Supergreat Holiday Cards Are Here!

Hi! Remember me? Ok, so I know it's been a while since I've written, but there's something I am very excited about, and had to share! Supergreat Greetings will be at the Bust Magazine Craftacular Holiday Fair on Sunday December 2nd from 11am-7pm. And I'm so thrilled to be selling some new holiday cards! Check them out, there they are:

They're not even for sale online yet, you can only get them at the Craftacular, so please come say hello (and buy some cards!)

But wait, there's MORE! We're featured on the Bust Magazine Website in the vendor spotlight!!! See for yourself here. WOOOOHOOOOO!

Hope to see you December 2nd! And really hope to get back on track with updating my blog. I still have to tell you about my recent trip of a lifetime to Italy (Pasta! My Italian boyfriend Luciano! Driving in Rome!). And there's lots more to tell! See you soon, I promise!

The Best School Portraits You Will Ever See...EVER

Every now and then, you meet someone who changes your life forever. For me, this person was Kris who, just a few minutes after I met him at my friend Dave's BBQ, shared with me the most extraordinary (100% real) school portraits from his youth. I can't even imagine the look on his mother's face when he brought them home to show her (and the dread she must have felt each year wondering he would do next!). So here they are, the most amazing hilarious school portraits that were ever taken in the entire world!!!

Kris, with My Buddy

Kris, wearing coonskin cap and holding panda

Thanks for sharing, Kris!! YOU ARE A ONE OF A KIND PERSON!!

A Steamy Love Story

For those of you who think real life romance isn't possible, let me tell you a story about a pizza delivery man who changed my life forever:

I was coming back from my lunch break, and was just about to get into the elevator of my building when I overheard the pizza delivery man tell the doorman he was going to "dos cero seis" (which means 206). We both got into the elevator together, and that's when things started steaming up.

I went to push the second floor button for him.
He said seductively "Hablas Español?" {Do you Speak Spanish?}
I innocently replied "Un poco" {a little}
He looked deep into my eyes and said "Eres Hermosa" {you are beautiful}
I said "Thank you" (can't remember if I said it in Spanish or not)
We arrived at the second floor, he declared passionately to me "I love you"
I was surprised, but it was completely understandable. I told him graciously: "Thank you"
And just as he was about to leave the elevator (and possibly my life forever) he begged "A kiss???"
And that's when I pushed the "doors close" button as quickly as possible!!

Ahhh, just when you think it's impossible to find love in the city, fate delivers! I still think about that pizza delivery man to this day, and wonder what might have happened if I didn't push the doors closed in his face. Would we ride off on his bicycle together into the night? Would he be able to get me extra toppings for free?

Alas, we just weren't meant to be together, it was a pie in the sky idea!

One of My Most Painful Childhood Memories (Not Including Camp, Of Course)

Those that know me know I LOVE to tell stories! Especially about myself! One of my all time favorite stories took place in third grade....

We were given an assignment to do a report on the historical figure of our choice. Don't ask my WHY but I chose Duke Ellington (pretty cool for a third grader, eh?). 

Simple enough right? WRONG! At the last minute, our teach informed us that we would need to dress up as the person we chose. I WAS DEVASTATED! Had I known this would be part of the assignment, I definitely would have chosen Lady Di, or someone with less facial hair.

On the day we presented our report, my teacher FORCED me to draw a mustache on my face, and (SHOCKER) I cried! Of course she took a photo to capture that moment forever. Unfortunately I don't have that photo today, but I can still picture it in my head (permanent marker mustache on my face, red eyes, sad face. Ridiculous!), and here's a pretty good re-enactment of it:

Letters From Camp-Part 6

This letter is actually from the first camp I went to, which apparently made me cry a lot less. Look, I actually sound happy! And boy, was I full of surprises!

To check out past letters from camp, click here!

Letters From Camp-Part 5

OH WHEN WILL THE DRAMA EVER END???? Another delightful letter from camp to start your week off right!

Did my Mom and Dad ever pick me up from camp? How on earth did I survive such mediocre food? To be continued...

To check out past letters from camp, click here!

Letters From Camp-Part 4

I don't know what disturbs me more about the following letter, the fact that I seemed absolutely miserable at camp or the fact that I was obviously confused about how to spell the word "please". This is the third time I've seen "pleazzz" written in one of my camp letters. Where on earth did I get that from??? Anyway, here's another awesome letter:

Ahhh, nine year old Sam, so dramatic! I love "There is no fun whatsoever here". If you haven't read all my other hilarious letters, here they are...and plenty more to come!

Letters from Camp-Part 3

Ahhh, time to share another scary letter from camp from when I was 9 years old! Don't these ridiculous letters make Mondays more tolerable? For those people that feel bad for me after reading these letters: DON'T!! Ok, so camp wasn't exactly an enjoyable experience for me (for more on that, click here), but I had a great childhood, and I turned out just fine! Ok, back to all my pain and suffering at camp:

Letters From Camp-Part 2

Dear Camp, Why did I hate you so much?

According to this fill in the blank letter I sent my parents, I was NOT a fan:

Letters from Camp-Part 1

GUESS WHAT???? My parents are cleaning out their house, and they found a STACK of letters I wrote them from camp when I was ages 9-12. To give you an idea of how much I enjoyed camp, here's a self portrait I drew and sent to my parents:

hand written note in drawing says "I want to go home paleeeezzz"

More hilarious letters from camp to follow!

A Special Memorial Day Post: Celebrating a Day Off From All the Mail!

Happy Memorial Day! On a national holiday like today, I celebrate a break from mail! Never-ending mail that endlessly collects, taking up valuable real estate in my small (but adorable!) studio apartment. Hundreds of magazines a month I never have time to read, bills, catalogs, credit card offers....It is a miracle I ever see the surface of my coffee table (a.k.a. the place I keep my mail until I have time to go through it). I embrace the rare occasion I receive a card or invitation, especially during the holiday season where lovely cards are aplenty (except for the ones from people (my super, mailman etc) gently reminding me to tip them. I don't like those!). Anyway, hope everyone is having a wonderful day off (from work, and from mail!)!

The #1 Thing NOT to Do After You've Had Your Eyes Dilated By A Doctor

I know what you're probably thinking. If your eyes are dilated, don't drive. And definitely don't operate heavy machinery! But (shockingly) what the doctor doesn't warn you, is that it's probably not the best idea to go swimsuit shopping after you've had your pupils dilated.

And swimsuit shopping is just what I tried to do last Thursday after my appointment! I was heading to the beach the next day for the weekend, and it was my last chance to find a new bikini! You should have seen me at Macy's. Dark sunglasses on. Feeling around to find different styles. Putting the price tag right up to my face in a fruitless attempt to read prices. I could barely see a thing! It was ridiculous!

In hindsight (pun intended!), not the best idea. And if you're wondering, I did end up buying something...but it turned out I was not happy with my purchase (shocker of the year!) and plan on returning it. Lesson learned!

Delicious Things I Ate Last Weekend

Woweeee! I ate like a queen last weekend! It's weekends like these that make me wonder why I don't weigh more than I do! (Must be all the running!). If you get food from any of these places, you'll be a happy camper, I promise!

Francesca

Ladurée

Roberta's 

Russ & Daughters

A Special Mother's Day Post

Happy Mother's Day to my favorite Mom in the whole world: My Mom!! (And she tells me I'm her favorite Samantha! Awww, Mom!). Every day, I think to myself how lucky I am to have a Mom like her!

Here's a little story to illustrate how much I love her:
Many years back when I was about seventeen, my Mom was driving me somewhere, when we came to a red light. At that moment, I thought to myself how much I loved my Mom, and blew her some air kisses (I know, I was a difficult teen!). She reciprocated and blew some back to me, but at that very moment, a women was crossing in the crosswalk and thought my mom was blowing kisses at her. She definitely had a puzzled look on her face. My Mom and I had a good laugh! And we still laugh about that moment 'til this day.

Point is: I love you Mom! Can't wait to celebrate with you today!

I Don't Want To Brag, But I Have Awesome Friends: Part 1

What I'm about to say might shock you. Are you sitting down? Ok here it is: everyone once in a while I let other people pick the restaurants I dine at. I know, CRAZY, right? In fact, there's one person in particular, one of my BFF's Marissa, who I would let plan my entire trip, not just a meal for one night. And lucky for all of us, she just started a website, Trip Love Travel, where she does JUST THAT for people! You tell her where you're going, and what type of experience you want to have (adventure (NO!!!!!), relaxing, luxurious etc) and she will plan an amazing authentic itinerary for you. She will tell you about the places only the locals frequent. Pretty cool, eh? Lonely Planet, Schmonely Planet! 

I Don't Want to SEE That-Offensive Locker Room Behavior

Why does everyone love being naked at the gym all the time? Is all that nakedness REALLY necessary? I THINK NOT! Here are just some of the nude moments that have left an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach:

You, NAKED, blowing drying your hair, with your leg up on a chair (Really? Leg up? Why?????).

You, NAKED, chatting with your friend about your weekend plans (Hopefully those plans involve buying a coverup, or something that will allow you to walk around the gym less naked). 

You, NAKED, picking up something that dropped on the ground (Maybe you were picking up a manual on how not to offend others in society?).

You, NAKED, with a towel on your head (If you already HAVE the towel, why not use it to cover up your lady parts?).

You, NAKED, checking your twitter (but strangely not tweeting about how weird it is that you're so naked).

You, NAKED, checking your voicemail (Hopefully someone was calling to request that you stop being so naked in public?).

You, NAKED, applying your makeup (If only you would apply some principles of decency instead!).

And it's never the pretty ones that are naked either!

Other NY Fears Besides FOMO, Part 2

Remember last year when I delved deep into the world of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and other NY fears? That was only the tip of the iceberg! Unfortunately for us all, there is a LOT more to be afraid of in this city! Here are some more horrifying fears, let me know if I left anything out!

Frankies Who? A Review of Francesca

Just kidding! I'll love you forever, Frankies 17!

When I first found out they were turning my all time favorite restaurant, Frankies 17, into the Spanish tapas restaurant Francesca, I was devastated! STUNNED! It took me months to deal with the pain. I even tried to use humor as a coping mechanism, by announcing on April Fool's Day to my all facebook friends that they were "turning the West Village Frankies into a French restaurant called Francois, and the Brooklyn Frankies into a pierogi palace (yes! I actually said "pierogi palace"!) called Franciszek". Unfortunately that didn't help me move on from the loss of Frankies 17, and people were so upset, I almost lost some friends over it.

Finally, acceptance turned into curiosity: Could Francesca be as amazing as Frankies 17? Was there any tapas dish in the world that could replace Frankies' gnocchi? Well I am happy to report that the answer is YES! Last night I went to Francesca with my friend Jessica (the person that first took me to Frankies 17 back in 2006!) and her husband Jeff....and let me tell you, it was AMAZING! Glorious actually! Pretty much everything is the same (same awesome waitstaff, almost the same decor except for high tables in the first room), except the food is something new and refreshing and scrumptious!

What we ordered:
-The Dry-aged Beef Tartare served with cauliflower cream: Served with perfectly toasted bread, this dish made us shake our heads in disbelief that anything could be so good.
-Egg Salad with Boqueron: at this stage in my life, I'd like to think I can make a mean egg salad. But this one was even more flavorful!
-White And Green Asparagus with migas (fried bread), aioli, sherry vinaigrette: so fresh and delicious!
-Creamy Fideua With Idiazabal: kind of like a delicate mac and cheese. Yummy, but seemed to be lacking something.

-Our dessert was a special, and involved warm chocolate on bread with salt. Need I say more?
Drinks were great too!

Take a look at the pics on Serious Eats. If this doesn't convince you to run to the restaurant now, I don't know what will! Don't tell anyone though! The more people that know about this, the longer it will take for me to get a table.

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7207616,-73.9843166&zoom=15&size=172x128&markers=40.7207616,-73.9843166&sensor=false
Francesca
17 Clinton St.
New York
NY
favorite dishes: Dry-aged Beef Tartare with cauliflower cream, Dulce De Leche.
Supergreat

I Hope Ryan Gosling Doesn't Think I'm Crazy....

On Thursday night, I went to the opening party for an adorable new store in Brooklyn, Milly & Earl and as soon as I saw this Metal Sugar necklace, I knew it had to be mine! For those not aware of my love for Ryan Gosling (how is this possible? Have you read this?), "Ry Gos" stands for my main squeeze, Ryan Gosling. And my excitement about this new purchase overpowers my fear of alienating potential suitors, or being put on a special watch list by Ryan Gosling's Security Staff. Seriously though, I'm not as crazy as I sound, I just thought the necklace was hilarious, and so cute!

Worst Ad Campaign of 2012 (So Far)....

You know those NY Lottery Powerball ads with the tagline  "Yeah, that kind of rich", and photos of lucky lottery winners doing any of the following:
-driving a car through THEIR OWN tunnel
-flying their HELICOPTER to the supermarket to pick up groceries

OOOOH! You mean the kind of rich where I still have to drive (or fly) myself to the grocery store, park my vehicle and buy my own groceries?????? GOODY GOODY GUMDROPS!! Winning the lottery sounds like everything I have ever dreamed of and so much more! I hope when I become extremely wealthy, I can still live in a tiny studio, take the subway, clean my own bathroom and try to only buy things on sale or with coupons. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING!

I'm going to go buy some tickets now! One step closer to my dream life!

Supergreat Greetings at the Craftacular: A Dream Come True!

Supergreat Greetings was at the BUST Magazine Craftacular on Saturday, and boy was it like a dream (except my dreams usually involve all my teeth falling out and people trying to kill me, so the Craftacular was actually MUCH MUCH better!). Here were some of the highlights:
1. People bought cards! And not just my friends and family (although they were quite generous as well, I LOVE YOU GUYS!!). Was amazing to see people's reaction to the cards (and have an excuse to talk about pork buns and ramen all day, which is what I love doing anyway)!
2. Robert Sietsema, a food critic for the Village Voice, posted pics of my cards and wrote the word "wonderful" to describe them. Is this real? Am I dreaming?
3. The vendors on both sides of me were so nice! Melissa of Metal Sugar (Such adorable jewelry! We even did a trade: gorgeous earrings for some foodie greeting cards), and Nate and Laura of eyeheart.us. I was honored to be surrounded by such talent!
4. After the event, I was lugging all my goods home, when I met a nice chivalrous boy outside my building. He helped my carry my things inside, and even held doors open for me. SIGH!
5. Have I mentioned Robert Sietsema wrote about my cards (and described them as "wonderful"!!!)? Dream come true!

Overall, such an amazing day!!

Is A Movie Career On the Cards?

I have a confession to make, and it's something that's taken me years to realize. Ok, don't laugh, but every time I pass through a movie set on the street, I subconsciously think I will be discovered, and catapulted to stardom. Here's how I imagine this would unfold:

I'm walking down the street, and the director spots me from an avenue away. He just knows I'm the star he's been waiting for his whole career! He yells out in desperation "Stop that girl! I must have her in my film! Just look at her gorgeous hair!!"

I finally notice all the commotion I've caused and try to reason with the director. "But I'm very happy in my career as a bedding designer. And I just recently started my own line of greeting cards for foodies and I'm really excited to pursue that! Why me? Why now?"

The director pleads with me "You have something I've never seen before in another New York commuter. You have an unparalleled beauty and an extraordinary spirit. Plus, your sense of style is impeccable. I must have you in my film, I will not take no for an answer."

I whisper to him "I will think about this, I promise you. But it will not be an easy decision. Can I have some time to think it over?"

The director agrees to give me some time, but I notice a single tear streaming down his face. He knows that in that moment he could lose me forever.

Don't get me wrong (and don't get excited if you are a casting director or agent), I have absolutely no desire to be a famous actress, or in movies. It's just a silly little thought I didn't even realize I had in my head. I promise I will let you know if it ever happens!

Introducing Supergreat Greetings: Funny Cards for Foodies!

I know what's on your mind: "SAM!!! Where have you been? I haven't laughed as much in the last few weeks, and I have no clue where to eat!!! And you have really pretty hair!" Do not fret, my friends! I've been working on something VERY EXCITING!! INTRODUCING my new line of greeting cards for foodies, Supergreat Greetings!! 

Please check out the site, buy some cards if you like, and spread the word (facebook! twitter! pinterest! oh my!).

Oh, and very exciting news, I am thrilled to be a vendor at the BUST Craftacular and Food Fair next Saturday April 14th at 82 Mercer Street from 11am-7pm. Stop by and say hello!

Here is what's being said about Supergreat Greetings:
“I laughed so hard, I cried” -Sam, head writer at Supergreat Greetings
“The most hilarious card collection in the world” -Sam, founder of Supergreat Greetings
“Collect them all!” -Sam, owner of Supergreat Greetings
“Whoever created these cards is obviously a genius” -Sam, creator of the cards

For a limited time, if you buy three cards, you get one free! Use the coupon code "ilovefreestuff" to save big bucks!

I hope to get back to blogging on a regular basis very soon! Sorry I've been M.I.A!

NY: Even the Old People Are Awesome Here!

Recently I witnessed something that kind of melted my heart. I was walking to work when I saw two old ladies (I'm allowed to say that now that I'm getting old myself!) get frustrated with the slow walkers in front of them, so they overtook them. It was in that glorious moment, I knew I was living in the right city (which I obviously already knew. Have I mentioned how many amazing places there are to eat here?)!

A Special Valentine's Post: I LOVE TERTULIA!

Saturday night I went to a restaurant that might prevent me from ever enjoying another restaurant again: Tertulia. People have been raving about it for months, and I figured there was no way it could ever live up to the hype. BUT BOY, I WAS WRONG (you will not hear those words from me often)!

Tertulia is everything I ever imagined and MORE! Here, you might chase after your waiter with a fork if he tried to take away your plates before they were completely clean (yes, this happened to us that night. Well, not the fork, but it could have easily come to that!). The people who work there are delightful! None of that typical attitude coming from the other popular kitchens in town.

There are so many amazing dishes, where do I begin? Some favorites:

-Tosta huevo roto y jamón ibérico (Crushed egg, potato, Ibérico ham): This dish is a head turner! It actually caught our attention when a waiter passed by with it, so we knew we had to get it. I cannot describe the deliciousness to you!

-Cordero (Grilled lamb breast, creamy farro, cauliflower): I don't think I have ever had anything so scrumptious in my life. A flavor and texture sensation! I fear the puddle of drool caused by thinking about it might damage my computer.

-Torta de Limón (Meyer lemon pound-cake, buttermilk ice-cream, candied lemon peel): The perfect way to end the meal. BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM! Need I say more? So fresh and amazing and unique. Heaven!

I spent a good part of the dinner saying things like "Pork Belly, Schmork Schmelly" & "David Chang, Schmavid Schmang" (I still love you David! I'm just kidding!).

Tertulia, I would not change one thing about you. NOT ONE SINGLE THING! I can't WAIT to return!

[Oh, and because this place is so popular, it's hard to get a table. So be willing to wait an hour or two! Or maybe try going early (5 or 6pm), might be easier then? GOOD LUCK! It is worth the wait, trust me!]

Tertulia 359 6th Ave (Between W 4th and Washington Pl)

And the Most Commonly Misused Expression Is...

I wish for once, someone would say "Long story short" and actually mean it!

Ryan Gosling Makes It All Better!

Lately Ryan Gosling has been on everyone's mind. There's the Ryan Gosling vs. Puppies Tumblr and the Hey Girl Ryan Gosling Tumblr. Time Warner Cable just announced its Ryan Gosling on Demand Channel for the month of February. Ryan Gosling even makes the streets of New York safer (watch as he breaks up a street fight 30 seconds into the video!). 

But everyone else is JUST catching on to something I've known ever since 2004 (a.k.a the year I saw the Notebook): RYAN GOSLING MAKES IT ALL BETTER!! Here are some other things I think could benefit from being "Ryan Goslinged": 

-Does anyone else despise pennies as much as I do? They're practically worthless, and they take up a lot of space in my wallet. How much less annoying would they be if Ryan Gosling's face was on every shiny cent? Woah, woah, woah, I'm not saying INSTEAD of Abraham Lincoln. I'm saying buh bye Lincoln Memorial, HELLO RYAN GOSLING!

-Boy, I hate rain but Ryan Gosling umbrellas would certainly brighten any dreary day!

-The Post Office: There's got to be SOME way to make the post office less excruciating! Ryan gosling stamps, anyone?

-Is anyone else sick of Google as the only means of finding the answers to life's burning questions? What about a Ryan Gosling Search engine? If MC Hammer can do it, why not Ryan?

-Toast is great, but how much hotter would it be if there was a Ryan Gosling Toaster that imprinted his delicious face onto every slice of bread? You could gaze into his dreamy eyes before each and every bite? SCRUMPTIOUS!

-I hate waking up in the morning, who doesn't? What abut a Ryan Gosling alarm clock?? You get to pat him on the head to turn the alarm clock off! Not a bad way to wake up in the morning!

Is there ANYTHING that cannot be made better by Ryan Gosling??

Is Social Reader Damaging Your Reputation?

Do people REALIZE what their social reader is broadcasting to their newsfeeds??? And do these people REALLY want us to know they read that article on "How To Improve Your Duckface"? Here are some examples of crazy headlines I've seen lately (Ok, Ok, so I don't remember the exact headlines word for word, but I'm pretty sure these are close!):

pic via zugaldia

Here is a handy dandy article on how to prevent your friends from seeing all the embarrassing and weird things you read online! PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE and if we're lucky, we'll NEVER know you read it!

Happy Birthday To Me!

 

It's my birthday! And it's Oprah's birthday too! Is there ANYTHING that could possibly make this day better? It's been an amazing birthday so far! I feel so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life to help me celebrate. YAY TO BIRTHDAYS! 

Also, happy belated birthday to my amazing twin, Marian! Yes, that's right folks. Marian's birthday was actually yesterday. She was born 1 minute before midnight, and I was born 9 minutes after midnight. CRAZY RIGHT? But not as crazy as my mom not knowing she was having twins until my sis Marian was born. SURPRISE!!

Pet Peeves You Might Not Expect

If you were to ask my friends or family to describe me in just a few words, I'm sure they would say I am "extremely laid back" or "more low maintenance than a plant you never have to water".

[Cue laughter and gasps heard around the world]

Ok, ok, so maybe I have high standards, and every once in a while things irk me just a teensy weensy bit. Here are just a few of my favorite pet peeves:

A New Service That Could Increase Your Klout Score

Ever wish you got as many Facebook comments as your friends with babies? Want to get more likes and increase your Klout score? Rent a Supergreat Fake Baby and watch as your social networking popularity soars!*

How does it work?

STEP 1: Choose your baby from thousands of babies in our database.

STEP 2: Once your baby is selected, you'll receive a link to download photos of your fake baby at various stages in its life. Baby's first step! First taste of lemon! Bath time!

STEP 3: Next, post pictures of your fake baby on Facebook, and watch in delight as the comments and "likes" roll in. It's THAT easy!

This super easy and convenient service is sure to radically change your life! Awesome Klout perks here you come! Act now, before it's too late!

baby pics by Hammer51012, prayitno, rkimpeljr

*Results are not guaranteed and thesupergreat can not be held responsible for any confusion or un-friending that might occur

By the way, in case you haven't realized, this is a joke! And believe me, I am the FIRST person to "like" all my mommy friends' adorable babies! Who can resist?

The "Downton Abbey" Theme Song: Soundtrack To My Life

Oh how I wish the delightfully dramatic "Downton Abbey" theme song would play every time one of the following things happened in my life (I suggest playing the video as you read the following):

-The subway pulls away just as I enter the station.
-I realize my Groupon has expired.
-I look in my mailbox, and there's nothing there (especially traumatic if someone was holding the elevator door for me while I checked my mail).
-No one comments on my Facebook status
-Photoshop quits on me before I've saved my changes.
-I catch a typo in my email after I've hit send.
-My Klout score has gone done a point (or more! the horror!)
-A song I want is not available on Spotify.
-They are out of the toilet paper I like at the store.
-Opentable only has a dinner reservation at 6:30 or 10:30.
-My dvr doesn't record "Downton Abbey"

When in Chinatown, Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles is the kind of restaurant you would never know to visit unless someone told you about it (Thanks, Pallas!). I'm not going to lie, it's not pretty in there. Not at all. But this little hole in the wall Chinese restaurant needs no bells and whistles. It's all about good food. Noodles are hand pulled in the kitchen (I'm assuming by a team of magical fairies). Our meal was low carb all the way: pork dumplings, dumpling soup with noodles, and pan friend noodles (These were my favorite. Wow!). We loved that they gave us scissors to cut those never-ending noodles, nice little touch! And the best part is, it's CHEAP!

Don't worry, we put all the money we saved on dinner towards drinks at nearby Pulqueria, another place you could easily pass by. From the outside it looks like just another Vietnamese restaurant, but inside it's an amazing bar (and Mexican restaurant) with yummy drinks, amazing atmosphere, good times! We even ran into some friends there. Other people know about this place too? Am I the last person to find out about it?

Love those random Chinatown nights. You never know what you'll stumble upon!

Just A Little Something Silly

Red Farm: A Restaurant For People Who Like Happiness

The only time I will ever be OK with sitting in a tiny chair at a restaurant is if the food is as good as it is at Red Farm. Yes, that's right people. I was at Red Farm Friday night, and when I went to sit in my chair, I fell for what felt like hours until I finally hit the seat. And before you think "Well, if you had an unusually small chair, probably everyone else did too, right Sam?". WRONG! For some reason, it was just me! But one taste of the Spicy Crispy Beef (we ordered seconds, it was THAT delicious), and I was happy to sit in whatever chair they wanted to give me!

I had been reading rave reviews about Red Farm for months. So of course I wondered if it was all hype, or if the food was really that good. Oh it was good alright! Everything was absolutely finger lickin' scrumptious! Even my friend Lilly who is one tough critic (she once told a waitress the dessert "tasted like refrigerator", and it kind of did actually!) was raving. None of us could believe how much we enjoyed our meal! Can't WAIT to go back!

Other dishes to try: Kung Pao Chicken and Scallion Dumplings, Katz's Pastrami Egg Roll

Oh, and they don't take reservations, but you call ahead to see how they can best accommodate your party (you might have to go there to put your name down, or they might be able to take it down over the phone the day you want to visit).