The where

33 Days. Seems like a lifetime away. But when you're trying to lose 20#'s in six weeks to make room for dumplings, donuts, duck and dandelion greens, it's imminent. (I'm blocking this blog from any IP address that my doctor could possibly log on from) Losing 40lbs every winter to put 30 of them back on every summer just isn't smart. And going to NYC in the middle of the weight loss period is downright stupid, but it's what I do. Annually. Last year there were the added calories of a Giants vs Patriots Super Bowl. I gained 3lbs that day in defeat. Had the Pats won I might still be eating/celebrating.

Where to eat? Tackling pasta seems to be the most challenging for me. Steak is easy, Peter Luger. Traditional Chinese Food with the kids? Grand Sichuan at 7th and Leroy. Jewish comfort food, though that's really an oxymoron, when are we Jews ever really comfortable? Cafe Edison in the hotel of the same name. But we were talking pasta or as Allan Iverson might say "Pasta, we're talking about pasta, not even a full Italian meal, but pasta?" Yes. Just pasta. I love me a good calf Saltimbocca, Chicken Marsala or Osso Bucco. But pasta is pasta and if I can't get to Italy, NYC will do fine.

Porsena, Locanda Verde, A Voce, Il Buco or it's little sister Alimentari and Vineria, Perla, L'Apicio, the list goes on....Now I need to narrow it down to one restaurant for one night, with many courses of course.

Guess the menu item and it's mid-town location.

Last photo posted was the $11.00 (in 2010) Sundae from ABC Kitchen. Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce, Peanuts and Caramel Corn.

Pasta, we talking about pasta.

The game is on

Once the transportation has been committed to and the progeny pawned off on their mother, the planning begins. I go to NYC for one reason, to eat. Sure I'll take in a show, shop at Century 21, catch the farmers market in Union Square, etc. But I'm only there to eat, which I guess I already mentioned.

It naturally starts with where to eat but I always need to go back to what to eat first. Like, YES to Mission Chinese Food but YES also to Chinese Food. So, do I spend my meal on a traditional Chinatown feast or go to MCF? Better yet, Sunday's at Parm the dinner special is simply listed as Chinese. Everything has always been sublime at Torrisi Italian Specialties, so why not?

I have narrowed the what down to these in no particular order:

Gyro
Pizza
Bagel/Schmear
Pasta
Pasta (You can't eat just one)
Chinese
Sushi
2e Breakfast (Dumplings and Scallion Pancake)
Burger
New School Deli
Old School Deli
Korean Chicken Wings

Now I need to fit that into a 66 hour window. If I only sleep 16 hours over the three nights, I should be able to complete my list.

Of course, when I get to the list of where, it doesn't include, places that don't fit into a category above but will be consumed, none the less; Economy Candy, Donut Plant, random cupcake shop, etc.

Additionally, we have those places that if I'm in the neighborhood, well yes sir or mam, we are having a quick stop and nosh. Little Pie Co, Posiedon Greek Pastry Shop, any Shake Shack, Num Pang, Xi'an Famous Foods, Eataly, the list is endless. Based on my level of gastrodistress some neighborhoods have to be avoided all together.

First person to guess where I took this snap get's $5.00 in 2eBucks!

35 days to go. I'm going the blog route to get your input on what to eat and where to eat it. Thank you in advance for the calories.

Tuey