It's the little things...
Especially when they are a $9 martini
Hi! How are you? Hanging in there? Losing your mind? All of the above?
Speaking of “little things”, I am officially quitting using emojis in this newsletter. Like all adorable things that charm and excite you, they are a distraction! The (glaringly obvious) typos in last week’s missive went completely over my head, partly because of my devotion and unneeded focus on emojis. Well, no more!
OK, maybe I’m not totally quitting emojis. We’ll see. But I’m reigning it in. (Writing about martinis REALLY makes me want to use the martini emoji, but I’ll refrain!) We all have to keep our wits about us these days, now more than ever! Distraction can be good, except when it’s bad!
Happy Hour is an art, and I am a devoted patron
I adore a Happy Hour. It has to be a good one, of course, and I’m lucky to live in close proximity to a few. For those of us devoted to semantics and have to know the answer to this, yes, they are all longer than an hour—they seem to average about 90 minutes. I can think of a few that are longer, and sometimes you’ll find a restaurant that stays open from lunch to dinner, and turns the entire afternoon into a Happy Hour, because why not? It may actually cost them more to close during that time, anyway, so why not entice customers with some deals?
Now, I am not in favor of the possible recession/depression as a marketing tool/tactic (although fear does seem to be an excellent motivator based on, well, all of history!), and I enjoy a Happy Hour no matter the circumstances. But in this current climate, I think we can all agree that some things are ridiculously overpriced. And the margins on booze have never favored the customer, so it’s nice to find a time when they do.
Emmett’s On Grove is known for Chicago tavern-style pizza. Most of us are likely familiar with Chicago’s deep-dish pizza, but tavern-style is is another popular pizza style that originated in Chicago, and it’s the opposite of the deep-dish: a thin, crispy crust, and cut into squares. It’s truly delicious. I’m lucky to live a 15 minute walk away from Emmett’s and I’ve always wanted to try their Happy Hour; I finally did and was not disappointed.
Happy Hours in New York are an event. People arrive on time, typically sit at the bar, and are without a doubt, “in it to win it”. You kind of get wrapped up in the sense of community you experience by being a part of it all, kind of how I used to feel at the sample sales of the late 90’s/early aughts. God, were those fun! Happy Hour goers have 90 minutes to get their fill of $9 martinis, $11 glasses of wine (served at Emmett’s in a water goblet, which is brilliant), meatballs, pigs in a blanket, fries, and more. And then, of course, there’s the pizza. You feel like you’ve completed a marathon when it’s over!
Little things can mean a lot (and pack a punch!)
I made a new chicken recipe last week (more on that another time), and the process resulted in some rendered chicken fat. I am notorious for saving this kind if thing, never using it, and keeping it my fridge/freezer forever. Well, not this time! Perhaps it was my recession brain in action, but the other night, out of nowhere, I was inspired to whip up a version of the rice from Hainanese Chicken Rice, which typically uses fat and broth from the chicken to make the rice.
It was delicious with some scallions and cilantro. I ended up eating it with poached eggs and some chili crisp. So good, and made completely on the fly with no real planning ahead. I love it when that happens. I pat myself on the back in these little cooking moments, in the hopes of encouraging creative thinking…which will come in handy when times get really tough! Which, hopefully, they will not! 🤞🏻 (Sorry, just had to use one emoji!)
And while we’re talking about the “R” word…
Being frugal in the face of potential economic disaster was not really my planned theme for today, but here we are. So in that vein, I want to rave about this kitchen tool for keeping herbs fresh. I was skeptical at first, even after reading great reviews, but this thing really works. I currently have basil in mine (above), the hardest herb to keep fresh, so we’ll see how that goes, but I had fresh parsley for almost three weeks because of this gadget. Herbs are not prohibitively expensive, of course, but it’s a pain to have to throw them out if they go to waste, and then have to get more. This ends that cycle, or at least extends it, if you aren’t lucky enough to have an herb garden, which is actually the best option. My herb garden is Whole Foods, Citarella and my local favorite, Westside Market, family-owned and home to some of the most delicious ready-made dishes (one of the owners even has a cookbook!). Their braised oxtail is to die for.
That’s all for now. Here’s to a great week and all of us finding out proverbial $9 martini! Find some joy and fun in the little things. It adds up!
xxMolly