Well, we went to Manhattan after my Sunday practice of Shinto Muso Ryu (SMR) and hung out with my brother, John. We saw the Macy’s window display as well as the Lord and Taylor display. We hit the holiday market (advent market or Kristkindlmarkt, as they call it in Austria and Germany) in Grand Central as well as a couple of others. Stopped in at the Algonquin, one of my favorite hotels, and ate at Momofuku Noodle Bar which I had heard about from my Food Arts trade journal, which I love. It’s a great mag.

Momofuku was great. The food was spot on. I loved their Heritage Pork dish and liked, but didn’t love, their sweetbreads. I’m afraid that the deep frying masked too much of the delicate flavor. However, the sauce with the sweetbreads was great and I used it on the rice that came with the Heritage Pork dish. Kim had the zucchini hash and my brother and his girlfriend had the one vegetarian option. All of the food was very good, reasonably priced and the ambiance was fun. The sake list was fantastic and the rice beer was incredible. I’d eat there again but I wont bring my hat. I lost a ski hat that Kim knitted for me. Bummer. I hope I get it back.

They have a mixed reputation. Johnny, my brother, thinks it’s the wait. I think it’s the issue they have with hats. Will I go back? Probably. But then again, there are so many restaurants. Maybe I’ll go to Ssam, their other restaurant first.