NYC is the place to be!

If they could see us now, eh ladies?!

That's friend to the blog and cool foodie Toby on the right and Barbara on the left. I've known them for about 3 years and they just visited a few weeks ago. Between their heavy Broadway and restaurant schedule ;-) and my computer malfunction (I know, beating the dead computer, eh?), we were able to meet up at the place where we first met, inside NYC's Chelsea Market. That's where many of the shows on Food Network tape and every year it feels like the heart of the New York City Wine & Food Festival.

It's a neat scene during the festival with the piers close by and a teeny park just out doors. Usually people retreat inside the market for a bite or the A/C. If you haven't enjoyed the fun yet, this is my personal invitation to come this year! I have a cooking demonstration scheduled and would love to make time to hang if you want, maybe coffee at my fave stand in Chelsea Market? Tickets are on sale now for this year's event. Check www.NYCWineandFoodFestival.com for details. Just so you know, 100% of the proceeds from the NYC Wine and Food Festival help the hunger relief organizations Share Our Strength and the Food Bank for New York City. It's a pretty neat way to enjoy a foodie treat, while treating someone in need with food.

Speaking of food :-) ... I had an NYC first yesterday, but first I stopped by Martha Stewart Radio to chat with Kim and Betsy and ran into Simon Doonan...
Simon's the creative director for Barney's, author and so much more. I cringed thinking my outfit wasn't up to par, White linen pants, a bright orange top layered with a thin cardigan and ... flip flops. They asked me to dress like I was going to a cookout, so I did my best lol. Just as I began to worry he'd think I looked a hot mess, he gave me a compliment on my shirt! Even asked where I got it, when I said New York & Company, he made a cute joke about wishing it were from Barney's. He even okayed my flip flops because they matched and I had a nail appointment after the show. Even if he didn't mean it and was just being nice, I took it at face value ... why not right? I'll take a freebie :-) So, after the interview with Kim and Betsy about summertime eating, their producer asked me to fill in when Kim goes on vacation in August. I, of course, said yes! So if my taping schedule works out for the next season of Cooking for Real, I'll head back to the common grounds of radio for a week in August to chat Martha-style. Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in! Teeheehee ... can't wait. Truly. I'm one step closer to Martha, she's a smart business woman and I like when she loosens up with musical guests. I really just want to meet her so I can ask all kinds of boring gardening questions.

So while waiting on the nail place to open, I decided to finally cross a thing off my NYC foodie to-do list ... get a bagel at Murray's...
That's my poppy seed bagel, not toasted, with scallion cream cheese along side a regular coffee. Sooo good. I'm a bottom half lover for the crisp crunch, but the top half was so chewy and fluffy ... ooowweeee! I think really, the water here in NYC is the best. It tastes great and makes bagels and pizza dough, just really unique. A special hello to the couple I met from Austin. They were here on a foodie mission and it was neat to meet them as I was playing tourist in my own city.

Okay, that was my Monday take care! Stick around, I'm taping a new show this week and I'll share everything I contractually can :-).