The foods Ive become fixated on since coming to New York.. as well as itinerant.

- Bagels.

There are a million different kinds. Ive found Im not fond of the classic NewYork bagel (small, round, thick crust).
I prefer the Brooklyn/Staten Island Italianate style.. which is big, thick and chewy.

Unfortunately, Ive come to prefer the simpler plain and egg bagels tho. They tend to have less salt and schtuff in them.

So, no more raisin and cinnamon bagels. :-(

The best rule on determining how good a bagel is.. you should be HAPPY to eat it plain.

If that doesnt ring true for the bagels youre eating, well you know it isnt particularly good then.

Oh yeah, and the bagels should be made fresh all day.

- Lox

Or more accurately, Nova Smoked Salmon.

Like anything, there is good and bad. I hate it when its near beef jerky-like or has so much preservatives that you cant even taste the flavor.

The best kind is lightly smoked, lightly salted, slightly raw.

If only for this reason, I would consider even living in Seattle.

Just for the salmonly goodness.

The drawback is it's 20 bux a pound from the deli's and around 10 bux on sale from the supermarkets.

Wrong, bad and expensive.

Specially as I snarf so much of it.


- Raspberry Jam

Ive developed a sweet tooth, wheras before I wouldnt have cared less for jam and sweets.

What do I like about Raspberry jam?

The tart, sweetness. And the rawer, the better.

Goes great with any kinda bread.

- Potato Bread.

Yeah.

New York is like the potato bread capital of america I think.

Go to any supermarket in Manhattan or Staten Island, and you'll be able to find it.

The quality varies, but - its surprisingly unpotato-like.

Good schtuff.

- Soy Milk

Love the stuff, hate the prices Im paying tho.

It isnt a particularly New York thing, as Cyn turned me onto it.

Its good for me.

And Ive come to like only slightly sweetened and fresh schtuff.

The supermarket kinds are usually loaded with sugar and additives.

Not bad, but Im sure, not so good for me, no matter the American Heart Association seals on the box touting its 'flavinoids'.

So, what Im a munching on right now?

Whadya think?

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At the end of Wonder Boys, when Michael Douglas has chucked the weed, transformed his life, and is doing the happy ending in his swank (thanks fred), airy, writing sanctuary.

The dream office.

Oooh.

Writing on his sleek, swank (thanks again fred), laptop.

I want that.

A house or place with a writing space/office with a swank, drop dead view.

The place in Bayonne doesnt have it.

Staten Island does.

It would be nice.
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I caught Gladiator again, but on DVD.

Actually, it was much better on the second showing.

Although I wasnt as impacted by the blood and violence this time around ...

Prolly because the screen wasnt 15 feet high.