Foodie Chat (7): Zutto

It has always be a mystery to me why people would wait for hours in line for a bowl of ramen in front of Ippudo, even on a snowy day. I know it's iconic, but sometimes iconic also means run-of-the-mill. True, it's good ramen -- definitely too salty to my taste -- but there are other places in the city that serve equally good ramen, if not better. Zutto is one of them.

Zutto has been overshadowed by its shining neighbors such as Nobu and Brushstroke in the past 30 years or so, until it is revamped by a Bouley and Per Se veteran, Joshua Smookler. The chef designed a short but well-edited menu and beer list that turned Zutto into THE ramen powerhouse in Tribecca.

I've been to Zutto a couple of times, and have tried quite a few items on the menu.  Tonkotsu ramen is one of their signature dishes. The broth is thick and cream-colored, so concentrated with marrow and bone that your lips get sticky. In terms of the toppings, instead of pork belly that is standard in most ramen places, they serve juicy pork jowl chashu. The wobbling white fat will surely take you to heaven. On the light side, seafood ramen tastes quite healthy. The flavor has nothing to write home about, but the noodles are cooked to perfection, as in other ramen dishes. Wasabi Shoyu ramen seems to be quite spicy. My Japanese friend was sweating throughout the meal.

But Zutto is known not just for its ramen. Steamed buns are many patrons' favorite and must-have, and short ribs buns are the clear winner of all, filled with saucy, braised meat dressed sparsely with kimchi and a bit of spicy mayo. Gang Nam style buns have an interesting take on Korean essentials -- kimchi. A little on the spicy side, but worth a try. I'd suggest you to avoid pork belly buns if you like pork belly stew in Chinese cuisine. The sauce is way too sugary, even to the American standard. We ordered some in a large group setting, and not a single one could finish his/her pork belly bun. A bummer. Shishito peppers are also pretty good. It reminds me of those charred fried peppers (虎皮辣椒) my parents use to cook on hot summer evenings. Yes, we ate it in summer, and cooled our numbed tongues with icy cold beers. :)

Unlike those more high-end Japanese restaurants only steps away, there is no hush-hush reverence at Zutto--it's a self-styled Japanese pub, and that means jovial noshing at a huge communal table. The staff is friendly, chill and hippy. But they may get carried away on busy evenings. The best time to visit Zutto is lunchtime when the place is quiet and slow... Did I mention I was sitting next to Jeremy Lin on my first lunch at Zutto? That was in those Linsanity days when he was still in Knicks. At his height, he couldn't hide himself from anybody. :)

Address: 77 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013
Telephone: 212-233-3287

Photo credit: The second and third pictures are sourced from villagevoice.com.

Spring 2014 Trend (6): Sheer

Floaty and airy, sheer inserts/sleeves/skirts are everywhere. From Fendi, Dolce Gabbana to Burberry Prorsum, designers dared to bare. Being it sporty mesh or ethereal  lace, it can add a dose of sex appeal to an otherwise demure look or simply lend some lightness to the overall feel. Transparency is a must for this spring's wardrobe. Even T-shirts, cropped tops, and baggy sweaters have adopted mesh or fishnet inserts to add a touch of sexiness.

We all know that it's always more elegant to leave a little to the imagination. A furtively revealing suggestion of skin is much more sartorially liberating than baring all. The most sophisticated take on the sheer trend is showing a little skin with peekaboo panels and translucent fabrics.

For everyday wear, I prefer a more conservative take on the sheer trend. I like skirts called "leg veils" (Tibi, French Connection, ASOS, Zara, another Zara), tops with mesh or lace sleeves (Anthropologie, Zara, another Zara), and dresses with strategic sheer inserts (Anthropologie, Free People, another Free People). Transparent blouses (Zara, Joie, Free People) are also on my list, but I will wear them with a cami underneath. I'll leave bold pieces (like this) at the beach or pool side.

How are you going to embrace this sheet adventure?

Photo credit: Fabsugar, Cosmogirl, style, Vogue

Anthropologie Ponte Bell Skirt

Ladies, if you really like the skirt I wore here and the dress I wore here, check out this Ponte Bell Skirt in Anthropologie. The material is stiff enough to maintain its cupcake shape, but its texture and exposed back zip give it an expensive designer skirt look. Pair it with a simple tee, and you get this retro chic hourglass shape instantly. It's full price. Given that people pay thousands of dollars to get structured hourglass-shaped premium designers pieces, I do believe this piece is a steal at $128. I've got so much compliments on this little gem. Just keep in mind that this skirt is short. I usually wear petite sizes, but this xx/s petite skirt is much shorter than I expected. Maybe a regular size will be even more versatile.

For those who prefers a more subtle version, try this Ballad Swing Skirt. The material is softer and less voluminous. It gives you a cute schoolgirl look. It's also a little longer than the ponte bell skirt I got, so more suitable for workplace.

Just noticed a message in my inbox: Anthropologie has free shipping today with code JUSTBECAUSE. Today only!

Stripped tee: JCrew
Green skirt: Ponte Bell Skirt by Girls from Savoy, from Anthropologie
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in black
Coral necklace: Fenton, from Barney's
Flats: Salvatore Ferragamo Varina flats (here, here, here, here, here) in lava, patent calf
Lipstick: NARS Lipstick in Heat Wave

My First Purchase from ASOS

As many of you already know, ASOS is an online store that offers quick fashion at reasonable price. I decided to try some midi to tea length skirts from ASOS thanks to its friendly shipping and return policy. And here is my review on some pieces in my first ever ASOS package... Not exactly what I want, but seems OK.

Many of their so-called midi skirts are just 1-2 inches below the knees, a little shorter than I expected. Look at this ASOS Midi Skirt in Tweed Check with Pockets (see left): it sits low on the waist and just hit below the knees. If I pull the waist line up and make it high waist, it will look even shorter. This is a little disappointing in that midi skirts tend to make people look short, unless they are long enough and sit high on the waist, which will visually lengthen the legs and create a better proportion. But its material beats my expectation. So I've decided to keep it. I may do some alteration and make it work. Stay tuned!

This ASOS Midi Skirt in Ponte with Pocket Detail in fuchsia (see right) has a high waist (a plus!), but again hits just below the knees. If only it were two inches longer! Anyway, I like its color and fabric. So this is also a keeper.

I ordered ASOS Full Midi Skirt in three colors. Well, full+midi, sounds so in for this season, doesn't it? But the result is not that encouraging. This chartreuse color looks more greenish yellow than the color displayed on my monitor. Think about the color of a butterfly... no, I mean a worm, before it morphs into a butterfly... or the color of green cabbage heart that is wrapped tightly and has never seen sunlight... You've got the idea. Really hard to pull off. This fuchsia pink color is also off. These two are going back. The only one I'm going to keep is this pastel pink full midi skirt. Pastel pink or baby pink, whatever you call it, is just a bit pink-er than blush or nude. It goes well with the light flowy fabric.

I also ordered two mesh skirts, one maxi and one midi, both in nude color. Sheer is another theme of the season. The maxi dress is a little long on my petite frame, but I like its airiness, and I have some clever way to make it work. The midi one is again just one inch short of my expectation. So maxi stays and midi will go back.

This ASOS Midi Skirt in Sheer Burnout is a bummer. The material is stiff and does not flow with the body. Absolutely terrified.

Oh, did my eyes fool me? This ASOS Pleated Midi Skirt is already sold out? Well, the material is OK and the blue color is OK (green is blindingly bright, FYI), but the pleats are so wide that it looks cheaply made. The Club Monaco pleat skirt is 100 times better than this.

Overall, I have to say that you get what you pay for. ASOS has good price, and friendly shipping/return policy, definitely worth a visit once in a while for some quick fashion stuff.

Left
Black cashmere Henley: Rugby
Tweed skirt:  ASOS Midi Skirt in Tweed Check with Pockets
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in black
Scarf: Yarnz Zebra Print Scarf from Bloomingdale's
Belt: Alexander McQueen
Boots: Prada

Right
Floral print tee: Anthropologie
Midi skirt: ASOS Midi Skirt in Ponte with Pocket Detail
Sunglasses: Miu Miu Cat Eye
Belt: JCrew
Silver pumps: JCrew Everly Cracked Metallic Leather Pumps in metallic silver

Leopard Print Silk Chiffon Blouse

If a combo of wild leopard print and romantic chiffon is not interesting enough, throw in a splash of color. And the result is this fabulous silk chiffon blouse by Equipment, which convinced me that a purple leopard, if there was any, would be such an incredible beauty in the jungle. I'm so glad that I got it before Saks friends & family event when everything was sold out before I could lay my fingers on them.

Paired with an old Banana Republic black pencil skirt I got when I first started working, and a pair of comfortable Cole Haan Air pumps.

Silk leopard print shirt: Equipment Lynn Silk Chiffon Leopard-Print Blouse in purple
Black wool pencil skirt: Banana Republic
Black peep toe pumps: Cole Haan Air Carma Open Toe Pump in black patent

Foodie Chat (6): Khe-Yo

The beauty of NYC dining is more or less in its diversity. Cheap or exquisite, east or west, one can always find something that appeals to him, with very rare exceptions. With the opening of Khe-Yo, the one and only Laotian (老挝) dine-in restaurant in the city, one more exception is eliminated with elegance.

Khe-Yo is by no means cheap or crappy. The brick walls of this quaint Tribeca establishment are decorated with ivy pots here and there. The carefully distressed tables look absolutely south east Asia under the dim light. Even on a sunny afternoon, the minute you step into Khe-Yo, you have the illusion of entering the bustling Bangkok night market. No wonder it has soon grown into one of the truly trendy restaurants in this neighborhood.

Sticky rice was served free, in place of bread. The bang bang sauce coming with it was fiery hot, and at the same time, amazingly pure and airy. I couldn't stop eating it. Make sure that you don't pour bang bang sauce profusely on your rice. It's far beyond Sichuan spiciness. Use caution and treat it as Indonesian chili sauce or habanero sauce.

The appetizers on the menu seemed so tempting that we ordered three. The Smashed Green Papaya Salad (as shown in the picture) was spicy, crunchy and airy. I loved it. The Bamboo Grilled Ginger Quail was impeccable in both texture and flavor. Strongly recommended. We also ordered Grilled Laos Style Sausage. Dry and chewy, very flavorful, maybe a little too strong for me. The serving size of the sausage was really small.

For the entree, we ordered Pork Curry Noodles, one of the signature dishes in that region, including Thailand, Burma and Yunnan of China. It came with thick curry broth with pork, eggs, and rice noodles. The vegetables and herbs came on the side. So I put them in the soup and mixed it. Compared to similar noodles in Thai and Yunnan restaurants, this was definitely on the more pungent side. Thick, oily, and with multiple layers of spices. I could see my cholesterol soaring with every sip of the soup...happily!

To offset that, we ordered a bottle of red wine...Kinda lame, isn't it? Khe-Yo does offer some interesting cocktails with a touch of south east Asia, such as Lao Lao Pineapple Infused Cognac, Cucumber Thai-chili Vodka, Ginger Mimosa with Tamarind. If I come again in summer, I might not be able to resist one.

Address: 157 Duane St
Telephone: 212 587 1089

Spring 2014 Trend (5): Collarless Coat

Hey, fashion minimalist! Here comes the good news: collars are taking a back seat in the fashion department. Long and short coats are both appearing without collars and create a clean and simple silhouette with a vintage-inspired vibe. Choose a coat that is sleek and classic, and features stylish borders, buttons and hems.

This coat goes with almost anything that has a slim silhouette, especially skinny pants, tights, and short skirts. And if you want ultra classic and chic, pair it with a sheath dress -- think Chanel. Most collarless jackets have a rounded neck and a boxy shape. If you already have a boyish figure, a well tailored jacket that ends above or at the natural waist will look youthful and sporty. If you have a bigger backside, go for a longer jacket; a cropped jacket will draw attention to your butt. 3/4 length works on almost all body shapes.

Collarless coat is a classic style that have come back and will stay for years. So it worth the investment. For us commoners who do not find everything in Chanel or St. John, a stop at Zara may give you quite a few options. This season, Zara offers collarless coats in black, white, mint, nude pink,  light pink, yellow, blue, orange, and even in patterns. For a shorter version, this Alice + Olivia jacket also looks graceful and timeless.

Photo credit: Chictopia, essentjewels, yesstyle, allwomenstalk 

Stroll in Chelsea

We had a sunny weekend. Still a little chilly,  but some restaurants and bars already started their sidewalk tables to celebrate the spring. And I was in the mood of being preppy and fresh.

The top was from JCrew, and it's now on sale.

Got the shorts from Crewcuts (JCrew girl's selection) a couple of years ago. At that time I was looking for a pair of preppy wool shorts, but most brands were too big in the waist and too boxy in the legs. This girl's pair worked just the way I wanted. If you wear p00 in JCrew bottoms, girl's size 10 or 12 will probably fit you just right. :)

Also threw on a trench coat to shield the spring breeze.

Finally, I love New Balance sneakers. This pair of minimalist running shoes are light weight and comfortable. I've got quite a few pairs of WR10 and WR20, in all kinds of colors. They look pretty in an everyday outfit too.

Top: JCrew Embroidered Floral Tee in sweet vanilla navy
Navy wool shorts: Crewcuts (old)
Trench coat: Burberry London
Sneakers: New Balance WR20 in purple/white (pink, more colors)

Spring 2014 Trend (4): Tea Length Skirt/Dress

Not quite a midi, not quite a maxi… the tea-length lands just at the shin. Seen on the runways of Alice + Olivia, Proenza Schouler, Christian Dior, Tracy Reese, Rebecca Minkoff and many more, tea-length skirts deliver a Grace Kelly like elegance to Spring 2014. It's time to wake up your inner princess.

The days of the micro-miniskirt are over. The voluminous ladylike silhouette is here to stay. Tea-length frocks are elegant, sophisticated, and romantic. They can easily add a touch of chic retro to any outfit you choose. This length is perfect for the office and out on the town. In fact, you could easily transition one of these skirts from a day look to a night look with the right top change and some funky jewelry.

Tea-length skirts can be paired with a cropped top, fitted jacket and sandals or wedges to create a stylish feminine look. Despite their wider silhouette, the tea-length skirt is still flattering because of the way it falls against your body and moves with you. Revamps of the tea-length skirt include body conscious pencil skirts or even a mermaid silhouette. However, the classic A-line tea-length skirt is coming back this spring. Wearing heels with tea-length skirts help elongate your legs and give your look that extra fabulous touch.

Being petite myself, I had been biting my fingers for quite a while on trying this new trend. It could be a hit or miss. I planned to try out some low budget pieces before make a splurge. H&M and ASOS would be my first stop... But alas! I stopped by Club Monaco a couple of days ago, and got this baby! It was so airy and dreamy that it doesn't look long or heavy on my petite frame at all! I look really tall and leggy in it. Club Monaco also has tea length skirts in black. Take a look and try them out!

Photo credit: InStyle, pearl-lang, hercampus, fabsugar

Beyond Black and White

Black and white is a classic neutral color combo that works on almost everyone. Clean and chic. That said, a splash of bright color may not hurt either. Sometimes we need just a little fun, a little edge, and a little something that breaks out of a rut. This pair of raspberry heels are also seen in this outfit.

Black top: Rugby
Silk polka dot skirt: Juicy Couture (similar, similar, similar, similar, similar)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Crystal necklace: bought from Bloomingdale's
Black leather belt: Alexander McQueen
Heels: Cole Haan Air Juliana Pump 75 in Raspberry

Sleep with Lower Back Pain

Lots of people suffer from lower back pain due to injury or sedentary life style. To make things worse, they may find sleeping only aggravates the condition. This vicious cycle has to be ended, and adopting proper sleeping position is where the solution starts. The key is to keep our spine in its natural position, where it looks straight from the front (or back), and has three natural curves from the side.

• Use a towel or pillow to support your lower back and knees when you sleep on the back.
• Put a pillow between your legs and a towel under your waist when you sleep on the side.
• Stomach sleepers should also use a pillow under the belly to restore the spine to its natural position.
• Choose the right mattress. Too soft or too firm mattresses do not support your spine properly and may cause lower back pain. After a couple of years of use, re-evaluate your mattress and see if you need a new one. If the bed is too soft and you have not found the right mattress yet, you may consider sleeping on the floor. Memory foam mattress works pretty well for me. 
• Hot bath before bed also improves circulation and relaxation.
• Finally, strength training and stretching also helps reducing muscle pain.

腰酸背痛，是不少小白领的苦恼，长期坐着，脊柱得不到很好的休息。问题更严重的是，睡觉并不一定能缓解症状，有的人睡觉起来反倒更加酸痛。因为腰酸而睡不着，因为睡不好而腰更酸，这样的恶性循环在不少人身上发生。其实，睡觉本身是有学问的。

我们的脊柱，只有在其自然状态下才是放松的。从正面（或背面）看，脊柱应该是拉直的，没有向左或向右的弯曲。从侧面看，脊柱有三个自然的弧度。我们在睡觉的时候，要尽量保持这样的自然状态。

如果你喜欢平卧，用手摸摸自己的后腰，看看是不是贴在床上了。很多情况下，后腰是悬空的，于是从侧面看，后腰处脊柱的自然弯曲就消失了，由此产生过大的压力。





解决办法是在后腰处垫一块厚度适宜的毛巾，让后腰不再悬空。同样的道理，在膝盖下面垫一个高度合适的枕头，适当抬高腿，也能减轻脊柱的压力。

如果你喜欢侧卧，上面的那条腿没有支撑，直接压在下面那条腿上，后腰就会在重力的作用下塌陷，也会造成脊柱弯曲。

解决的办法是在两腿之间夹一个高度合适的枕头，让上面的大腿根下面的大腿保持水平，而不是塌陷下来。如果你的腰不能贴在床上的话，也可以考虑在腰下面垫块毛巾。

还有少数人喜欢趴着睡觉。这种情况下，需要在肚子下面垫个枕头，不然整个后腰都塌下来了。








床垫的硬度应该合适，老床垫往往会变软，对腰的支撑不够，应该尽量换新的支撑好的。在还来不及换床垫的时候，不妨打几天地铺，看看有没有缓解。建议试试memory foam的床垫，对脊柱的支撑比较好。好的床垫会让你的脊柱处在自然状态。

睡觉前泡个热水澡，也是个好习惯。

最后说句题外话：力量和肌肉训练对腰痛是很有帮助的。看看常见的动作是什么？

Photo credit: http://trucontour.com, http://b-reddy.org, http://vustudents.ning.com/

Super Duper Funkiness

Last weekend I went across the river and spent a beautiful spring afternoon in Hoboken riverside overseeing Manhattan skyline. Sipping a glass of wine, I couldn't help wondering why I and so many others were blinded by the hustle and bustle in that tiny island and forgot how beautiful it looked from the other side of the river. With decent presence of bars and restaurants, Hoboken waterfront is a wonderful weekend retreat.

That said, make sure that you walk in flats. Built on reclaimed land, Hoboken water front is a piece of land that wrinkles here and there. As you see from the picture, the pavement is uneven and needs to be ironed and steamed extensively. Since I didn't have a powerful iron to fix it, I felt lucky that I was wearing a pair of JCrew Viv mirror metallic bow flats. It seemed that JCrew shoes tend to fit narrow. So I sized up 1/2 for this pair.

For such a relaxing afternoon, I put on my Karen Walker Super Duper Strength sunglasses. Unlike the Miu Miu Cat Eye I wore last weekend that exudes city attitude and outright confidence, this pair is retro and funky. The oversized round frame resembles cute bug eyes, and brings out the artistic cuteness in a woman. Whenever I put it on and look into the mirror, I just can't help laughing at myself. It makes my face small, almost ridiculous. Cat eye or bug eye? That's the question for this summer.

Just noticed: Shopbop is having Friends and Family Sale!  25% off site-wide sales, 4/15 – 4/17, code: INTHEFAMILY14. Snatch Super Duper Strength before it's gone! I've also tried the Karen Walker Number One (here and here). That's a cool shade too!

Other items in the outfit: a tribal tee from Anthropologie (on sale now!), waxed pants from Club Monaco (another outfit with it), a green cutie from Rebecca Minkoff (as you seen yesterday).

Woven print T-shirt: Ellery Top by Sunday in Brooklyn from Anthropologie
Waxed pants: Club Monaco Carolina Skinny Waxed Pant
Silver flats: JCrew Viv mirror metallic bow flats (similar)
Crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (also like it in orange, red, peach, pale pink and twilight sky)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in Black (also like it in Crazy Tort)
Lipstick: NARS lipstick in Manhunt

The Rub of the Green

没有比绿色更春天的颜色了！当我看见这只绿色小包的时候，就跟巴浦洛夫的狗一样，哗啦啦的流口水，绝对是童叟无欺的真爱。Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC可以说物美价廉，颜色多，质量好，还很能装。我很小农的，舍不得花钱买浅色或者鲜艳的名牌包，觉得大几千买个容易脏或者不容易搭配的包性价比不高，放在家里供着就亏了。我买的名牌包一般都是深色的，随便走哪儿往地上一扔，再背上也看不出脏来。所以鲜艳的Rebecca Minkoff就正好填补了小农的空白，深合朕意。这个牌子虽然便宜，我对它可不是廉价的爱情，这是超越了价格超越了阶级超越了时空感天动地海枯石烂的真爱，就跟有钱人家小姐爱上穷书生是一个道理，虽然咱也不是神马有钱人家。这个包看起来小，里面可装了不少东东：短钱包，手机，钥匙，小相机，口红，墨镜（无镜盒）。差不多出个门就够了。

When everyone was rushing into Chanel to grab her dream bag before the much rumored price hike in Q2, my fingers itched at this green mini MAC from Rebecca Minkoff. After this long brutal winter, nothing lit me up as much as this little springy cutie. Pretty late to the Rebecca Minkoff club, I was soon amazed by its almost endless color selection every season. And this bright green is definitely one of those hard-to-find colors that I can swing with. Mini MAC is about the right size for daily essentials. It holds a small purse, a Galaxy S3 cellphone, several keys, a compact camera, a lipstick, and a pair of sunglasses w/o the case.

To make the color pop, I paired the mini MAC with a JCrew side-zip varsity dress. I like its preppy style and the light grey color. The Nicholas Kirkwood block heel pumps and the layered necklace added a little spice that blended well with the MAC. Oh, and the Karen Walker Super Duper Strength sunglasses? Let's discuss it next time. :)

Dress: JCrew side-zip varsity dress

Pumps: Nicholas Kirkwood two tone patent leather block heel pump (similar on sale, similar, similar) 

Crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (also like it in orange, red, peach, pale pink and twilight sky)

Necklace: Bloomsbury layered necklace from Anthropologie

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in Black (also like it in Crazy Tort)

Spring 2014 Trend (3): Cropped Top

短上衣今春继续流行，该减肥的减肥，不要错过啦！虽然短上衣有点装嫩的嫌疑，成熟女性还是可以把它穿得很风情很优美的，关键是搭配高腰裙或高腰裤，只露一点点小蛮腰。

Need yet another reason to lose that last ounce of undesirable fat on your belly? Cropped tops have been seen everywhere in the 2014 S/S fashion shows, including main street brands such as Tibi and Tracy Reese. Now it's on the shelf of Nasty Gal, Urban Outfitters, Zara, American Apparel, Express, Bebe, Free People, and many more . Are you ready?

Worried that you will look way too teeny? The secret of creating a polished look is revealing just a sliver of skin. Pair it with high-waisted skirts or pants. Need inspiration? See how others wear it and look like a woman...

Photo credit: Style, Vogue, Street Peeper, NY Mag, FashionVibe, Atlantic Pacific, Sea Of Shoes, Garance Doré, Le 21ème, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia It, Dans Vogue, Bisous Natasha, Wayne Tippets, The Front Row View, & Fab Sugar

Cropped Top in Office

Temperature is soaring every day and spring is finally here. I can't wait to change to my colorful spring/summer outfit, and today, I'm in the mood of cropped tops! But wait, it's not weekend yet , right? You are not supposed to go crazy and bare your midriff... Hm... Guess what? I managed to put together a quite office-appropriate preppy outfit with a cropped sweater. The dress has a sleeveless faux wrap shirt top in blush, with a tie-knot and collars. Throwing my crew neck cropped sweater on top of it seems quite seamless. :)

Off-white cropped sweater: Free People (similar)
Faux wrap dress: Leifnotes from Anthropologie
Black short boots: Prada
Sunglasses: Miu Miu

For your curiosity about the dress, here is a throwback from 2012. We don't have to wear new cloths every day. It's so much fun digging into the closet and fitting old pieces into new fashion trend!

Foodie Chat (5): Blue Hill

New Yorkers are obsessed with healthy life style. We sweat in the weight room, run in Central Park, eat grass-fed beef and wild caught salmon, pick up groceries at farmer's market, and starve ourselves with juice cleansing. At any social gathering, the most resonating discussion is inevitably built around health: diet vs. exercise, fat vs. carbs, Atkins vs. Paleo, strength vs. cardio... Not everyone is able to live large, but we all want to live long. And among all these, we go to Blue Hill, which offers the ultimate healthy fine dining experience at a hefty price tag.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns is one of the most hard-to-book restaurants in the metro area. Given that it's not even in New York, its simplistic menu, high price tag and extremely limited availability makes it one-of-a-kind dining mystery to me. Fortunately I've been to its more approachable Manhattan sister restaurant in Washington Place...twice, and got a rough idea at what Blue Hill offers.

The picture shows one of Blue Hill's signature appetizers: This Morning's Farm Egg. That's right -- this egg was laid this morning by a happy free range hen that was fed with natural organic food and has been running around the sprawling Rockfeller family farm in Westchester since the day she was born. That bright red-orange egg yolk and unmistakable strong egg flavor is not what you usually get in a typical organic grocery store. That fresh.

That's what is sold in Blue Hill. All ingredients are fresh and green, mostly from its own farm. And that's why seating is so limited on daily basis. Unlike other chefs who are more or less concentrated on showing off their mastery of spices and flavors, Dan Barber of Blue Hill is dedicated to making sure that those ingredients don’t compete with flashy sauces or spices. Blue Hill pays clean homage to nature’s remarkable bequests.

Another appetizer I tried was Seafood Pie. Called pie, it was actually a very thick creamy soup with quite a bit seafood buried underneath. Delicate and tasty. The thick paste-like texture strengthened the usual light flavor of a soup. I really appreciate the chef's imagination and technique.

On my first visit, I ordered Hudson Valley Chicken as the entree. Butter soft and moist, with remarkable clarity of flavor. It reminded me of the free range happy chickens I used to have back in China. But this was more meaty and tender. On my second visit, I ordered Stone Barns Berkshire Pig.  It featured various cuts of the pig, almost like an individual serving of a whole pig dinner. The jowl (猪脸）was juicy and creamy, almost melted in my mouth. It tasted like suckling pig. The snout (猪嘴) was sticky and jelly. The tenderloin was infused with rosemary and garlic flavor, with a pinkish center. For that reason, it was not dry or rubbery. Not juicy either -- I guess it's impossible to make a lean cut juicy or buttery anyway. The shoulder was chewy in texture and smokey in flavor. Overall, this was a very interesting combination of flavor and texture of pork parts.

For dessert, I had the lightest one on the menu, Citrus. The cake was light and airy. Just right for the citrus flavored ice cream.

Overall, Blue Hill at Washington Place was tiny but sweet, elegant and sophisticated. The waiters were polite and attentive. It's exquisite dining that features farm-to-table ingredients and less intrusive cooking techniques. If you are used to heavy seasoning or flashy spices, this may not be the place for you. For me, this is a hidden gem. Two thumbs up.

Address: 75 Washington Place
Telephone: 212 539 1776