Sometimes life requires a kick to bring one back to reality, to remind oneself about the things that really do matter and the dangers of hiding away in a dream world. I finally had the opportunity to watch Inception on Sunday ($6 movie tickets at NYC AMC theaters before noon is an amazing deal!), and it brings up many interesting views on reality. What separates reality from the dream? Can an idea that is planted subconsciously continue to eat away at your thoughts until it becomes a reality? If reality is something we create and manipulate, then I better start creating a better reality for myself.
I usually kick back in my comfy foldable chair when the time comes to really focus and reflect. It’s a nice change from my usual position on the bed as I type away, and most definitely a better option for my back. With my debut entry after a 3-month hiatus, I hope to really return to the basics of what I truly enjoy in my spare time – photography as a form of art and expressing myself through words. Finally getting a new job also helps. =)
My visit to the Russian Tea Room actually took place Winter 2009 Restaurant Week. As per tradition, my coworkers and I made our semi-annual pilgrimmage to a nearby restaurant to sample its $24.07 menu. It was actually what I imagined a fancy restaurant in Moscow to be. Prim, ornate, rich colors surrounded us the minute we stepped in. Red, the color of royalty. And topped off with an enormous crystal bear. We retreated downstairs for the mandatory coatcheck and were met by shelves of Russian trinkets and Matryoshka dolls. Impressive display, albeit a bit stuffy.
I started with the Tea Room Red Borscht, a red short ribs broth with pickled red beets, seasonal vegetables, dill and braised beef pirozhki. Soups of such vibrant colors intrigue me, and the borscht proved to be rich and flavorful, an excellent way to start off the meal.
My coworker decided to try the Goat Cheese and Wild Mushroom Blinchik, a crepe filled with mixed mushrooms and melted onions topped with lingdonberries.
As recommended by the various Yelp reviews that we scoped out beforehand, all 3 of us ordered the Boeuf à la Stroganoff as our entrees. Easily the best part of the meal, the restaurant offered a generous portion of the beef filet, which sat serenely atop the bed of house made buckwheat noodles. The wild mushrooms, porcini cream, and red wine reduction created a perfect blend of succulent deliciousness with the meat and noodles, a dish that I quickly inhaled.
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I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
