In my notes folder on my iPhone, I have list of restaurants that I want to try. There are about 20 on there — some old, some new — but Shun Lee has probably been on there the longest. Since B and I were going to see Ray LaMontagne that night at Carnegie Hall for our 14-month anniversary, we figured why not make an Upper West Side night of it. (I hope you’re not asking yourself who Ray LaMontagne is right now. Or if we celebrate each month’s anniversary.)

I still can’t believe we hadn’t been there before. It’s a New York Institution, and for good reason. The number one being: their famous Grand Marnier shrimp, which I MUST learn how to make. It is delightful — soft and sweet — served with walnuts, which give it that perfect crunch.

If you haven’t been, I highly recommend.

Now I want to grow my own veggies — or, more likely, start an herb garden on the windowsill.

There is very good reason why, when RedFarm opens each night at 5 p.m., there is already a queue of people waiting to get inside. The food tastes just as spectacular as it looks.

Evidence A: these dumplings, begging to be blogged.

I could write an entire food blog just about our week in Spain — and how we ate our way through Barcelona, Girona and Sitges.

Instead, I’ll let you feast your eyes on this: me! cooking paella! along the beach!

Not a bad life.