You Are What You Eat, Michael Harlan Turkell

Name: Michael Harlan Turkell

Occupation: Photographer, BACK OF THE HOUSE Project (www.harlanturk.com)

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: Domesticated

What did you eat today?

For breakfast, some homemade fennel seed sourdough toast, with a little bit of butter and the best damn greek honey, given to me by Karen Waltuck of Chanterelle. My friends over at Marlow & Sons in Williamsburg sell the heather and pine varietals, "must trys". A cup of Leelanau's Yrgacheffe, and snuck a bit of coconut chocolate birthday cake from Betty Bakery in Brooklyn.

Lunch, just some of the same bread with Zaytoons hummus, and a glass of iced Avalanche Rooibos tea made by Portsmouth Tea Company.

My girfriend's real birthday, so we went for drinks at Freeman's. Had two blackberry brambles, she had a mint julep and a Manhattan, while splitting a hot artichoke dip. Dinner at Prune in the East Village. Fried chickpeas on the table to start. She had the pasta kerchief with poached egg and brown butter, I had the fried sweetbreads with bacon and capers (some of the best in the city). Sides of broccolini with yellow wax beans and artichokes with brown butter vinaigrette. Dessert was greek yogurt with stewed rhubarb and sugar "hay". Nice bottle of Routas, Rouviere Rose 2006 to boot.

What do you never eat?

Raw white onions (thinly sliced red onions are okay) and shrimp (allergic).

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you can always find:

A plethora of beverages from tea/coffee to wine/beer. Try to keep a growler of Sixpoint Bengali Tiger in the spring/summer, and their Brownstone Ale in the fall/winter, and almost always...seltzer. Many a trial batch recipes, my latest, homemade bitters (way too peppery, but am convincing myself of otherwise). Just made some tristar strawberry and rhubarb vinegar. Have dark, sweet, and sour cherries ready for inspiration. Greenmarket fruit, veggies, fish, and meat when in season. I go to Saxelby Cheese in the Essex Market for whatever Anne suggests, and Stinky on Smith Street for their fresh sheep's ricotta.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Take-out tupperware, for my array of mise en place. And my Super Benriner Japanese Mandoline.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Good question. This is the season I love to cook, but like going to restaurants for little snacks rather than meals. The Monday Room -- Brad Farmerie of Public Restaurant uses this space to test his amuse bouches. The confit duck, foie gras and vanilla ballotine is amazing and only $2.50 for a taste. The "old school pig's head terrine" is awesome. I go to this place El Nuevo Portal on Smith Street in Brooklyn for my BLT's (favorite sandwich). Love sitting outside at Frankies 457 for their fennel, celery root & parsley salad, oh, and all things pork.

World ends tomorrow. What would you like for your last meal?

I'll go to Boston for pasta by Chef Barbara Lynch of No 9 Park. Have dreams about her Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with seared foie gras, vin santo glaze. My girlfriend can cook her famous peach cake (which I've instituted as my birthday cake), but would have to have it ready two days before the world ends, because I love it so much the day after for leftovers.

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