Madison Square Eats

I have been all sorts of filled with love for my friends recently.  I’m just eternally grateful for the support they’ve shown me and continue to show me during a difficult time in my life (but no, not so difficult that I have to stop blogging; actually, in times of great hardship, I write more than usual, though usually it’s about everything BUT what’s bothering me), and I don’t know how to ever repay them. 

After my lovely lunch date at the Meatball Shop with Sarah, she unfortunately had to leave to take care of some work.  I took advantage of the lovely weather and wandered up towards Madison Square Park to visit another of my favorite people, Blondie of Blondie and Brownie, who was working the Robicellis stand (my favorite cupcakes in the city, or in the world, really).  She finished up right after I got there, so we wandered away to pick up beers from Nunu Chocolates (I still don’t know why they serve beer?).  Though I’m leaving my beer education in the capable hands of Beer Boor (we’ve failed to blog the ‘lessons’ which sometimes wind up with me quite inebriated and both of us behaving inappropriately, and me Tweeting ridiculous things), I decided to try my hand at picking a beer for myself and went with the Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, which I found ever so slightly too bitter for me.  Blondie ordered the Nebraska Infinite Wit, which I liked a little more than what I had… but she does an excellent job talking about the beer and prices in her write-up on Midtown Lunch, linked above, so you can go over there to read about that. 

After a couple of hours just enjoying the warm weather, and people watching the ridiculousness around us – and, um, holy crap, food bloggers flock to Madison Square Eats on a Wednesday afternoon! – I decided to get a pretzel from Sigmund’s, since a friend has told me how good they are. 

I chose garlic and parsley.  I liked that it was warmed before being given to me, and I liked how soft it was.  For a $3 snack… not bad.  I wasn’t unhappy with it, though I suppose the garlic and parsley flavors could have been more pronounced. 

I’m kind of a lightweight lately (now literally and figuratively), so I was grooving on my one beer, but I mentioned wanting to try Six Point’s Sweet Action.  We decided to split one, and I found this totally drinkable and inoffensive, though there are plenty of beers out there that I’ve had now that are way more interesting and flavorful.  Funny enough, while looking for Beer Boor’s post to link, I re-read my comments and … well, a few months can change everything, can’t it?  (If you go read them, you’ll see what I mean.)  So I don’t think I’ll seek out Sweet Action on my own, but I wouldn’t be mad if someone handed me one.  (Okay, here’s some honesty: I wrote the above before going to look for the review, and when I read what Beer Boor wrote, compared to what I just wrote without reading his review first, I was totally pleased that my assessment fell in line with what he’d said: it’s OK, and drinkable, but not like omfg drink this now it’s so good.  Because I’m a nerd and when my opinion is the same as the “professor’s” without me realizing it before I speak… it pleases me!) 

Another few hours of chilling and we discovered we were in need of dinner.  Melissa (Spatula Queen) had joined us by this time, so we lazily wandered over to Shake Shack, where I’ve not been (to this location) in so long.  The line was ridiculously short, so we happily waited for our food.  Funny enough, we all ordered single Shacks, but Melissa remarked before biting into hers that it was always overcooked and maybe that’s why she doesn’t like the burgers as much as other people.  As she said that, I bit into mine, noted that it was cooked perfectly, and showed her.  

She bit into hers, and… it was overcooked.  Oddly, she was the only one who asked for no cheese, so we were trying to figure out if that had some sort of impact on the burger cooking…

But again, this burger is one of my favorite in the city, and I’d never kick one out of bed.  Well, maybe if it was a bit too juicy, I don’t eat in bed, but you know.  Yeah.  It was good.  I happily ate this and kept it down.  Yum! 

Blondie also ordered the seasonal fruit topping for her custard – her opinion (and explanation what that is!) is here.

Melissa got the custard flavor of the day, figs & honey, while I satisfied myself with just the burger. 

A most excellent day spent with excellent friends really improved my mood exponentially, I was incredibly happy as we walked away towards the train station to head to our respective homes.  Some days, I totally embrace and love my life, and I forget all the sh*t I’ve taken upon myself, and just love myself.  This was one of those days, and I have my wonderful friends to thank for that.  Thanks, guys… you rock. 

So yeah, totally check out Madison Square Eats before it ends!  More coverage here and here.