Wriggle Wrap Me

Wednesday. I was watching 'Top Chef' the other day and one of the judges said, "Thomas Keller, is possibly the best chef in America". I've never been to Napa Valley, so I haven't had the chance to even try to get a table at French Laundry or Bouchon. The good news is Chef Keller has opened a little branch of his empire in Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle -- The Bouchon Bakery.

It goes like this:

Daddy kisses Mummy goodbye in the morning, Mummy says, "Maybe we will come up and have lunch with you today." We all know what this means -- Bouchon Bakery. Ham and Cheese Baguette with a combination of sweet butter and Dijon mustard for Daddy. Shrimp and sweet corn salad with avocado and heirloom tomatoes for Mummy ('shrimp' is what the Americans call prawns).

If we were feeling luxurious, we could have foie gras on brioche, or a banana-nutella sandwich. But it is the simple things, done well, that make this cafe a great lunching spot. The views across Columbus Circle to Central Park are an added bonus.

Of course, I am confined into my Phil & Teds Wriggle Wrapper, and attached to Daddy's lap. Forced to eat banana and yogurt and smile at the passing waitstaff and the lunching office workers. Occasionally, old men stop by our table to say how cute I am and reminisce about their own grandchildren.

Oh! And did I mention dessert. For Mummy and Daddy there is no choice to be made, so they order it along with their mains, not even asking to view the dessert menu. Profitteroles to die for! Little pastry clouds filled with ice-cream and covered with lashings of thick chocolate sauce. The waiter knowingly leaves a small jug of the sauce - in case you need to top up. If only I could lay my hands on it!

Cupcakes

Mummy and Daddy say no-one does cupcakes like the Americans. I think Mummy and Daddy eat a lot of cupcakes since moving to New York - actually they ate a lot of cupcakes in LA too, always from Joan's on Third. Mummy would get coconut and Daddy would get double chocolate.

Since moving to New York we have sampled a few more varieties, or rather Mummy & Daddy have - I

am yet to get my hands on these colourful treats.

There was Billy's Bakery in Chelsea, a block from our first apartment. Mummy liked the yellow daisy with chocolate buttercream. Daddy the red velvet. Me? I was happy smiling at all the patrons and small dogs and enjoying the chaotic ambience of this tiny "hole in the wall" as Daddy described it. Mummy said the smell was like my Great Nana's kitchen when Mummy was a little girl.

We also tried the cupcakes at Grumpy's - a fantastic coffee shop. But Mummy said their "hippy flavours" where not "hitting the spot for her". Daddy didn't seem to mind, but said he missed cream cheese icing.

Then we visited the infamous Magnolia Bakery in the West Village on the day of the Gay pride parade. Daddy had a hummingbird cupcake - I thought a hummingbird was a animal not a cupcake? And Mummy had coconut. I enjoyed looking at all the little rainbow flags in the window.

Finally, friends introduced us to Buttercup Bake Shop on 2nd Ave. Mummy said she felt a particular affinity with Buttercup given that the owner/chef was a clinical psychologist in a previous life and apparently so was Mummy. Mummy and Daddy both said they felt they were slipping into diabetic comas after eating the red velvet - though this did not stop them having a second round the following night?! I thought the mountain of purple icing on Mummy's looked particularly wonderful. If only I had gotten my hand in there quicker...

Dim Sum Yum Yum

Sunday. Mummy said we are going for Dim Sum. That's a funny name. Daddy says it is Chinese for "breakfast of champions." So why are we going for lunch? We walk along East Broadway on a steamy New York summer day, with the sounds of commerce, and the aroma of fruit markets and fish mongers filling our senses. We could be anywhere in the world right now. Under the Manhattan Bridge a train passes over creating a deafening din. We finally arrive at our chosen location for Dim Sum.... the Golden Unicorn at 18 East Broadway. Through the bustle we find a young besuited woman with a walkie-talkie... we take a ticket.... we wait.... we are sent to level 2.... there are levels? Yes, it is a three storey Dim Sum extravaganza, repleat with ruby red walls, golden satin seat covers, and a golden dragon on the wall! I love this buzz and excitement, but where is the Unicorn? Food comes on trolleys, in steaming baskets and covered plates. A trolley with a whole roasted duck arrives, looking glazed and crispy. I see a trolley with a wok full of clams in blackbean sauce, a trolley with a hot plate to fry dumpling, a soup trolley, a dessert trolley. Mummy like the shrimp wrapped in these fat noodles. Daddy likes dipping things in red sauce and saying, "that sauce is a bit punchy!" The trolley ladies stop and pull my cheeks... one of them brought me an egg custard tart to eat! Oh, I like this very much! But where is the Unicorn?