Category: You Are What You Eat

Name: Wei-Ann Hsueh (on the right)

Occupation: Medical Student

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: Taken!

What did you eat today?

Leftover shanghai noodles from Tofu on 7th, Ben and Jerry’s mint chocolate cookies (I think that’s what its called…), and Perrier with lemon sorbet, yum.

What do you never eat?

I’m pretty good about eating everything except for my childhood anti-nostalgic foods. These include bittermelon, Japanese pumpkin, the orange squishy kind, and weird Chinese stuff like pigs blood.

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

Trader Joe’s hot and spicy mustard, sparkling water, goat cheese, garlic, organic eggs, ketchup, and mango lemonade.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

It would be two things: A Japanese ceramic knife. Cuts through everything! 2) Bialetti Italian espresso maker. I’m so sad that my old one is out of commission.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I love trying new restaurants, and since I’m a newbie to NYC, it’s been a hayday of new places to eat! But in general, I usually stay around Park Slope - restaurants down 7th and 5th ave. My favorites on 5th would be Song, Café Moutarde, & Blue Ribbon Sushi. When I’m too busy (aka lazy), it’ll be 2nd Street Café or order in!

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

Fresh sushi from a fish market in Japan, as in wake up at 5 am, trek out to the fish market for the freshest fish ever! For dessert, any of their pretty little cakes so I’ll already be in heaven.

Name: Erin Gleeson

Occupation: Photographer, and I shoot mostly food. I’m working on a dessert cookbook now for Room 4 Dessert in SoHo.
R4D’s Choc n’ Awe

Borough: Manhattan, Upper West Side

Relationship status: Attached

What did you eat today?

For breakfast I had these leftover kale, egg and swiss cheese soufflés that I made for dinner the other night. This afternoon I was shooting desserts at R4D and I sampled several of them…lime gelato with salt, hazelnut mousse and a tart citrussy foam. [What a job perk! --Ed.] This evening I had some leftover Challah from a bread making class my friend and I took this week. (I sprinkled the Challah with black sesame seeds, which I’ve recently discovered and put on everything!) I then roasted some eggplant and whole garlic cloves and mixed them with portabella mushrooms & onions that I sautéed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert (recipe from epicurious.com).

What do you never eat?

Meat. I shoot a lot of dinners at the James Beard House, and I have never questioned my vegetarianism so much as there! I like the way it smells and looks, but I still can’t do it. I was raised vegan by hippie parents in an apple orchard in Northern California. I do eat dairy now, though. [Though I've been around plenty of hippies and hippie children, I've never met anyone who was raised vegan. I don't know why I'm so surprised to meet a semi-vegan who's serious about food. Just reveals my prejudices, I guess. --Ed.]

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

kale, free range eggs, chevre, soy milk, sundried tomatoes from the Fairway deli, morning star sausage links, dark chocolate.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My one-cup-at-a-time coffee dripper

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I get lunch several days a week from a health food store deli called Frontier on 21st and 3rd Ave in Manhattan. Occasionally they make these giant baked acorn squashes that are stuffed with a veggie/tofu salad. It’s amazing with their papaya poppy seed dressing all over it. Only $3.99! You can get 2 meals out of it (and I’m a big eater!)

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

Whole wheat toast with butter, a nice chevre with sliced pears, triple crème brie with a baguette, Spicy Thai basil Drunken noodles, Pinot Noir, and Mexican wedding cookies.

Check out some of Erin's photography at her website.

Name: Emily Gould

Occupation: co-editor, Gawker.com

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: I've lived with my boyfriend Henry for three years. We have two cats.

What did you eat today?

I love food and eating, but because I'm sort of always racing against the clock, I end up eating a lot of portable food. You know, the kind of thing that can be eaten with one hand while the other hand types, basically. Today was extra-crazy because we were shortstaffed this morning. When I woke up, I ate an english muffin with marmalade and drank a cup of earl gray black + green tea with soy milk. Then I did four posts before realizing that I needed coffee really bad no matter what, and that this need was more important than getting a new post up on Gawker now now now. So I went around the corner to Brooklyn Label, a relatively new cafe on the corner of Franklin and Java that's been getting raves on Gothamist and Chowhound. For me, the jury's still out on the food (greasy) but their coffee is perfect. Raven's Brew -- I actually wrote about it on Gawker. And they sent me, like, a case of it! Too bad I don't own a functioning coffee maker. That might be something worth looking into. Anyway, I got a coffee and a Ginger Snap Larabar. Later, around lunchtime, I went to Cafecito and got their signature sandwich, which has avacado, marinated shrimp, melted cheese and tomato. I was starving and it was awesome. I also got a cafe con leche with soy milk (I have this weird fondness for soy milk) [What's weird about soy milk love? --Ed.]. Um, and that's it so far. I actually should probably go eat something soon. Maybe I'll make pasta, I'm feeling lazy.

What do you never eat?

I'm a really adventurous eater (bring on the brains!) but I was a vegetarian for 10 years, and I still have a hard time with cuter animals. I know this doesn't make any sense. I just recently had duck for the first time in a while. I won't eat rabbit: too cuddly. Lamb, however, is for some reason okay.

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

Sriracha, fish sauce, soy sauce, grey poupon mustard, marmalade, and tragic leftovers that Henry and I are both waiting for someone else to throw away. No one else is going to throw them away.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

This is a tossup between my Cuisinart (I thought I would have to get married to get one of these! Luckily, my parents realized that wasn't worth holding out for) and my new Wusthof chef's knife that my Aunt Sara bought me for my 25th birthday. Both of these items help with my biggest culinary failing, which is that I suck at cutting things up properly. I'm getting better though.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I am obsessed with the yakisoba at Rai Rai Ken in the East Village. I probably eat it once a week; it's kind of my go-to solitary meal chill out spot.

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

Pork loin stir-fried with baby bok choy. I'd want to cook it myself; that's just the kind of control freak I am. Plus, since it would be my last meal, I'd finally be able to be certain that someone else would be doing the dishes. That would be my legacy: a huge mess in the kitchen.

Name: Chris(tine) Cruz

Occupation: Ski Bum, former slave to the music

Borough: Formerly of Manhattan, now temporarily residing in Vail,CO for the
winter

Relationship status: Attached

What did you eat today? Quaker’s Maple Brown Sugar oatmeal for breakfast. Homemade chicken noodle soup for lunch. A piece of chocolate chip banana bread and a chocolate chip pecan cookie (baked by someone at work). Peach yogurt and grapes for snack. Thai beef stir-fry from Blu’s Restaurant (Vail).

What do you never eat?

Ice cream [GASP! --Ed.], exotic animal parts.

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

Bacon, Miller Lite, baba ganoush or hummous, pasta sauce & cheese of some sort.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My bodum French press to go. And my new found love, my roommate’s crock pot – meals that cook while you’re at work!

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Up until 2 months ago before I moved to Vail, I could be seen at Bao Noodles on the regular – I love love love the Pho Bo Kho. I always order it. I can’t bring myself to order anything else. Best damn pho
ever. I could eat it every night. And the other spot I always roll to is Duke’s Café in Soho for their spicy chicken udon. Duke’s is the best reason to work in SoHo.

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

How exciting, all my favorite foods in the world in one whole sitting. I envision an enormous circular table complete with lazy susan so all these dishes are at my fingertips:
Pho bo kho from Bao Noodles
Spicy chicken udon from Duke's
Tagliolini al sugo toscano AND the Fettuccine Ai porcini con tartufo
bianco from Za Za
A Wild roll from Mizu
Spicy scallop roll from Pongal
Drunken noodles w tofu and vegetables from Sea
My dad’s spaghetti and meat ragu
My mom’s pancit shanghai and chicken adobo and chocolate molten cake
Beef pan fried noodles with from China Fun
The veggie dumplings from Panda
2 scoops of cookies and cream Tasti-D dipped in extra crunchies
2 plates of bacon from Peter Luger
My boyfriend’s mom’s sausage casserole
Betty Crocker’s beef stroganoff
Morning Glory, Tom Yum Goong, Shrimp fried rice, rad nar from Ruen Pair (LA)
Falafel from Mamoun's
A slice or pepperoni pizza from Rosario’s
Chimichanga from Tres Aztecas (RIP)
Big Mack Daddy from Tiny’s
Tater tots from Rush Hour
BLT from Grey Dog’s
Mac & Cheese with bacon (you have to ask) from Schiller’s
3 chocolate chip cookies from Magnolia
Veggie #6 Sandwich from Jimmy John's
Chitarrucci con Salsa Aurora AND Capellini Con Polpette from Lamarca

Name: Paul Lukas

Occupation: Journalist, minutiae fetishist

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: I always like to refer to whomever I'm dating as "my future first wife."

What did you eat today?

It's early, so all I've had is a bowl of Cheerios mixed with Frosted Flakes (a really good combo). I'm about to make some toast, which I'll wash down with a glass of OJ.

What do you never eat?

My life is a mayonnaise-free zone.

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

Diet Coke, butter, margarine, OJ, milk (usually 1%), Granny Smith apples, bacon fat (although at the moment I also have goose fat), more Diet Coke, mustard, some sort of meat thawing, eggs, pickles.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My toaster, an early-1960s Sunbeam Vista VT-40-1 that I inherited from my grandmother. I love it for three primary reasons: (1) It's gorgeous -- a near-perfect balance of chrome and Bakelite. (2) It doesn't have a knob. Instead, a slice of bread dropped into the slot trips an internal lever that causes the mechanism to lower the slices into the toaster. It's pretty damn sexy. (3) Since I use it every morning, I also think of my grandmother every morning, and I like that. She was a cool lady.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Popcorn at the movies.

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

The single most life-altering meal I've ever had was a cup of gumbo at Eddie's, a tattered old gumbo house in New Orleans. Ideally, this is what I'd want, but Eddie's is no longer in business (they closed long before Katrina), so I guess that isn't an option. Failing that: chicken skin. Lots and lots (and LOTS) of roasted chicken skin. It's my favorite foodstuff.

Visit Paul's otaku world of uniform scrutiny at Uni Watch.

Name: Dana Wachs

Occupation: Sound Engineer/Tour Manager

Borough: Manhattan

Relationship status: Single

What did you eat today?

Toast with strawberry jam & coffee for breakfast and my homemade tofu scramble for dinner.

What do you never eat?

Red meat, fowl, and corporate fast food.

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

Eden Soy Extra Original Soy Milk, jalapeno peppers, pickles from Guss' Pickles (Orchard St), apples (pink ladies especially), limes, garlic, in season berries.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My electric tea kettle. [I love my electric kettle too. I love that it doesn't make noise and that it shuts itself off. Kettle whistle is too alarming to me in the morning. --Ed.]

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Barrio Chino (Broome between Orchard and Ludlow). Simply the best and most creative margaritas and mojitos, (my favorite are the jalapeno margarita and the coconut mojito), with amazing and authentic Mexican tapas. The pescado tacos are always delectable, the guacamole is always fresh, and the mole sauce is out of this world!

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

The freshest oysters and the finest champagne!

The You Are What You Eat machine was down for maintenance, but we'll be back next week. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Name: Kim Ku!

Occupation: Design robot by day, Art slave by night

Borough: Queens

Relationship status: Single

What did you eat today?

For breakfast, I had a ham and egg sandwich on the run (literally), a clementine, and a banana. We went out for a department lunch at Isle, a Thai place, so I had chicken massaman curry and vegetable spring rolls. Then for dinner, I had homemade char-siu, or roast pork, with a helping of fried eggs, string beans and sticky jasmine rice. There was also some soup involved with mushrooms and lotus roots.

What do you never eat?

American cheese and/or peanuts.

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

Frozen squid (to dump into ramen), sliced pork and beef (to dump into ramen), eggs (to dump into ramen), and oyster sauce (to flavor veggies…which can then be dumped into ramen).

What is your favorite kitchen item?
I like the Zojirushi rice cooker the best because not only does it make tasty rice but it also has great ergonomic design. I haven’t met many rice cookers that have digital clocks on them. [I'm surprised -- you're the first person in YAWYE to ever go for rice cooker for fave kitchen item, I think. --Ed.]

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Milk and Cookies. Their chocolate mint cookies, especially when they’ve just come out of the oven, is the best breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack I could ask for.

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

I’d have to go to Philadelphia to eat my last combo breakfunchinner meal(s).

For my breakfast part of the meal: Depending on my mood, eggs benedict at either White Dog (the founder of this place is also the founder of Urban Outfitters- she lives on the 2nd floor of the restaurant) or Rx. White Dog serves their eggs with smoked salmon while Rx does it with ham.

For my lunch part of the meal: Morimoto’s Omakase in Philadelphia. They have the best Yellowtail Tartare I’ve ever tasted. And if it’s not too much to ask, I would prefer Masaharu Morimoto to cook it for me and also give me a signed photograph of himself (the waiters actually come back with one if you ask them when he’s there, I swear!)

For my part of the dinner meal: Buddakan to have some of their wasabi mashed potatoes. Other than that, the place is too stiff for me because all the waiters dress completely in white. I’d head over to Ms. Tootsie’s Bar and Lounge where there’s great soul food and endless homemade iced tea with watermelons in it!

To end my time in the world, I’ll have a lemon mint gelato at Capogiro and some of my mom’s banana bread.

I'm goin' back to Cali. (To Cali?) To Cali. Enjoy the holidays! I will be trying to start a tradition in my California Thai Buddhist/Atheist family of making latkes on Christmas. Woohoo! Happy New Year!

Name: Luisa Weiss

Occupation: Literary scout and Wednesday Chef

Borough: Manhattan

Relationship status: Yes, in one.

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: Hot apple cider and a whole-wheat roll from Bread Alone. Lunch: fennel taralli from Caputo Brothers, a plate of steamed broccoli with lemon juice and olive oil, a slice of Cacio di Roma and a Suncrisp apple. Dinner: half a calamari-citrus salad and half a plate of red-chile braised pork with mashed plantains and collard greens at Rocking Horse Café (a girlfriend and I shared).

What do you never eat?

Cilantro, dill, mayonnaise, raw spinach. [Interesting...it's hard for me to imagine a life without cilantro. I'm sure it must taste different to people who don't like it. --Ed.]

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

mustard, butter, cherry jam, maple syrup, multivitamins, light soymilk, carrots, orange juice, eggs, Parmigiano, peanut butter, tomato paste in a tube, Liberte plain yogurt and Sherry.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My All-Clad stainless steel pan. Oh, and the Wüsthof chef’s knife that my father gave me to in college and is still the best knife I own.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

At lunchtime, I usually vary between the soba noodles in broth at Ennju near Union Square and the Indian lentil soup at City Bakery (to make up for the occasional inside-out chocolate cookie I have for dessert). And if I’m at neither of those places, you can find me choking down leftovers at my desk from some newspaper recipe dish that’s STILL sitting in my fridge. As for dinner, I’m not really a creature of habit. If I’m not cooking (which, let’s face it, isn’t that often), we’ll head down to Moustache in the West Village or I’ll try to convince my boyfriend to go to Grand Sichuan on 52nd Street with me (I rarely succeed and we end up at Spice on 8th Avenue).

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

I don’t know that I’d have much of an appetite. I’d like my mother to make me spaghetti with cherry tomato sauce. And I’d like a bowlful of ripe apricots picked from the tree behind my aunt’s old summer house in Italy.

Luisa is the Wednesday Chef. At her web home, she tries out a staggering number of Wednesday food section recipe clippings. Her kitchen stamina is super impressive and her photography's delicious.

Name: Cathy Erway

Occupation: Copy Editor, occasional freelance writer

Borough: Brooklyn

Relationship status: In a relationship

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: instant oatmeal and a clementine. Lunch: tuna salad with diced red pepper and shredded carrot on multigrain toast and a romaine salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Then some yogurt. Dinner: my friend Lindsay made some angel hair with pesto, vegetarian chili and some sides like green beans and kale for a bunch of people at her place. I should explain that I recently moved apartments and my gas stove doesn’t work yet.

What do you never eat?

I don’t think I’d favor well with Stilton cheese. I recently tried to swallow a bit of goat cheese again and sort of gagged—it’s like my Achilles heel. Other than that, commonly domesticated animals and bushmeat.

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

Decaying herbs, leftovers, eggs, milk, carrots.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

I just got a red Le Creuset dutch oven as a birthday gift and it may just be my favorite item period. [Me too! Me too! --Ed.] Definitely trumps the silicone muffin pan I’ve been toying with.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Well, that’s a funny question. I stopped eating out (albeit not when traveling out of the state of New York) in August of this year. So I would have to say at airports (not that I’m a jet-setter).

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

Mom’s soy sauce chicken stew with lots of hard boiled eggs in it, black mushroom caps, chicken falling off the bone, rice wine, scallions, and a five-spice packet immersed in it, stewed forever, and served with rice. Then to be fair, my dad’s apple pie.

Cathy is Not Eating Out in New York, which can't be easy without gas.