fish paste and CAKE

I'm inspired and brimming with new ideas for the shop which need to be implemented soon, before I lose momentum. NYC was bursting at the seams with vendors and merchandise for me to choose from; and choose I did. I haven't sat down with the numbers yet as I'm sure I went over budget and don't want to burst my balloon of happiness quite yet. We (being Emma, Janna and myself) went to the Metropolitan Pavillion for New York's Newest, which I'd never made it over for previously due to lack of time. It was the most relaxed bit of show I'd ever attended and it made buying sweet. Emma chose 2 lines for the shop. One is a Canadian company called CAKE. They carry high end body care products for young adults. Body butters, hair powders (they sold us!) lip care. The other was a monogramed series from over in handmade ( in the Javitz center). Sterling necklaces with very nice monograms over vintage prints.

We also ordered a monogramming series of stamps and embossers from which we can order addresses, sayings, etc. They'll make wonderful birthday, wedding and housewarming presents. So, we tried to find more consumables that will bring back repeat business.

It was really fun to have Emma with me and get her opinion on products. She has a true sense of purchasing and an eye toward design. She certainly was a valuable asset to the trip, not just a daughter tagging along. She jumped right into the spirit of the time and was endlessly patient. I mean endlessly. These days are exhausting and painful on the body. She never asked for a break or showed any signs of boredom.

Each one of us three chose a line on our own that we felt strongly about, but that for one reason or another the others maybe weren't 100 % sold on. Maybe due to cost or not quite what we've sold in the past so it would be a new direction. It will be fun to watch them...It makes it a bit like a game. Which one will sell best or worst...It's truly impossible to know!

We had dinner at Becco again with my sister in law and niece, who came up from jersey for the night. It was good, but now as exciting as last August. The winner this time was Wan Jo in Korean Way with Thom's brother, Jack. It's a place he frequents often and was gracious to extend an invitation to be his guests there. We arrived at 8:30 and were taken up a flight of stairs to a table set against a wall in a room ful of diners. Most of whom were Korean. That's a good sign! Jack was to meet us there after his last class at NYU where he's a professor of something very technical and way to comprehensive for me to ever figure out how it's taught to others.

We let him order for us and soon many little dishes were scattered around a covered grill in the center of the table and 3 plates of raw marinated beef and chicken were set on the side of the table. There was daikon and seaweed salad, steamed eggs and pressed rice sheets along with marinated cabbage and I think a paste of chickpeas, along with fish and fish paste- covered strips of something mysterious. And more. Someone came and lifted the grill cover and inserted red-hot coals into our table and put some of the meat onto cook and then left. After a few minutes Jack said he'd probably be scolded for doing so, but proceeded to turn the meat. A waitress scurried over and indeed took the tongs from him gently and thanked him like you'd thank a child whose help you really didn't want. We all laughed. It was a good trick as it got their attention to our table. Soon they were back to load our plates with the meat and to add more to the grill. To call it good would be a gross understatement. It was truly a gastronomical treat to the taste buds. We all filled ourselves senseless. Yet still had room for the chilled fruit tray at the end of the meal. I cannot wait to go back for more. It would be worth a day trip just to eat at this resaurant. It's right off Herald square. I think it was 32nd between 5th and 6th. May have been 35th. Just look for the Korean Way sign off the square on Broadway. Thanks again Jack!