Le Weekend

A rainy day in NYC and the start of the weekend. Because I pigged out last night on delicious lamb meatballs in the manner of Breakfasts at Bevan's circa the mid 90's (think Napier Street, Greenpoint, Cape Town, the apartment above Anatoli), many waiters, a couple of maitre d's, me in scrubbed Sunday casuals, congregating around Bevan and Mustafa's large round table upon which are: platters, and platters. Of food. Lamb meatballs studded with goat cheese, pine nuts and dill; phyllo triangles sizzling from the oven with feta; ekmek steaming; blocks of cold butter and dishes of preserves; coffee percolating in the laboratory-bizarre glass contraption; gin, vodka and tomato juice flowing ceaselessly from antique glass jugs, and carafes of wine waiting for later. The most strange and incredibly civilized meal...

Wow, I digress. I even took pictures of the lamb-balls last night, but they Disappeared. Bevan sent a multipage missive about his latest trip through Anatolia, hence the desire for things Turkish. or things Bevan-ish: his missive reports that all is not well with Turkish cooking.

So tonight's dinner was still in the vein of the Middle East but penance for meatballs - oh, and lapin noodles at lunch...

Below, still life, Brooklyn style. It's fall. I'm allowed to buy too-much-stuff.

Cactus pears (OK prickly pears for those in the old country) far left, back row; why? I like 'em. Arugula, yes, I've got over my temporary aversion and defection to Boston lettuce; an acorn squash beneath - to satisfy all the Fall propaganda; the...yams; red onion; broccoli...back to left front: garlic; shitake mushrooms and their big portobello cousins (will stuff the one with the other, tomorrow night)...

Hm. This may be more at home with Miss H at New York Shitty ...Look: I'm not exactly an instant food fan. But this stuff (Sahadi's house falafel) is just too good and too cheap to be sniffed at... $2.40 for a whole box??? This is like....35 cents' worth...

A glass of my faithful Oyster Bay, a bowl of terrace parsley and baby tomatoes, Greek yogurt with terrace mint and garlic chopped into it, plus a little tahini, and red onion wilting in some lime juice and salt...

Ta-raaaa. Really, it was pretty delicious.

Stewed quince for dessert with some cream. Hmmmm.