Category: You Are What You Eat

Name: Jeffrey Thomas Meanza

Occupation: Actor/Test Prep Aficionado

Relationship status: Single

Borough: mmmmm…. Upper UPPER west side, but not quite Washington Heights

What did you eat today?

For breakfast I had a chicken sandwich on focaccia. I didn’t really like the focaccia, so I ate it open-face. I’m still in the process of deciding what I want to have for lunch, though I’m thinking I’d like a little salad action, perhaps something in the Niçoise vein. I’m planning on making a luscious lasagna for dinner with yummy Italian sausage, lots of mozzarella and fresh basil, and delicious homemade sauce.

What do you never eat?

Not big on the sweets, but other than that I eat pretty much everything. I’d say I don’t eat okra, but I ate some the other day and it wasn’t the death of me, so I may be a changed man.

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

anchovy paste—that shit lasts forever

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Butter curler [Ooh, that's new. --Ed.]

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I know where I’d like to eat out most frequently, but I don’t eat out all that often. I grab a bite here and there.

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

I would want vichyssoise to start, with a bottle of Acacia chardonnay. Follow this with about a dozen oysters – not informed enough to know what kind. A nice salad with hearts of palm (I love those fuckers), maybe some avocado, and some sort of toasted or glazed nuts, maybe a nice citrus vinaigrette. Then I’d have either sea bass or lobster. Or monkfish. I like all of those. But definitely seafood. I’d need an artichoke in there somewhere, that’s my all time favorite. Maybe some brussels sprouts. And I love me some mashed potatoes. I’d want an amazingly bold wine with all of this, just ‘cause I’m gauche, and I love a wild and overwhelming palate.

Posted early because I'm going back to internets-free Hudson tonight and I'm not sure my cron job is working properly yet. You like it when I talk Unix to you baby?

Name: Michael Neal

Occupation: Digital Managing Editor…of the world

Relationship status: Single

Borough: Brooklyn

What did you eat today?

In the morning a plain bagel, toasted with cream cheese and a slice of tomato; for lunch I had beef with broccoli in brown sauce; for dinner I had two bistec tacos at La Esquina and a discussion on how many vodka soaked olives it would take to eat before you’d get a little bit tipsy.

What do you never eat?

Beef with broccoli in brown sauce…now. I also had a horrible meal at an Outback steakhouse in Louisville so, never again!

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

Baking soda, eggs and bacon, organic milk, and packets of ketchup.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

I own a squeeze handle fresh pepper shaker just like the one he uses on Ming’s Quest.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I love the bagel shop by my apartment on 5th ave and for a proper meal I’d usually go to Bar Toto on 6th ave and 11th street where they serve excellent paninis and respectable bloody marys.

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

If the world were ending I’d probably not have much of an appetite. Imagining a breaking news bulletin that an asteroid the size of India was heading directly for Earth my first words would probably not be, “I tell ya what? I’m starving.” Still, something home cooked would be the best answer or any food with a hint of nostalgia for me.

When not digitally managing and editing the world, Michael blogs here.

Name: Shii Ann Huang

Occupation: Real estate broker/ former (has-been) reality TV “star”

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: Two weeks from being a Missus…

What did you eat today?

I was in Chinatown most of the day so all day long, I ate Chinese food. Early morning, I had half a red bean bun and some bottled iced jasmine tea. Around 11ish, I ate a sausage roll (one of those pigs in a blanket that consists of a hotdog-like sausage wrapped in soft white bread from Tai Pan Bakery). For lunch, I ate a $4 lunchbox consisting of white rice, black mushrooms and bamboo shoots, braised seaweed & eggs, and scallion chicken. Geesh! I ate a lot today and it’s only 4PM. For dinner, I’ll try to control myself…maybe I will eat a mango and some left over duck or kielbasa…

What do you never eat?

Hmmm…even though I consider myself an adventurous eater, I try never to eat sweetbreads, blood sausage or anything blood-based. Diseased goose liver? Give it a French name and I’m there! But blood and BRAINS!? Save it for the zombies…

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

Hot sauces (I have 8 different bottles in there right now), bottles of champagne (gifts from friends but I don’t drink champagne because it gives me a massive hangover), scallions and cilantro.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My big butcher knife from Chinatown. I use it to prep almost everything.


Where do you eat out most frequently?

Now that I am in Brooklyn, I go to Al Di La and Sakura sushi on Fifth Ave. quite often. But if I am in the city, I have to go to Grand Sichuan because I am of Sichuanese decent and they make some authentic tasting spicy food. I highly recommend the Ma-Po Tofu but be ready for some, um, future pain…if you catch my drift…

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

Without a question, my mom’s homemade pork chops with steamed rice and garlicky “empty-heart” Chinese greens. She makes the best damned pork chop in the world!

Mazeltov on the coming wedding!

Name: Michael Berk

Occupation: I tell the IRS I'm a Writer/Editor. Often I produce websites for public television and various other media stuff for other documentary-world projects, I also play music. But I try to ignore that stuff as much as I can and thus I spend the majority of my time racing bicycles.

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: Someone does indeed put up with me, my annoying habits, and my various obsessions, so yes.

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: grapefruit; oatmeal w/ raisins, banana, cinammon, maple syrup, and a little soy milk; coffee.
Lunch: Linguine; with sautéed spinach in some olive oil, basil, salt + pepper, a little manchego, and sardines (that's what I had around).
Over the course of the day I had a couple of carrots, an apple, a mug of granola with soy milk, and later on in the afternoon a Clif Bar, some Cytomax sci-fi carbohydrate-fuel drink and a couple of GU packets (that stuff is disgusting, but the Vanilla flavor isn't too awful). I can defend those things only because anything more interesting is just too difficult to eat while you're on a bicycle. I haven't had dinner yet.

What do you never eat?

I try not to rule too much out, though lately I avoid anything involving brains for fear of prions. Probably too damned late anyway. Beyond that, I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so save for social reasons I generally don't have dessert. For similar reasons I'm not much for cocktails.

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

Capers. And I always keep truffle oil around since truffles just aren't worth it. But not in the refrigerator. Is that a sentence?  [You're the editor.  Wait, I'm the editor.  --Ed.]

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Japanese knives. I need more of 'em. Come to think of it, I really need to start a general replacement campaign in my kitchen at this point.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I'd like to give you a fancier and more exciting response for this one, but you know full well that my regular is Elora's in Windsor Terrace. Ordinarily I stick with the chicken stew or carnitas; if I'm feeling festive I may order chilaquiles.  [Mmm...I miss that pollo guisado.  --Ed.]

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

Hmmm…hard to say. Food interests aside, I think I might not spend the rest of the day worrying about what to eat. Maybe something that I wouldn't worry about consuming and then feeling bad afterwards…eh…Tommy's triple cheeseburger, extra chili; chili cheese fries, large Pepsi? Takeout's probably more convenient for the apocalypse anyway.

Photo by Andy Shen, courtesy of nyvelocity.com

Name: Robert Granoff

Occupation: Photographer

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status:  I have a few special people in my life right now and we want to play with you too.

What did you eat today?

Three Bubbies pickles and Exotic truffles from Vosges

What do you never eat?

Chilled monkey brains

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

Film

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Spatula, which I keep in the bedroom


Where do you eat out most frequently?

Chai on N. 6th and Berry (you should really change the wording in that question)  [Ahem. --Ed.]

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

Since I’ve given up red meat almost entirely I’d go to Peter Luger and order the following:

Tomato and onion salad, four strips of Canadian bacon, cream spinach, hash browns, Peter Luger Burger, a bottle of Dom, and a “Holy Cow” ice cream sundae.

See Robby's fancy photography here.

Name: Kate B.  

Occupation: Le Grammar Policia [Literally.  Ask for her take on em dashes vs. colons sometime --Ed.] and resident hot girl

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: Single

What did you eat today?

Blueberry muffin, overpriced not spicy as advertised maki roll, the $3 buffet at some chinese joint on Hester and Centre, apple juice

What do you never eat?

Brussels sprouts (except that one time my friend brought them to Thanksgiving dinner), veal, balls

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

Martinelli's apple juice, dijon mustard, bacon.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

potholder

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Dumont Burger

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

My mom's bibim nangmyun (spicy Korean noodles), that black cod thing from Nobu, lobster roll from Mary's Fish Camp. Szechuan wontons from Grand Sichuan. And maybe the celery/tofu cold dish from Spicy and Tasty. (Yes, all in one sitting.)  And a glass of MAJ.

Hot Kate can be found at her baby blog, Pony Heist.  Go ask her what MAJ is, 'cause I sure as hell don't know.

Name: Jacob Bronstein

Occupation: Audiobook Producer / High-powered Record Label Executive

Relationship status: Single

Borough: Brooklyn

What did you eat today?

Oatmeal, chicken with broccoli and brown rice, spinach salad (with tuna, brussels sprouts, feta, carrots, garbanzos, horseradish), red wine

What do you never eat?

Liver  (except monkfish liver)

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

Walkerswood jerk seasoning, OJ, seltzer, mustard, horseradish

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Tin foil



Where do you eat out most frequently?

Acapulco Deli & Restaurant in Greenpoint

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

Oysters, crab cocktails and a pint of Anchor Steam from Swan Oyster Depot in San Fran

Jacob won a Grammy this year.  It's true.

Name: Justin Reed

Occupation: Copywriting/Marketing

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status*: Have a boyfriend

What did you eat today?

6 egg white omelet with diced sausage patty with OJ for breakfast. Banana for morning snack.  Grilled chicken with pesto, sundried tomato and goat cheese on a baguette with carrot-ginger soup for lunch.

What do you never eat?

Grapefruit, peaches, raisins, licorice.

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

ketchup, different kinds of mustard, capers, eggs, tonic, and (usually) two choices of ice cream.

What is your favorite kitchen item? 

Skewers for my grill.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Bar Tabac in Carroll Gardens.

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

Sushi with a side of rare burger with gorgonzola and French fries.

*New on YAWYE -- Relationship status!  Because people eat differently when they're in relationships.  And because sex sells.

Name:  Chris Deaner

Occupation: Musician / Computer Programmer / Music video maker guy

Borough:  Brooklyn

What did you eat today?

Breakfast:     Coffee, Fresh squeezed unpasteurized Orange juice
Lunch:         Pork Enchilada with verde sauce and Monterrey jack cheese,  refried kidney beans on the side, rice on the side. One ground beef gordita, one grilled steak gordita. Chips and salsa. Dr. Pepper.
Dinner:         Chicken fried steak, mustard greens, fried okra and sweet potato pie. Dr. Pepper.  [Yu-um!  --Ed.]

Note: I was in Austin, TX for SXSW

What do you never eat?

Beets.

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

Cheese, coffee, juice, milk.
(I want there to be bacon in there all the time, but I cannot stand it when bacon goes bad so half the time there is bacon.)

What is your favorite kitchen item?

All Clad sauté pan.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Taku

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

Taiwanese dan bing (egg pancake), Pork spare ribs from the noon Friday lunch special at Artz, one bean and cheese taco, and a half order of Prince’s hot chicken (medium hot), my fiancée’s mom’s pork sticky rice, my grandmother's fudge for desert.  Oh and Huevos Multilenos from Curras. Sunny side up on refried black beans.

Name: Jim Cho

Occupation: Disaster Management

Borough: Brooklyn

What did you eat today?

A pastrami, tomato, butter and swiss cheese sandwich from Almondine. Endive Salad and Radicchio for dinner.

What do you never eat?

Organs

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

Butter, pork and chicken

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Bowls.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Tacos Matamoros

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

Al Pastor Tacos, Oxtail Soup, and Pork Ribs with Mustard BBQ Sauce.  [Meat and meat with a side of meat.  --Ed.]