Darn it, plans got trashed. Visiting one of your favorite restaurants to celebrate and even trying to make early reservations for an upcoming Saturday sometimes just doesn't work out. Of course the restaurant is sorry to decline due to a huge event that day and graciously offers a slot 7 days later, which you happily accept. A beggar can't be chooser, right?! Of course it doesn't dawn on you immediately, but sure enough a week later you realize, hey you just made reservations for Valentine's day - a day you're perfectly fine with not giving the time of day, a day you'd never eat out voluntarily. Yet we did take the plunge and were not disappointed - not at all.

What's your take? Any odd experiences with restaurant visits on Valentine's day? Is it a 'can do' or 'never ever'? Anything to keep in mind?

How often do you come across highly addictive recipes? Recipes that make EVERYONE lick their fingers, rave and ask for a detailed step by step recipe after the very first bite? Doesn't happen that often, does it? So here is the find of the year, wait don't scream, I know, I know the year has just started, but when I was visiting my friend Hande's blog and discovered her latest sweet creation, which she very aptly named Wedges of Decadence, I just felt the potential right then and there. "Decadence" certainly is a strong word, but sounds like the understatement of the century in context of this sweet sin, which holds the power to convert even the most persistent chocolate and caramel haters into the opposite. So better be warned, we're talking serious business! You may need a license to bake!

When I think about my childhood, one of the many food traditions I can recall were meat-free Fridays. Not so much for religious reasons, but being a good reminder to eat fish - at least - once a week. Wake up! (you might want to say now) There are so many more food options besides meat and fish! And I have to agree, you got a point. But having been the tiny little person in my family back then, I had little say and all the men in my family clearly demanded "proper" food to be made out of meat, poultry or fish.

2009 will -supposedly so- be a shitty mean year. Well, that's the picture the media paints us over and over again anyway. If you ask me, 2009 came lightning fast. Not only didn't I find time to compile a Best-of-2008-List, but didn't even manage to grab a new notebook to properly enter the new year. Man, I'm so behind already, 2009 does suck... nah, just kidding ;)

Maybe the weather could have been slightly better. Outside of that, our rather spontaneous trip to meet dear friends and do some Christmas shopping in NYC couldn't have been any better. It came down to one great meal after another, we discovered fancy hidden bars, left with a bag more than we initially came to the city and brought back a notebook bursting of ideas and inspiration. 'Gotta love NY. How often can I repeat that?

Zzzzzz. Oooops, no I haven't been hibernating & thanks for your patience... but some of our suitcases are still unpacked and major case of jetlag is yet to be overcome. But my bags were also loaded with lots of delicious foods, tons of inspiration and a new recipe is already in the making. Meanwhile have a peek at the below photo, any idea what reaches out there and perhaps you want to take a guess, where we've been?

EDIT: I'm impressed, you guys are good - I didn't know about Buddha's Hand before our trip... And some extra points for Julie and Joanna, the picture was indeed taken at DEAN & DELUCA in Soho, well spotted!