everything is copy: FOOD

After waking up in a beautifully modern London Hotel suite, where Leanna was staying, Katy and I were treated to brunch with the Balaban clan. We originally wanted to go to Sarabeth's by Central Park, but there was an hour-long wait. So we back-tracked to Rue 57, a French restaurant that serves... sushi? We all decided the Japanese food threw off the French ambiance, but at least the Nadal-Federer French Open match was playing. I ordered an omelette with sausage, red bell peppers and brie, which hit the spot. After making plans on where to meet up for dinner, Katy and I took the N train back to Union Square, and I walked to my dorm to meet the new roommate. I was so relieved when I finally met Ashley because she is super down-to-earth, normal, neat and friendly -- everything you want in a roommate. She is from Maryland and studies marketing and theatre at Hood College. She is in New York doing an internship with an advertising company that handles campaigns for mostly off-broadway shows. She doesn't know anyone in the city, so I am excited to get to hang out with her, introduce her to Katy and get to know her better. I started watching The Tudors on instant Netflix, and can safely say I am addicted. I love period films and have always been fascinated by the history of England's royal family. The show focuses on King Henry and as most of you know he was quite the king, with beheading wives and creating his own religion and all.

Later that night, Katy and I met up and walked to the West Village to meet everyone for dinner. We had an amazing meal at Leanna's dad's favorite restaurant -- like I only want to eat that food for the rest of my life good. Everything is meant to be shared, so we started with some fabulous appetizers and pastas. Some of the standouts to me were the thinly sliced, scallops in a chili, oil sauce and the spaghetti with ramps (roasted garlic), chili and crispy bread crumbs (I think everyone loved that dish). We each ordered our own entree, as if the appetizers and pastas weren't filling and delicious enough, and I ordered octopus with olives and potatoes. The octopus was covered in spicy chili and even though my mouth was definitely on fire, I thought the dish was amazing. For dessert I got three little scoops of chocolate-hazelnut, lemon and chocolate mint gelato, which was the perfect end to a spectacular meal. The Balaban's spoiled me this week and I cannot thank them enough. They are amazing people and I loved spending time with them. We said good-bye to everyone and, glad to be walking off our dinner, Katy and I ventured home. After a few more episodes of The Tudors, I was ready for bed.

My dad is coming back into town for business, so I am meeting him and some of the people he works with for dinner tonight, and I think we are having dinner again tomorrow night. I have definitely been spoiled going out to eat everywhere recently. Today at Us I learned Kim Kardashian's net worth, which is $35 million if you are interested. I also signed up to cover an event on Thursday night. It is a G.O.O.D Music Concert featuring Kanye West, and rumored Kid Cudi, who I have never seen before and would love to see live. Tomorrow is my interview at Free People so hopefully that goes well and I can start making some extra cash to supplement my New York lifestyle. Also, Katy got us tickets to Glee live next Friday in New Jersey. I love the show and the songs, and so I expect the live version to be just as awesome.

Side note: I just got a text from my dad that said "I am papa chulo." I'll let that one marinate and maybe someone can tell me what he is trying to say because I am at a loss. I'll let you know if he responds to my questioning text.

Okay, I wrote the beginning of this during my down time at Us and I discovered papa chulo means big daddy and the cuban guys my dad works with started calling him that. I just got back from dinner with my dad -- check out some of stuff the girl who was at dinner is doing at laurenjones.net. The food at dinner was pretty good, especially the meat dishes and wasabi mash potatoes, but it was also interesting to sit in on a business dinner and listen to some of the stuff they were discussing. My dad's friend and someone he has been doing business on and off with for years, Caesar, was there and it was great to see him, he is hilarious. I can definitely see why he gets along with my dad, they are very similar. I am off to bed, but I will let you know how the interview goes, cross your fingers for me!