I have a phobia about certain types of launch parties. You know the type—where lots of C-list celebs show up so they can get their picture taken in their frozen America’s Top Model pose (toe pointed, knee tucked in, gut sucked in) in front of the step-and-repeat and then get a some swag. But when the good people at Club Monaco (where the books are now being sold), asked if they could throw parties in honor of the new editions of eat.shop chicago, boston and vancouver (there’s also new editions for seattle and new england), I changed my tune.
Tonight is the first party in Chicago at the Damen location. Anna will be there, as will goodies from Southport Grocery and Sarah’s Candies. Drop by between 7 – 9p. You will find Jon and I happily ensconced at the Vancouver party this Thursday the 19th at the Robson location from 7 – 9p. Come have a drink with us and grab a book while you are at it. And then Tuesday the 1st of December is the Boston party at the Prudential Center location. Same time as the others. Anna will be there will bells on.
Look out! We’re right behind you. Wait, now we’re over here. We’re everywhere. The eat.shoppers have arrived in NYC to do our thing for the 2nd edition of eat.shop nyc. All residing together in our Real Worldesque Bed-Stuy townhouse. Eat. Shop. Shoot. Repeat.
Here’s how it works in the eat.shop universe. We make Kevin Bacon’s world look desolate and empty.
Tyler Doran owns Heir Antiques, the single greatest thing to happen to Providence since, oh let’s go bold, and say, the Talking Heads. Tyler worked at the brilliant gallery/store Obsolete in Los Angeles where he met a woman launching a fledgling guidebook series on local eating and shopping. We’ll call her Kaie, and her series, eat.shop.
Kaie and the eat.shop guides hail from Portland, Oregon. So does Carson Ellis, who lives there with her husband, Colin Meloy, the lead singer of The Decemberists. She illustrates their album covers and sometimes does commercial work. Like when she did the identity for Tyler’s shop, here in Providence.
And Providence is about 40 minutes from Newport where the 50th anniversary of the legendary Folk Festival took place (remember when Bob Dylan went electric?). And guess who was at the Folk Festival: The Decemberists. Oh, and me.
Even though I dislike this song, it is hard to not hum “It’s a Small World After All” while walking around downtown Portland during lunchtime. For a town often described as Honkeyville USA, the cart scene is undeniably diverse and multicultural. Add to the mix the economic downturn, where it is less risky to open a food cart than an actual restaurant, it makes for a burgeoning cart world offering some of the best eats going. One of the finest is the fairly new Nong’s Khao Man Ghaiat SW 10th and Alder.
Nong serves one dish only, Khao Man Gai, not because she is lazy, rather because it kicks some serious butt. This Thai street food specialty is simple: a perfectly steamed chicken breast, tender and juicy, on a bed of scented rice served with a small cup of delicate broth and winter squash soup. Wrapped in white butcher paper with a side of soy, ginger and garlic sauce, your lunch arrives literally looking like a birthday present. And what a gift! The flavors are subtle yet punchy—the combination is perfectly balanced. If this is the food they eat in Thailand everyday, thank goodness it is a small world.
Jan and I were comparing notes the other day about favorite blogs and Oh Joy! is high up on both our lists. And knowing how much Anna lusts after any type of paper goods, I suspect she’s a big fan also. Here’s some of Joy’s new designs for Chronicle Oh Joy!: oh joy for chronicle….
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