch the poor book.

After a dreary Sunday full of errands that didn’t seem to pass the time, I pulled it off my top shelf and leafed through to pages in search of something comforting, both in the nature of ingredients and also the fact that I’ll be instantly transported to hunkering down in a dimly lit booth on East Houston. And there she was: Burrata “Salsa Verde” with Charred Bread.

I’ll preface this by saying I did not see that a juicer was required for this recipe, and the result of substituting for a food processor was more of a minced bed of greens than the earthy liquid these toasts were supposed to sit in…I digress.

What I find hilarious about this recipe is that it sits among some of the favorites, between the yuzu mignonette oysters and that insane endive salad, yet Ignacio said he’s shocked when anyone orders this at all. It’s an appetizer, but it’s NOT a light choice. The real recipe calls for a topping of sweet potato leaf, but I ended up dousing mine in Hot Honey because I’m a heathen.

Share the sunday sauce

There’s obviously a reason I shared the real picture after showing my version, but at least these burrata peaks and olive oil dabs are looking quite similar.

Now, without further ado, I’ll do a write-up on how I made these tonight. Just by memory so as to not showcase too much from my magical, out-of-print book baby.

Burrata “Salsa Verde” with Charred Bread (as per Rebecca’s memory)

• Make the base soup first. Juice a bunch of celery, a cup of sorrel, and a quarter cup of fresh chives. Add two tablespoons of pickling liquid from Thai chiles and set aside!

• Meanwhile, take a big burrata ball and tear that boy in HALF in a small bowl. Add two tablespoons of creme fresh into that mixture, and give it a kind of choppy stir until it’s lightly combined, breaking the cheese up.

• Sourdough time. Toast two or three slices on a cast iron skillet in EVOO until crispy on both sides. Once done, take a raw garlic clove and scrape it across the face of each. You can hear the garlic sizzle a bit while you do this.

• Ladle some of the liquid from step one into a shallow bowl. Put your charred bread (cut each slice in half) in the bowl on top of the liquid.

• Top the bread with your burrata mixture, fresh EVOO, lots of lemon zest, and a bit of flakey salt.

• EAT, EAT, EAT!!!!

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Happy Sunday y’all <3

We arrived in San Fran early Thursday afternoon, and let's start with how unbelievable that airport is. The Harvey Milk Terminal is so far ahead of the game. It's clean, not too crowded, and the TSA lines move so quickly. Plus, there is good food, including a robotic coffee barista and a whole brewery. But okay, enough about that wonderful place. Let's move on to the real business.

• Staying at our friend's place in the Mission was great. We were right in the middle of the action. We dropped our stuff off and went to grab a bite to eat. Our first choice was Souvla, a little Greek eatery that was so simple and delicious. I got the Lamb Gyro “Greek style”, so they put fries on the sandwich, and a spicy Harissa spread that was so tasty. We decided on a great bottle of skin contact wine to pair with our meal.

• After that, we popped right next door to Fort Point Brewing for some beers and oysters. They had such a wide selection of house beers as well as ciders, not very often do you see breweries also making ciders. They had a one-off beer, a Korean-style lager, that was really good and the Villager San Fran style IPA was great as well. It was happy hour so we got an order of oysters. They were a little meaty but definitely some of the best I’ve had in quite some time. They had Hog Island Oyster hot sauce on the side which was crazy good. 

• So the reason we were in town was for a friend's wedding and it just so happens that they were doing a big tour of the town and their last stop was at a “La Taqueria” on the mission. Every night this place has a line wrapped around the block. We got there and ordered the chicken and pork tacos and shared some chips and guac.

•  The Next morning we woke up and went right to Tartine and damn was it good. This SF bakery really lead the charge in the style of sourdough bakeries you see popping up all over today, they care about where their ingredients come from and how they are sourced. They have gone so far as to start their own flour mill and sell in bulk all over the West Coast.  So we were three so we really got to taste a bit of everything. The ham cheese and jalapeno croissant was wild, savory and spicy. The lemon bar was so custardy and tart you needed a fork to eat it. The spicy turkey sandwich was so crispy and tasty. We took a loaf of bread home for a dinner party later in the week. It was so soft and custardy. 

• We spent the rest of the day touring San Francisco. We wandered through Chinatown and stopped for a drink at Vesuvio Cafe. The balcony was open and the area was really pretty. We continued walking through Little Italy and up to Coit Tower to get a bird's eye view of the city. By now, it was Happy Hour, so it was time for a drink. We took a detour through the windiest street in San Francisco to watch cars struggle through the turns, and kept walking all the way to Balboa Cafe for a quick Espresso Martini and Fried Calamari. I got a Pliney the Elder IPA, but I heard the martinis are the best. After all the walking, we took a little break to nap and relax, and then got ready for dinner!

• The cocktails at Trick Dog were so sick. The menu was designed like a comic book, so beautiful, and they sold them to help good causes. The cocktail I got was non alcoholic but it was so good and herbaceous and bitter, Great Vibes! We got a little pre-dinner snack because when you see chicken nuggets on an adult menu you order them. We went for a Nepalese dinner at The Dancing Yak where we had an amazing experience. To start off, we ordered Momos and spicy fried chicken. For the main course, we had butter chicken and cashew curry, accompanied by naan and turmeric rice. The Cashew Curry turned out to be the highlight of our meal and we would have missed it if our server hadn't recommended it!

• On our last day, we had my favorite meal of the trip. After the wedding, we were craving a big breakfast, so our friend took us to a fantastic Mexican restaurant. The restaurant was small and cozy, and we were led through the kitchen to the back patio where a woman was making fresh tortillas. The two youngest members of the family greeted us and struggled adorably to give us silverware. We started with chips and guacamole and moved on to our burritos, which were absolutely delicious. They were spicy, cheesy, and filled with potatoes, and came with a fresh and tangy salsa. I can't recommend this place enough - it's called Chueys Fiesta and is located in the Mission district. If you're ever in San Francisco, do yourself a favor and give it a try!

Well that was fun, and thank you to our wonderful friend and host Kellie who in her own words “Wants my friends to stay with me so the money you were going to spend on hotels we can go eat all the food.” 

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Things We Ate, Things We Saw: Minnesota 🥛

• Solomon’s Bakery

  Family-owned and operated, this is one of the spots on the list I hit twice in one week. They post up at the Mill City Farmers Market where every 20 or so minutes it seems another pastry is crossed off the menu due to morning market goers absolutely ripping through orders. Things I tried: berry pull apart bread, spinach & cheese croissant, chocolate almond croissant.

• Chimborazo

  Dinner night one was a mind-blowing Ecuadorean/Andean feast, my photos did not do it justice. One plate and you’re set for breakfast and lunch the following day, none of which takes away from the quality of meat and flavor you’re getting. I fell asleep dreaming of flank steak marinated in highland spices. Things I tried: Llapingachos, Churrasco, Guava Juice, Chicha Morada

• Quang Restaurant

  If you follow my lore, you know Viet is my #1 cuisine of choice and if it’s an option I’m opting for it 10/10 times. Quang’s is a big and bustling Vietnamese spot that is exactly what you need on a chilly Minnesota day. The pho came out fast and piping hot, and in my case accompanied by a nice light beer. Things I tried: Ribeye Pho, Banh Bao, Goi Cuon

• Isles Bun and Coffee

  NUTS. Absolutely nuts. When you think (dream) of a cinnamon roll...this is what you’re envisioning. I’m not usually a frosting gal, but this changed my mindset. Allegedly they used to offer to-go containers to fill up as much frosting as you wanted. Thankfully for my blood sugar now they’re scooping it for ya, but don’t spare an ounce. Things I tried: Isles Bun, fresh OJ, Iced Latte (THE ABSOLUTE COMBO)

• Gorkha Palace

  This was another stop at the Mill City Farmers Market, where $5 got around 7 steamed chicken & ginger mo:mos with curry sauce. If I could have gone back a third time to try that mango lassi.. I would have in a heartbeat.

• Alma

  Restaurant, hotel, cafe (trifecta) Alma was everything. A solid wait was worth the time spent for a good coffee and the ‘Up South’, a breakfast sandwich made up of scrambled eggs, house pimento cheese, sauteed sweet peppers & onions on a warm buttermilk biscuit. All my pics sucked because I was devouring this thing, but found a close second on IG. Things I tried: Breakfast sammy, cawfee

• Lift Bridge Brewery

  It’s worth mentioning: Root Beer goes so much harder here. I didn’t get a pic of every ice cold root beer I drank, but just know they slapped. The last one I had was from Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater, they had a little booth shaped like a barrel out in the street for their Harvest Fest.

Before you get to the ~hit list~ make sure you’re subscribed to Sunday Sauced 👇👇👇👇👇 We always have new things comin’ down the pipeline, and this way you’ll be the first to know.

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Without further ado…

The Not At All Definitive Sonoma to SF Hits List

• Parkside Cafe, Stinson Beach

  First of all, nobody told me Stinson Beach existed. The Big Little Lies energy was off the charts, and the avg of $4M homes where rampant. That being said, pulling in for a rest stop and walking up to Parkside Cafe was a nice bite of nostalgia. The coffee window felt like your local pool counter, and the simple options like a black coffee and fresh scone were welcome.

• Cafe Aquatica, Jenner

  Jenner is one of the most severe and beautiful towns I’ve been to in the United States. The Russian River hits the Pacific ocean, severed by black sand beaches and enormous rocks. All of this splendor is met with sleepy little beach towns, and eccentric restaurants & cafes like Cafe Aquatica. Here you can find a swath of seafood and veggie options (think crab rolls and grilled portobello sandwiches), along with a barista who 100% can guess your sun, moon, and rising. Enjoy your meal overlooking the mouth of the river and Goat Rock Beach.

• Terrapin Creek, Bodega Bay

  So much love for the guys at Terrapin Creek. This spot is one of only a small handful in Sonoma County to ever receive a Michelin star. While the star hasn’t been maintained, their commitment and relationship to local Bay area farmers is still as strong as ever, which is reflected in the food’s seasonality and super rich flavors. I had a corn chowder here that was borderline otherworldly.

• El Buen Corner, Bernal Heights, San Francisco

  Without completely playing favorites… El Buen Corner was 100% my favorite meal in SF. Your ice coffee comes with sweetened condensed milk, and your huevos divorciados are complete with some of the tastiest red and green salsas your brain and tummy could imagine. Those who know me know flan is also my favorite dessert, they make theirs with coconut shreds baked right into the custard and topped with an additional sprinkle of shavings. It’s divine.

• Fancy Wheat Field Bakery, Portola, San Francisco

  Part of a local chain with 5 other locations in the SF area, Fancy Wheat Field Bakery was a severely good find on a morning where coffee shop pastries were failing me. The red bean bun is always my favorite, and this one was baked with the bean custard in thick swirls rather than just a filling. Honorable mention to the ham, egg, & cheese bun which was every bit as good as it sounds.

• Burma Love, Mission District, San Francisco

It felt as though everyone I met in SF asked me if I’d gone to Burma Love or Burma Superstar yet. I’d only recently learned about the Bay Area’s connection to Burmese food, and after the 4th ask or so was really excited to try this spot out. My order was so/so (I blame myself), but this Pork Pumpkin Stew⁠ was a wildly good choice, with super nourishing chunks of soft pumpkin and tender pork chunks in an onion-y broth. Alongside some coconut rice?? Perfection.

• Florecita Bakers, Dogpatch, San Francisco

  A Latina-owned Panadería, we arrived JUST in time to grab some of the last remaining conchas before 1PM. The Jamaica y Fresa and Matcha were gone, but the Churro flavor alongside a black cold brew. My pictures don’t do this pastry much justice, but enjoy this cross-section to feel like you’re almost taking your own bite.

• Calaca Coffee, Dogpatch, San Francisco

  This coffee went absolutely crazy. The cold brew had a nutmeg taste to it that I couldn’t quite place, but having just checked the ingredients have discovered that it’s fully brewed with coffee and cinnamon. It could almost be equal parts based on the richness of the flavor. Enjoy black or with a little cream, but it seriously does not need much.

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I chase this type of perfect summer day feeling all year long. I visited my good friend Matthew Stith in Montclair, NJ to have an impromptu BBQ last month. We grilled a Porterhouse steak sourced from a local butcher shop in Hillsdale, NJ and tripled our panzanella salad recipe to fully reap the abundance of tomato season. We lazily ate for 2-3 hours until the sun set and Matt’s dad pulled out some cigars to end the night.

Matthew Stith captured the vibes with a playlist & photos below.

Have a great Labor Day weekend friends and see you in the fall,

Angel

Por Que No - This place is consistently delicious. It has a great Baja fish taco and an even better Brynes Bowl (get it with shredded chicken and chips). This is usually my first meal back.

Saburos - We only come here on special occasions because it is across town, and you have to get there when they open to get a table. But, as my dad would say, the pieces of fish are so big they fly off the plate, which makes it worth the drive. This picture is from my 18th birthday dinner. As you can tell they don’t mess around!

Little Big Burger - I had to include this spot because it is the Shake Shack of Portland. Who doesn’t love a quick and easy burger spot with truffle fries and extra sharp Tillamook Cheddar cheese?

Nicholas - Nicholas is another Portland staple for Lebanese and Mediterranean food. They have been around since 1987! I could survive off just their fresh pita and hummus.

Bete-Lukas - Ethiopian food is all around Portland and is something I grew up eating. Bete-Lukas is some of the best in town. You aren’t just getting good food, but an amazing human. The owner will keep you coming back.

Du’s Grill - This man is turning out the best teriyaki chicken and rice in the city. People love it so much they bottle the sauce. My brother always brings it back to Chicago with him, he’s obsessed. If you do anything you should check out his Instagram for some music inspired by teriyaki chicken.

Screen Door - This place shows the country that the Pacific Northwest can do fried chicken too. It also has made a smoked brisket huevos rancheros that I dream about. Not to mention they make the best hot chocolate I have ever had and will ever have.

Meat Cheese Bread - My mom and I love a sandwich. This place is one of our faves. They have great chip options, as well as creative sandwiches that are always changing. If you give my mom a roast beef salad with blue cheese but make it into a sandwich, she is happy. And that is what this place did.

There are so many more great places to check out in Portland that I have compiled a list of honorable mentions below. Some of them are still around and some of them are long gone but deserve some recognition. I hope some of these restaurants give you some unforgettable memories like they did for me.

Honorable mentions - PokPok, Grain and Gristle, Random Order, Townsend’s Tea, Heart Coffee, Podnah’s Pit, Nong’s Khao Mang Ghai, La Serinita, Stumptown on Divison, Luc Lac, Old Salt, Woodlawn Cafe, Santa Cruz Tacos.

Hope you are all having a great summer!

Lily

Mother’s Day comes once a year, but we believe that moms should be celebrated every day. We understand how truly blessed we are - that all us are able to say we have incredibly fulfilling relationships with our matriarchs. Our memories, though not without the typical growing pains and childhood hardships, were positive, relatively speaking. The brightness that illuminated our memories can be attributed to our moms’ unconditional love that has forever lit and will continue to light our way. We thank you moms, for all that you do. In no particular order below, our attempts to give recognition to our favorite ladies. Have a great Sunday! x

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For as long as I have had a lucid memory, I have loved Fettuccine Alfredo. In every single western restaurant my family would go to, no matter what, that was my comfort meal and I ordered it + a Shirley Temple (if I was allowed a beverage besides the complimentary iced water). I didn’t even have to open a menu. Though I am extremely lactose intolerant now and my taste buds have matured, I will still risk it all if I happen to find myself at an establishment like Red Lobster with a Seafood Alfredo on the menu.

I never understood where my hyper fixation for this faux Italian sauce came from - until I found this photo above, circa 1997 on a cruise ship with my mom. I adore that she didn’t even think twice about a “kid’s menu” for me. In our world, it was appropriate for a three-year-old to be eating alfredo & washing it all down with a Baked Alaska.

I don’t think to thank my mom enough for shaping the way I eat and see the world but she is the person who has made me the way I am today. I had my fair share of chicken nuggets and Lunchables but she always made sure I was eating and trying ‘real’ food - whether it was Chinese at home (no spice levels were off limits either, we had to start young), or allowing me to order adult entrees out. Thank you for the world mom.

-Angel Xu

Rather than a food memory with my mom (of which there are many an after-school quesadilla) I keep thinking about what the food tour/date with her would be. I'm lucky enough to have her right here in NYC so the below plan is actually a to-do list for the two of us (hope you're reading this mom!) 

9AM: Start out early-ish so we can fit all the things into our day. For the sake of continuity, this day is all taking place in Brooklyn. In this scenario we're meeting up at L'Appartement 4F because she still has not been and has been wanting to try. We'd get Pain au Chocolat (currently both on a sweet breakfast kick) and coffee.

11AM: I know Mugler: Couturissime isn't at the Brooklyn Museum anymore, but let's just pretend. We will get a little museum walk exercise and window shop dresses.

1PM: This is going to be a long day, so around 1PM we'd head to my apartment order The Hill pie from Leo (Mushrooms, Shallots, Taleggio, Parmesan!!) Then it's nap time. 

4PM: Wake up from nap. Make our way to Bushwick, either for drinks and some cinema at Maomao, or wine and book shopping at Molasses Books.

6PM: The main event. Rolo's!!! Wood Fired Polenta Bread, stracciatella cheese, grilled salt & pepper head-on shrimp, radiccio caesar salad, and a double cheeseburger. (Honorable mention to the rigatoni because it has breadcrumbs and that's a Kristin move.)

8PM: Final drink and disco on the light up floor at Nightmoves. The music is always groovy and the door guy is a Texas native like my mom. C'est parfait. 

-Rebecca Kligerman

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Even though my mom and I can’t celebrate together this year, there are lots of special memories that keep us close. My family celebrates by eating lots of good food (without waiting for a table) and enjoying enthusiastic outdoor activities. 

The morning starts with my mom’s homemade coffee cake. I used to only eat the brown sugar topping and leave the cake part when I was a kid. It made my mom SUPER happy. You might be thinking, “Aren’t the kids suppose to cook on Mother’s Day?” Don’t worry, we do. We make the eggs, bacon, and extremely strong cup of coffee she loves. If the weather permits, we like to eat in the backyard. Mother’s Days in Oregon are great because you can almost count on it not to be raining, and nothing beats a sunny day after a long winter. 

After breakfast, we decide how adventurous of a hike we are setting out to do. Usually, my brother would vote to walk around the neighborhood and my mom would want to drive an hour and a half to the closest mountain. The compromise is always to go to Forrest Park. There are a ton of hiking trails to choose from and it is only about a 15-minute drive from our house. Once we all get out of the car and on the trail everyone is happy to be in nature. Including our huge Burmese Mountain Dog.

For lunch, we go out! If there is one thing to know about my mom, is that she loves a burger and fries. Luckily in Portland, Oregon, there’s a good burger on every corner. We used to live by a brewpub in North Portland that not only had a great burger but also had waffle fries with a blue cheese sauce. This is definitely in my mom’s top five last meals. It sits right above a good sandwich and a bag of Kettle Chips. 

At this point, we are full and ready for a nap at home. We might watch a movie or take the dog for a walk. It is nice to spend the day together when no one has any obligations except spending time with my mom. It is one of the best made-up holidays there is. 

-Lily Secter

Maa! First things first, love ya. Thanks for always being there to make the Chicken Parms and Baked Ziti on my birthday or celebrations. Not only do me and my sister love her cooking, but practically half of each our respective grades in high school benefited as well! wether it was a graduation event, school function, bake sale, team dinner. She was always there to provide trays and trays of baked ziti and fresh pizza. When it came time for dessert, she was ready. It consisted of either a crazy layer cake, mountains of different cookies, or tons of cupcakes (there was even a phase where she was piping icing inside the cupcakes as well as on, top damn those were good times). 

Safe to say there was no shortage of great food and a whole lotta love from the woman who brought me and my sister into this crazy world we live in.  And even when you didn’t feel like cooking, Dominico's on Arthur Ave is just a short drive away for a nice “home style” meal and a couple sfogliatelle for dessert. Also want to drop a little shout out to Gail who constantly Gets it Done and is one of the kindest, hardworking, loving mothers I know.

-Adam Gourchane

This has created many Instagram foodies and Tiktokers alike to choose sides. From the peanut gallery, we’ve had a fantastic time catching up, watching all of the back and forth and arguments between creator to creator. When you’re not involved, it’s a good time 👀 - pass the popcorn please.

On a more serious note, this controversy is actually not only about the bottle shape - it is also about how the founder of Graza, Andrew Benin, threatened a successful BIPOC women-owned business. Benin disrespected Aishwarya Iyer, owner of Brightland in a LinkedIn post saying she was copying him and he felt disrespected -

After some time and much of the industry commentary advising Benin to shut up and sit down, he then issued this very ‘PR’ed response on the same Linkedin post.

Though the apology was warranted, albeit, a weak one - what really irked us was Benin trying to put the blame on his “passion”. Historically when women are passionate, we are called emotional and therefore, ill-equipped to lead. But somehow, this is OK when a white man feels passion?

As a Graza consumer, I have to say we all love a squeeze bottle for oil. There is a lot more control and feels like there is no waste of product or over-pouring.

Doesn’t Graza want to be popular for how their oil tastes and not for the branding/ bottle they use? If we were them, we would also spin this whole dilemma and take it as a compliment - copycats mean we are doing something right.

It’s called a trend honey, which on social media is a good thing. Heard of it?

Let’s leave the hard-working women in the olive oil industry alone, even if they are your friendly competition.

At this point, as a substitute, I would go to my local restaurant supply store and buy my own squeeze bottles for my Trader Joe’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil and no one would know. You could even get some green tape and label them so your home kitchen will look like you’re a professional chef.

What this debate really made me think about was what should I be looking for in olive oil. What makes one better than the other? And how can I stop buying Trader Joe’s olive oil without breaking the bank?

One of the first things I learned and love about olive oil is that the packaging matter! But not in the way Graza thinks it does. When it comes to olive oil you want it to be in a dark glass or tin (or squeeze bottle). Anything to keep the olive oil out of the sun. Olive oil goes bad a lot faster than I thought and direct sunlight or heat can speed up the turning process. 

The label matters too - since we are not olive oil snobs it doesn’t really matter where the oil is from as long as the olives and olive oil making are happening in the same place. The smaller the operation the better, as is true with most things. 

Within my research, I learned there are baking olive oils, dipping olive oils, high-heat olive oils, finishing olive oils, and more. And within all of these specific oils, there is also a wide price range! This makes it feel impossible to choose. In my not-so-professional home cook opinion, I think if you buy a nicer oil for finishing and a good quality oil for cooking you are killing it.

Now that we know how to spot a good olive oil on the shelf, let’s talk about specific favorites that aren’t in a feud. Here are five that are worth a try.

1. Frankies 475 - best Brooklyn olive oil 

2. California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil - best cheapest 

3. Fat Gold Olive Oil - cutest tin 

4. Pianogrillo Farm Extra Virgin Olive Oil - best nicer olive oil but still affordable 

5. Villa Manodori Olive Oil - best drizzle 

Until the next drama,

Lily (with some input from Angel)

1. With the weather turning it can only mean one thing: The Union Square Farmers Market is all the way back! This is actually the largest farmer’s market on the East Coast, and is truly something special. They have pretty much everything you could possibly need. I usually have to switch between bags to keep myself from spending so much. One small bag usually fits about $20-$30 worth of food, and I save another big one for when we’re having people over. Shopping at this giant market can be overwhelming, but try to go in with an open mind to change up ingredients for recipes in case you have to substitute something. The market is open year round: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8am-6pm. I would try to get there earlier especially on Fridays and Saturdays for the good stuff.

2. Once you get all of your ingredients from the market it’s time to fire up the grill, because if you haven’t noticed, it seems like we’ve skipped over spring and gone right into summer. In between all the hot dogs, burgers, ribs and chicken skewers, it's nice to add some grilled veggies. In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like some charred smokey vegetables, and one of my favorites to grill is Broccolini. Even after grilled it still has a nice bite to it, and the char gives it a bit of crunch. Here’s my favorite way to enjoy it.

Grilled Broccolini w/ Chili Crisp

• INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Bunch Broccolini 

  • Olive Oil

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Your Favorite Chili Crisp 

• INSTRUCTIONS

  • Grab a bunch of broccolini and chop off about a 1/2 inch from the end 

  • In a bowl toss the broccolini in oil, salt, and pepper. (The oil helps the smoky flavor stick to the food)

  • Place on the grill just to the side of direct heat, so you get some char. Flipping around until tender, about 8 minutes. 

  • Arrange broccolini on your plate, and drizzle chili crisp all over the top and sprinkle some flaky sea salt.

3. We have our BBQ, we have our smoky Veg, now we need the refreshments. There is something about having a cooler full of beer, wine, and N/A Bevs on a nice hot day in the park. So let's dive into some options.

• Interboro Bushburg is hands down my favorite pilsner. It's a hop-forward pils with a crisp, bright, slightly sweet taste. Check them out in Williamsburg at their tap room. They also have some canned cocktails with their own spirits that are perfect for summer.

• Canned wine is great and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It's canned right when the winemaker says it's great and it gets fully sealed with no chance of oxidation, unlike traditional corked wine. Mad Meds “L’Orange” is a great example. This 100% Vermentino from Provence has a beautiful amber color, medium bodied, slight funky, with notes of stone fruits and great minerality. This is the perfect wine to enjoy at a BBQ, and switching to cans can save space in your cooler!

• Non-Alcoholic canned cocktails and beers are pretty popular right now, with a lot of people taking a break from all the drinking we’ve done in the past three years during the pandemic. Athletic Brewing “beers” are a perfect substitute for their alcoholic counterparts and they taste great. I like the IPA versions the best, as the hops are really what make these taste almost identical to traditional beer. St. Agrestis Phony Negroni is also a great substitute for those who don’t want a beer; it's bitter, sweet, and refreshing.

4. Last but not least; Entertainment. Reading outside is just the best. Sun Is shining, food is grilling, drinks are flowing. One of my favorite books is “Buttermilk Graffiti” by Edward Lee. This book is a compilation of stories about some of the best food that you would never traditionally think to seek out. Lee’s experiences give us a deep dive into the relationships between the people that inspired some of his recipes, and the deep rooted traditions behind the way they cook and why they do it. There are some recipes included in the book, but the stories behind each one are the real treasures. This book will have you wanting to check out that hole in the wall restaurant with no sign and a person in the back cooking on a home oven range.

5. Don’t sleep on the sick merch we have in the shop. We still have a few Lunar New Year Busboy X Ray’s hoodies left that are perfect for those cool spring nights. While you’re out in the sun, don’t get seen without our Busgirl crop top we just launched in two colors. 20% of all tee proceeds will be donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds, which is currently a network of over 90 grassroots organizations that directly support people to get the abortions they want and need. While you’re manning the grill and clicking the tongs twice (to make sure that they work) show off your new Busboy x BONBONWHIMS bracelet and look as cool as your favorite It Girls.

Until next week,

Adam

The weather is weathering and this is truly the most glorious time to be in New York City. This is the time of year where I admit, I boast about being a New Yorker. This is what makes paying rent for our ludicrously non-capacious apartments worth every penny. It doesn’t matter how small our abodes are if we are spending our time outside having happy hour 5 days a week.

This week, I’m highlighting a few places I visited and think you should too.

1. The cherry blossoms are at their peak beauty and it’s the most prestine time to make the trek to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens to not only re-enact and sing all of Mulan, but also sip on a delcious frose while doing so.

2. Last week, I had a lunch at Red Pavilion and it was a delightful reminder that as the temperatures go up, meals can be lighter, healthy and still enjoyable. I’ve been hyper fixated on Traditional Chinese Medicine and cycle synching as of late so this was a perfect experience. The menu does a great job explaining how certain herbs and cooking methods helps our bodies. I enjoyed black wood ear mushroom salad and sweet tofu hua. It was a refreshing reprise.

3. Tis the season to start going out to museums and shows again, and what better way to top off a night than to go to Rockerfeller Center and try out one of their many restaurants? We visited Jupiter a few weeks back but I had to sit down and have a proper meal, pleasure only, no business.

   A word of advice? Skip the pastas except for the Tajarin Con Fegato e Prezzemolo (chicken liver) and double up on the apps, especially the fried artichokes and little fishes. Pair with a white Negroni from the cocktail menu and you have a perfect night out with friends.

4. There is nothing better than Estela when it’s above 60 degrees. Order the scallop date, beef tartare and a cold, crispy glass of wine. Revisit our interview with our favorite couple and go visit them on the next weekend. Grab bar seats, trust us on this.

5. As a New Jersey native, I truly believe the best bagels are across the bridge but a close second can be found in Queens, at Utopia Bagels. Lox is the go-to but if you want to try something unique, a French Toast bagel with sausage egg and cheese is also a delight. This is a 2-in-1 breakfast + lunch combo - you won’t be hungry until dinner.

PS. Sun’s out, let’s get our tums out. A reminder that we launched our first busgirl crop tops earlier this season. 20% of all tee proceeds will be donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds, currently a network of over 90 grassroots organizations that directly support people to get the abortions they want and need. ⁠Look cute and support a good cause.

Till next time xo

Angel

• If you haven’t already, check out our new Busgirl tee. 20% of proceeds from each shirt will be donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds because 🖕 the patriarchy. Protect women 24/7 365 days a year! On this tee we got to work with an amazing local artist, Sabi Reyes. She was the obvious choice because of her playful and nostalgic artwork as well as her passion to disrupt the overwhelming, capitalist-driven emphasis of productivity in daily life. Embrace slow Living, buy a shirt or 3, grab a glass of wine on the rooftop over at Cherry on Top, close your eyes turn to face the sun.

• Speaking of wine, let's talk about some juice. There is a producer out of Emilia-Romagna doing something wild. Bulli makes a skin contact sparkling wine called “Julius” and it’s unbelievable. On the nose there’s a beautiful aroma of fresh pear and black tea, and the bubbles are not too effervescent, yet maintain their strength though the end of the bottle.

• While you’re holding your wine glass you can be showing off some new bling, because WE GOT JEWELRY NOW! We collaborated with designer BONBONWHIMS to bring you three unique bracelets. Each one is hand made and no two will be completely alike. Founded by Clare Ngai, she took her long-term passion for jewelry to instagram and helped raise awareness and funds for BIPOC organizations (aka, she’s an angel).

• Recipe time everyone. This one is for a pretty sick chicken dinner that you can do in a cast iron or any oven/stove safe pan.

Mezcal Chicken Cacciatore

INGREDIENTS

• 3 chicken thighs               

• 1 small white onion, sliced

• 1 medium carrot, sliced                  

• 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced

• 3 cloves garlic 

• 1 sprig rosemary

• 1 teaspoon oregano

• 1 teaspoon chili flakes

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)

• 2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 cup mezcal

• 2 Cup Tomato Puree

• Water

• Olive Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Salt both sides of the chicken. Get your pan ho over medium high heat, drizzle olive oil and place chicken skin side down and cook until skin is crispy.

3. Flip, then cook for 1-2 more minutes, remove from the pan and keep off to the side.

4. While the pan is still hot, add a bit more oil and add your sliced onions and some salt (you want these to almost caramelize).

5. Smash the three garlic cloves and cook them at the same time as the onion. When the onions are good and brown, pour in your mezcal. FYI, the pot may have a small flame but it’s just cooking away the alcohol, and then it’ll go away. Make sure to scrape all the bits of chicken, onion, and garlic that’s stuck to the pot.

6. Add your carrots, tomato, and 1 cup of water.

7. Add your chicken back in skin side up and submerge the mushrooms all over the rest of the pot.

8. Bring it to a boil then place into the oven uncovered for 30-45 minutes. The tomato sauce should turn into a thicker darker red sauce.

9. Serve with rice or pasta.

•  If there’s one cookbook that I've been baking from more than anything it's Letitia Clark’s La Vita è Dolce. It's an Italian baking book that has some of the most simple yet delicious recipes. She really makes baking super approachable and not as “scientific”, as I know this is a common fear among anti-bakers. She even has a recipe for the one cake that every Italian grandmother knows how to make: The Apple Cake. I can confirm this is the same one that my great grandmother used to bake when I was a kid.

That’s all for now! I hope everyone has a great week, and if you copped any merch we wanna see it! Tag us @busboy on IG

Until next week,

Adam