And in the restaurant...
And in the restaurant...
New York City has entered a sacred time of year for some of our readers: Restaurant Week. Some believe it's not just a gastronomic event, but an official citywide event, during which residents voluntarily wait in line, reserve tables three weeks in advance, and pretend to eat for $45 as if they were paying $145.
From January 20th to February 12th, restaurants are offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners, priced at $30, $45, and $60. Reservations are essential, as spontaneity is the enemy of fine dining, and without a reservation, you'll be reassured by the phrase, "We're fully booked, but you can stand at the bar."
However, there's one thing the menu usually doesn't mention. It's cold and flu season. This means that at a trendy restaurant, you risk getting a tasting menu of coughs, sneezes, and runny noses, absolutely free and without tipping. The establishments are so crowded that you can't help but know what the person at the next table ate, who they just broke up with, and why they're drinking again. And when someone sneezes, the entire room freezes—not out of respect, but out of pure self-preservation.
So, before heading to a place where the distance between tables is measured in breaths, it's worth asking yourself a simple question: "Do I really need this sauce today?"
Paradoxically, the safest and healthiest meal is home-cooked. You know exactly what it's made of, who washed the produce (you did—and yes, you did it thoroughly), how long the meat was cooked, and that the cook didn't cough into the pot while distracted by his phone. Restaurant owners might frown. Sorry, but in January, health is valued more than truffle oil, and home cooking is suddenly at the top of gastronomic trends—without reservations, dress codes, or mandatory tips.
It's no secret that many people come to Brighton Beach to buy something delicious, remembering what we ate in our home countries. In Brighton and KHW, only the Health is Wealth pharmacy and store (phone 718-339-9393) sells organic products and diabetic products. They even sell coffee with organic milk. Now, let's get specific. Here's the menu for tomorrow:
- chicken broth is a natural remedy, warm and reliable, like grandma’s blanket;
- for the main course, chicken meatballs, and grind the minced meat yourself in your favorite meat grinder (electric); for the side dish, vegetables of your choice (not "deconstructed," but normal ones);
- for the third - cranberry or fresh fruit compote, without foam, but with immunity;
- Oh, I forgot, and for starter - a vinaigrette that survived all the restaurant weeks and is still going strong.
Restaurant Week can wait. And when you get home from work, eat at home, wrap up warm, and stay healthy. This is the only promotion that really works—and it's valid for any length of time.
Marina Lagunova
