Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Dinner

I should have known it was going to rain that Sunday morning. The sky was grey in the AM and there was an unmistakable chill in the air - I could feel it through the windows. Usually, on those mornings, I'd dive back under the covers, never to arise till my tummy commanded otherwise, demanding something warm and hearty. But no, on that particular Sunday we had a plan, a bike ride, in fact, and in spite of the moody sky, nothing could get in the way. I quickly changed into athletic-esque gear (something I have not done in ages) and dashed over to Don's place. On the way, I stopped by Abra�o for our morning drinks, an iced coffee for myself...

...and a latte for him.

He had breakfast set out by the time I arrived, a plethora of goodies from the most awesome Jewish deli ever, Russ & Daughters. Bialys and bagels, whitefish salad and horseradish cream cheese. Indeed the breakfast of champions. Into the toaster went the bialy (for myself) and bagel (for him), and out hot we smeared on fresh the cream cheese, horseradish speckled, alongside creamy whitefish salad. Cracked black pepper, and bite, bite, bite till there was no more. The only thing we missed was red onions and capers. Perhaps next time we will also include their famed wasabi tobiko.

Energized, we hopped onto our bikes, down Second Avenue, then Canal Street and finally onto the Manhattan Bridge. Halfway across it started to rain. Just a drizzle. A steady drizzle as we biked through Brooklyn to the Flea Market for sweets and pastries (check Serious Eats for the post on Thursday :). The rain started to come down hard soon after and we hid under the church awning, hoping it would let up. But it only got worse. So we took in a deep breath and got back on the bikes for a late afternoon trip back to Manhattan. It poured the whole way back, and aside from sopping wet clothes and a slight chill, I must say, biking in the rain is tremendous fun.

Back home, the dark skies called for a warm dinner and Don cooked something, some many things, wonderful, exceeding all expectations as he usually does. We started with bowls of miso soup, plenty of tofu and onions...

...then moved on to the chawan mushi, steaming in little red Le Creuset pots. Notice they also match the new kettle we have? ;) Hehehe. Savoury light, I slid spoonfuls of the eggy custardy into my mouth, letting it slide like silk before completely disappearing. The eating was, effortless.

I was in a miso-y mood that day, and because I always clamour for spicy food, Don braised spicy-miso chicken (dark meat only, please) and potatoes. Oooooh. This is winter food at its best (even though it is already May...what can we do, the weather is all funky stuff). We tucked the meal away with bowls of rice, and of course, make sure to eat our vegetables...

...in the form of crisp sugar snap peas and garlic. Fried in Benton's bacon fat. Does that still make it a vegetable? ;)

Abra�o
86 East 7th St
NY, NY 10003
(212) 388-9731

Russ & Daughters
179 East Houston St
NY, NY 10002
(212) 475-4880