The Real Dangers of NY

I've been in the US now for 9 days. Besides seeing my friends and family, the other necessity upon returning home was reconnecting with all my favorites foods.

Starting with comfort food: pizza thrice (Gruppo's - best ever, Bleecker St pizza, and Co. a fancy new place), grilled cheese (Blind Tiger...sigh!), sushi (not American comfort food, but sorely missed), and an unexpected but welcome southern meal at UVA of chili and cornbread. And I couldnt resist a choco chip cookie from Birdbath (best ever) and an exquisite cupcake from Billy's - banana with cream cheese frosting. I bow my head to honor its memory.

My goodness no, I didnt eat that all in one day! It was a fun week, but now its over and I can be semi-healthy again. My focus on comfort food was replaced with...THE NEED FOR ASIAN FOOD! It had been too long since my life of noodles and rice ended. To start, when I was at my parent's place, my Dad and I sought out a Vietnamese restaurant. I got to satiate my Pho craving somewhat. I also got Vietnamese coffee complete with sweet condensed milk and one-cup tin coffee maker! (this drink single-handedly killed any chance of me losing weight in Asia ;-)

Next Asian craving was Banh Mi, the delicious French-inspired Vietnamese sandwich. Dave and I ate Banh Mi often in both Vietnam and Laos, and the combination of ingredients is unique to this dish - it can only be satiated by having a banh mi. Read more here. So I set out yesterday to a Banh Mi place in Chinatown. The route there from my apartment is perilous - especially on an empty stomach. For fun, I mapped my route here. Here are the trials I had to endure:

(1) Pass Doma, the pretentious but cozy coffee house on my corner. No espresso, I am on a budget!
(2) Cross the street and practically into Birdbath. Must not buy a cookie.
(3) Continue down 7th ave and over on Bleecker. Ignore the following: gelato place, Bleecker st pizza, Murray's cheese, Amy's bread
(4) Walk down Sullivan, my old street and a minefield of delicious food. Peanut Butter & Co must be avoided. Pass a new panini place -mmm, memories of Italy but must keep walking. Pass Once Upon a Tart - remind myself banh mi awaits, keep walking. Walk past Alidoro, the BEST italian sandwich place...this is tough because its a true competitor, wonder - what's better, Banh Mi or an Alidoro sandwich? Repeat banh mi, banh mi and keep walking.
(5) Cross east through Soho. Pass Marie Belle chocolate successfully. Try to forget that there are amazing croissants at Ceci Cela nearby
(6) Gelato temptation strikes again in Little Italy.
(7) Finally - arrive at Saigon Banh Mi. Unscathed! I was able to get real Vietnamese iced coffee in addition to my sandwich- bonus!

Vijay and I checked out another Banh Mi place today, and it was also a success. I never spent much time in Chinatown, mostly because I never knew what to order or from where. So now that I am venturing out there, its like discovering a new world. And its cheap! My sandwich was only 3.75.

This goes along well with my new philosophy on spending. I decided I will not spend the amounts I used to spend on food. Everyone has their weaknesses and (clothes, gadgets, etc) and mine is food. I am not just doing it to save money, but on principle. Sometimes in NY, you feel like your wallet has control of you, instead of the other way around. It is an infamously perilous city for one on a budget. So far it's been pretty easy and a fun challenge - constraints keep your mind busy and force creativity.

By the way I put up a poll! Look to the right (...on the page :-).