First Week in New York

Staying at my Uncle's place has been really great so far. I'm getting to spend time with family which is really nice. I couldn't imagine having to go apartment hunting in 20 degree weather right now. We got over a foot of snow earlier last week, which was really cool when it first started, but not so much after it ended and the streets of New York were covered with black ice and puddles that came up to your ankles. I bought these things from Big 5 that you slip onto the bottom of your shoes, kind of like snow chains for your shoes, which have become pretty useful for trudging through the snow the past week.

My birthday was on Tuesday and I was able to spend it with two friends from high school at a restaurant called Ippudo in the East Village. It's apparently one of the hottest restaurants in New York right now, with a reputation of having to wait at least an hour to get a table since they don't take reservations. What they're known for is their Akamaru Modern Ramen which is essentially a traditional hakata ramen with garlic oil and miso paste. I ended up getting a bowl of that as well as some Agedashi Tofu and pork buns that the 3 of us shared. Was it a good meal? Yes. Was it worth the money? Probably not. The trick to getting a table here is apparently telling the hostess, before the crowd arrives, that you have a party of (whatever) coming at this time and then by the time your party arrives you're at the top of the list for the next table. For dessert my friend snuck off to use the bathroom and tell the waitress that it was my birthday, so the entire restaurant staff came out and sang to me which was really embarrassing but also made me laugh at the same time. We ended up with a Matcha Green Tea Creme Brulee after all the singing was done which was pretty delicious, something I'll definitely have to try making on my own sometime.

I haven't been going to the city every day just because it's way too cold to walk around for too long and I want to spend more time with my cousins when they're home. I still haven't been to Central Park yet, something I want to do by the end of next week if it warms up a bit. The 99 cent pizza place I discovered last time I was in New York was still there, so I ended up going two different days last week. I also ate at Sakagura again; got their Thursday Chirashi special this time. Also gave Lombardi's a try which was alright, nothing too special about their pizza, would much rather go to the 99 cent a slice place.

Everything in New York is too damn expensive.