the red velvet cupcake at bake my cake, harlem

yes, it was delicious. no, it's not better than mine.

this was nice and moist, with an irresistable cream cheese frosting that says homemade all over it and the just right tint of fake redness that can only come from dye. not too big and not too small.

oh, yeah. and you know what? call me nutty, but i was expecting walnuts, not pecans.

roast duck with baby bok choy

my friend went to chinatown and picked up this dinner for the new year, so i wouldn't have to cook. it was lovely: nice and fatty and tender, with crispy crunchy skin that had an irresistable layer of savory grease that makes you involuntarily lick your fingers. the baby bok choy cut the fat just so.

after i took this picture, i wondered if i could drop into my favorite spot in any chinatown anywhere else in the world and pick up a roast duck that was this good.

probably so.