This may not be the sort of thing you’re supposed to say on a so-called “healthy living blog,” but this is the best lunch I’ve had in weeks.
Chocolate Chip Brioche from Silver Moon Bakery
Sure, I try to pack my midday meals with veggies and greens and make sure I “eat the rainbow” and get all of the vitamins and nutrients I need. Yesterday, however, it was almost as if a supernatural force drew me out of the apartment and over to Silver Moon for what is, quite possibly, my favorite baked good. (Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies from Levain Bakery are a close rival.) The bread is soft and sweet, the chocolate melty. It inevitably ends up all over my face, but who’s looking?
This is my favorite movie of all time. I’ve seen it again and again (and again and again) and it never gets old. In fact, for a film released to a 1960 audience, it’s remarkably contemporary.
Lately, I’ve been listening to mostly female musicians. This isn’t so unusual, but I’ve been playing some of the same songs by Adele, Robyn, and most recently, Regina Spektor. This album is from 2006 and I rediscovered it while going through the huge CD wallet I keep packed away in a drawer with old sweaters and comic books. Two songs have been on constant rotation: “Fidelity” and “Better.” (You can watch the video for “Fidelity” here… she’s too adorable for words, and the song just makes me happy.)
My mom came home from vacation last night. We were both so tired, we could barely keep our eyes open. We did, however, manage to sit down in a restaurant and wait for food to be delivered to us. We’ve been going to the same Japanese restaurant for more than 15 years, and it’s the kind of cozy comfort food we crave when we’re too exhausted to cook and just want to relax.
No sake or Sapporos for us; just hot green tea (which failed to perk us up).
Miso soup, house salad
Salmon avocado roll
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Goal for 2011 update: Cook One New Recipe A Week
Week 1: Lemony Spaghetti with Bitter Greens & Chickpeas
Week 2: Lentil Chili
Week 3: Chickpeas in Star Anise & Date Masala
Week 4: Thai-Style Black Beans w/ Mango & Cilantro
Week 5: Ten Minute Tasty Asparagus & Brown Rice, Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cheddar and Toasted Almonds, Warm Red Lentil Salad, Garlicky Sesame-Cured Broccoli Salad.
Week 6: Beets, Spiced Quinoa & Yogurt, Sesame-Cooked Eggs Over Rice
Week 7: Curried Parsnip Fries
Week 8: Curried Lentils & Sweet Potatoes
Week 9: Rutabagas with Buckwheat, Black Beans & Kale, Garlicky Mushroom Greens
Week 10: Tamarind Lentils, The Double-Shift Scramble
Week 11: Spicy Chickpea Salad, Butternut Squash Mac ‘n Cheeze, Spicy Red Lentil, Peanut & Pumpkin Soup
Week 12: Sunday Night Supper Salad, Peanut Butter Banana-Berry French Toast Sandwich
Week 13: Grilled Cheddar-Mushroom Sandwich
Week 14: Black Bean Soup, Sweet Pumpkin Pudding
Week 15: Green Rice
Week 16: Matzoh Buttercrunch Candy, Quinoa with Moroccan Winter Squash and Carrot Stew
Week 17: Truffled Turnip Soup, Nutty Lemon Brussels Sprouts, Cookie Dough Smoothie
Week 18: Raw Chocolate Fudge Cake, Spring Pasta
Week 19: Chopped Kale w/ Hot Pepper Vinegar
Week 20: Ultimate Veggie Burgers, Mmm Sauce
Week 21: Ribbed Asparagus Salad with Lemon, Spinach & Chickpeas, Chocolate-Chip Blondies, Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough Pancakes, Leek Zucchini Pasta Salad
Week 22: Sesame Ginger Kale Salad, Hoisin Ginger Tofu with Smoky Tahini Slaw
Week 23: Pan-Seared Asparagus Salad with Frisée and Fried Egg, Baked Ziti, Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread, Green Bowl
Week 24: Quinoa Cookies, Chocolate Mousse
Week 26: Sweet Potato Stuffed with Caramelized Tempeh and Sautéed Kale, Shaved Fennel Salad, Summer Pesto
Week 27: Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
Week 28: Choco-holic Pancakes
Week 29: Green Israeli Couscous Salad
Week 30: Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts
Week 31: Babaganoush Soup, Freekeh Risotto, Brown Butter (Plum) Cake or Cobbler
Week 32: (Modified) Tomato Salad on a Roll
Week 33: None 
Week 34: None
Week 35: Pappardelle with Spiced Butter
Week 36: Cucumber Peanut Salad, Grilled Peach and Avocado Salad
Week 37: Nut-Butter Crusted Fries
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Things have been more than a little busy and messy lately over here, but I’m going to do my best to stay true to my blog vibe and stay constant. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, don’t hold back! I really appreciate how loyal and supportive you’ve been lately. Can’t say it enough 
How did you spend your weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?
ugh…that’s my favorite treat from silver moon. and levain is definitely up there in my “best bakeries ever EVER” list
okay, i am getting to silver moon stat. love that i am getting lots of UWS reccs from you now
and i lovvve that regina album. it’s truly therapeutic and very fitting right now, i would think. 
Um, your first picture? Droooool.
Just got back from Israel, Turkey and Greece…wow Im looking forward to walking Pickles…it was a lot of traveling, interesting places and people, too much food!!
Sometimes you just need something more indulgent!!!!Regina has some awesome songs
JOE AND I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!!!!!!!! So classic.
oh my god that bun looks INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve heard such amazing things about levain bakery but seriously that bun sounds like the perfect weekend treat well that and sush dates with mama! i can’t remember what i did this weekend! obviously nothing too great haha
I absolutely love Regina Spektor. What she can do with her voice is mind blowing. I’d love to see her in concert one day!
LOVE this movie. Gosh, it’s been ages since I’ve seen it but it really is a brilliant film. Hope you are well sweet Katie.
Okay now that I’ve thoroughly cased Levain, I think I need to hit up Silver Moon. Gimme that sandwich.
aka brioche. same diff.
Agh! Love Regina Spektor! Her songs have been faves on my iPod playlist ever since college:)
Wow, that sandwich looks amazing. Yummmm…
It’s wonderful to keep returning to Regina Spektor. I once choreographed a solo to “Fidelity,” and I also love “The Ghost of Corporate Future,” “Music Box,” and sometimes “I Want to Sing.”
here in Europe they are all about the simple pleasures, and I’m definitely ready to enjoy a pain au chocolate at all hours of the day and night. moderation is a wonderful thing, especially when you include Danish pastries and delicious wine with your veggies and protein.
That chocolate sandwichy thing looks amazing! I think its very healthy to have the odd indulgence sometimes! This week I’m looking forward to getting lots of odds and ends sorted out and organised. I also have the Great North Run half marathon on Sunday, after struggling with an injury I’m hoping I’ll be able to manage it ok!