Monday, October 22, 2007

From East to Ouest

Fresh Lychees in ChinatownFresh lychees in Chinatown, after dim sum at Jing Fong.

So grad school may not prevent me from eating (as my disturbingly regular afternoon chocolate chip cookie break can attest), but it certainly prevents me from writing about it. In between chapters of the U.S. military's Counterinsurgency Manual and afternoons spent deriving the consumer and producer surplus, I've savored barstool dinners at Franny's and Bar Stuzzichini, both purveyors of rustic, nibbly Italian food and home to well-made aperitifs. I've also discovered 50-cent Ukrainian-grandmother-made varenyky in the East Village, sampled Jing Fong's dim sum, and found time to whip up a nutmeg-laced apple crisp. And of course, $3 pizza slices have found their way into my mouth on more than one late night walk home from the library.

Dinner at Bar Stuzzichini, New York CityDinner at Bar Stuzzichini--arancini (risotto balls stuffed with cheese), meatballs and eggplant involtini


My dining highlight of the past week, however, was a pre-econ midterm dinner at Ouest. Dinner at this proper spot helped remind me of my adult self, not the cramming in the library with vending machine snacks and drinking $2 Coors Light grad school self (to clarify, the beers are not consumed in the library, though that might help). J and I slipped into the bar, among the well-coiffed ladies and blue-blazered gents of the Upper West Side, and ordered comforting, fork-tender game dishes--pan roasted squab for him, roasted rabbit for me. In both dishes, the sides nearly outshone the meats, not a small feat. For every bite I snatched of his earthy duck liver risotto, he paid me back with a fork in my garlicky capellini studded with wild mushrooms.

The prices at Ouest aren't grad student friendly, but on the day before a big exam, I decided a treat was in order. Besides, all that vending machine food saves me plenty.

Ouest
2315 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
between 83rd and 84th

9 comments:

East Meets West Kitchen said...

I am so envious of the fresh lychees and dim sum, and Quest sounds like a place to visit. :)

Chubbypanda said...

You need to start blogging the vending machine food. =D

Erin S. said...

east meets west--dim sum was great! i thought about buying the lychees, but wasn't sure what to do with them.

chubbypanda--i'm addicted to snackwells cookies--somehow i've convinced myself they're not *that* bad. skittles also help, but only the red and purple ones.

Anonymous said...

I've long wondered about this place. Its certainly a happening spot - I passed it late last nite and it was a scene to rival a bar in soho.

Anonymous said...

The Quest sounds intriguing, I’m sure it will be quite an experience.

Jess said...

Ouest is definitely a big improvement over what used to be on the UWS. My meal there was generally over-ingrediented and too heavy, but a step in the right direction.

dissertation write said...

looks anbsolutely great!! sure it have a nice taste. ast least I hope so

OfHope said...

[The EU] is a growingly important strategic partner for Russia because of its role in energy and other economic relations and in the "neighborhood" area in between. At the same time, the recently re-energized "Northern Dimension" already covers one part of the border between Russia and the West Arctic. The EU is also the most obvious partner for President Obama's new plan to deal with climate change. Assessment brief task help It is a big customer for any new oil or gas that comes out of the Arctic, no matter who owns it or how it is taken out. It has a direct say in setting rules in a number of important areas of government because all Nordic states are members of the EEA (Bailes 2009a). Also, unlike NATO, the EU has more freedom to act because it has a reputation for being friendly and not being a threat. So, the EU could also act as a buffer or moderator between the interests of great powers.

nursingstudybay.com said...

The ship's captain should make sure that a muster list is made and kept up-to-date, and that copies of it are posted in places where they can be seen. The muster list should have information about the general alarm signal and any other emergency signals, as well as what to do when they go off. Nursing Essay Writing Service USA How the order to abandon ship is given should also be written down. The muster list should show what each person on board is responsible for, and each crew member should be given written information about what they are responsible for.