One more big surprise for 2012: I’m officially a NYC resident! Barely recovered from my wisdom surgery, I finished packing up my things and moved up into my new place. I’ll definitely show you around my apartment, once I finish decorating!

Fun socks for speedy recovery!

And of course, coloring Johanna’s lovable copains. I need that outfit, especially the teal oxfords!

This winter, Johanna sent me a lovely snail mail package with her wonderful coloring zine, as well as vintage photographs and postcards from France. Her work is wonderful, and her mails always brighten up my day.

Good friends hanging out in our new studio.

Eating desserts with Zeolite.

How funny you are today New York
like Ginger Rogers in Swingtime
and St. Bridget’s steeple leaning a little to the left

here I have just jumped out of a bed full of V-days
(I got tired of D-days) and blue you there still
accepts me foolish and free
all I want is a room up there
and you in it
and even the traffic halt so thick is a way
for people to rub up against each other
and when their surgical appliances lock
they stay together
for the rest of the day (what a day)
I go by to check a slide and I say
that painting’s not so blue

oh god it’s wonderful
to get out of bed
and drink too much coffee
and smoke too many cigarettes
and love you so much

- Steps by Frank O’Hara

P.S. Thank you for the kind words about my mini photo zine: Jenny + Jannese + Kelly

I’m on some strong painkillers, dozing on and off, watching Hoarders and Portlandia. I can’t complain about eating copious amounts of triple chocolate ice cream or homemade Korean congee, but I’m getting hungry for solid foods. So here’s to reminiscing about food highlights from the past week:

Homemade fried chicken with Momofuku’s Octo-vinaigrette. From brining, steaming, drying, and finally, to frying, it took us about a day of preparations; but it was worthwhile. The skin was perfectly crispy, meat was juicy and flavorful, and that dressing was just amazing.

And of course, Lunar New Year food with my family! We had some Korean rice cake soup (ddukguk) topped with julienned eggs and scallions. The colorful rice cakes are from Cconma.

Hand-pulled noodle soup with so much pork belly at M Noodle Shop in Brooklyn.

Pork shank with purgatory beans, poached egg, and kale + crispy pork belly bits. I love Roberta’s!

For Christmas, Taurin’s father gave us a delicious gift: a 7-course tasting meal for two + wine pairings at Restaurant Eve. I only photographed my meal, but Taurin’s food was just as tasty and beautifully prepared. I especially loved his butter-poached lobster. Yum!

“OOO” – Onions and oysters in a puff pastry, topped with Ossetra caviar

 Filet of Chesapeake Rockfish with house smoked bacon, salsify, and foie gras-lobster emulsion

Pan fried veal sweatbreads with Grüne Soße, scarlet turnips, and borage blossoms

Terrine of crozier with fried pork belly and sweet and sour maple syrup

Coffee-Cardamom cheesecake with navel orange, salted caramel sauce, and graham cracker crumble

P.S. Any wisdom teeth stories or soft food recommendations? Please do share!

Remember my friend, Mika, from my trip to Busan? She’s organized the last two Osaka zine fairs, and of course, hand-makes beautiful zines. She recently sent me a couple, and I’m in love with the simplicity of these lo-fi, black & white zines. We’ve both back stateside now, so I think we’ll be getting together for a craft session next week!

A collection of group drawings of hand turkey

Photo of Mika by Ryoma Furutani

“Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!
You really are beautiful! Pearls,
harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! all
the stuff they’ve always talked about

still makes a poem a surprise!
These things are with us every day
even on beachheads and biers. They
do have meaning. They’re strong as rocks.”
– Frank O’Hara

Mika’s zine about her mother inspired me to look through my mom’s old photo albums. Isn’t she beautiful? I think many of these photos are from when she was in art school.

The view out my window

Taurin took me out to eat the most delicious Korean soft tofu soup

Fruit bingsoo with frozen yogurt

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