afternoon with marisa

 my friend marisa and i took a walk along sixth avenue today. she wanted to stop for shea butter at a beauty supply wholesale place on 28th street. it's plain and pure shea butter from ghana. i use a shea butter mixed with lemongrass oil that is sold by a local woman in the whole foods in tribeca. my friend could just add oils to her tub of butter also, for a much better price! i never thought of where shea butter comes from or how it's made. i just found this video (from ghana!) of it online:

 outside of a store selling men's shirts, we talked with a man who had just purchased a green print shirt and matching tie. i wish i had taken a picture of it. it was a fun print with the loveliest shade of green! he was extremely happy with his purchase as he had only paid $15, but he kept saying that the shirts were sold for $200 in other places (i can't remember the specific place . . ).

 marisa wanted to stop and get a picture of the storefront . . 

(you can see us reflected in the door.)

 we finally arrived at coffeemania, korrina's boyfriend's restaurant. (this is the special russian bread that everyone can't get enough of.)

( talking with tsering on the phone about the point work that has been going on for way too long on their building.)

 marisa was so looking forward to this visit. she had heard our stories raving about the place and couldn't wait to try the food. of course brian sent out extra dishes!! i cannot tell you how fun it is knowing a chef in a restaurant! it's the best!! in this photo the dish on the left is a beet salad and the dish on the right has the josper chicken wings (that special hot oven that braises food at an extra hot temperature and whose flames i saw almost engulf brian completely during my last visit).

 we both had the cauliflower soup with garlic chili oil and a poached egg . . and pea tendrils.

 ginger lemongrass tea . . 

we were both too full for dessert! i did have a delicious piccolo coffee, however. i was supposed to switch seats with marisa so she could have a turn facing the window. the restaurant looks out over the beautiful buildings that border bryant park. dusk came while we talked and the lights blinked on . . it was so pretty. i could eat here every night.