Day 2.... maybe more

Day 2

You have no idea how glad I was to wake up....I mean if I had painlessly passed in my sleep the autopsy would have said...cause of death..."mozzarella overdose". Dude the "pizza triple crown" on day 1....to use the word of my dear college buddies....EPIC!

Still on west coast time, woke up at 11am...ahh a lazy sunday...NOT!!!! on the ticket for the day's events....dare I tell you....pizza from Spumoni Gardens, this time hot from the oven, heroes to go for the ball game, yeah, going to a Mets game. Beautiful day in NY, one of those days that makes me say....I could live here, my liver can't but I could live here. We arrived a little hungover from the previous day's events, but as one does in NY.....RALLY! The game was a gem, no dogs, no pizza, no beer, at least for me, it was Sunday, a day to rest right? To me day means "day" as in sunlight, which would mean that night would be another story.

After the game we got back to Joe's place, remember him, anyway, Frank was cooking for his mother for mom's day and he invited me to join in the "porchetta", uhhh, that pig in Italian....Frank's is also a lover of the swine and a damn good chef, so for me to crash the "fest" part duex...I had too.

Met Franks family...hilarious and lovers of great food, Italian family of course. From Brooklyn of course. Apparently we arrived at "halftime" they had just eaten the risotto course, before that the salad, mama's focaccia (insane), roasted peppers, cheese, some italian potato and prociutto cake (name escapes me) it was time to play catch up, Joe and I were like a "sure pick thoroughbred 3 lengths behind after turn 4 coming down the stretch on the outside to come from behind and take the cup." we collected on our exacta.

Now it was my halftime...not so fast...pochetta is being carved up...its all about the skin...crackling baby...elapse time 10 minutes..

WOW! 2 days....2 pigs..."heaven da dat dat da dah...I'm in heaven" Halftime resumed....at this point I had planned on checking out a Thai restaurant later that night, Oh I was going...we was going. But a nap was needed. So as I was aying my goodbyes and thanks...Mama stepped in and said "you ainta gowin nowheres...itsa time for espresso and coffee" I looked at Frank, "you know the rules, what Mama says goes"...."I know".

Shorlty after sitting down again at the table a box made its way to the dining room...marked "checked in baggage" Air Italia...I'm talking a box 2 feet tall and wide. What's inside....the biggest panetone I've ever seen, no BS or embellishing here and it was as good as it was big. Then the shots of sambuca, then the homemade chocolate liquer and limoncello. These people are rock stars...NAP Time!

That lasted about 1 hour then off to Sea in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A cool hip place....packed....its 11:30 pm on a Sunday...gotta love NY. We ordered a few things...Joe was the smart one, didn't eat at all, food was a dissapointment, but thats OK, we were only tasting, checking out the scene. Stomach in tow it was bed time. Day 2 in the books

Day 3

Starts at 7am, had to catch a ride with Joe to Downtown Brookly, then a cab to Manhattan. Got to the hotel,checked in and you won't believe this...went to the Gym... oh the guilt had set in, after a good workout, it was nap time, not too long, I was meeting an old college roomate for lunch at one of my fav lunch spots, Giambelli on 50th. Why you ask? no there was not a pork dish but an incredible Veal Chop with Porcini Mushrooms raosted then served in a foil "Papillote" a pouch type presentation. My buddy Ken and I have been meeting here for lunch for 5 years, everytime I visit NY, this is our lunch spot. Its not on the menu...gotta ask for it. We did...."2 veal chops please" for lunch, why the "f" not. Haven't you been reading my blog?

Side of pasta, breadsticks, veal.....lunch is done, a success, I tell you they get this dish right every single time. Amazing!!!! I can't wait for my next trip. Ken had to get back to work, I was meeting an old coworker for drinks that afternoon and had dinners plans with one of my dearest friends and co conspirator in dining through the greatest restaurants in San Francisco. Then shortly after midnight, SA comes in from LA on her round about way to LA (Louisiana), her first time "really" to NY.

I'll get back to D3....soon