the world according to sherimaven

Good morning, Wednesday. It feels like Thursday, and I wish it was Friday. It's still crazy hot out there, and I for one feel very content to be in the a/c all day today- Manhattan + heat are not my fav combo...like, at all.

But speaking of great combos, I give you fried chicken and friendship. Two nights ok, I had the extreme pleasure of celebrating my dear friend Gabi's birthday. She's a food writer who I met many moons ago in a writing class and I've very much enjoyed watching her thrive as the ultimate foodie and all around cool chick. For her birthday, six of us, all women, hunkered down at a wooden table at Momofuku in the East Village and threw DOWN. I'm not sure when the last time you had fried chicken was, but damn. It's so good. Especially at Momofuku, where an enormous platter of two varieties of the good stuff comes piping hot- one spicy, and one more traditional style- both fried to perfection and super delicious inside- I'd use the M word to describe the chicken itself, but we women hate that word that rhymes with "foist". Or at least I do...

Anyway, the chicken is accompanied by moo shu pancakes, fresh crispy lettuce, raw carrot and radish and four of the best dipping sauces in this great Earth. I love myself a condiment, and these little numbers were sauce all stars- two kinds of hot sauce, one hoisin sauce, and one vinegary scallion sauce that was just to die for. Condiment heaven- see below.  Accompany that with copious amounts of sparkling wine provided by the birthday girl and truly one of the best birthday cakes of all time (from their bakery- omg) and you have yourself an evening.

What we often forget about living in this place, despite the extreme weather, pain in the assery at every corner, and a streaming loop of stress that seems to never end, is that this city is great because of the people who live here. Without David Chang living here, we'd have no great fried chicken or stellar birthday cake (he's the chef of the amazing Momofuku). Without Gabi, I would never have had the chance to meet her amazing female friends- from a jewelry and scarf designer who is one of my favorite makers right now who works with local artisans around the world to create some mind blowing jewelry and gorgeous textiles (A Peace Treaty), a fabulous and quirky woman who Jillian Michaels biceps and owns an artisanal gefilte fish company (yup, she does), and a fantastic woman who I felt immediately connected to who does PR for all the best restaurants in town but also shares my love for Cobble Hill, its Italian population, and Soul Cycle, amongst other things. And then down at the end of the table was a fantastic woman with a warm smile who is an expert on Middle Eastern relations and is as in love with her dog Chico as I am with Khan. Without people like this, and women like this, this city would not be worth the price of admission. Though I describe these women as hyper successful and genius, they also know their way around a chicken (a fried one at that) and are not afraid to laugh at themselves and at each other as they submerge their fingers in chicken grease- none too precious to get a little dirty for the sake of great food. My kind of chicks. 

As busy as we are these days, and as organic and juiced and yoga'ed, you've got to appreciate the simple pleasures of meeting up with friends, celebrating a happy occasion, and eating a familiar food that is too often overlooked because it's not exactly great for you. Thanks New York, for making it all available for me. Fried chicken and friendship. You can't go wrong with that combo. I love that I live somewhere where I can connect with so many amazing people all the time...means the world to me. Oh, and if you're in NYC you must Momofuku it up. Fuck your diet. Eating well is the best revenge, and best accomplished with great friends. I feel so lucky to have these adventures whenever I force myself to stop focusing on the stress, the work, and the madness. That's the reward for living in this teaming embryo of madness. Oh, and ps- most of these amazing successful and beautiful and hilarious women are single- wtf single men of New York? Where are you?

Cause that's what's up this fried and friendly Wednesday in the hot but beautiful 212. XO