My Kitchen Garden: Volume 5, aka Goodbye New York

My last days in New York were crammed full of deliciousness of all kinds. At first I tried to fit in all the things I hadn't done, then I went back to revisiting my favourites places. All the while I was finishing up all of my work at the pottery. Considering how quickly it was all glazed, I am happy with the results. This is one of my favourite bowls, filled with one of my favourite fruits.


I made good use of the "this is the only chance I will get to eat this" excuse, especially when it came to sweet things! Despite their beauty, I managed to resist these cookies in the window of Once Upon a Tart in Soho...


...but I went all out when we had dinner at Craftsteak. It was a scorching Sunday evening and we were treated to gorgeous buttermilk-esque dinner rolls to start.


They were followed by silky fresh Hamachi with pineapple, lavender and radish.


I deliberated on my choice of steak, but decided on medium-rare grass-fed sirloin steak (we were told grass fed beef is more hay-flavoured than buttery, corn fed beef, but slightly less juicy as it is leaner). It was delicious, and the description was spot-on. The steak was much less rich than ones I've had at other NYC steak joints - in a good way. The texture was firmer with a fresh, herbal note.


I had to try Jan's dessert before I even tried my own. From left to right, three ice creams; honey and lavender, beautiful periwinkle blueberry, and vanilla bean. The lavender overwhelmed the honey, but otherwise that would have been my favourite one.


None of the deserts topped my chocolate souffle. It was rich, thick and dark with chocolate but still light enough to be called a souffle. The mint chocolate chip ice cream that accompanied it was slightly too peppermint for me, I would have been more than happy with just the sweet, creamy custard that came in a tiny pouring boat.


I can't complain at being given a nice little muffin to take home for breakfast the next day. I didn't eat it for breakfast, but I did eat it and it was good.


This is the eco-transport of a new bakery that opened on 7th Ave at the corner of Waverly Place a few months ago; Birdbath. It might seem a little gimmicky at first but at least they are making an effort; all the furniture in the shop is made from used, mostly industrial materials, the use of energy was considered in the choice of appliances, lighting, etc, and the books and other objects they sell are all used. And the little carrot cake loaves are great too.


And this brings me to the end of my time in New York, which ended up being the end of my kitchen garden too. The plants would have died without me, so I had to get to them first - and the basil was really the only one that was ready to eat. Above the "bountiful" harvest is presented amongst some of my pieces of pottery. I call them my golf balls.


The basil was crisp and full of flavour, and it made my final meal much more notable than it would have been otherwise. Hopefully my second kitchen garden will have more longevity.