Being trapped in the Metro gave me ample to think (despite what each passing conductor claimed, another train was NOT “directly” behind us), and I began mentally jotting down all the fun and romantic things this woman could do with her boyfriend besides going to dinner. Dinner is a Valentine’s Day given. Everyone does dinner. This woman sounded like she needed to jazz things up a bit.

After having lived here for almost a year, I’ve come up with a few ideas. Here they are, in no particular order: 15 Valentine’s Day (or around Valentine’s Day) ideas combining an activity and food.

1. The National Zoo

One of our great local attractions, and it’s free! Take the Metro to Cleveland Park, stop in at Vace, and order a few slices of pizza to go. You can’t go wrong with the white onion or the mushroom. Ask for the slices to be heated — they’ll be presented to you wrapped in tin foil. Stroll down Connecticut Ave. with your pizza and enter the zoo on the left. The zoo’s hilly — you’ll be glad to walk a bit to work off the food.

2. Georgetown’s C&O Canal

M Street in Georgetown is a pedestrian logjam, but surprisingly, that doesn’t extend down to the paths along the C&O Canal, where it’s pleasantly serene. And pretty. Walking along the canal is one of the more unique experiences in the city. Load up on coffee, desserts and chocolate at Baked & Wired or J. Chocolatier. Then take them down to the canal and while away the afternoon.

3. Eastern Market

DC’s oldest public market cannot be beat on a lazy weekend morning. Whether you’re into crafts, art, antiques or food, there’s something for everyone here. Dining options abound inside the market, at an outdoor food stand, or at nearby restaurants.  The produce vendors put out free samples like apple slices, so you can graze and shop to your heart’s content. I’ve noticed the longest line is at the crepe stand; he must be doing something right.

4. Rock Creek Park

This may be more of a warm weather idea, but no reason why you can’t hike and eat during the winter too. Pack a picnic lunch of items from nearby Palena Market in Cleveland Park and get yourself out into nature. You won’t even believe you’re still in the city.

5. Tabard Inn

My friend had dinner there recently and texted me about the fabulousness of the crab cake he was enjoying. (With a vegetable called salsify which I’ve never heard of.) What I love about the place though is the lounge, where dark wood, a fireplace and old-timey furniture come together, creating an intimate space where you feel as though you’d fit in holding a pipe and donning a Hugh Hefner smoking jacket. Have a drink here and kick back in relaxed sophistication.

6. Hillwood Estate

Flying under the radar, the Hillwood Estate is one of the best under-recognized sights in the city. This former estate of the Post cereal heiress includes a mansion filled with spectacular Russian and French art, plus beautiful grounds and gardens. There’s also a nice cafe there. Haven’t eaten there yet, but I’ve checked out the menu and it looks like a cozy spot for lunch or tea.

7. Woodrow Wilson House

Another DC attraction flying under the radar. It was the home of, you guessed it, Woodrow Wilson and his wife after they left the White House. If historic homes are your thing, you’ll really enjoy this place. Many interesting rooms to see here and extremely knowledgeable tour guides. Take the Metro to Dupont Circle, stop in at Dolcezza for a hot chocolate or gelato, then walk along Massachusetts Ave. along Embassy Row until you reach the house. Gelato and history, what could be better?

8. The Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks

My favorite spot in all of Washington, DC. Seriously, this place blows me away.  The gardens resemble something out of a fairytale, and the endless terraces, little nooks and brick pathways make it absolutely ideal for a romantic stroll. The gardens will look even more beautiful during the spring and summer… but, there’s a fee to get in. From now until March 14th, the gardens are free of charge. Take advantage of it! An idea for for the afternoon: have brunch at Open City in Woodley Park, then walk down Shoreham Drive and bear right on the bike path. Jump onto the Normanstone Trail and it’ll wind you over to Dumbarton Oaks. About a half hour walk.

9. U.S. Botanic Garden

Another of my favorite DC spots. Plopped down steps from the Capitol Building, this giant greenhouse is an oasis of green and color in the middle of the city. I dare you to enter the Botanic Garden and not walk out with blood pressure lowered, in a relaxed state of mind. It’s beautiful in there. How about lunch first at the cafe of the National Museum of the American Indian first? The best cafeteria of any DC museum.

10. Old Post Office Tower

The best or second best view in all of Washington, DC. It’s a close call with the National Cathedral. You can take an elevator to the top, and then it’s a 360 degree panoramic view of the city, the Washington Monument and Virginia. A very romantic spot to linger with your significant other. The Old Post Office building does have a food court. Haven’t tried it so I can’t comment, but it’s a food court, so I’m guessing it’s what you’d expect. A better option — stop by at PAUL on Pennsylvania Ave. and pick up a few buttery pastries to go, or dine in for a gooey ham croque-monsieur.

11. National Cathedral

The other stunning view in DC. The cathedral has re-opened after the earthquake, and I’m assuming you can still access the observation deck. Even if you can’t get up there, the cathedral itself is a jaw-dropping example of beautiful architecture and iconography. Explore on your own or join a tour. Stroll the manicured grounds, especially the herb garden, and keep the location in mind for a picnic during the spring or summer. For nearby food, cross Wisconsin Ave. to 2 Amys for pizza, or visit Cafe Deluxe, which I’ve heard does an excellent brunch.

12. E Street Cinema

My favorite movie theater in the area. Easy to get to, with top notch selection of art house and foreign films, in just a very pleasant theater environment. My friend Melissa and I sampled the chocolate-covered pretzel sticks last weekend, and let’s just say those were polished off quickly, like before the previews were over. Yum. I also saw they were selling something called a “crab pretzel.” Anyone tried that? For a date night, I recommend first going to Co Co. Sala on F St. for their addictive chocolate drinks and chocolates, before swinging down to the theater for a flick. That’s a good evening, right there.

13. Old Town, Alexandria

The Georgetown of Alexandria? I don’t know, that statement probably offends Old Town residents. Nevertheless, there are some similarities. The quaint, bricked sidewalks, plus shops, cafes and restaurants. There are numerous places to stop in for a bite, so take your pick. Grab desserts at La Madeleine cafe and window shop up and down King St. Or peruse the Torpedo Factory and then sit outside near the water.

14. Dupont Circle farmers’ market

My Sunday morning activity of choice. Gets a little crowded, but not annoyingly so. There’s great stuff here, and you’re bound to discover something you’ve never tried before, like sunchokes or mizuna. Very upbeat and relaxed atmosphere, conducive to strolling. Be sure to swing by the Bonaparte Breads stand for a baguette or one of their killer croissants.

15. Cooking classes

What better activity to enjoy with your significant other than a cooking class? You’re guaranteed to have fun, you’ll learn useful skills and you get to eat the fruits of your labor. Just don’t criticize your partner if his/her sushi rolling technique isn’t up to par. That’s not cool. CulinAerie in DC offers all types of couples cooking classes. So does L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda. Roll up your sleeves and spend a night cooking!

Paula Deen announced today that she has type 2 diabetes. The news was about as surprising as Meryl Streep winning her gajillionth acting award. Some things you can just see coming.

I’m not here to pile on anyone’s health misfortune, but after what I saw today, the misfortune looks more like opportunity.

This morning, Deen appeared on the “Today” Show with Al Roker, where she came off looking in parts disingenuous, scripted, ill-informed and evasive. Mostly, she came off looking like a two-faced opportunist.

I’ve long called bullshit on Deen’s southern “charm,” but now I view her as something sinister. You see, it turns out Deen was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago, but only chose to make the information public now — after she’s become a paid spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and their diabetes drug, Victoza. Deen’s new online program is called, “Diabetes in a New Light: You CAN Have Your Cake and Eat it Too, Just as Long as You Take This Drug.” (I added the second part.)

Deen claims she waited three years to disclose her condition until she could “bring something to the table.” And I believe what’s on that table is a pile of cash from Novo Nordisk.

I find the whole thing rather despicable. Deen builds an empire promoting the most god awful, health-shattering recipes known to man, and now she’s raking it in plugging a diabetes drug. That’s like me being an arsonist and getting paid to promote First Alert fire extinguishers.

Roker asked the right questions, but I suspect had he not shared Food Network ties with Deen, he would have hit harder. He did inquire twice if she’s changed her eating habits, to which she hemmed and hawed and answered with a straight face, “Youu know, aaa’ve aaalways encouuuraged moderation.”

(I have friends who are fans of Paula Deen, and even they view her as sort of a joke. They laugh at her excess, and have never once mentioned her philosophy of “moderation.” Unless by moderation, she means using two sticks of butter rather than four.)

Look, is it Paula Deen’s job to solve America’s obesity-related health crisis and make Americans less fat? Absolutely not. Personal responsibility is just that, personal. We all need to be held accountable for what we put into our bodies. But Deen does have a responsibility to level with the fans who watch her shows, buy her books and make her fabulously wealthy. Did she keep her condition quiet to protect her brand? I’m guessing yes. Do unhealthy recipes like hers play a major role in obesity-related illnesses? I’d say yes again. Is she only coming forward now because of her partnership with Novo Nordisk? Let’s make it three. Yes.

The hypocrisy is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Judging by Deen’s calorie-dense recipes, better make that a sharp knife.

Thought I’d start off the first post of 2012 with a few food thoughts rattling around in my head. (Disclaimer: several restaurants I mention have no accompanying photos. You see, the camera often stays in my pocket depending on the company or the situation. Sometimes you just need to stay focused on the person/people you’re with.)

*  Of the Chinese restaurants I’ve sampled in the DC metro area since moving here, my top three are in this order: 1) Sichuan Pavilion, 2) Mama Wok, 3) Chalin’s. Sichuan Pavilion took me by surprise, in a positive way — who knew there was such good Chinese food at Farragut North? At a recent meal I had tea-smoked duck, shredded pork with dry, pressed tofu, fish fillet in spicy sauce and a platter of Chinese greens called yo mai cai that was so delicious, I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Impossible for me to replicate at home though. The deep, slightly charred flavor came from a very, very hot wok.

* Speaking of Chinese restaurants, there’s a spot near where I live that does decent takeout… however, the place smells really bad. I don’t know what’s going on in there. That can’t be a good sign, right? Never mind, I just answered my own question — I can’t go back again until that smell goes away.

* This Apache Sweat Lodge burger at Burger Tap & Shake was the result of a late-ish night search for an open restaurant in the Foggy Bottom area. It was pretty much all we could find, but exactly what we wanted. Skip the onion rings, they’re not good. The sweet potato fries are a better option. The burger, with its fire roasted green chilies, was darn hot and cleared the sinuses in a hurry.

* I’ve really taken to Old Town, Alexandria. To me it’s a less congested and less snooty version of Georgetown. Some of the restaurants seem overpriced (shrimp scampi should never be $25), but my parents and I really liked La Madeleine cafe. What can I say, I’m a sucker for rustic charm. Pizza at Pizzeria Paradiso wasn’t bad, either.

* Didn’t care for the book “A Year in Provence.” The food sections are the most interesting. On the other hand, really enjoyed “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.” It’s like a companion piece to Michael Pollan’s books, with more of a personal touch. Barbara Kingsolver is an excellent writer, and she deftly combines humor and storytelling with important information and hard facts about the food we eat.

* After three hours of walking around the city today on a chilly afternoon, nothing, and I mean nothing, could have tasted better than the hot chocolate from Dolcezza. I only wish it was bigger because I downed it in a few big gulps.

* Blue on Highland in Needham, MA: try the lobster and asparagus risotto. And if you order the bread pudding for dessert, split it. It’s enormous.

* California Tortilla in Cleveland Park. The burritos are ok, basically on par with Chipotle, but the tortillas themselves are awful. Mealy and mushy. Like something I’d buy in the supermarket. Can’t they do better tortillas than that?

* Had a nice dinner at Lebanese Taverna. We did the sampler, where you get a little of everything, each in its own cute tray compartment. Hummus, baba ganoush, stuffed grape leaves, kibbe, kafta, etc. Love all that stuff.

* I wish Open City in Woodley Park was a public company so I could buy stock in it. I often go running on weekend mornings and as I come up the big hill toward Calvert St., there are two constants: 1) I’ll be sucking wind, and 2) the line for brunch at Open City is out the door. No matter what the weather, people are sitting out there waiting to get in. What a gold mine.

* I’ve been telling myself for months that I was going to treat myself to a ham croque-monsieur at PAUL Bakery once the weather turned cold. Had one last week and it did not disappoint. Comes with a side salad too which is a nice touch.

Finished it off by splitting this pain au chocolat, which just about left me needing a nap for the rest of the afternoon.

* About to start watching the movie “The Trip.” Here’s the synopsis: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, the stars of the 2005 comedy Tristram Shandy, reunite with director Michael Winterbottom for this mockumentary about a pair of actors — handily named Steve and Rob — who embark on a foodie road trip across England.

Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?

- Is DC becoming Manhattan-South? First Shake Shack and Serendipity arrived — now NY’s Bobby Flay is set to enter the fray with Bobby’s Burger Palace. What are your thoughts on Flay? Will you make a pilgrimage to try his burgers?

- Glass containers are a safer microwave option than plastic Tupperware, but boy are they heavy, especially when you’re schlepping one in your bag on the Metro. A better option — use the Tupperware to transport, then dump the food into the glass container before heating it up.

- Trader Joe’s organic gala apples are quite good, but I do notice they tend to turn mushy within a few days.  Is mushiness a byproduct of a pesticide-free apple?

- Was up in Boston visiting the family a few weeks ago; when in Boston, seafood is a must. We stopped for lunch at The Barking Crab, where I had a fine clam chowder and was thrilled to wolf down a whole-bellied clam roll. Huge, huge difference in taste between whole-bellied clams and clam strips.

Also took a picture of my mom’s fish and chips. The pic doesn’t convey the size of the enormous pieces of fish. Enough for two people.

- The juxtaposition of blood and ketchup a few episodes ago on “Breaking Bad” was wickedly clever, and now whenever I see ketchup, I’m reminded of the show. Let’s hope I don’t see a box cutter any time soon.

- Can the media please get off Michelle Obama’s case every time she indulges in a burger and fries? Sheesh. A healthy, active lifestyle doesn’t condemn a person to a lifetime of solely alfalfa sprouts — it’s about moderation, balance and occasional indulgences. The people criticizing her are probably the non-moderation types who swing from extreme diet to extreme diet, only to fall off the wagon and land face first in a gallon of ice cream.

- Almond jello is one of my staple foods of summer.  On a visit last year, my mother dropped off an absurd amount of almond extract and gelatin, as though we were entering a post-apocalyptic world and I was going to require almond jello to survive. All winter and spring the gelatin boxes and vials of extract have been taking up cabinet space. Until this summer… and the arrival of the DC heat.  Now I have a constant almond jello rotation going; when one batch gets near the end, I start up another so there’s never any down time. Thank god for that stash of supplies.

- I’ve read that pimientos de Padron might be sold at the Dupont Circle farmers’ market. Any confirmation on that?

- Never thought I’d find myself using a Foreman Grill at work; turns out a co-worker keeps a small one in the office kitchen cabinet, which he’s happy to let anyone use. I feel like a new world of possibilities has opened up. Paninis for lunch!  Fired up my first work panini the other day: smoked turkey, homemade pesto, spinach, tomato and fontina on olive bread from the farmers’ market. Set me up for a strong rest of the afternoon. A good lunch will do that.

- Speaking of work, a recent Boston.com feature listed the most annoying co-worker etiquette offenses. On the list, stinking up the microwave.  Now I’m self-conscious about heating up leftover salmon. I don’t want to be “that guy.” My co-workers say they don’t notice any smell at all, but I wonder if they’re just being polite.

- I’m wary of any restaurant that names itself after a specific geographic region, as though the name lends it credibility. If you come across a restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa called “New York Pizza” or “New York Bagels,” chances are it’s going to suck. So it’s with a healthy skepticism that I sampled a slice of white clam and a slice of sausage and mushroom at Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza.

While there’s only one New Haven pizza — it’s especially difficult to replicate Frank Pepe crust without a coal oven, for example –  I have to give props to Pete’s for doing a solid job. The crust captured some of the essence of New Haven with its darkened, chewy crispiness. I’d go again.

- Finally, if you missed last week’s “No Reservations” episode at the renowned (and closing) El Bulli, do yourself a favor and catch the re-runs.  A great episode all around (featuring DC’s own Jose Andres as Bourdain’s gregarious travel companion). The passion, inventiveness and sheer otherworldly artistry of Ferran Adria’s food was simply mesmerizing.  Bourdain and Andres looked like giddy schoolchildren, and for good reason.

One of my favorite DC blogs is Unsuck DC Metro. I check it every day, mainly for the sheer entertainment value of reading people vent about our beloved Metro, also known by its alias, “Delays in Both Directions.”

Okay, that was a cheap shot. Truthfully, despite the general loathing of Metro by DC residents, I personally can’t complain too much about it. It’s gotten me where I need to go (for the most part), and my commute’s a breeze (for the most part).

Don’t get me wrong, Metro has problems galore. But then, I spent years experiencing both the T in Boston and the NYC subway; when you’ve killed time at Park Street watching rats, or found yourself trapped in an unintentional hot yoga class in the bowels of a filthy NYC station, where a creepy guy is muttering to himself and possibly sitting in a puddle of his own urine, the bar gets set lower.

However, I cannot defend Metro escalators… yikes. We can clone sheep and send space probes to Mars, but keeping a series of moving stairs from breaking down every other day is beyond the realm of possibility? It’s mind-boggling.

That got me thinking, what if restaurants functioned like Metro escalators? What would that be like? I’ll venture to say awful. Probably something like this:

* On any given day, two range burners are out. On weekends when the restaurant’s at full capacity? All four. Instead of hot soup, customers are served gazpacho.

* The restaurant shuts down when it rains because the designer had the brilliant idea to put half the kitchen outside.

* Rather than fully repair a leaky refrigerator, maintenance employees use gum to plug the hole. Surprisingly, the fridge leaks again.

* The meat slicer makes a horrific squealing/rumbling sound. Clearly unsafe to use, but what the hell, it’s only your hand.

* Sure, the oven’s been broken for days, and it’s so abandoned that tumbleweeds drift by, but at least the repair company has placed a pleasant sign on it that reads, “Working to better serve you.”

* There’s a good chance the blender will speed up or come to a halt on a whim. You just can’t know.

* The restaurant’s Twitter feed spreads the cheery news that they’re out of everything and nothing in the kitchen works.

* An inspection reveals a critically dangerous gas leak. Management decides to hold off on fixing the problem until the restaurant blows up.

* The website boasts that it has “the most chefs of any restaurant in North America.” It fails to mention that only half of them can cook.

* An announcement is made that a deep fryer will be shut down for a year for repairs.

* You got horrid food poisoning last fall, and an inspection of the kitchen proves it will undoubtedly happen again, but you go back because it’s the only restaurant in town.

* Finally, despite the lack of working equipment and properly prepared food, the restaurant keeps raising prices anyway.

It occurred to me about halfway through the new documentary Forks Over Knives that the movie was a disguised call to veganism.  See, the word is never uttered, but rather the phrase “whole food, plant-based diet.” I’m imagining the filmmakers at a pitch meeting saying, “Yeah, this movie’s about veganism, but we can’t say that word because viewers will think it’s about a bunch of PETA fanatics.”

I eagerly walked into Forks Over Knives, having just finished reading In Defense of Food, a similarly themed book. While I’m far from vegan — as exhibited by blog posts on over-stuffed, pork-filled tacos — I do primarily cook vegetable-based, healthy meals at home, am dead serious about fitness and have an interest in nutrition. In short, I was a prime candidate to enjoy Forks Over Knives.

The problem: it’s a so-so movie.

The central thrust of Forks Over Knives is this: the Western diet is killing people slowly but surely, creating a raft of chronic illnesses and diseases that could easily be reversed if people would stop consuming meat and dairy, and switch to a plant-based diet.

It’s a fascinating topic and no doubt there’s serious merit to the information being presented. But the movie is so darn clunky, presenting an avalanche of facts without cohesion or a clear narrative, lacking certain specifics, relying on an over-use of dull narration and awkwardly careening from topic to topic. At one point, the subject of erectile dysfunction abruptly pops up out of nowhere (no pun intended), and you just think, Whaaat? Where did that come from?

I’ll hand it to the movie though, it’s certainly convincing. We meet a series of people whose health drastically improves in a matter of weeks or months, simply from switching to a vegan diet. After a while though, the testimonials start to come off like a PSA or a bad infomercial. And though we see their point A and their point B, we don’t see enough of what’s in between. What exactly were they eating? How much? How was it being prepared? Did they start exercising? These were all things I wanted to know.

As someone who’s interested in my own nutrition, I also left the theater feeling somewhat confused and with a ton of questions. For instance, according to the doctors, dairy is a huge no-no (it’s explained that the animal protein may induce the turning on of cancer cells, and that calcium may in fact cause osteoporosis).  How would the doctors then explain the longevity of people who consume a Mediterranean diet, which includes cheese, like feta? Or the low heart disease in the French, who indulge in cheese and wine?

Oils are mentioned as other foods to avoid, and in one shot, you even seen a bottle of olive oil in the picture. No olive oil? Again, what about the Mediterranean diet?

And how about fish? Can’t eat that either?  The Japanese diet, high on fish, has been shown to be one of the healthiest in the world. What gives?

I didn’t dislike Forks Over Knives, but it frustrated me. If anything, I’d recommend first seeing the documentaries Food, Inc. and Super Size Me, and reading books like Fast Food Nation and The Omnivore’s Dilemma. All of them tell a better story and are much more engaging.

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep doing what I do and eat a well-balanced diet. And yeah, I cooked with olive oil tonight. Liberally.

Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” was horrifying and illuminating, exposing the nightmare of food industrialization and pointing out how little people know about what they’re putting into their bodies.

That book captivated me in a big way. I’m late to the game, but I finally got around to reading his 2008 follow-up book, “In Defense of Food.”

It’s a quick read – at around 200 pages, you can plow through it in no time. Made for good reading on the Metro; almost missed my stop one morning because I was so engrossed.

Pollan doesn’t break any major new ground with this one – essentially, if you’ve read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” you’ll already be familiar with the subject matter – but he  does clearly elucidate the vagaries and complexities of nutrition, the clever use of “nutrition” by food companies as a marketing tool, and the direct contribution of the Western diet and its processed food (if you can call it “food”) to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Pollan’s most basic rule for eating may sound ridiculous: Eat food (DUH!), but you’ll understand once you read the book.

Among his other rules:

Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.

Avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable, c) more than five in number, or that include d) high-fructose corn syrup.

Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.

Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.

Cook, and if you can, plant a garden.

There’s nothing extreme or fad-like about what Pollan’s recommending. Everything makes perfect sense.  And yet, so few people seem to follow his core principles.  Sadly, even as we’re inundated with more and more nutrition information, our country just gets fatter and fatter. Let’s hope more people begin returning to the basics, and Eat food.

Julia donated her Cambridge, MA kitchen to the Smithsonian in 2001, and it’s on display on the first floor of the National Museum of American History. Judging by the crowds eager to see the kitchen, Julia is still a tremendously popular figure to fans of all ages.

Here’s a peek:

The high counters were specially built to accommodate Julia’s 6’2 height.

Many of her TV series were shot in this kitchen.

She loved this stove.

Nothing in the kitchen was showy or ostentatious, but clearly, Julia had a weakness for pots and pans — 45 in all, almost all copper.

And she was also a self-described “knife freak.” There’s one video in the exhibit of her explaining all her knives. She also had a thing for kitchen gadgets.

While I was looking at the gadget display, I overheard this exchange between a husband and wife:

Husband: “I’m surprised you’re so interested in this.”
Wife: “Why?”
Husband: “Because you don’t cook.”

Amazingly, she didn’t smack him.

Finally, this quote from Julia says it all:

National Museum of American History
14th St. and Constitution Ave.
Washington, D.C.
202-633-1000

Mostly I just look and take mental notes, but recently I did need to buy a few things for the new kitchen. I was looking for a shelving option that would provide additional pantry space. The Elfa Door & Wall Rack got great reviews, but in the end I decided I didn’t want to drill holes in the wall, and opted for these flat wire stacking shelves. They’re easy to set up by interlocking one on top of the next, light but strong and tremendously functional.

I absolutely love these things. All of my cooking essentials are within arm’s reach, and I can quickly grab oils, spices and packaged items as I’m cooking. Highly recommended.

Also picked up these color-coded, flexible cutting mats.

There are separate mats for vegetables, poultry, meat and seafood. Since they’re so thin they take up no room and are easily hung on hooks for storage. And they’re a breeze to clean compared to my big, unwieldy cutting boards.

These were two worthwhile purchases from The Container Store. A countertop cereal dispenser on the other hand? Probably not as essential. Doesn’t mean a person can’t look, though.

The Container Store
4500 Wisconsin Ave.
Washington, D.C.
202-478-4000

Two Friday ago, on an unseasonably warm and beautiful day, I headed out for a last run in Rye. I ran more slowly than usual to take in all the sights: Seaside Johnnies, Rye Town Park, the rock jetty on Oakland Beach, the green buoy out in the Sound that we’d swum to dozens of times, Tiki Bar, Playland and Edith Read Sanctuary. People were strolling down the boardwalk, relaxing on benches and walking their dogs on the beach. Like it always does, the area brought a smile to my face. I have so many great memories there; it’s near and dear to my heart.

So that’s what I’ll miss the most. In terms of food, I’ll miss many things. In the almost seven years that I lived in Westchester, the food scene came a long way. Sure, it’s not NYC (then again, how many places are), but Westchester has its own rhythms and charms, with talented chefs and new eateries providing more options all the time.

In no particular order, here are the 65 things I’ll miss the most about eating in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. This is absolutely not a “Best Restaurants” list or anything like that; rather, it’s simply the foods and places that stick out in my mind, or had become part of my regular routine.

Here we go…

65. Cuban sandwiches at Bakery at Four Corners in Pelham.

64. Lounging with drink and food at Pour Café & Wine Bar in Mt. Kisco, simply the coziest wine bar in Westchester.

63. Bagels at Hand Rolled in Rye and H&R in New Rochelle.

62. Pizza from Johnny’s in Mt. Vernon. Now that is a good crust.

61. Poking around Mint in Tarrytown, and tasting and buying cheese from owner, Hassan.

60. Saturday walks to June & Ho in Rye for a sandwich.

59. The oxtail gnocchi at Tarry Lodge in Port Chester. Simple, yet utterly comforting.

58. Trader Joe’s in Larchmont. ‘Nuff said. I love Trader Joe’s. I already miss it.

57. Kam Sen in White Plains. Ditto. What am I going to do without my weekend Asian grocery runs to Kam Sen??

56. Relaxing at Black Cat Cafe in Irvington.

55. The view and homey bar at Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry.

54. Chili dogs at Pat’s Hubba Hubba. (Have only been to the one in Stamford, but I’m sure they’re just as good in Port Chester).

53. Frank Pepe clam pizza. Frank Pepe pizza, period.

52. Rita’s gelati on a hot summer day.

51. Walking across the street to grab a beer with friends at Rye Grill and Bar.

50. Westchester farmers’ markets. More specifically, the Pimientos de Padron from Lani’s Farm stand in Larchmont, which I bought religiously when they were available.

49. The bar at Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

48. The “Special Hot Chocolate” at Quimbaya in Ossining.

47. 24-hour diners, like Nautilus in Larchmont and El Dorado in Tarrytown.

46. Squire’s burgers in Briarcliff. Haven’t changed in over 30 years, just the way we like it.

45. The peas at Spadaro in New Rochelle.

44. Lazy summer nights lounging on the decks of Rye’s Seaside Johnnies and Tiki Bar, drink in hand.

43. Baked goods and sandwiches at Riviera Bakehouse in Ardsley. And, the remarkable talent and creativity of cake decorator Liv Hansen.

42. Fried eggplant at Peniche in White Plains (which is now closed!)  Such disappointing news.

41. Taiim Falafel Shack in Ardsley. Damn good falafel.

40. Burgers and beer at Horsefeathers in Tarrytown, especially while sitting outside on warm nights.

39. Sandwiches at Lange’s Deli in Scarsdale.

38. Apple picking at Outhouse Orchards or Wilkens Farm. Oh, how I’ll miss apple picking.

37. Cider donuts (see above). Donuts warm out of the fryer, sprinkled only with sugar and cinnamon, eaten with a steaming cup of hot cider = the perfect fall day.

36. Buffet de la Gare in Hastings. Only dined their once, but that was all it took.

35. Juicy grass-fed burgers and hand-cut fries at Poppy’s in Beacon.

34. The Shawangunk Wine Trail. Scenic vineyards and wine tastings less than an hour and a half away.

33. New Paltz, NY: artsy, outdoorsy, quaint, good food.

32. Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. So bummed I’ll miss this. Enjoy it!

31. The insanely delicious sandwiches at Melt in White Plains. They should be illegal.

30. The pork osso bucco and everything else at The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry.

29. Country bike rides followed by steroidal pizza slices at Portofino in Goldens Bridge.

28. Pork and peas at Umami Café in Croton-on-Hudson.

27. Bubble teas at Szechuan Garden in Harrison.

26. Gigandes at Lefteris in Tarrytown.

25. Dinner and ghost sightings at Bird & Bottle Inn in Garrison.

24. Dulce de leche cookies at Pollo a la Brasa Misti in Port Chester (they likely came from one of the nearby bakeries).

23. “So hot they burn your mouth” beef patties at Royal Caribbean Bakery in Mt. Vernon.

22. Honey wine at Lalibela in Mt. Kisco.

21. Afternoons spent working or lounging at Black Cow in Croton-on-Hudson.

20. X20 in Yonkers: Tremendous food, lovely view.

19. La Camelia in Mt. Kisco: Three years ago on Valentine’s Day, dinner there knocked our socks off.

18. Zatar bread, dolmas, hummus, etc. at Yaranush in White Plains.

17. Kitchen gadget lust at Chef Central in Hartsdale.

16. The bombolini at Mima Vinoteca in Irvington.

15. Barbecue pits at Oakland Beach in Rye. Shhh, practically nobody knows about them, but you can have a very nice picnic right on the beach.

14. Zeytinia Gourmet in Croton-on-Hudson.

13. Gelato at Via Vanti! in Mt. Kisco.

12. Aberdeen in White Plains, one of the better Chinese restaurants in Westchester.

11. The Paris-inspired decor at Rue de Crepes in Harrison.

10. Mirza ghasemi at Shiraz in Elmsford.

9. The food of Chef Eric Gabrynowicz, formerly of Tavern, who’s now lighting it up at Restaurant North in Armonk (and was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award). Katherine Curry and I went there last week for lunch. Outstanding. The homemade kielbasa had me giddy.

8. Ma po tofu at Bao’s in White Plains.

7. Neighborhood-y vibe at Tavern at Croton Landing in Croton-on-Hudson.

6. Dog-watching at Coffee Labs Roasters in Tarrytown.

5. Bar at Red Hat on the River in Irvington. Keep those cheese sticks coming!

4. The Contadina pizza at All’ Antica in Scarsdale. So good I tried recreating it at home.

3. Food and cycling motif at Velo in Nyack.

2. Western omelets at Poppy’s Café in Rye.

1. Finally, I’ll really miss the kindred food spirits I’ve met while writing this blog. Too many to list them all, but to name a few who do great work: Liz Johnson, Katherine Curry, Rinku Bhattacharya, Amy Kundrat, Stephanie Webster…. these people have got the Westchester/Connecticut food scene covered. I’ll continue to read what they write, only now it’ll be from afar.